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Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Full Metal Jacket (1987) in Movies

Jan 3, 2018 (Updated Jan 3, 2018)  
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
1987 | Action, Drama, War
This my Rifle This is My gun
This movie is one of the best look into Marine training at Paris Island. The movie is a nice look into the Vietnam war showcasing a great actor in Modine. His character is seen two ways (a killer and protector) and depending on your point of view you get to decide which one he is. The movie is suspenseful and filled with some good history. It also is a little depressing but, what war movie isn't. The best part in my opinion is that R. Lee Ermey was really a Master Sgt in the Marines so he didn't really need training to act the way he did. He frightened Modine as he said in several interviews
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Exit West in Books

Jul 24, 2017  
Exit West
Exit West
Mohsin Hamid | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.1 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
A dystopian current affairs magical realistic fiction
A deeply tragic account of how two people can be caught in circumstances of war, how easy it is to lose everything and the potential hope that humanity offers. Saeed and Nadia attempt to face an apocalyptic situation in the face of adversity despite having a tenuous connection to one another. It is quite a depressing read especially given the current situation in the Middle East - but Hamid does a great job in humanising the characters. They are just two simple people attempting to make a relationship work under intense circumstances. A beautiful account, I just wished the story was slightly more developed as it tended to run from one scene to another.
  
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Owen Kline recommended Kiss of Death (1995) in Movies (curated)

 
Kiss of Death (1995)
Kiss of Death (1995)
1995 | Action, Drama, Mystery
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Like Gregory’s Girl, another movie about a gangly young man struggling to communicate romantically, but through a young Mike Leigh’s harsher lens, all is hopeless. There’s a depressing scene at a disco where Freda Payne’s "Band of Gold" is playing in the background. Trevor stands to the side and refuses to dance while everyone else happily boogies to this upbeat song – upbeat to dance to, but if you’re not dancing and just paying attention to the lyrics, they’re pretty miserable. It’s such a purposeful, subtle touch that is so pure Mike Leigh that it manages to subvert any irony. I can just imagine it being the only song he liked of the disco era. And the titular kiss is pure death."

Source
  
A Prayer Before Dawn (2018)
A Prayer Before Dawn (2018)
2018 | Action, International, Thriller
There will be blood
#aprayerbeforedawn is a relentless, hard hitting, dizzying trip into the world of addiction while incarcerated in a #notorious foreign prison. #prayerbeforedawn is the true story of #english #boxer #billymoore who is sent prison in #thailand?? & the film uses real #prisoners as cast. More like an experience than a film prayer is exhausting, relentless & at times a tuff watch. Everything intimidates here & with most of the dialog spoken not being in english or having subtitles we are made to feel as alone, frightened & intimidated as Billy. #violence is kept mostly off screen but to good effect giving it a more raw, savage & disturbing feel leaving the worst to your imagination. Sound design is incredible too be it the dread filled #soundtrack or the seemingly ramped up unnerving volume of #prison life around Billy everything seems to make you #anxious & under threat. Billy is #strong physically but his mind is #damaged/tortured & its almost as if #fighting & #drugs are his only escapism. Its depressing seeing him go from seemingly untouchable to a weak/#scared kid & with physical danger everywhere his mind starts to become more & more unstable. #joecole gives such a mesmerising performance here, you feel his #pain, #fear, paranoia & torture & admire what little #fight he has left in him. Infact whats going on in the prison could essentially be a metaphore for the stuggles going on in his head. Visually depressing but stunningly #gorgeous its almost like the director took inspiration from #nicholaswindingrefn #onlygodforgives & even uses some of its talented cast too. I really cant recommend this film enough it truly is a remarkable film & such an incredible, sad & powerful #truestory. #odeon #odeonlimitless #thursdaythoughts #fighter #boxing
  
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (2018)
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (2018)
2018 | Comedy, Musical
An entirely unnecessary sequel
I can't for the life of me fathom why they decided to make this film. It is one of the most depressing musicals I've ever seen (and yes I have seen Les Mis). Whilst the first film wasn't great, at least it was happy feel good sing along. This however is for the most part plain old depressing and miserable. If it wasn't for Julie Walters and the young & old Harry, this would also be entirely devoid of any form of humour.

The problem with this sequel is that it ruins the ending of the original and also tells a story that we didn't need to know. The whole flashbacks about how Donna met the guys isn't massively interesting and doesn't turn out as exciting as the first film made it sound. There's also an issue with the music. I'm not the biggest Abba fan, but I know quite a lot of their well known music, however I must have known less than half of the songs in this. I had thought they must have to use different songs, but in all honesty I wished they hadn't and just kept the more popular ones again.

This has a great cast but I think they're ruined by such a poor plot and overall film. Cher has a great voice still, but her acting skills are marred by the inability to move her face because of all the work she's had done. The whole thing is just a bit of a mess, lacks any form of spark or heart and is really just a bit pointless.
  
Life After Life
Life After Life
Kate Atkinson | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.2 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mind-blowing account about different choices
This is really quite a unique novel about the roads taken if a person was given a choice. The story surrounds a woman named Ursula, who dies in various different ways until she makes the right choices. At some points she is aware that she is sensing deja vu, at others, she thinks she's becoming unstable. All throughout however, only snow is a consistent factor in gauging her bearings.

It almost feels like Jacob's Ladder has been amalgamated with Groundhog Day, but in a much more epic fashion, exploring death, conflict, and fate. From dying at birth, to dying during the Second World War, some of the paths are deeply depressing, but bravo to Kate Atkinson for writing a complex yet clear book.
  
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV
2016 | Role-Playing
Epic
This is the first Final Fantasy I've played since X-2, and I was worried it had changed too much for me to like it anymore, but my worries were unfounded.

This is a fantastic game. Not for people who don't like RPGs, but if you love side quests and epic stories, then this is a great game to play. The world itself is immense, the effects are brilliant and the game play time is very worth the money. Although I've finished the main story, I still haven't finished all of the side quests!

My only negatives about this game is the dialogue and the ending. Playing lots of side quests etc means the talking gets very repetitive. And without giving anything away, the ending was just beyond depressing.
  
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Maddie (37 KP) Nov 16, 2017

Ugh, I'm about two chapters away from finishing this game and I am SO not ready for the end. The story has emotionally damaged me enough as it is! The game is super fun to play though, so kudos to Square for at least making it worth the many year wait.