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Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Upgrade (2018) in Movies
Feb 25, 2021
Probably the most interesting of the three here by some way, Upgrade comes at the angle of cybernetic amendments to human capability in an almost, but not quite, original way. It postures and ponders a lot of pseudo-science and cod philosophy before getting to the bits people are going mad for: the fight scenes, which are indeed jaw dropping, feel new and are brutally graphic enough to amuse even the most hardcore gamer. Trouble is… this makes it almost a torture-porn movie, because the only real thrills are in the grossness of the violence. The acting is of negligible importance, because character and plot are not that important to the success of Upgrade as a spectacle. It feels cheap and B movie grade in places, which of course it is. If you enjoy seeing impressive things done with less than a premium budget then this could be worth watching. But… there is a nastiness and a somewhat teenage / pothead vibe to it that ruins anything remotely good. It is also shamelessly derivative. Not bad then, but by no means good, or properly recommended.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Fallen Star (Fallen Star, #1) in Books
Aug 6, 2021
123 of 250
Kindle
The Fallen Star ( Fallen Star book 1)
By Jessica Sorensen
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
For eighteen year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. Up until recently, she has been incapable of feeling emotion. And when she's around Alex, the gorgeous new guy at school, she can feel electricity that makes her skin buzz. Not to mention the monsters that haunt her nightmares have crossed over into real-life. But with Alex seeming to hate her and secrets popping up everywhere, Gemma's life is turning into a chaotic mess. Things that shouldn't be real suddenly seem to exist. And as her world falls apart, figuring out the secrets of her past becomes a matter of life and death.
I thought it was so good! One of the best YA I’ve read In a while. Great story great characters still so many answers to uncover! Alex was push his luck for me sometimes he just grated on my nerves a little. But all in all a very good start to a promising series plus a new author for me too!
Kindle
The Fallen Star ( Fallen Star book 1)
By Jessica Sorensen
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
For eighteen year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. Up until recently, she has been incapable of feeling emotion. And when she's around Alex, the gorgeous new guy at school, she can feel electricity that makes her skin buzz. Not to mention the monsters that haunt her nightmares have crossed over into real-life. But with Alex seeming to hate her and secrets popping up everywhere, Gemma's life is turning into a chaotic mess. Things that shouldn't be real suddenly seem to exist. And as her world falls apart, figuring out the secrets of her past becomes a matter of life and death.
I thought it was so good! One of the best YA I’ve read In a while. Great story great characters still so many answers to uncover! Alex was push his luck for me sometimes he just grated on my nerves a little. But all in all a very good start to a promising series plus a new author for me too!
Gordon Gano recommended track Blitzkrieg Bop by Ramones in Leave Home by Ramones in Music (curated)
5.0
Album
Favorite
Jackjack (877 KP) rated Schitt's Creek in TV
Oct 22, 2020
Budget show but it works ridiculously well!!
So I first saw this program on tiktok a short video made me laugh so I thought why not I'll give it ago!
So when I first watched this I thought it was pretty low budget and the acting was shit. But as the episodes went on I got lost in it and I have binge watched it and almost finished. I feel the budget outlook gave it some sort of charm every episode makes me laugh and I have got lost in this story.
So this is about a rich family the roses who have unfortunately lost everything except for a small town the dad John Rose (Eugene Levy from American pie) brought for his son. This town is called schitt's creek and its about how this posh rich family go there with nothing and you see how they all grow up. It has the right amount of comedy and romance to keep me hooked. If your bored and looking for an easy watch, this is definitely the one. Good actors (took some getting used too) and a good story line. Keeps you laughing throughout.
So when I first watched this I thought it was pretty low budget and the acting was shit. But as the episodes went on I got lost in it and I have binge watched it and almost finished. I feel the budget outlook gave it some sort of charm every episode makes me laugh and I have got lost in this story.
So this is about a rich family the roses who have unfortunately lost everything except for a small town the dad John Rose (Eugene Levy from American pie) brought for his son. This town is called schitt's creek and its about how this posh rich family go there with nothing and you see how they all grow up. It has the right amount of comedy and romance to keep me hooked. If your bored and looking for an easy watch, this is definitely the one. Good actors (took some getting used too) and a good story line. Keeps you laughing throughout.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018) in Movies
Sep 30, 2020
Slaughterhouse Rulez is a textbook example of a swing and a miss. It tries to give us a nice slice of comedy horror, but executes it pretty miserably.
A few things I liked...
- The fracking company were moustache twirling type villains, and were fairly amusing in the tiny amount of screentime dedicated to them.
- The CGI for the monsters is pretty decent, and the practical effects for close ups are also good.
- The whole final act when the monsters eventually turned up was effectively entertaining
But....
It takes a painfully long time to get to that bit. The hour plus of runtime preceding the monsters attacking is mostly boring setup, messy pacing and dialogue and a waste of a good cast.
The younger cast are fine, but it's hard not to feel that Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Margot Robbie and Michael Sheen are just severely under utilised, in a sometimes humorous comedy that is trying ball achingly hard to be an Edgar Wright movie.
Slaughterhouse Rulez isn't awful by any means, more accurately frustrating because it feels like a much better movie is buried somewhere beneath the final product.
A few things I liked...
- The fracking company were moustache twirling type villains, and were fairly amusing in the tiny amount of screentime dedicated to them.
- The CGI for the monsters is pretty decent, and the practical effects for close ups are also good.
- The whole final act when the monsters eventually turned up was effectively entertaining
But....
It takes a painfully long time to get to that bit. The hour plus of runtime preceding the monsters attacking is mostly boring setup, messy pacing and dialogue and a waste of a good cast.
The younger cast are fine, but it's hard not to feel that Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Margot Robbie and Michael Sheen are just severely under utilised, in a sometimes humorous comedy that is trying ball achingly hard to be an Edgar Wright movie.
Slaughterhouse Rulez isn't awful by any means, more accurately frustrating because it feels like a much better movie is buried somewhere beneath the final product.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Yesterday (2019) in Movies
May 3, 2020
Enjoyable to a point
I love Danny Boyle, he's one of my favourite directors (and he's a local lad) although I have to admit this is probably one of my least favourite films of his so far.
Richard Curtis and Danny Boyle working on the same film should be a match made in heaven. However the result is this enjoyable but sadly rather predictable romcom. Himesh Patel is a likeable lead, but I found the romance aspect with him and Lily James entirely corny and completely predictable, even for Richard Curtis. The music is good, it would be seen as it's the Beatles, however I did find it odd that in the story Himesh finds out about a number of bands and things that no longer exist (some are quite funny), yet only decides to choose the songs from the Beatles. Could they not get the rights for anything else?
There's a few laughs in this although not as many as I'd expected, and I loved the nod to Love Actually. Overall the film is enjoyable and your typical feel good Brit flick, however I don't think it's particularly memorable or exceptional.
Richard Curtis and Danny Boyle working on the same film should be a match made in heaven. However the result is this enjoyable but sadly rather predictable romcom. Himesh Patel is a likeable lead, but I found the romance aspect with him and Lily James entirely corny and completely predictable, even for Richard Curtis. The music is good, it would be seen as it's the Beatles, however I did find it odd that in the story Himesh finds out about a number of bands and things that no longer exist (some are quite funny), yet only decides to choose the songs from the Beatles. Could they not get the rights for anything else?
There's a few laughs in this although not as many as I'd expected, and I loved the nod to Love Actually. Overall the film is enjoyable and your typical feel good Brit flick, however I don't think it's particularly memorable or exceptional.
Wine Girl: The Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America's Youngest Sommelier
Book
An affecting memoir from America's youngest sommelier, tracing her path through the glamorous but...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Silent Suspect (Paige Northwood #3) in Books
Oct 17, 2021
I have read the two previous books in this series and whilst they were good, I wasn't able to be overly enthusiastic. Unfortunately, this is the same.
The story starts well but quickly becomes tedious and I found myself skimming large sections which is never a good sign. The characters are not particularly likeable and I found Paige became increasingly annoying and don't even get me started on the so-called Social Worker who I found to be unprofessional and not like any Social Worker I have ever met.
I couldn't connect with the characters or the story at all, I didn't feel any tension or thrills and the final reveal was disappointing and, for me, predictable. The only saving grace is the insight into the deaf community and the difficulties and barriers they face every day.
This book wasn't for me and I'm really sorry to say that I won't be reading more in this series but plenty of others have enjoyed it so give it a go if it sounds like your type of book.
I would like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
The story starts well but quickly becomes tedious and I found myself skimming large sections which is never a good sign. The characters are not particularly likeable and I found Paige became increasingly annoying and don't even get me started on the so-called Social Worker who I found to be unprofessional and not like any Social Worker I have ever met.
I couldn't connect with the characters or the story at all, I didn't feel any tension or thrills and the final reveal was disappointing and, for me, predictable. The only saving grace is the insight into the deaf community and the difficulties and barriers they face every day.
This book wasn't for me and I'm really sorry to say that I won't be reading more in this series but plenty of others have enjoyed it so give it a go if it sounds like your type of book.
I would like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Merissa (13472 KP) rated Taking Kinsley in Books
Oct 29, 2023
TAKING KINSLEY is about two best friends who have been attracted to each other for over a decade and yet have never made a move.
This is a long book and, as such, it seems to take quite some time for anything to happen with any part of the story. Personally, I feel this should be tightened up as it did seem to drag in places. When Kinsley and Luke are actually together, the steam is high, but the constant mis- or non-communication makes it a little stagnant.
Told mainly from Luke's point of view, you nevertheless have Kinsley butting in for a paragraph or two before it reverting back to Luke with no clear way of seeing who it is actually speaking.
On the whole, this was a good story but is in need of editing to tighten it up and sort out those pesky spelling errors.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 29, 2023
This is a long book and, as such, it seems to take quite some time for anything to happen with any part of the story. Personally, I feel this should be tightened up as it did seem to drag in places. When Kinsley and Luke are actually together, the steam is high, but the constant mis- or non-communication makes it a little stagnant.
Told mainly from Luke's point of view, you nevertheless have Kinsley butting in for a paragraph or two before it reverting back to Luke with no clear way of seeing who it is actually speaking.
On the whole, this was a good story but is in need of editing to tighten it up and sort out those pesky spelling errors.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 29, 2023
Perfect Strangers
6.0
Rate It
Book
106 of 235 Book Perfect Strangers By Araminta Hall ⭐️⭐️⭐️ When Nancy Hennessy...