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Vegas (725 KP) rated Buffy The Vampire Slayer in TV
Oct 26, 2019
The cast (4 more)
The story
The humour
Spike
Giles
Holds up well for it's age.
Returning to watch Buffy after quite a few years, fully expecting the nostalgic feeling I had towards it to be ruined by it not aging well. I actually found it still held the same appeal and could easily have been made a couple of years ago, the humour, action and cast chemistry make it a joy to watch, even now.
The idea (for those who don't know) is one girl, being the chosen one, The Slayer who fights the forces of darkness, secretly, with the aid of a mentor "The Watcher" brilliantly played by Anthony Head. Except, Buffy is a bit different from other previous Slayers... She has a life, friends, relationship issues and so the "secret" part of the the task at hand isn't quite so secret... With help and hindrance in almost equal measure from humans, vampires, daemons, military, and witches to name but a few...
The 2 main watchers we encounter during the series are superbly played and could almost be clones of each other and Spike is still one of the best characters of all time on TV...
If you haven't seen it, it is really worth a go and if you haven't seen it for some time, spare a little time for a classic...
The idea (for those who don't know) is one girl, being the chosen one, The Slayer who fights the forces of darkness, secretly, with the aid of a mentor "The Watcher" brilliantly played by Anthony Head. Except, Buffy is a bit different from other previous Slayers... She has a life, friends, relationship issues and so the "secret" part of the the task at hand isn't quite so secret... With help and hindrance in almost equal measure from humans, vampires, daemons, military, and witches to name but a few...
The 2 main watchers we encounter during the series are superbly played and could almost be clones of each other and Spike is still one of the best characters of all time on TV...
If you haven't seen it, it is really worth a go and if you haven't seen it for some time, spare a little time for a classic...
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988) in Movies
Oct 27, 2019
Horror movie hostess Elvira dreams of hosting a show in Vegas. When she receives saying that her Great Aunt had died she thinks her dreams have come true. Once she arrives at Fallwell, Massachusetts for the reading of the will she finds that things won’t be as easy as she had hoped. As the town turns against her and family secrets are uncovered Elvira needs to find a way to stop her great Uncles plan.
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark brings a backstory to Cassandra Pearson's character Elvira, gothic late night horror hostess. The film starts during one of Elvira’s shows when she receives a telegram telling her to go the reading of a will for a dead relative and, in the events that follow she finds out that she really is a witch.
Elvira is odd in the fact that it is almost in the style of an 80’s teen movie but it isn’t quite one. There are a few teens in the cast but the film does focus on Elvira and other people in the town.
Elvira, Mistress of the dark is rated 15 and is a comedy with a couple of scenes of peril and one jump scare. A lot of the humour focuses on Elvira’s rather ample bosom but in a quite tasteful way, it’s not a ‘Sex comedy’.
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark brings a backstory to Cassandra Pearson's character Elvira, gothic late night horror hostess. The film starts during one of Elvira’s shows when she receives a telegram telling her to go the reading of a will for a dead relative and, in the events that follow she finds out that she really is a witch.
Elvira is odd in the fact that it is almost in the style of an 80’s teen movie but it isn’t quite one. There are a few teens in the cast but the film does focus on Elvira and other people in the town.
Elvira, Mistress of the dark is rated 15 and is a comedy with a couple of scenes of peril and one jump scare. A lot of the humour focuses on Elvira’s rather ample bosom but in a quite tasteful way, it’s not a ‘Sex comedy’.
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated It in Books
Jul 19, 2019
What's up losers?! I finally faced my fear of reading IT. My fear wasn't Pennywise, but the thickness of the book at 1,153 pages. As heavy of a book as it is, IT seemed to just float in my hands. Once I lifted open the manhole cover and climbed into the sewers of Derry, Maine the story flowed like the rain waters of the deadly 1931 and 1957 floods. If I had attached playing cards to my book you would've heard them clicking and clacking away as I turned each page faster and faster.
After spending the last couple of months with Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Mike, Eddie, and Stan I feel like they're my best friends and I'm now part of the Loser's Club. I really hope in the coming years I don't forget about them, like a memory hidden away in the barrens of my mind. Maybe I'll have Mike make an entry in his journal.
Wahiawa, HI, July 19th, 2019, just past Midnight: If you were to look into my eyes at this moment you may see what appears to be deadlights in my eyes. I assure you tgey are only lit up with excitement and joy, as Stephen King's IT floated its way to the top as the best book I've ever read.
After spending the last couple of months with Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Mike, Eddie, and Stan I feel like they're my best friends and I'm now part of the Loser's Club. I really hope in the coming years I don't forget about them, like a memory hidden away in the barrens of my mind. Maybe I'll have Mike make an entry in his journal.
Wahiawa, HI, July 19th, 2019, just past Midnight: If you were to look into my eyes at this moment you may see what appears to be deadlights in my eyes. I assure you tgey are only lit up with excitement and joy, as Stephen King's IT floated its way to the top as the best book I've ever read.
Merissa (13169 KP) rated Waiting for Ty (Lovers and Friends, #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
This is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone.
I enjoyed this story but will admit to liking Landon a bit more than Ty. That may be for a couple of reasons - there is a lot more depth and information about Landon than Ty for a start. The second thing is that I wished Ty had a bit more spine about him. I know the story was about will they/won't they and did give you quite clearly an idea of what each of them could lose as well as what they could gain by making their relationship public. However, Ty was one minute strong and in charge of the situation and in the next, to me, it seemed like he was a young schoolboy who had no idea of anything, let along a political reporter. We all have days like this but Ty seemed to have more than most.
Saying that, I really enjoyed this story. It was nice to read a story were waiting was involved (ok, so maybe not at the beginning!) and the consequences of this sort of decision were taken into account.
I am loving this series by Samantha Ann King, I now have all 3 and am waiting to see if there will be a fourth.
Definitely recommended to all M/M fans.
I enjoyed this story but will admit to liking Landon a bit more than Ty. That may be for a couple of reasons - there is a lot more depth and information about Landon than Ty for a start. The second thing is that I wished Ty had a bit more spine about him. I know the story was about will they/won't they and did give you quite clearly an idea of what each of them could lose as well as what they could gain by making their relationship public. However, Ty was one minute strong and in charge of the situation and in the next, to me, it seemed like he was a young schoolboy who had no idea of anything, let along a political reporter. We all have days like this but Ty seemed to have more than most.
Saying that, I really enjoyed this story. It was nice to read a story were waiting was involved (ok, so maybe not at the beginning!) and the consequences of this sort of decision were taken into account.
I am loving this series by Samantha Ann King, I now have all 3 and am waiting to see if there will be a fourth.
Definitely recommended to all M/M fans.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Brightburn (2019) in Movies
Jul 6, 2019
Dark Justice anyone??
First thing to clear up - This is a comic book film. The premise - what if Superman wasnt all about truth, justice and the American way? Familiar story - couple discover crashed spaceship with baby inside and raise him as their own. As child gets older it starts to realise it has powers but rather than use them for good he uses them for his own gain. All the performances are excellent but the one thing the really surprised me is the gore. There are 3 scenes in particular that are possibly the best gore I've scene in years - an eye, a jaw and the first time we've ever seen heat vision to the face properly in live action...now this part involves some SPOILERS - this was written by James Gunn's brothers and produced by Gunn himself. This is an audition for Gunn to direct a Dark Justice League film. This is further teased at the end during Michael Rookers news program where he talks about other threats and shows rough drawings and describes wonder woman, batman and Martian manhunter - obviously not by name as it's not a DC film. Yet! This needs to be made - give the Gunn's the keys and let's start a new Dark DC universe! I'm in!!
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of The Park in Video Games
Jul 7, 2019
Not the worst way to spend a couple of hours
In The Park, you play as a mother searching for your son inside an abandoned amusement park - a pretty straightforward plot for a horror game.
Being more of a psychological horror game, things are of course not actually that simple....
You play The Park from a first person perspective, whilst you (so very slowly) explore the park, uncovering the backstory of both your character, and the park itself , through notes and clues found littered throughout.
There is zero combat in this, so the focus is solely on the narrative, and the exploration element.
There's a subtle sense of unease throughout the games short runtime, and it does a pretty good job of creating a creepy atmosphere, and uses some pretty trippy and sometimes disturbing imagery to put you on edge.
The Park is low on actual scares (I recall jumping once throughout) and the plotline never makes it clear what is real and what is in your head - which wouldn't usually be an issue, however the ending is left open to discussion and interpretation, to the point that it ends on a rather unsatisfying note.
Overall, certainly worth a play through if you enjoy anything remotely horror related, but I'm glad I picked it up dirt cheap in a PlayStation Store sale!
Being more of a psychological horror game, things are of course not actually that simple....
You play The Park from a first person perspective, whilst you (so very slowly) explore the park, uncovering the backstory of both your character, and the park itself , through notes and clues found littered throughout.
There is zero combat in this, so the focus is solely on the narrative, and the exploration element.
There's a subtle sense of unease throughout the games short runtime, and it does a pretty good job of creating a creepy atmosphere, and uses some pretty trippy and sometimes disturbing imagery to put you on edge.
The Park is low on actual scares (I recall jumping once throughout) and the plotline never makes it clear what is real and what is in your head - which wouldn't usually be an issue, however the ending is left open to discussion and interpretation, to the point that it ends on a rather unsatisfying note.
Overall, certainly worth a play through if you enjoy anything remotely horror related, but I'm glad I picked it up dirt cheap in a PlayStation Store sale!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Nogged Off in Books
Nov 3, 2019
Julia’s First Eventful Christmas Back Home
This story finds Julia Snowden taking a quick day trip to New York City to pack up the rest of her belongings so she can permanently move to Maine. When she arrives, she finds her sub-tenant to be upset about some setbacks in her personal life, and Julia winds up inviting Imogen home for Christmas. However, Julia’s Christmas gets more complicated when her moving truck is stolen after they arrive in Busman’s Harbor. What is going on?
I love this series, and I enjoyed getting to visit Julia at Christmas. I was able to get fully lost in this story right away since I already know the series characters and the setting. The plot was fun with some good twists before we reached the end. Barbara Ross includes some fun Christmas traditions that are unique to Maine without slowing down the story, and they give us that all important Christmas feeling. There are a couple of recipes at the end of the story, as always, to enjoy during the holiday season.
NOTE: This story is a novella, roughly 100 pages, and was originally part of the novella collection Eggnog Murder. If you have that book, there is no need to buy this ebook. If you haven’t read the story, now is the time to sit back and enjoy this Christmas trip to Maine.
I love this series, and I enjoyed getting to visit Julia at Christmas. I was able to get fully lost in this story right away since I already know the series characters and the setting. The plot was fun with some good twists before we reached the end. Barbara Ross includes some fun Christmas traditions that are unique to Maine without slowing down the story, and they give us that all important Christmas feeling. There are a couple of recipes at the end of the story, as always, to enjoy during the holiday season.
NOTE: This story is a novella, roughly 100 pages, and was originally part of the novella collection Eggnog Murder. If you have that book, there is no need to buy this ebook. If you haven’t read the story, now is the time to sit back and enjoy this Christmas trip to Maine.
Leah Lopez (7 KP) rated Reeva: A Mother's Story in Books
Nov 6, 2019
I don't think it's fair to criticise the way in which this book is written given what it's about BUT on a few occassions this book, however, does go round in circles; repetitive statements and opinions.
Prior reading this I knew little of Reeva. I knew more about Pistorious because of the books I have read and the documentaries I've seen. A beautiful woman was murdered on the 14th Feburary 2013. FACT. Whether Pistorious knew it was Reeva or not he knew the damage in which the bullets would do. So, for this reason alone, he is guilty. Only, from watching him (without a lot of facts on Reeva's side-text messages and his possessive behaviour) part of me believed him and wants to believe him. Not because of his status-to be fair, just like June Steenkamp, I wasn't aware of his time in the olympics, but because I can't help but think/hope/want the photos of the couple smiling together to be genuine. Ahhhh facts are facts and after reading this book it's hard to believe anything Pistrious did or said.. as much as I really want to. I am half-way through another book which is based on all of the statements from witnesses and beyond... regardless of opinions... Reeva was taken far too early... may she rest in peace!
Prior reading this I knew little of Reeva. I knew more about Pistorious because of the books I have read and the documentaries I've seen. A beautiful woman was murdered on the 14th Feburary 2013. FACT. Whether Pistorious knew it was Reeva or not he knew the damage in which the bullets would do. So, for this reason alone, he is guilty. Only, from watching him (without a lot of facts on Reeva's side-text messages and his possessive behaviour) part of me believed him and wants to believe him. Not because of his status-to be fair, just like June Steenkamp, I wasn't aware of his time in the olympics, but because I can't help but think/hope/want the photos of the couple smiling together to be genuine. Ahhhh facts are facts and after reading this book it's hard to believe anything Pistrious did or said.. as much as I really want to. I am half-way through another book which is based on all of the statements from witnesses and beyond... regardless of opinions... Reeva was taken far too early... may she rest in peace!
Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Nearly Normal Family in Books
Dec 13, 2019
A pretty good read
I don't read a lot of legal/courtroom stories and even less so-called Scandi-Noir type books but, for some reason, the blurb caught me and drew me in and, overall, I was pretty satisfied with "A Nearly Normal Family".
The book centres around a seemingly perfect family (they are anything but!) and is separated into three sections each told from the perspective of a family member following the arrest of the daughter for the murder of a man; each of these sections provided insight into each of the characters and a different take on the situation they find themselves in. What it also did was make this a slow burner with the tension mounting gradually towards the great ending which I found very satisfying.
I did have a couple of problems with this book though; one being that I couldn't connect with any of the main characters and struggled to empathise with any of them, the other being that I think there were times when things seem to have got lost in translation which made the story not flow quite as well as I was expecting.
Overall though a pretty good read and definitely worth the time I invested in reading it.
Thanks go to the good people of Pan Macmillan via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
The book centres around a seemingly perfect family (they are anything but!) and is separated into three sections each told from the perspective of a family member following the arrest of the daughter for the murder of a man; each of these sections provided insight into each of the characters and a different take on the situation they find themselves in. What it also did was make this a slow burner with the tension mounting gradually towards the great ending which I found very satisfying.
I did have a couple of problems with this book though; one being that I couldn't connect with any of the main characters and struggled to empathise with any of them, the other being that I think there were times when things seem to have got lost in translation which made the story not flow quite as well as I was expecting.
Overall though a pretty good read and definitely worth the time I invested in reading it.
Thanks go to the good people of Pan Macmillan via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Perfect Mother in Books
Feb 2, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
Caroline Mitchell has done it again. Her latest thriller, The Perfect Mother, is a stand-alone novel and not part of the DI Amy Winter series I enjoy.
In The Perfect Mother, Caroline Mitchell introduces us to Roz, a single, pregnant woman from Ireland who is not ready to be a mother. She is determined to do the right thing for her baby and joins an expensive, elite adoption service. She is thrilled when a secretive power couple is interested in raising her baby as their own. What starts as a dream come true quickly turns into a nightmare.
Once again, while reading a book by Caroline Mitchell, I stayed up way too late because I could not find a place to stop reading. I kept reading until the end. I was exhausted at work the next day but the book was worth it.
It started off as a slow burn but quickly picked up speed and went flying. It is a tense book that made me cheer and feel for the main character and her unborn child. Once Roz moves to NY the story does not twist and turn but is a solid line of suspense until the very end.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/2/20.
Caroline Mitchell has done it again. Her latest thriller, The Perfect Mother, is a stand-alone novel and not part of the DI Amy Winter series I enjoy.
In The Perfect Mother, Caroline Mitchell introduces us to Roz, a single, pregnant woman from Ireland who is not ready to be a mother. She is determined to do the right thing for her baby and joins an expensive, elite adoption service. She is thrilled when a secretive power couple is interested in raising her baby as their own. What starts as a dream come true quickly turns into a nightmare.
Once again, while reading a book by Caroline Mitchell, I stayed up way too late because I could not find a place to stop reading. I kept reading until the end. I was exhausted at work the next day but the book was worth it.
It started off as a slow burn but quickly picked up speed and went flying. It is a tense book that made me cheer and feel for the main character and her unborn child. Once Roz moves to NY the story does not twist and turn but is a solid line of suspense until the very end.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 2/2/20.