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Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated Finding your feet (2018) in Movies
Jan 30, 2019
Delightful
Contains spoilers, click to show
Finding Your Feet is a sweet movie with endearing characters. The stellar cast consists of Celie Imrie, Imelda Staunton, Joanna Lumley, Timothy Spall, and David Haymen. Staunton plays an up middle-class snob, who after finding her husband in the arms of another woman, moves in with her bohemian sister, Imrie, who lives in a council house and who occupies herself with dancing with other seniors. Her sister convinces her to join the class; she had previously been a dancer but gave it up for marriage and motherhood, and slowly, the snobbery gives way to living her best life and having fun, making new friends, and finding romance and adventure. It's a feel-good, hopeful movie, full of laughter and dance.
What I love about the Brits is that unlike Hollywood, actors are allowed to look like the average person on the street in both face and figure, with gray hair, wrinkles, moles, and a paunch. It's about talent and acting, not whether or not they look like gods and goddesses. It's so refreshing.
What I love about the Brits is that unlike Hollywood, actors are allowed to look like the average person on the street in both face and figure, with gray hair, wrinkles, moles, and a paunch. It's about talent and acting, not whether or not they look like gods and goddesses. It's so refreshing.
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books
Dec 25, 2018
Great page-turning read!
Really enjoyed this! It was my pick for our book club and I think it will generate plenty of discussion. It's just over 500 pages long and we would usually try and stick with a maximum of 400 pages, but this was just so easy to read and so engrossing I got through it really quickly.
It's confusing at first, but I think you are supposed to feel the confusion of the protagonist. There are quite a few characters and the time-travel-body-hoping element can be a little confusing, but there is an internal logic to the book. There were one or two things at the end that weren't quite clear or weren't explained, but overall this is a cracking good read. I think it would be great to read again and try and spot the 'clues' along the way, although I don't think it's a solution you are going to guess, but just enjoy the ride!
It's confusing at first, but I think you are supposed to feel the confusion of the protagonist. There are quite a few characters and the time-travel-body-hoping element can be a little confusing, but there is an internal logic to the book. There were one or two things at the end that weren't quite clear or weren't explained, but overall this is a cracking good read. I think it would be great to read again and try and spot the 'clues' along the way, although I don't think it's a solution you are going to guess, but just enjoy the ride!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Blinded by the Light (2019) in Movies
Aug 13, 2019 (Updated Aug 13, 2019)
Clumsy, trite, and overlong musical coming-of-age drama. The story of an Asian teenager living in Luton in a dress-up version of the late 1980s is brought to life through the music of Bruce Springsteen (well-known as one of the great interpreters of the British Pakistani experience).
As you can probably tell, there is something slightly odd and out-of-whack about the whole premise of the movie, but it's the realisation that is really shocking. Badly-performed characters swap platitudes and re-enact virtually every movie about growing up with strict Pakistani or Muslim parents you have ever seen before, with occasional musical interludes where characters sing along, not well, with Springsteen tracks. To say the dance routines look under-rehearsed is charitable. Apparently aims to be a feel-good movie but I'm sure I felt it trying to suck the soul out of my body. 'Blinded by the Trite', more like - certainly more dross than Boss (I can keep this up all day).
As you can probably tell, there is something slightly odd and out-of-whack about the whole premise of the movie, but it's the realisation that is really shocking. Badly-performed characters swap platitudes and re-enact virtually every movie about growing up with strict Pakistani or Muslim parents you have ever seen before, with occasional musical interludes where characters sing along, not well, with Springsteen tracks. To say the dance routines look under-rehearsed is charitable. Apparently aims to be a feel-good movie but I'm sure I felt it trying to suck the soul out of my body. 'Blinded by the Trite', more like - certainly more dross than Boss (I can keep this up all day).
Michael Packner (32 KP) rated Super Metroid in Video Games
Jun 21, 2019
An enormous jump in quality from the NES version to this (6 more)
An even larger variety of enemies and bosses
The worlds are no longef as redundant and really feel as if they're individual biomes
An even better soundtrack
The absolutely beautiful dark tone of the game
An even bigger variety of weapons and upgrades to collect
While still extremely difficult, the game did lighten up drastically
While still keeping with the horrendously difficult nature of Metroid games, Super Metroid tones it down enough to not be overwhelming. The game is actually a masterpiece from the dark tone to the music to the no longer redundant but vibrant biomes and more. Samus has more weapons and more abilities giving you better control and ability to explore the upgraded world. The villains are epic in scale and some of the boss battles are absolutely epic. Even the mini bosses give you fight you won't soon forget. Going from Metroid to Super Metroid is like going from McDonald's to gourmet. Sure the Mickey D's is good, but the alternative is fucking gourmet!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Ghost Ship (2002) in Movies
Oct 26, 2019
Better than expected
I feel like Ghost Ship is a rather underrated horror film. It may be a little dated now and it definitely shows it in the special effects, but it’s a lot more enjoyable than current modern horrors. It starts off with a bang, and continues with a lot of gore throughout the film. It isn’t the scariest of films which is a shame, but at least it doesn’t rely on cheesy jump scares. It’s got a great cast, and I hadn’t realised Karl Urban was in this which was a nice surprised. The characters may be slightly underdeveloped and there are some characters that come to rather unsatisfying ends, but I found that the twist ending more than makes up for some of these short comings. Whatever you think this film might be, I’d be surprised if you could predict how it turns out. It reminds me a little of Event Horizon at sea, and if it had been a little creepier and satisfying, it’d actually be a very good film.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Midsommar (2019) in Movies
Jul 18, 2019 (Updated Jul 18, 2019)
A Marmite film
If you have seen the trailer then you know this is going to be an artsy, bizarre film that's different from the mainstream films. It can be equally daft, silly one minute and shocking, disturbing the next. For either reason a few people walked out of the cinema after a while. It is gory at times and as it doesn't feel like a Horror film it can have more of an impact. There are lots of visual clues throughout the film and it does have depth to it. My main problem with it is despite being arsty the outcome as a whole was still quite predictable. It's a little overly long as well. It definitely has a Wicker Man meets Get Out vibe to it. Without being as good as either of those films. Overall a film some will love or hate, but either way it will stick with you after the credits. You'll definitely be talking about it for a while.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated How to Hang a Witch (How to Hang a Witch, #1) in Books
Jan 24, 2019
Great mix of history and fiction.
I kept saying this around Halloween and I finally got around to reading it. I got to be honest I wasn't expecting much sounded a little trophie but I got to be honest I really did enjoy it from start to finish. The author is apparently related to the actual guy in the book which was a really cool take I really love the setting of Salem the author really got the detail down great and made for really interesting story. I got to be honest the plot was probably my favorite part it was a great mix of historical fiction and YA high school drama with the perfect amount of a good old myster novel.
Really my only complaint was the really tired love triangle storyline I really didn't feel like it was needed she could have easily have just been friends with one of them but that's just my personal opinion because I honestly I absolutely hate love triangles.
I'm definitely going to be chexking out book 2.
Really my only complaint was the really tired love triangle storyline I really didn't feel like it was needed she could have easily have just been friends with one of them but that's just my personal opinion because I honestly I absolutely hate love triangles.
I'm definitely going to be chexking out book 2.
Kate (493 KP) rated The House of Twelve in Books
Nov 26, 2019
I did enjoy this book. I like crime novels and was not aware this was paranormal as well but it did all make sense and tie in at the end.
Once I started reading I couldn't out the book down - I read it in a day.
The story flowed well and it was interesting to find out the back ground of each character. I did like the twist at the end when the newspaper cut outs and reports were found. It really tied everything together.
I couldn't connect with the characters but that could be because some of them weren't around long and others I just didn't feel anything for. I didn't care what happened to each character and/or when it happened.
The story reminded me of the Saw films. They were more about a game and torture which I don't like so the book was better.
The book was very well put together.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Once I started reading I couldn't out the book down - I read it in a day.
The story flowed well and it was interesting to find out the back ground of each character. I did like the twist at the end when the newspaper cut outs and reports were found. It really tied everything together.
I couldn't connect with the characters but that could be because some of them weren't around long and others I just didn't feel anything for. I didn't care what happened to each character and/or when it happened.
The story reminded me of the Saw films. They were more about a game and torture which I don't like so the book was better.
The book was very well put together.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated The Lady In The Van (2015) in Movies
Nov 30, 2019
Not as Described
If you saw this trailer, and were expect8ng an numerous tale of Maggie Smith playing an obstanant and witty old lady... you are going to be disappointed.
While there is some humour in this film, mostly dark and subtle (Not that that is an issue) it is not as hysterical as the trailer makes out. This is one of those very annoying cases where the genre and themes of the film, we're lost on whoever cut the trailer.
Said trailer is jammed full of every joke in the film, leaving you to think, "oka y, this looks fun, this will cheer me up". Sadly, the overall feel of the film is more drama than comedy.
That said, it is a very good film, well worth a watch, with the usual perfect performance from Maggie, but do not expect to be cheered up by this film, as it is quite sad.
I liked the film, however I was disappointed as I wanted something light and witty, this brought me down man.
While there is some humour in this film, mostly dark and subtle (Not that that is an issue) it is not as hysterical as the trailer makes out. This is one of those very annoying cases where the genre and themes of the film, we're lost on whoever cut the trailer.
Said trailer is jammed full of every joke in the film, leaving you to think, "oka y, this looks fun, this will cheer me up". Sadly, the overall feel of the film is more drama than comedy.
That said, it is a very good film, well worth a watch, with the usual perfect performance from Maggie, but do not expect to be cheered up by this film, as it is quite sad.
I liked the film, however I was disappointed as I wanted something light and witty, this brought me down man.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Black Summer - Season 1 in TV
Jan 3, 2020 (Updated Jan 3, 2020)
Simple but effective (1 more)
Gripping episodes
Zombietastic!
After hearing good things about this zombie show on Netflix I finally caught up with it.
Definitely worth putting to the top of your list. This is how a zombie series should be done. We join the start of an outbreak with a small town evacuation and join a handful of survivors trying to get to safety. What I really liked is that the episodes just follow the chaos as it unfolds. You could imagine the situations happening in this type of event. The episodes vary from around 25 - 40 minutes in length. Some are just about 1 guy trying to avoid a zombie. Another episode shows the distrust in others when things go bad. So there is great variation overall in the settings and situations that arise. It's a little low budget, more evident in some episodes. However it doesn't need big budget effects and it has a raw gritty feel which adds to the intensity. A must for Zombie and Horror fans. Season 2 is coming this year.
Definitely worth putting to the top of your list. This is how a zombie series should be done. We join the start of an outbreak with a small town evacuation and join a handful of survivors trying to get to safety. What I really liked is that the episodes just follow the chaos as it unfolds. You could imagine the situations happening in this type of event. The episodes vary from around 25 - 40 minutes in length. Some are just about 1 guy trying to avoid a zombie. Another episode shows the distrust in others when things go bad. So there is great variation overall in the settings and situations that arise. It's a little low budget, more evident in some episodes. However it doesn't need big budget effects and it has a raw gritty feel which adds to the intensity. A must for Zombie and Horror fans. Season 2 is coming this year.