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David McK (3562 KP) rated Ready Player One (2018) in Movies
Jan 19, 2019 (Updated Dec 27, 2022)
Spielberg's adaptation of the Ernest Clone book of the same name, and it is an ADAPTATION: that is, takes the same premise and the same basic outline but switches things around where needed.
That's because they're two different things: cinema is a visual medium, whereas a book is in your imagination (and so will never please everyone, as we all imagine things differently).
I did find myself losing attention a couple of times throughout, but all in all this wasn't a bad movie.
That's because they're two different things: cinema is a visual medium, whereas a book is in your imagination (and so will never please everyone, as we all imagine things differently).
I did find myself losing attention a couple of times throughout, but all in all this wasn't a bad movie.

Kevin Phillipson (10072 KP) rated Ticket to paradise (2022) in Movies
Sep 24, 2022
George Clooney (1 more)
Julia Roberts
Watched Thursday can't remember the last time I laughed so much during a film at the cinema but I did anyway the film as this a Clooney Roberts film where they play divorced couple who can't stand to be in the same room together but they decide to team up and stop there daughter from marrying someone she just met on holiday and that's where the laughs both the stars have great chemistry and it shows. Overall good afternoon viewing

Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated The Grinch (2018) in Movies
Nov 22, 2018
Horrible cover of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" song (1 more)
Slow moving plot
Don't Waste Your Time
My husband and I took our boys (aged 3 and 14) to see the new Grinch movie.
The graphics were really great. They were super colorful, and this movie does have a couple of cute characters like the chubby reindeer and Max, the dog. My 3 (nearly 4) year old was into this movie for about the first couple of minutes. Then he was ready to leave. He kept saying it was a mean movie. I guess he was talking about the Grinch. He just couldn't get into the movie no matter how hard I tried.
I was bored to death with The Grinch. I didn't find anything interesting about it. It dragged on and on. Don't get me wrong, there are a few funny moments, but the plot itself was lacking severely. My husband was also bored with this movie. My 14 year old loved it though. He thought it was really funny.
As I said previously, there were a couple of cute characters. However, the majority of characters were not that great. I found myself not caring about them, and I just couldn't connect with them. Cindy Lou Who and her friends were especially annoying.
My husband, myself, and my 3 year old ended up walking out of the movie about half an hour or so before it ended. We were just too bored to stay. My 14 year old carried on watching the movie until the end though.
All in all, I'd say avoid this movie. If you want to see it, wait until you can rent it on DVD/Blu Ray, or, even better, wait until it comes on tv.
The graphics were really great. They were super colorful, and this movie does have a couple of cute characters like the chubby reindeer and Max, the dog. My 3 (nearly 4) year old was into this movie for about the first couple of minutes. Then he was ready to leave. He kept saying it was a mean movie. I guess he was talking about the Grinch. He just couldn't get into the movie no matter how hard I tried.
I was bored to death with The Grinch. I didn't find anything interesting about it. It dragged on and on. Don't get me wrong, there are a few funny moments, but the plot itself was lacking severely. My husband was also bored with this movie. My 14 year old loved it though. He thought it was really funny.
As I said previously, there were a couple of cute characters. However, the majority of characters were not that great. I found myself not caring about them, and I just couldn't connect with them. Cindy Lou Who and her friends were especially annoying.
My husband, myself, and my 3 year old ended up walking out of the movie about half an hour or so before it ended. We were just too bored to stay. My 14 year old carried on watching the movie until the end though.
All in all, I'd say avoid this movie. If you want to see it, wait until you can rent it on DVD/Blu Ray, or, even better, wait until it comes on tv.

Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Buried Giant in Books
Jan 3, 2018
An unusual melancholic adventure
Beautifully written with a typical Kazuo Ishiguro unreliable narrator, this novel however, is not about self-delusion this time. It's a collective memory loss, a post-Arthurian quest that questions the value of remembering. It is written as a fable so the style may appear stilted and formal, and it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I found the plot beguiling.
Ishiguro ventures in the Tolkien-world of medieval fantasy in which an elderly couple, who seem to be suffering a fog of memory loss, attempt to reconnect with their son by journeying across the lands. On their way, they face dangers from opposing forces, that try to hinder their progress.
This is a powerful treatment of memories, the passage of time and the enduring love of a couple living many years together. Nothing is over-stated, even the moments of high drama. A strange collection of characters but all of them wholly believable. Overall, this book rewards patience and reflection, a devastating portrayal of love in old age and it's a fantastic metaphor for the way nations forget/remember traumatic events.
Ishiguro ventures in the Tolkien-world of medieval fantasy in which an elderly couple, who seem to be suffering a fog of memory loss, attempt to reconnect with their son by journeying across the lands. On their way, they face dangers from opposing forces, that try to hinder their progress.
This is a powerful treatment of memories, the passage of time and the enduring love of a couple living many years together. Nothing is over-stated, even the moments of high drama. A strange collection of characters but all of them wholly believable. Overall, this book rewards patience and reflection, a devastating portrayal of love in old age and it's a fantastic metaphor for the way nations forget/remember traumatic events.

David McK (3562 KP) rated Sharpe's Revenge in Books
Feb 18, 2019
For the last couple of years or so, I've been (slowly) making my way through the Sharpe books, in chronological order by setting and in between my various other reading activities i.e. maybe one Richard Sharpe book every couple of months or so
I'm approaching the end of that project, with (currently) only two more novels to go: [book:Sharpe's Waterloo|328986], and [book:Sharpe's Devil|615225].
This particular entry is set during the latter days of the Napoleonic Wars: during the Peace of Amiens in 1814, to be precise, with Sharpe's personal and professional life falling apart after he is framed by wily French spymaster Pierre Ducos. This novel also sees the fall-out from certain events in the previous entries ([book:Sharpe's Siege|564536]), starting with an - illegal - duel between Sharpe and the naval commander who was responsible for abandoning him and his men behind enemy lines, moving on to his cuckolding by his wife Jane by a former friend, and even expanding on the family of the commander of that French fort with one family member, in particular, playing a very important role in Sharpe's future life!
I'm approaching the end of that project, with (currently) only two more novels to go: [book:Sharpe's Waterloo|328986], and [book:Sharpe's Devil|615225].
This particular entry is set during the latter days of the Napoleonic Wars: during the Peace of Amiens in 1814, to be precise, with Sharpe's personal and professional life falling apart after he is framed by wily French spymaster Pierre Ducos. This novel also sees the fall-out from certain events in the previous entries ([book:Sharpe's Siege|564536]), starting with an - illegal - duel between Sharpe and the naval commander who was responsible for abandoning him and his men behind enemy lines, moving on to his cuckolding by his wife Jane by a former friend, and even expanding on the family of the commander of that French fort with one family member, in particular, playing a very important role in Sharpe's future life!

Merissa (12887 KP) rated The Accidental Baker in Books
Apr 30, 2019
The Accidental Baker by Clare London
The Accidental Baker is more like a collection of short stories that all a common theme - Easter, and Donnie's chocolate. Each chapter involves a different couple, and how they meet. ALL of the stories are sweet, some characters are lovely, some (sorry Henry) I really didn't take to.
This was well-written and excellently paced - each story giving just what it needed to work. Personally, I would love to see this progress into their own stories, just so I got more information about each couple. Maybe if I knew more about Henry, he wouldn't grate on me so much. I understood his back story, what we got, but it just didn't do it for me.
A thoroughly enjoyable, quick, seasonal read - absolutely perfect for your coffee break, or when you just have time for a few pages! Just one chapter, and you get a complete story. Definitely recommended.
* 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 was well-written and excellently paced - each story giving just what it needed to work. Personally, I would love to see this progress into their own stories, just so I got more information about each couple. Maybe if I knew more about Henry, he wouldn't grate on me so much. I understood his back story, what we got, but it just didn't do it for me.
A thoroughly enjoyable, quick, seasonal read - absolutely perfect for your coffee break, or when you just have time for a few pages! Just one chapter, and you get a complete story. Definitely recommended.
* 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!

Nige625 (8 KP) rated Ticket to Ride in Tabletop Games
May 9, 2019
Excellent game
Wonderful game. Collect rail truck cards of the colours you require, but don't leave it too long, there are only a very limited number of tracks available to link your cities. If someone beats you to a track, you will need to try to find another (usually longer) route to fulfil your quest. This game keeps you on your toes, as you will need to keep a tight eye on your opponents in case they can scupper you. Points make prizes. A great stand alone game with many expansions available. My advice? Stick to the base game and maybe a couple of expansions later. Don't get too carried away. The base game is great as is. Plays nicely 2-4 players. No excess concentration needed, so a good social game to chat and eat snacks over! Once you have played this a couple of times instead of going out, it has paid for itself and you have it forever more! Well worth the price. Good quality, good value for money. Enjoy! Nige

Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Golden Tup (Red Grouse Tales) in Books
Nov 13, 2019
Another of the Red Grouse Tales, this is a story about a young couple who were infamous for having killed their baby. Told by someone who new them, it perhaps offers an explanation for their actions.
Matthew and Constance buy an old abandoned farmhouse and set about renovating it. All goes well despite the hard work. But something doesn't feel right about one of the courtyards and there is a strange carving in the barn. Only their friend Gabriel is able to offer them any advice but their situation just goes from bad to worse.
As with the other Red Grouse Tales there is a strong paranormal thread running through this story. Much darker in tone than the others, this provokes the reader to ask themselves who they believe in regards the killing of their baby, the word of Constance that dark forces are at work or the facts as common sense would dictate them.
As with the other stories in the collection the writing is clear and fluent, the characterisation sharp enough for the reader to sympathise with the couple despite knowing their eventual fate. The story is engrossing and gets more chilling as it reaches its conclusion
Matthew and Constance buy an old abandoned farmhouse and set about renovating it. All goes well despite the hard work. But something doesn't feel right about one of the courtyards and there is a strange carving in the barn. Only their friend Gabriel is able to offer them any advice but their situation just goes from bad to worse.
As with the other Red Grouse Tales there is a strong paranormal thread running through this story. Much darker in tone than the others, this provokes the reader to ask themselves who they believe in regards the killing of their baby, the word of Constance that dark forces are at work or the facts as common sense would dictate them.
As with the other stories in the collection the writing is clear and fluent, the characterisation sharp enough for the reader to sympathise with the couple despite knowing their eventual fate. The story is engrossing and gets more chilling as it reaches its conclusion

Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Angel's Flight (Legion of Angels, #8) in Books
Jan 9, 2020
This has been borrowed from the Kindle Unlimited library.
This starts from where the last one left off. Leda is now an angel. Pandora, The Angel of Chaos. She is given her own territory but things never run smooth for Leda. There's a plague of issues attacking the New York City office of the Legion, making its members turn on each other and causing mayhem that eventually starts to travel further afield to the Chicago office and beyond. Initially suspecting demons, Leda and the team try to find the cause but there's nothing that stands out. Then Nerissa, the Legion doctor figures it out, taking everyone by surprise.
I don't want to spoil it by going into too much detail, you'll have to read it to see what else happens in this one.
I do enjoy reading this cast of characters. I love Leda and Nero. I've been cheering them on from their first meeting in book 1, so to see them so happy makes me want to squeal in excitement. They are the perfect bad-arse angel couple.
I cannot wait to read more of this series and this couple.
This starts from where the last one left off. Leda is now an angel. Pandora, The Angel of Chaos. She is given her own territory but things never run smooth for Leda. There's a plague of issues attacking the New York City office of the Legion, making its members turn on each other and causing mayhem that eventually starts to travel further afield to the Chicago office and beyond. Initially suspecting demons, Leda and the team try to find the cause but there's nothing that stands out. Then Nerissa, the Legion doctor figures it out, taking everyone by surprise.
I don't want to spoil it by going into too much detail, you'll have to read it to see what else happens in this one.
I do enjoy reading this cast of characters. I love Leda and Nero. I've been cheering them on from their first meeting in book 1, so to see them so happy makes me want to squeal in excitement. They are the perfect bad-arse angel couple.
I cannot wait to read more of this series and this couple.

Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Hit & Run (2012) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
In this fast passed action comedy, Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell are a young couple who live in the small town of Milton. Charlie Bronson (Dax Shepard) has a sordid past that prevents him from leaving the small town that he and his girlfriend live in. Charlie’s past includes a bank robber without a name (Bradley Cooper) and he is out to seek revenge against Charlie for testifying against him in an older bank robbery case.
After Annie gets a promotion outside of Milton in L.A., the couple end up heading on a road trip as Charley is determined to get her to her new job on time. Little does she know the road trip to her future may be the end of her relationship, a crazy adventure or a new beginning.
This movie is nothing short of hilarious. In my opinion Tom Arnold who plays Charlie’s protection makes this entire movie worth watching and that is saying something.
While I was not a fan of the cinematography used in this film , the humor makes up for it for sure. This film should not be missed especially if you like really fast cars.
After Annie gets a promotion outside of Milton in L.A., the couple end up heading on a road trip as Charley is determined to get her to her new job on time. Little does she know the road trip to her future may be the end of her relationship, a crazy adventure or a new beginning.
This movie is nothing short of hilarious. In my opinion Tom Arnold who plays Charlie’s protection makes this entire movie worth watching and that is saying something.
While I was not a fan of the cinematography used in this film , the humor makes up for it for sure. This film should not be missed especially if you like really fast cars.