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Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters (1984)
1984 | Comedy, Sci-Fi
Great comedic writing from Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd (4 more)
Imaginative ghost designs
Great chemistry between the stars
That iconic theme song from Ray Parker Jr.
Mostly everything is explained through science
Some special effects haven't aged all that well (2 more)
Some younger viewers may be frightened by some imagery- parental discretion is advised
Some sexual references.
Ghostbusters is a comedy horror film from 1984 directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis who also star in the film. The film follows three ex-university professors as they go into business to catch ghosts. This was Ghost Hunters before it was cool. One of their first clients, Dana Barrett played by Sigourney Weaver, hires Dr. Peter Venkman, played by Bill Murray, to investigate a haunting in her apartment. The chemistry between Murray and Weaver here is great. Murray is clearly a womanizer and wants nothing more than to go out with Weaver. Weaver plays hard to get of course. The monster designs are very imaginative for the time, some of them being a little bit creepy. When the movie uses practical effects, it looks really good. But when it instead goes for other special effects, it really breaks the illusion that these monsters are real. You can really see it with the demon dogs if you know what to look for. There is one scene in which Dana Barrett is possessed by the demon known as Zuul where she tries to seduce Peter Venkman, but it never goes anywhere. There's another scene where a demon hand comes out of a lounge chair that Dana is sitting in. And it literally cops a feel. No joke. Go watch that scene. It really looks like Dana is getting molested there. I don't know why that is in there but there it is. Be warned. Some scenes may frighten younger children. Parents be advised. But nonetheless, Ghostbusters is still a classic to watch during Halloween. Cause I ain't afraid of no ghost.
  
Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1)
Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1)
Rachel Caine | 2015 | Dystopia, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.4 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Imaginative plot (2 more)
Plot twists galore
The whole darn book!
A book about books! Need I say more?
Secret tunnels, alchemy, automatons, danger around every corner, and a Great Library that controls the knowledge of the people!
But also friendships, rivalries, teleporting, and villains!
In a world where it is illegal to own an actual book and The Great Library of Alexandria has installed itself and evil automatons in every major city in order to control the knowledge of the citizens of the entire world, Jess Brightwell, the son of a book smuggler has been accepted to train for a position in The Great Library.
Tensions run high, as his father has alterior motives for Jess should he secure the position. Jess is forced to choose between his loyalty to his family and at times his newly found friends or his fear of the wrath The Great Library.
This is a tempestuous tale that left me emotional and wanting more!
  
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JSG87 (8 KP) rated Bird Box (2018) in Movies

Feb 22, 2019  
Bird Box (2018)
Bird Box (2018)
2018 | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Great acting. (2 more)
Sandra Bullock
Imaginative
A very good film that isn't quite understood by the masses.
I went into this move blind (no pun intended). Didn't have a clue what it was about.

The best part about it is how you never see the monster.
Now I've seen all over the Internet how this is apparently try about mental disorders and depression but I'm not quite sure if i agree with those assumptions (which is all we have tbh).
The film makers did say that they originally had the monster visible in the movie but that it didn't fit and didn't quite convey what they wanted so they cut it in the end.

I think I prefer it that way though because it leaves the movie open to interpretation. I'd recommend this move to anyone who likes suspense and mystery. It can be quite slow at times but there's always enough through provoking stuff happening that you might not notice.
  
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
2017 | Sci-Fi
Valerian and the Unnecessarily Long Title, more like
Another lavishly imaginative and somewhat incoherently scripted sci-fi movie from Luc Besson, somewhat in the same vein as The Fifth Element. Plot mainly consists of running about in spectacular costumes in front of CGI backgrounds; exactly what is going on is frequently unclear.

The script is certainly baffling and doesn't feel like the work of a man credited as writer or co-writer of fifty other movies; the whole section with Rihanna and Ethan Hawke is just filler, in terms of the actual plot. Or is the plot itself only of secondary concern with this movie? It seems that way. DeHaan is arguably badly miscast as Valerian; however, Delevingne is something of a revelation in this movie (very good hair, too). And it definitely has its moments and always looks interesting. If only Besson could keep the script under control for his sci-fi films...
  
Escape From Tomorrow (2013)
Escape From Tomorrow (2013)
2013 | Drama, Horror, Mystery
3
5.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Its imaginative, and surreal (0 more)
Virtually everything else (0 more)
Not a magical movie...
I don't like writing negative reviews, but this confusing story about a family visiting disney world is...well its a mess.

Its a Lynchian dreamscape of a film, which hints at a lot but doesn't really every explain much, other than to suggest there is a dark undercurrent to Disney.

The fact is though that the narrative is untidy and weirdly paced, and can't ever really settle on what it is that it wants viewers to feel.

You can argue thats the point of this sort of film, but there doesn't feel like there is any cleverness to the confusion, just a movie that deliberately tries to unbalance you for no other reason than to have you unbalanced.

I don't really want to say much more other than that there are many better films out there than this, so only watch this if you really fancy a challenge.
  
The Sacred Art of Stealing
The Sacred Art of Stealing
Christopher Brookmyre | 2003 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A daring bank robbery in broad daylight puts detective Angelique De Xavier on the trail of a highly intelligent, highly motivated and highly unusual thief. The closer she gets the more she both admires him and wonders at his real motives.

This is classic Brookmyre; plenty of Scottish patois and references, clever and imaginative situations and well drawn characters. Nobody in a Brookmyre novel is black or white, everyone has shades of grey, sometimes more than one shade and this book is no exception.

As would be expected this is a thriller with a wry twist of humour running through it; the bank robbery itself is both tense and a hoot to read as the police are completely outmaneouvred. As the real pursuit by De Xavier continues through the rest of the book the reader is drawn in and exposed to every twist as she experiences it.

A thoroughly good read and highly recommended.
  
I loved Ginnie and Tillies adventures through this series. Both characters are full of life, somewhat sassy, and imaginative. Plus, I think they portray qualities that most kids of that age display. But one of my favorite things about this book (Really the series) is that Monique Buchger uses real life situations such as dysfunctional families, bullies, etc., to show the right ways to approach a situation. I truly commend her for not shying away from the tough issues and doing it in a clean way. While this is most likely the last book in this series, I hope to see more of Ginnie and Tillies adventures in the future.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative characters, the themes displayed, and for leaving me smiling.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
  
Onward (2020)
Onward (2020)
2020 | Adventure, Animation, Comedy
I'll keep this one relatively short - Onward is fucking delightful. It's brimming with charm, it's emotionally exhausting, it's full of colour.

It feels different for Pixar. The opening scenes feel more like a Dreamworks effort, but it's not long before the studio's signature stamp is prominent. The narrative is imaginative, and emotionally draining. I'm a goddam grown man and I 100% was welling up on multiple occasions. I'm a big brother who has always hoped that my younger brother looks up to me, and I frequently feel that I don't always get it right, so this screenplay really got me. Right in the feels.
It also happens to have a damn fine voice cast just to seal the deal.

Onward is genuinely brilliant. Seeing Pixar's take on the realm of Tolkien-esque fantasy is wonderful, and it deserves to stand up with the studio's very best productions. Now excuse me whilst I go and cry into a pillow.
  
Einstein in the Attic
Einstein in the Attic
Dana Dargos, Said Al Bizri | 2022 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Creative and imaginative

Einstein in the Attic is a fresh, unique look into the age old question...Is there a God?

I love that we join the journey at the time when Adam Reemi first begins to question if there is a God when he is just a child. Obviously, questioning faith as a child isn't ideal, you should be living in a safe bubble of love and faith. Dana Dargos and Said Al Bizri show that love isn't an issue with Adams faith but the circumstances in which he grows up in Lebanon.
      The writing is thoughtful, insightful and the perfect mix of faith and science. Definitely a fresh look into things that is well written with just the right level of detail.

A perfect book club read as there's plenty to discuss. If however you're reading this for yourself clear your day and prepare to question and journey with Adam.
  
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
2021 | Horror, Thriller
It's the right amount of dark and gritty with a decent performance from Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson! (0 more)
Traps aren't all that imaginative, the social justice angle is all over the place and it is a little too far removed from the tried and proven SAW formula!10 (0 more)
Flawed but enjoyable!
It's been a little more than 10 years since the death of John Kramer aka The Jigsaw Killer! A new killer emerges from the shadows, with a very different agenda and is hellbent on continuing Jigsaw's legacy. Detective Zeke Banks is assigned to the case and finds himself thrust into a vast conspiracy involving the dark deeds of the corrupt system he once swore to protect!

In reality the killer is very uninspired, the traps are not as elegantly designed and there is very little of the SAW DNA present in the film. The main reasons to watch SPIRAL are Chris Rock and Sam Jackson!