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Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated The Godfather (1972) in Movies
Jan 11, 2018 (Updated Jan 11, 2018)
EPIC
Best Mafia story ever written. The Godfather is not just a classic it is a must watch movie for every movie goer ever. 3 of the most iconic lines in movie history come from this movie. The cast is not just a whose who, it is a plethora of stars who make this film in my top five favorite movies ever.
The story of a young Italian who chooses to go into the army and not deal with the family businesses in any way comes home to his sisters wedding to be with family. Not two days later chain events happen that changes his point of view on the family and makes him join. He rises to power not only with in the family but, against other mafia familes and becomes most feared.
This movie shows one of the greatest transformations of a character ever in film history. A hero who becomes a villain for the right reasons you could say. This movie spawns two sequels. The second being better than the first and the third really just closes the story out but, this story will always be the best mafia story ever written.
The story of a young Italian who chooses to go into the army and not deal with the family businesses in any way comes home to his sisters wedding to be with family. Not two days later chain events happen that changes his point of view on the family and makes him join. He rises to power not only with in the family but, against other mafia familes and becomes most feared.
This movie shows one of the greatest transformations of a character ever in film history. A hero who becomes a villain for the right reasons you could say. This movie spawns two sequels. The second being better than the first and the third really just closes the story out but, this story will always be the best mafia story ever written.
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated Toasting Up Trouble (Dinner Club Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
J.J. Tanner is an event planner by day and an aspiring chef by night. As part of her event planner job, she’s hired local chef Antonio Marcotti to cater an Italian themed party. But Antonio is a bit egotistically, and after he ignores the contract, he and J.J. get into a fight. Only the next morning, J.J. returns to clean up after the party to find that Antonio is dead. With the police looking at her and a friend in the local dinner club she’s joined as suspects, J.J. needs to find the real killer.
This debut got off to a bit of a slow start, but once the murder happened, it picked up. There were some good twists and surprises before we reached a logical ending. The characters who got a decent amount of page time were well developed, and I’m betting we’ll get to know the rest better in future books in the series.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-toasting-up-trouble-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This debut got off to a bit of a slow start, but once the murder happened, it picked up. There were some good twists and surprises before we reached a logical ending. The characters who got a decent amount of page time were well developed, and I’m betting we’ll get to know the rest better in future books in the series.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-toasting-up-trouble-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated Italian Iced in Books
Jul 3, 2018
The Star in the Freezer
The Terminal at the Tracks diner is featuring Italian food this month, and Laurel is thrilled with how popular the choice has been on the first night. However, she returns home to find that it has been trashed. Nothing appears to be taken, but someone was searching for something. Before she can figure out what they were looking for, she makes an even worse discovery, the body of mega movie star Meghan in the freezer down at the diner. Laurel has had no contact with Meghan for the past year since Meghan fired her. What was she doing in town? And how did she come to die in the freezer?
The mystery is great with a steady stream of clues, surprises, and red herrings to keep us guessing until the end. Laurel also gets a chance to reflect on her life then versus now, and the growth we see in her is wonderful. There are only a few series regulars, but it is fun to spend time with them again. The suspects are strong and do a great job of keeping us guessing until the end.
The mystery is great with a steady stream of clues, surprises, and red herrings to keep us guessing until the end. Laurel also gets a chance to reflect on her life then versus now, and the growth we see in her is wonderful. There are only a few series regulars, but it is fun to spend time with them again. The suspects are strong and do a great job of keeping us guessing until the end.
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Michael Apted recommended Kes (1969) in Movies (curated)
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Judy Greer recommended Moonstruck (1987) in Movies (curated)
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ClareR (5603 KP) rated Deacon King Kong in Books
Oct 27, 2021
Deacon King Kong is a wonderful book, revolving around the alcoholic Deacon Cuffy Lambkin, aka Sportcoat, and how in an alcohol fuelled haze, he shoots the ear of the local drug dealer. His community pulls together and tries to protect him from the inevitable retribution. And so we are introduced to and learn about the different people who, in some way, touch Sportcoats life: from his blind son and dead wife (who, thanks to the alcohol he drinks, he speaks to regularly), to the women who run the church, to the police officers connected to the case, the drug ring, the local Italian crime boss and his elderly mother, and Sportcoats best friend, Hot Sausage.
They’re all such well-rounded, well-written, real characters, and it all played out in my head like a film (has this been optioned yet?!). I love it when a book does that.
They all seemed to be genuinely nice characters who are getting by as best they can in a culture where drugs are King and poor boys and men of colour are rarely given a chance in life.
Honestly, you should read it. Highly recommended.
They’re all such well-rounded, well-written, real characters, and it all played out in my head like a film (has this been optioned yet?!). I love it when a book does that.
They all seemed to be genuinely nice characters who are getting by as best they can in a culture where drugs are King and poor boys and men of colour are rarely given a chance in life.
Honestly, you should read it. Highly recommended.
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Dana (24 KP) rated The Consolation of Philosophy in Books
Mar 23, 2018
This is more of a 3.5 than just a 3.
This was a very insightful book about how people of this time period worked through their thinking processes as well as how they dealt with the concepts of God.
While reading this in tandem with Dante's Inferno, I was able to understand Inferno a lot more than if I had read it on its own.
Boethius explains many difficult concepts relatively clearly. (These concepts were made even more clear by my professor of Italian 150 [The Divine Comedy] rooting the concepts in examples from today)
Many of the concepts are repeated often, so they are driven home, but this also means that they get a bit boring. I found myself wanting to skim more as the book went along because it was saying the same thing for what seemed the millionth time.
I enjoyed how each Prose section has a brief blurb about the main concepts it was going to talk about. This made it easier to prepare myself for the upcoming reading.
The characters, Boethius and Lady Philosophy, felt a little too preachy for me at times, but they were talking about religion, so I guess it worked.
Overall, it was very insightful and interesting to read.
This was a very insightful book about how people of this time period worked through their thinking processes as well as how they dealt with the concepts of God.
While reading this in tandem with Dante's Inferno, I was able to understand Inferno a lot more than if I had read it on its own.
Boethius explains many difficult concepts relatively clearly. (These concepts were made even more clear by my professor of Italian 150 [The Divine Comedy] rooting the concepts in examples from today)
Many of the concepts are repeated often, so they are driven home, but this also means that they get a bit boring. I found myself wanting to skim more as the book went along because it was saying the same thing for what seemed the millionth time.
I enjoyed how each Prose section has a brief blurb about the main concepts it was going to talk about. This made it easier to prepare myself for the upcoming reading.
The characters, Boethius and Lady Philosophy, felt a little too preachy for me at times, but they were talking about religion, so I guess it worked.
Overall, it was very insightful and interesting to read.
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Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Medici Boy in Books
Feb 21, 2018
**NOTE: I was generously provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
After reading the title, The Medici Boy, I expected this to mainly be a novel about the Medicis. While they do play a part, the story focuses on Donatello and his infatuation with the young model/prostitute Agnolo (the titular "Medici Boy"), who poses for his bronze "David and Goliath". The whole thing is told to us in the form of a final written memoir by Luca Mattei, one of Donatello's assistants, as he nears the end of his days imprisoned for a murder that he committed out of love for his friend Donatello.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I had a hard time relating to most of the characters in this story, and the lack of action caused the book to feel somewhat slow at times, but it is very well written. The descriptions of Florence and her history, and the detailed references to Donatello's artistic processes were interesting and seem to have been very well researched.
Students of art history and those who have an interest in the Renaissance or Italian history in general should really enjoy this book.
After reading the title, The Medici Boy, I expected this to mainly be a novel about the Medicis. While they do play a part, the story focuses on Donatello and his infatuation with the young model/prostitute Agnolo (the titular "Medici Boy"), who poses for his bronze "David and Goliath". The whole thing is told to us in the form of a final written memoir by Luca Mattei, one of Donatello's assistants, as he nears the end of his days imprisoned for a murder that he committed out of love for his friend Donatello.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I had a hard time relating to most of the characters in this story, and the lack of action caused the book to feel somewhat slow at times, but it is very well written. The descriptions of Florence and her history, and the detailed references to Donatello's artistic processes were interesting and seem to have been very well researched.
Students of art history and those who have an interest in the Renaissance or Italian history in general should really enjoy this book.
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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Suspiria (1977) in Movies
Dec 29, 2020
Dario Argento's body of work throughout the 70s and 80s is pretty damn solid, and Suspiria is arguably his strongest entry. It's a damn masterpiece.
The lighting, colours, and camerawork are all phenomenal. Throw them together, and you get one of the most visually striking horrors ever made.
It has excellent pacing - the opening ten minutes are incredibly intense, and culminate in a truly iconic horror cinema kill. The vast majority of what follows is a slower build up of plot, but in true Giallo fashion, keeps a sturdy mystery going for the whole time. The climax of the film ramps everything up again, as things take a supernatural turn, providing the audience with a solid reveal, disturbing imagery, and a decent helping of blood, all the while being backed by an absurd soundtrack courtesy of Italian prog band Goblin. The music goes from being enchanting, to downright jarring at the click of a finger, and just adds to Suspria's otherworldliness in spades.
Some memorable performances from the likes of Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Alida Valli and Joan Bennett also help in elevating this movie to horror greatness.
Suspiria is one of those films that you must see before you die. Horror at its weird, sense-assaulting best!
The lighting, colours, and camerawork are all phenomenal. Throw them together, and you get one of the most visually striking horrors ever made.
It has excellent pacing - the opening ten minutes are incredibly intense, and culminate in a truly iconic horror cinema kill. The vast majority of what follows is a slower build up of plot, but in true Giallo fashion, keeps a sturdy mystery going for the whole time. The climax of the film ramps everything up again, as things take a supernatural turn, providing the audience with a solid reveal, disturbing imagery, and a decent helping of blood, all the while being backed by an absurd soundtrack courtesy of Italian prog band Goblin. The music goes from being enchanting, to downright jarring at the click of a finger, and just adds to Suspria's otherworldliness in spades.
Some memorable performances from the likes of Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Alida Valli and Joan Bennett also help in elevating this movie to horror greatness.
Suspiria is one of those films that you must see before you die. Horror at its weird, sense-assaulting best!
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