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Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Guardians (2017) in Movies
Aug 31, 2020
Listed as Russia's Avengers, Guardians is a fun superhero film.
During the cold war a secret Russian organisation called Patriot performed a number of illegal experiments, with both machines and humans. Patriot was shut down due the actions of a rouge scientist who was trying to create module 1 a device that can control any vehicle remotely. Now, a number of experimental tanks have been stolen so Patriot is reopened and a number of the human experiments are found to combat their old creator.
4 hero's are found; Ler, who can control rocks and use them as weapons and armour, Khan, a super speed ninja, Kseniya, who can turn invisible (when wet) and doesn't feel temperature and Arsus, a were-bear with a Gatling gun.
Like many other hero's the hero's of Guardians have their own problems and their reasons for not wanting to be found but these are only touched upon as the film concentrates on bringing the team together and then fighting the enemy whilst showing off their powers and, lets face it, that's what most of us want from a super hero movie.
The plot is simple, the evil Avgust Kuratov wants to take over all the machines of the world and the Guardians are formed to stop him. The effects and CGI aren't bad and we even get a couple transformation scenes with the were-bear. There are funny moments and tragic back stories and action, really most things you would want in a super hero film.
There is a hint of a sequel, both at the end of the film and a scene during the credits which also promises more hero's but, unfortunately,I don't think it's been made.
During the cold war a secret Russian organisation called Patriot performed a number of illegal experiments, with both machines and humans. Patriot was shut down due the actions of a rouge scientist who was trying to create module 1 a device that can control any vehicle remotely. Now, a number of experimental tanks have been stolen so Patriot is reopened and a number of the human experiments are found to combat their old creator.
4 hero's are found; Ler, who can control rocks and use them as weapons and armour, Khan, a super speed ninja, Kseniya, who can turn invisible (when wet) and doesn't feel temperature and Arsus, a were-bear with a Gatling gun.
Like many other hero's the hero's of Guardians have their own problems and their reasons for not wanting to be found but these are only touched upon as the film concentrates on bringing the team together and then fighting the enemy whilst showing off their powers and, lets face it, that's what most of us want from a super hero movie.
The plot is simple, the evil Avgust Kuratov wants to take over all the machines of the world and the Guardians are formed to stop him. The effects and CGI aren't bad and we even get a couple transformation scenes with the were-bear. There are funny moments and tragic back stories and action, really most things you would want in a super hero film.
There is a hint of a sequel, both at the end of the film and a scene during the credits which also promises more hero's but, unfortunately,I don't think it's been made.

Merissa (13169 KP) rated Blinded (Club Indigo #5) in Books
May 12, 2020
Blinded is the fifth book in the Club Indigo series and we start off with our main male character having to have PT due to a climbing accident. Sandra, our PT, is determined to help this grumpy patient and then have absolutely nothing to do with him. The only trouble is, he's a member of the Club Indigo, the same as she is, and he is a master of the ropes, which is something she wants to do more. Sandra has her baggage to contend with and GT has more than few walls to knock down.
This was a great addition to the series. Like with the others, I would say you could read it as a standalone but to get the most out of it, I would recommend reading them in order. Characters from previous books are mentioned so I found it helpful to have read their story first.
I loved how Karen Nappa managed to intertwine Sandra's relationship with her mother (dysfunctional, people!!!) with her budding relationship with GT. I found her fears and concerns completely relatable and, as someone who also shuts down and runs away rather than have a confrontation, I found her reactions to be completely realistic. The Colour Run sounded like so much fun but I would have killed GT for his "little surprise." 🤣
This was a brilliant addition to the series that I loved reading and I can't wait to see who comes next. Absolutely recommended by me.
(P.S. - please let me find out who was the first Top on the Blind Date night!! PLEASE!!!!)
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This was a great addition to the series. Like with the others, I would say you could read it as a standalone but to get the most out of it, I would recommend reading them in order. Characters from previous books are mentioned so I found it helpful to have read their story first.
I loved how Karen Nappa managed to intertwine Sandra's relationship with her mother (dysfunctional, people!!!) with her budding relationship with GT. I found her fears and concerns completely relatable and, as someone who also shuts down and runs away rather than have a confrontation, I found her reactions to be completely realistic. The Colour Run sounded like so much fun but I would have killed GT for his "little surprise." 🤣
This was a brilliant addition to the series that I loved reading and I can't wait to see who comes next. Absolutely recommended by me.
(P.S. - please let me find out who was the first Top on the Blind Date night!! PLEASE!!!!)
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

Zombie (The Cursed Manuscripts)
Book
On December 21, 2012, according to the Mayan Calendar, the world was supposed to end. It didn't. But...

Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Untold: The Daniel Morgan Murder in Podcasts
Jan 5, 2018 (Updated Jan 5, 2018)
A hideous look into the British justice system
Very rarely do we such corruption on a grand scale in the UK, and yet the murder case of Daniel Morgan seems to be symbolic of this. Even after more than 30 years, the case remains 'unsolved', mainly due to underhand deals and lack of fervour to prosecute those responsible.
From corrupt police officers, phone hacking, and eventually murder, Morgan was a private investigator looking into bribery of police officers, some by journalists in the 1980's. For those aware of the phone hacking scandal, it seemed to only get traction and recognition in the last ten years, yet was apparent two decades prior to this. Morgan was found bludgeoned to death in his car, and since then his family have found ample evidence to show widespread cover-ups, and a botched investigation in order to keep the crime underwraps.
Journalist Peter Jukes alongside family members created this podcast to expose the truly horrifying scale of this issue. It is another well-made, engrossing, albeit cautionary tale about how much we can trust our institutions and how much they prop each other up for support. Worth the listen.
From corrupt police officers, phone hacking, and eventually murder, Morgan was a private investigator looking into bribery of police officers, some by journalists in the 1980's. For those aware of the phone hacking scandal, it seemed to only get traction and recognition in the last ten years, yet was apparent two decades prior to this. Morgan was found bludgeoned to death in his car, and since then his family have found ample evidence to show widespread cover-ups, and a botched investigation in order to keep the crime underwraps.
Journalist Peter Jukes alongside family members created this podcast to expose the truly horrifying scale of this issue. It is another well-made, engrossing, albeit cautionary tale about how much we can trust our institutions and how much they prop each other up for support. Worth the listen.

Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Keepsake in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This was a really good book! Believe it or not, it is actually the 2nd book I've read recently that involved hoarding. Weird!
Anyway, this book is so very easy to get hooked in to. It is so real! I found myself really feeling for Trish & Mary. They were both so screwed up in such a real way, but that just made them all the more interesting. I found the psychological aspects behind the hoarding & the OCD fascinating. It was such a struggle for both of the women.
The part that really got my respect though was the ending. It wasn't all tied up in a pretty bow, everyone smiling & everything okay again. Like I said before, it was real...real life. I was satisfied with the ending for that fact. I hate it when books are so real & then the author ruins it by tacking on that happy ending when all the readers know that real life isn't like that at all. So, Kirstina Riggle, thank you for not putting yourself into that cliched category & for having the guts & brains to "keep it real."
Anyway, this book is so very easy to get hooked in to. It is so real! I found myself really feeling for Trish & Mary. They were both so screwed up in such a real way, but that just made them all the more interesting. I found the psychological aspects behind the hoarding & the OCD fascinating. It was such a struggle for both of the women.
The part that really got my respect though was the ending. It wasn't all tied up in a pretty bow, everyone smiling & everything okay again. Like I said before, it was real...real life. I was satisfied with the ending for that fact. I hate it when books are so real & then the author ruins it by tacking on that happy ending when all the readers know that real life isn't like that at all. So, Kirstina Riggle, thank you for not putting yourself into that cliched category & for having the guts & brains to "keep it real."

ClareR (5950 KP) rated Whistle In The Dark in Books
Apr 16, 2018 (Updated Apr 19, 2018)
Jen’s daughter goes missing for four days whilst on an art holiday in the Pesk District (England). When she is found, she won’t say what happened to her. She was self-harming and had suicidal thoughts before she went missing, so everyone thinks the worst and hopes for the best. She is found, and they go back to London together, and try to live with what has happened. But it’s not that easy. Jen desperately wants to know what happened to Lana during this time, and has scenarios running through her mind constantly. I did wonder if Jen had mental health issues as well, and I’m still left wondering that after I’ve finished the book. Hugh, Jen’s husband and Lana’s dad, is a nice character: thoughtful, reliable. Jen is hard work, and Lana is VERY hard work. A confused, scared teenager, who comes across as selfish and unpleasant (so an average teenager in some cases).
The end of the book seemed to sum it all up: it appeared to me to be a self-realisation.
Worth a read, even though it can be quite hard-going at times.
The end of the book seemed to sum it all up: it appeared to me to be a self-realisation.
Worth a read, even though it can be quite hard-going at times.

Sam (228 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Mar 2, 2019
Humor (3 more)
Thorough Plotline
Great Character Growth
Heroic Imagery
Predictable (1 more)
Lots of Poster-Pause Moments
Wonderful for Anyone Who Loves Superheroes
As per everyone else I was waiting for the moment this movie cane out. I had watched minimal ads as I've found that the ads tend to reveal the most important of the plot points, ruining the excitement for those anticipating it's release. Due to my excitement I decided to actually go to the theater for this one and Lord did I make the right choice. Seeing it on the big screen was completely worth it, the sound and picture as epic as a superhero movie should be. The character growth and the script was well adept with both humor and depth. I was not disappointed. My only complaint was the multiple poster pauses throughout the film, by these I mean the epic scenes that suddenly slow down as though to be made into a poster later on, these I found happened every ten minutes throughout the movie and although it did add to the epic feel of the movie, I feel it took away some from the overall film.

ArecRain (8 KP) rated Small Town Girl in Books
Jan 18, 2018
As far as style goes, Spencer has a beautiful and easy style that seems to seep into her mind like a daydream. It's so easy to read through her works, that you are over before you even realize you have begun. Her characters are solid and real, the type of people you can imagine walking out onto your front porch and seeing no matter where you are from.
I loved the humor and realness that seemed to come naturally to this story. I found myself laugh just as often as I found myself cringing in frustration at the stubbornness of the characters.
However, this novel was so boring, I had a hard time completely it. While the words flowed quickly from the pages, the story itself held no interests whatsoever. It felt like a peak into someone's diary of their everyday life or watching a lifetime movie. It was so true to life (minus the famous country star scenario), that it just didn't seem to have any appeal or magic.
I feel that giving it three stars may be to harsh, and yet at the same time, I cannot justify giving it more.
I loved the humor and realness that seemed to come naturally to this story. I found myself laugh just as often as I found myself cringing in frustration at the stubbornness of the characters.
However, this novel was so boring, I had a hard time completely it. While the words flowed quickly from the pages, the story itself held no interests whatsoever. It felt like a peak into someone's diary of their everyday life or watching a lifetime movie. It was so true to life (minus the famous country star scenario), that it just didn't seem to have any appeal or magic.
I feel that giving it three stars may be to harsh, and yet at the same time, I cannot justify giving it more.

Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Pandemic in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Pandemic Review
Pandemic was my first cooperative game. I had always played games where there was one clear winner and the thought of playing a game that we either all win or all lose was intriguing. It’s a blast playing together in co-op games. I have found that this genre is one that I will play any time the opportunity arises. Playing as a team, working together, and dealing with crisis makes co-op games exciting. However, just because a game is co-op doesn’t mean it’s a good one. Luckily for you, Pandemic is a great one.
Pandemic is just a blast to play. With everyone throwing out opinions on what players should do on their turn and trying to decide the best course of action there is plenty of discussion during the game. There is also the potential issue with one person becoming the leader and making the decisions for everyone’s turn, but in my experience, I have found that people have worked together to win the game.
Reviewer: Tyler Nichols
Read the full review here: https://www.boardgamequest.com/pandemic-board-game-review/
Pandemic is just a blast to play. With everyone throwing out opinions on what players should do on their turn and trying to decide the best course of action there is plenty of discussion during the game. There is also the potential issue with one person becoming the leader and making the decisions for everyone’s turn, but in my experience, I have found that people have worked together to win the game.
Reviewer: Tyler Nichols
Read the full review here: https://www.boardgamequest.com/pandemic-board-game-review/
Fleeing a tragic accident, Ruby Proulx crosses from Canada to Old Orchard, Maine. She’s run there to meet her mother’s side of the family for the first time. They are about to reopen the family home as a resort for spiritualists, and the summer of 1898 will be make or break for them. But when her past catches up to her and a murder threatens her new home, will Ruby be able to solve any problems?
While I am not a fan of paranormal cozies (because I don’t believe in the things they are based on), I still found this a very fun debut. The characters are charming, and I fell in love with them. Even though the murder comes a little late, I still found Ruby’s introduction to Old Orchard fun, and there is plenty of conflict early on. When the murder does happen, the pace picks up and leads us to a logical conclusion.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-whispers-beyond-veil-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While I am not a fan of paranormal cozies (because I don’t believe in the things they are based on), I still found this a very fun debut. The characters are charming, and I fell in love with them. Even though the murder comes a little late, I still found Ruby’s introduction to Old Orchard fun, and there is plenty of conflict early on. When the murder does happen, the pace picks up and leads us to a logical conclusion.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-whispers-beyond-veil-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.