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The Storms: Adventure and Tragedy on Everest
Book
In August 1979 twenty-seven-year-old Mike Trueman set sail from the south-west coast of Wales, en...
But the Distilleries Went on: The Morrison Bowmore Story
Book
Morrison Bowmore Distillers (MBD) started life in 1951 as an independent player in an industry...
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019) in Movies
Aug 29, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
Dora and the lost city of gold brings the characters from the ‘Dora the Explore ' together for a live action adventure. The film starts when Dora is six and her cousin Diego goes to live in the city. Ten years later Dora's parents get ready to find a lost city so, for safety they send her to the join Diego. Finding that Diego has changed over the years and that city life is nothing like living in the jungle leaving her upset and friendless. During a school field trip, Dora, Diego and two of their classmates are kidnapped by treasure hunters in an attempt to find Dora's parents and the lost city.
Dora and the lost city of gold is a classic children’s jungle adventure; you have kidnapped adults, jungle traps, quick sand (I can’t remember the last time I saw quicksand in a movie, may be Jumaji 2), Ruined cities, giant, possibly man eating plants and a bit of cartoon physics.
The cartoony side of the film is a bit odd, the film is trying to include all the main characters from the series and this includes Boots the Monkey and Swipe the fox. Boots kind of makes sense, he was Dora’s companion throughout the cartoon and the character in the film did have an actual role that served a purpose, however Swipe seemed a pointless, his roll could have been performed by any of the other villains.
Over all ‘Dora and the lost city of gold’ is good, silly fun.
Dora and the lost city of gold is a classic children’s jungle adventure; you have kidnapped adults, jungle traps, quick sand (I can’t remember the last time I saw quicksand in a movie, may be Jumaji 2), Ruined cities, giant, possibly man eating plants and a bit of cartoon physics.
The cartoony side of the film is a bit odd, the film is trying to include all the main characters from the series and this includes Boots the Monkey and Swipe the fox. Boots kind of makes sense, he was Dora’s companion throughout the cartoon and the character in the film did have an actual role that served a purpose, however Swipe seemed a pointless, his roll could have been performed by any of the other villains.
Over all ‘Dora and the lost city of gold’ is good, silly fun.
David McK (3372 KP) rated The Postman (1997) in Movies
Jun 21, 2022
Kevin Costner released 'Waterworld' in 1995.
It sunk at the box office.
This was a few years later, based on the highly-respected David Brin novel of the same name.
I'm sure he wasn't expecting this one to flop either. Set in the far-off future of 2013, following a un-named catastrophe of some sort (no, not Trump)
The problem, I feel, is simply the length at nearly 3 hours long - there's some good ideas in here, and some good scenes, and a refreshing society-is-now-getting-better-again thread, after the unnamed events that led to the dystopian future shown at the start of the movie, but I do feel that the first act (in particular), playing up the threat of the fascist army led by General Bethlehem, could have been excised somewhat.
I understand why it's there - it needs to give Costner's character something to push against - but I think the book (and from what I remember) handled that aspect better than the movie does.
So, yeah, Costner plays a drifter who - after his escape from that army - discovers an old Postman uniform, initially putting it on only to become warm and then 'delivering the mail' simply as a scam to get food and shelter. However, over the course of that movie, that scam takes on a life of its own and more and more becomes the truth, finally ending with a code in the late 2040s after his death and where - going by dress, etc, - things seem to be back to 'normal'.
It sunk at the box office.
This was a few years later, based on the highly-respected David Brin novel of the same name.
I'm sure he wasn't expecting this one to flop either. Set in the far-off future of 2013, following a un-named catastrophe of some sort (no, not Trump)
The problem, I feel, is simply the length at nearly 3 hours long - there's some good ideas in here, and some good scenes, and a refreshing society-is-now-getting-better-again thread, after the unnamed events that led to the dystopian future shown at the start of the movie, but I do feel that the first act (in particular), playing up the threat of the fascist army led by General Bethlehem, could have been excised somewhat.
I understand why it's there - it needs to give Costner's character something to push against - but I think the book (and from what I remember) handled that aspect better than the movie does.
So, yeah, Costner plays a drifter who - after his escape from that army - discovers an old Postman uniform, initially putting it on only to become warm and then 'delivering the mail' simply as a scam to get food and shelter. However, over the course of that movie, that scam takes on a life of its own and more and more becomes the truth, finally ending with a code in the late 2040s after his death and where - going by dress, etc, - things seem to be back to 'normal'.
Katie Guinn (34 KP) rated My Husband's Wife in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Lily Macdonald is a young, newly married lawyer, determined to make a fresh start and leave her secrets in the past. But her first murder case, representing a convicted killer named Joe, will threaten her happy future.
*sigh* I’m getting really burned out on “domestic thrillers,” guys. The kind that center around husbands and wives with secrets and strained relationships, that focus on the minutiae of everyday life than on any real action. The kind that likes to tout themselves as “the next Gone Girl.” Give me a good suspenseful serial killer novel, with a twisty plot and an actual likable main character!
That’s one of my biggest problems with these sorts of books, every character is just so hard to like that it’s difficult to connect with anyone or really feel invested in the story. Lily and Ed Macdonald are two people who honestly shouldn’t have married in the first place; they barely knew each other and neither of them knows how to communicate unless it’s in the form of an argument. Their nine-year-old neighbor, Carla, gains some sympathy at first as she copes with bullies and the feeling of being “different,” Unfortunately, when the story picks up more than a dozen years later, Carla hasn’t changed very much. She still thinks and acts like a child, turning out to be, in my opinion, the least likable character in the book. A note to all the thriller authors out there: it’s not a crime to write characters that people like.
I gave this one three stars because while the writing and plotting was decent, it’s ultimately a forgettable novel. Also, it’s no Gone Girl.
*sigh* I’m getting really burned out on “domestic thrillers,” guys. The kind that center around husbands and wives with secrets and strained relationships, that focus on the minutiae of everyday life than on any real action. The kind that likes to tout themselves as “the next Gone Girl.” Give me a good suspenseful serial killer novel, with a twisty plot and an actual likable main character!
That’s one of my biggest problems with these sorts of books, every character is just so hard to like that it’s difficult to connect with anyone or really feel invested in the story. Lily and Ed Macdonald are two people who honestly shouldn’t have married in the first place; they barely knew each other and neither of them knows how to communicate unless it’s in the form of an argument. Their nine-year-old neighbor, Carla, gains some sympathy at first as she copes with bullies and the feeling of being “different,” Unfortunately, when the story picks up more than a dozen years later, Carla hasn’t changed very much. She still thinks and acts like a child, turning out to be, in my opinion, the least likable character in the book. A note to all the thriller authors out there: it’s not a crime to write characters that people like.
I gave this one three stars because while the writing and plotting was decent, it’s ultimately a forgettable novel. Also, it’s no Gone Girl.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2171 KP) rated Lost Light (Harry Bosch #9) in Books
Jan 26, 2019
Bosch Shines Light on a Cold Case
It's been several months since Harry Bosch retired from his job as a homicide detective in Los Angeles. He's attempting to adjust to life as a civilian, but he can't resist when another former cop mentions a cold case they'd both worked on. Angella Benton was strangled in the entrance to her apartment building. Just as Bosch was beginning to investigate, the heist of two million dollars from a movie set gave the case a bigger profile, and the robbery homicide division took it over. Four years later, the murder remains unsolved and the money has not been found. But Bosch has barely begun poking into it again before he is warned off. Is someone still interested in this case? Can Bosch solve it without his badge to open doors for him?
I enjoyed seeing Bosch working without his badge, overcoming the added obstacle of not having any official business looking into this case. While he may not be a cop, we still did get cameos by many of the series regulars, and it was great to check in with them. The characters are strong as always, with Bosch leading the pack. I was surprised to find that this book was narrated first person, something I always enjoy. I hadn't run across that in a Harry Bosch book yet. The case itself was gripping with plenty of twists and turns to keep us engaged up until the end. I listened to the audio version narrated by Len Cariou, who does a great job except for one character. Fortunately, that character isn't a major player in the action of the book.
I enjoyed seeing Bosch working without his badge, overcoming the added obstacle of not having any official business looking into this case. While he may not be a cop, we still did get cameos by many of the series regulars, and it was great to check in with them. The characters are strong as always, with Bosch leading the pack. I was surprised to find that this book was narrated first person, something I always enjoy. I hadn't run across that in a Harry Bosch book yet. The case itself was gripping with plenty of twists and turns to keep us engaged up until the end. I listened to the audio version narrated by Len Cariou, who does a great job except for one character. Fortunately, that character isn't a major player in the action of the book.
RM
Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock
Book
For over 30 years, Sammy Hagar has been a fixture in heavy metal music. Beginning with his...
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl: A Memoir
8.0
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Book
Emma Watson's Book Club pick for July and August 2016 Before Carrie Brownstein became a music icon,...
Leon: Naturally Fast Food: Book 2
John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby
Book
'The dream is to bring really good food at a good price to as many people as possible. It makes LEON...
Starring New York: Filming the Grime and the Glamour of the Long 1970s
Book
Starring New York considers twenty-one films in detail, and more generally discusses many others,...