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David McK (3562 KP) rated The Day of the Jackal (40th anniversary edition) in Books
Apr 23, 2019
I think I first read this book in the mid 90s when I was in my mid teens, pre-GCSEs.
Flash forward about 20 years, and I think I picked it up again when it was on offer on Kindle. As I didn't really remember all that much about it - save that it detailed a plot to kill Charles de Gaulle, and that there's a film starring Bruce Willis based on it - I thought I would give it a re-read.
While there's no doubting the technical proficiency in it, and the (almost) insane amount of detail, if I'm honest I actually found this to be rather plodding; rather pedestrian. I get it: most police work is such, but (IMO) that doesn't really make an engaging read.
Flash forward about 20 years, and I think I picked it up again when it was on offer on Kindle. As I didn't really remember all that much about it - save that it detailed a plot to kill Charles de Gaulle, and that there's a film starring Bruce Willis based on it - I thought I would give it a re-read.
While there's no doubting the technical proficiency in it, and the (almost) insane amount of detail, if I'm honest I actually found this to be rather plodding; rather pedestrian. I get it: most police work is such, but (IMO) that doesn't really make an engaging read.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Machete (2010) in Movies
Apr 30, 2019
Cheesy like a Quesadilla... And just as good.
When I first saw the trailer for Machete I was freaking pumped I adore Danny Trejo and when I found out the movie was going to be a B rated action movie with Hispanic my Latina heart almost bursted out of my damn chest!
And you know what I got everything I wanted from Machete it was cheesy and raunchy and oh so good! Plus Michelle Rodriguez with an eye patch killing people sign me the hell up!
The plot was fun and on the right side of ridiculous, the cast was great, and it had the right amount of action. Over all just a good time if you remember it's supposed to be over the too.
And you know what I got everything I wanted from Machete it was cheesy and raunchy and oh so good! Plus Michelle Rodriguez with an eye patch killing people sign me the hell up!
The plot was fun and on the right side of ridiculous, the cast was great, and it had the right amount of action. Over all just a good time if you remember it's supposed to be over the too.
Rhubarbio (27 KP) rated Carcassonne in Tabletop Games
May 25, 2019
Easy to learn (1 more)
Great for kids
Carcassonne is a modern board gaming classic, but one which did not grab me or my gaming group. I went all in by buying a Big Box with multiple expansions, but the variety in the game just wasn't enough for me to enjoy this and see it as anything but a linear tile placement game that subjected me to spend my time putting down tiles and scoring spaces. However, I appreciate my view is in the minority. If you are on the fence about buying this game, I suggest you try before you buy, so you don't end up spending too much and potentially not enjoying this game, like me.
Emma (519 KP) rated Lincoln in the Bardo in Books
May 28, 2019
This book was sent to me as a Christmas present by my brother. When i first started reading it, it took.me two attempts to read the first chapter to find my flow with the writing style, as it wasn't written like any book I had ever read before. It is written more like a play or a collection of thoughts by various speakers. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found it is the type of book you keep going back to. The story flows very well and at time it is so descriptive you feel the anguish Mr Lincoln must have been feeling at the time of losing his son.
Emma (519 KP) rated The Dark Circle in Books
Jun 3, 2019
We read this book for our book club, when i read the synopsis of it i thought if sounded brilliant and couldn't wait to get started. However my excitement only lasted a few pages, I found it dull boring, and far too long winded. Roughly by halfway through the book i was tired of it and by the time I had 50 pages left I was ready to give up. If I had bought this book myself I would have given it up straight away, it was only the fact it was for book club that kept me going. I was disappointed by this book that sounded like it had so much to give but delivered so little.
Lctownie (28 KP) rated The Axeman's Jazz in Books
Jun 5, 2019
Great Mystery
I enjoyed the plot - the idea was intriguing and alluring. Personally I struggled a little with some of the characters - by which I mean keeping straight in my head who was who and where they fit in to the story line, but that probably says more about the state of my mind than the authors writing skills! I found it a little hard going because of my confusion so perhaps wasn't as swept away as I would have liked but I have to say towards the end I did find myself reluctant to put it down as the different characters were bought together enabling us to solve the mystery. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Jeremy King (346 KP) rated Ghost in the Shell (2017) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
Ok i am just going to say right from the beginning i thought that casting was an issue in this film. Dont get me wrong but it was good casting but not great.
I found there was a lot of good ideas in this movie but it was dialled back. The villan should have more depth. The fx were great. I feel that they focused on making it to much like the 1995 anime and not try to make it it's own thing.
So if the expanded on some characters and dove more in to the story lines. It would have been better if they explored the different story lines that they would have needed to set it up as a two movies.
I found there was a lot of good ideas in this movie but it was dialled back. The villan should have more depth. The fx were great. I feel that they focused on making it to much like the 1995 anime and not try to make it it's own thing.
So if the expanded on some characters and dove more in to the story lines. It would have been better if they explored the different story lines that they would have needed to set it up as a two movies.
Darkwriter1408 (8 KP) rated The Avengers (2012) in Movies
Jun 12, 2019
Acting perfomances (2 more)
CGI
Twists and plot
Amazing, instant classic
Let it be known I am a huge comic fan. I love the fact these movies are being reinvented and reimagined. The Avengers has left nothing to imagination, a brilliant way to introduce so many characters and giving so many ways for the industry to veer off in to.
The performances by the actors is phenomenal along with the visual effects.
The only downside is that I found the middle of the film a little drab, it seemed to take a little longer than I would of liked and slowed everything down a little much. The visual effects were brilliant however I just wish the storyline throughout the middle matched these ratings.
The performances by the actors is phenomenal along with the visual effects.
The only downside is that I found the middle of the film a little drab, it seemed to take a little longer than I would of liked and slowed everything down a little much. The visual effects were brilliant however I just wish the storyline throughout the middle matched these ratings.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Likeness (Dublin Murder Squad, #2) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Great follow-up to French's "In the Woods." This time the novel features Cassie (of Cassie & Rob) as the narrator. In the aftermath of the first novel's Operation Vestal, Cassie now finds herself in the midst of an undercover operation, Operation Mirror. Cassie is brought in, reluctantly at first, after a woman is found dead and it is discovered she is using one of Cassie's old undercover aliases. The woman, Lexie Madison, is a ringer for Cassie. Cassie finds herself drawn into the web of Lexie's life and those of her four housemates. French is a great storyteller and while I didn't find this story quite as suspenseful as the previous, it's still quite compelling. It was very enjoyable to hear things from Cassie's perspective this time.
Dean (6927 KP) rated The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) in Movies
Feb 4, 2018
Another solid film in the Narnia series. The first is my fave, as I know that story so well, the 2nd had some good battle scenes and a bit more action. This is entertaining but in a different way to the others. I found the new cousin in this rather annoying and it's a pity many of the characters of the previous films are not in it that much.
Otherwise it felt a bit like the Sinbad films for me, a great looking ship, plenty of creatures and traps and riddles to overcome before a big finale. The SFX are very good, especially for the green mist effects. Overall a great family adventure if not quite on the level as the first two in my opinion.
Otherwise it felt a bit like the Sinbad films for me, a great looking ship, plenty of creatures and traps and riddles to overcome before a big finale. The SFX are very good, especially for the green mist effects. Overall a great family adventure if not quite on the level as the first two in my opinion.