Search
Search results
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Contagion (2011) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
The Outbreak
With all of this news about the coronavirus, i thought i reviewing this movie. This came out when the swine flu was around, so back in 2011. When the trailer came out, it looked really scary, because it was about a deadly virus speading. Now thats happening right now with the coronavirus. Its scary, but if you wash your hands with soap and water/hand Sanitizer, keep away from sick people, cover your mouth when you snezze and dont touch your eyes, you will be okay.
Anways to the plot:
When Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) returns to Minnesota from a Hong Kong business trip, she attributes the malaise she feels to jet lag. However, two days later, Beth is dead, and doctors tell her shocked husband (Matt Damon) that they have no idea what killed her. Soon, many others start to exhibit the same symptoms, and a global pandemic explodes. Doctors try to contain the lethal microbe, but society begins to collapse as a blogger (Jude Law) fans the flames of paranoia.
It has a all-star cast: includes Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, and Jennifer Ehle. Plus Steven Soderbergh directed it.
If you like medical action thriller film, than you will like this film.
Anways to the plot:
When Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) returns to Minnesota from a Hong Kong business trip, she attributes the malaise she feels to jet lag. However, two days later, Beth is dead, and doctors tell her shocked husband (Matt Damon) that they have no idea what killed her. Soon, many others start to exhibit the same symptoms, and a global pandemic explodes. Doctors try to contain the lethal microbe, but society begins to collapse as a blogger (Jude Law) fans the flames of paranoia.
It has a all-star cast: includes Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, and Jennifer Ehle. Plus Steven Soderbergh directed it.
If you like medical action thriller film, than you will like this film.
_RainAllTheTime (17 KP) rated Ugly Betty - Season 1 in TV
Sep 4, 2019
Has Ugly Betty aged well?
Contains spoilers, click to show
Ugly Betty first came to screens in 2006 and as it was recently put on Amazon Prime I decided to re-watch it......watching it as an adult is a whole new experience.
The show does bring up important isses, such as Betty's fathers immigration issues, Christina's trouble with trying to raise funds for her husbands medical treatments, grief, feeling you don't fit in etc. Unfortunately some of the other important issues didn't age well......
For example the storyline of Alexis being transgender. The use of some of the words, the use of the wrong pronouns (at the beginning), the use of some of the phrases leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I understand that in 2006 people weren't in much light towards those kind of issues as we are today but still, that storyline hasn't aged well.
Another example is the body shaming, again another issue which wasn't as spoken about then as it is today but another storyline that didn't age well.
All that a side, the show is still enjoyable and Betty is a very loveable and sweet character who we get to see grow and become more confident as the seasons go on
The show does bring up important isses, such as Betty's fathers immigration issues, Christina's trouble with trying to raise funds for her husbands medical treatments, grief, feeling you don't fit in etc. Unfortunately some of the other important issues didn't age well......
For example the storyline of Alexis being transgender. The use of some of the words, the use of the wrong pronouns (at the beginning), the use of some of the phrases leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I understand that in 2006 people weren't in much light towards those kind of issues as we are today but still, that storyline hasn't aged well.
Another example is the body shaming, again another issue which wasn't as spoken about then as it is today but another storyline that didn't age well.
All that a side, the show is still enjoyable and Betty is a very loveable and sweet character who we get to see grow and become more confident as the seasons go on
ClareR (5603 KP) rated I Am, I Am, I Am in Books
Jul 30, 2020
I’m going to have to stop saying that I can’t read non-fiction, because clearly I can. This book was a quick, addictive read, and I vacillated between feeling voyeuristic and horrified. Maggie’s encounter with a man whilst she was walking on a mountain path, resulted in me telling my husband all about it, in detail. He asked me why I was reading it, it sounded horrifying (it was, but that’s where I stopped listening to him!). Another encounter whilst backpacking in South America had me holding my breath, and her illness as a child was upsetting in a different way - as all stories involving sick children do now that I have my own. The last story about her daughters serious allergies and many ‘blue light’ dashes to hospital, resounded with me in particular, and I found myself close to tears. Whilst my own child’s medical condition isn’t life threatening, he has certainly been hospitalised, had serious operations, and had his near death experience (luckily just the one). This is traumatic enough, but to have to be ever vigilant must be emotionally and physically exhausting.
I hesitate to use the word ‘wonderful’ when talking about a book about seventeen near death experiences, but I loved reading it, and would definitely recommend it.
I hesitate to use the word ‘wonderful’ when talking about a book about seventeen near death experiences, but I loved reading it, and would definitely recommend it.
ClareR (5603 KP) rated How To Save a Life in Books
Apr 16, 2024
This was a moving story about three school friends - one of whom goes into cardiac arrest on New Year’s Eve. Kerry begins CPR immediately, Tim freezes and finds himself unable to help, which is inconvenient as they both want to go to medical school. But when the paramedics arrive, Tim has at last started to help (even though Kerry has worked alone for about 15 minutes) and takes the praise as well as Kerry.
It’s here Tim starts to realise that being a doctor may not be what he thought it would be.
Kerry’s life takes a turn when she fails her A Levels, and Joel finds it hard to accept his heart condition and the changes he has to make in his life.
I liked that each of the characters had the chance to tell their story in alternating chapters. These characters experienced addiction, depression and other health conditions, and the main theme of the story, Joel’s heart condition, is revisited often. As are the mechanics of CPR, and it’s pointed out by the author that a persons life is more likely to be saved if you at least try.
This is a lovely, and often moving story. I really enjoyed it.
It’s here Tim starts to realise that being a doctor may not be what he thought it would be.
Kerry’s life takes a turn when she fails her A Levels, and Joel finds it hard to accept his heart condition and the changes he has to make in his life.
I liked that each of the characters had the chance to tell their story in alternating chapters. These characters experienced addiction, depression and other health conditions, and the main theme of the story, Joel’s heart condition, is revisited often. As are the mechanics of CPR, and it’s pointed out by the author that a persons life is more likely to be saved if you at least try.
This is a lovely, and often moving story. I really enjoyed it.
Rachel (48 KP) rated The Venetian: This Haunted World: Book 1 in Books
May 27, 2017
A Slow Burn
actually purchased this book by mistake, it's cover is similar to another novel, but I'm glad that I did!
This novel is certainly a slow burn, for the first 20% of it I was highly unimpressed. It felt flimsy and rushed, making it hard to sympathise with the main characters struggles. To be frank - I almost gave up on it. Suddenly, though, the story really kicks in and I read the remainder in one go.
This story is about anger,madness, betrayal and disappointment. It is also about survival, determination and love.
The main stage for the story is an island that is painted so vividly I can almost believe I have been there! The growing suspense and fear is skillfully built to a crescendo, the story woven between different times in just the right way. The ending is very satisfying - not a fairy tale where suddenly everything is perfect but instead a believable end note.
The medical practices described are even more distasteful and repugnant because they actually occurred. In fact a lot were very common sadly.
This would have been a 10/10 review had it not taken so long for the real, meaty story to start. Hopefully others who have purchased this book also continued with it and discovered this gem of a story.
This novel is certainly a slow burn, for the first 20% of it I was highly unimpressed. It felt flimsy and rushed, making it hard to sympathise with the main characters struggles. To be frank - I almost gave up on it. Suddenly, though, the story really kicks in and I read the remainder in one go.
This story is about anger,madness, betrayal and disappointment. It is also about survival, determination and love.
The main stage for the story is an island that is painted so vividly I can almost believe I have been there! The growing suspense and fear is skillfully built to a crescendo, the story woven between different times in just the right way. The ending is very satisfying - not a fairy tale where suddenly everything is perfect but instead a believable end note.
The medical practices described are even more distasteful and repugnant because they actually occurred. In fact a lot were very common sadly.
This would have been a 10/10 review had it not taken so long for the real, meaty story to start. Hopefully others who have purchased this book also continued with it and discovered this gem of a story.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Downsizing (2017) in Movies
Feb 3, 2018
Drink Me but you can't eat me
The story of Paul Safranek (Damon) whose life as a physical therapist wants more out of his life with his wife but, can't seem to grasp the brass ring. An medical procedure called Downsizing which not only can make Humans but, anything we use to live a fraction of it's size is the in thing to do. It is supposed to be the escape from your current life to a better life that is easier to bear and suppose to be good for the planet as well. Paul convinces his wife that this is they way for them to get a new start but, at the last minute fear gets the better of her. Now he his forced to live in this new version of the easy life with out her and he comes to realize that things aren't all that different from what he left and niether is the world around him. However one thing changes his prespective on life as he is learning to live it that makes him see the betterment of being one way over the other.
Not usually a Matt Damon fan but, in this movie he was really good. Not that this would win any oscars but, it should have been nominated for best original screenplay as this is a great original story.
Not usually a Matt Damon fan but, in this movie he was really good. Not that this would win any oscars but, it should have been nominated for best original screenplay as this is a great original story.
Sue (5 KP) rated The Coroner in Books
Aug 13, 2018
Emily Hartford seems to be doing well for herself with a promising surgical career in Chicago and having been recently engaged to a third-year surgical resident. Her world is turned upside down when she receives a call telling her that her estranged medical examiner father has suffered a major heart attack and she must come home.
Upon arrival at her hometown of Freeport, which she fled over 12 years ago after the mysterious death of her mother, Emily is pulled into an investigation. With her ME father unable to assist, Sheriff Nick Larson (Em’s old high school flame) asks her help in finding out if the sudden unexplained death of a Senator’s teen daughter was an accident or murder.
This book is engaging with several different stories going on at once. The first story is the mystery of the Senator’s daughter who was an equestrian, good student, and all around loved individual. How and why was she killed? The second story is about the relationship between Emily and her father. They once were so close, but with the mysterious accident her mother suffered leaving her dead, daughter and father have a rocky relationship. The third story is of Emily and trying to find out what she really wants in life.
The is a true mystery-suspense drama with a very surprising ending.
Upon arrival at her hometown of Freeport, which she fled over 12 years ago after the mysterious death of her mother, Emily is pulled into an investigation. With her ME father unable to assist, Sheriff Nick Larson (Em’s old high school flame) asks her help in finding out if the sudden unexplained death of a Senator’s teen daughter was an accident or murder.
This book is engaging with several different stories going on at once. The first story is the mystery of the Senator’s daughter who was an equestrian, good student, and all around loved individual. How and why was she killed? The second story is about the relationship between Emily and her father. They once were so close, but with the mysterious accident her mother suffered leaving her dead, daughter and father have a rocky relationship. The third story is of Emily and trying to find out what she really wants in life.
The is a true mystery-suspense drama with a very surprising ending.
Mini (45 KP) rated Jonathan (2018) in Movies
Jun 17, 2019 (Updated Jun 17, 2019)
Contains spoilers, click to show
Hey friends, this is a review of "Jonathan" also entitled "Duplicate" in other countries. It is a movie about D.I.D though it is referred to as 'multi-consciousness' in the movie. The movie is about the lives of two alters, Jonathan and John, brothers who share the same body. It follows their struggle to live the lives they want whilst sharing a body. As someone who has a friend with DID I thought I'd check out this film that I found on Netflix. While there are some very relatable moments in the film, it has a bittersweet ending that doesn't represent the reality of DID at all! For example, in the film, Jonathan discusses the 'removal'/death of alters. This can't happen with DID. Sure, alters can go 'dormant' which means they just don't front, but alters cannot 'die'.
For those with DID the triggers in this film are as follows: medical/hospital scenes, manipulation by a bad doctor/psychiatrist, brief mentions of sexual situations. There are also a few scenes involving self-harm, suicide attempts and urges, graphic self-removal of a brain implant/chip, gaps in memory, rapid switching, and the threat of suicide from an alter.
This film has a few good indications of DID but is sensationalised and gives the wrong impression. But hey, at least they aren't depicted as serial killers!!!
For those with DID the triggers in this film are as follows: medical/hospital scenes, manipulation by a bad doctor/psychiatrist, brief mentions of sexual situations. There are also a few scenes involving self-harm, suicide attempts and urges, graphic self-removal of a brain implant/chip, gaps in memory, rapid switching, and the threat of suicide from an alter.
This film has a few good indications of DID but is sensationalised and gives the wrong impression. But hey, at least they aren't depicted as serial killers!!!
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Contagion (2011) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020 (Updated Nov 26, 2020)
"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥!"
Totally unrealistic, not even a *single* scene where someone buys out all the toilet paper. In all seriousness, it's interesting to kick this around in terms of the current pandemic really only until this starts to take form of a narrative movie (a fucking bingo drawing for who gets the first vaccines? lmfao) rather than a "what if?" scenario - but it's never any less measured or just plain fun. Soderbergh's sickly, medical-esque digital palette coats a befitting film over a story with absolutely no regard for the sanctity of human life. I wish it retained most of the pure penchant for schadenfreude it did in its first hour before turning toward a more traditional route - characters being viciously snuffed out one after another without warning, paranoia cranked up to 11 (bystanders are the enemy, air is the enemy) but even still it does have a giddy love for the cruelty of dragging this world and its inhabitants through the wringer. Sacrifices depth for pure pacing perfection (favorably, might I add) in what is essentially a seamless series of montages that boast the same kind of uninterrupted inertia of (lesser) films such as 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦. And what a bitchin' score, no? Could have ended with more vigor, but very much succeeds as the business-casual 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.
Totally unrealistic, not even a *single* scene where someone buys out all the toilet paper. In all seriousness, it's interesting to kick this around in terms of the current pandemic really only until this starts to take form of a narrative movie (a fucking bingo drawing for who gets the first vaccines? lmfao) rather than a "what if?" scenario - but it's never any less measured or just plain fun. Soderbergh's sickly, medical-esque digital palette coats a befitting film over a story with absolutely no regard for the sanctity of human life. I wish it retained most of the pure penchant for schadenfreude it did in its first hour before turning toward a more traditional route - characters being viciously snuffed out one after another without warning, paranoia cranked up to 11 (bystanders are the enemy, air is the enemy) but even still it does have a giddy love for the cruelty of dragging this world and its inhabitants through the wringer. Sacrifices depth for pure pacing perfection (favorably, might I add) in what is essentially a seamless series of montages that boast the same kind of uninterrupted inertia of (lesser) films such as 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦. And what a bitchin' score, no? Could have ended with more vigor, but very much succeeds as the business-casual 𝘊𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.
AJaneClark (3962 KP) rated The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles, #1) in Books
Oct 2, 2019 (Updated Nov 24, 2019)
Rizzoli no isles
In Boston, there’s a killer on the loose. A killer who targets lone women, who breaks into their apartments and performs terrifying ritualistic acts of torture on his victims before finishing them off. His surgical skills lead police to suspect he is a physician - a physician who, instead of saving lives, takes them.
But as homicide detective Thomas Moore and partner Jane Rizzoli begin there investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful medic with a mysterious past. Two years ago she was subjected to a horrifying rape and attempted murder but shot her attacker dead. Now she is being targeted by this new killer who appears to know all about her past, her work at the Pilgrim Medical Center and where she lives. The man she believes she killed seems to be stalking her once again, and this time he knows exactly where to find her...
Gerritsen, has a way of writing that draws you in and keeps hold of you until the story comes to a natural close. It’s not drawn out in any of sense of the word, just long enough to hold the suspense. With some gruesome details dotted throughout, and an account of sexism is the homicide unit of Boston PD, it’s a great introduction to Rizzoli.
But as homicide detective Thomas Moore and partner Jane Rizzoli begin there investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful medic with a mysterious past. Two years ago she was subjected to a horrifying rape and attempted murder but shot her attacker dead. Now she is being targeted by this new killer who appears to know all about her past, her work at the Pilgrim Medical Center and where she lives. The man she believes she killed seems to be stalking her once again, and this time he knows exactly where to find her...
Gerritsen, has a way of writing that draws you in and keeps hold of you until the story comes to a natural close. It’s not drawn out in any of sense of the word, just long enough to hold the suspense. With some gruesome details dotted throughout, and an account of sexism is the homicide unit of Boston PD, it’s a great introduction to Rizzoli.