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David McK (3632 KP) rated Tomb Raider (2018) in Movies
Jul 21, 2019 (Updated Mar 27, 2022)
Reboot movie based on rebooted series!
Bog-standard movie based on a video-game itself (largely) taking inspiration from a series of movies - Indiana Jane, anyone? - with the more recent entries in that game series seeming to take inspiration from the 'Uncharted' series of games (which is ironic, as they took inspiration from the earlier Tomb Raider games!)
In this one, Alicia Vikander takes over the role of a - very different than previous - Lara Croft, a younger version of the character who has not yet become the eponymous Tomb Raider we are all familiar with (and on which Angelina Jolie based her portrayal). If anyone has played the 2013(ish) Tomb Raider game, there's really no surprises here, with elements of the plot - and, indeed, some of the more memorable scenes - almost lifted wholesale from that game.
In this one, Alicia Vikander takes over the role of a - very different than previous - Lara Croft, a younger version of the character who has not yet become the eponymous Tomb Raider we are all familiar with (and on which Angelina Jolie based her portrayal). If anyone has played the 2013(ish) Tomb Raider game, there's really no surprises here, with elements of the plot - and, indeed, some of the more memorable scenes - almost lifted wholesale from that game.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Red (Dead World, #1) in Books
Jan 18, 2018
After being utterly disappointed by the Servant Series written by L.L. Foster, I was so hesitant to this series that I completely forgot about it until I was recently cleaning out my shelves. It was a spur of the moment decision to read it instead of just giving it away: I couldnt put the book down.
At first, I cringed when it came off as another paranormal romance where the lead female, Red, is strong and independent to the point of annoyance. I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. The beginning does show her to be quite capable of taking care of herself, but Summers does not make her a one woman army. Summers also gives Red very human female emotions. Red does not close herself off from the world and her emotions, she gets scared, angry, sexually frustrated, all without fighting said emotions. It was so refreshing, I almost cried.
Not only that but Morgan, the lead male protagonist, was not so overbearingly male that it hurt. Yes, he did try to take control of investigation, only so Red would not figure his big secret out. That was completely believable, as was his alpha male attitude that did not completely run his life. I liked that Summers did not make Morgan the be all the end all male that most male protagonists usually are. She made his cousin Kane, more attractive, but Red still feel for Morgan, another scenario so rare to paranormal romance.
The only issue I had with this novel is that it is placed in the near future with great advancements in technology. While I enjoyed the world that Summers created, it was sometime hard to follow or understand the technology and government. I gathered enough that it did not hinder the enjoyment of the story.
At first, I cringed when it came off as another paranormal romance where the lead female, Red, is strong and independent to the point of annoyance. I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. The beginning does show her to be quite capable of taking care of herself, but Summers does not make her a one woman army. Summers also gives Red very human female emotions. Red does not close herself off from the world and her emotions, she gets scared, angry, sexually frustrated, all without fighting said emotions. It was so refreshing, I almost cried.
Not only that but Morgan, the lead male protagonist, was not so overbearingly male that it hurt. Yes, he did try to take control of investigation, only so Red would not figure his big secret out. That was completely believable, as was his alpha male attitude that did not completely run his life. I liked that Summers did not make Morgan the be all the end all male that most male protagonists usually are. She made his cousin Kane, more attractive, but Red still feel for Morgan, another scenario so rare to paranormal romance.
The only issue I had with this novel is that it is placed in the near future with great advancements in technology. While I enjoyed the world that Summers created, it was sometime hard to follow or understand the technology and government. I gathered enough that it did not hinder the enjoyment of the story.
Scarlett Gauthier (0 KP) rated Gemina: The Illuminae Files: Book 2 in Books
Mar 17, 2018
This series continues to amaze me! While I feel like I slightly liked Illuminae a little bit more, Gemina was still completely amazing! I loved the new characters, and was just as emotionally attached to them as I had been to the ones in the first book. The writing style was just as good if not better than Illuminae, especially some parts at the end, including pages that had me turning the book upside down and sideways and just some truly amazing pages that I can’t talk about without spoilers. And the twists! I seriously don’t know how I’m going to wait over two months for Obsidio. This has easily become one of my favorite series ever!
I really enjoyed this series and I feel like it was just the right length.
I liked the split between present day and their time in Australia as the left you trying to guess how they had got to the present day situation. At the start I did make a prediction that was right but only because it was obvious but it was the how they got to that point that was the reveal not the event itself.
My loyalties were switching between people as new bits of information and backstories were revealed.
I would recommend this series if you are looking for a short drama especially one with a bit of crime/ mystery.
I liked the split between present day and their time in Australia as the left you trying to guess how they had got to the present day situation. At the start I did make a prediction that was right but only because it was obvious but it was the how they got to that point that was the reveal not the event itself.
My loyalties were switching between people as new bits of information and backstories were revealed.
I would recommend this series if you are looking for a short drama especially one with a bit of crime/ mystery.
David McK (3632 KP) rated Deathwish (Cal Leandros, #4) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Fourth book in Rob(yn) Thurman's Cal Leandros series, I found this one to be both slower moving and harder to get into than the previous novels in the series.
This, I believe, is also the first book in which Thurman splits the narration between the two brothers: the problem with that being, as another reviewer rightly pointed out, that both brothers 'sound' exactly the same, meaning that (quite often) it's easy to get confused about who is narrating! Would have worked better if each of the brothers had their own tone more than they do, rather than sound like clones of each other (which they are emphatically described as being not) ...
This, I believe, is also the first book in which Thurman splits the narration between the two brothers: the problem with that being, as another reviewer rightly pointed out, that both brothers 'sound' exactly the same, meaning that (quite often) it's easy to get confused about who is narrating! Would have worked better if each of the brothers had their own tone more than they do, rather than sound like clones of each other (which they are emphatically described as being not) ...
book sparrow (239 KP) rated Pretty Broken Dolls (Pretty Little Dolls #4) in Books
Dec 16, 2019
This book wasn't my favourite out of the series yes it had twists and turns quite a few i saw coming , I'm not the biggest fan of viktor and i don't like elizabeth.
Viktor ok ish but beth....... iv been through crap that should have sent me more bat shit crazy than beth and yes i know "she has the crazy genes" but her character for me was flat and i just didn't like her in it. Benny was still on top form as usual. I missed jade she was my fave from the start and she kinda faded out in this book x but as a whole it was an amazing ride (the whole series )
Viktor ok ish but beth....... iv been through crap that should have sent me more bat shit crazy than beth and yes i know "she has the crazy genes" but her character for me was flat and i just didn't like her in it. Benny was still on top form as usual. I missed jade she was my fave from the start and she kinda faded out in this book x but as a whole it was an amazing ride (the whole series )
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Reign of Four: Books III and IV
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Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Soul Stripper (Soul Stripper, #1) in Books
Jan 8, 2021
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. I have literally just finished reading this and I'm impressed.
In a way it reminded me of Richelle Mead's "Georgina Kincaid" series with the succubus and not wanting to sleep with the good guy but in other ways it didn't.
The storyline was both interesting and fun and I found myself needing to keep reading so I could find out who was killing the other succubi and I have to admit I wasn't disappointed--though I did guess half right.
I enjoyed it enough to keep reading the series and will look forward to the next book when it is released later in the year.
Wow. I have literally just finished reading this and I'm impressed.
In a way it reminded me of Richelle Mead's "Georgina Kincaid" series with the succubus and not wanting to sleep with the good guy but in other ways it didn't.
The storyline was both interesting and fun and I found myself needing to keep reading so I could find out who was killing the other succubi and I have to admit I wasn't disappointed--though I did guess half right.
I enjoyed it enough to keep reading the series and will look forward to the next book when it is released later in the year.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Dexter - Season 2 in TV
Oct 21, 2020
Binge worthy
Finally making my way through Dexter. Finished the first series a while back and plenty more to get through. I don't really binge watch many TV shows but this show is the equivalent of a book you can't put down. I've got through the 12 episodes in less than a week.
Continuing on from the first Dexter is under greater scrunity than ever before and has things spinning out of his control. More great revelations going back to his past unravel.
This is just as good if not better than the 1st series. If you missed Dexter when it was first on, like me, then definitely move it to the top of your watch list!
Continuing on from the first Dexter is under greater scrunity than ever before and has things spinning out of his control. More great revelations going back to his past unravel.
This is just as good if not better than the 1st series. If you missed Dexter when it was first on, like me, then definitely move it to the top of your watch list!