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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2402 KP) rated The Secret of the Caves (Hardy Boys, #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The Hardys are dealing with two cases. While their father works on sabotage at a local security station, Frank and Joe head to a college to try to find a missing professor. But the trail leads them to some caves south of Bayport. What exactly will they find there?
This was actually the first Hardy Boys books I picked up many years ago, and it was fun to revisit. I didn’t remember much about the mystery, so it kept me guessing until the end. I did find the ending very rushed and the characters flat, but I still had fun revisiting them.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-secret-of-caves-by-franklin.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was actually the first Hardy Boys books I picked up many years ago, and it was fun to revisit. I didn’t remember much about the mystery, so it kept me guessing until the end. I did find the ending very rushed and the characters flat, but I still had fun revisiting them.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-secret-of-caves-by-franklin.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dean (6927 KP) rated The Cell (2000) in Movies
Feb 16, 2018
Finally watched this at long last hearing it was a good film for a while now. It's very unique and very stylish. It starts off similar to The silence of the lambs, with a serial killer on the loose who is getting bolder which each new victim. They track him down but he has a seizure and with the latest victim still missing they need to find her quick! Using a sort of virtual reality programme J.Lo must enter his mind to find the answers.
A very good film, if quite weird during the dream scenes but these also look excellent, very surreal and elaborate. You will enjoy this if you like serial killer films, horrors and the just plain weird!
A very good film, if quite weird during the dream scenes but these also look excellent, very surreal and elaborate. You will enjoy this if you like serial killer films, horrors and the just plain weird!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Despicable Me 3 (2017) in Movies
Mar 31, 2018
An unnecessary sequel
It's getting to be a shame that they keep making these films. The first one was great, the second alright and the standalone Minions film was terrible. Sadly this third film is nothing to write home about.
It's not terrible, it's just missing the magic from the original film. Bratt is admittedly a fun bad guy and the 80s theme is actually quite entertaining. It's just a shame that the rest of the film is a little lacklustre and almost boring. There's not a lot of humour, and the minions aren't featured as much as they used to which is a bad move. It's just an entirely unnecessary sequel, and I really wish they had just left it after the first film.
It's not terrible, it's just missing the magic from the original film. Bratt is admittedly a fun bad guy and the 80s theme is actually quite entertaining. It's just a shame that the rest of the film is a little lacklustre and almost boring. There's not a lot of humour, and the minions aren't featured as much as they used to which is a bad move. It's just an entirely unnecessary sequel, and I really wish they had just left it after the first film.
The Marinated Meeple (1853 KP) rated American Gods - Season 1 in TV
Feb 13, 2018
Acting (1 more)
premise
I was hoping for so much more, yet it delivered, but not what it could've.
I read the book a while back, and had forgotten enough of it for this to feel new. But although it was pretty and gritty the way it should be, it was missing something that I can't put my finger on. The scenes were confusing on purpose, so you didn't really understand what's going on the way the lead charecter didn't. I think it would have been much better if you'd been let in on the secrets earlier on, and got to see the whole thing unfold. instead you have to watch it again to really get it, and by that point you really don't want to revisit it.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies
May 28, 2018
Bad mustache, decent movie
The impressive cast assembled for this film is definitely the high point in this latest remake. "Perfect" looking movies like this are always very pretty, but almost too good. The train/outdoor CGI looked a little fake to me and took me out of the film during a few of the outdoor shots.
The acting was all very good and the complicated story was interesting and kept me guessing as to the eventual perpetrator; however, I thought it was a tad anticlimactic.
The suspects slowly reveal their motives and partial truths which make the ending a little more interesting.
Overall, I was never bored while watching, but just thought it was missing something which kept it from greatness.
The acting was all very good and the complicated story was interesting and kept me guessing as to the eventual perpetrator; however, I thought it was a tad anticlimactic.
The suspects slowly reveal their motives and partial truths which make the ending a little more interesting.
Overall, I was never bored while watching, but just thought it was missing something which kept it from greatness.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Marvel's Iron Fist - Season 1 in TV
Aug 7, 2018
This series is by far the weakest of the first batch of Defenders components on Netflix, and I really didn't like Jessica Jones. It really feels like a poorly executed version of DC's Arrow - the characters and storylines are so very similar (rich boy goes missing, comes back with new talents, friends' father is an evil mastermind, corruption). There was nowhere near enough action for what should have been a very heavily kung-fu based series. The series was padded out to make the necessary 13 episodes, and there was a lot of nothing in between. Good to have some of the Iron Fist background but this was badly carried out (compared to the excellent equivalent in Luke Cage!).
Glad I got through it at last.
Glad I got through it at last.
Sue (5 KP) rated Healthy Meal Prep: Time-Saving Plans to Prep and Portion Your Weekly Meals in Books
Aug 13, 2018
Meal prepping is the “in” thing for anyone that has a busy lifestyle. You take one day to shop and prep so that you don’t have to take the time later on.
What I like most about this cookbook is that the meal selections were not only easy to prepare but used wholesome and nutritious ingredients. You could easily swap for veggies that your family enjoy or even add more to fill up your plate and give you more fiber. But what do you expect from a book written by a dietician?!
This book is filled with not only meal plans and recipes, but tips, shopping lists, and great storage solutions. The only thing missing for this foodie were pictures.
What I like most about this cookbook is that the meal selections were not only easy to prepare but used wholesome and nutritious ingredients. You could easily swap for veggies that your family enjoy or even add more to fill up your plate and give you more fiber. But what do you expect from a book written by a dietician?!
This book is filled with not only meal plans and recipes, but tips, shopping lists, and great storage solutions. The only thing missing for this foodie were pictures.
speaker357 (212 KP) rated The Greatest Showman (2017) in Movies
Oct 2, 2018 (Updated Jun 14, 2019)
Hugh Jackman singing again! (2 more)
Circus oddities!
Broadway music.
Michelle Williams (Honestly, I just don't like her.) (1 more)
Too family friendly to truly paint Barnum's character.
A glance into the antics of P.T. Barnum
I do genuinely enjoy this movie, it's got a really great story that starts with a adolescent Barnum realizing what may be his calling all while pursuing a young girl. As the story progresses he begins to use the methods which gave him the prestige he's earned.
For the most part I believe that this is pretty close to the truth. Missing some of the few antics that I recalled from reading the "48 Laws of Power."
Overall, I think I wish that they showed the true colors of Barnum.
For the most part I believe that this is pretty close to the truth. Missing some of the few antics that I recalled from reading the "48 Laws of Power."
Overall, I think I wish that they showed the true colors of Barnum.
Milleen (47 KP) rated Reservoir 13 in Books
Nov 14, 2018 (Updated Nov 14, 2018)
This is a slow meditative read but that is the skill of McGregor's hypnotic prose. A girl goes missing and the nearby village and it's inhabitants react to the trauma, search the surrounding moors and resevoirs and then absorb the loss in their everyday lives. The absense of drama makes this novel more of a continuing observation, pulling you into the intensity of the local community as time passes. McGregor notices the little things that compose life, the seasons, nature and the thread of unease that haunts the the village as life continues. This has won many awards and it's an outstanding piece of literature, not for any dramatic narrative but in recognition of McGregor's skillfully crafted depiction of life after tragedy.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Our Souls at Night (2017) in Movies
Jan 2, 2019
Heartwarming... but kind of pointless
Of course always love seeing screen legends together again; however, they really didn't have much to do in this film.
When an aging woman decides to spice up her life by asking her neighborhood infamous fellow senior to come spend the night at her house, they become the talk of the small town. Both reveal intimate details of their lives to each other as their friendship grows. Soon, her grandson comes to live with her and the three of them enjoy each other's company.
I was never bored while watching this film, but afterwards I kind of felt it was missing a point. If you enjoy slice of life films you will love this one.
When an aging woman decides to spice up her life by asking her neighborhood infamous fellow senior to come spend the night at her house, they become the talk of the small town. Both reveal intimate details of their lives to each other as their friendship grows. Soon, her grandson comes to live with her and the three of them enjoy each other's company.
I was never bored while watching this film, but afterwards I kind of felt it was missing a point. If you enjoy slice of life films you will love this one.