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Dial M for Murder (1954)
Dial M for Murder (1954)
1954 | Crime, Mystery
A mid-tier episode of "Law & Order" from the 50s that's as mildly rousing as it is boring in a nearly 1:1 ratio. Yes the writing is impressively airtight, and always leaves you looking for some sort of holes to no avail - one of those films where you play a fun little guessing game in your head every time a character says or does something. Could they have slipped up? Do the other characters know that? But here's my main problem with this: it's so DRY holy shit. Yes the story is rigorously optimized for this sort of deal, but that's all there is to chew on here - nothing else. The characters in this movie exist only to explain and inform each other about the story as it happens - outside of the first couple scenes there are no little moments of interpersonal interaction between characters that involves anything else besides telling people what just happened, no moments of humor outside of a bad gay joke and a couple telegraphed duds, no personality building beyond how they react in relation to - again - the singular crime narrative. That's virtually every single scene, so it quickly feels like you're just watching the same thing over and over again. This goes straight past staunchly formal and almost into rudimentary, but Grace Kelly and Ray Milland are wonderful enough to carry this very talky one-trick pony along with the sheer attention to detail of the plot. Still definitely fair but way too straightforward, I can't act like dozens of better ones have been done even if this did potentially pave the way for a lot of them.
  
The Dark Room
The Dark Room
Sam Blake | 2021 | Mystery, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mystery (2 more)
Characters
Storyline
Everything started being solved in the last 50 pages (0 more)
Kept me guessing
A mystery that keeps you guessing. It starts off from two completely different women’s point of view until they are brought together in a hotel in the beautiful setting of a little village in Ireland.

There are ghosts and murders which keep both the characters and the reader wanting to delve deeper into the story and the mystery of what happened at Hare’s Landing 30 years ago.

When I finally found out the identity of who the body they found was, I was then kept guessing right until the last couple of chapters as to who was responsible. And it definitely was not someone that you would guess straight away, it came as a complete shock to me!

I was a little disappointed that everything seemed to happen very quickly about 50 pages from the end, as the author could have picked up the pace of the investigation a little earlier in the book. However, I did enjoy the book overall and would be interested in reading more of the authors work as it was extremely well written. I really fell in love with the characters and their stories that brought them to Hare’s Landing, and although Caroline’s problem at work did get solved, it felt a little disappointing given that so many other things were going on in the story at the same time.

Overall, it was a great book to read and one that was easy to follow and easy to dip in and read a couple of chapters when you have time!
  
Catching Him
Catching Him
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So this is my first book by the author although I did buy another of her books a few weeks ago but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.

I did like this. I think I have a thing for Alpha males, and Tyler was definitely that. He was protective and knew what he wanted, and that was Leah. I also seem to have a thing for backwards baseball caps. I just grew to really like Tyler. He seems like the perfect guy and Leah probably couldn't ask for more.

The romance was cute, the whole they were a couple before they actually got together with all the meals and the touching. It was sweet to read how quickly it progressed and how believable it was.

As for the incidents that kept happening after they got together. Well, I figured out who it was after Bruce had his "taken to the compound" part and then I was just more sure after everything else. That characters just seemed like the type.

As I've mentioned previously, I like a bit of angst in my stories and this didn't really have any. I may have been rooting for the couple because of how cute together they were but I didn't get upset on their behalf when things were being set on fire/trashed. I like to get emotionally attached to characters and I will cry when they do, get angry for them/with them. I didn't get that with this.

I will be reading the other book I bought and I'll figure out from there whether this is an author I can really enjoy reading.
  
The Orville - Season 1
The Orville - Season 1
2017 | Sci-Fi
Reminded me of Star Trek: TNG (1 more)
interesting characters
Marketed as a straight up comedy (1 more)
Seth MacFarlane's acting
Not knowing what it wanted to be hurt the beginning
I had trouble accepting this show because I went in expecting a straight comedy, which is the takeaway I had from the commercials. But it wasn't funny enough to be a parody. And it wasn't serious enough to be a serious sci-fi show.

Slowly it grew on me though. I accepted it for what it is and started to get a Star Trek: The Next Generation feel.


The stories are interesting and the characters are great, especially the non-human characters.


Definitely worth a shot. If you find yourself unimpressed with the first couple eps, stick with it, it will grow on you.
  
Nico's Heart
Nico's Heart
Dawn Sullivan | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
loved so much
I freakin loved this story... so ive been in a m/m mainly reading for fun world for the past year.. even my normal m/f havent held my attention but this story with its not overly erotic storyline has caught me and kept my attention like crazy.. i heard about this from another author friend and im so glad i decided to try it because this is truly amazing. i love the supernatural aspects.. i love that each story focuses on a specific couple but at the same time you get to see th eothers growing.. fighting.. finding.. loving.. etc.. its wonderful and im so glad i found this series.. i am currently reading every one i can get to as fast as i am able to lol
  
Mafia III
Mafia III
2016 | Action/Adventure
Voice acting (0 more)
Not as good as Mafia 2 (0 more)
A retro tale of revenge
Not everyone loved Mafia 2, but I did. I thought the story at the time was one of the best that I had ever played through, so I was extremely excited to get my hands on the third outing.
When the game was released though, I held off buying it as all I heard was how it was full of glitches and bugs. After a couple of months and a few updates, I eventually got round to playing it
Unfortunately Lincoln's story isn't as interesting as Vito's was. This is still a decent gangster story, but it is to Mafia 2 what Black Mass is to Goodfellas. They are both pretty good but one is a league above the other.
  
Marvel's The Defenders  - Season 1
Marvel's The Defenders - Season 1
2017 | Action
I love the cinematography in this series! The color schemes, the camera work, the choices that are made throughout are great. The story likewise, though it is quite slow through the first couple of eps as the team is re-introduced and brought together. Jessica Jones' snark is great, Luke Cage is strong and thoughtful as always, Matt Murdock steeps in his angst a bit more than I'd really prefer, and Danny Rand...is a spoiled, immature child playacting at being a superhero as before but everyone else's reactions to him make him a bit more palatable. The discussion between Cage and Rand in episode 2 was great.

Overall this is a good addition to Marvel canon. It's only as strong as its story and its weakest link, but still an enjoyable show.
  
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Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Gone Girl in Books

May 10, 2018  
Gone Girl
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.7 (142 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was one of the most twisted and disturbing stories I have ever read. And it makes me want to read more!

It's Nick & Amy's 5th year wedding anniversary. Amy is up early making crepes and she has prepared their annual treasure hunt. After Nick arrives at work, he receives an unusual call from his neighbor; the front door to his house is open and Amy appears to be gone.

The police investigation turns up blood all over the kitchen floor and overturned furniture in the living room. But there is something very strange about this "crime scene."

After weeks of searching, there is still no sign of Amy. Where is Amy? Who took her and why? The search will turn up lots of interesting and strange information about this couple.