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Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated Hawkeye, Volume 4: Rio Bravo in Books
Nov 30, 2020
So, this afternoon, I took it upon myself to nom-nom-nom on this nugget, instead of leaving it for my "pre-sleep time read". Let's just say that I have no regrets for this decision.
All four volumes of the Matt Fraction HAWKEYE run were a re-read for me. This volume, and the previous volume, Vol. 3: "L.A. Woman", were compiled slightly out of order. The issues in the Vol. 3 were all part of Kate Bishop's story, as she and Lucky went out to L.A. The issues in this final volume, while out of order, help continue the story, concluding with Kate's return for the series finale (not a spoiler, if you read Volume 3, which if you didn't, I am very disappointed in you. Tch!).
The volume, as a whole, flows like a well-crafted indie action-adventure flick. There is plenty of white-knuckle tense scenes, as well as some genuine "kick ya in the feels" moments. Heck, there's even a small amount of chuckles, too! All in all, a perfect ending to a perfect series!
In addition to Katie-Kate's return, it also brings back David Aja, whose art on the series' run, was nothing short of brilliant! Aja brought a pulp feel to the art, a style that suited Fraction's portrayal of Clint Barton.
All in all, the entire run is worth your time, not just this fourth, and final, volume of the series! In an era where Marvel thinks constantly rebooting series, as well as offering way too many meaningless crossover events, is how you put out quality material, it warms my nerdy comic lovin' heart to still return to good stuff like Matt Fraction's HAWKEYE run! Thank you, Matt, and thank you to all the excellent art choices you assembled for this run!
All four volumes of the Matt Fraction HAWKEYE run were a re-read for me. This volume, and the previous volume, Vol. 3: "L.A. Woman", were compiled slightly out of order. The issues in the Vol. 3 were all part of Kate Bishop's story, as she and Lucky went out to L.A. The issues in this final volume, while out of order, help continue the story, concluding with Kate's return for the series finale (not a spoiler, if you read Volume 3, which if you didn't, I am very disappointed in you. Tch!).
The volume, as a whole, flows like a well-crafted indie action-adventure flick. There is plenty of white-knuckle tense scenes, as well as some genuine "kick ya in the feels" moments. Heck, there's even a small amount of chuckles, too! All in all, a perfect ending to a perfect series!
In addition to Katie-Kate's return, it also brings back David Aja, whose art on the series' run, was nothing short of brilliant! Aja brought a pulp feel to the art, a style that suited Fraction's portrayal of Clint Barton.
All in all, the entire run is worth your time, not just this fourth, and final, volume of the series! In an era where Marvel thinks constantly rebooting series, as well as offering way too many meaningless crossover events, is how you put out quality material, it warms my nerdy comic lovin' heart to still return to good stuff like Matt Fraction's HAWKEYE run! Thank you, Matt, and thank you to all the excellent art choices you assembled for this run!
Fred (860 KP) rated Hubie Halloween (2020) in Movies
Oct 10, 2020
A new Halloween classic?
First question: Is this a good movie? No
Second question: Is this movie funny? Yes
You can't go into this movie expecting it to be any more than it is. A comedy with Adam Sandler & his friends acting silly.
The story is silly, the characters are silly. It's typical Sandler. People are mean to him but he keeps on keeping on until he's the hero. At the end, I didn't feel his bullies got what they deserved, but Hubie, Sandler's character, gets what he deserves. And that's fine.
His movies are all about his character. The out-of-place loser that everyone hates or makes fun of. So, how does Hubie stack up? He's great. He's the Water Boy character but instead of water, he's into safety, especially during Halloween. But the thing that I really liked is that he was scared of everything, screaming at every little jump scare & some not even that. And every time he screamed, I laughed out loud. In fact, there were lots of things making me laugh at. Every shirt that Hubie's mother & her friend wore had me laugh like a kid. I think the part that made me laugh the loudest was the cat's reaction when Violet insults it. The secondary characters were all funny as well.
There were throw backs & Easter eggs to his other movies too, like the O'Doyles from Billy Madison or Ben Stiller from Happy Gillmore. But I don't want to give away any more of them, including the cameos from famous people.
So, in ending, yeah, it's not actually art, but it's damn funny. I was laughing throughout the whole thing. I could see myself watching this every Halloween. It's a new classic in my house.
Second question: Is this movie funny? Yes
You can't go into this movie expecting it to be any more than it is. A comedy with Adam Sandler & his friends acting silly.
The story is silly, the characters are silly. It's typical Sandler. People are mean to him but he keeps on keeping on until he's the hero. At the end, I didn't feel his bullies got what they deserved, but Hubie, Sandler's character, gets what he deserves. And that's fine.
His movies are all about his character. The out-of-place loser that everyone hates or makes fun of. So, how does Hubie stack up? He's great. He's the Water Boy character but instead of water, he's into safety, especially during Halloween. But the thing that I really liked is that he was scared of everything, screaming at every little jump scare & some not even that. And every time he screamed, I laughed out loud. In fact, there were lots of things making me laugh at. Every shirt that Hubie's mother & her friend wore had me laugh like a kid. I think the part that made me laugh the loudest was the cat's reaction when Violet insults it. The secondary characters were all funny as well.
There were throw backs & Easter eggs to his other movies too, like the O'Doyles from Billy Madison or Ben Stiller from Happy Gillmore. But I don't want to give away any more of them, including the cameos from famous people.
So, in ending, yeah, it's not actually art, but it's damn funny. I was laughing throughout the whole thing. I could see myself watching this every Halloween. It's a new classic in my house.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Hereditary (2018) in Movies
Oct 25, 2020
As a person who watches a respectable chunk of horror, it's not often that a genre film comes along that manages to get under my skin, something that Hereditary definitely does.
The first full length feature by Ari Aster is many things - it's heart wrenching, it's unsettling, definitely disturbing, frequently terrifying, but also carries a weight of beauty. It's wonderfully realised - Aster has a keen eye for striking visuals, something he proved doubly with Midsommar, and Hereditary boasts a brag worthy amount of fantastic shots and clever edits. A lot of the tracking shots centred around the characters add to the uneasiness, and has you constantly scanning the frame for something hidden away, leering at the viewer from the darkness. (A few shots legit just make me want to watch something else)
There are multiple moments that gave me chills, and a lovely fear-soaked amount of visual cues that will stick with me for some time. The whole atmosphere of Hereditary is unpleasant, quite sinister, and brimming with emotion.
The whole cast are great without a doubt, but Toni Collette is the true star. She's an absolute powerhouse throughout this movie, and is arguably her best performance ever put to screen. Her portrayal of the sheer trauma she experiences is harrowing at times, managing to give us a hugely sympathetic and human character (whilst occasionally being nightmare fuel herself)
That's a good word to use actually - Hereditary feels like a nightmare put onto screen. The whole movie is dripping with tension, and never lets up on making the viewer feel uncomfortable. Ari Aster will surely play a huge part in the future of the genre. Not only is Hereditary a masterclass in modern horror, but it's a genuinely fantastic cinematic experience, which I would consider essential viewing.
The first full length feature by Ari Aster is many things - it's heart wrenching, it's unsettling, definitely disturbing, frequently terrifying, but also carries a weight of beauty. It's wonderfully realised - Aster has a keen eye for striking visuals, something he proved doubly with Midsommar, and Hereditary boasts a brag worthy amount of fantastic shots and clever edits. A lot of the tracking shots centred around the characters add to the uneasiness, and has you constantly scanning the frame for something hidden away, leering at the viewer from the darkness. (A few shots legit just make me want to watch something else)
There are multiple moments that gave me chills, and a lovely fear-soaked amount of visual cues that will stick with me for some time. The whole atmosphere of Hereditary is unpleasant, quite sinister, and brimming with emotion.
The whole cast are great without a doubt, but Toni Collette is the true star. She's an absolute powerhouse throughout this movie, and is arguably her best performance ever put to screen. Her portrayal of the sheer trauma she experiences is harrowing at times, managing to give us a hugely sympathetic and human character (whilst occasionally being nightmare fuel herself)
That's a good word to use actually - Hereditary feels like a nightmare put onto screen. The whole movie is dripping with tension, and never lets up on making the viewer feel uncomfortable. Ari Aster will surely play a huge part in the future of the genre. Not only is Hereditary a masterclass in modern horror, but it's a genuinely fantastic cinematic experience, which I would consider essential viewing.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Elect (Eagle Elite, #2) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This one seemed more of a mystery than the first. Who was behind the killing? Who was Phoenix scared of? What did he know that made him so scared? Ooh, let the snooping begin.
So we’re back with our beloved characters from the first: Nixon, Trace, Chase, Mo, Tex…Phoenix, and we’re still hip deep in the family business. Only this time it’s worse, much worse. The original Sicilian family is on it’s way over to investigate the death of another leader and it isn’t looking good for anyone.
After Phoenix’s actions in the last one, I cant say I was very warm at his reappearance in this but the more I read the more I began to feel sorry for him. He wasn’t all bad; he’d just been forced to do bad things from an early age, stuff he didn’t want to do and it had begun to be ingrained in him. In the end, he did the right thing and that put him back up with the rest of ‘em for me.
Chase. *sigh* He’s such a great guy and deserves happiness. I loved him in Elite but in this…well, I fell even faster and harder, seeing how he struggles with his feelings while at the same time trying to do the right thing. Nawwwww, he’s lovely. :’)
I was intrigued throughout when more information came out about who the bad guy was and I was eagerly awaiting his demise for the last 20% or so of the book.
It’s hard to write too much without spoiling it. All I’ll say is that the ending has left me wanting more!!
If you read and enjoyed the first, you should totally check this out too.
This one seemed more of a mystery than the first. Who was behind the killing? Who was Phoenix scared of? What did he know that made him so scared? Ooh, let the snooping begin.
So we’re back with our beloved characters from the first: Nixon, Trace, Chase, Mo, Tex…Phoenix, and we’re still hip deep in the family business. Only this time it’s worse, much worse. The original Sicilian family is on it’s way over to investigate the death of another leader and it isn’t looking good for anyone.
After Phoenix’s actions in the last one, I cant say I was very warm at his reappearance in this but the more I read the more I began to feel sorry for him. He wasn’t all bad; he’d just been forced to do bad things from an early age, stuff he didn’t want to do and it had begun to be ingrained in him. In the end, he did the right thing and that put him back up with the rest of ‘em for me.
Chase. *sigh* He’s such a great guy and deserves happiness. I loved him in Elite but in this…well, I fell even faster and harder, seeing how he struggles with his feelings while at the same time trying to do the right thing. Nawwwww, he’s lovely. :’)
I was intrigued throughout when more information came out about who the bad guy was and I was eagerly awaiting his demise for the last 20% or so of the book.
It’s hard to write too much without spoiling it. All I’ll say is that the ending has left me wanting more!!
If you read and enjoyed the first, you should totally check this out too.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Dunkirk (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
Dunkirk really wasn't one that I was sure I wanted to watch. After watching it... I'm sure that I didn't want to watch it. It was interesting, in that it was a story from history that I didn't know, but I really didn't enjoy the film itself.
At the beginning I found the three story lines to be confusing, and almost everyone I've spoken to has said the same thing that I had thought during the film... "Was Cillian Murphy playing two people?"
Looking online I've seen some are quibbling about the effects being too loud and that there was very little dialogue from the troops... to be honest I didn't notice the sound "issue" while I watched as it seemed about right for the situation they were in. I did pause for thought about no one talking, but that again didn't seem that out of place in the context of the scenes.
While the timeline issues with the three strands did eventually sort themselves out I had already been put off. I really didn't feel this can be dubbed as the summer blockbuster that it was being pegged as.
That being said, I do think it will do well as we don't see many high profile films like this. And you know what... I was ready to sigh and say "yet another singer who should stick to what they're good at"... but Harry Styles wasn't bad, but I wouldn't like to comment on whether that was because there were barely any lines or not.
I think this one will have to be chalked up as "not for me", as I said it wasn't one I'd really wanted to watch in the first place.
At the beginning I found the three story lines to be confusing, and almost everyone I've spoken to has said the same thing that I had thought during the film... "Was Cillian Murphy playing two people?"
Looking online I've seen some are quibbling about the effects being too loud and that there was very little dialogue from the troops... to be honest I didn't notice the sound "issue" while I watched as it seemed about right for the situation they were in. I did pause for thought about no one talking, but that again didn't seem that out of place in the context of the scenes.
While the timeline issues with the three strands did eventually sort themselves out I had already been put off. I really didn't feel this can be dubbed as the summer blockbuster that it was being pegged as.
That being said, I do think it will do well as we don't see many high profile films like this. And you know what... I was ready to sigh and say "yet another singer who should stick to what they're good at"... but Harry Styles wasn't bad, but I wouldn't like to comment on whether that was because there were barely any lines or not.
I think this one will have to be chalked up as "not for me", as I said it wasn't one I'd really wanted to watch in the first place.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
So this was my midnight screening... I threw caution to the wind again and dragged myself out of bed when normal people were sleeping. I rocked up at 11:45 thinking I was actually running a bit late... but as it turned out, I was the first one there. I tried my best to sneak down the side so I didn't have to have my picture taken with some extras who were doing some promo shots out front. Unfortunately I wasn't channelling my ninja skills enough due to lack of sleep and I was trapped against my will for snaps.
When I went to see Last Jedi the whole screen was packed out. I had been toying with when to see this one, I wasn't overly bothered so a midnight screening seemed a bit over the top. But LJ had been such a great atmosphere that I went for it. I was very surprised to find that when I went to book there were only two other seats booked for the 3D screening, and when I checked the 2D there were maybe 20 tickets booked.
No one had very high hopes for this one, and I for one didn't think it was as good as Force Awakens or Last Jedi, but it did have its moments. There were a lot of nostalgic references, I don't know if they were things that was already know in the fandom, but to me they were new and I appreciated them.
Beyond that I wasn't overly impressed by it. Paul Bettany was woefully under used and the rest didn't really feel very convincing, even when taking into account the fictional nature of everything. The one thing that actually got me in the feels was Lando and L3. Still brings a tear to my eye now.
When I went to see Last Jedi the whole screen was packed out. I had been toying with when to see this one, I wasn't overly bothered so a midnight screening seemed a bit over the top. But LJ had been such a great atmosphere that I went for it. I was very surprised to find that when I went to book there were only two other seats booked for the 3D screening, and when I checked the 2D there were maybe 20 tickets booked.
No one had very high hopes for this one, and I for one didn't think it was as good as Force Awakens or Last Jedi, but it did have its moments. There were a lot of nostalgic references, I don't know if they were things that was already know in the fandom, but to me they were new and I appreciated them.
Beyond that I wasn't overly impressed by it. Paul Bettany was woefully under used and the rest didn't really feel very convincing, even when taking into account the fictional nature of everything. The one thing that actually got me in the feels was Lando and L3. Still brings a tear to my eye now.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
I've obviously been living under a rock as I hadn't realised that this was a Disney film. But while it has some Disney traits it didn't feel very Disney. In fact something feels a little off about the whole thing, and I can't say that that is a new feeling about their recent live action offerings. If we're excluding Pixar then the only film I've enjoyed from them recently is A Wrinkle In Time, this did nothing to change that.
Occasionally I come across films that leave me rather unenthusiastic, this is one of them. A seemingly massive budget has delivered an entirely mediocre piece filled with a large and impressive cast given parts that are lacklustre and often awkward. I'm not sure what was worse, Richard E. Grant's chandelier headdress or Keira Knightley's horny overlording and her high pitched whine. At least Helen Mirren with a whip gives you something good to watch.
All the realms have that wondrous quality but somehow don't come with the awe-inducing picture on the screen. Once you get into the Realm Of Amusements things get slightly more comical and you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd accidentally stumbled into a Spy Kids movie.
A welcome diversion came in the form of Misty Copeland's performances. It's just a shame that it was tainted by the rest of the film.
Sadly I can't get excited about this, I'm more annoyed about the fact that in all likelihood this will be hogging screen time until Christmas.
What you should do
Go and watch a ballet of The Nutcracker, it'll be more exciting and beautiful to watch.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd love the skill to create those clockwork marvels.
Occasionally I come across films that leave me rather unenthusiastic, this is one of them. A seemingly massive budget has delivered an entirely mediocre piece filled with a large and impressive cast given parts that are lacklustre and often awkward. I'm not sure what was worse, Richard E. Grant's chandelier headdress or Keira Knightley's horny overlording and her high pitched whine. At least Helen Mirren with a whip gives you something good to watch.
All the realms have that wondrous quality but somehow don't come with the awe-inducing picture on the screen. Once you get into the Realm Of Amusements things get slightly more comical and you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd accidentally stumbled into a Spy Kids movie.
A welcome diversion came in the form of Misty Copeland's performances. It's just a shame that it was tainted by the rest of the film.
Sadly I can't get excited about this, I'm more annoyed about the fact that in all likelihood this will be hogging screen time until Christmas.
What you should do
Go and watch a ballet of The Nutcracker, it'll be more exciting and beautiful to watch.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd love the skill to create those clockwork marvels.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Carnival Row - Season 1 in TV
Sep 8, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this one. I know that this show did well with the critics because it's apparently reflective of our modern times (xenophobia, etc), and, I'm sure that's probably what the writers intended. However, this show seemed to actually reflect the always interesting and complicated relationship between Ireland and England. The fae even had Irish accents (albeit, bad ones in some cases). It made me think, since both of my families are descendants of two races that weren't necessarily welcome in the US, and I get random sneering/weird comments about being half-Polish.
Anyway, the world was interesting, and it was a Steampunky-Victorian mash up. It was also very predictable, I had everything figured out completely by the 6th episode. The script wasn't that great, and good god, Cara Delevigne cannot act her way out of a wet paperbag. The main draw, for me, was Orly. He seemed to be the best actor out of all of them. There was one story line that I'm not sure was strictly necessary, involving the Spurnrose family, and that obnoxious actress that played Catherine Howard in the Tudors. There was also another strange plot line that seemed a little off, because it wasn't introduced with enough detail. There was also unnecessary T&A that I think just slowed down the show in general. I don't like T&A scenes in general, because they're hardily every relevant to the overall story. I just feel like the streaming platforms are trying to be like HBO. This show would have benefited from not having it, because it could have brought in a younger demographic as well as the adults.
I'm glad this was already renewed for a second season, because they left it as a cliffhanger. I wanted more about these different magical races and their country of origin.
Anyway, the world was interesting, and it was a Steampunky-Victorian mash up. It was also very predictable, I had everything figured out completely by the 6th episode. The script wasn't that great, and good god, Cara Delevigne cannot act her way out of a wet paperbag. The main draw, for me, was Orly. He seemed to be the best actor out of all of them. There was one story line that I'm not sure was strictly necessary, involving the Spurnrose family, and that obnoxious actress that played Catherine Howard in the Tudors. There was also another strange plot line that seemed a little off, because it wasn't introduced with enough detail. There was also unnecessary T&A that I think just slowed down the show in general. I don't like T&A scenes in general, because they're hardily every relevant to the overall story. I just feel like the streaming platforms are trying to be like HBO. This show would have benefited from not having it, because it could have brought in a younger demographic as well as the adults.
I'm glad this was already renewed for a second season, because they left it as a cliffhanger. I wanted more about these different magical races and their country of origin.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Fatal Cajun Festival in Books
Sep 13, 2019
Murder Isn’t Music to Maggie’s Ears
Maggie Crozat’s grand-mere has come up with the idea of Pelican, Louisiana, holding a musical festival in the days leading up to New Orleans’s famous Jazz Fest. Tammy Barker, a native who has gained fame as the winner of the TV singing competition, has agreed to return to headline the event. This isn’t good news for Maggie’s friend, Gaynell, however. Gaynell and Tammy went to high school together, and Tammy seems to have it out for her, even sabotaging Gaynell’s shot at auditioning for Jazz Fest. So when a murder takes place after Tammy’s set opening night of the festival, all eyes are on Gaynell. Can Maggie clear her friend?
This is the fifth book in the series, and it was wonderful to get to visit our friends in Pelican again. Maggie leads a strong cast. While there are quite a few regulars plus the suspects, I didn’t have any trouble keeping the characters straight while I was reading. However, there is a handy character guide in the front of the book if you do need it. The plot is strong with a couple of equally as strong sub-plots to keep the pages turning. I especially enjoyed a sub-plot involving Grand-mere. The twists and turns lead us to a logical climax. My only complaint is how Maggie works with the police, but it was a minor issue overall. We get five recipes and some fun background on things we learn in the story at the end of the book. I always feel like I’ve visited Louisiana when I read one of these books, and this one is no expectation. Fans old and new will be glad they picked it up.
This is the fifth book in the series, and it was wonderful to get to visit our friends in Pelican again. Maggie leads a strong cast. While there are quite a few regulars plus the suspects, I didn’t have any trouble keeping the characters straight while I was reading. However, there is a handy character guide in the front of the book if you do need it. The plot is strong with a couple of equally as strong sub-plots to keep the pages turning. I especially enjoyed a sub-plot involving Grand-mere. The twists and turns lead us to a logical climax. My only complaint is how Maggie works with the police, but it was a minor issue overall. We get five recipes and some fun background on things we learn in the story at the end of the book. I always feel like I’ve visited Louisiana when I read one of these books, and this one is no expectation. Fans old and new will be glad they picked it up.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated The Walking Dead - Season 4 in TV
Sep 22, 2019 (Updated Oct 25, 2019)
A season of two halves
Contains spoilers, click to show
Season 4 of The Walking Dead is honestly a mixed bag.
The first half is pretty damn solid, wrapping up the Prison and Governor storyline nicely.
It shows off just how strong the cast is here - the characters we have come to know and love are stronger than ever, and a lot of new faces are welcome. I really liked how we got to know Tyrese more throughout this season.
As the group deals with a deadly flu outbreak within the prison walls, the show does a really good job of making you feel the claustrophobia.
I also really enjoyed the flashback Governor episodes - although these episodes introduced us to Tara - a character who I warmed to slowly later on, but in this season, damn she's annoying (nothing against Alanna Masterson just FYI)
The first half climaxes astonishingly with the episode "Too Far Gone" - possibly the best episode of TWD ever. It's sooooo tense. It's violent. It's upsetting. It's masterful. TWD at it's soaring best (although I don't think I'll ever get over what happened to my beloved Hershel)
Then the back half of the season is where it's loses its footing a bit. The group is scattered after the events of "Too Far Gone" and it really shows how TWD fares much better when everyone is together. It's just becomes a bit....boring, and it struggled to hold my attention.
There are still some great parts though - the sweet relationship between Daryl and Beth, the introduction of Abraham, the BRUTAL scene where Rick defends Carl from a truly disturbing fate in the finale...
And of course "The Grove" - another stellar episode.
Season 4 is the first season that became a little bit filler-infused for me but those stand out episodes elevate it and then some.
The first half is pretty damn solid, wrapping up the Prison and Governor storyline nicely.
It shows off just how strong the cast is here - the characters we have come to know and love are stronger than ever, and a lot of new faces are welcome. I really liked how we got to know Tyrese more throughout this season.
As the group deals with a deadly flu outbreak within the prison walls, the show does a really good job of making you feel the claustrophobia.
I also really enjoyed the flashback Governor episodes - although these episodes introduced us to Tara - a character who I warmed to slowly later on, but in this season, damn she's annoying (nothing against Alanna Masterson just FYI)
The first half climaxes astonishingly with the episode "Too Far Gone" - possibly the best episode of TWD ever. It's sooooo tense. It's violent. It's upsetting. It's masterful. TWD at it's soaring best (although I don't think I'll ever get over what happened to my beloved Hershel)
Then the back half of the season is where it's loses its footing a bit. The group is scattered after the events of "Too Far Gone" and it really shows how TWD fares much better when everyone is together. It's just becomes a bit....boring, and it struggled to hold my attention.
There are still some great parts though - the sweet relationship between Daryl and Beth, the introduction of Abraham, the BRUTAL scene where Rick defends Carl from a truly disturbing fate in the finale...
And of course "The Grove" - another stellar episode.
Season 4 is the first season that became a little bit filler-infused for me but those stand out episodes elevate it and then some.