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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Halloween (1978) in Movies

Oct 29, 2020 (Updated Oct 29, 2020)  
Halloween (1978)
Halloween (1978)
1978 | Horror
I think this is so good that it actually sort of suffers because of it, if that makes any sense? Starts off phenomenally - exemplifies what the best of horror movies can be and quite honestly does continue most of the way through. The formal precision is just insane, Dean Cundey naturally makes sure this looks nothing short of remarkable and the music is some of the all-time best ever contributed to a horror movie. So simple yet so effective, so suspenseful all these decades later. It never really loses any sort of quality outside of waning some of its tightness near the middle, but despite the fact that it's objectively exemplary it still feels like it lacks something, that oomph that this by all means should have. A huge factor, I think, is that truthfully this overuses a lot of its tricks. I mean Michael Myers, mysterious and intimidating, often framed from below the neck or behind the head is a staggering image in horror history - him disappearing and suddenly reappearing outside of a window or doorway? Truly haunting the first couple times, even a time or two after that. But again, then again, then again? It starts to lose its luster fast and really flattens the eerie wavelength of not really knowing what's going on. Though I think even this movie's fans don't give enough credit to how it (quite obviously and vocally) portrays Laurie, Loomis, and Michael as being tied irreversibly by fate where each attempt at either one getting out is merely one of a never-ending amount of predetermined actions merely to mirror randomness.
  
Lost in Me (Here and Now, #1)
Lost in Me (Here and Now, #1)
Lexi Ryan | 2014
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
*I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.25 stars

This book grabbed me from the first chapter. I was interested in how Lizzy was going to help her get her crush and then we're thrown straight into the next chapter and she's suffering from amnesia and can't remember anything of the last year but her life has changed considerably.

I just HAD to keep reading so I could unravel the mystery of what had happened to Hanna and to figure out how everything had changed in those months she couldn't remember. I read this in one sitting, I was that addicted.

Being a bigger girl myself I was invested in Hanna getting her guy. I wanted her to be happy and body confident. But figuring out who was the right guy when she can't remember anything was hard. I was invested in it. In her.

And then those last couple of chapters... I was in floods of tears towards the end.

Then that last sentence turned it into a cliff-hanger ending and I now NEED to read the next book to see what happens next with Hanna. That's my reasoning for knocking the story down half a star. I was looking forward to a happy ending for them and currently they haven't got one.

There are also still several unanswered questions: What happened the day she fell down the bakery stairs? Who's the anonymous investor in the bakery? (Though we may already know the answer). Did Hanna put the ring on that day, or did someone put it on for her?

Off to buy book 2.
  
Duke of Manhattan
Duke of Manhattan
Louise Bay | 2017
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This review and more can be found at my blog

https://aromancereadersreviews.blogspot.com

A Romance Reader's Reviews

I haven't read any previous books in this series but each book is a stand alone.

So we're introduced to Ryder as he arrives home to see his grandfather after a fall in which he broke his hip. They discuss business and what's going to happen when his grandfather dies. The title and all business related to it will pass to the oldest married grandchild, and that isn't Ryder. To stop him from losing the business he loves he has to find a wife.

Welcome Scarlett to the scene. A woman he spent the night with after flying back out to America to attend to his business dealings across the pond. Only Scarlett runs a business he's trying to take over and is refusing to step down from a leading role. The perfect solution: get married and both get to keep the businesses they love.

Of course feelings emerge over time and what started off fake soon turns real. I actually enjoyed reading them fall for each other. It sort of bloomed over time out of all the sex and time they spent together. It was really kind of sweet. Of course, there's always something that happens that makes the couple part and I'm pleased to say that it was neither of their faults in this one! Nevertheless, they part ways for a while and Ryder's admission of his love and the things he did to try and win her back were really nice.

I'm actually looking forward to reading more books by this author if they're all like this.
  
Wrecking Ball (Hard to Love, #1)
Wrecking Ball (Hard to Love, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This starts with Camilla in court (i think?) as she is told she has lost everything she owns after her dead husband started a ponzi scheme that lost a lot of people a lot of money. She is public enemy number one and nobody wants to hire her so she ends up living with her parents and going through agencies in the hopes of finding a job. She's finally offered one looking after a young boy who has a celebrity uncle and must live with them for the duration of the contract. Sparks fly between Cam and Calvin from the start but as they grow closer, animosity turns to attraction.

I actually really enjoyed this. It was definitely a slow burn romance but you could see there was a spark there from pretty early on. Probably from when Cal turned up at her evening job asking her to take the nanny job and wanting to drive her home afterwards since it was so late. That there put him down as being a gentleman in my books and I was smitten. I devoured it from that point on, willing them to finally do something about their attraction.

Of course, there's the dilemma that tears our couple apart and even I was getting emotional at that part. Geez, they were so good together and something like that was going to end up tearing them apart. All came right in the end, though, thank God, or I would be an emotional wreck right now.

I may have to read the next book in the series because it focuses on Cam's best friend and apparent man-hater, Amber, so that should be fun.
  
I'll start by saying I LOVE THIS SERIES! Darynda Jones has written such an amazing likeable but slightly dumb, sometimes genius character in Charley Davidson. You can't help but like her.

This starts with Charley sitting in a psychiatrist's office as she equally does a job and confesses everything that she's learned about herself over the last ten books to the doctor in the chair. Turns out the shrink is dead and haunting the office. There is one big case that Charley is working on in this and it's the couple who kidnapped Reyes when he was a baby. There's a few other smaller things thrown in and we see Charley learn how to be who she was born to be with a little help from Reyes.

As I've already mentioned, I love this series. It is right up my street with it's snark, humour and romance. Characters that we've grown to love over the last ten books make reappearances, some new characters pop up and some that have been mentioned peripherally make themselves known. It's hard to give too many details without spoiling it for those who haven't got this far in the series.

If you've not at least started this series, then I can't recommend it enough, really. That is, if you like urban fantasy/paranormal romances. Or demons. Gods...

I have book 12 in paperback, too, and haven't decided whether to read it straight away yet - despite that bit of a cliff hanger that happened at the end! - as I feel I would immediately want to read book 13 to finish the series and I don't have it yet. It's on my to-buy list.
  
Better Watch Out (2016)
Better Watch Out (2016)
2016 | Horror
7
7.0 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Better Watch Out isn't just another unconventional Christmas movie to throw into the ever growing pile, no sir. As much as it sets itself up as another fun festive horror, it's actually possesses one hell of a mean streak, and is genuinely uncomfortable to watch for a huge chunk of it's runtime.

The basic premise revolves around 12 year old Luke. When his parents head out for the evening, his babysitter Ashley is hired one last time before she moves away from the area. Not long into the evening, weird shit starts happening, and it's soon apparent that the two of them and Luke's friend Garrett are all falling victim to a home invasion, and they have to fight to survive the night. Without going into spoiler territory, the plot isn't quite this straightforward, and there's a midway twist that gives us a properly sadistic main antagonist.

This is all portrayed superbly by its main cast. Levi Miller is great as Luke, and the other main cast are played by The Visit alumni Olivia DeJonge, and Ed Oxenbould (thankfully not constantly rapping this time around). The three of them absolutely carry this film to it's bloody climax.
The gore isn't too shabby, and is done fairly tastefully all things considered. When shit starts to hit the fan, we are treated to some genuinely tense moments, and a couple of jump scares that have that rare honour of feeling somewhat earned.

All in all, Better Watch Out is a decent slice of Christmas horror. It's different, it's clever, and has a fucked up Home Alone kind of vibe for good measure. Worth checking out!
  
Boot Camp (Rock War #2)
Boot Camp (Rock War #2)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So this is the sequel to Rock War by Robert Muchamore, which is the only other novel I've read by this author. I can't say I loved the first book, but I was intrigued to find out what happened next!

Twelve young bands have earned their big break, and are due to spend their summer in Rock War Manor as part of a new TV show. Among these contestants we have Brontobyte, Jet, and Industrial Scale Slaughter - all of whom we met in the previous novel.

The bands are put through vigorous training, before performing live and having to deal with the nosy media. There's also the added issue of tension among some contestants, such as Jay and his ex-band-mates. There are, of course, some more positive relationships going on too.

This book paints a rather realistic picture of life in the media, with all the ups and down that "fame" can bring. Not that I have any actual experience in this matter, of course.

My main problem with these books is how immature they feel. The language isn't simple, but it just somehow feels childish to me. Not to mention how most characters are a few years younger than me, and remind me of my first couple of years at secondary school.

Despite this, the story is pretty good, and I was really rather shocked by the ending. Again, I'm left wanting to know what happens next?

So although I don't love this book, I don't hate it, and I can see how some people could really enjoy it. So I think it deserves 3.5 stars.
  
What Men Want (2019)
What Men Want (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
What men want... but is it what moviegoers want?
In keeping with the growing trend of gender-swapping reboots, What Men Want is a re-envisioning of the classic rom-com, What Women Want, with Mel Gibson replaced with the charismatic Taraji P. Henson, and a toaster in the bathtub replaced by a drug-dealing psychic.

Yeah...


The premise remains the same: fate intervenes and gives a headstrong, intimidating woman who thinks she's doing a good job of making it in a man's world the power to hear men's thoughts... which quickly shows her she knows nothing at all.

This R-rated comedy has a few laughs, but falls into cringe territory more often than it needs to. It's predictable, which was to be expected, really, given the genre. However, I confess to being pleasantly surprised by it. Certainly not the best comedy I've seen by a long way, but on a par with the Baywatch remake in terms of the level of humour and the assumed target audience.

Taraji P. Henson is great in the lead role, with the supporting cast all doing a solid, if not a little routine job of backing her up. It's the kind of film you go into understanding what you're getting - a few laughs, a few cringes, a lot of inappropriate and suggestive themes and, ultimately, something that makes you forget the real world for a couple of hours. Nothing more, nothing less.

Overall, it's not bad, but it's far from great. This is something you watch on a Friday night when you've had a hard week and your brain needs a rest.
  
Thirteen Weddings
Thirteen Weddings
Paige Toon | 2014
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I suppose I should say that I'm not normally a lover of chick-lit but Paige Toon is an author I will buy happily.

CONTAINS SPOILERS, SO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I feel a bit like I'm in limbo. Is there going to be a second book? I WANT there to be a second book! I NEED there to be a second book.

I'm sorry but I was pretty much Team Alex all the way through this. Okay at the end he didn't help himself when he went through with his stupid wedding, but for me the attraction and connection between him and Bronte was amazing. He told her he loved her, messaged her everyday, she phones him up to tell him to stop and he does? Really? It seems too easy. I never really saw Alex as a quitter.

And Lackie...I liked you. Just not as a couple with Bronte. You were fun, charming, sexy...but I can't say I felt the chemistry between you as much as I could with Alex.

AND considering I tend to want my girl to go with the first guy...then that would be Alex.

I loved the first 75%. It was the author's usual witty book with great, likeable characters and an interesting plotline which I loved. I would have gladly given it 5 stars if not for the ending.

I know the author can't please everyone with her story, and that it's terrible of me to rate it down an entire star just because she didn't write the ending I wanted, but that's the kind of mood I'm in right now.
  
Mulberry Mischief
Mulberry Mischief
Sharon Farrow | 2019 | Mystery
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Halloween Mischief and Murder
It’s the week before Halloween in Oriole Point, Michigan, yet the town is focusing on health thanks to the Haunted Halloween Harvest Health Fair. The Saturday the festival opens, Marlee Jacob, owner of the Berry Basket, is cornered by Leticia the Lake Lady. Leticia is one of the odd characters who call the town home. She is ranting about the shadow people who have come to town and demanding that Marlee order mulberries so Leticia can use their protective properties to cover her cabin. Marlee thinks Leticia is harmless if a little off, but that’s before a dead body turns up. Will the latest happenings disrupt the health fair?

Picking up this book, I knew I was in for another fantastic ride, and I wasn’t disappointed. While it takes a couple chapters for the body to drop, we are meeting characters who will become important to the story and trying to make sense of some puzzling things that start to happen. The pace doesn’t slow at all once the murder takes place, and the revelations are only beginning as Marlee pieces things together. The suspects are all strong, and I could have believed any of them were guilty until Marlee pieced together the final clues. Of course, the series regulars are as fun and charming as always – I love them! I’m not quite ready for fall, but this book still put me in the Halloween spirit. We get four berry inspired recipes – two featuring Mulberries and two berry inspired Halloween treats. I really can’t recommend this series highly enough. New fans will be hooked, and existing fans will love Marlee’s latest adventure.