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David McK (3713 KP) rated Stardust in Books

Jan 30, 2019 (Updated Apr 30, 2021)  
Stardust
Stardust
Neil Gaiman | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.4 (35 Ratings)
Book Rating
My first exposure to Neil Gaiman was when he co-wrote Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch with Terry Pratchett.

This, I believe, was the first of his solo novels that I read.

Circa 2006, not all that long before the movie on which it is based came out.

It was also a, how do we put this?, 'normal' prose novel: not a graphic novel; nor even an illustrated novel (as this is). Indeed, I didn't even know at first that the prose version which I read had previously been issued as an illustrated novel, until I saw it mentioned 'based on the work by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' at the end of the movie.

It then took me approximately a good decade or so before I finally got round to actually reading that version of the work, when I came across it on sale via Comixology. And, I have to say, the illustrations do add a certain Je Ne Sais Quoi to the work: a work which, while the main beats may be familiar to the reader from the movie version, is also very much its own thing and which includes elements not in said movie (Tristran’s wider family, for one, or even the much sadder ending in this)
  
The Addams Family (2019)
The Addams Family (2019)
2019 | Animation, Comedy, Family
Creepy, Kooky, Mysterious, Spooky and Ooky
"They're creepy and they're kooky
Mysterious and spooky
They're all together ooky
The Addams family
Their house is a museum
Where people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams family
Neat
Sweet
Petite
So get a witches shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We're gonna pay a call on
The Addams family"

A song that everybody knows or should know. If you have seen the 1964 tv show or the 1991 movie or the 1993 sequel movie. The addams family is loved by all. And this movie is really good.

It takes elements from the oringal tv show and the movies and mixs it up.

The Plot: Members of the mysterious and spooky Addams family -- Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Uncle Fester and Grandma -- are readily preparing for a visit from their even creepier relatives. But trouble soon arises when shady TV personality Margaux Needler realizes that the Addams' eerie hilltop mansion is standing in the way of her dream to sell all the houses in the neighborhood.

You got to love the charcters, you got to love their personalty, you got to love that their mysterious, spooky, creppy, kooky and ooky.

This is a good film, despite what the critics have said. Kids and their family should see this film.
  
The Missing Chums
The Missing Chums
Franklin W. Dixon | 1960 | Children, Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who Kidnapped Chet and Biff?
The only thing that could make summer vacation better for Frank and Joe Hardy is a mystery, and one is handed to them by Chief Collig when he asks them to go undercover at the homeless encampment outside of town and find out what is causing the increased fighting down there. Before the teens can begin their assignment, they witness a bank robbery, however. Then, after a costume party hosted by Callie Shaw and Iola Morton, their friends Chet and Biff vanish. Can the brothers figure out what happened to their friends? Are all these events connected?

I was a bit worried that the book had bitten off more than it could successfully resolve, but it did a good job of reigning in these plots and bringing them to a successful conclusion. I enjoyed seeing how Frank and Joe figured things out and successfully wrapped everything up. The characters are shallow as always, but it's not something I remember as a kid, so I bet today's kids will not notice either. They might notice how dated some elements are, including the word "chum" in the title. However, that kind of things never stopped me as a kid, and I bet most will get caught up in the fast-moving action of the story.
  
Insidious : The Last Key (2018)
Insidious : The Last Key (2018)
2018 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Dr. Elise Rainier was blessed with the ability to communicate with the dead, a gift that, at times, seemed more like a curse. In Insidious: The Last Key we see how the this gift was not always welcome for her growing up in New Mexico as it leads to the destruction of her family.

Years later, she is forced to return and face down the demons that scarred her and led to a complete estrangement from her family.
The film is very ambitious in hoping that audiences who are loyal to the franchise will return to the next installment. Unfortunately, fans will be sorely disappointed as this film seems to be nothing more than a fan-fiction version. The dialogue is pedestrian, at best. The storyline is shallow, predictable, and confusing.

There are elements of the story that seem out of place. Even the demon that appears onscreen us underwhelming. There is very little (other than a few moments that may have a few people in the audience jump) purpose to the film. It seems rushed. The film deserved to be nothing more than a backstory that could have been offered as part of Elise as part of conversation in a better-developed film.

Insidious: The Last Key is decent for those wishing to introduce themselves the Insidious franchise, but does little to offer any substantial foothold into the horror genre.
  
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Rodney Barnes (472 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Monster Hunter World in Video Games

Dec 7, 2019  
Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter World
2018 | Action/Adventure
Gameplay, story and teaming up (0 more)
Trying to send for help (0 more)
One of the Best Multiplayers
I did not play any of the first Monster Hunter game. My son played it a lot and loved it. He talked me into getting Monster Hunter World and I am glad he did. You are an elite hunter trying to keep the dangerous monsters from taking over. At the same time however, the Monsters are essential to the ecosystem. It is your typical level up type of game but it delivers on many fronts. I love the story and the so called technology of this universe. If you have trouble taking down a monster....no worries. You can call for backup and have a four player team to go on a hunt. There is not a lack of anything to do. You can gather different types of plants, elements and yes bugs to help craft gear. The only thing I don't like is the time you have to wait to call for help. You can't call for backup on the story missions until after a cut scene. Most times the monster is in your face and attacking you when you can call for backup. I could go and on about this game but I won't. It's worth buying....you won't be disappointed
  
    Labyrinth 2 HD

    Labyrinth 2 HD

    Games and Entertainment

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    "Labyrinth 2 is one of the absolutely very best games in the App Store. I didn’t know Labyrinth...