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Glen Banyard (13 KP) rated Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) in Movies
May 12, 2019
Predictable plot (1 more)
Forced humour
Pika Pika
Pokemon is a global brand spanning cartoon, cards, animated films, video games and now a live film, well as live as you can get with imaginary creatures.
Watched in 3D, it really didn't bring anything extra to film.
The plot is pretty much by the numbers and suffers from being horribly predictable, this most likely due to being aimed at a much younger demographic. Bill Nighy really got license to over act his heart out and it shows, in his somewhat limited screen time.
Will it spawn a sequel, possibly, only time will tell as it's launched at difficult time with Endgame still massing larger viewings and Aladdin and John Wick 3 releasing in the next 10 days, it may get squashed to limited performances quickly.
Watched in 3D, it really didn't bring anything extra to film.
The plot is pretty much by the numbers and suffers from being horribly predictable, this most likely due to being aimed at a much younger demographic. Bill Nighy really got license to over act his heart out and it shows, in his somewhat limited screen time.
Will it spawn a sequel, possibly, only time will tell as it's launched at difficult time with Endgame still massing larger viewings and Aladdin and John Wick 3 releasing in the next 10 days, it may get squashed to limited performances quickly.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Only Lovers Left Alive (2014) in Movies
Feb 10, 2018
Gosh, I love this movie. The soundtrack is great to start out with, I own it, and frequently listen to it when I'm at work. Tom Hiddleston's character, Adam, is so melodramatic and sarcastic and it's oh-so amusing. Anton Yelchin (RIP) is Ian, Adam's music agent, and basically one of two humans Adam has contact with. Tilda Swinton is Eve, Adam's wife, who lives in Tangiers, while Adam lives in Detroit, visits him because he's depressed and suicidal. And, while the word is never said, Adam, Eve, Kit (John Hurt/RIP playing Kit Marlow), and Ava (Mia Wasikowska) are all vampires, who deal with vampire probs. Anyway, it may seem like there's no plot, but there is, it's just slow moving. One particular thing I liked was the filming in Detroit and the beauty in the ruin.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2072 KP) rated No Virgin Island: A Sabrina Salter Mystery in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sabrina Salter has escaped a past in Boston, hoping to enjoy her new life in St. John. However, trouble finds her in the US Virgin Islands when she arrives to clean one of the villas she maintains only to find the tenant dead in the outside hammock. Will the police see her as the prime suspect? Can she live through something like this again?
While the setting may be a paradise, the tone is more somber given Sabrina’s past. I enjoyed the juxtaposition and getting to know the strong characters. The plot unfolds differently than I am used to in a mystery, but everything we need to solve the crime is there, and we get two very dramatic and satisfying climaxes.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-no-virgin-island-by-c.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While the setting may be a paradise, the tone is more somber given Sabrina’s past. I enjoyed the juxtaposition and getting to know the strong characters. The plot unfolds differently than I am used to in a mystery, but everything we need to solve the crime is there, and we get two very dramatic and satisfying climaxes.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-no-virgin-island-by-c.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Black Hole (1979) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018
Big-budget attempt by Disney to cash in on the success of Star Wars; this sort of thing doesn't happen any more, obviously. Science vessel from Earth discovers fabled lost vessel from a generation before, mysteriously hanging over a black hole; they choose to investigate, eventually there are ray gun battles.
Distinctly odd movie which can't seem to decide whether it's a cheery George Lucas-style family-friendly adventure extravaganza with cute robots and zap guns aplenty, or a post-Stanley Kubrick tale of existential contemplation and all-pervading gloom. In the end the dark tone is mostly triumphant - bemusing final sequence reveals black hole is actually a gateway to hell, which may explain why this has been acclaimed as the most scientifically inaccurate movie in history. Decent cast try hard; very good score from John Barry helps keep things moving along.
Distinctly odd movie which can't seem to decide whether it's a cheery George Lucas-style family-friendly adventure extravaganza with cute robots and zap guns aplenty, or a post-Stanley Kubrick tale of existential contemplation and all-pervading gloom. In the end the dark tone is mostly triumphant - bemusing final sequence reveals black hole is actually a gateway to hell, which may explain why this has been acclaimed as the most scientifically inaccurate movie in history. Decent cast try hard; very good score from John Barry helps keep things moving along.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Synecdoche, New York (2008) in Movies
Aug 18, 2018
Strange and unique, just like its writer/director!
To say the films of Charlie Kaufman are not a one-of-a-kind experience would be a gross understatement. Anyone who has seen Adaptation or Being John Malkovich would agree.
This film follows its own path (or lack thereof) through the life of a troubled playwright, his relationships with women and his ultimate desire to leave a lasting impression on the world.
Not sure if I became fully immersed in this one or not. Having just finished it may need to sink in a little. I definitely love the strange and unusual and this one foots the bill for sure.
It was glorious, yet tragic to see another amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman performance knowing he won't give us any more of them.
Recommended for those who seek a challenge.
This film follows its own path (or lack thereof) through the life of a troubled playwright, his relationships with women and his ultimate desire to leave a lasting impression on the world.
Not sure if I became fully immersed in this one or not. Having just finished it may need to sink in a little. I definitely love the strange and unusual and this one foots the bill for sure.
It was glorious, yet tragic to see another amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman performance knowing he won't give us any more of them.
Recommended for those who seek a challenge.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) created a post
Jan 16, 2018
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated Graciousness: Tempering Truth with Love in Books
Mar 5, 2019
There are times when we have important things to say to other Christians and unbelievers but if we present our message ungraciously, they won’t benefit and our audience may not listen. Author John Crotts shows us that God cares about how we say things and what we say.
So many times we hear that we should treat others as we would want to be treated, this applies to sharing our Christians views and when we share God's word.
This book is full of great instruction and some good It includes a Biblical look at graciousness, with a look at positive examples and commands from not only the Bible but some good hypothetical examples that you may find yourself situated. The author also gives methods for cultivating graciousness in various areas of the Christian life.
The methods taught in this book can be used at any time we have conversations with others, it is full of good wisdom.
The author was easy to follow, full of scripture and the book didn't take long to read.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
So many times we hear that we should treat others as we would want to be treated, this applies to sharing our Christians views and when we share God's word.
This book is full of great instruction and some good It includes a Biblical look at graciousness, with a look at positive examples and commands from not only the Bible but some good hypothetical examples that you may find yourself situated. The author also gives methods for cultivating graciousness in various areas of the Christian life.
The methods taught in this book can be used at any time we have conversations with others, it is full of good wisdom.
The author was easy to follow, full of scripture and the book didn't take long to read.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
David McK (3204 KP) rated T2: Rising Storm in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Following on from the end of <i>T2: Infiltrator</i>, this novel continues the story started in that novel. The infiltrator of the previous novel may have been destroyed, but she has left behind 2 clones who continue her work, while Sarah Connor recuperates in military hospital from the wounds she received destroying it.
For the first portion of the story, then, John is out on his own with Dieter von Rossbach, rather than working with his mother. This allows the character to grow and mature somewhat, while it also provides the opportunity to bring back some other faces from the film in the Sarah Connor portion of the story, most noticeably in Dr Silbermann (the psychiatrist from T1 and T2).
The novel also takes to opportunity to further explore the paradoxical timeline of the world, with one key scene in particular towards the end showing how Skynet became sentient.
For the first portion of the story, then, John is out on his own with Dieter von Rossbach, rather than working with his mother. This allows the character to grow and mature somewhat, while it also provides the opportunity to bring back some other faces from the film in the Sarah Connor portion of the story, most noticeably in Dr Silbermann (the psychiatrist from T1 and T2).
The novel also takes to opportunity to further explore the paradoxical timeline of the world, with one key scene in particular towards the end showing how Skynet became sentient.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Hateful Eight (2015) in Movies
Jul 25, 2019
Violent Clue
I compair this movie to clue, it myserious, has suspense, its funny and overall a great movie. This movie is very very violent, unlike clue, i mean clue is violent, but not like this film. This film is rated R and clue is PG.
The plot: While racing toward the town of Red Rock in post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunter John "The Hangman" Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his fugitive prisoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) encounter another bounty hunter (Samuel L. Jackson) and a man who claims to be a sheriff. Hoping to find shelter from a blizzard, the group travels to a stagecoach stopover located on a mountain pass. Greeted there by four strangers, the eight travelers soon learn that they may not make it to their destination after all.
The hateful eight has a great cast and a great director.
I would highly reccordmend this movie.
The plot: While racing toward the town of Red Rock in post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunter John "The Hangman" Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his fugitive prisoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) encounter another bounty hunter (Samuel L. Jackson) and a man who claims to be a sheriff. Hoping to find shelter from a blizzard, the group travels to a stagecoach stopover located on a mountain pass. Greeted there by four strangers, the eight travelers soon learn that they may not make it to their destination after all.
The hateful eight has a great cast and a great director.
I would highly reccordmend this movie.
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit in Books
May 16, 2018
If you’re reading this review, chances are you’re either a) a true crime buff or b) curious as to what the source material of Netflix’s latest original series, Mindhunters, is based on. That title, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John Douglas is actually a fascinating read that details a division of the FBI that, had it not been created, would leave us without shows like Criminal Minds, where the Behavioral Science Unit profiles killers and races the clock to save victims that may still be alive. (Also, we wouldn’t have our Shemar Moore and wouldn’t that be a crying shame? We need our Morgan and Baby Girl.)
Reading more like Douglas is sitting in the room beside you and recounting his past, Mindhunter, as expected, delves into some pretty deep material. For a while, I had to put it down because the ATKID murders dug beneath my skin. Despite the sometimes gory details Douglas provides readers with, I feel this is an important title for any true crime fan. After all, it is Douglas that a certain character from Silence of the Lambs is based on.
<a href="http://theghastlygrimoire.com/2017/11/19/book-review-mindhunter-inside-the-fbis-elite-serial-crime-unit-mindhunter-1-by-john-douglas/"; target="_new">Read more at <i>The Ghastly Grimoire</i>.</a>
Reading more like Douglas is sitting in the room beside you and recounting his past, Mindhunter, as expected, delves into some pretty deep material. For a while, I had to put it down because the ATKID murders dug beneath my skin. Despite the sometimes gory details Douglas provides readers with, I feel this is an important title for any true crime fan. After all, it is Douglas that a certain character from Silence of the Lambs is based on.
<a href="http://theghastlygrimoire.com/2017/11/19/book-review-mindhunter-inside-the-fbis-elite-serial-crime-unit-mindhunter-1-by-john-douglas/"; target="_new">Read more at <i>The Ghastly Grimoire</i>.</a>