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The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
1994 | Drama

"That’s another one for me that, basically it’s stunning how — it’s an incredible watch. And I think it’s the performances, again, I find riveting. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are just incredible. It’s just such a beautiful film, I think. The story is incredible, it’s so well made. I think Frank [Darabont] dialed in on the direction — I love all of his movies. They have a style that I really like. Anytime I think of this movie, it’s just a sweeping shot coming over the prison while Morgan Freeman is narrating his — it’s such an incredible sense of memories. I went to see it with my parents; I guess I was thirteen when it came out. I think I was — or fourteen — and I remember just being absolutely blown away by it. I mean I know it’s one that’s on nearly everybody’s list, but for me it was also — it was kind of like the first sort of grown-up movie that I went to see with my parents, and that we could have a proper conversation about."

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Ezra Koenig recommended Something Else by The Kinks in Music (curated)

 
Something Else by The Kinks
Something Else by The Kinks
1967 | Rock
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"When I was 14 my family took a trip to London, which was the first and only trip we took together outside of the US. For some reason, we had to go to Waterloo station and my dad told me there was a song by the Kinks about people who meet there, then he played it for me when we got home. I associate it with this exotic feeling I had when I was there. At the time London seemed like a totally mystical place and lived up to my expectations of Englishness. I grew up in New Jersey, so mid-60s Kinks albums seemed like a pure fantasy world. The themes of this one are quite grown-up – it's wistful and sentimental. I also like 'Two Sisters', which is about a woman who is jealous of her carefree, single sister but realises that the stability she has in her family life is more valuable. That's such a different kind of song to listen to when you're 14, as opposed to the stuff on pop radio about love and sex."

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To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Romance
6
7.4 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The movie picks up where the last movie left off. Lara Jean and Peter are officially dating and life is good,but when Lara Jean receives a letter from John Ambrose - the final love letter recipient - she starts to reply but shoves her reply in a drawer and it's forgotten about. That is until John Ambrose shows up at the same place Lara Jean volunteers at and her old feelings come rushing back, she then needs to decide if Peter is the one for her or if it's John Ambrose she wants.
After the perfect ending of the last movie, I felt a sequel wasn't needed but I wanted to watch it anyway, and I was right, a sequel really wasn't needed. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a terrible movie but I felt like it didn't have the same feel as the first one and a lot of the time I felt annoyed at Lara Jean. However, I did have to remember that she's only 16 years old and it shows what many teens that age are going through.
  
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
2013 | Comedy
On par with the first movie, with the added benefit of looking like an actual film production and not a basement eyesore. Maintains the loose schema but ups the joke consistency and jovial absurdity at least five, maybe ten-fold. So if you had to pull me on it, I'd say this one is better. My biggest quibble is that it needed to shave off around fifteen minutes, and truthfully I have less qualms about the actual length as opposed to the steam all but fizzling out in the last act. Also helps that this leans much more into its setting and subject matter, aiming for some admittedly broad satire but no less accurate. A way better comedy movie let alone sequel than it has any right to be, and you all scared McKay away to mostly dull-arrowed political farces because he had the heart to offer us this. For shame. Funny as fuck most of the time, and I just love how lived-in and learned these performances are by actors who know their characters inside and out.
  
Black Panther Vol. 1: A Nation Under Our Feet
Black Panther Vol. 1: A Nation Under Our Feet
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So what can I say? I liked it, yes. A bit dry in spots, felt like a bit of a slow burn in the very beginning, but really quite liked how Coates wrapped up the first arc of his run. Only thing not likable in this collection was the Jonathan Hickman-written material from NEW AVENGERS 18, 21, and 24 (if wasn't for this inclusion, I would have given it 5 Stars). Other than that, good stuff, great handling of the socio-political aspects of Wakanda. Looking forward to starting the 4th volume this week!

One concluding thought I want to put out there.. Don't go into Coates' BP run expecting a Marvel "paint by numbers" superhero book. This series is so much, offering a solid interpretation of the character. Coates has incorporated so much of what is going on in the world today, bringing into the comic, as well as stirring in Wakanda's rich historical background as well as the Wakanda pantheon of gods! If you go in with the approach I am recommending, you, too, will love Coates' BLACK PANTHER run!
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated The Gallows Pole in Books

Dec 2, 2020 (Updated Dec 2, 2020)  
The Gallows Pole
The Gallows Pole
Benjamin Myers | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the first book I got from my branch of the Austin Public Library when they opened up after quarantine. So, it'll always have a special place in my heart. The cover is super cool too.

I love historical fiction most of the time, and when I opened up this book, I was worried. It was written in the vernacular. It only took me about a chapter to get into it. The story is about clipping coins, which has always fascinated me. I live in a state that's very much 'stick it to the man', so I could relate to the attitude of the characters.

Obviously, it was predictable, and you knew how it had to end, it is based in historical fact, after all... and the title happens to be The Gallows Pole. The novel really benefits from the fact that the author moved to the area this took place in, and did all of his research there. It resulted in an amazing novel. I can't wait to read something else from this author.
  
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ClareR (5726 KP) Dec 3, 2020

I really need to read this - it has been sat on my bookshelf for AGES!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Midnight Sun (Twilight, #5)
Midnight Sun (Twilight, #5)
Stephenie Meyer | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
7
7.2 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Edward is darker than he’s portrayed in the 1st book. (1 more)
Stephanie Meyer is a much better writer than when she first started. I’d say that this is well written.
Edward is a prude (7 more)
I can’t tell if my boredom with the book was because I’ve moved on from this story emotionally, or if I just didn’t find Edward’s version of things compelling enough to care.
I almost dnf’ed it.
Wtf with that ugly cover?! I know why they used a pomegranate (it’s explained in the book) but it’s a bad choice IMO.
This book came too late. If this had come out at the height of the series popularity, I think I would have loved it. But it’s been what, 15 years?
It’s ridiculous that Edward is such a whiny, brooding virgin. His self righteousness about it is a huge turn off. What a d-bag
Can Rosalie just be written out of the series or something? Let her get eaten by a bear
I don’t love these characters anymore.
It turns out Edward is more boring and clingy than Bella
  
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated So Lucky in Books

Oct 28, 2020  
So Lucky
So Lucky
Dawn O'Porter | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Very enjoyable
This is the second book of Dawn O'Porter's that I've read after first trying The Cows, and I enjoyed both of them equally. Both of these books have similar themes but yet completely different stories, and O'Porter is obviously on a mission to promote female empowerment and strength (and rightly so).

The writing style in this is very good. I was gripped from the start and couldn't put this down. The main characters are all relatable in different ways, and even if you haven't necessarily experienced exactly the same things as them there's still a lot of yourself that you can recognise in all of them. To begin with, Ruby and Beth aren't exactly likeable characters mainly because as readers, we can see the problems with how they treat themselves (and others) and it's a bit frustrating. However you soon grow to love them and whilst the story itself is entirely predictable, it's still a joy to read. It promotes such a powerful message about loving and accepting yourself and about female empowerment, and you can't really go wrong with this.
  
The Fires of Vengeance
The Fires of Vengeance
Evan Winter | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Superb follow-up African fantasy
The follow-up to Rage of Dragons follows Tau and his sword-brothers as they seek to take back control of their country after its civil uprising and invasion by the less civilised former inhabitants of Xidda.
I had my misgivings about reading this second book as I had some issues with "Rage ...", finding the first two thirds really quite a slog. My love of the final third, where all the action was, really made my mind up. I am so glad I decided to read this book as it is truly superb. It has been a long time since a book kept me up reading at night, normally my eyes go quite quickly. Not so here, I was reading for over an hour at times.
The book is a nonstop thrill, every page either filled with action, strategy or concise dialogue that moves the plot along. There is simply no filler material at all.
I received a free copy in advance from the publishers and netgally in exchange for an honest review
  
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu  (2019)
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)
2019 | Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
First, I confess I had no interest in Pokemon, the cards, the games, the plush toys, or anything related to the Pocket Monsters and Gotta Catch Em All Fever. I thought Bulbasaur was a Squirtle and Cubone was a member of the Mewtwo phenomenon. However, unlike the animated film, I was slightly impressed by the live action/animated hybrid. While the central mystery Detective Pikachu is on the trail of is a red herring, the story is heartwarming and almost made me miss my dad. Tim, after his mom died, spends a lot of time alone and dreams of being a Pokemon trainer, but as we see his emotionlessness inhibits his ability to connect to the little monsters. HIs dad, a world famous detective, tries to connect with him, but he is a constantly absent presence in his life. When Harry is reported dead from a car accident, Tim comes to Ryme City and meets Harry's Pokemon Pikachu who believes Harry didn't die. The true story is very incisive about the lengths we go to protect the things and people we love.