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Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated Dracula - Dead and Loving It (1995) in Movies
Jul 14, 2018
A lot of fun, the humour is great (1 more)
A fun cast
Its just a fun movie
This is a fun movie. You should not take this seriously. I have found myself quoting this more and more as the years went on. I saw this again and again as a child and watching it again after so long I can appreciate it a lot more.
Leslie Nielson is great as Dracula. He brings in a fun, charming performance as always. Not his best role but does a good job with it.
Peter MacNicol as Renfield is by far my favourite character right from the start. He is funny, crazy with some amazing lines. He is where my favourite quotes come from mostly.
This is a typical Mel brooks spoof movie. He directs and stars and is quite funny. The rest of the cast I wasn't that interested about to be honest.
Not sure if it's intentional but the acting isn't the greatest but still a lot of fun.
Leslie Nielson is great as Dracula. He brings in a fun, charming performance as always. Not his best role but does a good job with it.
Peter MacNicol as Renfield is by far my favourite character right from the start. He is funny, crazy with some amazing lines. He is where my favourite quotes come from mostly.
This is a typical Mel brooks spoof movie. He directs and stars and is quite funny. The rest of the cast I wasn't that interested about to be honest.
Not sure if it's intentional but the acting isn't the greatest but still a lot of fun.
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated Obsidio: Illuminae Files Book 3 in Books
Dec 13, 2018 (Updated Dec 13, 2018)
Epic endings
“LATIN IS THE LANGUAGE OF MANY OF HUMANITY’S GREATEST TALES.
TALES THAT HAVE ENDURED” ~ AIDAN
This is not going to be an epic review, I’m emotionally drained and I haven’t got it in me, but know this, I have epic feelings about this book, this series. It is a stand out experience in all my reading over the last few years, made all the better by buddy reading the last two with Hollis.
Obsidio introduces two new characters in Asha and Rhys but even better than this newness is that they are brought alongside Kady, Ezra, Nik, Hanna and AIDAN. The bringing together of their minds, their snark, their humour and their sharp emotions was a ride of hope and despair.
I laughed but boy did I leak from the eye area. Why did I cry? Often over a metal chip (if you’ve read this book you’ll understand). I’m all done in, I’m completely satisfied and I will return to this series to read and devour it again.
TALES THAT HAVE ENDURED” ~ AIDAN
This is not going to be an epic review, I’m emotionally drained and I haven’t got it in me, but know this, I have epic feelings about this book, this series. It is a stand out experience in all my reading over the last few years, made all the better by buddy reading the last two with Hollis.
Obsidio introduces two new characters in Asha and Rhys but even better than this newness is that they are brought alongside Kady, Ezra, Nik, Hanna and AIDAN. The bringing together of their minds, their snark, their humour and their sharp emotions was a ride of hope and despair.
I laughed but boy did I leak from the eye area. Why did I cry? Often over a metal chip (if you’ve read this book you’ll understand). I’m all done in, I’m completely satisfied and I will return to this series to read and devour it again.
David McK (3632 KP) rated The Book of Ultimate Truths in Books
Jan 30, 2019
When reading books, I go through phases of genres, where I might read 3 or 4 of one type before switching to another. Recently, I'd been reading a lot of historical fiction and felt it was time to switch it up, moving on to comedy instead, hoping this would prove to be a hit.
Unfortunately, it wasn't. :(
Perhaps I should have known: I had read some Robert Rankin before and had found him (generally) to be more miss than hit, with this novel only serving to reinforce that opinion. IMO, I found this rather surreal and just not that funny with it rarely raising a smile, never mind a laugh! Indeed, what humour there is I found to be rather childish, almost infantile. Doubt I'll be looking for any more in this series: the only reasons this doesn't get 1 star is because A) a book has to be really, REALLY bad for me to give it that and B) because it was free (but now I know why!) from Amazon.
Unfortunately, it wasn't. :(
Perhaps I should have known: I had read some Robert Rankin before and had found him (generally) to be more miss than hit, with this novel only serving to reinforce that opinion. IMO, I found this rather surreal and just not that funny with it rarely raising a smile, never mind a laugh! Indeed, what humour there is I found to be rather childish, almost infantile. Doubt I'll be looking for any more in this series: the only reasons this doesn't get 1 star is because A) a book has to be really, REALLY bad for me to give it that and B) because it was free (but now I know why!) from Amazon.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Fortitude - Season 3 in TV
Dec 22, 2018
Good but a little unsatisfying
4 episodes to wrap up the entire events of the first two series of Fortitude is a little ambitious, but for the most part it actually succeeds. I'm glad that they didn't decide to drag this out across another 10 episodes, as that would've been completely unnecessary.
Instead they manage to wrap up quite a few loose ends - including finding out who was behind Khatri's work, and giving some comeuppance to some of the more unlikable characters for the first 2 series. As is standard with Fortitude, there's a fair amount of dark humour and gore. There's also some decent development for some of the characters that have been sidelined in the past (Eric and Ingrid especially).
They've done a fairly decent job in wrapping this series up, but my biggest issue is that the final ending for me was unsatisfying. It wasn't bad, but it just left me feeling a little disappointed. They could easily have added an extra 15 minutes onto this episode just to make it a little neater.
Instead they manage to wrap up quite a few loose ends - including finding out who was behind Khatri's work, and giving some comeuppance to some of the more unlikable characters for the first 2 series. As is standard with Fortitude, there's a fair amount of dark humour and gore. There's also some decent development for some of the characters that have been sidelined in the past (Eric and Ingrid especially).
They've done a fairly decent job in wrapping this series up, but my biggest issue is that the final ending for me was unsatisfying. It wasn't bad, but it just left me feeling a little disappointed. They could easily have added an extra 15 minutes onto this episode just to make it a little neater.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Game Night (2018) in Movies
Dec 29, 2018
Better than expected
I need to start by saying that I’ve never been a fan of mainstream comedies, however this one is actually quite good - mainly because of the excellent cast.
I’ve always liked Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman, and they have great chemistry together in this. Billy Magnussen is really funny as the dumb blonde, and there’s some great support from Kyle Chandler and Sharon Horgan. However it’s Jesse Plemons that steals the show as the bonkers creepy neighbour. He’s so deadpan that you can’t help but laugh whenever he’s on screen.
The plot itself is simple and straightforward although fairly entertaining. It’s funny in parts although I didn’t find it particularly hilarious (probably my sense of humour). I did think some of the twists at the end were fairly fun. I love games though, so can really relate to the competitiveness and wish I could persuade my friends to have weekly game nights! I do think it gets a bit cringey in parts and a bit ridiculous, but it’s still an enjoyable fun film.
I’ve always liked Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman, and they have great chemistry together in this. Billy Magnussen is really funny as the dumb blonde, and there’s some great support from Kyle Chandler and Sharon Horgan. However it’s Jesse Plemons that steals the show as the bonkers creepy neighbour. He’s so deadpan that you can’t help but laugh whenever he’s on screen.
The plot itself is simple and straightforward although fairly entertaining. It’s funny in parts although I didn’t find it particularly hilarious (probably my sense of humour). I did think some of the twists at the end were fairly fun. I love games though, so can really relate to the competitiveness and wish I could persuade my friends to have weekly game nights! I do think it gets a bit cringey in parts and a bit ridiculous, but it’s still an enjoyable fun film.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch #2) in Books
Oct 28, 2019
Wonderfully wacky
I dare anyone to read a Discworld book and not smile at least once (if not multiple times). There's something about the wonderfully wacky world of Ankh-Morporkh that makes it so entertaining and delightful to read. Not only are the Discworld books well written, they're also full of flawed yet well developed and loveable characters.
Men at Arms is no different. The City Guard are a rather motley crew of loveable misfits, and every single one from Vimes to Carrot to Detritus has their moment or moments in this book. Some of the interactions and conversations between characters in this book are hilarious, especially those involving Detritus and Cuddy, or the conversations between Vimes, Carrot and Vetinari. Not only does Pratchett manage to fill the book with humour and fantasy, he also throws in a lot of real world problems like racism and species-ism (probably not a word) in such a manner that it's both thought provoking, meaningful and still funny. Pratchett really knows how to work his magic with these books.
Men at Arms is no different. The City Guard are a rather motley crew of loveable misfits, and every single one from Vimes to Carrot to Detritus has their moment or moments in this book. Some of the interactions and conversations between characters in this book are hilarious, especially those involving Detritus and Cuddy, or the conversations between Vimes, Carrot and Vetinari. Not only does Pratchett manage to fill the book with humour and fantasy, he also throws in a lot of real world problems like racism and species-ism (probably not a word) in such a manner that it's both thought provoking, meaningful and still funny. Pratchett really knows how to work his magic with these books.
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated The Boy in the Dress in Books
Jul 2, 2019
This is a good well rounded book for young folks
I really enjoyed this book. I was sceptical due to the author already being established and thought perhaps his celebrity status helped him sell book but I'll take my hat of to Walliams. This is an enjoyable little read. The language is simple and I enjoyed how current the book is. The book really demonstrates the difference between black and white and colour (colour being different and standing out from the norm).
Uniform is also a main theme in the book and very obviously gender and social acceptance. Walliams does a good job at showing that sexual preference is not linked to dress and that discrimination is wrong. In this book the child is able to experience how ludicrous gender representation by dress is by dressing the full football team up in ladies clothing, this normalises it.
The intrusive narrator who may be Walliams himself, also gives hints throughout the book about his own desire to cross dress.
Good book.
Uniform is also a main theme in the book and very obviously gender and social acceptance. Walliams does a good job at showing that sexual preference is not linked to dress and that discrimination is wrong. In this book the child is able to experience how ludicrous gender representation by dress is by dressing the full football team up in ladies clothing, this normalises it.
The intrusive narrator who may be Walliams himself, also gives hints throughout the book about his own desire to cross dress.
Good book.
I admit that I actually quite enjoyed this book in a strange kind of way. It was well written, had a unique story-line, surprising ending and great characters although some of them are not particularly likeable. There is ample dark humour which offsets the tension perfectly and although it does seem to be a bit OTT in parts, it does work well in this book however, I have to say that, in my opinion, the wrong person died at the end!!
Please be aware that this is not a politically correct book and there is a lot of violence and blood however, the title and description should have given this away so this shouldn't come as too much of a shock.
I haven't read anything by this author before but I am likely to pick up another of his works in the future.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review and for, once again, introducing me to another new author to look out for.
Please be aware that this is not a politically correct book and there is a lot of violence and blood however, the title and description should have given this away so this shouldn't come as too much of a shock.
I haven't read anything by this author before but I am likely to pick up another of his works in the future.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review and for, once again, introducing me to another new author to look out for.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated An Advancement of Learning in Books
Nov 8, 2019
When a body is discovered under a statue at college, gruff old hand Andy Dalziel and idealistic, learned Peter Pascoe arrive to investigate. Whereas Pascoe is very much at home in the surroundings of an institute of learning (and indeed bumps into an old acquaintance), Dalziel is highly dismissive of the students, if not downright abusive. This doesn't help the tensions during the socially active early 70s when this was written.
What follows is in some ways a standard police procedural and in others another step in the road of the development of the characters of the two policemen. This novel is really the one where it becomes clear that the mismatched duo don't fit the standard templates, with Hill clearly creating something special with the two of them.
The result is very much the prototype of the rest of the series: their characters develop, they solve a seemingly baffling crime and Dalziel provides a dash of humour with his acerbic and often old-fashioned outlook on life and those around him.
What follows is in some ways a standard police procedural and in others another step in the road of the development of the characters of the two policemen. This novel is really the one where it becomes clear that the mismatched duo don't fit the standard templates, with Hill clearly creating something special with the two of them.
The result is very much the prototype of the rest of the series: their characters develop, they solve a seemingly baffling crime and Dalziel provides a dash of humour with his acerbic and often old-fashioned outlook on life and those around him.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Cold Pursuit (2019) in Movies
Nov 8, 2019
Confused
Let's face it, any film released nowadays with Liam Neeson as the main character is likely to be very similar to everything else he's done recently and also pretty poor. And sadly Cold Pursuit is no different.
The plot isn't anything new. It's Liam Neeson getting revenge on people again. Admittedly the setting and scenery are beautiful, it's just a shame the rest of the film can't live up to it I found the entire film very confused and wasn't entirely sure if it was meant to be a thriller, an action or a black comedy - it had aspects of all three and sadly not all of them worked, especially the humour. It was all a bit weird. And I adore Tom Bateman but his American accent in this is far too odd and I cringed every time he was on screen. And then there's the wasted Laura Dern and the pointless cops.
This is vaguely entertaining, but it dips in the middle and sadly suffers from a few acting faults and confusion on what genre it seems to lie in.
The plot isn't anything new. It's Liam Neeson getting revenge on people again. Admittedly the setting and scenery are beautiful, it's just a shame the rest of the film can't live up to it I found the entire film very confused and wasn't entirely sure if it was meant to be a thriller, an action or a black comedy - it had aspects of all three and sadly not all of them worked, especially the humour. It was all a bit weird. And I adore Tom Bateman but his American accent in this is far too odd and I cringed every time he was on screen. And then there's the wasted Laura Dern and the pointless cops.
This is vaguely entertaining, but it dips in the middle and sadly suffers from a few acting faults and confusion on what genre it seems to lie in.
