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Turning Forty
Turning Forty
Mike Gayle | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Good plot and easy to read (0 more)
Maybe too easy (0 more)
Typical Mike Gayle
I loved this book. Written in a first person point of view, the reader counts down the days with Matt, until his 40th birthday. The beginning of the novel see's Matt in his expensive house, admiring his new shed paid for by his high flying job. This false sense of security is short lived and the reader watches as the protagonist's life falls apart.

For me, this novel is all about the character's; Ginny, the back up plan, Gerry, the ex music idol and now charity shop manager, Rosa, the too young and too controlling girlfriend, and many many, more. These characters are believable and cringe worthy at the same time.
I think the most refreshing thing about the novel, however, is the ending. All the way through the story I held out hope for Matt, and the ending, although not exactly a fairytale ending, was realistic.

I love Mike Gayle's work, easy to read, believable, funny and sad, a real look at the idiosyncrasies of people.
  
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
2020 | Action, Comedy, Crime
408. Bad Boys for Life. I thought this was part 4, I think it's the Mandela Effect! I'm telling ya!! I guess the line "I'm getting to old for this shit" can only be said in Lethal Weapon, Martin Lawrence's character I think says every combination possible of that phrase. So in this one we get super sexy Isabel breaking out of the joint, and she has a hit list, all those peeps responsible for putting her away is about to get a visit, the last name on the list, our hero cop Mike Lowrey!! Now even though Marcus is ready to retire, he's pulled in for one more job! Well, until the real part 4 comes out! So why does super sexy Isabel want with Mike? Well, I won't tell you, but I can say conveniently enough, those events took place right before the original Bad Boys. They are some old ass street cops dang! Perspective... Lethal Weapon 4, Mel Gibson is ten years younger than Will Smith during Bad Boys for Life lol. It was entertaining!! Filmbufftim on FB
  
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Darren (1599 KP) rated 1408 (2007) in Movies

Jun 20, 2019  
1408 (2007)
1408 (2007)
2007 | Horror, Mystery
Story: With the story of a sceptic investigating paranormal events but then ends up stuck in these paranormal events he so very much doesn’t believe in, is a very clichéd story. This has most of this and adds in that he is a writer with a dark past involving loss you know where this is going. Mixing it all together we get the idea of redemption for the mistakes we may have done in life. One weak point of this film is that there are two endings that paint a very different picture of the events that happen in the film, I personally prefer the Director’s Cut as I find it has more answer than the Theatrical Cut. (8/10)

 

Actor Reviews

 

John Cusack: Mike Enslin after suffering a personal loss Mike travels around writing about so called haunted hotel and location, bringing out a string of top 10 books looking at his experiences or lack thereof. Mike gets a postcard and against all the advice of the hotel manager he enters the room 1408, were he really gets put to the test. Mike starts off being distant from people, be it fans or his general style of conversation, but soon after the events start happening he changes too quickly for what his character has been through. John does a good job with the role as most of the film is solely around him. (8/10)

 cusack

Samuel L. Jackson: Gerald Olin the manager of the Dolphin hotel trying to protect Mike from entering the room with all kinds of bribes, he tells the full history of the room but unfortunately lets him stay in the room. Good supporting performance from Jackson rarely seen, he is the dominant persona you would expect to see. (8/10)

sam

Director Review: Mikael Hafstrom – Creates some very good scares and keeps you guessing on what is going on, add in what I think is the better ending you get a very good piece of direction. (8/10)

 

Horror: Has some solid scares and some you really don’t see coming along with some nicely built up ones. (9/10)

Mystery: You are constantly wondering what is going on, but a lot is explained at the end. (9/10)

Thriller: Keeps you at the edge of your seat just wait to know what happens next. (9/10)

Settings: The hotel room feels very ordinary but once things starting to happen it turns into a nightmare, working very well for the genre. (9/10)
Special Effects: Strong special effects used throughout. (9/10)

Suggestion: If you are a fan of horror you will enjoy this, if you are a fan of Stephen King you will enjoy this otherwise this one isn’t really for you. (Horror Fans Watch)

 

Best Part: The vents scene.

Worst Part: The two different endings can confuse when talking about this film with others.

Scariest Scene: Vent scene.

Believability: I give this a one because there are people like Mike you investigate the paranormal, but what happens isn’t believable. (1/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $131,998,242

Budget: $25 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

Tagline: Based on the terrifying story by Stephen King

 

Overall: Good Atmospheric Horror

https://moviesreview101.com/2014/06/28/1408-2007/
  
ST
Star Trek, Volume 13
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Two arcs finish the line, the first reveals what happens to Spock prime in the Kelvin time line as he struggles against a threat to the remaining Vulcan population. Exceedingly well done, Mike Johnson captures the voice of Leonard Nimoys Spock perfectly.

The last two stories are a crossover of sorts between the time line crews, and while its mostly fan service, its good fun fan service. Great stuff, I hope the next version of Trek is as consistent and solid.
  
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Sean Baker recommended Naked (1993) in Movies (curated)

 
Naked (1993)
Naked (1993)
1993 | Drama
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Although Mike Leigh’s family dramas, such as High Hopes and Secrets & Lies, have had a more apparent influence on my work, Naked is my favorite film of Leigh’s. It’s in my top ten favorite films ever made. It’s an exhausting odyssey that never gets the characters (or the viewer) home again. “Tell me, love, are you aware of the effect you have on the average mammalian, Mancunian, XY-ly chromosome, slavering, lusty male member of the species?” Now, that’s dialogue!"

Source
  
This Is the Sea by The Waterboys
This Is the Sea by The Waterboys
1985 | Folk, Pop, Rock
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I suppose this is another more upbeat song. I feel like I can remember it from one of those Best of the ‘80s compilations from when I was a teenager, but unlike a lot of the songs from that era, it has a lot of real lived experience and heart to it. “Although these songs are in chronological order, this had an influence on me when we were touring with Klaxons in 2007. At the end of the tour I stayed in New York to write on my own for a few weeks. I’d read that Mike Scott from The Waterboys was living on the East Side, and I would walk around that area every day listening to “The Whole of the Moon” hoping I’d bump into him. Which I never did, unfortunately. “I love the story behind this track. Essentially, one night Mike Scott had been out drinking and he met this girl. As he walked her back to her apartment, he told her he was a songwriter and she said “Well, then write me a song now.” He looked up at the sky and there was a half crescent of the moon, and he wrote the first half of this song on the walk home, just to impress this girl. I was so blown away by the romance of that. “I would sit on this bench at a dog park and think ‘How do I summon that greatness in a song.’ A few days before I flew home, I wrote “Two Doors Down”, sat on that bench in that dog park. And I feel I’ve got Mike Scott to thank for that."

Source
  
YN
You're Next
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mike Wingate grew up in foster care, not even knowing his real last name. But as an adult he's going to need to figure out his past quickly because someone is out to kill him for it. What secret does his family hold? I felt this thriller was pretty slow getting going, but once it did, it was another roller coaster ride of action.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-youre-next-by-gregg-hurwitz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
TR
The Resurrection
Mike Duran | 2011
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ruby Case touches a young man and brings him back to life. As her little town reacts, she and her pastor uncover a very troubled history for the area. What does it all mean?

While not my normal genre, and I was captivated by this story and the characters. It was a well written debut novel, and I can't wait to see where the author goes next.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-resurrection-by-mike-duran.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Stranger Things  - Season 1
Stranger Things - Season 1
2016 | Horror, Sci-Fi
This series is one of my all time favourites! It's such a unique and strange concept that it must works perfectly! I love the whole plot line and how it flows so brilliantly into each episode. Mike is so brilliant and Millie makes an excellent Eleven and I couldn't imagine her being played by anyone else! The rest of that characters/actors are just as good! They all work so well together and have great on screen chemistry! Amazing series! Truly worth the watch!
  
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
2013 | Action, Drama
7
7.1 (20 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Mike Banning (Butler) is a Secret Service agent in the Presidential detail, and it could be argued a friend to the President; he even lands a punch in an opening boxing practice. All of that changes when, during a horrible automobile accident, the President’s wife is killed. Mike couldn’t save them both, so he chose to save the President. After making “the right call”, as his director (Angela Bassett) tells him; the President just couldn’t stand to be reminded of the failure and moves Mike to the Treasury. Mike wants back into the detail, and he gets his chance when a Korean terrorist infiltrates the White House and all of the fail safes in place to keep an incursion from happening. Banning jumps into action and becomes the only one left/able to save the President and his son.

Admittedly I am a Gerard Butler fan. I see this character as a watered-down, but trying really hard, version of John McLane ala Die Hard. Except the one liners feel forced, not funny, as does the unwarranted use of foul language. A New York cop is one thing for cursing, but it just doesn’t feel right seeing it come out of a Secret Service Agent. Morgan Freeman does an excellent job portraying a man making the tough decisions as Speaker Trumbull (the acting President for much of the movie); he makes mistakes and corrects his actions based on those mistakes. Aaron Eckhart is ok as the President, but doesn’t have the gravity needed to really pull that level of authority off; he is very much an every-man version of the President. His relationship with his son and that of Banning’s and the President’s son is very believable and heartfelt.

While action packed and fast paced; the plot is wholly unbelievable. Maybe I’m just an arrogant American, but I highly doubt the sheer number of protocols that were breached would actually happen. It felt like Eckhart’s character was overriding them through the whole attack sequence. I actually could believe the amount of time it took to respond to the call, but I’ve been to the North Lawn, and could see the snipers from the street and on the surrounding buildings. The White House is just too protected to make an assault like the one depicted.

I enjoyed the movie as long as I didn’t think too much about what was actually happening.