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Andy K (10821 KP) rated Searching (2018) in Movies
Apr 6, 2019
Catfish 2.0
After dealing with the death of his wife from cancer, a father tries to deal with raising his high school daughter only to find out everything with her and her life is not what it seems when she goes missing. He frantically starts combing through her social media accounts and contacting her friends to find out any lead as to her whereabouts.
A local police detective also comes to his aid to follow up on leads and keep the investigation going.
The story didn't follow the "Catfish" formula, only the way the story is told. The movie entirely exists through webcams, social media posts and TV footage and that is it's biggest triumph. Any unique way f telling a story, especially a compelling and inventive one, deserves attention in my book since most movies' formulas sort of run together these days.
As a parent, the film really does make you think about how much do we really know our teenage children? Could they be having relationships without our knowledge or conducting themselves in a way they were not raised?
My wife and I actually talked about this a bit while viewing the film. The entire world of social media can be very scary if you think about it and how much of our lives we have exposed out in cyberspace for others to see and potentially exploit.
I got rid of my Facebook around a year ago and haven't regretted it once.
A local police detective also comes to his aid to follow up on leads and keep the investigation going.
The story didn't follow the "Catfish" formula, only the way the story is told. The movie entirely exists through webcams, social media posts and TV footage and that is it's biggest triumph. Any unique way f telling a story, especially a compelling and inventive one, deserves attention in my book since most movies' formulas sort of run together these days.
As a parent, the film really does make you think about how much do we really know our teenage children? Could they be having relationships without our knowledge or conducting themselves in a way they were not raised?
My wife and I actually talked about this a bit while viewing the film. The entire world of social media can be very scary if you think about it and how much of our lives we have exposed out in cyberspace for others to see and potentially exploit.
I got rid of my Facebook around a year ago and haven't regretted it once.
Merissa (12069 KP) rated Gabe's Revenge (McLeod Security #2) in Books
Aug 1, 2018
Gabe's Revenge (McLeod Security #2) by Doris O'Connor
Gabe's Revenge is the second book in the McLeod Security series, and to be honest, I was confused for 90% of the book where McLeod Security actually fell in this story, although it all became clear.
Lissa is the daughter of Andrini, a small time crook with big dreams. She is unloved and unwanted, but is still surprised when her father sells her to Gabe in payment of a debt. She has no idea what is going on, and do react badly (normally!!) to begin with. However, as she learns more about Gabe and just what it is he does, her feelings grow. It's not all fun in paradise though, and they have to work through betrayal and lies to even have a chance of Happy Ever After.
This was a great story with plenty of action, both in and out of the sheets, going on. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I found the pacing to be spot on. The transitions from one scene to the next were very smooth, and added to the reading experience. With a great cast of secondary characters, I thoroughly enjoyed every word, and look forward to reading more in this series. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Lissa is the daughter of Andrini, a small time crook with big dreams. She is unloved and unwanted, but is still surprised when her father sells her to Gabe in payment of a debt. She has no idea what is going on, and do react badly (normally!!) to begin with. However, as she learns more about Gabe and just what it is he does, her feelings grow. It's not all fun in paradise though, and they have to work through betrayal and lies to even have a chance of Happy Ever After.
This was a great story with plenty of action, both in and out of the sheets, going on. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I found the pacing to be spot on. The transitions from one scene to the next were very smooth, and added to the reading experience. With a great cast of secondary characters, I thoroughly enjoyed every word, and look forward to reading more in this series. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
David McK (3425 KP) rated A Dance of Cloaks (Shadowdance, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Hmmm ... I'm not really sure what to make of this one.
It is a fantasy novel, and so has your usual fantasy stereotypes of merchants, thieves (and assassins) and magical beings/clerics, with the main protagonists of this falling into the middle of those categories.
This is set primarily in and around one city, which has
been suffering under a clandestine war between the various thieves' guilds and the wealthy merchants of it, and mainly follows Aaron Felhorn, who has been groomed from birth to be the heir to his father Thren - the leader of one such thieves guild. It doesn't focus solely on him , also including the daughter of one such wealthy merchant: if I'm honest, at one stage I thought it was going to turn into a Romeo and Juliet scenario (it didn't).
I also wasn't aware until I read the authors note at the very end that this was actually the second edition of an earlier story: a 'tidied up' and improved version, as it were. I also wasn't aware that this was also meant to be the back-story to a character previously introduced in another series (kinda like the Star Wars prequels in that respect!), so perhaps suffers from having to create a story to explain how the character becomes who he becomes - kinda like the Star Wars prequels had to explain how Darth Vader came to be!
Based on this novel alone, I'm not sure if I would have picked up any of the sequels, but with that knowledge in mind I may yet change my mind.
It is a fantasy novel, and so has your usual fantasy stereotypes of merchants, thieves (and assassins) and magical beings/clerics, with the main protagonists of this falling into the middle of those categories.
This is set primarily in and around one city, which has
been suffering under a clandestine war between the various thieves' guilds and the wealthy merchants of it, and mainly follows Aaron Felhorn, who has been groomed from birth to be the heir to his father Thren - the leader of one such thieves guild. It doesn't focus solely on him , also including the daughter of one such wealthy merchant: if I'm honest, at one stage I thought it was going to turn into a Romeo and Juliet scenario (it didn't).
I also wasn't aware until I read the authors note at the very end that this was actually the second edition of an earlier story: a 'tidied up' and improved version, as it were. I also wasn't aware that this was also meant to be the back-story to a character previously introduced in another series (kinda like the Star Wars prequels in that respect!), so perhaps suffers from having to create a story to explain how the character becomes who he becomes - kinda like the Star Wars prequels had to explain how Darth Vader came to be!
Based on this novel alone, I'm not sure if I would have picked up any of the sequels, but with that knowledge in mind I may yet change my mind.
ClareR (5726 KP) rated Last Request in Books
Oct 28, 2019
I had a mixed experience reading Last Request on The Pigeonhole app. I liked the storyline, but the main character Nikita (Nikki) Patel wasn’t particularly likeable. She’s very involved in her job which seems to take precedence over everything, including her family. I get that she has her mum, sister and the father of two of her three children to look after them, and I doubt I’d think twice if she was a man, but there is a pivotal part in the story where she really needed to talk to her eldest daughter, and she seemed to do everything in her power to avoid her. Not good.
Aside from that, I quite liked the other characters. Her work partner, Sajid, and his actual partner are great: very supportive of Nikki, and they go above and beyond their work roles where she’s concerned.
The action was non-stop, with the bones of murder victims turning up all over the place, and a drug dealer causing problems. I don’t think Nikki sleeps for most of the book (which might explain her mood).
This kept me guessing up to the end - although I did guess who did it before the big reveal (most unusual for me!). It did take me a while though, and indicative of how we were drip fed the evidence, just as the police were.
I would be interested to read the next in the series, especially if it’s going to go the way I think it might!
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book, and to Liz Mistry for reading along!
Aside from that, I quite liked the other characters. Her work partner, Sajid, and his actual partner are great: very supportive of Nikki, and they go above and beyond their work roles where she’s concerned.
The action was non-stop, with the bones of murder victims turning up all over the place, and a drug dealer causing problems. I don’t think Nikki sleeps for most of the book (which might explain her mood).
This kept me guessing up to the end - although I did guess who did it before the big reveal (most unusual for me!). It did take me a while though, and indicative of how we were drip fed the evidence, just as the police were.
I would be interested to read the next in the series, especially if it’s going to go the way I think it might!
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book, and to Liz Mistry for reading along!
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Adam White (32 KP) rated Mean Dreams (2016) in Movies
Jun 22, 2020
A new Bonnie and Clyde Feel
Well, let me start by saying this took me a few years to watch this and it wasn't because of the mixed reviews it was because I knew this was one of Bill Paxton last movie rolls. With that being said, I should have watched this years ago, as it was not a let down. Bill Paxton will be truly missed.
This movie is a caring, passionate, modern love story. At some points during the movie It had a Bonnie and Clyde feel to it, which was okay. A lot less killing but you will get the drift if you watch it.
Wayne Caraway (Bill Paxton) plays an over controlling father/policeman with a major hatred towards his daughter Casey Caraway (Sophie Nélisse) new found crush Jonas Ford (Josh Wiggins).
The movie starts off slow but speeds up very quickly, which for me is the only downfall of the movie. You learn about the characters quickly, but I wish we had more backstory and also a future of things to come, by the end you are left wondering what will take place next.
Now with only having about 8 total characters and a dog in the movie, it draws you into each person a lot faster, which I enjoyed too.
All and all it's a good movie, even if you have mixed feelings you should watch it for Bill Paxton, a true legend in the movie world.
Blaise
This movie is a caring, passionate, modern love story. At some points during the movie It had a Bonnie and Clyde feel to it, which was okay. A lot less killing but you will get the drift if you watch it.
Wayne Caraway (Bill Paxton) plays an over controlling father/policeman with a major hatred towards his daughter Casey Caraway (Sophie Nélisse) new found crush Jonas Ford (Josh Wiggins).
The movie starts off slow but speeds up very quickly, which for me is the only downfall of the movie. You learn about the characters quickly, but I wish we had more backstory and also a future of things to come, by the end you are left wondering what will take place next.
Now with only having about 8 total characters and a dog in the movie, it draws you into each person a lot faster, which I enjoyed too.
All and all it's a good movie, even if you have mixed feelings you should watch it for Bill Paxton, a true legend in the movie world.
Blaise
Andy K (10821 KP) Apr 6, 2019
Erika (17788 KP) Apr 6, 2019