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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated the PlayStation 3 version of Deadpool in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
Marvel comics classic antihero Deadpool has made a jump to the big leagues as the star of his own videogame by high Moon Studios. For those unfamiliar with the character, Deadpool is a mentally unstable mercenary who is deadly efficient with all manner of weaponry and takes delightful glee and dispensing violence. As the game opens, dead pool breaks down the fourth wall and openly speaks to the players often chiding them for their performance as well as cracking several raunchy one-liners and quips in the process. In his rundown apartment, we learn the dead pool has coursed through the use of high explosives the creation of a videogame written by and starring himself.
At numerous times throughout the game Deadpool will open the script to offer his creative input and decide to go off script and make some very creative and often bloody changes to the storyline which often causes the unseen but often heard studio exec complain about the budget of the game being surpassed.
While this is a very interesting set up and does add a lot of unique new wrinkles to a game of this type, at its heart Deadpool is simply an action adventure game in a style that we have seen many times before often in better games.
In pursuit of a contract, Deadpool graphically dispatches waves of enemies using his signature swords and guns which allow him to do all manner of complicated and impressive combat moves. As enemies are dispatched, players can earn the ability to purchase and equip new weapons such as shotguns, bear traps, grenades, dual machine guns, and more as well as have the ability to upgrade some of Dead pools abilities such as his healing speed. Like fellow mutant Wolverine, who briefly shows up the game, Deadpool is capable of regenerating health, so when combat becomes too intense it is often advisable for players to retreat to heal before wading back into the never-ending siege of enemy opponents.
Deadpool can also do some very creative stealth kills such as coming up behind an opponent and decapitating them or dispatching them with a quick shot to the head. This does have its own risks as excessive noise tends to attract large mobs of enemies and even as good as Deadpool is there comes a point where discretion is the better part of valor. Thankfully Deadpool has the ability to teleport away from danger and this comes exceptionally handy during the games numerous and at times frustrating jump sequences when a jump goes wrong.
There are elements of the game that are frustratingly hard but then there are moments that are absolute delight for fans of action games as well as, book heroes. The bawdy and over-the-top humor was excessive at times but was also entertaining and the character animations were true delight especially when Deadpool became a spinning dervish of death and dismemberment courtesy of his bladed weapons and guns.
Many of the enemies though became highly redundant and some did require a considerable amount of effort to dispatch so it is important that players conserve their ammunition as much as possible as running dry often required a hasty retreat rather than staying and finishing the job.
There were several clever cameos in game which I do not want to spoil and it was really nice to step into the bizarre and mayhem filled world in which the title character lives. My biggest issues with the game were that the gameplay became very repetitive after a while and the timed jumps and certain fights became extremely frustrating. If I want to do precision jumps from platform to platform to accomplish a goal, I will fire up the Wii U and play a game of Mario brothers.
I also had issues with some glitches in the game such as weapons animations disappearing and one extremely annoying sequence where the control systems on the PC version of the game went haywire and the character started to move on his own without any input from the controls. There were also some problems with the camera angles which in the heat of pitched battles became highly frustrating as I found myself boxed in and unable to see which way to go.
The graphics and sound in the game were solid but to control systems did have an element of frustration to them. While you are able to customize the controls on the PC version of the game, I did have to wonder how much easier the game would be on a console as it seems as if this wasn’t the intended platform of choice as it is a button mashers dream which is very conducive to a game control but not as friendly to a keyboard and mouse combination.
If you can look past the frustrations of the game, there is a lot to like here. Specifically the character, the action, and the ability to play as a truly demented individual who writes his own rules and does not care what anyone else has to say.
In the end the game is entertaining though nothing spectacular and while it may appeal mainly to hard-core fans of the character, I cannot help but think that the game could’ve been so much more.
http://sknr.net/2013/06/28/deadpool/
At numerous times throughout the game Deadpool will open the script to offer his creative input and decide to go off script and make some very creative and often bloody changes to the storyline which often causes the unseen but often heard studio exec complain about the budget of the game being surpassed.
While this is a very interesting set up and does add a lot of unique new wrinkles to a game of this type, at its heart Deadpool is simply an action adventure game in a style that we have seen many times before often in better games.
In pursuit of a contract, Deadpool graphically dispatches waves of enemies using his signature swords and guns which allow him to do all manner of complicated and impressive combat moves. As enemies are dispatched, players can earn the ability to purchase and equip new weapons such as shotguns, bear traps, grenades, dual machine guns, and more as well as have the ability to upgrade some of Dead pools abilities such as his healing speed. Like fellow mutant Wolverine, who briefly shows up the game, Deadpool is capable of regenerating health, so when combat becomes too intense it is often advisable for players to retreat to heal before wading back into the never-ending siege of enemy opponents.
Deadpool can also do some very creative stealth kills such as coming up behind an opponent and decapitating them or dispatching them with a quick shot to the head. This does have its own risks as excessive noise tends to attract large mobs of enemies and even as good as Deadpool is there comes a point where discretion is the better part of valor. Thankfully Deadpool has the ability to teleport away from danger and this comes exceptionally handy during the games numerous and at times frustrating jump sequences when a jump goes wrong.
There are elements of the game that are frustratingly hard but then there are moments that are absolute delight for fans of action games as well as, book heroes. The bawdy and over-the-top humor was excessive at times but was also entertaining and the character animations were true delight especially when Deadpool became a spinning dervish of death and dismemberment courtesy of his bladed weapons and guns.
Many of the enemies though became highly redundant and some did require a considerable amount of effort to dispatch so it is important that players conserve their ammunition as much as possible as running dry often required a hasty retreat rather than staying and finishing the job.
There were several clever cameos in game which I do not want to spoil and it was really nice to step into the bizarre and mayhem filled world in which the title character lives. My biggest issues with the game were that the gameplay became very repetitive after a while and the timed jumps and certain fights became extremely frustrating. If I want to do precision jumps from platform to platform to accomplish a goal, I will fire up the Wii U and play a game of Mario brothers.
I also had issues with some glitches in the game such as weapons animations disappearing and one extremely annoying sequence where the control systems on the PC version of the game went haywire and the character started to move on his own without any input from the controls. There were also some problems with the camera angles which in the heat of pitched battles became highly frustrating as I found myself boxed in and unable to see which way to go.
The graphics and sound in the game were solid but to control systems did have an element of frustration to them. While you are able to customize the controls on the PC version of the game, I did have to wonder how much easier the game would be on a console as it seems as if this wasn’t the intended platform of choice as it is a button mashers dream which is very conducive to a game control but not as friendly to a keyboard and mouse combination.
If you can look past the frustrations of the game, there is a lot to like here. Specifically the character, the action, and the ability to play as a truly demented individual who writes his own rules and does not care what anyone else has to say.
In the end the game is entertaining though nothing spectacular and while it may appeal mainly to hard-core fans of the character, I cannot help but think that the game could’ve been so much more.
http://sknr.net/2013/06/28/deadpool/
Merissa (12051 KP) rated Bitten By Fate (Regent's Park Pack #6) in Books
Mar 5, 2019
Bitten By Fate (Regent's Park Pack #6) by Annabelle Jacobs
Bitten by Fate is the sixth and final book in the Regent's Park Pack series, and we see how Cam is still trying to bring together both sides of his new pack. Calling in the big guns, he sends two units, plus two betas to 'oversee', off to a couple of weeks "bonding session", held by the Alpha Council. Daryl and Jason are the two betas there as support. Their time together has some unexpected side-affects for both of them.
I am so sad to see this series come to an end, but I am supremely happy with how it was done. Daryl and Jason are complete opposites in nearly every way, but this is what makes them so perfect for each other. Their characters are written so well that even when one of them acts like a d*ck, you can understand the whys of it! With laughs at the bonding activities and tension (both sexual and otherwise), there is something here for everyone.
Exceedingly well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed, I am sad to leave this Regent's Park Pack. Their world is clear and concise, with strong characters, both main and supporting. I would love to hear more about how they are getting on further down the line, but I will just have to read this author's other books in the meantime. ? It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it!
Absolutely recommended by me. This is one of my favourites of the series, although Cam and Gareth still hold the highest honour.
* 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!
I am so sad to see this series come to an end, but I am supremely happy with how it was done. Daryl and Jason are complete opposites in nearly every way, but this is what makes them so perfect for each other. Their characters are written so well that even when one of them acts like a d*ck, you can understand the whys of it! With laughs at the bonding activities and tension (both sexual and otherwise), there is something here for everyone.
Exceedingly well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed, I am sad to leave this Regent's Park Pack. Their world is clear and concise, with strong characters, both main and supporting. I would love to hear more about how they are getting on further down the line, but I will just have to read this author's other books in the meantime. ? It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it!
Absolutely recommended by me. This is one of my favourites of the series, although Cam and Gareth still hold the highest honour.
* 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!
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Poet (The Poet Series) in Books
May 22, 2019
The only way out is through the blood.
When Rebecca Paige decides to vacation alone at an isolated resort in the woods, it's a welcome break from her position as the administrator of a psychiatric hospital. Little does she know, the poet is also visiting this peaceful hideaway, and his motivation is far more sinister in nature. On the last day of her trip, Rebecca has an unusual encounter with Jack Shelley, the man in the cabin next door. After he leaves, men with guns suddenly descend on the resort and take Rebecca and the other guests hostage. Rebecca is accustomed to dangerous situations at work, but can that help her escape multiple armed assailants? Who are these men? What do they want? How are they connected to the man next door? Who is the poet? Slightly twisted with a literary flair,
The Poet is the first installment in the new and captivating The Poet Series that will have readers thinking about the dark and wondering if love, redemption, and forgiveness really do apply to everyone.
The Poet is the first installment in the new and captivating The Poet Series that will have readers thinking about the dark and wondering if love, redemption, and forgiveness really do apply to everyone.
Decent start of a series with characters that have growth potential. Some surprises and a decent wrap up until the next installment.
I liked the character of the Poet but would have liked a bit more of some background on him. The flashbacks provided were chilling!
This is a fast action, hang on tight thriller.
Recommend reading!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gatekeeper Press and the author, Stephanie John Harris, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Poet in exchange for an honest review.
When Rebecca Paige decides to vacation alone at an isolated resort in the woods, it's a welcome break from her position as the administrator of a psychiatric hospital. Little does she know, the poet is also visiting this peaceful hideaway, and his motivation is far more sinister in nature. On the last day of her trip, Rebecca has an unusual encounter with Jack Shelley, the man in the cabin next door. After he leaves, men with guns suddenly descend on the resort and take Rebecca and the other guests hostage. Rebecca is accustomed to dangerous situations at work, but can that help her escape multiple armed assailants? Who are these men? What do they want? How are they connected to the man next door? Who is the poet? Slightly twisted with a literary flair,
The Poet is the first installment in the new and captivating The Poet Series that will have readers thinking about the dark and wondering if love, redemption, and forgiveness really do apply to everyone.
The Poet is the first installment in the new and captivating The Poet Series that will have readers thinking about the dark and wondering if love, redemption, and forgiveness really do apply to everyone.
Decent start of a series with characters that have growth potential. Some surprises and a decent wrap up until the next installment.
I liked the character of the Poet but would have liked a bit more of some background on him. The flashbacks provided were chilling!
This is a fast action, hang on tight thriller.
Recommend reading!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gatekeeper Press and the author, Stephanie John Harris, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Poet in exchange for an honest review.
Carma (21 KP) rated Armed 'N' Ready (Federal K-9 #2) in Books
Jun 17, 2019
Andi Hardt loves what she does, finally, leaving the rat race business world after a huge violation of trust she started her own business. The Dog Park Café, a restaurant and dog park all in one and fills her days with joy. She is currently staying at her ex-boyfriends house while the pipes in her house are being fixed, while she is washing her stray dog in the shower early one morning her life is totally upended.
Sergeant Nick Houston is trying not to pay attention to the woman in the teeny tiny bikini in the shower washing her dog. All he wanted to do was serve a warrant and get illegal guns off the street. His K9 Saxon is standing guard right along side him as always and seems to be wondering what is going on as well. This woman and her dog are in shock, but for only a minute though then she starts throwing things at him. Can she really be a partner in all this illegal activity?
Andi and Nick have to work together to find out what exactly is going on with her ex and to clear her name. She agrees to have Nick work at the club as a bartender and shadow her every move to draw out Joe and get some answers. Neither of them counted on the attraction they share moving front and center. Will that attraction be enough to let them throw caution to the wind and be together?
I received an advance copy without expectation for review. Any and all opinions expressed are my own. My first read from this author with 4 ½ stars, it wont be my last by any means.
Sergeant Nick Houston is trying not to pay attention to the woman in the teeny tiny bikini in the shower washing her dog. All he wanted to do was serve a warrant and get illegal guns off the street. His K9 Saxon is standing guard right along side him as always and seems to be wondering what is going on as well. This woman and her dog are in shock, but for only a minute though then she starts throwing things at him. Can she really be a partner in all this illegal activity?
Andi and Nick have to work together to find out what exactly is going on with her ex and to clear her name. She agrees to have Nick work at the club as a bartender and shadow her every move to draw out Joe and get some answers. Neither of them counted on the attraction they share moving front and center. Will that attraction be enough to let them throw caution to the wind and be together?
I received an advance copy without expectation for review. Any and all opinions expressed are my own. My first read from this author with 4 ½ stars, it wont be my last by any means.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Immortal Redneck in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
Calling back the days of Serious Sam; a new game called Immortal Redneck has arrived and it looks to fill the gap that the previously mentioned frantic yet casual shooter has left behind.
Set in Egypt, players must travel into mysterious Pyramids and tombs to battle all manner of mythological and supernatural creatures. Along the way they must not only survive but gain treasures and weapons needed to survive.
The game does offer plenty of weapons form pistols to dynamite and of course shotguns and all manner of machines guns. While this may at first seem a bit of overkill, it is not as players will need this and more to stop the enemies that face them.
Players will also be able to gain treasures as they journey and battle which can be used at a market to purchase upgrades and special weapons which will greatly help their efforts in battle.
The gameplay and the story is very simplistic and very retro in the gameplay. The controls at times are not as responsive as I would have liked while at other times they respond faster than you would anticipate which is a pain when facing waves of enemies in a close setting and with a weapon using a slower than expected reload time.
Graphically the game is solid but do not expect AAA quality graphics as this is very much a retro game so while they are better than the previously mentioned Serious Sam, they would not hold up when compared to other shooters of the day.
However as a value priced title which can be picked up for your PC or Console for under $12.00 in many places, Immortal Redneck is a pleasant enough trip down memory lane which should keep shooter fans happy with retro nostalgic fun.
http://sknr.net/2018/02/17/immortal-redneck/
Set in Egypt, players must travel into mysterious Pyramids and tombs to battle all manner of mythological and supernatural creatures. Along the way they must not only survive but gain treasures and weapons needed to survive.
The game does offer plenty of weapons form pistols to dynamite and of course shotguns and all manner of machines guns. While this may at first seem a bit of overkill, it is not as players will need this and more to stop the enemies that face them.
Players will also be able to gain treasures as they journey and battle which can be used at a market to purchase upgrades and special weapons which will greatly help their efforts in battle.
The gameplay and the story is very simplistic and very retro in the gameplay. The controls at times are not as responsive as I would have liked while at other times they respond faster than you would anticipate which is a pain when facing waves of enemies in a close setting and with a weapon using a slower than expected reload time.
Graphically the game is solid but do not expect AAA quality graphics as this is very much a retro game so while they are better than the previously mentioned Serious Sam, they would not hold up when compared to other shooters of the day.
However as a value priced title which can be picked up for your PC or Console for under $12.00 in many places, Immortal Redneck is a pleasant enough trip down memory lane which should keep shooter fans happy with retro nostalgic fun.
http://sknr.net/2018/02/17/immortal-redneck/
ClareR (5721 KP) rated The Doll Factory in Books
Jun 20, 2019
Set as the Great Exhibition is being erected, Iris and her twin sister, Rose, work in a doll shop, painting porcelain dolls. Iris wants more from her life, and longs to paint pictures, works of art - not dolls. She leaves her apprenticeship in the shop to become a model for an artist (Louis), who promises to teach her to paint.
Parallel to this storyline is that of Silas, a taxidermist, and Albie, a street urchin who supplies him with the animals that he stuffs. Albie is the character who eventually connects Iris, Silas and Louis.
What starts as a relatively light hearted story, becomes something much more macabre - although I did feel quite anxious about the precariousness of Iris’ new way of life and job (but I think I’ve read far too many stories set in this period of fallen, abandoned women). She’s an admirable character, though. She’s brave and sticks to her guns, she is kind-hearted in her dealings with Albie, and even though her sister makes it very difficult to be nice to her, she is always thoughtful and generous to her as well.
Silas on the other hand, is very concerning. He made me feel supremely uncomfortably throughout. His obsession with Iris is very worrying, and his attitude towards other people is equally so.
The Victorian atmosphere and the scents, sights and crush of people in London are so well described in this book, as are the characters. I spent most of this book holding my breath (or so it felt - obviously not though!) and expecting the worse - the tension and menace becoming more and more unbearable as the book progressed. And I loved every minute of it - I’ve already bought it as a birthday present for a friend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and honestly review.
Parallel to this storyline is that of Silas, a taxidermist, and Albie, a street urchin who supplies him with the animals that he stuffs. Albie is the character who eventually connects Iris, Silas and Louis.
What starts as a relatively light hearted story, becomes something much more macabre - although I did feel quite anxious about the precariousness of Iris’ new way of life and job (but I think I’ve read far too many stories set in this period of fallen, abandoned women). She’s an admirable character, though. She’s brave and sticks to her guns, she is kind-hearted in her dealings with Albie, and even though her sister makes it very difficult to be nice to her, she is always thoughtful and generous to her as well.
Silas on the other hand, is very concerning. He made me feel supremely uncomfortably throughout. His obsession with Iris is very worrying, and his attitude towards other people is equally so.
The Victorian atmosphere and the scents, sights and crush of people in London are so well described in this book, as are the characters. I spent most of this book holding my breath (or so it felt - obviously not though!) and expecting the worse - the tension and menace becoming more and more unbearable as the book progressed. And I loved every minute of it - I’ve already bought it as a birthday present for a friend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and honestly review.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Excavation in Books
Jan 28, 2019
I normally quite like James Rollins' novels, but this one? Not so much.
Although it is in his usual pseudo sci-fi style of writing which I have no problem with, I don't know whether the reason I wasn't really that sold on this one is due to the rather ridiculous (even for him) plot devices used, that fact that it's not one of his Sigma Force novels (best described as scientists with guns) and so lacks that over-reaching plot strands that connects all those novels, or (more likely) that he seems to share the common American misconception of my home town of Belfast as being (almost) a bombed out Beirout. Choice lines include:
"Surviving among the constant gunfire and bombings between the warring Irish factions and the British military had taught Maggie O'Donnell the vlaue of a good hiding place"
"Maggie knew that expression. A childhood friend ... had worn that same shocked face when caught by a stray bullet during a firefight back in Belfast"
"Henry crossed in front of the man and knocked the rifle towards Maggie. 'You know how to use that?' / 'I'm from Belfast' she said, retreiving the gun"
I mean, really? I could understand it a bit better if the book was set during the 70s, or if she was described as being older, but for somebody who I got the impression was meant to be in her 30s?
If this had been the first James Rollins book I had read I don't think I would have bothered with any others! Thankfully, I had the good fortune to read one of his far-superior Sigma Force novels first instead and hope that this is just a momentary blip on his track record - I also read somewhere that this is one of his earlier novels which, perhaps, excuses some of the flimsy plot devices used.
Although it is in his usual pseudo sci-fi style of writing which I have no problem with, I don't know whether the reason I wasn't really that sold on this one is due to the rather ridiculous (even for him) plot devices used, that fact that it's not one of his Sigma Force novels (best described as scientists with guns) and so lacks that over-reaching plot strands that connects all those novels, or (more likely) that he seems to share the common American misconception of my home town of Belfast as being (almost) a bombed out Beirout. Choice lines include:
"Surviving among the constant gunfire and bombings between the warring Irish factions and the British military had taught Maggie O'Donnell the vlaue of a good hiding place"
"Maggie knew that expression. A childhood friend ... had worn that same shocked face when caught by a stray bullet during a firefight back in Belfast"
"Henry crossed in front of the man and knocked the rifle towards Maggie. 'You know how to use that?' / 'I'm from Belfast' she said, retreiving the gun"
I mean, really? I could understand it a bit better if the book was set during the 70s, or if she was described as being older, but for somebody who I got the impression was meant to be in her 30s?
If this had been the first James Rollins book I had read I don't think I would have bothered with any others! Thankfully, I had the good fortune to read one of his far-superior Sigma Force novels first instead and hope that this is just a momentary blip on his track record - I also read somewhere that this is one of his earlier novels which, perhaps, excuses some of the flimsy plot devices used.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Raised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves, #1) in Books
Nov 18, 2019
I'll be honest. Out of all the paranormal creatures out there, shape shifters are not high on my list of favourites. I find them hard to connect to but I obviously like something about some of them as I have two werewolf series in paperback--Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and Shifters by Rachel Vincent.
This one took a little getting into. It had a very slow start, taking 50+ pages for Bryn to meet Chase, the boy who got bit by the rabid, and then another 50 or so for them to meet again under supervision this time and not without going through a lot of training to make sure she can outwit/fight Chase if things go south. Strangely, though, Bryn and Chase have a connection - a bond - something that keeps them coming together and they somehow mark each other, causing chaos in the Pack. There's also the little issue that the rabid that bit Chase is also the one that killed Bryn's parents when she was four. And that is what the rest of the book is about. Finding and killing the rabid werewolf.
It didn't really hold my attention. It was quite a lot of book for hardly anything happening. The final showdown with the rabid shifter took all of about 25 pages and seemed over far too easily.
I liked some of the secondary characters, for instance Devon. He's great; witty, protective and good in any situation. Lake was fun, if a little crazy with her guns. Chase, I haven't decided about yet. And then there's Callum. I liked him, he always had a plan.
That being said, I don't think I'll be continuing the series.
This one took a little getting into. It had a very slow start, taking 50+ pages for Bryn to meet Chase, the boy who got bit by the rabid, and then another 50 or so for them to meet again under supervision this time and not without going through a lot of training to make sure she can outwit/fight Chase if things go south. Strangely, though, Bryn and Chase have a connection - a bond - something that keeps them coming together and they somehow mark each other, causing chaos in the Pack. There's also the little issue that the rabid that bit Chase is also the one that killed Bryn's parents when she was four. And that is what the rest of the book is about. Finding and killing the rabid werewolf.
It didn't really hold my attention. It was quite a lot of book for hardly anything happening. The final showdown with the rabid shifter took all of about 25 pages and seemed over far too easily.
I liked some of the secondary characters, for instance Devon. He's great; witty, protective and good in any situation. Lake was fun, if a little crazy with her guns. Chase, I haven't decided about yet. And then there's Callum. I liked him, he always had a plan.
That being said, I don't think I'll be continuing the series.
JT (287 KP) rated Sucker Punch (2011) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Sucker Punch will pack just that, a massive visual punch, so hard you’ll be doubled over by the stunning action sequences the film has to offer. Using a number of different scenarios from an alternative reality concocted in the mind of Baby Doll (Emily Browning), she plots a daring escape with the help of her fellow sexy inmates, and I do mean sexy.
This group include Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), Amber (Jamie Chung ) and sisters Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish) and Rocket (Jena Malone). They teach Baby to retreat into increasingly ridiculous fantasies to escape the sinister fate that awaits her. During a number of daring missions in which they tackle everything from Nazis, mechanical robots and fire breathing dragons they must acquire a selection of different items along the way each aiding them in their quest. All the time guided through by the Wise Man (Scott Glenn).
There is no denying that Snyder is one of the most exciting action directors about although some would say that his storytelling is not as strong. He leaves the backstory to be played out in the opening credits. Personally I don’t see anything wrong with that, in fact I think it is done very well.
It’s clear though from the limited and brief interlude of a back story that Snyder was only thinking about making these dream sequences as elaborate as he possibly and he certainly achieved that! The girls battle through in next to nothing, short skirts, knee high socks and push up bras. Titillating, it’s close to a peep show with guns.
Given that this is Snyder’s own original screenplay I think he has done enough to hold his own. While not as engaging as 300 or Watchmen it’s a definite A for effort with a soundtrack that is not a bad listen either.
This group include Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), Amber (Jamie Chung ) and sisters Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish) and Rocket (Jena Malone). They teach Baby to retreat into increasingly ridiculous fantasies to escape the sinister fate that awaits her. During a number of daring missions in which they tackle everything from Nazis, mechanical robots and fire breathing dragons they must acquire a selection of different items along the way each aiding them in their quest. All the time guided through by the Wise Man (Scott Glenn).
There is no denying that Snyder is one of the most exciting action directors about although some would say that his storytelling is not as strong. He leaves the backstory to be played out in the opening credits. Personally I don’t see anything wrong with that, in fact I think it is done very well.
It’s clear though from the limited and brief interlude of a back story that Snyder was only thinking about making these dream sequences as elaborate as he possibly and he certainly achieved that! The girls battle through in next to nothing, short skirts, knee high socks and push up bras. Titillating, it’s close to a peep show with guns.
Given that this is Snyder’s own original screenplay I think he has done enough to hold his own. While not as engaging as 300 or Watchmen it’s a definite A for effort with a soundtrack that is not a bad listen either.
JT (287 KP) rated Maggie (2015) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
There are no explosions, no quips, rocket launchers or machine guns – this is Arnie as you’ve never seen him before.
Whatever you may think of Arnold Schwarzenegger the Austrian Oak has carved out a successful acting career. Sure, he’s had his fair share of box office bombs but his films are enjoyable and make a shit load of cash.
Maggie shelves all of the Schwarzenegger stereotypes and places him within a setting that relies heavily on just his raw acting talent – and boy does he give it a good go.
When his daughter Maggie becomes infected with a virus that has swept the country causing widespread death and devastation, he takes her back to his farm where she can spend the remainder of her time before turning into a flesh-eating zombie.
Wade (Schwarzenegger) knows that she is on borrowed time and he’s not about to let her be dragged off to quarantine. Maggie’s stepmother Caroline (Joely Richardson) isn’t sure and his apprehensive in her presence.
The film’s grey colour palette is in keeping with the tone of the environment, everything is dying including those infected. This method of filmmaking is incredibly underused and can set a scene or help tell a story.
Everything balances nicely between drama and horror as Maggie slowly descends towards an uncontrollable bitter end. All Wade can do is sit back and make it as easy for her as possible.
It was nice to see Schwarzenegger doing something different, proving that he is not just one dimensional. While it’s not a critically acclaimed performance there is enough meat on the bones to keep us interested.
Maggie is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. What did you think of the film, is this one of Schwarzenegger’s better performances? Leave a comment and let us know.
Whatever you may think of Arnold Schwarzenegger the Austrian Oak has carved out a successful acting career. Sure, he’s had his fair share of box office bombs but his films are enjoyable and make a shit load of cash.
Maggie shelves all of the Schwarzenegger stereotypes and places him within a setting that relies heavily on just his raw acting talent – and boy does he give it a good go.
When his daughter Maggie becomes infected with a virus that has swept the country causing widespread death and devastation, he takes her back to his farm where she can spend the remainder of her time before turning into a flesh-eating zombie.
Wade (Schwarzenegger) knows that she is on borrowed time and he’s not about to let her be dragged off to quarantine. Maggie’s stepmother Caroline (Joely Richardson) isn’t sure and his apprehensive in her presence.
The film’s grey colour palette is in keeping with the tone of the environment, everything is dying including those infected. This method of filmmaking is incredibly underused and can set a scene or help tell a story.
Everything balances nicely between drama and horror as Maggie slowly descends towards an uncontrollable bitter end. All Wade can do is sit back and make it as easy for her as possible.
It was nice to see Schwarzenegger doing something different, proving that he is not just one dimensional. While it’s not a critically acclaimed performance there is enough meat on the bones to keep us interested.
Maggie is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. What did you think of the film, is this one of Schwarzenegger’s better performances? Leave a comment and let us know.