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A Killer Whisky: Alberta (Canadian Historical Mysteries)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I did not see that ending coming at me!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is an historical murder mystery, set in the back drop of the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, in Alberta, Canada.

And I really rather enjoyed it!

We get to hear from a good few people, and I do love hearing from everyone. Being set over 100 years ago, times and people have changed and I do like comparing then to now: habits mostly, but attitudes and customs, the way things were.

What I did like, was the way the epidemic was being treated: hand washing, masks and the like. Reminded me a lot of a more recent event, and I wonder if they DID do those things, or if the author took liberty, but not that it matters either way. Just a point.

What I especially liked, was that I did not get whodunnit til it was revealed in the book! I loved being kept on my toes and made to question everything and everyone. I really did not see that coming, so very well played there!

A solid 4 star read

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
2016 | Action, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
In this day and age, where Star Wars is beloved by so many, and more recently met with sighs and trepidation by just as many, it's a franchise that easily faces scrutiny.
We can look at both the prequel and sequel trilogies to plainly see that it doesn't take much to piss off Star Wars fans in one way or another.
The announcement of Rogue One was met with said scrutiny, some saying it wasn't needed, some feeling fatigued by the sheer amount of Star Wars being thrown at us, sentiments that I can understand.
But I truly believe that Rogue One was a surprising win, and I left the cinema feeling that it belonged up there with the top tier SW films, and my opinion hasn't budged on repeat viewings.

The story revolves around a rag tag group of mercenaries, smugglers, and outcasts, and how they managed to secure the Death Star plans that set off the events of A New Hope back in 1977.
The cast of heroes aren't fleshed out a huge deal, but were given enough backstory to understand them adequately and back their campaign against the Empire.
Just like TFA, it's great to have another female lead in the SW universe. Felicity Jones is likable enough as Jyn Erso, even if her character is a little on the vanilla side.
The duo of Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus (Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang) work great next to one another, and provide a lot of the films humour and emotional impact.
The droid K2-SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk) is also a surprising highlight, his dry sense of humour works fantastically with the more serious tone of the movie.
We also have Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) which is the only character from the main group I struggled to like. He's written like a poor man's Han Solo, and I just didn't care about him at all, an aspect that can hopefully be rectified in the upcoming Disney+ series.
We also have Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera - a concrete connection to Star Wars: Rebels no less!, Mads Mikkelsen as Jyn's father Galen, and Ben Mendelsohn as this films villain, Orson Krennic.
It's a really strong cast if mostly enjoyable characters that earn their place in the SW pantheon.

In terms of cinematography, Star Wars has arguably never looked so good. Gorgeous and colourful locations like Scarif contrast against the classic Whit and greys of the original Empire design beautifully. All of the CG effects are more or less perfect, (with a huge exception that I'll get to in a second) and the action set pieces are thrilling. The whole final act is spectacular, and then just when it's seems like it's all over, we get THAT ending sequence - Gareth Edwards knows just the right amount of nostalgia to ensure the audience laps it up, and it's one of the best minutes of any Star Wars film ever.

The exception I mentioned above is of course going to be the subject of bringing back real actors from the dead. The inclusion of Grand Moff Tarkin makes sense in this particular narrative, but it does feel a bit odd seeing Peter Cushing, who died over 20 years ago, back on screen. Another cameo late on that includes a younger version of a legendary Star Wars character looks really off as well.
Overall though, these are just nit picks at an otherwise terrific sci-fi adventure.

Rogue One is bonafide great entry into the Star Wars canon, and its my personal favourite of the Disney era so far. Top stuff.
  
Orange is the New Black: My Time in a Women's Prison
Orange is the New Black: My Time in a Women's Prison
Piper Kerman | 2016 | Biography
8
7.4 (18 Ratings)
Book Rating
Brutally honest and well structured (0 more)
Could be slow at times (0 more)
Better that the netflix series
When I lifted this book from the shelve I thought it had been put in the wrong section as I was looking for memoir. I was delighted however, when I turned the book over and the blurb revealed that is was in fact a memoir. I had just finished watching all three series of 'Orange is the New Black' on Netflex and had quickly become a fan. The TV program is very thinly based on Kerman's actual experience and because of this I cannot make comparisons. The novel stands alone as an intelligent and well structured memoir that reads like fiction. The author portrays her time in prison through her connection with the other female prisoners and the way in which they were/are forced to endure prison life. The book is emotional, funny and heartbreaking. Kerman has captured a time in her life with precision that only a true writer can. I feel like I could have been there with her. Well done.
  
Lake Mungo (2009)
Lake Mungo (2009)
2009 | Horror, Mystery
7
6.6 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Nice Documentary style (1 more)
Good performances in the main
Wonky Twists (1 more)
Slightly disappointing ending
Lake Mungo delivers some eerieness but outstays its welcome
Contains spoilers, click to show
Lake Mungo is a found footage/documentary style hybrid horror movie that tells the story of a family whose 16 year old daughter drowns, but then continues to appear to her family and in footage and photographs in the local area.

Without wanting to spoiler anything, I will just say that the director manages to create a quite unsettling atmosphere, almost akin to that created in the first 3 paranormal activity movies, using CCTV footage and phone camera footage to add to the eye witness statements and interviews with the family.

The film is a little longer than it needs to be, the last section felt like it began detracting from the earlier scenes as they add a few last twists, but overall it is a well made film, with a strong sense of unease throughout.

Well worth a look if you like Paranormal Activity, and that style of film.
  
My Spy (2019)
My Spy (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Family
I like Dave Batista. This role served him and his strengths reasonably well.

Plot was SUPER predictable (which is fine, there's only so much you can do with this type of trope). Acting was better than average.

Here's my issue with this movie...it's allegedly a family movie. I'm no prude by any means. With that being said, when I want to watch a movie with my younger children I don't want there to be several references of "Jesus Christ" and "Bitch" (especially being spoken by a nine year old) throughout the entire movie. ESPECIALLY when they are adding NOTHING to the story or the context. I personally feel that if you are going to gear and market a movie as a family friendly adventure then that is what you should provide. I have nothing against people who do things however they do with their own children. I'm not that guy. But know the audience you are allegedly marketing to. That's only reasonable.

Again, I'm not a prude, I just felt like it rubbed me the wrong way.
  
Our Little Cruelties
Our Little Cruelties
Liz Nugent | 2020 | Thriller
8
6.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Interesting (2 more)
Great characters
Creates emotion
Not a thriller (0 more)
Does a lot with little
This was not exactly as I perceived it, I thought it would be a thriller/crime fiction type story but it is not. However, that doesn't detract from how good it is.

The story is full of twists and turns, that slowly unwind the characters and explain why they are how they are, sort of. I think the characters are brilliant and the way they are described/actions they take just makes you hate them.

Overall its sad to think that families are like this and it was interesting to see the same events from different viewpoints. I liked that the time frames shifted but were still easy to follow, when I first realised this I was apprehensive as I often forget to read the chapter name as I'm too excited to crack on.

There could have been more delving into the many mental health issues in the book. I also didn't like the hinting towards mental health being hereditary.
  
DNF @ 25%. 1 star seems a little mean but I didn't like it.

Admittedly, I'm in a bit of a slump where paranormal books are concerned and I'm struggling to get into favourite series' such as Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 12! It's almost blasphemy to myself.

That being said the plot sounded right up my street for this. I think it was just the way it was written that made me give it up. I like my characters to be monogamous--if that's the right term. I'm guessing something's going to happen with Kade so why do I have to read about her having sex with her "loupe"? I'm not a fan of that. And then as I mentioned above the style didn't sit right with me, it wasn't gripping me and pulling me into the story. I found it awkward and considering it isn't the longest book, to see that I was only a quarter way in after three full days when, if it had grabbed my attention, I'd have finished it by now.

Not really my sort of thing.<br/>
  
Grand Don&#039;t Come For Free by The Streets
Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets
2004 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"My old man got me into The Streets. I was quite young when they first came out and I remember him having them on in the car constantly. Original Pirate Material was a complete game-changer for me, I can recite that whole album word for word. ‘Blinded by the Lights’ was on the second album, A Grand Don't Come for Free, and I could probably recite that whole album as well, I think it’s one of the greatest concept albums ever written. “With ‘Blinded by the Lights’ I just love the tune, it really catches a theme and I can really relate to how he’s feeling in it. It’s that feeling of being pilled-up in a club, of losing control and not really knowing what’s going on, it’s a big tune. “I really like the storytelling element of it and that was an inspiration to me. Storytelling in a song is a complete art and I definitely don’t feel like I’ve managed to do it as good as this does, I don’t know if anyone ever will."

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Nicholas Sparks recommended Toy Story (1995) in Movies (curated)

 
Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story (1995)
1995 | Animation, Comedy, Family

"We’re going to go with number four, Toy Story. Of course, the first computer animated film. Wildly original in concept, in creation, in everything about it. And it is a kids movie that resonated with adults because you cover things like betrayal or jealousy, all set within this small, childlike world. It had me in stitches toward the end as they’re trying to catch the moving van and faces are blowing, and it all goes bad, and they light the rocket with Buzz’s helmet. They worked together to get back to Andy, get back to the box. And there was just something magical about that as a kids movie that felt entirely fresh at the time. And of course Pixar is… Have they ever done anything that’s not exceptional? Not that I know of, but this was the first. and we like to talk about computer animation, which was incredible and groundbreaking at the time, but if you look at the dialogue and the performances… Again, it’s Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, and all of the other characters. It was magical."

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Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
1973 | Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"I’ve been going through Scenes from a Marriage, the Bergman miniseries, and getting very invested. I think it’s the truest-to-humanity thing I’ve ever seen. I mean, every single person you’d like, or care about as a filmmaker in the past 50 years is influenced by Bergman. He is the ultimate genius when you watch those movies. Nothing’s better than the performances in (these) movies. I feel like Bergman’s movies can come across as being cold and hopeless, but it’s Liv (Ullmann) and all the women stars he made films about that took his sensibility and turned it on his head, making it more nuanced, lush, and beautiful. It’s (the women) being thoughtful and kind, and open, that makes the difference. Everyone reading should go to the Criterion Channel to watch the Bergman collection. I mean, the movies are short, and I am sure that just watching those short movies they’ll get really inspired, without a doubt. You know, think of Persona... nothing comes close to that!"

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