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Awix (3310 KP) rated Arrival (2016) in Movies

Mar 13, 2018

Arrival (2016)

2016 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

7.9

(47 Ratings)

Movie Rating

SF movie that dares to attempt to be a serious, thoughtful drama; almost feels like a Christopher Nolan pastiche. Linguistics expert Amy Adams is recruited to try and make contact when enigmatic giant squid-things appear in vast spacecraft scattered across the planet.

Well, as a language-teaching professional, I have to say that Adams' approach to teaching the squid English is deeply suspect, but in all other respects this is an impressive film that is not afraid to credit its audience with intelligence. Possibly the only film featuring both the US army and Jeremy Renner in which he does not play some sort of special-forces sharpshooter. Perhaps a little bit too slow, chilly, and cerebral to really succeed as an entertainment, but still well worth watching, even if it is ultimately easier to admire than to like.

Kudos

David McK (3816 KP) rated Reading the Oxford English Dictionary: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages in Books

Jan 30, 2019

no, the Butler didn't do it!

For some reason (OK, he's been paid to do so), Ammon Shea decides to read the Oxford English Dictionary. Why anyone would want to do so is beyond me, but he seems quite thrilled by the prospect. This book detials his experiences of doing so, with one chapter per letter (most of which is taken up with him trying to fond somewhere to actually read it).

The real reason anyone would read this work, of course, is not for that part of the chapter, but rather for the last part of each, in which he produces some little-known words and gives his own definition of what they mean.

I've read it, it's OK, but I won't be looking to read this again or to read the OED myself anytime soon.

Kudos

David McK (3816 KP) rated Armada in Books

Jan 30, 2019

Armada

John Stack | 2012

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

John Stack seems to have a knack for choosing unusual settings.

His previous novels - Ship of Rome, Captain of Rome and Masters of Rome all concerned the Roman navy during the first Punic war against Carthage. While this novel is not part of that series, it also has another unusual setting: this time, that of the Spanish Armada.

While it does have an unusual setting, it also shares some similarites with those other books: again, the main protaganist of the novel is an outsider, this time a loyal Recusant (or practising, secret, Catholic) in the English navy compared to the Greek captain in the Roman navy of the Masters of the Sea series. Again, a large chunk of it takes place on sea, rather than on land. Again, it is an enjoyable read.

Kudos

Maxien Gorry (74 KP) rated Youtube in Apps

Jan 4, 2020

Youtube

Photo & Video

8.7

(47 Ratings)

App Rating

Easy to navigate (4 more)

Option to stream to tv

Option to stream to Xbox

Subtitles

Fast forward by tapping screen

Too many ads (1 more)

Cost of YouTube Music

One stop shop for videos

I use YouTube every day for music, TV shows and tutorials. Mostly for tutorials and music.
Its simple to use and navigate and I especially like the 'history' option for when I want to view an already watched video.
Being able to fast forward and rewind quickly just by dou ke tapping either side of the screen is a great feature for the tutorials I watch and the su titles help for tutorials that aren't in English or if I need to watch with the sound muted.

I feel YouTube Music is expensive for what it is, there are other more competitive apps out there that are far better.

Kudos

Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated Parasite (2019) in Movies

Mar 14, 2020

Parasite (2019)

2019 | Drama

8.6

(40 Ratings)

Movie Rating

406. Parasite. We meet Kim Ki-woo, as he's getting recruited to help tutor a high school girl in English, of course all his past experience is a lie, but he's good at the job at hand so why not go for it! And once he's in the door, he manages to weasel the rest of his family jobs within the same household. It's not that they are bad at the jobs, they just stole them from others. For instance, when Kim Ki-woo gets mom, Moon-gwang the maid job. However the former maid has a secret and when she shows up a few days later on the front steps, this could be the end for the family! Movie really makes you feel uncomfortable, and for me I just wanted something really bad to happen. :) Filmbufftim on FB