Search
Search results
Alice Waters recommended And the Pursuit of Happiness in Books (curated)
Bubba Gee (147 KP) rated The Lost Symbol: (Robert Langdon Book 3) in Books
Jun 19, 2019
Awesome story
This is the best one of the Langdon series so far I feel, it wasn't as complex as some of the stories but really digs into the history of Washington and the founding fathers.
The plot twists are extremely captivating and I would reccomend this to anyone who likes thriller mysteries.
The plot twists are extremely captivating and I would reccomend this to anyone who likes thriller mysteries.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The First Purge (2018) in Movies
Apr 18, 2020
The Low Outcome
The First Purge- a not nesscary film, a pequel film to the purge franchise and this one, like the first one is boring, nothing happens. Not alot of suspense, thrills and horror. So why borther with this film, dont watch this film.
The plot: To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
Dont watch this film, its very boring. Watch the 2nd and 3rd one.
The plot: To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
Dont watch this film, its very boring. Watch the 2nd and 3rd one.
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Hamilton (2020) in Movies
Jul 15, 2020
A captivating production of the life of Alexander Hamilton. It was emotional and historic. I can see why all the hype. The performers did an amazing job. This play made me want to research more about early American history, if for nothing else to see how historically accurate it is (Pretty accurate, from what do know/remember). Yeah, the King of England is portrayed in the role of an "toxic abusive boyfriend" (my sister's analogy not mine) but he has some of the best songs. I don't think they over glorify the Founding Fathers although they do gloss over some things. However, it is a 2 1/2 hour play that spans a great number of years you have to gloss over some stuff unfortunately.
Andrew Thomas (363 KP) rated The Purge (2013) in Movies
Aug 12, 2020 (Updated Aug 19, 2020)
My first exposure to smart horror.
Contains spoilers, click to show
With the exception of SAW, I didn't have a high regard for modern horror films for a longtime...until I saw The Purge.
For starters, we have quality actors like Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey that portray two seemingly unsympathetic and unrelatable rich yuppies. But eventually they prove themselves to be resourceful and in possession of some morals...unlike the crazies outside who actively celebrate The Purge.
While the very notion of The Purge is outlandish and unrealistic in our own society, the writer/director does an amazing job grounding it in reality and making it appear to be possible. It also forces you to ruminate about yourself and what you would be capable of doing if you could behave however you wish without consequences. It also makes you take a closer glance at your friends and neighbors, forcing you to ruminate about how they might act during The Purge.
The only complaint I have is that the film throws alot of lore at you without any explanation. For example, the emergency broadcast alert that announces the commencement of The Purge includes the quote "blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn" First time I saw this part I said "I don't like the sound of that" Who were these New Founding Fathers? What the hell has happened to America where The Purge is now the new normal?
In conclusion, The Purge restored my enthusiasm for modern horror and captured my imagination. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in ultra violent crime thrillers or dystopian future stories.
For starters, we have quality actors like Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey that portray two seemingly unsympathetic and unrelatable rich yuppies. But eventually they prove themselves to be resourceful and in possession of some morals...unlike the crazies outside who actively celebrate The Purge.
While the very notion of The Purge is outlandish and unrealistic in our own society, the writer/director does an amazing job grounding it in reality and making it appear to be possible. It also forces you to ruminate about yourself and what you would be capable of doing if you could behave however you wish without consequences. It also makes you take a closer glance at your friends and neighbors, forcing you to ruminate about how they might act during The Purge.
The only complaint I have is that the film throws alot of lore at you without any explanation. For example, the emergency broadcast alert that announces the commencement of The Purge includes the quote "blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn" First time I saw this part I said "I don't like the sound of that" Who were these New Founding Fathers? What the hell has happened to America where The Purge is now the new normal?
In conclusion, The Purge restored my enthusiasm for modern horror and captured my imagination. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in ultra violent crime thrillers or dystopian future stories.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Purge: Election Year (2016) in Movies
Apr 17, 2020
Olympus Has Fallen: White House Down
The Purge: Election Year- is a good sequel to anarchy. Like i said before this one and two are my favorite out of the whole franchise. These two really define this franchise as a whole. Cause it adds more suspense, more thrills, and more purging. Plus Frank Grillo is back which is a plus. I really like his charcter, like i said before he is a anti-hero, he wants to save people, but at the same time he only wants to save himself. He is the only charcter that i actually like and care about because he has a story ark.
The plot: Roan is a U.S. Senator campaigning for the U.S. Presidency, promising executive action to end the annual purge nights. Former police sergeant Leo Barnes is now head of security for Roan. The New Founding Fathers of America's (NFFA) and their candidate, Minister Edwidge Owens, view Roan as a threat; under the pretense of regaining public trust, they revoke immunity for government officials, including her, on Purge night.
Its a really good movie, i like it alot.
The plot: Roan is a U.S. Senator campaigning for the U.S. Presidency, promising executive action to end the annual purge nights. Former police sergeant Leo Barnes is now head of security for Roan. The New Founding Fathers of America's (NFFA) and their candidate, Minister Edwidge Owens, view Roan as a threat; under the pretense of regaining public trust, they revoke immunity for government officials, including her, on Purge night.
Its a really good movie, i like it alot.
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated The First Purge (2018) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
After three movies in The Purge franchise, it’s now time for us to go back before the first movie from 2013, in the prequel for The First Purge.
The new movie in the series is set in 2017, five years before the first movie, after the rise of a third political party, the NFFA (New Founding Fathers of America), which was formed in 2014, set up an experiment where no laws can be broken or reported for 12 hours on Staten Island, a place that they class to be the perfect place to set up the controversial experiment, it’s an area that has it’s problems, people with lack of money and gangs.
As an incentive for people to stay during the experiment, they are offered $5,000 to stay during what has now become known as “The Purge”.
The First Purge has some great moments of making you jump, it also has some great use of the special effects and one that really sticks in my mind is a moment when a blood splatter hits the camera lens, shocking and very nicely done at the same time, can only imagine how something like that would look like in 3D.
The new movie in the series is set in 2017, five years before the first movie, after the rise of a third political party, the NFFA (New Founding Fathers of America), which was formed in 2014, set up an experiment where no laws can be broken or reported for 12 hours on Staten Island, a place that they class to be the perfect place to set up the controversial experiment, it’s an area that has it’s problems, people with lack of money and gangs.
As an incentive for people to stay during the experiment, they are offered $5,000 to stay during what has now become known as “The Purge”.
The First Purge has some great moments of making you jump, it also has some great use of the special effects and one that really sticks in my mind is a moment when a blood splatter hits the camera lens, shocking and very nicely done at the same time, can only imagine how something like that would look like in 3D.
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated The First Purge (2018) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
Yet another wasted opportunity
Yes! Get in! Finally, the producers over at Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse realised that what fans of the Purge series were wanting was a look at how the night of legalised crime came to be. It’s all we’ve been asking for since 2013 after all.
After three films of decent quality in which the second, Purge: Anarchy is the highlight, The First Purge promises to shake up the formula by introducing a prequel into the horror franchise. But does it do enough to stop the series from feeling stale or are we looking at yet another paint-by-numbers horror flick?
No. That’s the short answer anyway. Director Gerard McMurray falls into all the usual horror movie clichés with a film that is definitely Purge-like in its construction, but once again plays it all frustratingly safe.
To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated New York community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
The cast of characters in this instalment is possibly the most unlikeable of the bunch, apart from a few exceptions. Marisa Tomei is hideously underused as the experiment’s creator, Dr. May Updale, when in fact she should and could be the most interesting part of the movie. The rest of the cast are one-dimensional characters that you could cut and paste into any horror film of the last decade. Y’Ian Noel as Dmitri is probably the only one who leaves any lasting impression.
Subtlety has never been the series’ strong point. One of the leaders of the New Founding Fathers is called Donald T for heaven’s sake, but that was always part of its dark charm. It has never been afraid to show us an America that, for now at least, doesn’t feel that too far into the future but the political side-swiping in this instalment bashes us over the head with what feels like a brick. It’s so on the nose.
The premise has always been the best part, and the Achilles heel, of the series and so it continues with The First Purge. Fans waiting to get a really intricate look at how the night of crime came to be will be disappointed as we’re treated to barely 10 minutes of exposition before we’re slung head-first into the same killing-fest that the last three films descended into after their first acts.
This gets old quickly, even more so in this instalment as the repetitive jump scares come thick and fast with uninspiring camerawork, dreadful dialogue and lethargic kills. The use of contact lenses to create some striking neon visuals aren’t enough to lift anything in the film above average.
Thankfully, the final act in a dimly lit tower block shows the audience the type of film it could have been. Slickly shot and nicely styled, it’s a much-improved finale that is only let down by some truly dreadful CGI blood splatter. However, the use of strobe lighting is an inspired choice in this sequence as we follow two groups of people each trying to dispatch the other.
Unfortunately, this highlight isn’t enough to lift the rest of The First Purge above the mundane. Where the first in the series was a film testing the waters regarding its premise and the second improved on that ten-fold taking the action out onto the streets, this tries to use a hybrid of both but it comes across as stale as a ten day old loaf.
The pacing too is an issue. The first 20 minutes or so are excruciatingly slow as the film tries to set-up as many of its plot-points as possible. Now, 20 minutes might not sound too bad, but this is a 97 minute film – that’s a fifth of the time gone with nothing achieved.
If we must get a fifth film, and from the box-office figures, it bafflingly looks like we will, all we can do is hope they take the cheap jump scares and replace them with a thrilling look at the people who brought the purge to life in the first place. Until then, save your money and wait for the network premiere when it comes to television in a couple of years.
When the best part of your film is the purge announcement that has featured in every instalment, you know you’ve run into some trouble.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2018/07/12/the-first-purge-review-yet-another-wasted-opportunity/
After three films of decent quality in which the second, Purge: Anarchy is the highlight, The First Purge promises to shake up the formula by introducing a prequel into the horror franchise. But does it do enough to stop the series from feeling stale or are we looking at yet another paint-by-numbers horror flick?
No. That’s the short answer anyway. Director Gerard McMurray falls into all the usual horror movie clichés with a film that is definitely Purge-like in its construction, but once again plays it all frustratingly safe.
To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated New York community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
The cast of characters in this instalment is possibly the most unlikeable of the bunch, apart from a few exceptions. Marisa Tomei is hideously underused as the experiment’s creator, Dr. May Updale, when in fact she should and could be the most interesting part of the movie. The rest of the cast are one-dimensional characters that you could cut and paste into any horror film of the last decade. Y’Ian Noel as Dmitri is probably the only one who leaves any lasting impression.
Subtlety has never been the series’ strong point. One of the leaders of the New Founding Fathers is called Donald T for heaven’s sake, but that was always part of its dark charm. It has never been afraid to show us an America that, for now at least, doesn’t feel that too far into the future but the political side-swiping in this instalment bashes us over the head with what feels like a brick. It’s so on the nose.
The premise has always been the best part, and the Achilles heel, of the series and so it continues with The First Purge. Fans waiting to get a really intricate look at how the night of crime came to be will be disappointed as we’re treated to barely 10 minutes of exposition before we’re slung head-first into the same killing-fest that the last three films descended into after their first acts.
This gets old quickly, even more so in this instalment as the repetitive jump scares come thick and fast with uninspiring camerawork, dreadful dialogue and lethargic kills. The use of contact lenses to create some striking neon visuals aren’t enough to lift anything in the film above average.
Thankfully, the final act in a dimly lit tower block shows the audience the type of film it could have been. Slickly shot and nicely styled, it’s a much-improved finale that is only let down by some truly dreadful CGI blood splatter. However, the use of strobe lighting is an inspired choice in this sequence as we follow two groups of people each trying to dispatch the other.
Unfortunately, this highlight isn’t enough to lift the rest of The First Purge above the mundane. Where the first in the series was a film testing the waters regarding its premise and the second improved on that ten-fold taking the action out onto the streets, this tries to use a hybrid of both but it comes across as stale as a ten day old loaf.
The pacing too is an issue. The first 20 minutes or so are excruciatingly slow as the film tries to set-up as many of its plot-points as possible. Now, 20 minutes might not sound too bad, but this is a 97 minute film – that’s a fifth of the time gone with nothing achieved.
If we must get a fifth film, and from the box-office figures, it bafflingly looks like we will, all we can do is hope they take the cheap jump scares and replace them with a thrilling look at the people who brought the purge to life in the first place. Until then, save your money and wait for the network premiere when it comes to television in a couple of years.
When the best part of your film is the purge announcement that has featured in every instalment, you know you’ve run into some trouble.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2018/07/12/the-first-purge-review-yet-another-wasted-opportunity/
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Purge: Election Year (2016) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
Sen Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell) was the only member of her family to survive the Purge as a youth. Years later she runs on the platform of ending the Purge and exposing the various factors and rationale in its implementation and continuance. She and many others see the Purge as nothing more than a way for the powers that be and the wealthy to stay in power at the expense of the poor and people of color. As the Purge approaches, the American people are being torn as to the direction that their nation should take. The New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) see the threat that Sen. Roan poses and seek out to use the annual purge as a way to rid themselves of her and those that seek to change the system that they have put into place.
Purge: Election Year is not about mindless killing as those who are unfamiliar with the series would assume. The films are a mirror being held back on American Society to make us think about what we would do in similar situations if faced with them. The horror of the film is not in the shocking scenes, violence, or gore. What we can find to be truly scary is that many people only need to be given the option of financial gain or the removal of any repercussions in order to engage in such nefarious activity. The Purge: Election Year allows us to live vicariously through the trauma presented on-screen and the ability to leave at any time that we feel too uncomfortable with what is being presented. The films, especially this third iteration demonstrates to its audience what class warfare looks like and what happens when the populace is truly deceived by its media and politicians. It is a true dystopian reality that some people might welcome for all the wrong reasons.
The action of the film is inventive. The plot is on par with what you would expect for an action-horror film. It is the touch of reality and characters that are not limited to two dimensions that truly allows the film to create a deeper connection with the audience so they find themselves rooting for the “good guys” to not just win, but to survive the night. Viewers and fans of action, horror, political drama, and suspense will all be satisfied with The Purge: Election Year. Fans new and old of this franchise will leave theaters hoping for this to become a lasting franchise that has fresh ideas and storylines each time.
Purge: Election Year is not about mindless killing as those who are unfamiliar with the series would assume. The films are a mirror being held back on American Society to make us think about what we would do in similar situations if faced with them. The horror of the film is not in the shocking scenes, violence, or gore. What we can find to be truly scary is that many people only need to be given the option of financial gain or the removal of any repercussions in order to engage in such nefarious activity. The Purge: Election Year allows us to live vicariously through the trauma presented on-screen and the ability to leave at any time that we feel too uncomfortable with what is being presented. The films, especially this third iteration demonstrates to its audience what class warfare looks like and what happens when the populace is truly deceived by its media and politicians. It is a true dystopian reality that some people might welcome for all the wrong reasons.
The action of the film is inventive. The plot is on par with what you would expect for an action-horror film. It is the touch of reality and characters that are not limited to two dimensions that truly allows the film to create a deeper connection with the audience so they find themselves rooting for the “good guys” to not just win, but to survive the night. Viewers and fans of action, horror, political drama, and suspense will all be satisfied with The Purge: Election Year. Fans new and old of this franchise will leave theaters hoping for this to become a lasting franchise that has fresh ideas and storylines each time.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The First Purge (2018) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Usually when a film reaches the fourth in a series there is the danger of becoming stale and repeating things form the prior film. With the release of “The First Purge”, the creator of the series, James DeMonaco; has stepped away from directing duties this time around and has turned his script over to Director Gerald McMurray to tell the tale of how the Purge began.
With crime, unemployment, and other social issues at all all-time high, a new political group; known as the “New Founding Fathers of America” rises to power and plan to implement a bold new experiment to get the country back on track.
Dr. Updale (Marisa Tomei) has a plan to legalize all crime including murder for a 12-hour span. The idea is that by allowing people to vent their frustrations, it will allow them to be happier in the situations and better able to face the challenges they have.
The decision is made to set it in a poor community in Staten Island and naturally protests arise over this especially from community leaders who see the cash incentives being offered to stay in the area and take part in the event as exploiting the poor.
Despite worldwide condemnation and protests, the event goes on as planned and for the most part does not result in the mass carnage that many expected.
Local criminal Kingpin Dmitri (Y’Lan Noel) plans to ride out the event in his compound surrounded by his crew as he believes that his fortified and well-armed locale will be more than enough to ensure his safety. Others in the community stay at home, gather at a church, or take to the streets for parties and mayhem as nobody really knows what to expect.
Under the watchful gaze of the government, it soon becomes clear that the events of the evening are being manipulated and that there is a much bigger and more sinister agenda behind the event.
When squads of well-armed mercenaries enter the community and start killing everyone they encounter, Dmitri and others must work with one another to survive the night.
The film takes a bit to get started as it spends a good amount of time introducing us to the various characters we will meet over the evening and it helps to show the community and how the events of the evening motivate the various characters.
The series has always been heavy on social commentary and the inclusion of characters and costumes that are clearly inspired by various hate groups throughout history is impossible to miss and the film seems to be pushing home the message that society needs to be careful as we are close to heading down the dystopian path that the series depicts.
If you have seen any of the film in the series, you know what to expect as it shows what happens when humanity is not bound by the laws of society and the threat of punishment. The cast works well as they are not simply fodder to be endangered and disposed of when the Purge begins.
There is a 10-episode television series coming soon and it will be interesting to see where the franchise goes following it. For now, “The First Purge” should be an entertaining enough film for fans of the series
http://sknr.net/2018/07/03/the-first-purge/
With crime, unemployment, and other social issues at all all-time high, a new political group; known as the “New Founding Fathers of America” rises to power and plan to implement a bold new experiment to get the country back on track.
Dr. Updale (Marisa Tomei) has a plan to legalize all crime including murder for a 12-hour span. The idea is that by allowing people to vent their frustrations, it will allow them to be happier in the situations and better able to face the challenges they have.
The decision is made to set it in a poor community in Staten Island and naturally protests arise over this especially from community leaders who see the cash incentives being offered to stay in the area and take part in the event as exploiting the poor.
Despite worldwide condemnation and protests, the event goes on as planned and for the most part does not result in the mass carnage that many expected.
Local criminal Kingpin Dmitri (Y’Lan Noel) plans to ride out the event in his compound surrounded by his crew as he believes that his fortified and well-armed locale will be more than enough to ensure his safety. Others in the community stay at home, gather at a church, or take to the streets for parties and mayhem as nobody really knows what to expect.
Under the watchful gaze of the government, it soon becomes clear that the events of the evening are being manipulated and that there is a much bigger and more sinister agenda behind the event.
When squads of well-armed mercenaries enter the community and start killing everyone they encounter, Dmitri and others must work with one another to survive the night.
The film takes a bit to get started as it spends a good amount of time introducing us to the various characters we will meet over the evening and it helps to show the community and how the events of the evening motivate the various characters.
The series has always been heavy on social commentary and the inclusion of characters and costumes that are clearly inspired by various hate groups throughout history is impossible to miss and the film seems to be pushing home the message that society needs to be careful as we are close to heading down the dystopian path that the series depicts.
If you have seen any of the film in the series, you know what to expect as it shows what happens when humanity is not bound by the laws of society and the threat of punishment. The cast works well as they are not simply fodder to be endangered and disposed of when the Purge begins.
There is a 10-episode television series coming soon and it will be interesting to see where the franchise goes following it. For now, “The First Purge” should be an entertaining enough film for fans of the series
http://sknr.net/2018/07/03/the-first-purge/