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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) in Movies

Jul 2, 2019  
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
2018 | Thriller
8
7.6 (36 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
The El Royale Hotel sit directly on the California and Nevada border just outside of Lake Tahoe. In its heyday, the novelty hotel, vibrant and bustling with activity. Even getting visits from famous actors, singers and politicians. But by the 1960s those days had gone and now it is rundown and mostly vacant. Then on one fateful day a group of random strangers meet at the El Royale. There is a minister, Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), on his way back from Oakland visiting his brother. Singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo) who came to the El Royale because her midday casino singing gig in Reno didn’t pay enough for her to stay anywhere else. Then there is Laramie Seymour Sullivan (John Hamm) the vacuum salesman who talks fast and loud. His company does all the hotel bookings so he was stuck with the El Royale, but he is dead set on enjoying the luxurious Honeymoon Suite given the choices. Lastly, there is Emily (Dakota Johnson) she doesn’t say much besides she wants a room far away from the other guests. The mismatched group is all greeted by the bellhop/bar tender/service manager Miles (Lewis Pullman). All seems like a chance meeting of a group of travelers. But nothing is what it seems. By the nights end all manner of secrets will come out and all the guests’ lives will be in jeopardy.

El Royale is a well-crafted and executed mystery/thriller. Writer and Director Drew Goddard (The Martian) does a great job of telling an original story. It keeps you guessing to the end. The cast for the most part is really good. Chris Hemsworth (as Billy Lee) and Cailee Spaeny (as Ruth Summersping) have more underwhelming performances compared to the rest of the cast but still good. Cynthia Erivo, for me, had a great performance. I thought her voice was amazing and how her character was developed throughout the film was interesting and well done. The pace of the movie does start out somewhat slow but rapidly builds and overall is good. The film is set in the 1960s and definitely feels like of that era with the music, news stories, overall appearance of the hotel rooms, etc.

I enjoyed this film. I thought the way the story unfolded was interesting and original. One part that really occurred to be later is that you never really knew who the hero of the film was or would wind up being. When I thought I had it figured out something would happen to change my mind. Or maybe there was not really hero. The slow build up was a little long for me but otherwise it was a great movie theater experience.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Panty Raid in Books

Apr 28, 2022  
Panty Raid
Panty Raid
Diane Vallere | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Combining Work with Pleasure. And Murder.
Samantha Kidd and her fiancé, Nick Taylor, are in Las Vegas for a working vacation. Samantha has been sent to attend a lingerie show, but the couple have arrived early to enjoy some time away. However, things take a turn when Nick runs across his friend Marc Rico when they are checking into the hotel. Nick starts acting funny before revealing a dark story from his and Marc’s past. The next morning, Samantha finds a dead body across the street from their hotel. Can she figure out what is happening?

This book captured my attention early and never let go. I enjoyed the creative clues and red herrings Samantha had to navigate on the way to the solution. There are one or two things about the climax that we have to deduce for ourselves, but they are minor. Since Samantha and Nick are out of town, they get plenty of page time, and I enjoy seeing their relationship continue to grow. Not to mention how Samantha is maturing. The rest of the cast is good, and there is a reappearance of a recurring character here. There’s also plenty of humor, and I was laughing and grinning the entire way through. If you are looking for a fun mystery, this book is a winner.
  
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Dawn Marie (22 KP) rated Tower of Terror (1997) in Movies

Jan 19, 2018  
Tower of Terror (1997)
Tower of Terror (1997)
1997 | Comedy, Horror, Family
10
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Disney tv movie can't remember if it was a wonderful world of Disney or a Disney channel movie based on the tower of terror ride. It is the anniversary of the disappearance of kid actor Sally shine and 4 other people who disappeared when lightning hit the Hollywood tower hotel. Disgraced reporter buzzy played by Steve Guttenberg gets a visitor and decided to go there to take a story with his niece played by Kristen dunst. Is the story true, are there ghosts, evil forces, or nothing but dust in this tower only watching it will you find out. A little cheesy but good Disney fare.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated The Mystery on the Mississippi in Books

Mar 9, 2018  
TM
The Mystery on the Mississippi
Kathryn Kenny | 2006
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Trixie and her friends take a trip to Missouri, where Trixie finds some stranger papers in her hotel room's garbage can. Soon, someone is following them. What do the symbols on the paper mean?

I'm torn on this one. It was my introduction to the series, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. The fast moving and suspenseful plot captivated the 7th grade me and introduced me to life long friends. However, reading it as an adult, boy to all the characters do some pretty stupid things.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-mystery-mississippi.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.