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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Species: The Awakening (2007) in Movies
Nov 4, 2020
I can quite comfortably say that Species: The Awakening - the fourth and thankfully last entry in the series to date - is one of the worst films I've ever put myself through.
Cheap horror films can occasionally find salvation in having a sort of charm to them, shitty yet endearing if you will, but unfortunately, there's more charm in my left testicle than in Species 4.
When I say cheap, I mean cheap as in they aren't even trying cheap. The whole film is drenched in a weird green lighting which makes it looks like a discount version of CSI. There's not even any practical gore to write home about. Not only is it seldom, but when things get violent, it looks like the blood was added using Microsoft Paint. It's dreadful.
I don't like to bash actors, they are only following directions after all, but Christ, no one on screen seems remotely invested in what they're doing. The dialogue is lazy, and half of the characters are just creeping around pulling "scary" faces whilst wearing "spooky" contact lenses. You know when a load of people on your Facebook friends-list update their profile pictures at Halloween with whatever costume they've put together, and they're pulling a cringey dead eye scary face just to add to the illusion - this film is basically that but for nearly two hours.
Talking about the runtime - fuck me it's gruelling. I'm pretty sure I drifted off at one point, but everything that's happening is so damn boring that by the time the credits roll, it becomes clear that Species: The Awakening is in fact an edurance test, designed to see how much dogshit the audience will take. At least, it feels that way.
It's abysmal, and I'm now in a bad mood, thanks a lot Species.
Cheap horror films can occasionally find salvation in having a sort of charm to them, shitty yet endearing if you will, but unfortunately, there's more charm in my left testicle than in Species 4.
When I say cheap, I mean cheap as in they aren't even trying cheap. The whole film is drenched in a weird green lighting which makes it looks like a discount version of CSI. There's not even any practical gore to write home about. Not only is it seldom, but when things get violent, it looks like the blood was added using Microsoft Paint. It's dreadful.
I don't like to bash actors, they are only following directions after all, but Christ, no one on screen seems remotely invested in what they're doing. The dialogue is lazy, and half of the characters are just creeping around pulling "scary" faces whilst wearing "spooky" contact lenses. You know when a load of people on your Facebook friends-list update their profile pictures at Halloween with whatever costume they've put together, and they're pulling a cringey dead eye scary face just to add to the illusion - this film is basically that but for nearly two hours.
Talking about the runtime - fuck me it's gruelling. I'm pretty sure I drifted off at one point, but everything that's happening is so damn boring that by the time the credits roll, it becomes clear that Species: The Awakening is in fact an edurance test, designed to see how much dogshit the audience will take. At least, it feels that way.
It's abysmal, and I'm now in a bad mood, thanks a lot Species.
Merissa (11953 KP) created a post
Apr 7, 2021
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Feb 12, 2021
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Thursday Murder Club in Books
Jul 2, 2021
Humour (2 more)
Plot
Kept me guessing
This was not what I expected at all. I’d heard all the hype around it and tried to keep an open mind to be able to honestly review it.
I loved it, it started off quite slow at first but as soon as I got to a part about 4 pensioners somehow making a detective feel uncomfortable with a cup of tea and some cake I knew that it could only go up from there. There are some really funny quotes that I couldn’t contain my snorts of laughter whilst reading, luckily reading it at home meant there weren’t too many funny looks.
Following the Thursday Murder Club around their investigations and them somehow getting to the same place as the police investigating at around the same time was entertaining. I am still none the wiser as to what Elizabeth actually did for a living, and I think that really adds to the fun of the book, not knowing who else she can ask for a “favour” in order to further her investigations. When one murder turned into two and then a third was added into the mix, I really was kept guessing throughout as to who the murderer or murderers were. Each time I was sure, something else was thrown into the works as to why it couldn’t be them. I really was kept guessing until the very end, which I love when it comes to murder mysteries! The humour in the book also made it live up to the hype, and after having had conversations with my Nan this week about Whatsapp, I was loving when they found out how to use Skype and having lessons on how to text people nicely and abbreviations in texts. I am very much looking forward to the second instalment of the series!
I loved it, it started off quite slow at first but as soon as I got to a part about 4 pensioners somehow making a detective feel uncomfortable with a cup of tea and some cake I knew that it could only go up from there. There are some really funny quotes that I couldn’t contain my snorts of laughter whilst reading, luckily reading it at home meant there weren’t too many funny looks.
Following the Thursday Murder Club around their investigations and them somehow getting to the same place as the police investigating at around the same time was entertaining. I am still none the wiser as to what Elizabeth actually did for a living, and I think that really adds to the fun of the book, not knowing who else she can ask for a “favour” in order to further her investigations. When one murder turned into two and then a third was added into the mix, I really was kept guessing throughout as to who the murderer or murderers were. Each time I was sure, something else was thrown into the works as to why it couldn’t be them. I really was kept guessing until the very end, which I love when it comes to murder mysteries! The humour in the book also made it live up to the hype, and after having had conversations with my Nan this week about Whatsapp, I was loving when they found out how to use Skype and having lessons on how to text people nicely and abbreviations in texts. I am very much looking forward to the second instalment of the series!
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) in Movies
Jul 4, 2021
80s horror is its own unique thing, and nothing quite encapsulates the era as well as A Nightmare On Elm Street. Another series that spawned a whole bunch of sequels, the original holds the crown, and still stands the test of time.
For one, iconic slasher villain Freddy Krueger is a scary motherfucker here. There are glimpses of the more comedic elements that would encompass his personality in later entries, but here, for the most part, he's a no nonsense, nasty SOB. Of course Robert Englund relishes in his role, and it's hard to see anyone else effectively filling his shoes.
Opposite Freddy is Nancy Thompson (a fantastic Heather Langenkamp), a well written and hugely likable final girl, a final girl who rivals Laurie Strode in the pantheon of horror protagonists.
The premise of ANOES is wonderfully simple. Don't fall asleep. This film scared the living shit out of me when I was a young teenager. Wes Craven was extremely successful in doing for sleep what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean. As an adult, it's less scary sure, but still makes me feel uneasy. This is thanks to a wonderfully creepy score by Charles Bernstein, and the of course, the incredibly executed, and imaginative kill scenes. The gory moments are paced out nicely, and hit hard when they arrive. The first kill in particular is a solid all timer, and then the infamous scene where Johnny Depp meets his demise is so otherworldly. It really drives home the near impossible odds that the good guys are facing.
ANOES is obviously a genre classic, and I personally think it just gets better with age. One of the all time greats, from one of the all time greats.
For one, iconic slasher villain Freddy Krueger is a scary motherfucker here. There are glimpses of the more comedic elements that would encompass his personality in later entries, but here, for the most part, he's a no nonsense, nasty SOB. Of course Robert Englund relishes in his role, and it's hard to see anyone else effectively filling his shoes.
Opposite Freddy is Nancy Thompson (a fantastic Heather Langenkamp), a well written and hugely likable final girl, a final girl who rivals Laurie Strode in the pantheon of horror protagonists.
The premise of ANOES is wonderfully simple. Don't fall asleep. This film scared the living shit out of me when I was a young teenager. Wes Craven was extremely successful in doing for sleep what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean. As an adult, it's less scary sure, but still makes me feel uneasy. This is thanks to a wonderfully creepy score by Charles Bernstein, and the of course, the incredibly executed, and imaginative kill scenes. The gory moments are paced out nicely, and hit hard when they arrive. The first kill in particular is a solid all timer, and then the infamous scene where Johnny Depp meets his demise is so otherworldly. It really drives home the near impossible odds that the good guys are facing.
ANOES is obviously a genre classic, and I personally think it just gets better with age. One of the all time greats, from one of the all time greats.
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated The Purge: Anarchy (2014) in Movies
Jul 14, 2021
Contains spoilers, click to show
The Purge Anarchy is the second film in the Purge franchise and shows more of the effect the purge is having on the general populous.
The film follows three groups who are all out during the annual purge for different reasons but who are forced to come together to help each other.
Some of the questions raised in the first film are expanded on, is the Purge really a way to help stop normal crime or is there a more sinister reason. It also raises the question, Is there any good reason to purge? We see it used as a way to make money, an excuse to behave in 'base' ways and a way to get revenge.
Purge Anarchy follows the main protagonists as they make their way to safety and has some of the sense of suspense the first movie has but also has a lot more violence, a lot of which is in the background as the group try to avoid it.
'Class' is also brought up with an anti-purge group producing media saying that the true purpose of the purge is really just a way of getting rid of the lower class and the poor, with more evidence of this as the film progresses.
Over all the Purge Anarchy is a good movie, it looses some of the tension of the first film by widening the area the film is set but, if they had just done another home invasion film it would have been 'more of the same' and taking it out into the streets enables the franchises law to grow. There are a few questions left at least partly unanswered but there are (at time of writing) three more films and a series so hopefully these are answered later.
The film follows three groups who are all out during the annual purge for different reasons but who are forced to come together to help each other.
Some of the questions raised in the first film are expanded on, is the Purge really a way to help stop normal crime or is there a more sinister reason. It also raises the question, Is there any good reason to purge? We see it used as a way to make money, an excuse to behave in 'base' ways and a way to get revenge.
Purge Anarchy follows the main protagonists as they make their way to safety and has some of the sense of suspense the first movie has but also has a lot more violence, a lot of which is in the background as the group try to avoid it.
'Class' is also brought up with an anti-purge group producing media saying that the true purpose of the purge is really just a way of getting rid of the lower class and the poor, with more evidence of this as the film progresses.
Over all the Purge Anarchy is a good movie, it looses some of the tension of the first film by widening the area the film is set but, if they had just done another home invasion film it would have been 'more of the same' and taking it out into the streets enables the franchises law to grow. There are a few questions left at least partly unanswered but there are (at time of writing) three more films and a series so hopefully these are answered later.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Annabelle Comes Home (2019) in Movies
Oct 26, 2020 (Updated Oct 26, 2020)
Incompetent, one of the worst horror movies I've ever seen. No film with a 70s soundtrack this cool should suck this hard, just as a bylaw from now on. Gives you false hope by starting off with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga's charming Warren couple (after rehashing that first 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 scene for the third goddamned time in three different movies) then violating your trust by immediately veering into pure shit. Not even remotely scary, just really loud and irritating - somehow even less frightening than 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦: 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 and that useless spinoff wasn't scary either. The same tropes with increasingly less charm, wit, originality, and purpose with each subsequent entry - this one having the added facet of looking like total ass now too! You'd think a beloved multi-million dollar franchise would be able to produce a film that doesn't look like a cheap Halloween section at a Party City with only like one and a half cool shots lmfao. At first you may think that maybe its lack of polish is supposed to add into a nostalgic, old-school Hollywood horror vibe but no - they just didn't care. For a now defaced series so adamant on overstuffing itself with intertwining lore (like so many films feel the need to nowadays during this unholy "just wait for the good stuff... it's building for now..." franchise kick) to the point of losing all sense of singularity they really put nothing into this writing to justify any of that. They really just turned this into some disgraceful, borderline unwatchable, generic drek that'd feel right at home in 2011/2012's rotten horror catalogue. A sequel to a prequel of a prequel to a main entry which has its own sequel that has *its* own spinoff. The pits.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Just One Look in Books
Dec 17, 2020
This is the tenth book in my #atozchallenge! I'm challenging myself to read a book from my shelves that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Let's clear those shelves and delve into that backlist!
When Grace Lawson picks up a set of photos from the store, she finds a strange photo in the envelope. It shows a group of four people she doesn't know. But one, she does: her husband, long before she knew him. When she shows him that evening, he leaves their home mysteriously. Soon a crazy series of events kicks off, and while Grace doesn't realize it, there are people who would do anything--even kill--to keep that photo from seeing the light of day.
This was my first Harlan Coben read--I have a bunch of Coben books I've collected sitting on my shelves, so it seemed like a great choice for my challenge. This was the supreme page turner. I had no idea where this book was going most of the time! It's filled with twists and turns, and it kept me guessing! There are a few real "coincidences," but they didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story at all. This was one of those plain 'ol good mysteries. I hadn't realized it was set in the mid-1990s (the development of film should have been a dead giveaway, ha), but it stood the test of time. There are creepy bad guys who fight the good guys. Sometimes you just need a tale of good versus evil with lots of twists to take your mind off of things.
Overall, an enjoyable and puzzling read. 3.5 stars. I'll definitely need to read more of the Coben books on my shelves.
When Grace Lawson picks up a set of photos from the store, she finds a strange photo in the envelope. It shows a group of four people she doesn't know. But one, she does: her husband, long before she knew him. When she shows him that evening, he leaves their home mysteriously. Soon a crazy series of events kicks off, and while Grace doesn't realize it, there are people who would do anything--even kill--to keep that photo from seeing the light of day.
This was my first Harlan Coben read--I have a bunch of Coben books I've collected sitting on my shelves, so it seemed like a great choice for my challenge. This was the supreme page turner. I had no idea where this book was going most of the time! It's filled with twists and turns, and it kept me guessing! There are a few real "coincidences," but they didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story at all. This was one of those plain 'ol good mysteries. I hadn't realized it was set in the mid-1990s (the development of film should have been a dead giveaway, ha), but it stood the test of time. There are creepy bad guys who fight the good guys. Sometimes you just need a tale of good versus evil with lots of twists to take your mind off of things.
Overall, an enjoyable and puzzling read. 3.5 stars. I'll definitely need to read more of the Coben books on my shelves.
ClareR (5674 KP) rated My Name is Monster in Books
Jul 30, 2020 (Updated Jul 30, 2020)
My Name is Monster is a book that really took me by surprise. It’s far more thoughtful and gentle than a lot of other post-apocalyptic books that I’ve read before. I kept expecting something terrible to happen - but it becomes apparent that the terrible thing has already happened.
After a series of wars, both sides have unleashed a sickness that has wiped out the population, and the survivors of that have died of starvation. Monster is a survivor. She had sheltered in the Arctic Seed Vault where she had been working. When she emerges, she is alone. She takes a boat and makes for the Scottish coast. When she washes up on a beach, shipwrecked, she walks towards the only place she really wants to see - home.
She starts to build a solitary life, resigned to living alone. And then one day she finds a child. She names her Monster, and renames herself Mother.
This is a story that made me think about the role of society, and what happens to an individual when there IS no society. It also showed what it means to be a mother: that it isn’t always the ones who give birth who are the mothers. Often it can be the things that a person DOES that makes them a mother. It also shows that one doesn’t have to have lots of possessions to be content. Contentment can be achieved through work or relationships.
There was a point quite early on, where I wondered whether this was the book for me, but I’m glad that I kept on reading. It’s the little things in this book that are actually the big things: the actions of an individual and love.
This was a really enjoyable, satisfying read. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this book.
After a series of wars, both sides have unleashed a sickness that has wiped out the population, and the survivors of that have died of starvation. Monster is a survivor. She had sheltered in the Arctic Seed Vault where she had been working. When she emerges, she is alone. She takes a boat and makes for the Scottish coast. When she washes up on a beach, shipwrecked, she walks towards the only place she really wants to see - home.
She starts to build a solitary life, resigned to living alone. And then one day she finds a child. She names her Monster, and renames herself Mother.
This is a story that made me think about the role of society, and what happens to an individual when there IS no society. It also showed what it means to be a mother: that it isn’t always the ones who give birth who are the mothers. Often it can be the things that a person DOES that makes them a mother. It also shows that one doesn’t have to have lots of possessions to be content. Contentment can be achieved through work or relationships.
There was a point quite early on, where I wondered whether this was the book for me, but I’m glad that I kept on reading. It’s the little things in this book that are actually the big things: the actions of an individual and love.
This was a really enjoyable, satisfying read. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this book.
Merissa (11953 KP) rated Deal With Her Dragon (Thor's Sons Crave Curves #1) in Books
Aug 2, 2020
Deal with her Dragon is the first book in the Thor's Sons Love Curves series and, as the title of both suggest, there are DRAGONS!!! and curves.
The first thing I need to say is I love the ages of our main female. She is in her early forties - not a twenty-something whippersnapper. For the most part, Emelie is a strong and confident woman. The only time she isn't is when she is with her mother or when her coven-mates profess to know more about her situation than she does. This was annoying - mainly because so much of it struck home to me - but also added a whole layer of believability to the story!
There is some serious heat going on between Ragnarr and Emelie which made the hard part all the harder. I loved how descriptive of both main characters that part was. You could feel the despair oozing off the page from both of them.
The world-building is brilliant and I love that it's set in Sweden instead of America. The characters are all fully-dimensional, whether or not you like them is a different story. This is a complete story by itself but other brothers are mentioned.
All in all, this is a fantastic first book that introduces a world of dragons and some seriously sensual loving to the reader. Ruby Sirois' writing lets you delve into a world of Norse mythology, with scenes to melt your heart or to bring tears to your eyes. A hot and steamy novel that I highly recommend and I really can't wait to read more.
* 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!
The first thing I need to say is I love the ages of our main female. She is in her early forties - not a twenty-something whippersnapper. For the most part, Emelie is a strong and confident woman. The only time she isn't is when she is with her mother or when her coven-mates profess to know more about her situation than she does. This was annoying - mainly because so much of it struck home to me - but also added a whole layer of believability to the story!
There is some serious heat going on between Ragnarr and Emelie which made the hard part all the harder. I loved how descriptive of both main characters that part was. You could feel the despair oozing off the page from both of them.
The world-building is brilliant and I love that it's set in Sweden instead of America. The characters are all fully-dimensional, whether or not you like them is a different story. This is a complete story by itself but other brothers are mentioned.
All in all, this is a fantastic first book that introduces a world of dragons and some seriously sensual loving to the reader. Ruby Sirois' writing lets you delve into a world of Norse mythology, with scenes to melt your heart or to bring tears to your eyes. A hot and steamy novel that I highly recommend and I really can't wait to read more.
* 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!