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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Judge (2014) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Family dramas are nothing new for most people but for hotshot defense lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.), things are about to get supremely intense following the passing of his mother. Forced to go back to the small Indiana town that he grew up in, Hank has very much become the victim of his success in Chicago. While he has material goods and a wonderful daughter, his marriage is falling apart and he returns home out of a sense of duty, eager to get away from their at his earliest opportunity. His brothers Glen and Dale (Vincent D’Ofrio and Jeremy Strong), are happy to see him but unfortunately the visit brings up old wounds between Hank and his father Judge Palmer (Robert Duvall).
The duo have a very bitter history between them and at their mothers wake things can best be described as icily civil between them. Hank looks forward to catching the early flight out in the morning eager to put the town behind him forever when early the next morning their lives take a change when the judges prize Cadillac is discovered to have damage consistent from a collision.
These feisty and defiant judge claims he hit nothing and he maintains this stance even when the police show up and he is suspected of vehicular homicide. Further compounding the case is that the victim was known to the judge and had been recently released after being sentenced for murder. The fact that the two individuals had a prior and bitter history with one another makes the judge a prime candidate for vehicular homicide.
Despite his best wishes and in defiance of his father, Hank decides to represent his father and pending trial as he clearly sees that his father’s representative (Dax Sheppard), is no match for the hotshot prosecutor (Billy Bob Thornton), that is been brought in to prosecute the judge. In what can best be described as a hate/hate relationship Hank is supremely conflicted but wants to do right by his father.
Further complicating matters is the emergence of his old high school girlfriend Samantha (Vera Farmiga), who causes Hank to revisit childhood memories both painful and pleasant. Along the way new discoveries are made that causes Hank to reevaluate his father as well as his life and family and take stock of his priorities.
The film has some funny and tender moments in between the courtroom proceedings which at times our little incredulous yet always captivating.
The cast is first-rate specifically Downey Jr. and Duvall who do Oscar quality work in their roles. While some may be quick to dismiss the film is courtroom procedural, I found “The Judge” to be a very interesting and engaging human drama about very real characters and their all too relatable clauses human beings. These are not Teflon superheroes but rather real flesh and blood people confronted with problems and emotions that people in the audience should be able to rate late to even if they had not experienced them first-hand.
The supporting cast was fantastic and the pacing of the film helped to move things along despite the nearly two-hour runtime. The film is rated R due to some very intense moments and conversations between the characters but stands out as one of the more memorable and enjoyable films of 2014 .
http://sknr.net/2014/10/10/judge/
The duo have a very bitter history between them and at their mothers wake things can best be described as icily civil between them. Hank looks forward to catching the early flight out in the morning eager to put the town behind him forever when early the next morning their lives take a change when the judges prize Cadillac is discovered to have damage consistent from a collision.
These feisty and defiant judge claims he hit nothing and he maintains this stance even when the police show up and he is suspected of vehicular homicide. Further compounding the case is that the victim was known to the judge and had been recently released after being sentenced for murder. The fact that the two individuals had a prior and bitter history with one another makes the judge a prime candidate for vehicular homicide.
Despite his best wishes and in defiance of his father, Hank decides to represent his father and pending trial as he clearly sees that his father’s representative (Dax Sheppard), is no match for the hotshot prosecutor (Billy Bob Thornton), that is been brought in to prosecute the judge. In what can best be described as a hate/hate relationship Hank is supremely conflicted but wants to do right by his father.
Further complicating matters is the emergence of his old high school girlfriend Samantha (Vera Farmiga), who causes Hank to revisit childhood memories both painful and pleasant. Along the way new discoveries are made that causes Hank to reevaluate his father as well as his life and family and take stock of his priorities.
The film has some funny and tender moments in between the courtroom proceedings which at times our little incredulous yet always captivating.
The cast is first-rate specifically Downey Jr. and Duvall who do Oscar quality work in their roles. While some may be quick to dismiss the film is courtroom procedural, I found “The Judge” to be a very interesting and engaging human drama about very real characters and their all too relatable clauses human beings. These are not Teflon superheroes but rather real flesh and blood people confronted with problems and emotions that people in the audience should be able to rate late to even if they had not experienced them first-hand.
The supporting cast was fantastic and the pacing of the film helped to move things along despite the nearly two-hour runtime. The film is rated R due to some very intense moments and conversations between the characters but stands out as one of the more memorable and enjoyable films of 2014 .
http://sknr.net/2014/10/10/judge/
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Shatter the Night in Books
Mar 19, 2020
Cedar Valley Detective Gemma Monroe takes a break from trick-or-treating on Halloween night with her young daughter Grace and fiance Brody to visit a family friend, former Cedar Valley Judge Caleb Montgomery. Caleb tells Gemma that he's been receiving haunting anonymous threats on his life. As Gemma, Brody, and Grace return to the Halloween festivities, they hear a gigantic explosion. Gemma quickly learns it was Caleb's Mercedes. The well-respected judge is dead. This kicks off a twisted and grueling case for Gemma and her partner, Detective Finn Nowlin, leading them down the dark past of Cedar Valley. There are ties to former serial killer and the more Gemma and Finn dig, the more disturbing things they find. Even worse, it appears as if Caleb's killer might not be finished.
"We had summoned the evil to our town just as surely as if we'd mailed an invitation. We just didn't know it yet, and by the time we did know it, the damage would already be done. People would be killed. Lives would be changed."
This was such a good book, you guys. I've read the first three books in the Gemma Monroe series and really enjoyed them, and this was such an excellent addition to this series. To put it in perspective, I started reading this book about the same time as Michael Connelly's latest. I quickly realized that wouldn't work as they both involved plots with arson, and my small brain was getting addled. Well, I found this book so completely captivating that this was the one I kept with--and I mean, Connelly is my most favorite of authors. I have a cat named Harry Bosch. But there was just something about this one!
Gemma has become one of my favorite detectives. She's so easy to identify with. I love that she's a working mom, and that she can share her perspectives about working and motherhood with the reader. She even admits that she is probably a better mom because she works, but she still struggles being away from young Grace. She's human and fallible. We also see her make some strides in her personal growth in this book. She's awesome and tough, and I really like her.
"Since having my daughter, time seemed to speed up at incredible rates."
The plot in this one is wonderful. It's creepy and builds up suspense. I was completely captivated. I love a book that keeps me guessing, and Shatter The Night definitely did that. There are a lot of suspects, and it was really fun to try to figure out what was going on and who might be our bad "guy(s)." The book weaves in the town's legacy, intertwining the history and its elders, so to speak. So you have a past that features Caleb and his ancestors; the police and their history; even Gemma's family. I don't want to go deeper than that, but Littlejohn weaves it all together flawlessly.
Overall, this was a great read. Interesting story, wonderful characters (the recurring characters are the best--please live forever, Tilly Krinkle), and a strong female lead. What more can you ask for? Maybe it's time to name a cat Gemma Monroe. :) 4.5 stars.
"We had summoned the evil to our town just as surely as if we'd mailed an invitation. We just didn't know it yet, and by the time we did know it, the damage would already be done. People would be killed. Lives would be changed."
This was such a good book, you guys. I've read the first three books in the Gemma Monroe series and really enjoyed them, and this was such an excellent addition to this series. To put it in perspective, I started reading this book about the same time as Michael Connelly's latest. I quickly realized that wouldn't work as they both involved plots with arson, and my small brain was getting addled. Well, I found this book so completely captivating that this was the one I kept with--and I mean, Connelly is my most favorite of authors. I have a cat named Harry Bosch. But there was just something about this one!
Gemma has become one of my favorite detectives. She's so easy to identify with. I love that she's a working mom, and that she can share her perspectives about working and motherhood with the reader. She even admits that she is probably a better mom because she works, but she still struggles being away from young Grace. She's human and fallible. We also see her make some strides in her personal growth in this book. She's awesome and tough, and I really like her.
"Since having my daughter, time seemed to speed up at incredible rates."
The plot in this one is wonderful. It's creepy and builds up suspense. I was completely captivated. I love a book that keeps me guessing, and Shatter The Night definitely did that. There are a lot of suspects, and it was really fun to try to figure out what was going on and who might be our bad "guy(s)." The book weaves in the town's legacy, intertwining the history and its elders, so to speak. So you have a past that features Caleb and his ancestors; the police and their history; even Gemma's family. I don't want to go deeper than that, but Littlejohn weaves it all together flawlessly.
Overall, this was a great read. Interesting story, wonderful characters (the recurring characters are the best--please live forever, Tilly Krinkle), and a strong female lead. What more can you ask for? Maybe it's time to name a cat Gemma Monroe. :) 4.5 stars.
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Luke (12 KP) rated Castlevania in TV
Oct 2, 2017
Great Animation (2 more)
A-list voice cast.
Faithful to the lore of the video games
Really short (1 more)
Enemy design is a little boring
Castlevania (Netflix) is a 2017 animation series based on the video games of the same name. Based on Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse, with some elements of Symphony of the Night included, the series follows Trevor Belmont, voiced by Richard Armitage, as he investigates the incident in Wallachia after the townsfolk murdered the wife of Dracula. It's very clear that the Belmont family has had a history with the local church and that Trevor is clearly an outcast in this sleepy little town. Normally with these types of shows, Dracula is usually seen as the villain. However, the first episode shows that he might have just a little bit of humanity left in him, as shown by the voice work done by Graham McTavish. The animation here is abosulutely beautiful. Some of the action scenes are really well done, especially one in particular in the fourth episode. If I had any gripes with this series, I would say that the design of the gargoyle like creatures is a little uninspired. And right now, the series is only four episodes long. But they are currently working on a second season which will be much longer, so that is definitely something to look forward to. Overall, I would say that Castlevania on Netflix is a great series for both fans of the games and of vampire fiction in general. And this might be the best video game adaptation to date. This is definitely a great night to have a curse.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao in Books
Oct 29, 2017 (Updated Oct 29, 2017)
Amusing, yet disappointing thanks to all the hype
For six months I've been saving this book mostly because of how much praise this book has received. Not only did this receive the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction but also a Pulitzer Prize. And was it worth the awards? I personally don't think so.
Labelled 'a masterpiece' by critics, the book follows the life of Oscar de Leon, or as some know him as Oscar Wao, from the perspective of the people that know him. From the title you can expect something interesting happened to him to reduce his lifespan and this definitely is the case.
Through his friend Yunior and sister Lola's accounts, they delve into the history of the Dominican Republic where they were originally from before settling in New York. Fuku or a curse, plays a big role in this book, as the de Leon family believed they had faced many misfortunes over the generations and ghetto nerd Oscar was no exception. In between the chaos of murder and corruption, were several love stories that went awry.
And while some of it was interesting, and you need a good grasp of Spanish, the footnotes became irritating filling several half pages to explain the historical context. To be honest, apart from the grandmother La Inca, and sister Lola, most of the characters were unlikable - the idiotic things they'll do for love are astounding. The language was rich, but the structure seemed slightly convoluted, as if the writer had attempted to keep a scheme in place but it still leaked everywhere. While some of it is engaging, I'm really not sure how this won the Pulitzer.
Labelled 'a masterpiece' by critics, the book follows the life of Oscar de Leon, or as some know him as Oscar Wao, from the perspective of the people that know him. From the title you can expect something interesting happened to him to reduce his lifespan and this definitely is the case.
Through his friend Yunior and sister Lola's accounts, they delve into the history of the Dominican Republic where they were originally from before settling in New York. Fuku or a curse, plays a big role in this book, as the de Leon family believed they had faced many misfortunes over the generations and ghetto nerd Oscar was no exception. In between the chaos of murder and corruption, were several love stories that went awry.
And while some of it was interesting, and you need a good grasp of Spanish, the footnotes became irritating filling several half pages to explain the historical context. To be honest, apart from the grandmother La Inca, and sister Lola, most of the characters were unlikable - the idiotic things they'll do for love are astounding. The language was rich, but the structure seemed slightly convoluted, as if the writer had attempted to keep a scheme in place but it still leaked everywhere. While some of it is engaging, I'm really not sure how this won the Pulitzer.
Merissa (13169 KP) rated Tomboy in Books
May 7, 2018
Tomboy by Janelle Reston
Tomboy is a short but sweet, dare I say gentle, novella about two young girls. One is the tomboy in the title, and one comes from a "traditional" family. The story is told through Harriet's eyes as she compares her upbringing and beliefs with those of Jackie, who is allowed to wear clothes more suited for a boy. Her mum isn't exactly 'normal' though, and this great attitude has rubbed of onto Jackie. We meet them as young children, and stay with them as they progress through school, until they've been to college.
This novella skips along quite merrily with the transitions from one age to the next being absolutely seamless. Jackie always knows (or at least that's the impression I got) who she is, and what she wants, whereas Harriet isn't too sure, and does some experimenting before coming to her senses. Rich in the history of the time, with references to films and actors that I loved, we see the support Harriet gets from her dad, the unusual attitude of Jackie's mum, and also mentions of the cold war. I found this to be an absolutely fascinating read, and loved every moment.
With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, the time spent in this book sped by all too quickly. However, it has certainly given me another author to follow! A wonderful book that I would highly recommend.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This novella skips along quite merrily with the transitions from one age to the next being absolutely seamless. Jackie always knows (or at least that's the impression I got) who she is, and what she wants, whereas Harriet isn't too sure, and does some experimenting before coming to her senses. Rich in the history of the time, with references to films and actors that I loved, we see the support Harriet gets from her dad, the unusual attitude of Jackie's mum, and also mentions of the cold war. I found this to be an absolutely fascinating read, and loved every moment.
With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, the time spent in this book sped by all too quickly. However, it has certainly given me another author to follow! A wonderful book that I would highly recommend.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Sisi: Empress on Her Own: A Novel in Books
Feb 15, 2019
First of all, I'd definitely recommend reading The Accidental Empress, part one of Empress Elisabeth's life. I found it to be the better book of the two, although Sisi: Empress on Her Own is far from bad.
I commend the author in all the research she did as I think she did an astounding job bringing Sisi to life, showing both her strengths and weaknesses. Most everything was brought to life in a way that was easy to visualize. However, in this book I found there to be more telling than showing as far as politics go, which could be a tad boring, plus I felt there were redundancies here and there. I didn't notice any major anachronism other than one phrase that jolted me out of the book that I dearly hope is not in the final edition (<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_time_no_see"; targeet="_blank">"Long time no see."</a> if interested). The author provides a thorough section where she notes what was taken from history, leaving me to conclude what must be fiction. I found the fictional parts to be either likely or at least not implausible, excepting a couple incidents in Rudolf's (Sisi's son) youth that felt odd. I won't even touch on Sisi as a person, she's too complex and confounding to decribe in few words, but I felt that Pataki did the best she could at humanizing her while remaining true to her historical record.
Sisi (and the aforementioned The Accidental Empress) are a worthwhile addition to the genre that show a royal family not much touched upon in historical ficiton.
I commend the author in all the research she did as I think she did an astounding job bringing Sisi to life, showing both her strengths and weaknesses. Most everything was brought to life in a way that was easy to visualize. However, in this book I found there to be more telling than showing as far as politics go, which could be a tad boring, plus I felt there were redundancies here and there. I didn't notice any major anachronism other than one phrase that jolted me out of the book that I dearly hope is not in the final edition (<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_time_no_see"; targeet="_blank">"Long time no see."</a> if interested). The author provides a thorough section where she notes what was taken from history, leaving me to conclude what must be fiction. I found the fictional parts to be either likely or at least not implausible, excepting a couple incidents in Rudolf's (Sisi's son) youth that felt odd. I won't even touch on Sisi as a person, she's too complex and confounding to decribe in few words, but I felt that Pataki did the best she could at humanizing her while remaining true to her historical record.
Sisi (and the aforementioned The Accidental Empress) are a worthwhile addition to the genre that show a royal family not much touched upon in historical ficiton.
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated The Light Before Day (Nantucket Legacy #3) in Books
Mar 5, 2019
“Henry, this . . . fortune, this sudden wealth . . . I fear it will change our lives. And I don’t want my life to change.” After three years on a whaling voyage, Henry Macy returns to Nantucket to news that his grandmother has passed, bequeathing her vast fortune to him and his sister, Hitty. And it was truly vast. But Lillian Coffin was no fool. The inheritance comes with a steep cost, including when each should marry and whom—a Quaker in good standing, of course. But if they relinquish the inheritance, it all goes to Tristram Macy, their father’s thieving business partner. As Hitty and Henry seek a way to satisfy the will’s conditions, they’ll be faced with obstacles on every side—and it may be that Lillian Coffin will have the last word after all.
My Thoughts: This is the third book in the series and it doesn't disappoint! Suzanne Woods Fisher has done another incredible job with this series. In this book, it focuses on the twins Hitty and Henry and the inheritance left to them by their grandmother.
Historians will enjoy the fact that the novel is based on true events that occurred during 1837-1846. The author has done extensive history on Nantucket and the sea captains. This novel does deal with the controversy of integration ( the segregated schools).
I've enjoyed this series, especially reading Great Mary's journal and I believe readers will enjoy this book as well. The reader doesn't need to read the first two books to enjoy this novel, but it would help with some of the histories of the family.
My Thoughts: This is the third book in the series and it doesn't disappoint! Suzanne Woods Fisher has done another incredible job with this series. In this book, it focuses on the twins Hitty and Henry and the inheritance left to them by their grandmother.
Historians will enjoy the fact that the novel is based on true events that occurred during 1837-1846. The author has done extensive history on Nantucket and the sea captains. This novel does deal with the controversy of integration ( the segregated schools).
I've enjoyed this series, especially reading Great Mary's journal and I believe readers will enjoy this book as well. The reader doesn't need to read the first two books to enjoy this novel, but it would help with some of the histories of the family.
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated I See Red by Geowulf in Music
Jun 18, 2019
Geowulf (Star Kendrick & Toma Banjanin) is an Australian duo based in London, England. Not too long ago, they released an introspective alternative tune, entitled, “I See Red”.
“‘I See Red’ was written after an argument with my sister. The song was a realization that you are only ever your most raw, horrible self when you’re with the people you love to death and who love you.” – Star Kendrick
‘I See Red’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who attends therapy to learn how to control her anger and mental health issues.
Apparently, she makes the same emotional mistakes and realizes it’s going to take some time to change her raging behavior.
Later, she admits that she’s only human and wants to be a better person, lover, and friend. But sometimes, she gets lost, and before she knows it, she’s seeing red again.
“I have been very proactive over many years in going to therapy. Talking openly about mental health and have constantly taken steps to control emotions, moods, and even my temper. Having a family history of mental illness, this is something my siblings and I have had a lot of awareness about. This song is about that process and what I’ve learned. The ebbs and flows of trying to be the best version of yourself.” – Star Kendrick
‘I See Red’ can be utilized as the trigger to your spirited response to any of the stresses which weigh you down.
The likable tune doubles as the first collaboration with Geowulf’s new writing partner, Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey, Bat For Lashes, Cloves).
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/geowulf-i-see-red/
“‘I See Red’ was written after an argument with my sister. The song was a realization that you are only ever your most raw, horrible self when you’re with the people you love to death and who love you.” – Star Kendrick
‘I See Red’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who attends therapy to learn how to control her anger and mental health issues.
Apparently, she makes the same emotional mistakes and realizes it’s going to take some time to change her raging behavior.
Later, she admits that she’s only human and wants to be a better person, lover, and friend. But sometimes, she gets lost, and before she knows it, she’s seeing red again.
“I have been very proactive over many years in going to therapy. Talking openly about mental health and have constantly taken steps to control emotions, moods, and even my temper. Having a family history of mental illness, this is something my siblings and I have had a lot of awareness about. This song is about that process and what I’ve learned. The ebbs and flows of trying to be the best version of yourself.” – Star Kendrick
‘I See Red’ can be utilized as the trigger to your spirited response to any of the stresses which weigh you down.
The likable tune doubles as the first collaboration with Geowulf’s new writing partner, Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey, Bat For Lashes, Cloves).
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/geowulf-i-see-red/
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) in Movies
Mar 16, 2020
Gotta go fast...
Contains spoilers, click to show
After so many videogame movie adaptations to ever happen, I was ecstatic when this movie was announced but also very concerned aswell.
From the super mario bros movie to detective pikachu and every tomb raider in between, this seemed like it was designed to tank from the beginning.
So starting from the original trailer drop, I had no idea what had happened, I saw my childhood being destroyed by Hollywood and in a state of shock, looking very disturbing and more like a human/hedgehog genetic failure - sonic was in trouble and this time, Dr Robotnik wasn't to blame!?
Luckily the entire sonic fan base banded together & they were heard, this resulted in the team behind the movie redesigning sonic himself and the movies release being delayed several months.
On the plus side, the redesign was well worth the wait & was praised by fans and critics alike.
Since the release the movie has been shown so much love and is in line to topple detective pikachu as the best selling videogame movie adaptation in history.
Story:
As a young hedgehog, sonic was a wild child with an ability like no other who caught the attention of many.
This ability pinned sonic as a target and eventually forces sonic to escape to another realm/dimension -Earth.
After several years in hiding, sonic accidentally taps into his inner speed force (Ha!) Causing a total blackout & is then hunted by the evil genius, Dr Robotnik.
This brings with it an adventure, frienship & really cool & fun chase scenes.
A great family movie that does not disappoint.
From the super mario bros movie to detective pikachu and every tomb raider in between, this seemed like it was designed to tank from the beginning.
So starting from the original trailer drop, I had no idea what had happened, I saw my childhood being destroyed by Hollywood and in a state of shock, looking very disturbing and more like a human/hedgehog genetic failure - sonic was in trouble and this time, Dr Robotnik wasn't to blame!?
Luckily the entire sonic fan base banded together & they were heard, this resulted in the team behind the movie redesigning sonic himself and the movies release being delayed several months.
On the plus side, the redesign was well worth the wait & was praised by fans and critics alike.
Since the release the movie has been shown so much love and is in line to topple detective pikachu as the best selling videogame movie adaptation in history.
Story:
As a young hedgehog, sonic was a wild child with an ability like no other who caught the attention of many.
This ability pinned sonic as a target and eventually forces sonic to escape to another realm/dimension -Earth.
After several years in hiding, sonic accidentally taps into his inner speed force (Ha!) Causing a total blackout & is then hunted by the evil genius, Dr Robotnik.
This brings with it an adventure, frienship & really cool & fun chase scenes.
A great family movie that does not disappoint.