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Natacha (374 KP) rated The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) in Books

Jun 29, 2019

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)

Mary E. Pearson | 2014 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)

8.5

(4 Ratings)

Book Rating

A nice easy read

This was another book that I wanted to pick up when I got back into reading but I ended up reading The Name of the Wind instead. I should have picked this one up...

This was an easy and interesting read. We have a strong female main character and we see that through her actions and not just because the author tells us so.

Things that I liked:
-Lia. She is strong, stubborn and she cares a lot about her friends.
-The mystery of who is the assassin and who is the prince. I thought that was a nice idea, it kept me guessing for a little but if you pay attention to a couple of details you'll guess who is who.
-Love triangle. Yes, that's an unpopular opinion but well-done love triangles are my guilty pleasure.
-Lia's actions have consequences that she needs to deal with.

Things I didn't like:
-This is the first of a trilogy so this was mostly to get to know the characters. The majority of the book is Lia getting on with her new life in Terravin and getting to know Kaden and Rafe, and falling in love. So not too much action.

Worth mentioning:
-If you like complex magic systems in your fantasy book this is not it. There is not magic as see in epic fantasy. The gift that some people have in the book, is another way to say that they are some kind of psychic. They can see into the past and future, sometimes with the help of the dead. And that's all we get magic wise., so don't go in expecting complex magic systems.

Kudos

Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Isle of Dogs (2018) in Movies

Sep 25, 2019

Isle of Dogs (2018)

2018 | Adventure, Animation

7.8

(39 Ratings)

Movie Rating

When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island, 12-year-old Atari sets off alone in a miniature Junior-Turbo Prop and flies across the river in search of his bodyguard-dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly-found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture.

Before this even hit our screens I was worried I was going to be bored of it because I'd seen the trailer so much. Thankfully that wasn't the case.

It was a beautifully crafted film, and refreshingly different. I loved that it was from the dog's point of view, kind of a reverse Lassie. All the individual dogs and their quirks are very entertaining. And those dumb little moments they have that you'll identify with if you've ever owned a dog.

When Chief and Atari as separated from the rest of the pack on Trash Island I really like how the master/pet relationship is reversed when Atari see's the ride. The amount of times I had been in Chief's position... "Don't do it." *shifty look and edges closer* "Don't" *edges further*

My only wish for this film would be that there was more dog, less person. But despite that it was amusing, and very stylish.

As films go this month there were a few that were hit with "controversy" of some description, and Isle Of Dogs was no exception with cried of cultural misappropriation. I can't say that this is going to be something I can ever say I'd be on the receiving end of, but any rational person would not take a film as an accurate portrayal of a culture and its people.

Kudos

Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Alpha (2018) in Movies

Sep 25, 2019

Alpha (2018)

2018 | Action, Drama, Thriller

6.6

(20 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

The origin of man's best friend, a heart warming story with some epic visuals.

I was slightly distracted for a while because my brain went "Keda's dad looks like Zod." Sorry if I've just distracted you with that too... you're welcome.

Somehow I managed to see an audio described release of this by accident and I was intrigued. As well as the films own subtitles you have all the sound commentary. I was struck by the fact that more than once they used the word "wince", which is visual, as an audio cue. He "winced in pain". Well yes he did wince, but you could see that, it should surely have said "cries with pain" or something similar?

Part of me is very glad that I didn't end up seeing this in 3D as I'd originally planned. On more than one occasion during the film I had to look away from the screen as I was getting dizzy or feeling slightly nauseous. So probably not one to see on the big screen if you have issues with motion sickness.

As I said at the beginning the visuals are amazing, and there are no obvious signs of the necessary digital intervention. It's a smooth film all the way through, nothing out of place. There's a snippet in the trailer where you see Keda tossed into the air by a buffalo, the extended version of this in the film is probably the best bit for me. It gave me that tense physical reaction to see larger than life, and thankfully didn't set off the vertigo! That all being said though, it's still just a pleasant film that goes where you expect it to.