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Plain Bad Heroines
7.0
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‘Brimming from start to finish with sly humour and gothic mischief’ SARAH WATERS ...
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) in Movies
Nov 5, 2018 (Updated Nov 5, 2018)
Slight variation on the Alice in Wonderland reboot
I'm guessing Disney want to keep going with their live action Princess films, and thought they'd hit gold with the rights to the Nutcracker for a Christmas release. Similar to the 2010 Alice in Wonderland, the film intends to act as a sequel to the original tale of the Nutcracker, where the world has fallen into disarray. Clara is the daughter of the original story's Marie, who has passed away, and looking to open the intriguing present left by her mother she finds herself following a mouse (not a rabbit!) into a strange world. She is introduced to the world her mother was made queen of, though sadly learns that the "fourth realm" (led by Helen Mirren as Mother Ginger) is at war with the other three (among them are realms led by Keira Knightley and an underused Richard E Grant).
Here Disney have taken some liberties as Clara's brother and sister take the roles and names of her mother's siblings in the original, and for no apparent reason the film based on the Russian ballet that was based on the French adaptation of the German fairy tale, is set in London. I can only assume this was to up the Festive quotient, but seems a very odd choice, despite keeping a number of the German themes.
Keira Knightley is very irritating, doing an ear-piercing impression of Queenie from Blackadder.
Neither of the actors playing Clara or the Nutcracker are very good or likeable and you find yourself bored and starting to root for Mother Ginger just to end it.
The film is too long, and drags in large parts, and all three of my kids were restless for a lot of it. And there was a definite lack of large-scale special effects, some impressive scenes but audiences expect spectacles (not 3D glasses, I mean big scenes!) these days and those were lacking.
The most enjoyable scene was the use of ballet to get Clara up to date with the world she found herself in, being quite respectful to the medium it was adapting (though I can't say how authentic it was!).
Here Disney have taken some liberties as Clara's brother and sister take the roles and names of her mother's siblings in the original, and for no apparent reason the film based on the Russian ballet that was based on the French adaptation of the German fairy tale, is set in London. I can only assume this was to up the Festive quotient, but seems a very odd choice, despite keeping a number of the German themes.
Keira Knightley is very irritating, doing an ear-piercing impression of Queenie from Blackadder.
Neither of the actors playing Clara or the Nutcracker are very good or likeable and you find yourself bored and starting to root for Mother Ginger just to end it.
The film is too long, and drags in large parts, and all three of my kids were restless for a lot of it. And there was a definite lack of large-scale special effects, some impressive scenes but audiences expect spectacles (not 3D glasses, I mean big scenes!) these days and those were lacking.
The most enjoyable scene was the use of ballet to get Clara up to date with the world she found herself in, being quite respectful to the medium it was adapting (though I can't say how authentic it was!).
RAF Transport Command: A Pictorial History
Book
When RAF Transport Command was created in March 1943, it was formed by the renaming of Ferry...
Cori June (3033 KP) rated The Neverending Story in Books
Sep 5, 2021
Beautiful chapter starters (2 more)
Good life lessons
Creative
Drags (1 more)
The childlike emperor's name
Contains spoilers, click to show
So, I didn't finish the book the first time I read this book (2016ish) because I couldn't get over the childlike emperor's name. I know that's a stupid thing to get hung up on but as it is a book that influenced a movie and I saw that movie at a young age. I had built up the mystery so much the let down was huge. I also kept comparing the book to the movies(they are better fight me. Ok not the second movie. I'll throw hands on the first.)
Don't do this.
I reread it and am glad because it is a good book for any age. It has good life lesson to learn or relearn and very creative in its creatures and world building. Its title is a little on the nose because by the end of the book I counted down the pages to the end. The first part of the book is the best, in my opinion.
Artax talks which is meh. And his death doesn't hit you as hard. But there are more fleshed out parts. Which I enjoyed.
Don't do this.
I reread it and am glad because it is a good book for any age. It has good life lesson to learn or relearn and very creative in its creatures and world building. Its title is a little on the nose because by the end of the book I counted down the pages to the end. The first part of the book is the best, in my opinion.
Artax talks which is meh. And his death doesn't hit you as hard. But there are more fleshed out parts. Which I enjoyed.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated The Blast in Books
Dec 12, 2017
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up to host the book tour.
I LOVED this story! This was truly an emotional read for me because it is the way I can see such a post apostalistic event to occur and I also got attached to the characters.
It's a beautiful day with people doing everyday things and out of nowhere it happens; the world as we know it suddenly changes. Two families come together and bear witness to the end of our way of living. I found myself becoming a part of the storyline and feeling like I had to do whatever necessary to survive and protect the ones I loved not only from the elements but from other survivors as well.
This intricate and well written story will pull you in and your heart will pound as you turn the pages. You'll find yourself shedding tears of sadness and joy. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I LOVED this story! This was truly an emotional read for me because it is the way I can see such a post apostalistic event to occur and I also got attached to the characters.
It's a beautiful day with people doing everyday things and out of nowhere it happens; the world as we know it suddenly changes. Two families come together and bear witness to the end of our way of living. I found myself becoming a part of the storyline and feeling like I had to do whatever necessary to survive and protect the ones I loved not only from the elements but from other survivors as well.
This intricate and well written story will pull you in and your heart will pound as you turn the pages. You'll find yourself shedding tears of sadness and joy. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Beautiful One
Book
Transformation, empowerment, love and music come together in the book, Beautiful One. Elizabeth...
Young Adult Romance
Newsweek International
News and Magazines & Newspapers
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Newsweek Europe Magazine renowned combination of news, culture and thought-provoking ideas is now...
Falling Awake
Book
Winner of the 2016 Costa Poetry Award. Shortlisted for the 2016 T. S. Eliot Award. Shortlisted for...
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Homecoming in Books
May 30, 2019
Dark family thriller - not for the faint hearted
There’s not a lot I want to say about this book plot wise, going into it blind is a real thrill, but the opening hook is:
Following the death of their father siblings Aaron, Franny and Bridge, along with their mother are brought to the Belfountain estate for the reading of his will. It turns out he had a lot more money than they thought but also an odd sense of humour. To get there share of the inheritance they have to stay at Belfountain with no contact with the outside world for 30 days. Sounds crazy but who wouldn’t when there are millions up for grab?
What follows is the ever increasing occurrence of creepy stuff and the realisation that none of them know who their father really was. It’s a very dark suspense tale once it gets going, with some strong horror elements.
By the end I felt I’d just read a great Black Mirror episode, so recommended for fans of that.
Following the death of their father siblings Aaron, Franny and Bridge, along with their mother are brought to the Belfountain estate for the reading of his will. It turns out he had a lot more money than they thought but also an odd sense of humour. To get there share of the inheritance they have to stay at Belfountain with no contact with the outside world for 30 days. Sounds crazy but who wouldn’t when there are millions up for grab?
What follows is the ever increasing occurrence of creepy stuff and the realisation that none of them know who their father really was. It’s a very dark suspense tale once it gets going, with some strong horror elements.
By the end I felt I’d just read a great Black Mirror episode, so recommended for fans of that.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Rough Night (2017) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018
Oh what a night
Four college friends get together to go to Miami for there best friends Jess (Johansen) bachelorette party with the addition of Jess's friend from Australia. Alice (Bell) who is the wild one is Jess's best friend and does not want anyone else to come between them plans a wild weekend with her other friends Blair (kravitz) and Frankie (Glazer) and the addition of Pippa (mckinnion) Well drugs and alcohol get involved along with the person who they think is a stripper and then the unthinkable happens and they have to try and figure out a way out of it. What happens you got to watch
The cast is a who's who in the movie world today. A mixture of action and comedy come together to make this movie. However it is again another movie made of of other movies bits with a higher end cast hoping to make it better. A few really funny scenes but otherwise MEH
The cast is a who's who in the movie world today. A mixture of action and comedy come together to make this movie. However it is again another movie made of of other movies bits with a higher end cast hoping to make it better. A few really funny scenes but otherwise MEH