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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Martian in Books
Oct 19, 2017
When a sarcastic botanist is trapped on Mars
This was pretty hilarious, much more humorous than expected even after watching the film. The story follows American astronaut Mark Watney, as he becomes stranded alone on Mars in the year 2035 and must improvise in order to survive. As a botanist and engineer, he's able to think on his feet - and much of the science sounds incredibly plausible, explained in great detail.
But the best part is Watney's alter-personality from being logical and organised, to being extremely witty and sarcastic. All the while surviving on godforsaken potatoes. There are also snapshots of how his other crew members are managing, and how earth is following his progress as he becomes the face of primetime TV. It's a race against time.
All I know is that if you're ever stranded on a desert island, you'll definitely need to bring a botanist engineer space pirate with you.
But the best part is Watney's alter-personality from being logical and organised, to being extremely witty and sarcastic. All the while surviving on godforsaken potatoes. There are also snapshots of how his other crew members are managing, and how earth is following his progress as he becomes the face of primetime TV. It's a race against time.
All I know is that if you're ever stranded on a desert island, you'll definitely need to bring a botanist engineer space pirate with you.
Devin (3 KP) rated Moana (2016) in Movies
May 15, 2017
Fun and engaging adventure story (3 more)
Great characters
Memorable music
Loads of humor
A new Disney hit that delivers in all ways
I was smiling from ear to ear throughout the entire journey of Moana. I may have a bit of bias, considering my own Polynesian roots, but this film was full of moments that gave me chills. It was fun, exciting, and humorous, the way Disney knows how to do best. The animation was some of the best I've seen in a while, from the details of the hair, ocean, clothing, etc., to the amazing colorful island scenes. Everything was just wonderful. The music is some of the better music I've heard from Disney, as it was unconventional and fresh from what they tend to churn out. My only complaint - I wish we got to see more of Pua! He was such a cute character, my wife and I loved every scene he was in! Solid film that I will go back to repeatedly.
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated Abigail and the Tropical Island Adventure in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Children will learn about different locations though this book. It a quick read. You meet up with a little girl. Abigail goes to a place that is not raining. She meets a girl on an Island. What adventure does she go to. What does she learn that is new. All of this is read about in this book.
This book is a good one for children learning to read. It easy to read. Children ages 5-8. Parents can be at ease with this for their young children. The images are done really well. They describe the book when you are read it. This is book 8 of the series "Bedtime Stories Children's Books for Early & Beginner Readers".
You looking for a good series for young readers or beginner. You found a good series. I believe it even teaches about helping others. It also teaches of the values. Good for your imaginations as well.
This book is a good one for children learning to read. It easy to read. Children ages 5-8. Parents can be at ease with this for their young children. The images are done really well. They describe the book when you are read it. This is book 8 of the series "Bedtime Stories Children's Books for Early & Beginner Readers".
You looking for a good series for young readers or beginner. You found a good series. I believe it even teaches about helping others. It also teaches of the values. Good for your imaginations as well.
Andy Walker (4885 KP) rated Dead Island (2018) in Movies
Apr 18, 2019
Shot in 2010 on an iPhone 4s.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Set on a secluded island with no cell phone service, 17 year old twins, Kelsey & Devon, who are aspiring film makers are forced to move there just before their senior year. They decide to film everything as their phone are otherwise useless. Then masked killers show up and torment the family throughout the night.
It is basically a found footage film, but filmed entire on mobile phones. To be honest I found a lot of the jerky shots and continual movement both off putting and annoying, when they did have static shots they were far too long and not interesting enough. The last fifteen minutes or so of the film are not bad but by then I'd lost a bit of interest. There is some pretty shocking acting as well.
Not really a good film, but deserving of a "good" Mark purely for the novelty of the filming medium.
It is basically a found footage film, but filmed entire on mobile phones. To be honest I found a lot of the jerky shots and continual movement both off putting and annoying, when they did have static shots they were far too long and not interesting enough. The last fifteen minutes or so of the film are not bad but by then I'd lost a bit of interest. There is some pretty shocking acting as well.
Not really a good film, but deserving of a "good" Mark purely for the novelty of the filming medium.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Killer Shrews (1959) in Movies
May 3, 2019 (Updated May 3, 2019)
Well, it was inevitable, wasn't it? When you make a list of those wild creatures that inspire sheer terror in everyday folk, forget about sharks, snakes, spiders, wolves, and the rest - shrews! Shrews are the really scary little buggers. Or so the makers of this film appear to have decided. Unconvincing ship captain (Best) ends up on a hurricane-wracked island populated by mad scientists and the giant, savage shrews they have spawned; much utter nonsense ensues.
Bad acting is compounded by post-synched dialogue and the impressive range of accents on display from the cast, but the thing is that this isn't just a monster movie where the monsters are shrews, it's a shrew-based monster movie where the shrews are realised by a combination of dogs in costume and sabre-toothed glove puppets. Genuinely very funny to watch; objectively deserves a very low score but highly entertaining if you're in the mood.
Bad acting is compounded by post-synched dialogue and the impressive range of accents on display from the cast, but the thing is that this isn't just a monster movie where the monsters are shrews, it's a shrew-based monster movie where the shrews are realised by a combination of dogs in costume and sabre-toothed glove puppets. Genuinely very funny to watch; objectively deserves a very low score but highly entertaining if you're in the mood.
TacoDave (3829 KP) rated Lord of the Flies in Books
May 23, 2019
Engaging (2 more)
Good pace
Believable characters and plot
A brutal classic
"Lord of the Flies" is a classic for a reason. It is the story of a bunch of boys who survive a plane crash and are stranded on an island together. They get along well at first, but soon the pressures of their situation cause cracks in their 'society' and they form into two groups that clash with each other, sometimes violently.
The idea that human civilization is fragile is examined, but not through exposition, rather through the actions of the characters in the story. Are humans inherently violent? Is peaceful society an illusion, one tragedy away from breakdown?
If you've never read this book - or seen one of the movie versions - be aware that it gets brutal at times. There is violence and bloodshed and not everyone escapes unharmed. But it is a fascinating story of civility and civilization and what it means to be a human in a stable society.
The idea that human civilization is fragile is examined, but not through exposition, rather through the actions of the characters in the story. Are humans inherently violent? Is peaceful society an illusion, one tragedy away from breakdown?
If you've never read this book - or seen one of the movie versions - be aware that it gets brutal at times. There is violence and bloodshed and not everyone escapes unharmed. But it is a fascinating story of civility and civilization and what it means to be a human in a stable society.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Popstar Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) in Movies
May 25, 2019
Ever since I was born, I was dope.
After watching @The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience (2019) , I was in the mood to re-watch one of my favorite movies. I was also aghast that I hadn't reviewed this yet.
I've loved The Lonely Island since Lazy Sunday, and I'm on a Boat was basically the anthem for my senior year of college (university). This is one of my favorite mockumentaries out of all of them. The songs are hilarious, and any movie that starts out with the line, 'Ever since I was born, I was dope', is going to be completely absurd. The crude nature of the songs always makes me laugh out loud, and I have the CD in my car. My favorites are 'Karate Guy', and 'Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)', and they still make me snort-laugh whenever I hear them.
The humor isn't for everyone, most songs are explicit, with sometimes cringe-worthy detail, but it makes it funnier to me.
I've loved The Lonely Island since Lazy Sunday, and I'm on a Boat was basically the anthem for my senior year of college (university). This is one of my favorite mockumentaries out of all of them. The songs are hilarious, and any movie that starts out with the line, 'Ever since I was born, I was dope', is going to be completely absurd. The crude nature of the songs always makes me laugh out loud, and I have the CD in my car. My favorites are 'Karate Guy', and 'Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)', and they still make me snort-laugh whenever I hear them.
The humor isn't for everyone, most songs are explicit, with sometimes cringe-worthy detail, but it makes it funnier to me.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) in Movies
May 31, 2019
This is one of those films where the trailers were better than the end product. Honestly, I barely remember G14, only that the title character doesn't show up until the end. At least Skull Island had some good Kong kicking ass moments and Tom Hiddleston in a tight shirt.
The main characters are uninteresting, basically, we've got Coach, that kid from Stranger Things, and the chick that's a relative of that American Horror Story actress. The movie did not make me care about them at all, I would have been fine with them all biting the dust. There's a little more about Monarch, but seriously, Thomas Middleditch was annoying.
Basically, I was there for Godzilla, and all the other monsters fighting. There wasn't enough of it, as far as I'm concerned. I guess it was worth seeing the action on the big screen. I'm vaguely interested to see Godzilla vs Kong (plz let Toby Kebbell do the mo-cap again).
The main characters are uninteresting, basically, we've got Coach, that kid from Stranger Things, and the chick that's a relative of that American Horror Story actress. The movie did not make me care about them at all, I would have been fine with them all biting the dust. There's a little more about Monarch, but seriously, Thomas Middleditch was annoying.
Basically, I was there for Godzilla, and all the other monsters fighting. There wasn't enough of it, as far as I'm concerned. I guess it was worth seeing the action on the big screen. I'm vaguely interested to see Godzilla vs Kong (plz let Toby Kebbell do the mo-cap again).
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Asymmetry in Books
Jan 17, 2018
Asymmetrical stories
Lisa Halliday's novel of three parts charts the relationship between an eccentric older writer Ezra Blazer, his young lover Alice, and then moves quickly to the story of an American Iraqi attempting to find his roots.
Individually, each story is captivating, Halliday's ability to bring humour with subtle behaviour is remarkable. Similarly, her research into Iraq is interesting - though at one point I did get confused as she mentions the Clinton administration's foreign policy role during the second Gulf War when it should be under George Bush. I'm unsure whether this is a typo or a genuine mistake or I'm wrong altogether.
While each part is well-written, and the first story is completed in the third part when Ezra's character becomes a guest on BBC's Desert Island Discs, it all feels rather disjointed. Perhaps this is why the novel is named Asymmetry as a result? We may never know.
Individually, each story is captivating, Halliday's ability to bring humour with subtle behaviour is remarkable. Similarly, her research into Iraq is interesting - though at one point I did get confused as she mentions the Clinton administration's foreign policy role during the second Gulf War when it should be under George Bush. I'm unsure whether this is a typo or a genuine mistake or I'm wrong altogether.
While each part is well-written, and the first story is completed in the third part when Ezra's character becomes a guest on BBC's Desert Island Discs, it all feels rather disjointed. Perhaps this is why the novel is named Asymmetry as a result? We may never know.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Storied Life of AJ Fikry in Books
Mar 15, 2018
If you need something sweet and uplifting in your life at any point, I strongly suggest you pick up this wonderful little book. While the plot follows the titular bookstore owner over the course of many years of his life, it is really about love above all else. Given the title and the main character's occupation, it is unsurprisingly about a love of reading and writing, but more than that it is about our capacity to love each other, how we can discover it in the most unexpected ways, and the impact that love can have on the lives of those around us. By the end of this book you'll find that you too have fallen in love with the fictional Island Books shop and its accompanying characters, with your sadness at it being over assuaged only by the knowledge that you can restart the story and revisit the shop whenever you want.