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Silver (The Silver #1)
Silver (The Silver #1)
Cheree Alsop | 2011 | Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is written from Jaze's perspective and it gives you a real insight into how he is feeling about losing his dad and moving to a new town. As soon as he moves there he realises that something is wrong - the amount of silver in the school metal detectors might have been a clue! He meets the pack that are already living there in an unforgettable manner. He finds a friend in Brock and 'the girl next door', Nikki, who just happens to have Hunters as parents. This all helps Jaze as he tries to look after his mom, tries to come to terms with his dad's death and the betrayal of who he knows was involved.

This story was extremely well written, the characters all had depth and there was a lot to the story itself. For once there was no Inst-Love but friendship actually came first. Yes Jaze was attracted to Nikki but proved that you don't always have to act on it straight away and it just might be a plan to get to know her first! The friendships that he makes with Brock and Mouse are quiet but loyal and an absolutely perfect foil for the action of the Packs. I loved the way the story unfolded and am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
  
Furious 7 (2015)
Furious 7 (2015)
2015 | Action, Mystery
With each passing film in this franchise, I find myself asking more and more "how did it get to this point?" We're certainly a long way from this franchise's humble (?) beginnings. There were multiple points during Furious 7 where I was audibly laughing at how ridiculous some of the action scenes are. Do you like films about street racing? Well fuck you, this film is about sky diving cars out of cargo planes, and then through multiple sky scrapers. Do you like films that accurately portray the mechanics of how vehicles work? Well fuck off, here's Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson flexing his muscles to crack open an arm cast he has on before shooting down a helicopter with a massive gatling gun he wrenched off a military drone. Do you like happy-go-lucky underdog characters that work their way to the top by showing off their drifting skills? Well shut the fuck up, here's Vin Diesel and Jason Statham smacking the shit out of eachother with metal sticks on top of a collapsing building. This series has gone completely off the rails, and I love it.

On a serious note, this film deals with the death of Paul Walker, and pays tribute to him in a very well done and tasteful manner. Massive props for that. Did I she's a tear during a Fast & Furious movie? Yes, yes I did.
  
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Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) Jun 12, 2021 (Updated Jun 16, 2021)

I agree, the Fast franchise has gone completely off the rails, although extremely over the top and nothing like the good old days, it's still full of fast cars, great characters and storytelling (although the story is like having plot points attached to a buckaroo).

As fun as they are, the last one I took seriously was fast4

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Action/Adventure
Gameplay (1 more)
Graphics
Characters (1 more)
Twist ending
A Review By A Disappointed Long Time Fan
Before this game was released, I was certain that it was going to be my Game Of The Year for 2015, and in a lot of ways it is a worthy contender. As an open world stealth game, it is groundbreaking. The gameplay is some of the best I’ve ever seen, the controls feel tight, the underlying systems and features, (such as reflex mode and the buddy system,) are solid and the AI is responsive and fair. This is KojiPro’s first attempt at an open world game, and as far as first attempts go, this is ‘pretty good.’ The world is breathtaking as well, the graphics that the Fox engine can produce are stunning in every way, the world feels alive, with both enemies and wildlife, the textures, the particle systems, the gun models, every visual in this game has been created with an insane amount of attention to detail and all of it really pays off. I experienced little to no glitches while making my way through the single player campaign and the presentation overall is great. Motherbase is also awesome, you genuinely feel as if you are assembling an army and even though the Fulton is daft, it is a nice touch. And the amount of variety this game provides is vast, you can take 4 different buddies with you, each with unique skills, you can infiltrate in the morning or at night, you can choose your guns and customise them to suit, you can also customise your buddy’s gear, your helicopter and to a small extent Motherbase too, although that could have went deeper. Now, if that is all that you are looking for, then seriously, stop reading this review right now and go buy the game, you will love it and there is so much to do, I sank a good 75+ hours into this game and my overall completion rate is still only at 75%. If however, like me, you are looking for something more than just great gameplay, you will be left feeling as empty as I do. Like I keep reiterating, the gameplay is phenomenal, but that’s the problem, I have never played MGS for the gameplay. It wasn’t the gameplay that made me fall in love with the series growing up and if anything you would always suffer through the stiff gameplay in order to experience the deep and complex story and that was okay, because it would always be so worth it. This game throws all of that out of the window.

The way that this game is structured is awful. You play a few main missions in a row, the story is beginning to hook you, but then OCD kicks in and you realise that you have 4 or 5 side missions building up to be completed, so you go and do them, but then you come back to the main story and forget what was going on in the last mission, but who cares when you can Fulton a goat, right?

The writing in this game is possibly the laziest it’s ever been, one example of this is the ‘controversial’ character known as Quiet. This character has been masterly debated over a lot (see what I did there?) and thrown more gasoline on the fire that is the over-sexualisation of women in video games. My stance on it is somewhere in between, the reason for her lack of clothes and speech is silly, however she is running around Afghanistan and Africa, which are very hot countries, so really they could have put her in a bikini top and a pair of cargo pants and I doubt anyone would have batted an eyelid. Now, the Metal Gear series has always been known for its odd Japanese perviness, but when it is a main character that has been sexualised, it’s always been for a justified narrative reason, such as EVA in MGS3 walking about with the front of her jacket unzipped showing off her bikini clad chest, but the whole point of her mission in that game, was to seduce Snake, so it made sense within the context of the story, in this game the reason for Quiet’s over exposure is much lazier and feels tacked on as a cheap excuse.

The worst part about all of this is the fact that, this is it, Kojima’s definite last Metal Gear game, there is no going back to redeem anything, like in MGS2 when everyone hated it, but because 4 solved some of the problems that were created in 2 people are now okay with 2, that can’t happen with this game because Kojima and Konami are no more. Now I could write a whole other paper on Konami vs Kojima and my stance on it but this is the jist, Kojima was spending too much money and taking too much time with this game, Konami demanded he finish it so they can make their money and add their microtransaction’s etc Kojima told them where they can stick it and the partnership was dead. This has had an effect on the game, there is clearly content missing, Konami has confirmed that at least one mission was cut, where Snake would have went to Africa to have another battle with Eli and Sahalanthropus, which is the Metal Gear in this game, which is unacceptable really. Also, I assume there was a lot of other content that was cut that we weren’t told about. Sahalanthropus is another problem I have, how is it that this Metal Gear created in the 80’s is more advanced than REX, which was created in the early 2000’s. Also, when you fight Sahalanthropus, there is no one in the thing, it is an empty robot being controlled by Mantis, who floats beside the giant mech. That is actually a decent metaphor for the lack of villains in this game. Skull Face is hardly in the game and his eventual death, like every other significant event in this game, just kind of happens with no build up and packing little punch. The team of bosses in the original Metal Gear, headed up by Liquid and Ocelot, were probably the best team of villains in any game ever, since then the bosses have gone slowly downhill. The Sons of Big Boss were great, Dead Cell were pretty cool, The Cobras were okay, The Beauty & The Beast Corps were pretty lame and The Skulls in this game are emotionless zombies who don’t even have individual names and Skull Face is such a disappointing antagonist, he is hardly in the main game and then he shows up at the end, gives some silly speech that we have heard before in the trailers and then just dies, no boss fight or anything. Also, no customisable Metal Gear, which I feel like is a huge missed opportunity and no Sims like Motherbase customisation, interior or exterior.

David Hayter was missed in this game, Keifer was fine on the rare occasion he did speak, but the phantom Snake twist was the perfect opportunity to reintroduce Hayter’s voice and they didn’t take it. Also no Campbell or EVA, not even a reference. And it is never explained why the last time we see the real Big Boss, he is rescuing a child and a young girl and the next time we see him he has become modern day Hitler. Ultimately, this game just makes me sad, it is hard not to focus on the fallout from the Konima debacle, P.T/Silent Hills is no more, that promisingly terrifying demo we were teased with will amount to nothing and this game is all we will ever get again in terms of the Metal Gear saga. This is the end of an era, and it’s an end that doesn’t sit perfectly with me.
  
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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Seed of Chucky (2004) in Movies

Nov 26, 2019 (Updated Jan 7, 2020)  
Seed of Chucky (2004)
Seed of Chucky (2004)
2004 | Comedy, Horror
5
6.0 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
What even is this film!?
Seed of Chucky is the fifth in the Child's Play series, and definitely is the peak of absurdity in this particular franchise.
After writing the first four, Don Mancini steps behind the camera for the first time to direct this entry, and it's crystal clear he wanted to take it into comedic territory, and honestly, it works for the most part.

A lot of Seed is so ridiculous, you can't help but laugh.
Chucky plans to transfer his soul into Redman of all people, Britney Spears gets blown up, there's a live ventriloquist competition that looks more jumping than a metal concert, there's a member of S Club 7 in it, Jennifer Tilly, John Waters, Redman, and Jason Flemyng (because why the hell not) all play themselves - I could go on.
Jennifer Tilly especially deserves credit, as her willingness to poke fun at herself is a big part of what makes this film fun.
Billy Boyd voices Glen/Glenda, the spawn of Chucky, and that's also just ridiculous as it sounds.

Seed has some genuinely nice gore effects going on but as a horror film, it's rubbish. Nothing scary happens at all. But as an all out, stupid comedy with horror leanings, it hard not to like.
I love the more unsettling Chucky of the first two movies, and would take him over the quippy Chucky of the later movies - a huge reason why I didn't care much for Bride of Chucky - but when it's this over the top, I can get on board without too much fuss.
  
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Rachel Unthank recommended Nevermind by Nirvana in Music (curated)

 
Nevermind by Nirvana
Nevermind by Nirvana
1991 | Alternative, Rock

"Grunge was the first kind of music I discovered for myself without my parents. They were not very keen [laughs]. I was fifteen, the perfect age, when Nirvana broke, and I still listen to this record. I still listen to Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden too, but this still feels fresh to me, and has a real power. They captured that anarchy and rebelliousness of youth, but had songs that were like sing-a-longs, which really spoke to me. Plus the rhythms were incredible, like in ‘Breed'. I love the aggression of ‘Breed'. The rhythms of lots of metal, grunge and rock all really get me, actually. Adrian and I quite often used to come out of folk festivals and get into the car and stick Faith No More on. Like a cleanse!

Nirvana were different to the other bands around then because there was such a sad reflectiveness to them. ‘Something In The Way' particularly – Kurt's voice, and the way the song moves. Nirvana also remind me of being at the school disco. I had a friend that DJd at them, and me and my friends would be sitting down at the side, not interested, but he'd let us pick three songs to play. We'd always pick something off this album, get on the dancefloor for three minutes of headbanging, then sit down again [laughs]. I think the songs you loved as a teenager are songs you'll always have an emotional attachment to, as well. You're formed along with them."

Source
  
The Fate of the Furious (2017)
The Fate of the Furious (2017)
2017 | Action
*Director's cut*
A thick protein shake of testosterone, motor oil, concrete, government tech, sweat, and smashed metal - features enough hilariously inflated machismo and mic drop one-liners to fuel at least fifty blockbusters. Obviously when going from James Wan to any other director you're going to see a downtick in visual quality, but Gray still makes this thing a gorgeous splashpad of obvious color signifiers to look at - with some of the most clean vehicle action you'll ever see. I'll always defend an unlimited number of these sequels no matter how little story there is, but it was a genuinely ballsy move to make Dom one of the villains (alongside a ripper Theron) - to which I'll convince every Diesel detractor to look at because this showcases how passionate and committed he is towards this character, every act of betrayal is played like it's physically tearing him apart from the inside. Another thing I love about this series post-fourth-one is how it features some of the coolest action superstars partaking in scenes of prolonged emotion that most other actioners would probably toss aside. Definitely the funniest installment but wtf happened to Luda here? The dude is usually charming but he sleepwalks through every scene in this one. Every gripe I do have is relatively minor considering this has sequences of a giant wrecking ball tearing through vehicles, The Rock and Statham beating their way through an entire prison, and an all-timer setpiece where dozens of cars start driving themselves tearing through the city.
  
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Scott Tostik (389 KP) rated Holliston in TV

Dec 17, 2017  
Holliston
Holliston
2012 | Comedy, Drama, Horror
10
7.3 (9 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Some good writing (2 more)
Great cast
What would happen if Friends met Hatchet in a dark alley
A horror/comedy series that leaves you begging for more
I love Adam Green!!!! The man has proven with this series that he can wear many hats in the industry. As can co-star Joe Lynch (director of Mayhem).
This show is everything a horror fan needs wrapped up in a 45 minute(first season) and 22 minute(second season) episodes. Some great dialogue and brilliant acting by co-stars Corri English (country band Brokedown Cadillac) and Laura Ortiz (The Hills Have Eyes remake) make this show easy to swallow and a fun time for even the mildest of horror watchers.
Don't forget some great guest appearances by Kane Hodder(Hatchet), Danielle Harris(Halloween 4 & 5), Derek Mears (Friday the 13th remake), Colton Dunn(hatchet 2), Ray Wise(Digging Up the Marrow and TV's Twin Peaks), Tony Todd(Candyman) and David Naughton(An American Werewolf in London) who all go to lengths to prove that horror is not the only genre they belong in.
Twisted Sister's Dee Snider is a series regular as Cable Station Managere Lance Rockett and provides the viewer with some great one liners and laugh filled on screen moments that can not be easily forgotten. Dave Brockie or Oderus Urungas as he was better known to metal fans as the lead singer of the band Gwar also appeared regularly as Adam's imaginary friend who lived in his closet and came out occasionally to give words of wisdom, advice and shots to the nuts. Sadly Dave lost his life in April of 2014 causing Adam to put the series on hold for the time being because of the death of his longtime friend.
Holliston is nothing short of brilliance to people who not only love the horror genre. it is nothing short of amazing. With laughs, scares and even a few tears shed during its brief interlude on Fearnet.com. This show will forever remain in my heart and mind as one of the best sitcom/horror shows I have ever watched. Give it a try people
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Love, Death & Robots
Love, Death & Robots
2019 | Action, Animation, Comedy
Unique And Visceral Experience
Love, Death, & Robots is an adult animated anthology tv series on Netflix. The series is produced by Joshua Donen, David Fincher, Jennifer Miller, and Tim Miller. Each of the 18 episodes released on the first season was animated by different crews from a range of countries. It's also a re-imagining of 1981 animated sci-fi film Heavy Metal. Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Topher Grace, Gary Cole, Samira Wiley, and Stefan Kapicic.


Produced by different casts and crews, and consisting of 18 stand-alone episodes, each under 20 minutes, the title of the series refers to the recurring themes of love, death, and robots in each episode. Full of terrifying creatures, wicked surprises and dark comedy, it's a collection of animated short stories spanning several genres like horror, comedy, fantasy, and science fiction. Captivating stories come to life with world-class animation in a plethora of tales unlike anything else.


This series was wicked awesome. Reminded me of some of the other animated anthologies I've seen such as The Animatrix and Batman: Gotham Knight, except quite a bit more NSFW. This series also gave me a Twilight Zone vibe but bit darker. More blood and guts and highly sexual. Even though it's pretty graphic, I really liked a lot of the stories they told and the twists that most had in the end as well. Some are kind of hit or miss or just better than others but I think that there is definitely something for everyone despite the gore and nudity and language. I especially enjoyed the following episodes, 1. Sonnie's Edge, 8. Good Hunting, 10. Shape-Shifters, 13. Lucky 13, and 18. Secret War. The way they went about the story telling and world building in each episode was phenomenal. I really feel that some of these episodes deserve their own individual films or series to do them better justice. I mean some were just so good and less than 20 minutes felt like not enough or that they could have been even better. I give the entire series overall a 9/10.
  
Steel (Rent-A-Dragon #1)
Steel (Rent-A-Dragon #1)
Terry Bolryder | 2020 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
81 of 200
Kindle
Steel (Rent a dragon book 1)
By Terry Bolryder

 
A dragon as a handyman? Ridiculous.

At least Liam Steel thinks so. Sure, he and his crew of newly-awakened metal dragons are experts at building things, but after being sunk at the bottom of a frozen ocean, all they want is to find the mates they were sailing in search of in the first place, and Liam isn't sure how that can happen while he's playing in the dirt. Until he meets his first client, a sweet, curvy, no-nonsense business-woman busy taking care of everyone but herself. His heart screams 'mate', and he's ready to get his hands on more than her yard.

Kate Hinton doesn't know what to make of the beefcake Rent-A-Dragon sent over to help with her yard. Impossibly tall with soulful teal eyes, dark hair, and the features of a male model, she's pretty sure he should be walking a runway rather than digging trenches in her yard. And the way he looks at her? Like nothing else matters in the world. But the more she gets to know her kind, friendly, amazingly efficient handyman, the more she is realizing he's not from her world.

He lives in a remodeled castle. He doesn't know certain modern words. And he definitely doesn't understand the rules of modern courtship. But somehow, Kate is finding herself falling in love with this 'dragon' all the same, and finding out there is a whole other world outside her own. One full of secrets, and danger, and maybe even the love of a lifetime.

I’m unsure of where to rate this as on a whole there was nothing bad about the book except the story just very predictable. Saying that though it wasn’t to bad to read and it was a quick read too! I read at the beginning from the author that although it follows on from an earlier series that you wouldn’t have had to have read it, this is a little misleading as I really recommend reading that 1st series! Decent Dragon shifter books are hard to find and I would recommend this one!
  
Aquaman (2018)
Aquaman (2018)
2018 | Action, Sci-Fi
Cinematography (0 more)
Very few bits and pieces (0 more)
The Aquaman
Contains spoilers, click to show
Aquaman has never been my favorite hero among DC Comics. Nor have I ever liked him. Once I saw Justice League with Jason Mamoa cast as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, I fell in love with this representation of the character. The movie kept my attention the entire two and a half hours, the scenes were big and beautiful. Mamoa was the perfect choice for the role, everything just fits well with each other. The casting for the entire film was brilliant. There were bits and pieces in the film that my wife and I were sort of chuckling at, not as in humor but more so the designs of some things. (I tagged this review with spoilers because of this.) Arthur finds his mother in the center of the Earth and she explains he has to go fight a big monster to get the ancient trident he so desperately needs, pretty standard superhero stuff right? Arthur does all that stuff, he comes back up and in this beautiful, cinematic scene he's standing there looking at Mera and his Mother, it reveals the "Aquaman Suit." Now, the original Aquaman suit was an orange and green scaled onesie. Which this new suit definitely is, just more metal and pointy parts to it. It was hard to take the suit seriously, and maybe it was because the entire movie we were so used to seeing Jason Mamoa shirtless, that seeing his torso covered was just strange. Other than a few choice designs in the movie, it was amazing, it was great, it was entertaining. I highly recommend watching it if you haven't already.