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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Logo Board Game in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
A very fun game
The name itself, "The Logo Game", is a little bit misleading and actually does itself a disservice, as it's so much more than just logos.
It's a fun, fairly quick trivia game testing your knowledge on not just logos but also brands, products and ingredients. It's a great game either to play with just 2 players or to play with multiple teams and fortunately isn't anywhere near as long to play as something like Trivial Pursuit. My main criticism though is some of the questions are very age limited. I'm not particularly young and living in a television age, I feel I know quite a few brands and products. However some of the questions and brands mentioned I am completely clueless on and only seem suitable for someone around my mum's age. It's a lot difficult to know brands from before your time than it is to know general knowledge trivia.
It's a fun, fairly quick trivia game testing your knowledge on not just logos but also brands, products and ingredients. It's a great game either to play with just 2 players or to play with multiple teams and fortunately isn't anywhere near as long to play as something like Trivial Pursuit. My main criticism though is some of the questions are very age limited. I'm not particularly young and living in a television age, I feel I know quite a few brands and products. However some of the questions and brands mentioned I am completely clueless on and only seem suitable for someone around my mum's age. It's a lot difficult to know brands from before your time than it is to know general knowledge trivia.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Joy (2015) in Movies
Mar 17, 2018
It takes a special kind of confidence to ask a movie studio to give you $60 million to make a two-hour-plus movie about mops and the home shopping channel, but David O Russell clearly has it and here is the result. What Fox were doing saying yes is probably less mysterious if you look at Russell's track record and the calibre of the cast he assembled for this movie.
Still, this is probably the most substantial movie ever released which is predominantly concerned with the realities of domestic cleaning and the intricacies of injection-moulded plastic and patent protection law - I suppose there is also a healthy element dealing with the protagonist's family and relationships, and the general hard-work-and-dedication-will-get-you-there-eventually ethos is the kind of thing that makes studios and audiences comfortable. Good performances, obviously; generally very engaging and watchable; educational, too, especially if you have trouble keeping the floor clean.
Still, this is probably the most substantial movie ever released which is predominantly concerned with the realities of domestic cleaning and the intricacies of injection-moulded plastic and patent protection law - I suppose there is also a healthy element dealing with the protagonist's family and relationships, and the general hard-work-and-dedication-will-get-you-there-eventually ethos is the kind of thing that makes studios and audiences comfortable. Good performances, obviously; generally very engaging and watchable; educational, too, especially if you have trouble keeping the floor clean.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Scars of Dracula (1970) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018 (Updated Feb 25, 2018)
Hammer's sixth film with Dracula in the title was supposed to reboot the series from scratch, with a new actor in the title role; distributors insisted on Christopher Lee being brought back, which explains both the opening sequence in which Dracula is (somewhat bafflingly) resurrected, and the general sense of resignation in Lee's performance.
Script rambles, attempts to inject more gore and sex into the Hammer Dracula formula; director Baker doesn't seem to be really up for it, somehow. Some elements from the original novel reappear, also a few from previous Hammer Draculas. Patrick Troughton (looking like Liam Gallagher's granddad) is good value as Dracula's long-suffering handyman Klove. Some of the younger cast would go on to have decent careers; nothing to suggest that here, though. The rubber bat puppet from this film would go on to have no career whatsoever, which is not at all surprising. All really kind of perfunctory and mechanical.
Script rambles, attempts to inject more gore and sex into the Hammer Dracula formula; director Baker doesn't seem to be really up for it, somehow. Some elements from the original novel reappear, also a few from previous Hammer Draculas. Patrick Troughton (looking like Liam Gallagher's granddad) is good value as Dracula's long-suffering handyman Klove. Some of the younger cast would go on to have decent careers; nothing to suggest that here, though. The rubber bat puppet from this film would go on to have no career whatsoever, which is not at all surprising. All really kind of perfunctory and mechanical.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dredd (2012) in Movies
Feb 25, 2018 (Updated Feb 25, 2018)
Stripped-down, intensely violent adaptation of the classic British comic strip. More faithful in many ways than the reviled 1995 version with Stallone. Ruthless lawman Judge Dredd and trainee Judge Anderson find themselves trapped inside a vast tower block with a bunch of bad guys; community policing ensues.
Still doesn't quite achieve the humour, satire, or general SF weirdness of the comic strip at its best, and to be honest the sheer brutality of the film is a little off-putting in places, but Urban is about as good as Dredd as you can imagine a major film star being, and everyone else does serviceable work (Thirlby's character is essentially Judge Anderson in only the broadest possible sense). Stylish and well-made, even if it struggles with the facts that a) the best Judge Dredd film ever made is still Robocop and b) it has (coincidentally) exactly the same premise as The Raid, which came out the same year.
Still doesn't quite achieve the humour, satire, or general SF weirdness of the comic strip at its best, and to be honest the sheer brutality of the film is a little off-putting in places, but Urban is about as good as Dredd as you can imagine a major film star being, and everyone else does serviceable work (Thirlby's character is essentially Judge Anderson in only the broadest possible sense). Stylish and well-made, even if it struggles with the facts that a) the best Judge Dredd film ever made is still Robocop and b) it has (coincidentally) exactly the same premise as The Raid, which came out the same year.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Doomwatch (1972) in Movies
Feb 26, 2018
Big screen adaptation of then-popular BBC TV SF-thriller show looks much more like a horror story than the telly version normally was. Scientist (Bannen) discovers something nasty afflicting the inhabitants of a remote island; can anything be done to help them?
Competently done; resembles the TV show in its tone and concerns much of the time. However, the general tone and subject matter (investigator on remote island discovers conspiracy of silence amongst locals, including disappearing corpses) would almost make you suspect a Wicker Man rip-off, except this was made first (by a matter of months). Not that it matters much these days, but the actual stars of the TV show barely appear in the movie; they may have been busy actually making it at the time the movie was in production. Worth seeing if you're familiar with the TV show, probably a bit too low-octane if you're not.
Competently done; resembles the TV show in its tone and concerns much of the time. However, the general tone and subject matter (investigator on remote island discovers conspiracy of silence amongst locals, including disappearing corpses) would almost make you suspect a Wicker Man rip-off, except this was made first (by a matter of months). Not that it matters much these days, but the actual stars of the TV show barely appear in the movie; they may have been busy actually making it at the time the movie was in production. Worth seeing if you're familiar with the TV show, probably a bit too low-octane if you're not.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dr. Strangelove (1964) in Movies
Jun 12, 2018
Love the Bomb
Inspired, justly-celebrated black comedy satirising the absurdity of the nuclear arms race. American general is unhinged by a sudden attack of impotence, 'does a silly thing' and launches an atomic attack on the USSR. The President tries his best to restore order and sanity but finds the deck is stacked against him - suddenly it feels like too much trouble not to have a war...
The brilliant triple-performance by Peter Sellers is what you remember of this film, but it is powered along by the tension between the black absurdity of its characters and situations and the naturalistic realism with which they are depicted. Some terrific dialogue and brilliant visual gags, and a lacerating subtext about masculinity running out of control. Current concerns about crazed egomaniacs with their fingers on nuclear buttons mean that Dr Strangelove shows every sign of becoming worryingly topical again, but you can hardly blame Stanley Kubrick for that.
The brilliant triple-performance by Peter Sellers is what you remember of this film, but it is powered along by the tension between the black absurdity of its characters and situations and the naturalistic realism with which they are depicted. Some terrific dialogue and brilliant visual gags, and a lacerating subtext about masculinity running out of control. Current concerns about crazed egomaniacs with their fingers on nuclear buttons mean that Dr Strangelove shows every sign of becoming worryingly topical again, but you can hardly blame Stanley Kubrick for that.
Purrsistently (46 KP) rated The Life of Pi in Books
Jun 24, 2018
Ew.
It wasn’t the worst thing ever but definitely should have a content warning for graphic dismemberment of people and animals. I was not prepared for that at all and still would have read it but wouldn’t have been so broadsided.
I really didn’t enjoy this at all. I wouldn’t quite say “Don’t read this” but wouldn’t recommend it either. I didn’t find the thoughtful parts to be anything particularly profound, but I expected and would have enjoyed more of those and less extensive descriptions of feces.
I’ve never been one for this kind of story in general unless it featured really great characters. Life of Pi is no The Martian.
If you’re merely curious about it, I would recommend watching the movie instead because it will waste 10 less hours of your time if detailed defecation scenes aren’t your cup of tea.
I really didn’t enjoy this at all. I wouldn’t quite say “Don’t read this” but wouldn’t recommend it either. I didn’t find the thoughtful parts to be anything particularly profound, but I expected and would have enjoyed more of those and less extensive descriptions of feces.
I’ve never been one for this kind of story in general unless it featured really great characters. Life of Pi is no The Martian.
If you’re merely curious about it, I would recommend watching the movie instead because it will waste 10 less hours of your time if detailed defecation scenes aren’t your cup of tea.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Black Panther (2018) in Movies
Jun 23, 2018 (Updated Jun 23, 2018)
Where was the action?
Being late to the party as usual, I just finished watching this film for the first time tonight.
I can't believe how well this movie did at the box office compared to the actual quality of the film. You'll never say a MCU doesn't look beautiful, have gorgeous sets, costumes and good casting, but that is just not enough these days.
Being completely unfamiliar with the Black Panther comics I was going in cold, but it seemed like some of the characters just weren't that interesting or had any place to go. There were extended periods within the film where not much happens and I felt bored. Some of the CGI was also sketchy at best.
I have been on record being not the biggest MCU fan in general and if this is the highest grossing of all of them, that just isn't right.
I guess I should watch Infinity War now.
I can't believe how well this movie did at the box office compared to the actual quality of the film. You'll never say a MCU doesn't look beautiful, have gorgeous sets, costumes and good casting, but that is just not enough these days.
Being completely unfamiliar with the Black Panther comics I was going in cold, but it seemed like some of the characters just weren't that interesting or had any place to go. There were extended periods within the film where not much happens and I felt bored. Some of the CGI was also sketchy at best.
I have been on record being not the biggest MCU fan in general and if this is the highest grossing of all of them, that just isn't right.
I guess I should watch Infinity War now.
ClareR (5916 KP) rated Fables: Volume 1: Legends in Exile in Books
Jan 5, 2019
An interesting take on fairy tales!
I kept seeing this series being recommended, and I eventually managed to convince my husband to buy it for me for Christmas. I'm glad he did - I loved it!
The Adversary has forced the Fairy Tales out of their homelands and those who have survived now live in New York. They have their own government, and they are hiding from the general population in plain sight.
We join the Big Bad Wolf (who looks human - of course) as he investigates the murder of Rose Red. Other fairytale characters are featured during the course of Wolf's investigation: Snow White, Prince Charming (who is a sleaze ball!), Jack and loads of other characters. I can see the basis of the other comics emerging in this first one, and I really liked the bits at the end: short cartoons and stories about the battles with the Adversary and the Fairytales' escapes. Really good stuff!!
The Adversary has forced the Fairy Tales out of their homelands and those who have survived now live in New York. They have their own government, and they are hiding from the general population in plain sight.
We join the Big Bad Wolf (who looks human - of course) as he investigates the murder of Rose Red. Other fairytale characters are featured during the course of Wolf's investigation: Snow White, Prince Charming (who is a sleaze ball!), Jack and loads of other characters. I can see the basis of the other comics emerging in this first one, and I really liked the bits at the end: short cartoons and stories about the battles with the Adversary and the Fairytales' escapes. Really good stuff!!
Erika (17789 KP) rated Serenity (2019) in Movies
Jan 26, 2019
WHAT did I just watch??????
I am very torn on this film, and I can't decide whether to just rate it as ok or good. The film weirdo inside of me kind of dug it, but I don't think most audiences will.The critics also hate it, but maybe this will be one of those cult classic things.
The trailer gives the general outline, Matthew McConaughey's character is a fisherman, obsessed by this fish, and Anne Hathaway's character asks him to kill her abusive husband, Jason Clarke (who is now being cast in absolutely everything nowadays). BUT, what is actually going on isn't really clear in the beginning. I feel like it gave hints to its twist fairly early.
Who is actually seeking serenity in the film? That's what you'll be thinking about the entire film.
The twist will most likely be a groaner for most people, as this sort of twist isn't really widely liked.
The trailer gives the general outline, Matthew McConaughey's character is a fisherman, obsessed by this fish, and Anne Hathaway's character asks him to kill her abusive husband, Jason Clarke (who is now being cast in absolutely everything nowadays). BUT, what is actually going on isn't really clear in the beginning. I feel like it gave hints to its twist fairly early.
Who is actually seeking serenity in the film? That's what you'll be thinking about the entire film.
The twist will most likely be a groaner for most people, as this sort of twist isn't really widely liked.