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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Meg (2018) in Movies
Apr 2, 2019
Jurassic Shark
Megashark vs Jason Statham movie has its moments but suffers a bit from lacking a clear sense of what it actually wants to be: family-oriented disaster movie, cheesy B-movie fun, or special effects blockbuster. Some people get stuck at the bottom of the sea, top diver (Statham) is recruited to get them out; in the process an enormous prehistoric shark is unleashed.
Actually feels a bit like one of those ultra-calculated Chinese blockbusters we are beginning to see (cf. Skyscraper); perhaps this explains why it is always just a bit too bland and clean to really succeed. You can easily imagine Dwayne Johnson starring in this instead. Statham manages to bring his own brand of nuttiness to the affair, far outshining the rest of a pretty nondescript cast. Script is predictable, special effects are okay, ending is unexpectedly inventive. More fun than it sounds.
Actually feels a bit like one of those ultra-calculated Chinese blockbusters we are beginning to see (cf. Skyscraper); perhaps this explains why it is always just a bit too bland and clean to really succeed. You can easily imagine Dwayne Johnson starring in this instead. Statham manages to bring his own brand of nuttiness to the affair, far outshining the rest of a pretty nondescript cast. Script is predictable, special effects are okay, ending is unexpectedly inventive. More fun than it sounds.
A masterpiece of a TV show
I didn't really know much about the whole Chernobyl incident (I was 6 years old when it happened) except what I read but this show was a real eye opener.
Its a heartbreaking story on how the disaster affected the lives of the residents and those further afield and shows how the highest authorities in the russian government tried to cover everything up.A few upsetting scenes in depicting the illnesses that occurred after the incident but for me the most heartbreaking part was showing the emotional difficulty one man had in being given the job of going round and having to shoot all the dogs and cats that were left behind and then watch them being buried in the ground and covered in concrete.
A real triumph of a show that everyone really should watch.
Its a heartbreaking story on how the disaster affected the lives of the residents and those further afield and shows how the highest authorities in the russian government tried to cover everything up.A few upsetting scenes in depicting the illnesses that occurred after the incident but for me the most heartbreaking part was showing the emotional difficulty one man had in being given the job of going round and having to shoot all the dogs and cats that were left behind and then watch them being buried in the ground and covered in concrete.
A real triumph of a show that everyone really should watch.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Going, Going, Ganache (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When a photo shoot for Southwest Style turns into a disaster, Mel and Angie find themselves hosting a cupcake boot camp as a team building exercise for the fractured magazine staff. The second morning, Mel finds out of the staff members murdered behind her shop. With the prime suspects in her bakery, can Mel figure out who the killer is?
This is a wonderful addition to the series, and it is easy to see why the series has so many fans. The characters, main and new, are all strong. The mystery provides plenty of tension, suspects, and red herrings, and a couple of sub-plots involving the main characters will keep series fans engrossed as well. Add to that delicious cupcake recipes in the back, and you’ve got a winner.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-going-going-ganache-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a wonderful addition to the series, and it is easy to see why the series has so many fans. The characters, main and new, are all strong. The mystery provides plenty of tension, suspects, and red herrings, and a couple of sub-plots involving the main characters will keep series fans engrossed as well. Add to that delicious cupcake recipes in the back, and you’ve got a winner.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-going-going-ganache-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Left Behind (2014) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018 (Updated Feb 12, 2018)
Rapture with a capital C
Relatively lavish faith-based disaster movie which has somehow managed to land the services of a few people you may actually have heard of. Panic and chaos ensue when millions of people vanish in the blink of an eye; Nicolas Cage is stuck flying a plane looking for a place to land, on the ground his daughter runs around trying to work out what's happening. The final revelation (sorry) is telegraphed very early on by endless discussions of sin and religion.
Like most faith-based movies this is crippled by its own earnestness and didacticism; some ultra-low-budget action does not help much, and is strikingly poorly directed given Vic Armstrong is (in his own words) 'the world's greatest stuntman'. Unlikely to convince the undecided of either the essential truth of Christianity or the long-term prospects of Nicolas Cage's acting career.
Like most faith-based movies this is crippled by its own earnestness and didacticism; some ultra-low-budget action does not help much, and is strikingly poorly directed given Vic Armstrong is (in his own words) 'the world's greatest stuntman'. Unlikely to convince the undecided of either the essential truth of Christianity or the long-term prospects of Nicolas Cage's acting career.
Dean (6927 KP) rated The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) in Movies
Nov 7, 2018
A potentially great story about alien contact was really let down by the plot more than anything. I have seen the original and while that would be regarded as well ahead of it's time made in 1951 this will shortly be forgotten. This has the big budget modern effects otherwise the main difference of this and the original is the reason for the alien contact. The original made after WW2 was all about living in peace or risk destruction for our violent actions. This is all about the environment if we can't change our ways we risk killing the earth and ourselves. Oh and John Cleese is always worthy of more than a few minutes cameo?!
Great start but a missed opportunity. If you want a good action, drama or disaster film on a similar them watch Independence day, War of the Worlds, or The day after tomorrow instead.
Great start but a missed opportunity. If you want a good action, drama or disaster film on a similar them watch Independence day, War of the Worlds, or The day after tomorrow instead.
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated How to Walk Away in Books
Jan 26, 2019
A fresh story
HOW TO WALK AWAY was a fresh story, it felt new and unpredictable. There’s a jerk, actually he’s the jerk of jerks who I wanted to silence forever. There’s a heroine to admire, get behind and cheer, she rocked my reading experience. There’s a physical therapist, a Scot (more on that later) who had the whole strong, silent-type thing going on. Then there’s family, an eclectic family but they brought technicolour to this read. I loved the story, it floated my boat and I just want to read more by this author.
This was an audiobook and the main narration was going great until a Scottish accent was required and frankly it was a disaster. Every time she did Ian’s dialogue my nerves jangled. Those who aren’t UK natives probably won’t struggle as much as I did but it’s worth knowing.
This was an audiobook and the main narration was going great until a Scottish accent was required and frankly it was a disaster. Every time she did Ian’s dialogue my nerves jangled. Those who aren’t UK natives probably won’t struggle as much as I did but it’s worth knowing.
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