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Rikkasaurus (0 KP) rated Mass Effect: Andromeda in Video Games
May 7, 2018
Game play (1 more)
World graphics
Facial graphics (2 more)
Bugs
Incomplete storyline
Andromeda got too much hate
Before the war against the Reapers led by Shepard, The Andromeda Initiative sought to send out colonies to another galaxy. You play as Sarah or Scott Ryder, a soldier in the Initiative to find a new home for your colony. Explore new planets and discover new species.
My thoughts? I played Andromeda when it first came out. It was super buggy. The facial expressions were laughable. But it was in space with all our familiar ME Easter eggs, had great game play, and a vast amount of potential. However due to the backlash of fans (yes, EA should have NOT released such a unrefined game. Yes, it isn't as good as the original trilogy - because it is unfair to compare it to the story arc of a complete trilogy!) EA has stepped away from continuing with this story which is the most frustrating thing ever. EA needs to bring it back and the team needs to break boundaries and be creative to bring this story line further to life and continue it on for a DLC or next game.
My thoughts? I played Andromeda when it first came out. It was super buggy. The facial expressions were laughable. But it was in space with all our familiar ME Easter eggs, had great game play, and a vast amount of potential. However due to the backlash of fans (yes, EA should have NOT released such a unrefined game. Yes, it isn't as good as the original trilogy - because it is unfair to compare it to the story arc of a complete trilogy!) EA has stepped away from continuing with this story which is the most frustrating thing ever. EA needs to bring it back and the team needs to break boundaries and be creative to bring this story line further to life and continue it on for a DLC or next game.
ALilLacey (2 KP) rated The Knights Before Christmas in Books
Mar 4, 2019
I read this book aloud to my 5 year old daughter. This is her review:
"The book was awesome and funny. My favorite part was when they saw Santa and thought he was trying to get in ( they thought he was an invader) and Santa just kept trying to get in. I also liked when the Knight said, 'Jingle bells, Invader smells, Jingle all the way.' I also liked when they took all the gifts and presents Santa threw at them and decorated the tree with them. I also love that the author made the book and that she was so thoughtful."
Mom's review: This book was really adorable. A fun play on the old Christmas poem T'was a Night Before Christmas. The story was funny and creative. The Knights all had their own personalities and funny quirks and Santa's persistence made for an enjoyable read. I liked all the little extras going on in the background of the illustrations and little sayings and singings of the Knights. Definitely a recommended book for all ages of young children. The pictures even kept my toddler entertained.
"The book was awesome and funny. My favorite part was when they saw Santa and thought he was trying to get in ( they thought he was an invader) and Santa just kept trying to get in. I also liked when the Knight said, 'Jingle bells, Invader smells, Jingle all the way.' I also liked when they took all the gifts and presents Santa threw at them and decorated the tree with them. I also love that the author made the book and that she was so thoughtful."
Mom's review: This book was really adorable. A fun play on the old Christmas poem T'was a Night Before Christmas. The story was funny and creative. The Knights all had their own personalities and funny quirks and Santa's persistence made for an enjoyable read. I liked all the little extras going on in the background of the illustrations and little sayings and singings of the Knights. Definitely a recommended book for all ages of young children. The pictures even kept my toddler entertained.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) in Movies
May 3, 2019
Sprawling, episodic historical drama which brought the Hollywood career of Luc Besson to a firm stop. 15th century France is invaded by the English, but leading the resistance is a teenage girl who believes she can hear the voice of God. She may be able to defeat the invaders, but can she survive the snake pit of court and church politics?
So: Joan of Arc, an iconic, legendary, complex figure, is brought to the screen by Milla Jovovich, whose performance mostly consists of her rolling her eyes a lot and squeaking. No matter how distinguished the rest of the cast, or how well staged the various massed battle scenes, this is a problem which any film would struggle to overcome. Some other odd creative choices don't help much (Dustin Hoffman turns up as the embodiment of Joan's self-doubt). Still, there is a genuine sense of the medieval grotesque, and Besson is very much in his comfort zone during the battles. Certainly a brave and imaginative take on history, but the end result is too close to Monty Python and the Holy Grail for comfort.
So: Joan of Arc, an iconic, legendary, complex figure, is brought to the screen by Milla Jovovich, whose performance mostly consists of her rolling her eyes a lot and squeaking. No matter how distinguished the rest of the cast, or how well staged the various massed battle scenes, this is a problem which any film would struggle to overcome. Some other odd creative choices don't help much (Dustin Hoffman turns up as the embodiment of Joan's self-doubt). Still, there is a genuine sense of the medieval grotesque, and Besson is very much in his comfort zone during the battles. Certainly a brave and imaginative take on history, but the end result is too close to Monty Python and the Holy Grail for comfort.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Phantom Thread (2017) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018 (Updated Feb 9, 2018)
Not a Fun Guy to Be With
Yet another reissue of the controversial 1999 movie, but this time George Lucas has taken out all the stuff with taxation and Jar Jar Binks in favour of fashion design... ha ha, I jest.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays an obsessional creative genius who throws himself completely into his work and is very demanding of everyone around him, and is occasionally prone to hallucinating dead family members (so perhaps this role was less of a stretch for him than many).
Initially this comes across as a slightly so-what romantic drama about the relationship between a powerful, privileged man and a much younger woman, with him as a manipulative user and her, essentially, as a victim, but it eventually turns into a dark and even slightly twisted tale of what it sometimes takes to make a relationship work.
Day-Lewis is good, obviously, but so is Vicky Krieps as the woman in his life; presumably it's only her obscurity that's kept her from getting awards nods as she is really as good as he is.
Probably not for everyone, but Paul Anderson's most satisfying and accessible film for some years.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays an obsessional creative genius who throws himself completely into his work and is very demanding of everyone around him, and is occasionally prone to hallucinating dead family members (so perhaps this role was less of a stretch for him than many).
Initially this comes across as a slightly so-what romantic drama about the relationship between a powerful, privileged man and a much younger woman, with him as a manipulative user and her, essentially, as a victim, but it eventually turns into a dark and even slightly twisted tale of what it sometimes takes to make a relationship work.
Day-Lewis is good, obviously, but so is Vicky Krieps as the woman in his life; presumably it's only her obscurity that's kept her from getting awards nods as she is really as good as he is.
Probably not for everyone, but Paul Anderson's most satisfying and accessible film for some years.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Justice League (2017) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018 (Updated Feb 9, 2018)
Surprisingly non-awful
CGI aliens invade in search of ancient mystical plot coupons, forcing Batman and Wonder Woman to recruit a bunch of other superheroes (the Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg) in an attempt to fend them off.
Now, you can scratch your head at some of the creative choices made here - Why the all-pervading atmosphere of heavy metal gloom? Why these particular characters? Where's Green Lantern? Why not use a better-known villain? And so on - but on its own terms, this is a competently assembled film, for the most part. (This may be due to the fact that credited director Zach Snyder departed the production prematurely and was replaced by Joss Whedon.)
I stress 'for the most part' as there are still bits of this movie which just plain make no sense whatsoever, and there's a 'plot twist' (in the broadest sense of the term) which feels contrived and tonally wrong on pretty much every level. But at least they seem to be trying to treat these iconic characters with respect, and while this isn't up to the same standard as Wonder Woman it could have been much, much worse.
Now, you can scratch your head at some of the creative choices made here - Why the all-pervading atmosphere of heavy metal gloom? Why these particular characters? Where's Green Lantern? Why not use a better-known villain? And so on - but on its own terms, this is a competently assembled film, for the most part. (This may be due to the fact that credited director Zach Snyder departed the production prematurely and was replaced by Joss Whedon.)
I stress 'for the most part' as there are still bits of this movie which just plain make no sense whatsoever, and there's a 'plot twist' (in the broadest sense of the term) which feels contrived and tonally wrong on pretty much every level. But at least they seem to be trying to treat these iconic characters with respect, and while this isn't up to the same standard as Wonder Woman it could have been much, much worse.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Dying for a Taste (A Sally Solari Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sally is shocked to learn that her aunt Letta has been murdered in the restaurant that Letta owns in Santa Cruz. The evidence seems to point to Javier, Letta’s sous chef. Yet Sally doesn’t think he’d murder Letta, so she starts digging into Letta’s life. She uncovered some surprising secrets, but which of them might have gotten Letta murdered?
I really enjoyed this debut. It got off to a bit of a slow start as Sally dealt with the aftermath of having a relative die, but this section does help develop her character and sets up suspects. Once she fully commits to the investigation things pick up. We are introduced to several viable suspects. The story touches on some other issues as well, presenting them in a well-rounded manner and never forgetting that this is a murder mystery, both of which I greatly appreciated. The climax was creative and fun. I’m definitely looking forward to finding out what happens to Sally next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-dying-for-taste-by-leslie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I really enjoyed this debut. It got off to a bit of a slow start as Sally dealt with the aftermath of having a relative die, but this section does help develop her character and sets up suspects. Once she fully commits to the investigation things pick up. We are introduced to several viable suspects. The story touches on some other issues as well, presenting them in a well-rounded manner and never forgetting that this is a murder mystery, both of which I greatly appreciated. The climax was creative and fun. I’m definitely looking forward to finding out what happens to Sally next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-dying-for-taste-by-leslie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Venom (2018) in Movies
Oct 11, 2018
It doesn't make a lot of sense to make a film about a Spider-Man baddie that doesn't even mention Spider-Man, but then it doesn't strike me as an especially good move to make a superhero movie where the protagonist is a cannibalistic blob with teeth, and Venom manages to be both; welcome to 2018. TV reporter torches his own career, decides to investigate dodgy tycoon, ends up sharing his body with bad-tempered man-eating alien blob with teeth - looking on the bright side he can now shoot tentacles out of his armpits.
Generally a very good reminder of all the reasons why Sony were so wise to hand the actual creative side of the Spider-Man movies back to Marvel, because the script of this movie goes clunk-clunk-clunk from beginning to end; character motivations change in the twinkling of an eye and key plot points are merrily ignored when they become inconvenient. The only reason to watch the movie is Tom Hardy, who finds unexpected reserves of comedy in rather unlikely places. Still a bit of a mess though, certainly compared to the main sequence Marvel films.
Generally a very good reminder of all the reasons why Sony were so wise to hand the actual creative side of the Spider-Man movies back to Marvel, because the script of this movie goes clunk-clunk-clunk from beginning to end; character motivations change in the twinkling of an eye and key plot points are merrily ignored when they become inconvenient. The only reason to watch the movie is Tom Hardy, who finds unexpected reserves of comedy in rather unlikely places. Still a bit of a mess though, certainly compared to the main sequence Marvel films.
Cori June (3033 KP) rated The Serpent and the Light (Abscondita Est Magicae Book 1) in Books
Aug 13, 2019 (Updated Sep 28, 2020)
The characters (4 more)
Details in the descriptions
Cover Art
realistic reactions
twists
After contacting the author, he pulled the books and got an editor. He sent me an updated version to re-review. The flow of the story is smoother making an easier read. While there are some grammar mistakes, they don't distract from the story. Had I not mentioned them before I wouldn't have noticed them this time.
I was hooked on this story in the first page. It is an extremely creative story set in Tulsa, Oklahoma involving a cult of Chuthlu, death, college students, pot, police. Told from 4 different POVs. It is hard not to have some sort of reaction to the characters whether it be from disgust, dislike, or wanting to encourage them and afraid for them. There are also a few twists that may take you by surprise.
Warning:
This story is graphic and can get uncomfortable with it's descriptions. Without too much of a spoiler there are some disturbing scenes and situations.
There's a pretty good balance of humor, fear, amazement, and horror.
I can't wait to read the next book
I was hooked on this story in the first page. It is an extremely creative story set in Tulsa, Oklahoma involving a cult of Chuthlu, death, college students, pot, police. Told from 4 different POVs. It is hard not to have some sort of reaction to the characters whether it be from disgust, dislike, or wanting to encourage them and afraid for them. There are also a few twists that may take you by surprise.
Warning:
This story is graphic and can get uncomfortable with it's descriptions. Without too much of a spoiler there are some disturbing scenes and situations.
There's a pretty good balance of humor, fear, amazement, and horror.
I can't wait to read the next book
Awix (3310 KP) rated Bombshell (2019) in Movies
Jan 20, 2020
Based-on-fact drama exposing the reality of sexual harassment in the American media, from the director of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (feel that cognitive dissonance!). When a broadcaster is hired from right-wing network Fox News, she resolves to sue the founder, causing ructions throughout the organisation. It's actually a bit more wide-ranged and discursive than that, touching on various issues connected to attitudes towards the media and the exploitation of woman. Not explicitly anti-Trump, but the mood music is certainly not supporting him - I doubt many of the red cap brigade will find much here to enjoy.
To be honest, I was kind of expecting something more like The Big Short or Vice - angry and smart, but also blackly funny and formally creative. After a fairly sparky first act this just becomes quite a serious drama about sexual harassment. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but the thing is that it does become a bit issue-led. Some very good performances, though, and the prosthetics are fun too, I suppose (most of these people are unknown in the UK, though - did like Malcolm McDowell's Rupert Murdoch). Very watchable.
To be honest, I was kind of expecting something more like The Big Short or Vice - angry and smart, but also blackly funny and formally creative. After a fairly sparky first act this just becomes quite a serious drama about sexual harassment. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but the thing is that it does become a bit issue-led. Some very good performances, though, and the prosthetics are fun too, I suppose (most of these people are unknown in the UK, though - did like Malcolm McDowell's Rupert Murdoch). Very watchable.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Waves (2019) in Movies
Jan 22, 2020
Powerful, visually dazzling contemporary drama. The lives of an African-American family in Florida begin to unravel when their son, perhaps pushed too hard by a driven father, develops a painkiller addiction and discovers his girlfriend is pregnant. Very much in the same kind of vein as Moonlight, but I found this to be much more powerful in addition to being incredibly creative visually - the screen is filled with a bravura mixture of colour and movement.
For the first hour and half or so, this is like watching a car crash in slow motion: it's almost unbearable to watch the main character go off the rails, but you can't look away either. It concludes with the kind of incident you hear about as a brief item on the news, but here the film puts flesh on those bones and the scale of the tragedy is made clear. The third act is a definite change of pace: no less artfully made or moving, but less focused, and the outcome of the film remains in doubt until the very end. I'm hugely surprised this hasn't featured on the Academy Awards shortlist: a tremendous film in so many ways.
For the first hour and half or so, this is like watching a car crash in slow motion: it's almost unbearable to watch the main character go off the rails, but you can't look away either. It concludes with the kind of incident you hear about as a brief item on the news, but here the film puts flesh on those bones and the scale of the tragedy is made clear. The third act is a definite change of pace: no less artfully made or moving, but less focused, and the outcome of the film remains in doubt until the very end. I'm hugely surprised this hasn't featured on the Academy Awards shortlist: a tremendous film in so many ways.