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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) in Movies
Jun 15, 2019 (Updated Jun 15, 2019)
Magical (I'm 30 years old dammit)
I was the exact target audience at the time of the original Pokémon cartoon series, and invested a fair portion of my childhood playing through Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, so seeing this all unfold on screen was quite something.
The action kicks off immediately, with Mewtwo (all of my friends bloody loved a bit of Mewtwo back in the day), ticking all the right nostalgia boxes from the start.
It's not long before were pushed into the wider world of Pokémon, both original and later generations, and it just filled me with childish joy to be honest.
The CGI is odd - in a way that I was aware that I was watching CGI creatures, but at the same time, they didn't feel out of place alongside the human characters, it all blends pretty well.
Looking past the blinding nostalgia, the story was engaging enough (even if it does get to absurd levels of silly towards the end), the action pieces were all pretty fun, and the cast were likable enough for the most part.
I spend more time than I probably should playing video games, so it's exited me to no end that we finally have a pretty decent video game movie, and I can only hope that Detective Pikachu is the start of something good, both for future Pokémon installments, and just video game adaptions in general.
The action kicks off immediately, with Mewtwo (all of my friends bloody loved a bit of Mewtwo back in the day), ticking all the right nostalgia boxes from the start.
It's not long before were pushed into the wider world of Pokémon, both original and later generations, and it just filled me with childish joy to be honest.
The CGI is odd - in a way that I was aware that I was watching CGI creatures, but at the same time, they didn't feel out of place alongside the human characters, it all blends pretty well.
Looking past the blinding nostalgia, the story was engaging enough (even if it does get to absurd levels of silly towards the end), the action pieces were all pretty fun, and the cast were likable enough for the most part.
I spend more time than I probably should playing video games, so it's exited me to no end that we finally have a pretty decent video game movie, and I can only hope that Detective Pikachu is the start of something good, both for future Pokémon installments, and just video game adaptions in general.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971) in Movies
Feb 9, 2018 (Updated Feb 9, 2018)
What's In A Name?
One of the big three British folk-horror movies (along with Witchfinder General and The Wicker Man) and the only one to go for an explicitly supernatural storyline: in 18th century England, a ploughman unearths a deformed skull, which mysteriously disappears soon after. Insanity, mutation and violence begin to spread amongst the young people of the area, forcing the local judge to take extreme measures in the cause of virtue.
On one level this does sound like the broadest kind of exploitative schlock, and it's true that the monster suit at the end is utterly crapulous, but this does not take into account the disturbingly dreamy atmosphere conjured up by director Haggard and Marc Wilkinson's score. There's a touch of the genuine gothic in the way something ancient and disturbing erupts into a quietly bucolic world.
Plus, there is a hard edge of gleeful nastiness to this film which is wholly lacking from the movies being made by Tigon's better-known rivals at Hammer and Amicus during the same period. There's a sense in which most Hammer movies feel like costume dramas with a little blood included as a contractual obligation, but Blood on Satan's Claw goes all-out to mess the viewer up - it's not especially frightening as such, but it's a very unsettling, creepy movie that's a worthy successor to an ancient English tradition of supernatural horror stories.
On one level this does sound like the broadest kind of exploitative schlock, and it's true that the monster suit at the end is utterly crapulous, but this does not take into account the disturbingly dreamy atmosphere conjured up by director Haggard and Marc Wilkinson's score. There's a touch of the genuine gothic in the way something ancient and disturbing erupts into a quietly bucolic world.
Plus, there is a hard edge of gleeful nastiness to this film which is wholly lacking from the movies being made by Tigon's better-known rivals at Hammer and Amicus during the same period. There's a sense in which most Hammer movies feel like costume dramas with a little blood included as a contractual obligation, but Blood on Satan's Claw goes all-out to mess the viewer up - it's not especially frightening as such, but it's a very unsettling, creepy movie that's a worthy successor to an ancient English tradition of supernatural horror stories.
This book is part of a series by Blythe Camenson that explores different careers centered on a theme. This volume focuses on water related careers and covers the spectrum from aquatic scientists to the Navy, fishing, cruise staff, water safety and rescue, and water sports.
The book tackles each of these items in a series of chapters. Each chapter talks about what the job entails, training needed, salaries, and employment figures. It then concludes with an interview with someone who is currently employed in the field that touches on their background, their job, and what they do and don't like about it.
The book is interesting and covers a range of things that anyone considering a new career would find interesting. However, it does have its shortcomings. At 150 pages, including an appendix of professional associations, the book just barely wets your appetite for more. Each chapter only focuses on one or two jobs and basically lists the others. This means the book isn't one stop shopping, but it does give you a general idea whether you might want to look for further information on the jobs listed.
Additionally, the book was published in the last decade, so some of the information, like salaries, is already out of date. The book focuses on the US, so if you live elsewhere, you'll need to look into local standards, and all the addresses given won't do you any good.
The book tackles each of these items in a series of chapters. Each chapter talks about what the job entails, training needed, salaries, and employment figures. It then concludes with an interview with someone who is currently employed in the field that touches on their background, their job, and what they do and don't like about it.
The book is interesting and covers a range of things that anyone considering a new career would find interesting. However, it does have its shortcomings. At 150 pages, including an appendix of professional associations, the book just barely wets your appetite for more. Each chapter only focuses on one or two jobs and basically lists the others. This means the book isn't one stop shopping, but it does give you a general idea whether you might want to look for further information on the jobs listed.
Additionally, the book was published in the last decade, so some of the information, like salaries, is already out of date. The book focuses on the US, so if you live elsewhere, you'll need to look into local standards, and all the addresses given won't do you any good.
I am giving this first book a 4.5 stars, because, while I really enjoyed reading it, there were a few points where if got a bit too much for me. If you have read it, you'll understand what I mean. Also, like always, this is a spoiler alert as there will most likely be a bunch of spoilers in this review. So you have been warned.
I can honestly say that I loved the relationship between the two main characters. They have such a deep love for one another and it is refreshing to see. They also have a pretty healthy relationship for the circumstances they are under.
It was cool to start the series in the middle of so much chaos, just like how the characters are in their lives at that time. I like how they set up the rules of the world by explaining it through the daughter as if she is telling us the story.
All the characters, in general, are very compelling and multifaceted, something I (obviously) appreciate a lot.
This was a very good exposition graphic novel that is setting up the rest of the story and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!
The artwork is phenomenal. I cannot express enough how amazing it is! Props to the artists who worked on this, because I feel like they don't get enough credit. So if you're reading this, very well done!!
I can honestly say that I loved the relationship between the two main characters. They have such a deep love for one another and it is refreshing to see. They also have a pretty healthy relationship for the circumstances they are under.
It was cool to start the series in the middle of so much chaos, just like how the characters are in their lives at that time. I like how they set up the rules of the world by explaining it through the daughter as if she is telling us the story.
All the characters, in general, are very compelling and multifaceted, something I (obviously) appreciate a lot.
This was a very good exposition graphic novel that is setting up the rest of the story and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!
The artwork is phenomenal. I cannot express enough how amazing it is! Props to the artists who worked on this, because I feel like they don't get enough credit. So if you're reading this, very well done!!
I loved this edition of Dracula. Though I have not finished the novel itself, I have friends who have and they assured me that this does not leave much out.
The story itself was quite interesting. As one of the first full vampire novels, I can see how others have drawn inspiration from this book.
There were parts that I was not a fan of, that felt rushed, but as these are journal entries and letters, there would not be the drawn out narratives that would be there were it someone's novel.
The art was very well done. I loved the color uses and the playing with shadows to make it seem more foreboding. It was beautiful.
That being said, in this particular edition, some of the text was difficult to see. Because the artists were differentiating the writers by color and font, this made some of the combinations difficult to read. In particular, I found it difficult to read Mina's writing. Since it was pink on pink with a cursive type font, everything looked jumbled together and was just, in general, difficult to read.
That is the main reason I gave it two stars off, though I actually give this book a 3.5. I liked the story and I am excited to actually pick up and read the full novel, hopefully soon, to see if I can mark the differences between the two.
The story itself was quite interesting. As one of the first full vampire novels, I can see how others have drawn inspiration from this book.
There were parts that I was not a fan of, that felt rushed, but as these are journal entries and letters, there would not be the drawn out narratives that would be there were it someone's novel.
The art was very well done. I loved the color uses and the playing with shadows to make it seem more foreboding. It was beautiful.
That being said, in this particular edition, some of the text was difficult to see. Because the artists were differentiating the writers by color and font, this made some of the combinations difficult to read. In particular, I found it difficult to read Mina's writing. Since it was pink on pink with a cursive type font, everything looked jumbled together and was just, in general, difficult to read.
That is the main reason I gave it two stars off, though I actually give this book a 3.5. I liked the story and I am excited to actually pick up and read the full novel, hopefully soon, to see if I can mark the differences between the two.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Twenty Days of Turin in Books
Mar 15, 2018
This may seem like an unfair review but I can only give this 3 stars because I didnt exactly understand it. I think thats mainly because Im a little slow to the mark sometimes and because I read this in a distracting environment, but this disappointed me and didnt scare me like I hoped it would.
It was well written, especially since its a translation, but parts of it felt disjointed and I found it hard to follow the uncovering of the Librarys secrets and the cause of the disturbing and brutal murders. There was well built tension in this and the white-as-a-sheet nun was pretty terrifying to imagine, but in general, I missed a whole lot of the horror in this.
Reading the translator's introduction (after I had finished the book) definitely helped me get it a bit more. Maybe if I had known more about Turins history to begin with, I could have connected to the story on a deeper level, but since I had no idea about Turins unrest in the 1970s, that whole subplot went completely over my head.
I hate giving such a little known book a very average review, I like supporting small time authors, but I cant say much about this author and his work when I have no idea what the hell went on. (OK, thats an over exaggeration, I half got it).
It was well written, especially since its a translation, but parts of it felt disjointed and I found it hard to follow the uncovering of the Librarys secrets and the cause of the disturbing and brutal murders. There was well built tension in this and the white-as-a-sheet nun was pretty terrifying to imagine, but in general, I missed a whole lot of the horror in this.
Reading the translator's introduction (after I had finished the book) definitely helped me get it a bit more. Maybe if I had known more about Turins history to begin with, I could have connected to the story on a deeper level, but since I had no idea about Turins unrest in the 1970s, that whole subplot went completely over my head.
I hate giving such a little known book a very average review, I like supporting small time authors, but I cant say much about this author and his work when I have no idea what the hell went on. (OK, thats an over exaggeration, I half got it).
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Wonder Woman (2017) in Movies
Mar 16, 2018
OTT CGI (1 more)
Weak villain
Well it's definitely the best DC film so far...
Despite the rave reviews for this film, I hadn't been expecting much mainly as DC films of late haven't really been very good (excluding Nolan's of course). Wonder Woman is by far the best DC film out of the recent bunch, but I'm afraid that's all it really has going for it.
Gal Gadot is a good casting choice as Diana and she does very well. Chris Pine too is perhaps underused but fairly charismatic. I did wonder whether Ewen Bremner is required to play the same character in every film? Or he's sadly just been typecast.
The main issue with this film is the week villain and the ridiculous CGI. There was no real threat of anything from Ares and as with most other superhero films lately, he came across as a very boring and poor adversary. And he was made up of far too much CGI. The whole film really had too much CGI in general, too much slow motion and most of it looked a bit shoddy. Less is more! And the plot itself set within a world war all seemed very Captain America, which was done quite a long time ago now!
In all it was an alright superhero film, with a good female lead. I just wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.
Gal Gadot is a good casting choice as Diana and she does very well. Chris Pine too is perhaps underused but fairly charismatic. I did wonder whether Ewen Bremner is required to play the same character in every film? Or he's sadly just been typecast.
The main issue with this film is the week villain and the ridiculous CGI. There was no real threat of anything from Ares and as with most other superhero films lately, he came across as a very boring and poor adversary. And he was made up of far too much CGI. The whole film really had too much CGI in general, too much slow motion and most of it looked a bit shoddy. Less is more! And the plot itself set within a world war all seemed very Captain America, which was done quite a long time ago now!
In all it was an alright superhero film, with a good female lead. I just wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated The Philosopher's Flight in Books
May 29, 2018
For anyone who has been suffering withdrawal from the end of a certain magical boy wizard series, The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller is the perfect antidote! It's clever, and sharp, but also a quick read based on alternative history where special "powers" can do different things, and one boys journey to"fit in" this world where girls rule! The opposite sexism is interesting (women typically have the most refined powers and go to war, do the dangerous stuff, etc.) and Robert wants to do everything the women do - and we see if he attains that goal, while facing some pretty crazy "roadblocks" along the way.
I love stories that take me away to another place - get me out of reality and imagine what life would be like if things were "different". And this book does just that. It's very clever how it's pretty historically accurate, just with this twist of Sigilry, these signs and symbols drawn to move energy and ultimately produce some sort of effect (hovering/flying, restoring health, moving an object, sending messages). There are great stories of friendship, interesting characters, and stories of love as well. All wrapped up in a creative story of action, adventure and social-awareness.
There are a few "racy" scenes...so I'd recommend a more mature audience, but its fantastic all-around in general. I'm excited to see if the Philosopher Flies Again! Thanks NetGalley!
I love stories that take me away to another place - get me out of reality and imagine what life would be like if things were "different". And this book does just that. It's very clever how it's pretty historically accurate, just with this twist of Sigilry, these signs and symbols drawn to move energy and ultimately produce some sort of effect (hovering/flying, restoring health, moving an object, sending messages). There are great stories of friendship, interesting characters, and stories of love as well. All wrapped up in a creative story of action, adventure and social-awareness.
There are a few "racy" scenes...so I'd recommend a more mature audience, but its fantastic all-around in general. I'm excited to see if the Philosopher Flies Again! Thanks NetGalley!
Kristin (149 KP) rated Piercing the Fold (Piercing the Fold, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I was given an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This storyline is far from the ordinary of what I normally read, but I found myself nodding along with the different theories given, saying, "You know, that makes a little sense." I even found myself sharing a few of them with my husband, who is really into astronomy and the exploration of the cosmos. I liked how everything played out over the course of the plot, and how there were different twists that jumped out for certain characters that I was definitely not expecting. Just the general idea behind what's going on with Earth and what might possibly happen was very intriguing, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
The reason I dropped my review from 5 stars was because of all the grammatical errors. I don't recall ever seeing "you're" used correctly; instead, no matter the context, it was always "your," and that got really aggravating. The same goes for "their/there/they're" and "here/hear," and possibly some others that I'm forgetting. I'm not the type of person to read through a book with a red pen, but there were just so many instances that it was really hard to ignore. However, the story was very good, it definitely pulled me in, and I'll be waiting for the next one (and hoping the editing is better).
This storyline is far from the ordinary of what I normally read, but I found myself nodding along with the different theories given, saying, "You know, that makes a little sense." I even found myself sharing a few of them with my husband, who is really into astronomy and the exploration of the cosmos. I liked how everything played out over the course of the plot, and how there were different twists that jumped out for certain characters that I was definitely not expecting. Just the general idea behind what's going on with Earth and what might possibly happen was very intriguing, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
The reason I dropped my review from 5 stars was because of all the grammatical errors. I don't recall ever seeing "you're" used correctly; instead, no matter the context, it was always "your," and that got really aggravating. The same goes for "their/there/they're" and "here/hear," and possibly some others that I'm forgetting. I'm not the type of person to read through a book with a red pen, but there were just so many instances that it was really hard to ignore. However, the story was very good, it definitely pulled me in, and I'll be waiting for the next one (and hoping the editing is better).
Merissa (14034 KP) rated Reason (The Dreughan #2) in Books
Nov 6, 2018
Reason (The Dreughan #2) by Lena North
Reason is the second book in the Dreughan series, and this time it is Sannah who is the main character. This follows on from Courage and should definitely be read as part of the series, rather than a standalone.
She has said she doesn't want Kee, but we all know she is lying. Through this book, we learn just why she lied, plus how they overcome that and become the happy couple we want them to be. Although this is Sannah's book, and she tells a magnificent story, I will admit to holding Valerian in my heart! He played a part in Vilda's story, and certainly plays a part here. He is kind and considerate, whilst also being firm when needed. He is the General after all.
Vilda and Drake are still going strong, and I love the jokes that happen between this close-knit family by bond.
Once again, I will say there were a couple of errors in this book. But as before, the writing was so good I am more than happy to overlook those as they definitely didn't impact my enjoyment of the story at all.
I am going straight into Joy. I am LOVING this series, with its amazing characters and world building that is good enough for the reader to see, and can't recommend it highly enough. Absolutely fantastic.
* Verified Purchase ~ July 2018. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
She has said she doesn't want Kee, but we all know she is lying. Through this book, we learn just why she lied, plus how they overcome that and become the happy couple we want them to be. Although this is Sannah's book, and she tells a magnificent story, I will admit to holding Valerian in my heart! He played a part in Vilda's story, and certainly plays a part here. He is kind and considerate, whilst also being firm when needed. He is the General after all.
Vilda and Drake are still going strong, and I love the jokes that happen between this close-knit family by bond.
Once again, I will say there were a couple of errors in this book. But as before, the writing was so good I am more than happy to overlook those as they definitely didn't impact my enjoyment of the story at all.
I am going straight into Joy. I am LOVING this series, with its amazing characters and world building that is good enough for the reader to see, and can't recommend it highly enough. Absolutely fantastic.
* Verified Purchase ~ July 2018. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!