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Faye Jeffries (1 KP) rated Bird Box (2018) in Movies
Dec 30, 2018
Underwhelmed
Contains spoilers, click to show
After the recent hype all over my social media about this film, I was extremely giddy to find myself with a few hours free after my little womb gnome had gone to bed and the fella was off to play Fifa. Finally, I could see what the drama was about.
The concept of the film is intriguing and it does get you gripped within the first 10 minutes. Similar to The Happening, sure, but the fact that it is seeing something which makes someone commit suicide rather than just being out in wind made it a bit more...tense. You know when you get the 'ohh nooo don't do that!!', you get that a lot in this film.
Sandra Bullock's performance is amazing. It's heartbreaking to see her emotionally cut herself off from the children to help them survive in the long run.
For me though, I felt like there was something missing. There wasn't much of a build up to anything because nothing really happens. It's just watching how it started and then their journey to a safe haven.
I am a bit miffed at the ending. So basically, they grew plants above the open spaces and that's enough? Why not just tell them that little golden nugget over the radio.
I won't watch it again but I did enjoy it, just left feeling a bit frustrated.
The concept of the film is intriguing and it does get you gripped within the first 10 minutes. Similar to The Happening, sure, but the fact that it is seeing something which makes someone commit suicide rather than just being out in wind made it a bit more...tense. You know when you get the 'ohh nooo don't do that!!', you get that a lot in this film.
Sandra Bullock's performance is amazing. It's heartbreaking to see her emotionally cut herself off from the children to help them survive in the long run.
For me though, I felt like there was something missing. There wasn't much of a build up to anything because nothing really happens. It's just watching how it started and then their journey to a safe haven.
I am a bit miffed at the ending. So basically, they grew plants above the open spaces and that's enough? Why not just tell them that little golden nugget over the radio.
I won't watch it again but I did enjoy it, just left feeling a bit frustrated.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Phantom of the Opera (2005) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
I have to admire the spectacle but I found this to be mostly didactic, repetitious as a musical (there's only like 3.5 good songs and the rest are just unendurable variants of the exact same one) and nearly nonexistent as a romance. I do admit this almost works as a total campfest, Gerard Butler totally butchering these classical-inspired ballads that require flawless vocal range is actually pretty hilarious. On the flipside I spent most of the time in complete awe of how astonishing Emmy Rossum is in this, only 18 years old at the time and effortlessly nails every formidable note not to mention looks the part seamlessly. This is through and through her movie, every inch top to bottom. I should also add that the movie looks extraordinary - the sets, the costumes, the makeup, the cast, all of it. But would some fucking choreography every now and again kill these people? The stakes, too, are paper-thin - things just happen without delving too deeply (if at all) into the consequences/implications of them so a good chunk of scenes just pass through without making any sort of effect. Lastly this gets docked extra points for ruining the best part of the musical by making it too obvious that Christine was going to give The Phantom the ring from the start of that moment. I have seen much worse, though; this would have been noticeably better if they'd just gotten more people who could sing.
Merissa (12919 KP) rated The Fear in Books
Mar 22, 2018
The Fear by C.L. Taylor
The Fear tells the story of Louise, a schoolgirl who ran away to France with her karate teacher, thinking it was just for the weekend. Instead it turns into something a whole lot more, which leads to him going to prison for five years. Through a series of flashbacks you learn what happened, and also why Louise never testified against him in court. Told from three different perspectives, you are thrown into this story, and watch as the twists and turns unfold. Nothing is what it seems in this book, and you will question just what is going on - just like Louise does.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this was a thrilling read that captured my interest from the very start. The way the story unfolds keeps your interest, and I adored the ending - although I won't say anything else about that!
Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, this was a thrilling read that captured my interest from the very start. The way the story unfolds keeps your interest, and I adored the ending - although I won't say anything else about that!
Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Going Under in Books
Jan 11, 2021
3.25 stars.
I liked a lot of this book and there were some bits that I just didn't quite get.
I liked that she was so hell bent on getting justice for her friends and all the other girls. I liked the banter she had going with Terry. I kinda liked the relationship with Ryan, though it seemed to appear out of nowhere after the funeral scene (or maybe I just missed a bit). And though it's wrong of me to like it, the scene with the swim team practise--I thought the author portrayed that really well.
I wasn't so keen on the way she acted with the FSL, I know there was a reasoning behind her behaviour but it did seem to get their attention for the right reasons in the end. Her crazy talking to Beth scenes...I know she's super torn up over her friends death but it's a little too much for me.
I'm just kinda torn over this book because it wasn't entirely comfortable reading at times, knowing what the guys were up to and what she was planning to let happen. But in the end justice prevailed and she got the guy.
I liked a lot of this book and there were some bits that I just didn't quite get.
I liked that she was so hell bent on getting justice for her friends and all the other girls. I liked the banter she had going with Terry. I kinda liked the relationship with Ryan, though it seemed to appear out of nowhere after the funeral scene (or maybe I just missed a bit). And though it's wrong of me to like it, the scene with the swim team practise--I thought the author portrayed that really well.
I wasn't so keen on the way she acted with the FSL, I know there was a reasoning behind her behaviour but it did seem to get their attention for the right reasons in the end. Her crazy talking to Beth scenes...I know she's super torn up over her friends death but it's a little too much for me.
I'm just kinda torn over this book because it wasn't entirely comfortable reading at times, knowing what the guys were up to and what she was planning to let happen. But in the end justice prevailed and she got the guy.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Juliet, Naked (2018) in Movies
Jul 13, 2019
Not up to Nick Hornby’s usual standards
Nick Hornby’s books are marvellous, so adapting them into films is an obvious choice for getting a sure fire hit (a la About a Boy). However sadly this doesn’t quite work for Juliet, Naked.
The plot itself is fine, fairly interesting yet doesn’t appears to be very in depth and i feel like there’s probably a lot missing in this that was in the book. It’s a good idea, just not very well executed and a little dull. It tries for humour but isn’t particularly funny and the romance side is a little lacking too sadly. I’ve always liked Ethan Hawke and he’s good in this but perhaps a little underused, and Rose Byrne is good but her accent is definitely a bit dodgy! Not too sure what was going on with Chris O’Dowd though, I’m not his biggest fan anyway but I found him particularly irritating in this but that may have just been his character. It’s a shame really that this film appears to be lacking all of the usual magic you’d see with Nick Hornby. Think I’ll just go read the book.
The plot itself is fine, fairly interesting yet doesn’t appears to be very in depth and i feel like there’s probably a lot missing in this that was in the book. It’s a good idea, just not very well executed and a little dull. It tries for humour but isn’t particularly funny and the romance side is a little lacking too sadly. I’ve always liked Ethan Hawke and he’s good in this but perhaps a little underused, and Rose Byrne is good but her accent is definitely a bit dodgy! Not too sure what was going on with Chris O’Dowd though, I’m not his biggest fan anyway but I found him particularly irritating in this but that may have just been his character. It’s a shame really that this film appears to be lacking all of the usual magic you’d see with Nick Hornby. Think I’ll just go read the book.
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) in Movies
Aug 15, 2019
As real as a donut
once upon a timeinhollywood is slow paced, tight methodical, uplifting & intricately woven look into the life of a hollywood star in the late 60s. I have to say im not overly a big Tarantino fan (with Inglorious bastards & the hateful eight being my favourites of his) so I wasnt really that excited about seeing this but once I stopped being on edge waiting for something bad to happen & finally sat back letting the film pull me in I knew this wasnt the usual Tarantino movie & I found that strangely compelling. While slow 90% of the run time the film never drags or ever stops being interesting & fascinating. Characters just drip cool are all likeable well fleshed out & distinguishable with every performance absolutely killing it even people that arnt in it much. It just all feels very human, relatable, down to earth & real. Sets are crafted with such perfection & filled with so much painstaking detail that you would swear the film was actually shot in the 60s creating an atmosphere & believability like no other. Accompany that with a smooth soundtrack you have a movie that just pops with style constantly. While everyone does a fantastic job its brad pitt that owns the film, his character is so deep, inspirational & the true hero of the film. Overall I saw this film as a more chill ed out & about how every day life for us all most of the time is way more exciting, thrilling, full of drama & strange events day to day making our lives just as exciting & as watchable as going to the movies & if we all just stopped worrying/stressing for just a second about technology, love, being successful etc life would fall into place, be stress free, we would be healthier & happier. Masterfully filmed, inteligent, mature & well executed this is not only a true love letter to the art of film making but a tribute to movies & how inspiring they can be in general. So sit back enter the decade & relax it may all seem very anti violence at first but the violence does come with time & when it finally hits its shocking & nasty but it feels earned & perfectly timed.
AT (1676 KP) rated The Warehouse in Books
Mar 14, 2020 (Updated Mar 14, 2020)
I didn't love The Warehouse. It was fine, but I hated the end. Not the actual ending, itself, but what was solved. First of all, I was concerned when I reached the halfway point in the book, and not much had happened, and it didn't seem like anyone was going to get to what they were searching for anytime soon. It's difficult to wrap up a novel with less than half of the book left when there is a big unknown lingering around. I think the book either could have stood to be even longer for better explanation, or at least not seem like it was being wrapped up quickly with random details. I felt like it was wrapped up with sudden major, unrelatable situations, just to put an end to the story. I guess it's personal preference. I just think I would've enjoyed it more had the ending had different details. I don't want to give a spoiler, so I don't want to say what the details were that I didn't love, but if you read it, you'll know what I mean. Maybe you'll like it, though. I still gave it a 7, because I don't think it deserves a bomb at 6. I just didn't love the end. The story, itself, was a smooth, easy read, at least. It was fine for me up until a certain point. Interesting environment, that's for sure.
Frank Carter recommended ...Like Clockwork by Queens Of The Stone Age in Music (curated)
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Sorority in Books
Jul 12, 2018
If you're looking for a novel that has a true beginning, middle and end, this is not the book for you. Sorority by Genevieve Sly Crane tells the story of various sorority sisters in bite sized short stories. The story unwraps to reveal the story of Margot.
I went into this book expecting a full story and not various short stories. That in itself took me a bit to get used to. Though it wasn't a format I was expecting, I still enjoyed it. The characters were interesting and I liked that each person had their story to tell. I liked that I could relate to multiple characters and see their lives. I have to say, I'm glad I never had the urge to join a sorority. Though I did like the book I have one issue. My one main issue is that the book feels a little incomplete simply because there was no true end. I like having an ending so this book just doesn't sit right. It did work with the story though.
All in all, I enjoyed it.
**I received this book from NetGalley**
I went into this book expecting a full story and not various short stories. That in itself took me a bit to get used to. Though it wasn't a format I was expecting, I still enjoyed it. The characters were interesting and I liked that each person had their story to tell. I liked that I could relate to multiple characters and see their lives. I have to say, I'm glad I never had the urge to join a sorority. Though I did like the book I have one issue. My one main issue is that the book feels a little incomplete simply because there was no true end. I like having an ending so this book just doesn't sit right. It did work with the story though.
All in all, I enjoyed it.
**I received this book from NetGalley**
Alicia S (193 KP) rated Aced (Driven, #4) in Books
Sep 28, 2018
How do I even begin to write a review for one of Kristy's books that truly shows just how incredible it/she is!? She is the Queen... the Master... period. And more Rylee & Colton.. what more could you ask for? This book TORE ME APART!? I was full on, crest wracked crying for chapter after chapter. Covers some very personal and difficult topics but you'll still get that incredibly heartwarming feeling you get reading Kristy's books. I have loved Rylee & Colton since starting the Driven series over a year ago... they are that perfect book couple that everyone knows and loves. Colton amazes me once again with his strength and determination... that and his clearly endless love and support for Rylee. While she was so broken and hurting throughout this book it was like a watching a dear friend suffer, understanding and not be able to help <3 Haddie & Becks, Zander, Shane and the rest of the boys, even the Twatwaffle made an appearance!? It's like coming back to old friends again... If you have somehow made it this far without reading the Driven Series, GET ON IT!? ABSOLUTE. MUST. READ!!! You have no idea what you are missing!