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CBorden (67 KP) rated Bright (2017) in Movies

Feb 1, 2018  
Bright (2017)
Bright (2017)
2017 | Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
It is what it is - fantasy action
Its no award winning movie, but for entertainment sake, if you love fantasy, and you love action, this movie is it! It takes both genres and bends them into each other. As a fantasy author, I LOVED the creativity shown in this movie, in the cultural inclusion/seclusion, the political nuances, and the crash of fantasy into a modern world that mirrors our own. There is a lot to be said about the parallels that can be drawn from this fantasy movie to current states of affairs in our world today. Sit back and enjoy, folks!
  
The One Who Wrote Destiny
The One Who Wrote Destiny
Nikesh Shukla | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sweet but thin storyline
Nikesh Shukla's latest literary escapade is sweet, exploring familial ties and how fate plays a role in this family. The narrators include terminal cancer patient Neha, Kenyan-born father Mukesh, and hapless comedian brother Rakesh, each playing a role in their so-called pre-determined destinies.

The writing is witty and it's always wonderful to hear voices that represent BAME communities in modern Britain. But unfortunately it is a little thin in plot and storyline. It is a host of voices speaking about their perspectives and intricately joining together. An easy read.
  
Sarah and Aidan Cooper find a note hidden in a desk that leads them on a wild adventure. Could it be that the Peter and the Starcatchers books were real?

The book starts off a little slowly, but once it gets going, it's a wild ride. It takes the world they've created in the previous books and brings it to modern day America, so be sure to read the others first, but if you liked them, you'll like this one, too.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-bridge-to-never-land-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Dean (6927 KP) rated Skyline (2010) in Movies

Feb 16, 2018  
Skyline (2010)
Skyline (2010)
2010 | Mystery, Sci-Fi
5
4.4 (7 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The trailer attracted me to see this a bit like the pretty blue lights in the film, despite the bad reviews. It was far from terrible, but I understand why most people didn't like it. I was hoping for something of a modern take on Independence day. In truth this only feels like one long drawn out segment of an alien invasion film. The SFX are pretty darn good, the cast was ok although hard to picture Donald Faison in anything but Scrubs. Then it ended abruptly in a rather strange way?! Let's hope the sequel feels more like a whole film.
  
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix (1999)
1999 | Action, Sci-Fi
The storyline (2 more)
The Idea
Cinematic Effects
If everyone shoots and no one hits, why bother? Action/Danger loses power with no consequences (0 more)
Existential Sci Fi at it's best.
A modern classic, everyone should see this once, and decide for themselves: the Red Pill or the Blue Pill.... a little bit of Trivia: All of the references to street corners (for example, Wells and Lake) are real intersections in Chicago, Illinois, The Wachowskis' hometown. The subway train has signs for "Loop," another Chicago reference.

Chicago is my hometown, and the best city in America.... but I'm Biased.
  
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Andy K (10823 KP) Mar 28, 2018

It's being released on 4K soon.

Dealer&#039;s Choice
Dealer's Choice
1972 | Economic
It's fun to have different values for the same car, and then bid accordingly (0 more)
one of the blue books wasn't balanced (0 more)
Not a great game by modern standards
This game has flaws, but it's a very simple game that was a lot of fun in it's time. I recently found a copy at a flea market and grabbed it for the memories... That said I still haven't pulled it out to play it. I'd be interested to see if it's still the same fun I had when I was a kid. Or if it just doesn't hold up. my guess is both.
  
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Erika (17789 KP) rated Fury (2014) in Movies

Mar 1, 2018  
Fury (2014)
Fury (2014)
2014 | Action, Drama, War
IMHO, this is one of the best modern war movies that's been made in the past few years. It's gritty, and the battle scenes are intense. Does Jon Bernthal really have to be a d-bag in everything? At least it worked in this film. I also always like seeing Shia LaBeouf in films, though he doesn't do many anymore. Michael Pena did a great job too, but he's one of my favorite actors. Logan Lerman did great portraying his character, and you really felt the terror he must have felt. Brad Pitt was basically playing LT Aldo Raine again, but it worked.
  
If you want to know anything behind the modern Middle East, this is the book for you. It does such a good job finding the foundations for the current mess in that area. Most of it stems from the First World War, and this book does focus on T.E. Lawrence (AKA Lawrence of Arabia). Lawrence was one of the people responsible for leaders in the Middle East to join WW1, but then after the war, the UK, France, and the US backtracked and made a complete mess out of everything. Overall, a great book to get some background on the situation.
  
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Clare Parrott (294 KP) rated Heat Wave in Books

Feb 13, 2018  
Heat Wave
Heat Wave
Penelope Lively | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
4
4.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A nice read with the action starting from the very first page when Marilee crashes her hot air balloon into Coles pool. I love the banter between them and there's quite a spark from the beginning but this book was written in the 80's and there is where it should have stayed. If its going to be re-released it should have had a modern revamp. This book has left me wanting... (bit like Marilee!) I'm sure if you brought it into the 'New Adult' genre it could be a 3.5 to 4 stars but sadly its a 2 for me.
  
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
1997 | Adventure, Sci-Fi
Great sequel to a modern classic!
The 2nd Jurassic Park film sometimes gets a bad wrap or lost among the several sequels which have followed, but this movie was actually quite good as well.

Just the right mix of returning and new characters for more dinos to scare, chase and feast upon. Several of the action sequences keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you intrigued the whole way through.

Some say the ending was over-the-top, but I loved every minute of it. Now would be the time to rewatch.