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David McK (3752 KP) rated Dune 2 (2024) in Movies
Mar 7, 2024
Dennis Villeneuve averred Part 2 of a single book, part 1 viewed as a risk released in the middle of a COVID pandemic and with no guarantee there would ever be a part 2 (which was then further delayed by an actors strike), this very much benefits from having all the world (galaxy) building done in the previous installment.
This picks up almost exactly from the end of Part 1, with Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica having survived the Harkonnen attack on his family and now in the company of the Fremen of Arrakis.
So there's more time for intergalactic politicking and action sequences this time round - some of which are very impressive - as Paul and Jessica seek to assimilate into the Fremen culture and with Paul initially fighting against their belief he could be their Messiah (I kept thinking "he's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy") but also still seeking revenge in the Harkonnens and on the Emperor who precipitated/allowed the attack in the first place.
I also kept seeing where that *other* space opera got their inspiration for the Empire and the Rebellion from.
This picks up almost exactly from the end of Part 1, with Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica having survived the Harkonnen attack on his family and now in the company of the Fremen of Arrakis.
So there's more time for intergalactic politicking and action sequences this time round - some of which are very impressive - as Paul and Jessica seek to assimilate into the Fremen culture and with Paul initially fighting against their belief he could be their Messiah (I kept thinking "he's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy") but also still seeking revenge in the Harkonnens and on the Emperor who precipitated/allowed the attack in the first place.
I also kept seeing where that *other* space opera got their inspiration for the Empire and the Rebellion from.
Merissa (13883 KP) rated Her Secret Inheritance (Isobel Key #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
So life has gone full circle for Lou and she is returning to the place where she found herself 5 years ago. She has grown up and achieved much during those years but she still wonders what will happen if she happens to run into Brian. Let me tell you, sparks fly! Brian is not the same, easy going laddie that he used to be and yes, some of that is Lou's fault - if you can call it that as she just wasn't ready to settle down. I think I actually like Brian a bit more in this book because he's grown into such a strong character. He still has feelings and compassion but now he won't let anyone, even Lou, tell him what he's got to do.
This story is compact but still full of action. It is very well written and comes to a satisfying conclusion. The characters have more depth which makes them more engaging than ever. A perfect sequel to The Secret of Isobel Key. The only problem I have is that I still want more! ;)
This story is compact but still full of action. It is very well written and comes to a satisfying conclusion. The characters have more depth which makes them more engaging than ever. A perfect sequel to The Secret of Isobel Key. The only problem I have is that I still want more! ;)
Reckless in Texas
8.0
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Violet Jacobs is fearless. At least, that's what the cowboys she snatches from under the hooves of...
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Magic in the Moonlight (2014) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯. A movie that has no reason for existing, does virtually nothing more except over-explain the movie to you - leaving nothing else behind to chew on. Not just slight but good *Lord* is it ever drab. Yet another Woody Allen film where Stone falls for an unlikable, pompous asshole who thinks he's genius because he tells everyone else they're stupid and recites the same misanthropic bullshit you can find on those awful pre-commentary videos on YouTube from 2013 - except in this one he never perks up and the plot forgets to happen. And that's all not to mention how this is easily nu-Allen's crummiest looking movie. Has a few good moments, Stone is dependably sterling, and it's got a hell of a twist/reveal - but can this guy quit taking beyond excellent premises and spinning them into mostly wack fluff? Granted this is the first of his films I've disliked, but he's toed the line more times than once. The Firth dialogue is near as insufferable and amateurish as Allen has been - real thesaurus abuse going on. Starts off agreeable but soon after becomes a hell of a bore, pretty sure I checked out of 18 of the last 20 minutes.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
Well I feel I have to say that this isn't my favourite series in the world...but I think this has been the best books so far.
Maybe it was the whole Kaylee and Tod thing, which I've been rooting for since early on, or something else that I cant put my finger on, but I enjoyed this one more than the previous.
Nash annoyed me no end in this, I know he's angry and upset but really? I thought you'd got it all out of your system in the last one! You've gone down in my expectations, I'm afraid.
Sabine wasn't as bitchy as usual; she actually helped Kaylee for a change instead of making stuff harder for her.
Book 6 is on hiatus for a bit until I read other books that I just cant wait to read (sorry Before I Wake, nothing personal)
Maybe it was the whole Kaylee and Tod thing, which I've been rooting for since early on, or something else that I cant put my finger on, but I enjoyed this one more than the previous.
Nash annoyed me no end in this, I know he's angry and upset but really? I thought you'd got it all out of your system in the last one! You've gone down in my expectations, I'm afraid.
Sabine wasn't as bitchy as usual; she actually helped Kaylee for a change instead of making stuff harder for her.
Book 6 is on hiatus for a bit until I read other books that I just cant wait to read (sorry Before I Wake, nothing personal)
speaker357 (212 KP) rated The Greatest Showman (2017) in Movies
Oct 2, 2018 (Updated Jun 14, 2019)
Hugh Jackman singing again! (2 more)
Circus oddities!
Broadway music.
Michelle Williams (Honestly, I just don't like her.) (1 more)
Too family friendly to truly paint Barnum's character.
A glance into the antics of P.T. Barnum
I do genuinely enjoy this movie, it's got a really great story that starts with a adolescent Barnum realizing what may be his calling all while pursuing a young girl. As the story progresses he begins to use the methods which gave him the prestige he's earned.
For the most part I believe that this is pretty close to the truth. Missing some of the few antics that I recalled from reading the "48 Laws of Power."
Overall, I think I wish that they showed the true colors of Barnum.
For the most part I believe that this is pretty close to the truth. Missing some of the few antics that I recalled from reading the "48 Laws of Power."
Overall, I think I wish that they showed the true colors of Barnum.
Cee-Lo Green recommended Let's Stay Together by Al Green in Music (curated)
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Iced (Fever, #6) in Books
Sep 3, 2019
I loved the original 5 books in this series and when I discovered this book with Dani as the lead character I was a little wary. It had been quite a few years since I read the books and I'd forgotten quite a bit of what happened other than Mac and Barron's relationship. But when this popped up at 99p on Amazon several years ago now I just had to buy it. I also managed to snag Burned - book 7 - for 99p too.
Anyway, back to this.
First off, I really liked Ryodan in this. He is a bad-arse and I And Dani grew on me a lot, too, for a 14 year old know-it-all/think-she-knows-best teenager.
Second, I should probably point out that this is NOT a romance book as such. Two men have designs on her but are willing to wait until she grows up - since she's just 14. But I've always liked this series, so I had to read this.
So Dani is coerced into working for Ryodan, as an investigator, after turning him down several times until he finds someone as leverage against her. Something is happening at various spots around Dublin, with people freezing in the middle of whatever they're doing, dying instantly. With Dani's abilities - super speed, super hearing, etc - Ryodan thinks she could be helpful in figuring out what's happening and so the story begins.
I liked the camaraderie between Dani and Ryodan, whether he was threatening her half the time or she was royally winding him up. They made me smile like a lunatic for most of the book. I also enjoyed seeing bits from both of their POV. We know Ryodan is willing to wait for Dani to get older before he tries anything with her but he does see something in her worth keeping her alive - because he is a bad-arse and could kill her quite easily if she annoyed him enough, let's face it! - so I'm looking forward to that bit in future books.
Now Christian, he freaked me out a bit. Fair enough, he's not quite got control of himself but the Unseelie Prince side of him is creepy as. He's the other guy who's after Dani but if she's got any sense she'd run a mile.
Lor was another character I grew to like. He's one of Ryodan's men whose job it is to keep an eye on Dani for a lot of the book. He's certainly a character and I'm looking forward to reading more of him.
I think I may have to read book 7 - Burned - straight after this one to see what happened next with this group of...friends? Especially with Mac and Dani at the end!
Anyway, back to this.
First off, I really liked Ryodan in this. He is a bad-arse and I And Dani grew on me a lot, too, for a 14 year old know-it-all/think-she-knows-best teenager.
Second, I should probably point out that this is NOT a romance book as such. Two men have designs on her but are willing to wait until she grows up - since she's just 14. But I've always liked this series, so I had to read this.
So Dani is coerced into working for Ryodan, as an investigator, after turning him down several times until he finds someone as leverage against her. Something is happening at various spots around Dublin, with people freezing in the middle of whatever they're doing, dying instantly. With Dani's abilities - super speed, super hearing, etc - Ryodan thinks she could be helpful in figuring out what's happening and so the story begins.
I liked the camaraderie between Dani and Ryodan, whether he was threatening her half the time or she was royally winding him up. They made me smile like a lunatic for most of the book. I also enjoyed seeing bits from both of their POV. We know Ryodan is willing to wait for Dani to get older before he tries anything with her but he does see something in her worth keeping her alive - because he is a bad-arse and could kill her quite easily if she annoyed him enough, let's face it! - so I'm looking forward to that bit in future books.
Now Christian, he freaked me out a bit. Fair enough, he's not quite got control of himself but the Unseelie Prince side of him is creepy as. He's the other guy who's after Dani but if she's got any sense she'd run a mile.
Lor was another character I grew to like. He's one of Ryodan's men whose job it is to keep an eye on Dani for a lot of the book. He's certainly a character and I'm looking forward to reading more of him.
I think I may have to read book 7 - Burned - straight after this one to see what happened next with this group of...friends? Especially with Mac and Dani at the end!
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