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Chariots of Fire (1981)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
1981 | Drama, International, Sport
Yep - just as overly-mannered, anticlimactic, awards bait-y, and loooonnngggg as everyone says. However, also like everyone says, there's no denying that righteous Vangelis score and drop-dead gorgeous shots (in particular the sumptuous locales, but even the grandiose interior shots here remind you just how much can actually be captured on a camera lens). But honestly? You could do *way* worse in terms of Oscar bait (or even wrongful Best Picture winners). I thought this was mostly fine right up until - ironically - the Olympics happen where it then proceeds to fall apart narratively, structurally, and thematically. This features some fairly compelling notes on antisemitism, faith, and patriotism but they all only get mentioned like once or twice before taking a backseat to the rather sterile and predictable running stuff - which is shot competently but uninvolving, if you're going to underwrite most of the other stuff then you at least gotta have that, boss. Also noticeably misogynistic - setting up the paper-thin women characters as sticks-in-the-mud who have to be condescendingly explained to like infants why they should just shut up and realize that what these rich, spoiled asshole men want is more important than what they want. Plus everyone in this runs like they have to take a massive shit.
  
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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Red Dead Redemption 2 in Video Games

Jun 6, 2019  
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2
2018 | Action/Adventure
An incredible achievement in gaming
I must admit that Red Dead Redemption is one of my top games ever, the long awaited sequel was always going to have a lot to live up to. But RDR2 truly builds on the first game in every way.

The game world feels alive. I found myself taking forever to get through the massive story, just because I kept getting distracted by other things going on - so much so that I only finished the story in March (I bought it the previous October on day one).

It took a while to adjust to the controls - I found myself accidentally shooting people I didn't mean to, or punching my horse, which would mor often than not result in my death - but once I had the hang of it, I was hooked.

The story is quite incredible, all of the characters are well fleshed out, to the point that you care about most of them. RDR2 is a prequel story, so you know that the events unfolding are heading towards the first game, but getting there is a thrilling an emotional journey.

The game looks amazing as well, I found myself enjoying the copious amount of horse riding, just to admire the many views and vistas throughout.

The soundtrack is also great - used sparingly until it's needed, resulting in some breathtaking moments.

I can't recommend RDR2 enough, as long as you have the patience to go with it - it's slow burning at times, and it encourages you to fully sit back and take your time exploring this incredibly well crafted world, but the pay off is nothing short of spectacular.
  
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
2013 | Action
Contains spoilers, click to show
A gang are using fast, souped up cars to steal military equipment and Hobbs needs help in catching them, the only people he can think of to help are Dom and his family.
So Fast and Furious 6 is car gang vs car gang and is basically the franchises version of the 'Power rangers'/'Star trek' or any other show where the hero's meet their evil doubles and, hay it's even acknowledged in the film .
With Fast and Furious 6 we are getting back to familiar patterns, Dwayne Johnson is now settling into his roll as Hobbs and the whole gang form the previous films are back, including one of the dead ones.
(Some of) The cars are getting more unusual, the weapons are getting more fun and more cars are destroyed per chase, along with more fight scenes this makes Fast and Furious 6 a lot of fun.
The franchise is getting bigger but seems to still trying to remain rooted in reality, even the return of the dead character is explained in an almost rational way.
Most of the film is still set before 'Tokyo Drift' however there is a mid credit scene that brings the franchise in line with the end of the third film and I'm guessing that that is where 7 will pick up.
So if you want car chases, over the top fights and storyline and a reason to turn your brain off for two hours you could do worse than Fast and Furious 6.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2336 KP) rated Easter Basket Murder in Books

Jan 25, 2024 (Updated Jan 25, 2024)  
Easter Basket Murder
Easter Basket Murder
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Here’s to a Deadly Easter
Kensington has called on their go to trio for three new holiday themed mysteries, this time featuring Easter. Up first, Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone gets involved with a promotion for the local businesses leads to the theft of a golden Easter egg. Then Lee Hollis’s Hayley Powell finds the Easter Bunny dead at a community Easter egg hunt. Finally, Barbara Ross’s Julia Snowden’s Easter on the family island off the coast of Maine is interrupted when she finds a man in coat tails dead in the garden. Then, a few minutes later, he’s gone.

All three stories have fun with the theme, and present it in some clever ways. As is often the case, I found the first story the weakest, but the mysteries in the other two stories are strong. Still, I was engaged no matter which story I was reading. All three have some great Easter elements that made me feel like it was spring. And I love the community aspects we get. I’m only a regular reader of Barbara Ross’s series, and I was interested in the updates we got on the characters there. If you are looking for some new dishes to serve this year, you’ll be interested in the recipes we get with the second and third story. Each story is roughly 100 pages, so you can read them in a sitting or two. Overall, this is a fun anthology you’ll be happy hopped on to your to be read pile.
  
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Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Blame in Books

Jun 5, 2019  
Blame
Blame
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Imagine, several years of your life just vanish as a result of an accident, but all you know is that the person you were with was killed and everyone blames you. This is situation Jeff Abbott tackles in Blame, an engaging thriller with an ending I didn’t expect.

Jane Norton is hiding something, and although we vaguely know pretty early on what has happened to her, she is an amnesiac and not portrayed in the best light. Why was she in the car with David, the boy who died? Who wrote the note they found at the scene of the car crash, which appeared to be written in Jane’s handwriting stating “I wish we were dead together”?

The slow start of the story reflects her altered perception of things in a way which explores how she came to be in the state she is, piecing together what happened, in her own disorientated way. I felt sorry for her, yet slightly annoyed at her behaviour. Yes, she is flawed, but she is also scared and frustrated. Does she deserve the treatment some throw at her? Would you be able to forgive her if you knew the truth? As the story progressed I found I was beginning to revel in Jane’s take no sh^t attitude and she grew on me even more.

I took a while to get into this, but glad I stuck it out. That’s never a good expression to put into a review, but it is how I felt. Despite this, the plot did indeed gather speed and there were twists and turns galore, which raced to a final conclusion that made reading this book all worthwhile.
  
Echo of the Dead (DSI William Lorimer #19)
Echo of the Dead (DSI William Lorimer #19)
Alex Gray | 2022 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is another entertaining outing for DSI Lorimer and whilst this is the 19th in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Echo of the Dead if set in the Scottish Highlands and Alex Gray does an excellent job of 'selling' the area to the reader despite the darkness of the story.

Lorimer is on a break with his friend, Daniel, when they stumble upon a body. A short time later, another body is found and Lorimer returns with his Team to investigate. Are these connected and could they be related to an historical massacre?

With a great cast of characters, this is an intriguing mystery with twists and is a great edition to the series and one that I would recommend to lovers of this genre.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.