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Sarah (7800 KP) rated A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) in Movies
Nov 7, 2020
Nice enough
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood follows the story of a friendship between a journalist (Matthew Rhys) and tv presenter/personality Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks). And I’ll start off by saying that going into this film, I didn’t have a clue who Mr Rogers was, so this was all rather unknown for me. The only reason I decided to watch it was because of Tom Hanks, although overall I did find this to be a nice film.
Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers is rather disturbing, but in a good way as he puts in a stellar performance. Matthew Rhys’ Lloyd Vogel starts off with a huge amount of cynicism and wariness of Rogers, and that’s exactly how this film made me feel at the beginning. Hanks as Rogers is rather creepy and comes across as very strange. However throughout the course of the film as Lloyd discovers more about Rogers, so did I and it really helped me enjoy this film more. And whilst I don’t know who Fred Rogers is, Hanks’ performance was spot on as an old school kids tv presenter. Matthew Rhys as well puts in a great turn as the hardened journalist who does have a heart after all, and I think he’s such an underrated actor.
The styling of this film too is very good. The use of the toys and miniature cities and buildings is a genius move, and brings such a fun and magical feel to the entire film. To begin with I worried it would be out of place, but there’s enough whimsical and childlike aspects in this so that it all fits together perfectly.
However, despite the rather fun side and the great performances, for me I found the story a little lacking. It’s almost too cutesy and sweet at times, even considering the serious parts of the family drama. I also found it dragged as well in parts and I got a little bored with the Rogers based show scenes. This is still a good film, I just think I’m not particularly sold on the whole Fred Rogers thing especially as this has only told me a limited amount about who he really is!
Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers is rather disturbing, but in a good way as he puts in a stellar performance. Matthew Rhys’ Lloyd Vogel starts off with a huge amount of cynicism and wariness of Rogers, and that’s exactly how this film made me feel at the beginning. Hanks as Rogers is rather creepy and comes across as very strange. However throughout the course of the film as Lloyd discovers more about Rogers, so did I and it really helped me enjoy this film more. And whilst I don’t know who Fred Rogers is, Hanks’ performance was spot on as an old school kids tv presenter. Matthew Rhys as well puts in a great turn as the hardened journalist who does have a heart after all, and I think he’s such an underrated actor.
The styling of this film too is very good. The use of the toys and miniature cities and buildings is a genius move, and brings such a fun and magical feel to the entire film. To begin with I worried it would be out of place, but there’s enough whimsical and childlike aspects in this so that it all fits together perfectly.
However, despite the rather fun side and the great performances, for me I found the story a little lacking. It’s almost too cutesy and sweet at times, even considering the serious parts of the family drama. I also found it dragged as well in parts and I got a little bored with the Rogers based show scenes. This is still a good film, I just think I’m not particularly sold on the whole Fred Rogers thing especially as this has only told me a limited amount about who he really is!
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Juliet, Naked (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
If there's one thing you can guarantee it's that Nick Hornby can write a good book that turns into a good movie. While they never usually hit my favourites list they're always consistent.
This year has seen the romcom take a step back to something more traditional, and I'm loving it. So many have been more about the comedy, but while this one is funny it's very much focused on the relationships.
The movie opens with Duncan's video that sets up part of the background really well and goes a long way to explaining his life's obsession. What follows is a really well implemented flow with the voice overs mixed in.
I went off and read some comments people had been writing about some of my thoughts on Juliet, Naked. It made me remember that a film like this is only ever as good as your own personal experience. It depicts mild obsession in such a realistic way. Watching Chris O'Dowd reactions to Annie and then later Tucker was really on point, and as his behaviour starts to really cause the split between him and Annie her reaction too was just right. In fact I felt the three of them were brilliant on screen throughout.
As a focus for the film, Annie is a wonderful character. Rose Byrne really brings an honesty out of her. You can feel her exacerbation with Duncan's behaviour, her nervousness around Tucker as well as her joy and sadness. That accompanied with the way Tucker changes around her is really beautiful to watch.
Overall there wasn't much to grumble about in this film... but... there's always a but! I didn't feel that the supporting cast were quite as essential. Annie's sister was a little over the top for me, and the diversion around Duncan's affair didn't really match up to the calibre of the rest of the film either.
What you should do
It's definitely one to watch, and remember to watching into the credits!
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I actually wouldn't mind taking home my own Tucker Crowe.
This year has seen the romcom take a step back to something more traditional, and I'm loving it. So many have been more about the comedy, but while this one is funny it's very much focused on the relationships.
The movie opens with Duncan's video that sets up part of the background really well and goes a long way to explaining his life's obsession. What follows is a really well implemented flow with the voice overs mixed in.
I went off and read some comments people had been writing about some of my thoughts on Juliet, Naked. It made me remember that a film like this is only ever as good as your own personal experience. It depicts mild obsession in such a realistic way. Watching Chris O'Dowd reactions to Annie and then later Tucker was really on point, and as his behaviour starts to really cause the split between him and Annie her reaction too was just right. In fact I felt the three of them were brilliant on screen throughout.
As a focus for the film, Annie is a wonderful character. Rose Byrne really brings an honesty out of her. You can feel her exacerbation with Duncan's behaviour, her nervousness around Tucker as well as her joy and sadness. That accompanied with the way Tucker changes around her is really beautiful to watch.
Overall there wasn't much to grumble about in this film... but... there's always a but! I didn't feel that the supporting cast were quite as essential. Annie's sister was a little over the top for me, and the diversion around Duncan's affair didn't really match up to the calibre of the rest of the film either.
What you should do
It's definitely one to watch, and remember to watching into the credits!
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I actually wouldn't mind taking home my own Tucker Crowe.
Andrew Furlong (14 KP) rated Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) in Movies
Sep 27, 2017
The plot is just awful (5 more)
Everything about the Khan twist. The character neither looks nor acts anything Like Khan so it's all just a pointless name drop
The treatment of Carol Marcus and Uhura is honestly kind of insulting
The scenes that reenact Wrath of Khan feel incredibly forced and just make me wish I was watching that movie instead
Too much emphasis on action over story
The Klingon redesign is awful
Ugh
While I can certainly understand the appeal of the first I just cannot with this thing. Most of it feels like any generic action movie rather than Trek and the stuff that does feels like terrible retreads of previous material. I'd honestly rather watch Voyager's "Threshold" and Enterprise's "A Night in Sickbay" back to back than watch this again
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Case Against Sugar in Books
Oct 5, 2017
Detailed look at how sugar is peddled to the masses
It's true, a lot of the arguments seem obvious in this day and age that sugar is bad for you. However, this book explains how for decades, giant corporations such as Coca Cola and well known confectioners, and academics with interests in the sugar foundation attempted to thwart all research surrounding this. For much of the time, sugar was seen as the better evil compared to saturated fat, but actually it has been the number one cause in the rise of diabetes, illnesess related to cancer and even dementia.
It is important to read why sugar has been ignored for so long, and no doubt it'll make you feel guilty for reaching for that chocolate bar, and possibly question if that spoonful in your tea is a good idea.
It is important to read why sugar has been ignored for so long, and no doubt it'll make you feel guilty for reaching for that chocolate bar, and possibly question if that spoonful in your tea is a good idea.
I really wanted to love this book. It had such a good premise. I had a problem with the fact the characters kept commenting throughout the book, I feel like 100 pages could have been cut from this novel. The characters were flat, and there was so much name dropping that didn't amount to much. I completely disliked Diana, I thought she was annoying and just an overall petulant child. Come to think of it, I didn't like any of the characters at all. The whole referring to each other as monsters was overused and completely tired by the end. The plot was practically non-existent and there was maybe one flash of excitement, then it went back to a whole lot of nothing. I'm so glad I didn't buy this book, and that I rented it from the library.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Dorothy Must Die in Books
Jul 23, 2017
the description of OZ (2 more)
The cowardly lion
the rest if the original gang
the plot just went in circles (2 more)
no real heroes
never really found it's footing
Not so Wonderful Oz (read in 2014)
This book had so much potential to be really amazing and different but in the end it just fell short. The characters were bland and the plot just felt like it was going around in circles trying to find a point where the real plot could take off. I know this is the first in the series so I am holding out a little hope that maybe the second book will be better.
The only thing I really liked was the description of OZ and it's more horror induced characters. I feel like this has more potential to be a good TV show or movie over a book.
The only thing I really liked was the description of OZ and it's more horror induced characters. I feel like this has more potential to be a good TV show or movie over a book.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Coco (2017) in Movies
Jan 15, 2018
Twists (1 more)
Authentic Mexican designs in the land of the dead
Not just a remake of the Book of the Dead!
This film sees Miguel's desire to play music in the talent contest lead to him being cursed on the day of the dead. His expired relatives take him to the land of the dead to sort the issue out before he becomes dead forever, leading to an adventure through the land of the dead in order to meet what appears to be a Mexican Elvis: Ernesto de la Cruz.
The adventure, the songs, the bright colours, the skeletons, the jokes all add up to a good Disney film (though it doesn't feel all that Disney), and so much better than the trailer, which really made it look like a remake of the Book of the Dead.
The adventure, the songs, the bright colours, the skeletons, the jokes all add up to a good Disney film (though it doesn't feel all that Disney), and so much better than the trailer, which really made it look like a remake of the Book of the Dead.
Paige (428 KP) rated The Alchemist in Books
Aug 19, 2017
A book for a particular audience
If someone tells me they love this book, I pretty immediately assume that they don't read for pleasure. This book was really made for people who think reading is like medicine, and it strives to be the best-tasting medicine. It is short, vaguely inspirational, uses simple language, and tailored to make you feel wiser after reading it.
In this way, the book is a success.
For readers who are more well-read, all this comes across as a not unpleasant, but not groundbreaking attempt at making capital L literature. It kind of drones, and seems a bit twee and trite.
If you think of books as vitamins (good for you, but a pain to procure and consume) then this book is the most delicious version of that.
In this way, the book is a success.
For readers who are more well-read, all this comes across as a not unpleasant, but not groundbreaking attempt at making capital L literature. It kind of drones, and seems a bit twee and trite.
If you think of books as vitamins (good for you, but a pain to procure and consume) then this book is the most delicious version of that.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated Slayer (Slayer #1) in Books
Feb 18, 2019
As someone who grew up watching and loving Buffy and the spin off series Angel. I also re-watched it about 4 years ago when it was on Netflix so I'm very tied to the Buffyverse. This book definitely kept the Buffy humor which is so it's own brand and it was on point so that contributes to the higher rating. I feel the last 1/4 of the book really picked up as well by the end I was left wanting the next book to come. The first half of the story kind of leaves Buffy as the villian and (for good reasons in Nina's view) that just did not sit well with me. Otherwise, I believe the writting was great and the Buffyverse was left in all it's glory and so well reserved by Kiersten.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Pet Sematary (2019) in Movies
Apr 4, 2019
Sometimes dead is better
I just about remember reading the book a very long time ago and it did stay with me for a long time. A typical chilling horror from Stephen King. I've not seen the '89 film but the trailer for this had me interested.
It's good, very atmospheric, interesting story and a decent cast. The only down side was the climax didn't feel as scary as I remember from the book and a tad abrupt. They have changed a couple of plot points from the book, one is quite a big change. Although I can understand why. But the ending is different and doesn't quite have the impact of the book. Despite that it's still an enjoyable film if you are a Stephen King fan.
It's good, very atmospheric, interesting story and a decent cast. The only down side was the climax didn't feel as scary as I remember from the book and a tad abrupt. They have changed a couple of plot points from the book, one is quite a big change. Although I can understand why. But the ending is different and doesn't quite have the impact of the book. Despite that it's still an enjoyable film if you are a Stephen King fan.