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Awix (3310 KP) rated Brightburn (2019) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019 (Updated Jun 20, 2019)
The concept for this fun horror subversion soars higher than a tall building, even if the plot hardly moves faster than a speeding bullet and the performances are not quite as powerful as a locomotive. Childless Kansas farming couple are startled when a falling meteorite proves to be something quite different, and adopt the infant boy they find on the scene. Aha, but it's not that story - such is the twist. What would really happen if you coupled the power of a demigod to the psyche of a messed-up boy in his early teens? (Hint: there will be blood.)
The film doesn't try anything too clever and sticks to its core idea with admirable focus and restraint; good performances from Elizabeth Banks and David Denman in particular as the not-Kents. The set piece sequences are perhaps a tiny bit repetitive, but the film has energy and isn't afraid to go into some dark places. Whether the sheer audacity of the film's raid on the story of you-know-who is commendable or shocking is probably a question of personal taste, but in an admittedly perverse way the film honours that story better than some authorised adaptations.
The film doesn't try anything too clever and sticks to its core idea with admirable focus and restraint; good performances from Elizabeth Banks and David Denman in particular as the not-Kents. The set piece sequences are perhaps a tiny bit repetitive, but the film has energy and isn't afraid to go into some dark places. Whether the sheer audacity of the film's raid on the story of you-know-who is commendable or shocking is probably a question of personal taste, but in an admittedly perverse way the film honours that story better than some authorised adaptations.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Roma (2018) in Movies
Jan 8, 2019
Beautiful but pointless
I guess I expect a little more from Alfonso Cuarón, director of Gravity and Children of Men, than a slightly boring film about a year in the life of a Mexican family in the 1970s. The film focuses on the lives of an upper middle class couple, their kids and their maid as they go through the events of their daily lives and have a few unexpected things happen to them.
I guess it's kind of interesting as events unfold; however, I was kind of waiting for some meaning or point of which there was none. I would say normally I am not a huge fan of the "slice of life" sort of movie as they usually are devoid of point and this one was no exception.
The beautiful black and white cinematography and long takes make the film a technical marvel, but I wish there was more substance here.
Not sure why it is getting all the hype and attention other than because of its famous director. In a year, no one will remember this film.
I guess it's kind of interesting as events unfold; however, I was kind of waiting for some meaning or point of which there was none. I would say normally I am not a huge fan of the "slice of life" sort of movie as they usually are devoid of point and this one was no exception.
The beautiful black and white cinematography and long takes make the film a technical marvel, but I wish there was more substance here.
Not sure why it is getting all the hype and attention other than because of its famous director. In a year, no one will remember this film.
Merissa (13585 KP) rated Stephan's Monster (Vampires of Vadin #2) in Books
Dec 14, 2018
Stephan's Monster (Vampires of Vadin #2) by Shelby Rhodes
Stephen's Monster is the second book in the Vampires of Vadin, and it goes off in a different direction than I thought it would! I was hoping for Asher and Kaiden's story, but no. Instead I get Jayden and Stephen, an opposite's attract couple, with deep and dark similarities. They are drawn to each other, and Stephen tries to help Jayden overcome his 'monster'.
Whilst these two have backgrounds as heartbreaking as you could imagine, this is not a heartbreaking story. Instead, it is one of acceptance, of love, and even of hope. Stephen's obsession with pink made me laugh, as Jayden's monster made me cry. So many highs and lows in this book, and I loved every word.
Nice to reunite with Adrian and Xavier from book one, plus other characters. If you enjoy dark romances with tortured heroes, then I can absolutely and utterly recommend this book!
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* 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!
Whilst these two have backgrounds as heartbreaking as you could imagine, this is not a heartbreaking story. Instead, it is one of acceptance, of love, and even of hope. Stephen's obsession with pink made me laugh, as Jayden's monster made me cry. So many highs and lows in this book, and I loved every word.
Nice to reunite with Adrian and Xavier from book one, plus other characters. If you enjoy dark romances with tortured heroes, then I can absolutely and utterly recommend this book!
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
* 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!
Alanna Davies (20 KP) rated How It Ends (2018) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
How it ends. I don't know, you don't tell me!
Contains spoilers, click to show
How it ends.
I watched this after having it in my netflix list for a couple of weeks. The trailer looked good and who doesn't like a good disaster movie right? But this was not a good disaster movie.
They put emphasis on seemingly important plot points only never to come back to them or explain them. What actually caused this "end of the world" scenario? Who are the people in the burning town? What derailed the military train? Why would you only take two cans of gas from a butt load of supplies? Who are the people guarding the bridge? What happened to the girl who was travelling with them? And finally, how does it bloody end?
I was left so frustrated and just thinking 'was that it". It genuinely felt like the writers had either given up or run out of time and just gone, yeah kill the creepy guy, take your girl and drive away from the giant smoke cloud.
Not a satisfying watch, just dont bother.
I watched this after having it in my netflix list for a couple of weeks. The trailer looked good and who doesn't like a good disaster movie right? But this was not a good disaster movie.
They put emphasis on seemingly important plot points only never to come back to them or explain them. What actually caused this "end of the world" scenario? Who are the people in the burning town? What derailed the military train? Why would you only take two cans of gas from a butt load of supplies? Who are the people guarding the bridge? What happened to the girl who was travelling with them? And finally, how does it bloody end?
I was left so frustrated and just thinking 'was that it". It genuinely felt like the writers had either given up or run out of time and just gone, yeah kill the creepy guy, take your girl and drive away from the giant smoke cloud.
Not a satisfying watch, just dont bother.
Sam Hill (23 KP) rated Loony Quest in Tabletop Games
Jun 21, 2019
Looney Quest is an odd game. You, and the other players, look at a game level, hen have a timed period to scribble a possible route onto a piece of acetate hitting trying to hit good things and miss traps/bombs/enemies. After he timed period you put your acetate over the level map and tot up your score.
Now the ideal market for this is younger kids, who want to participate and like scribbling on acetate, but the sheer quantity of token types and variety of effects is staggering and the kid young enough to like the scribbling is less keen on understanding what all these status effects mean.
Those of us old enough to click with all the token types, aree also going to find trying to draw what you remember to be a safe route achieving your targets dull.
Meanwhile the components are...ok, the tokens are nice thick card, but the acetate is a pain and (like most acetate screens) doesn't clean as easily as would be ideal, but the level maps are quite flimsy. If you try and replay it more than a couple of times they're going to get worn out fast.
Now the ideal market for this is younger kids, who want to participate and like scribbling on acetate, but the sheer quantity of token types and variety of effects is staggering and the kid young enough to like the scribbling is less keen on understanding what all these status effects mean.
Those of us old enough to click with all the token types, aree also going to find trying to draw what you remember to be a safe route achieving your targets dull.
Meanwhile the components are...ok, the tokens are nice thick card, but the acetate is a pain and (like most acetate screens) doesn't clean as easily as would be ideal, but the level maps are quite flimsy. If you try and replay it more than a couple of times they're going to get worn out fast.
ClareR (6037 KP) rated To Keep You Safe in Books
Oct 16, 2019 (Updated Mar 5, 2020)
An entertaining read!
Jenni is a maths teacher in a secondary school, and used to be in the armed forces. When one of her students, Destiny, arrives at school with a black eye, Jenni decides that she needs help - radical help, in fact, after a man turns up to collect Destiny from school with a gun tucked in to his belt. Jenni believes she must help Destiny to escape from a seriously dangerous situation. However, there’s much more to this story.
In fact, there is a lot to think about in this story: the way children are treated in the care system, the support for ex-servicemen and women, and human trafficking.
I liked the different perspectives that this was told in: Jenni, Destiny, and a couple of chapters told from the point of view of the Headteacher of Jenni and Destiny’s school. The different perspectives don’t always tell the same story though - and this is an important part of the whole story.
I liked this. It was an uncomfortable read at times, but I felt well entertained! And as usual, I enjoyed the whole Pigeonhole experience!
In fact, there is a lot to think about in this story: the way children are treated in the care system, the support for ex-servicemen and women, and human trafficking.
I liked the different perspectives that this was told in: Jenni, Destiny, and a couple of chapters told from the point of view of the Headteacher of Jenni and Destiny’s school. The different perspectives don’t always tell the same story though - and this is an important part of the whole story.
I liked this. It was an uncomfortable read at times, but I felt well entertained! And as usual, I enjoyed the whole Pigeonhole experience!
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated On Writing: a memoir of the craft in Books
Jul 2, 2019
Helpful
Great book. I read it in a couple of days and it was exactly what I was looking for. I am not a Stephen King fan as I am not keen on the fantasy/ horror genre, but this book is non fiction. The first part of the book is a short memoir of writer's growth and early experiences, I found this part both funny and insightful and not at all what I expected from Stephen King. The 'On Writing' part was excellent. The author's hints and tips are subjective yet honest which is refreshing. Not all writers work the same and King is clear that this is only advice and may not be suitable for everyone. Bad habits and grammatical no-no's were probably the most helpful pieces of advice for myself, his huge dislike for the 'adverb' is something I may find myself becoming accustomed to in my own work revision. For non writers, do not dismiss this book, it is a little jewel that gives the reader a close and personal account of the authors honestly and quirks. I really loved it.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Midsommar (2019) in Movies
Jul 10, 2019
American attempt at folk horror retains most of the strengths of the same director's Hereditary but also manages to come up with a more coherent plot. A young couple in a moribund relationship head off to a nine-day community festival in rural Sweden with several friends. It goes without saying that there is more on the festival's schedule than they have been told about - given the Swedish background, this is not so much the Wicker Man as the IKEA Man.
It is very easy to see where this is going from near the start, but the various grisly sights and ideas that Aster has come up with are much more difficult to predict. The slowly building atmosphere of unsettling, creeping wrongness is probably at least as effective as any of the film's more shocking moments. In these terms the film is undeniably successful, but the central metaphor of the film remains unclear, and while a slow build is all very well, the film arguably outstays its welcome at nearly two and a half hours long. Nevertheless, an extremely disturbing and powerful film, the simple label 'horror' doesn't do it justice.
It is very easy to see where this is going from near the start, but the various grisly sights and ideas that Aster has come up with are much more difficult to predict. The slowly building atmosphere of unsettling, creeping wrongness is probably at least as effective as any of the film's more shocking moments. In these terms the film is undeniably successful, but the central metaphor of the film remains unclear, and while a slow build is all very well, the film arguably outstays its welcome at nearly two and a half hours long. Nevertheless, an extremely disturbing and powerful film, the simple label 'horror' doesn't do it justice.
Kate (493 KP) rated Tardy Bells and Witches' Spells in Books
Nov 20, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. There are parts which does remind me of Harry Potter which was a little disappointing but I love Harry Potter so it didn't bother me much. This is the type of book I would read but haven't read for a while due to the age I believe it is aimed at. I do like to go back to books I used to read as it is a bit like nostalgia.
I was hooked form page 1 and that is rare for a book as it usually takes me a couple of chapters.
This also got my imagination going and I could visualize everything I was reading.
I connected with the character in a way that I was annoyed that no-one could see what was going on what the sister.
I feel the book exceeded the blurb.
I am hoping to read the rest of the books in the series but they don't appear to be on Kobo yet.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I was hooked form page 1 and that is rare for a book as it usually takes me a couple of chapters.
This also got my imagination going and I could visualize everything I was reading.
I connected with the character in a way that I was annoyed that no-one could see what was going on what the sister.
I feel the book exceeded the blurb.
I am hoping to read the rest of the books in the series but they don't appear to be on Kobo yet.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
