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Jade Clarke-Mackintosh (7 KP) rated The Silmarillion in Books
Jan 23, 2018
He is a master!
It has been a while since I have read anything by Tolkien, but as usual he never disappoints.
From the first page of the book he weaved his magic and I was once again transported to Middle Earth. He has such a gift for writing and storytelling you feel like you are there living and breathing the story. No wonder the man is a legend, his imagination knows no bounds from the poetic location names to the wealth and personalities of the characters, especially in this version as I listened to the audiobook my mind was conjuring up all sorts of colourful images. I guess it help having read previous books in the Middle Earth Universe collection, lots of the place names and characters were familiar to me.
No-one writes elves, goblins or dwarfs quite as well this man.
From the first page of the book he weaved his magic and I was once again transported to Middle Earth. He has such a gift for writing and storytelling you feel like you are there living and breathing the story. No wonder the man is a legend, his imagination knows no bounds from the poetic location names to the wealth and personalities of the characters, especially in this version as I listened to the audiobook my mind was conjuring up all sorts of colourful images. I guess it help having read previous books in the Middle Earth Universe collection, lots of the place names and characters were familiar to me.
No-one writes elves, goblins or dwarfs quite as well this man.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Catwoman (2004) in Movies
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Feb 15, 2018)
Kitty Litter
Wretched misfire of a superhero film proving that DC were quite capable of making bad movies before Zack Snyder was even on the premises. Attempt at a story of feminist empowerment ends up coupled to repeated spectacle of Halle Berry bending over in a leather bra while wearing jeans with holes in the bum cheeks. Dowdy wallflower discovers corruption, is flushed into harbour, given mouth-to-mouth by passing magic cat, wakes up with feline powers (including ability to stick to walls, unlike any cat I've ever seen).
It's not just that the story is poorly told, it's poorly conceived: around the same time Catwoman came out, Spider-Man was saving New York from a nuclear disaster while the X-Men were stopping psionic genocide. What case is Catwoman dealing with? Someone is trying to sell some dodgy make-up. Not just a really shoddy film, but an offensively patronising one, too.
It's not just that the story is poorly told, it's poorly conceived: around the same time Catwoman came out, Spider-Man was saving New York from a nuclear disaster while the X-Men were stopping psionic genocide. What case is Catwoman dealing with? Someone is trying to sell some dodgy make-up. Not just a really shoddy film, but an offensively patronising one, too.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Ready Player One (2018) in Movies
Mar 29, 2018 (Updated Mar 29, 2018)
Spielberg's lavish version of Ernest Cline's geek rave novel is one of those films which comes at you all street and rebellious and subversive, but ultimately turns out to be slightly timid in its conventionality. A bunch of computer gamers embark on a quest to find the magic plot coupons that will save the internet from evil corporate monetisation, with added 'Oh! Look! It's Mechagodzilla!'
Smartly-scripted and well-mounted blockbuster is a hard film not to enjoy, with Spielberg in magisterial form and an appealing cast. Film has a tough tightrope to walk when it comes to staying accessible to a mainstream/older audience without stating the very very obvious to hip young kids at too great a length, probably does a decent job of it. Quite how much of the entertainment value of the film comes from spotting all the references to old movies and computer games is another question; either way, whoever negotiated all the rights clearances definitely deserves a bonus.
Smartly-scripted and well-mounted blockbuster is a hard film not to enjoy, with Spielberg in magisterial form and an appealing cast. Film has a tough tightrope to walk when it comes to staying accessible to a mainstream/older audience without stating the very very obvious to hip young kids at too great a length, probably does a decent job of it. Quite how much of the entertainment value of the film comes from spotting all the references to old movies and computer games is another question; either way, whoever negotiated all the rights clearances definitely deserves a bonus.
ClareR (5726 KP) rated The City of Brass: Daevabad Trilogy in Books
May 29, 2018
Djinn-tastic!! (OK, I know that's bad)
Wow! Magic, Djinns, Ifrits, Daevas - what's not to like?! This was such an engrossing read. Set from two points of view: Nahri, a poor orphaned healer and con-artist and Ali, the youngest son of the King of Daevabad. Their lives meet and are entwined in such a way as to be completely believable. The politics of the realm are much like apartheid, in that Shafit cannot mix with full-blooded Daevas or Djinn. They live in substandard conditions, and Ali tries to change that. He unwittingly causes huge problems.
This is the first in a trilogy, so my only complaint would be that I've now read the first one so close to the release date, that I'm now going to have to wait for AGES for the next part!! Bad planning on my part! I think I'd be more than happy to reread this before the second in the trilogy releases though.
This is the first in a trilogy, so my only complaint would be that I've now read the first one so close to the release date, that I'm now going to have to wait for AGES for the next part!! Bad planning on my part! I think I'd be more than happy to reread this before the second in the trilogy releases though.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Jurassic Park (1993) in Movies
May 31, 2018
Why do we like dinosaurs so much?
Just when Spielberg was on a minor low after the critical and box office disappointment of "Hook" in 1991, he decided to make not only A movie about dinosaurs, but THE movie about dinosaurs to turn things around.
The original Jurassic Park is a modern marvel of cinema in many ways, but mostly the ground-breaking visual effects. Yeah, there had been other movies with prehistoric beasts, but none that integrated them seamlessly with human actors before this film.
What a great idea (based on the book) of having human beings visit a remote coming soon amusement park and watch what happens when everything goes wrong.
There are so many iconic scenes, I can't even begin to list them. The T-Rex, the raptors, the spitting ones. It was all just magic.
The tension build to the ultimate climax will never be beaten even with the 27 sequels.
The original Jurassic Park is a modern marvel of cinema in many ways, but mostly the ground-breaking visual effects. Yeah, there had been other movies with prehistoric beasts, but none that integrated them seamlessly with human actors before this film.
What a great idea (based on the book) of having human beings visit a remote coming soon amusement park and watch what happens when everything goes wrong.
There are so many iconic scenes, I can't even begin to list them. The T-Rex, the raptors, the spitting ones. It was all just magic.
The tension build to the ultimate climax will never be beaten even with the 27 sequels.
Kristin (149 KP) rated Savannah's Story in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I rather enjoyed this little children's book. It tells the story of Savannah, a bored little girl with sisters who don't have the time to play with her. She then wishes she could be in her dollhouse, and lo and behold, it happens! She plays with her dolls, her teddy bears, and has a grand old time. But soon, she starts to miss her sisters, wishing she could go back to them, and she realizes that her sisters are her true friends.
I really liked the ending message of the story, that as long as you believe in magic, it's all around you. I've always felt that way, and it's a great thing for children to believe in, especially those with large imaginations. I would definitely read this story to my kids (if I had any), but I enjoyed reading it, as well.
5 stars
I rather enjoyed this little children's book. It tells the story of Savannah, a bored little girl with sisters who don't have the time to play with her. She then wishes she could be in her dollhouse, and lo and behold, it happens! She plays with her dolls, her teddy bears, and has a grand old time. But soon, she starts to miss her sisters, wishing she could go back to them, and she realizes that her sisters are her true friends.
I really liked the ending message of the story, that as long as you believe in magic, it's all around you. I've always felt that way, and it's a great thing for children to believe in, especially those with large imaginations. I would definitely read this story to my kids (if I had any), but I enjoyed reading it, as well.
5 stars
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A rag-tag group of miscreants is brought together for the purpose of joining their talents to obtain a rare and mysterious book that could change the world as they know it. However, there's far more to the story than they realize, and they're soon dragged into an exciting web of adventure, intrigue, betrayal, and magic.
I'll start by saying this story is a long one, but it's SOOOOOOOO worth it! I never felt dragged down or bored at any point, and there were many times where I couldn't bear to put it down even when I had to. The characters are fantastic, and they each have their own personality which sparks the others. They're all great as individuals, but when they come together as a whole, the dialogue really soars! I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series, and more from this author period.
5 stars
A rag-tag group of miscreants is brought together for the purpose of joining their talents to obtain a rare and mysterious book that could change the world as they know it. However, there's far more to the story than they realize, and they're soon dragged into an exciting web of adventure, intrigue, betrayal, and magic.
I'll start by saying this story is a long one, but it's SOOOOOOOO worth it! I never felt dragged down or bored at any point, and there were many times where I couldn't bear to put it down even when I had to. The characters are fantastic, and they each have their own personality which sparks the others. They're all great as individuals, but when they come together as a whole, the dialogue really soars! I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series, and more from this author period.
5 stars
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Invisibility in Books
Jul 12, 2018
I really had to take my time with this book. Maybe it was my new iPad, maybe it was the fact that I wanted to forever experience this book. This novel was quite unique. I have never read anything like this before. It was a paranormal romance and didn't have vampires, werewolves, zombies... etc. The magic in the novel was well done and I found myself completely entertained.
David Levithan and Andrea Cremer definitely know how to make you keep guessing. It was interesting to see how their minds worked to create this novel. David Levithan is my favorite author so I will continue to pick up his books. I might have to add one of Andrea's novels onto my to-read list. All in all, I enjoyed this novel. If you're a fan of paranormal young adult, I suggest that you read it. Especially if you're tired of the vampire/werewolf paranormal take over.
David Levithan and Andrea Cremer definitely know how to make you keep guessing. It was interesting to see how their minds worked to create this novel. David Levithan is my favorite author so I will continue to pick up his books. I might have to add one of Andrea's novels onto my to-read list. All in all, I enjoyed this novel. If you're a fan of paranormal young adult, I suggest that you read it. Especially if you're tired of the vampire/werewolf paranormal take over.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Grand Grimoire of Cthulhu Mythos Magic in Tabletop Games
Oct 18, 2019
Magic doesn't play quite the role in CoC it does in most other fantasy RPGs - its tendency to either kill wizards or drive them permanently insane is probably the reason why - but it's still an important and evocative part of the 'classic' setting for the game. This book, despite the slightly silly title, probably contains everything most players will need on the topic - over 550 spells, from the relatively innocuous 'Embrace of Yog-Sothoth' to the terrifying and unspeakable 'Attract Fish', plus ideas for elaborating on things like spell components and ambient magical areas.
You could probably get by just using the material in the Keeper's Book, but if you want characters to have a wider and more varied repertoire, this book is well worth the asking price. Needless to say, there is also material here to inspire dozens of scenarios for any self-respectingly twisted and inventive Keeper, so it scores heavily in that department too.
You could probably get by just using the material in the Keeper's Book, but if you want characters to have a wider and more varied repertoire, this book is well worth the asking price. Needless to say, there is also material here to inspire dozens of scenarios for any self-respectingly twisted and inventive Keeper, so it scores heavily in that department too.
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) in Movies
Jul 26, 2019
Once upon a time there was this amazingly talented writer and director from Tennessee that created pure cinema magic every time he put pen to paper, finger to keyboard, eye to camera. That time was and is now and his name is Quentin Tarantino. His ninth and newest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has as many stars as one might see spread across the night sky lighting up the Hollywood Hills, actually that light might just be from the spotlights at the newest dirty movie premiere. Every actor delivers what one might say is some of the greatest acting they've seen in their whole life. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is more tasteful than a can of Wolf's Tooth dog food, as crisp and refreshing as an Old Chattanooga beer, and as smooth as a Red Apple unfiltered cigarette with a drag that you want to keep pulling from and never want to end.