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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
1993 | Animation, Family, Sci-Fi
Bone Daddy Nearly Ruins Christmas!
Every Halloween, Jack the Pumpkin King, would go out and scare many people with his frightening theatrics. Unfortunately, Jack has grown tired of doing the same routine every year and wanted to do something different. It was then that Jack accidentally ended up in Christmas Town and he was so awed and amazed at the Christmas visuals and the figure of Santa Claus (who he mistakenly calls "Sandy Claws"), that he decided that he should take over Christmas for the year! This then leads to Santa Claus being kidnapped by Oogie Boogie and Christmas nearly put into disaster!

Can Jack fix all of this before it's too late?

Seriously, this is probably my most favorite film made by Tim Burton (well technically, it was produced by Tim Burton and the poem was written by him, but Henry Selick directed the film). I just loved the cute yet nightmarish visuals in this movie as they gave the movie a creative vibe and I really loved seeing the different kinds of characters that pop up in Halloween Town, with my favorite creatures being the Clown with the Tearaway Face and the Vampires! I also loved the characters themselves as they were all interesting and amusing to look at. Probably my most favorite character in this entire movie was none other than Jack Skellington himself as he was a truly charming and charismatic character! I just loved the way that Jack went about trying something different for a change and it was cute seeing him lit up with enthusiasm as he tried to become the new Santa Claus. I also loved the character of Sally the Rag Doll as she truly cares about Jack and would do anything to prevent Jack from ruining Christmas! The visuals were amazing as all the characters look truly nightmarish (especially the werewolf and the witches) and yet, their personalities are so likable that you cannot help but actually care for these characters. Probably the best part of this movie were the songs themselves as they truly capture the true essence of this film, with my favorite songs being "What's This?" "This is Halloween" and "Sally's Song."

The only problem with this film is that the reason why this movie was rated PG was because of the scary imagery. So, there may be some images, like the various monsters that show up in this film, that might scare smaller children for the most part. Also, there is not enough back stories with any of these characters to really get to know their true motives and their existence, so some people might be a bit confused about where some of the motives of the characters came from, like in the case of Oogie Boogie where we don't know much about his character other than he despises Jack Skellington.

Overall, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is a fantastic animated film that you can see either during Christmas or Halloween ( a two in one deal, how cool is that)? and it will forever be remembered as a classic film that Tim Burton and stop motion fans will love for many years!

Originally posted on: http://surrealmoviesandtvblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/movie-review-nightmare-before-christmas.html
  
Billionaire's Muse (The Billionaire’s Playground #3)
Billionaire's Muse (The Billionaire’s Playground #3)
JP Sayle | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
HIGH on the warm and fuzzy/too stinking cute scale!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I stand by what I said in my review for book 2. This is book 3 in the Billionaire's Playground but its not necessary to have read book one, Property of a Billionaire, nor book 2, Reluctant Billionaire before this one. However, those books are where we meet Nanna and you might want to get the full force of her nature :-)

Marcus is a photographer, dis-illusioned with his current career path. Taking pictures in war zones is eating away at his soul. Doing a favour for his best friend seems like just the distraction he needs. Until he meets Finlo. Now that man is a distraction to end ALL distraction and Marcus is smitten. Finlo is also smitten with the older man, but Marcus wouldn't want him, surely? Fin who has no mouth to brain filter? Who says whatever pops into his head? Fin, who is a skinny runt?? Surely not?

OH! This book? I loved this book! So much more than the other two books and I really enjoyed them! This book is so much more than them, and I will *attempt* to explain!

Mostly, I think it's Fin who makes this book. He's a character all right and I loved him. He has no filter, he says and sees things in black and white and he knows he not everyone cuppa tea, indeed, he thinks he is NO-ONE's cuppa tea, but Marcus is drawn to Fin in ways he never knew he could be drawn in. It's not just the beauty he sees when he looks at Fin through the camera lens, cos He can see that the man is stunning, even if Fin doesn't think so. No, it's what Marcus does when Fin starts rambling, and panicking about anything and everything: nothing. He lets Fin ramble, he lets Fin work his way through whatever is bothering him and he never once tries to shut him up, well. . .he DOES, but only in a way that Fin wants :-)

Nanna's meddling is there, as in the other books, but I found it to be a little on the low side, Marcus and Fin don't need much meddling, but a few little pushes, rather than a full scale assault is all they need, Fin, actually needs those pushes. And a shopping trip or two!

It's low on the angst, but high on the steam. But not explicit, just steamy enough.

Again, Marcus doesn't flaunt his wealth. He works HARD for his money, and he wants to share that wealth. And he does, in ways that surprises Fin. Marcus WILL spoil Fin, if he'll just let him. His mum was a surprise, especially after she meets Fin's eco-warrior, teepee-living mum. Those two were meant to be friends!

And when Marcus does what he does at the end?? Very fitting for these two, the way he does that, it really was!

I found this to be a beautiful read, that is high on the warm and fuzzies, and too stinking cute scale, and I loved it so much MORE than the other two!

So it can only get....

5 full and shiny stars!

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
Ninja: Silent But Deadly
Ninja: Silent But Deadly
2016 | Action, Party Game
Playing games is so much fun, sometimes I wish I could play two games at the same time! Enter Ninja: Silent But Deadly. From the people who brought us Pretense, Button Shy Games delivers again with another meta-game card game that lasts the entire game night. So don’t get too caught up in the current game on the table, because there are Ninjas out to get you!

Ninja: Silent But Deadly (referred to simply as Ninja from here on out) is a party game of player elimination in which the goal is to be the last player standing. The setup is simple – each player receives 1 Ninja card. Yeah, that’s it. The gameplay is the fun part. Each player has until the end of the game night to hide/place their card in a spot where another player will be forced to see/find it. For example, maybe you drop some dice on the floor and ask your neighbor to pick it up for you. When they lean down, they see you also dropped your Ninja card as well! Upon their discovery, they are eliminated from the game and must forfeit their own Ninja card. The game continues with players being eliminated, until there is only one player left. That player is the winner! Be careful, though, because if another player sees you trying to sneak your Ninja card somewhere, they can call out “Ninja!” and you are eliminated from the game. It’s a game of stealth, cunning, and mistrust, and it makes for an entertaining experience.

Based on the above description, I’m sure you are thinking that Ninja is just a silly game. And you would be correct. It is no brain burner or king of strategy, but rather a fun way to keep the party engaged throughout the entire game night. Everyone has to be on their toes, and everyone is trying to come up with the most clever way to trick someone into finding their card. You have to be innovative and sly when hiding your card, as well as being wary of anything someone might ask you to do all night. Although games of player elimination can sometimes be cutthroat, Ninja feels light-hearted enough to be enjoyed by all gamers.

That being said, the problem with player elimination games is that only the players who have yet to be eliminated get to participate in the game to the fullest. If you are the first player out, the magic is kind of over and you just get to spend the rest of the game night as normal, watching others continue playing a game while you sit on the sidelines. That’s probably my biggest qualm with this game.

So overall, how is Ninja? I think it’s a cute little game. It is silly, light-hearted, and easily accessible to all ages and types of players. Having played Button Shy’s other meta-game, Pretense, however, I would say that Ninja falls a little flat. In Pretense, players are eliminated only if they have fulfilled the requirement on your individual role card. In Ninja, you are just automatically eliminated if you find a Ninja card. Pretense takes a little bit more strategy, and that makes the game more engaging for me. But all in all, Ninja: Silent But Deadly is a cute game that I will definitely bring out at larger game nights for some light-hearted fun! Purple Phoenix Games gives it a stealthy 5 / 12.