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Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Tattooist (2018) in Movies
Sep 28, 2021
The most unusual film I think I’ve ever reviewed on One Mann’s Movies, but very interesting. As horror goes, it’s short, sharp and horrific!
Positives:
Well! This should be a case study for Zack Snyder that you don’t need a film to be a bladder-busting 242 minutes in order to tell a story. At just 80 seconds long, this is a masterclass in subliminal editing.
The film is both disturbing and quirky. Is the tattooist just day-dreaming? Is what he is thinking about down in his shop’s cellar right now? Is the semi-naked girl on the table to be next? All questions and no answers are forthcoming!
It’s impressive when you think of all of the production design that had to go into making each of those subliminal shots (e.g. the still below). As in Wong’s previous short film (“The Story of 90 Coins“), the lighting and cinematography is first rate.
Negatives:
None. For what it is, it’s very impressive.
Positives:
Well! This should be a case study for Zack Snyder that you don’t need a film to be a bladder-busting 242 minutes in order to tell a story. At just 80 seconds long, this is a masterclass in subliminal editing.
The film is both disturbing and quirky. Is the tattooist just day-dreaming? Is what he is thinking about down in his shop’s cellar right now? Is the semi-naked girl on the table to be next? All questions and no answers are forthcoming!
It’s impressive when you think of all of the production design that had to go into making each of those subliminal shots (e.g. the still below). As in Wong’s previous short film (“The Story of 90 Coins“), the lighting and cinematography is first rate.
Negatives:
None. For what it is, it’s very impressive.
Intrusion (Reflections #4)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Jess awoke to a world she doesn’t really understand, hounded by impulses that are quite literally...
Young Adult Paranormal Romance Short Story
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated You Can stay in Books
Dec 12, 2023
193 of 235
Book
You Can Stay
By Elle Connel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She's the perfect host. He's the perfect victim.
Someone is hunting Connor. Alone, freezing, in the wilderness of Bodmin Moor, on an elite Special Forces training exercise, he'd be a fool to scorn the kindness of a local stranger. Wouldn't he?
At first, Eilidh seems to be an impeccable host. She offers Connor food and a warm bed - he finds it nearly impossible to leave her charming farmhouse.
But the choice isn't his to make.
There have been others before. None, though, as perfect as him.
Why would she let him leave?
This was really good and a lesson to any man not to stick it places he really shouldn’t. Conner a soldier in training for the elite special forces becames the unfortunate house guest of Eilidah and things go south pretty quickly. Well written and such a good read.
Book
You Can Stay
By Elle Connel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She's the perfect host. He's the perfect victim.
Someone is hunting Connor. Alone, freezing, in the wilderness of Bodmin Moor, on an elite Special Forces training exercise, he'd be a fool to scorn the kindness of a local stranger. Wouldn't he?
At first, Eilidh seems to be an impeccable host. She offers Connor food and a warm bed - he finds it nearly impossible to leave her charming farmhouse.
But the choice isn't his to make.
There have been others before. None, though, as perfect as him.
Why would she let him leave?
This was really good and a lesson to any man not to stick it places he really shouldn’t. Conner a soldier in training for the elite special forces becames the unfortunate house guest of Eilidah and things go south pretty quickly. Well written and such a good read.
David McK (3280 KP) rated The Witcher - Season 2 in TV
Apr 10, 2022
Not having played any of the games (although I have read some of the earlier books) one of the key problem's with Netflix first season of 'The Witcher', I found, was the way it jumped around timelines with no real clear 'this is set in <period>' shown.
That aspect, thankfully, is almost entirely done away with in the second season which, as a result, means it is far easier to follow just what is going on!
Set in the aftermath of the Battle of Floden field, with Geralt and Ciri now reunited and with Geralt also believing Yennefer to be dead, this season also introduces more members of the group to which he belongs; that is to say, more Witchers.
I found the season overall to be a bit hit and miss: when the episodes were good, they were very good, but when they were bad ... they were bad.
None the less, still interestied to see where this goes!
That aspect, thankfully, is almost entirely done away with in the second season which, as a result, means it is far easier to follow just what is going on!
Set in the aftermath of the Battle of Floden field, with Geralt and Ciri now reunited and with Geralt also believing Yennefer to be dead, this season also introduces more members of the group to which he belongs; that is to say, more Witchers.
I found the season overall to be a bit hit and miss: when the episodes were good, they were very good, but when they were bad ... they were bad.
None the less, still interestied to see where this goes!
David McK (3280 KP) rated She-Hulk: Attorney at Law in TV
Oct 16, 2022
I'm sorry to say this, but - to me, at least - it feels like Marvel has been on something of a decline ever since 'Avengers: Endgame', with none of the Disney+ TV series (all of which have been unique in their format, at least), really 'sticking the landing'.
I could probably best describe this by the 6 words I heard my mum (who doesn't really watch any of the Marvel stuff) say when she saw a bit of an episode of this:
"What on earth is this rubbish?"
While, personally, that was maybe a bit strong for me - I wouldn't go quite as far as calling it rubbish - it does more-or-less reflect my feelings on the show: for a (supposed) sit-com, there's very little funny in it, with what comedy there is being painful to watch rather than amusing.
Does bring Charlie Cox's Daredevil back into the fold, though (eventually), and really REALLY leans heavily into trolling its own fans ...
I could probably best describe this by the 6 words I heard my mum (who doesn't really watch any of the Marvel stuff) say when she saw a bit of an episode of this:
"What on earth is this rubbish?"
While, personally, that was maybe a bit strong for me - I wouldn't go quite as far as calling it rubbish - it does more-or-less reflect my feelings on the show: for a (supposed) sit-com, there's very little funny in it, with what comedy there is being painful to watch rather than amusing.
Does bring Charlie Cox's Daredevil back into the fold, though (eventually), and really REALLY leans heavily into trolling its own fans ...
David McK (3280 KP) rated The Sixth Sense (1999) in Movies
Feb 12, 2023
"I see dead people ..."
So, this film is now nearly 25 years old.
I'd never seen it.
That was mainly because I'd had the twist spoilt for me when it first came out: I was at university, doing a course on film and fiction circa 2000, and the lecturer came out with "and so, as we all now know ..." (I didn't) ".. the twist in the film is that ..."
So, yeah, I saw little point in watching it after that.
I *had* seen a few of M Night Shyamalan other films that were released later ("Signs", "Unbreakable" or "The Happening", for instance), but never really thought they were anything above average.
None the less, I decided - when I came across this on Disney+ - that it was time to go right back to 1999, right back to before Shyamalan became known for his twists, just to see if the movie held up.
It did.
Mostly.
I'd never seen it.
That was mainly because I'd had the twist spoilt for me when it first came out: I was at university, doing a course on film and fiction circa 2000, and the lecturer came out with "and so, as we all now know ..." (I didn't) ".. the twist in the film is that ..."
So, yeah, I saw little point in watching it after that.
I *had* seen a few of M Night Shyamalan other films that were released later ("Signs", "Unbreakable" or "The Happening", for instance), but never really thought they were anything above average.
None the less, I decided - when I came across this on Disney+ - that it was time to go right back to 1999, right back to before Shyamalan became known for his twists, just to see if the movie held up.
It did.
Mostly.
Merissa (11830 KP) rated Down and Dirty (Cole McGinnis #5) in Books
May 30, 2023
The first 65% or so of this book is going over what has happened in the previous books, but you see it from Ichi and/or Bobby's point of view. This gives you a more rounded view of what has happened, so it helps to put everything into perspective.
As is said in the book, Ichi is an old soul so it doesn't seem that much of an age gap between Bobby and Ichi. This also means that there is little or none of the miscommunication that appears prevalent in some cases. These two actually talk things out, which is really refreshing to read.
Claudia does her business in keeping her boys in line and all is good with the world. I would definitely say that this book adds a certain zing to the Cole McGinnis series. Definitely recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 20, 2016
As is said in the book, Ichi is an old soul so it doesn't seem that much of an age gap between Bobby and Ichi. This also means that there is little or none of the miscommunication that appears prevalent in some cases. These two actually talk things out, which is really refreshing to read.
Claudia does her business in keeping her boys in line and all is good with the world. I would definitely say that this book adds a certain zing to the Cole McGinnis series. Definitely recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 20, 2016
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1) in Books
Jun 4, 2023
72 of 235
Book
Dark Lover (Blackdagger Brotherhood 1)
By J.R Ward
Reread
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.
The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.
This is my first reread and I loved it more the second time round!! This series definitely need a second round!
Book
Dark Lover (Blackdagger Brotherhood 1)
By J.R Ward
Reread
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.
The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.
This is my first reread and I loved it more the second time round!! This series definitely need a second round!
David McK (3280 KP) rated Implacable (The Lost Fleet: Outlands #3) in Books
Jul 14, 2024 (Updated Jul 14, 2024)
Imagine, if you will, you've turned up uninvited at a new friends house, just as they are about to host a party.
Whilst surprised to see you, they none-the-less invite you in and introduce you to their friends (new to you).
Then your own relatives, who only have a passing relationship with your mate, start showing up uninvited as well; start being pass-remarkable, making demands and throwing their weight around.
That's pretty much the situation facing Admiral 'Black Jack' Geary, out beyond the frontiers of human space, in this the latest novel in the long-running 'Lost Fleet' series, with - as it turns out - experimental (and dangerous) jump space technology leaked to those left behind after he started his journey - technology that makes everything, in the words of one character 'more so'.
The result is another enjoyable read in the series, with plenty of plot threads left hanging for the inevitable sequel.
Whilst surprised to see you, they none-the-less invite you in and introduce you to their friends (new to you).
Then your own relatives, who only have a passing relationship with your mate, start showing up uninvited as well; start being pass-remarkable, making demands and throwing their weight around.
That's pretty much the situation facing Admiral 'Black Jack' Geary, out beyond the frontiers of human space, in this the latest novel in the long-running 'Lost Fleet' series, with - as it turns out - experimental (and dangerous) jump space technology leaked to those left behind after he started his journey - technology that makes everything, in the words of one character 'more so'.
The result is another enjoyable read in the series, with plenty of plot threads left hanging for the inevitable sequel.