Search
Search results
Awix (3310 KP) rated Legend (2015) in Movies
Jun 12, 2018 (Updated Jul 12, 2019)
Krays-y
Yet another movie glamourising the vicious real-life gangster siblings, with the principal gimmick of Tom Hardy playing both Krays through the wonders of something-or-other. Hardy is excellent as Reggie, the merely-psychotic brains of the outfit, but way over the top as Ronnie, who is portrayed as a slightly thick criminal maniac, and arguably played for laughs too. A friend of mine came out thinking this was intended to be a black comedy; she may not have been wrong.
There's a good supporting cast and it's quite well made, but the film seems much too keen to cut the Krays some slack, presenting them as roguish anti-heroes rather than the brutal thugs they actually were. The 1990 Peter Medak telling of the Krays' story was arguably more balanced - this is an uneasy combination of a 'those quaint old Brits' period drama and a modishly violent modern gangster film.
There's a good supporting cast and it's quite well made, but the film seems much too keen to cut the Krays some slack, presenting them as roguish anti-heroes rather than the brutal thugs they actually were. The 1990 Peter Medak telling of the Krays' story was arguably more balanced - this is an uneasy combination of a 'those quaint old Brits' period drama and a modishly violent modern gangster film.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Deadpool 2 (2018) in Movies
Oct 13, 2018
Best cameo ever!
So glad Ryan Reynolds finally found a character he could really live in. Had always thought he was a cool, funny actor but had never really connected with a role before this one.
More of the same from the last film here, so if you liked that you will like this.
This time he teams up with Cable and his self created band of amateur heroes the "X-Force" to fight more bad guys and try and save a young mutant from killing someone and going to far.
Great soundtrack, random movie references which is one of the things I love most, but thought it dragged in some parts where it was sort of dull and not much happening. Some of the jokes fell flat and the characters talked too fast so you couldn't understand them.
Great action and car chase scenes make this a very entertaining film to experience.
More of the same from the last film here, so if you liked that you will like this.
This time he teams up with Cable and his self created band of amateur heroes the "X-Force" to fight more bad guys and try and save a young mutant from killing someone and going to far.
Great soundtrack, random movie references which is one of the things I love most, but thought it dragged in some parts where it was sort of dull and not much happening. Some of the jokes fell flat and the characters talked too fast so you couldn't understand them.
Great action and car chase scenes make this a very entertaining film to experience.
Deborah (162 KP) rated To Make a Match (Scandal in London, #3) in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Loosely based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, Liana LeFey gives us the tale of a younger sister desperate to find marital happiness and an older sister who seems intent on blocking her at every turn. The sisters nearly end up engaged to the wrong men.... but this is an historical romance, so of course it all works out in the end!
I found this a perfectly enjoyable, easy read, if not one of the best examples of the genre. Lady Victoria Lennox was a bit of a minx and did need holding back a bit, while her older sister, Lady Amelia, was pretty unlikeable for most of the book - it was hard to see what her admirer saw in her. Both main male suitors seemed decent chaps, if not a swoon-worthy as some heroes.... was never quite clear why Victoria's father always seemed so harsh on her though. Ah well.
I found this a perfectly enjoyable, easy read, if not one of the best examples of the genre. Lady Victoria Lennox was a bit of a minx and did need holding back a bit, while her older sister, Lady Amelia, was pretty unlikeable for most of the book - it was hard to see what her admirer saw in her. Both main male suitors seemed decent chaps, if not a swoon-worthy as some heroes.... was never quite clear why Victoria's father always seemed so harsh on her though. Ah well.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Hudson's Kill in Books
Oct 25, 2019
Hudson's Kill
If you have seen Gangs of New York then you know the period this novel is set. This book is completely immersive, Hirsch has done an incredible amount of research, to the language used, the the style of buildings. I often felt myself drawn into the period, even dreaming about the city in my sleep, his descriptions become so vivid. Hudson's Kill has pretty much got a bit of everything for everyone. It's a thriller, it's a murder mystery, it's a political and corruption rollercoaster, it's full of action, it has heroes , villains and enough in every page to keep you turning. All this and written in a way that is very easy and absorbing. Hirsch is a master and it is very hard to believe this is only his second novel. Hudson's Kill deserves to be celebrated and loved, a rare book that will delight so many and deserves to be read. 4/5
Logan (76 KP) rated Spy Killer in Books
Jan 14, 2019
This review covers the audio book version.
My first audio book with sound effects! That was exciting. The numerous fist fights, gunfire exchanges, and characters walking through doors really came to life as I listened to this. The music between chapters was pretty fun too.
Unfortunately, the voice acting (and some of the writing itself) struck me as terribly racist and offensive. The characters all fit into neat little stereotypes. There's nothing deep or challenging about any aspect of the story. All that said, it was kind of fun to listen to and laugh at, much as Kurt Reed (not sure if it's just this story or all L. Ron Hubbard stuff, but if you hear a character's first name, expect the last name to be dropped as well) laughs off basically everything that goes wrong. That might be the only truly positive thing I took away from it. Heroes laugh in the face of adversity. Cool. I'll keep that in mind.
My first audio book with sound effects! That was exciting. The numerous fist fights, gunfire exchanges, and characters walking through doors really came to life as I listened to this. The music between chapters was pretty fun too.
Unfortunately, the voice acting (and some of the writing itself) struck me as terribly racist and offensive. The characters all fit into neat little stereotypes. There's nothing deep or challenging about any aspect of the story. All that said, it was kind of fun to listen to and laugh at, much as Kurt Reed (not sure if it's just this story or all L. Ron Hubbard stuff, but if you hear a character's first name, expect the last name to be dropped as well) laughs off basically everything that goes wrong. That might be the only truly positive thing I took away from it. Heroes laugh in the face of adversity. Cool. I'll keep that in mind.
Andrew Sinclair (25 KP) rated War Cry in Books
Nov 24, 2019
This is a fascinating story that follows the lives of two characters who finally meet about 3 quarters of the way through the book. Despite their circumstances they can't resist each other hurting close friends in the process. Meanwhile World War 2 is brewing and both are caught up in the action on opposing sides. At this point the story becomes a kind of global Romeo and Juliet where they must endeavour to keep their relationship secret as there are those who would seek to tear it apart. When you follow their journey as a reader and get to know both characters you can't help but route for them even though some of their actions make you question their morality. This gives it a true sense of realism as the heroes of the book don't always do the right thing. It's an engrossing read and I can't wait to read the sequel which I have already bought.
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Carlito's Way (1993) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
De Palma’s best films are thrillers, told with a sense of dread and urgency. His characters are flawed anti-heroes either running toward something or away from it, sometimes both at once. As is the case with Carlito, played with an unforgettable lisp and absolute relish by a Pacino let loose to do his thing without restraint. It’s a big film with broad strokes, that sucks you in and keeps you on a tightrope right to the inevitable end, that you should see coming, but somehow didn’t. A transformed Sean Penn steals the show, with a solid gold turn, quirky, intense and thoroughly repugnant. But it is the story that drives it – a man who always wants “out” and finds himself in a labyrinth of pressure and bad choices, in a world overflowing with fools and selfishness. The set pieces are sublime, the pace is relentless – a film where everything comes together to create more than the sum of its parts.
Pericles and the Conquest of History: A Political Biography
Book
As the most famous and important political leader in Athenian history, Pericles has featured...
Reed Crandall: Illustrator of the Comics
Reed Crandall, Roger Hill and Jon B. Cooke
Book
From the 1940s to the '70s, Reed Crandall brought a unique and masterful style to American comic...
Simply Thrilled: The Preposterous Story of Postcard Records
Book
They had just a few hundred pounds, one band missing a drummer, a sock drawer for an office, more...