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Matthew Scott (7 KP) rated WTF with Marc Maron Podcast in Podcasts
Mar 25, 2019
He gently squeezes the stories out of celebrities that you won't hear anywhere else!
This is a can't miss podcast for anybody into the genre. His guests include top shelf celebrities from Hollywood and music, not to mention Barack Obama himself! He opens the podcast talking about what's going on in his personal life, including his awesome cats, and proceeds to give a very in depth interview to a notable guest. Even when you've heard this guest on other shows, Marc has a gentle way of coaxing the good stuff out of them. His openness about his substance abuse decades ago and the abuse he suffered as a child has a way of telling his guests that it's ok to come clean to me, I've been through it, too. A deeply personal experience and an absolute thrill to listen to.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Léon: The Professional (1994) in Movies
May 13, 2019
Cult thriller that gave the world Natalie Portman and briefly turned Luc Besson into someone with Hollywood clout; it's still almost certainly his best film. A troubled young girl (Portman) is orphaned by drug dealers and is taken under the wing of a supernaturally gifted hitman (Reno); he has issues of his own. Slowly the relationship between the two of them deepens, but the question of vengeance against the man who killed her family (Oldman) refuses to go away.
Stylish and witty, with great performances from the three leads; genuinely affecting in a way that most Besson movies simply are not. Surprisingly little action for what's supposedly a thriller but still very involving; the theatrical cut delicately skips around what's really going on in Leon and Mathilda's relationship. Knock a point off if you're watching the director's cut, which trades some of the subtlety for extra scenes which add a mixture of hokeyness and pure ick.
Stylish and witty, with great performances from the three leads; genuinely affecting in a way that most Besson movies simply are not. Surprisingly little action for what's supposedly a thriller but still very involving; the theatrical cut delicately skips around what's really going on in Leon and Mathilda's relationship. Knock a point off if you're watching the director's cut, which trades some of the subtlety for extra scenes which add a mixture of hokeyness and pure ick.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2510 KP) rated Dangerous to Know (Lillian Frost & Edith Head #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
In December 1938, an FBI investigation into the smuggling activities of Albert Chaperau has reached the doors of Paramount, where Edith Head is the head of costumes. Since Lillian Frost was at the dinner party where Albert was exposed, she finds herself involved in attempts to head off the investigation. Meanwhile, Lillian is also looking into the disappearance of Jens Lahse. No one has seen him for a week. Where could he have gone?
This book plunges us into the world of old Hollywood, and doesn’t let us out. Real and fictional blend seamlessly on the page, all of them coming to wonderful life. The book takes time to lay the foundation of both stories and introduce the characters, but once that happens, it is off and running and hard to put down. Add in a touch of Christmas, and you have a very charming book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-dangerous-to-know-by-renee.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book plunges us into the world of old Hollywood, and doesn’t let us out. Real and fictional blend seamlessly on the page, all of them coming to wonderful life. The book takes time to lay the foundation of both stories and introduce the characters, but once that happens, it is off and running and hard to put down. Add in a touch of Christmas, and you have a very charming book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-dangerous-to-know-by-renee.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) in Movies
Oct 24, 2018 (Updated Oct 24, 2018)
Unimaginatively-titled, probably-inevitable Queen movie doesn't really take many risks in telling the remarkable story of Farrokh Bulsara, a gay Asian baggage-handler at Heathrow Airport who reinvents himself as the supremely charismatic frontman of one of the most enduringly popular rock bands in history. Very much the family-friendly Hollywood version of the band's story, hitting all the beats you'd expect and soft-pedalling some of the excesses of Freddie Mercury's lifestyle.
That said, assuming you're okay with the fact that this is a rather fictionalised retelling of the tale (history is quietly rewritten throughout), there is a huge amount here to enjoy: the band are well-cast, it's not afraid of the odd Spinal Tap moment, and obviously the music is tremendous (assuming you're a Queen fan, and if you're not why would you be watching a Queen movie?). It's also unexpectedly moving in places, particularly in the closing stages. Not perfect by any means, but still a really good piece of entertainment.
That said, assuming you're okay with the fact that this is a rather fictionalised retelling of the tale (history is quietly rewritten throughout), there is a huge amount here to enjoy: the band are well-cast, it's not afraid of the odd Spinal Tap moment, and obviously the music is tremendous (assuming you're a Queen fan, and if you're not why would you be watching a Queen movie?). It's also unexpectedly moving in places, particularly in the closing stages. Not perfect by any means, but still a really good piece of entertainment.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Mortal Engines (2018) in Movies
Dec 26, 2018 (Updated Dec 26, 2018)
I'm not sure what the movie studio was thinking releasing this film against Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. Maybe it would have had a better chance released the first weekend of December, or maybe this next February.
I really liked the story, I haven't read the book at all so I have nothing to measure it against. The visual effects were pretty cool, and I was entertained most of the time.
I absolutely loved the female leads, and this film did not fail at the box office due to strong female leads, Hollywood.
Robert Sheehan was one of my favorites, though i kept calling this film Mortal Instruments... Since he was in that film and the villainous character was also named Valentine.
Sadly, I feel like this film fell victim to timing, and there is a chance it could become more successful upon Blu-Ray release, like Live, Die, Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow.
I really liked the story, I haven't read the book at all so I have nothing to measure it against. The visual effects were pretty cool, and I was entertained most of the time.
I absolutely loved the female leads, and this film did not fail at the box office due to strong female leads, Hollywood.
Robert Sheehan was one of my favorites, though i kept calling this film Mortal Instruments... Since he was in that film and the villainous character was also named Valentine.
Sadly, I feel like this film fell victim to timing, and there is a chance it could become more successful upon Blu-Ray release, like Live, Die, Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Ford v Ferrari (aka Le Mans '66) (2019) in Movies
Nov 15, 2019
Le Mans-themed movie doesn't quite last the whole 24 hours but certainly takes its time; decent direction and good chemistry from the leads means that two and a half hours mostly skips by. The Ford Motor Company decides to win the famous French endurance race and recruits a renowned racer (Damon) to run their team; he in turn brings in an unpredictable British driver (Bale), who is the very antithesis of a company man.
Very solid entertainment for the most part - rather like that boxing film from a while back, in that Damon turns in a solid leading man turn, allowing Bale to deliver a rather more unorthodox character performance. All the best lines are in the trailer, though, and there's a change of gear near the end which is slightly fluffed. Also arguably slightly disingenuous, in that it delivers a firm anti-corporate groupthink, pro-individual eccentricity message - coming from a major Hollywood studio this inevitably feels a bit insincere.
Very solid entertainment for the most part - rather like that boxing film from a while back, in that Damon turns in a solid leading man turn, allowing Bale to deliver a rather more unorthodox character performance. All the best lines are in the trailer, though, and there's a change of gear near the end which is slightly fluffed. Also arguably slightly disingenuous, in that it delivers a firm anti-corporate groupthink, pro-individual eccentricity message - coming from a major Hollywood studio this inevitably feels a bit insincere.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) in Movies
Feb 11, 2020 (Updated Feb 11, 2020)
Dinosaur Biddding War
Fallen Kingdom- i like better than Jurassic World. Yes its predictable and a villian that is perdictable. But its still a jurassic park movie, the fifth one. Yes their should of stopped at the first one, but two sequels and a reboot, and a six one coming in 2021. This franchise isnt stopping any time soon. Which i want it to stop, please stop hollywood. Anyways it has action and adventure. It does have Chris pratt in it so thats a plus.
The Plot: Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinosaurs, while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet.
So should you watch it, if your a jurassic park fan than yes. If your not than just skip it.
The Plot: Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing return to the island of Isla Nublar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to erupt. They soon encounter terrifying new breeds of gigantic dinosaurs, while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire planet.
So should you watch it, if your a jurassic park fan than yes. If your not than just skip it.
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