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War of the Cards
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Book
Colleen Oakes’s twisted reimagining of the Queen of Hearts origin story comes to a thrilling...
Alma and How She Got Her Name
Book
What's in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came...
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies
Jan 31, 2020
Like a mash up of ‘Falling Down’ and ‘ The King Of Comedy’ this take on the Joker origin story was hugely satisfying and should be praised for doing something different and very un-comic book with the material . I could see where the story was going and wasn’t hugely surprised by how it ended , but the journey there..WOW. Joaquin Phoenix is simply outstanding as Arthur Fleck/Joker and if there is any justice in the world should surely be showered with awards for his mesmerising and twisted performance. Like Michael Douglas in ‘Falling Down’ you know he’s supposed to be “the bad guy” but you can’t help but sympathise with him after the shitty hand society has dealt him. Solid support also comes from Robert DeNiro in a small but memorable role. Highly recommended.
Sharpie0499 (114 KP) rated Marvel's Jessica Jones - Season 2 in TV
Jul 11, 2018
Jessica Jones origin (1 more)
Character development
Weaker than Season 1 (1 more)
Trish was annoying
Adequate Season
Contains spoilers, click to show
As a huge Jessica Jones fan, I was excited for Season 2. But when watching it, I felt a little disappointed as I had waited 3 years for an merely adequate season. Don't get me wrong, I was glad we got to see Jessica's origin story as it wasn't fully explained in Season 1. I was also happy to see all of the main characters developing, which they failed to do in Season 1. I was a bit annoyed by Trish this season as she became a completely different character to how she was portrayed in Season 1, but this could be down to the enhancement drugs she was on. I was extremely happy at Jessica's new love interest, Oscar, and his son, Vido, and how the three of them became a family-like group. Even though I felt let down by this season, I would still watch Season 3 to see where the show goes and because I am still a fan of Jessica Jones as a character.
Steph Freeman (26 KP) rated Black Panther (2018) in Movies
Feb 21, 2018 (Updated Feb 21, 2018)
Excellent character development within the movie. (3 more)
No need to be a comic book "nerd", this story has something for everyone.
Accuracy in the culture (as much as can be expected for the genre).
Cinematography and costumes were superb.
Not Just Another Origin Story
As someone who knew nothing about comic books, their stories, and their characters prior to the last 15 year influx of Marvel and DC movies, I love the origin stories. It allows me to learn about the character, the world, and the connections between them without having to figure it out between punches or laser beams. This story delivered all of the above, with a fair amount of ass kicking in the meantime.
Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, and Danai Gurira were an amazing protagonist team, with Martin Freeman and Michael B. Jordan rounding out the character archetypes beautifully. The costumes, make up, and cinematography were gorgeous, but the real star of the movie for me was Letitia Wright. Her comedic timing and her elegance made Shuri the best supporting role I have watched in a long time.
I don't know a lot about the culture in Africa, a terrible oversight of my American education, but I do have friends from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Togo who were very excited to see their culture represented in such a blockbuster film. It was refreshing to see something so beautiful that will hopefully inspire young Americans to learn about a culture outside of our borders.
Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, and Danai Gurira were an amazing protagonist team, with Martin Freeman and Michael B. Jordan rounding out the character archetypes beautifully. The costumes, make up, and cinematography were gorgeous, but the real star of the movie for me was Letitia Wright. Her comedic timing and her elegance made Shuri the best supporting role I have watched in a long time.
I don't know a lot about the culture in Africa, a terrible oversight of my American education, but I do have friends from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Togo who were very excited to see their culture represented in such a blockbuster film. It was refreshing to see something so beautiful that will hopefully inspire young Americans to learn about a culture outside of our borders.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies
Oct 10, 2019 (Updated Oct 10, 2019)
Joaquin Phoenix (2 more)
Great cinematography
A realistic origin story
Send in the Clowns
I've been looking forward to this since seeing the Trailers a while ago. Also the fact that it appears to be a dark, gritty more realistic origin story. Looking and feeling more like a film set in our society, rather than Gotham city. There are enough hints and elements to the film to give it the DC universe setting. It was nice to see these touches in the film.
This film won't be for everyone. It is a slow burner, character driven piece with little action to speak of. It does showcase Joaquin Phoenix talents though in a performance that must make him the favourite for the Best Actor Oscar. It's a dark film, showing his descent into madness, not coping with his mental illness with a bleak look at his past as well. Set against a backdrop of civil unrest in the city. There are obvious comparisons with @Taxi Driver (1976) which had similar themes. It's also quite violent in places but I think compared to many other films it's no worse than you would expect.
Overall I think this could be a modern classic and definitely deserves high praise for the cinematography, which is very artistically shot and the acting. It's Phoenix's portrayal of Joker that this film will be remembered for.
This film won't be for everyone. It is a slow burner, character driven piece with little action to speak of. It does showcase Joaquin Phoenix talents though in a performance that must make him the favourite for the Best Actor Oscar. It's a dark film, showing his descent into madness, not coping with his mental illness with a bleak look at his past as well. Set against a backdrop of civil unrest in the city. There are obvious comparisons with @Taxi Driver (1976) which had similar themes. It's also quite violent in places but I think compared to many other films it's no worse than you would expect.
Overall I think this could be a modern classic and definitely deserves high praise for the cinematography, which is very artistically shot and the acting. It's Phoenix's portrayal of Joker that this film will be remembered for.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Before Watchmen: Rorschach in Books
Nov 22, 2019
Having already had as much of an origin story as I think we're likely to get, in the Nite Owl component of the series, this book serves as an additional story to show Rorschach in action alone.
The book demonstrates his determination to seek justice, despite everything thrown at him, which we see later in the Watchmen book proper.
Rorschach is determined to try and clean up the streets and seeks out the pimps and drug dealers he feels are responsible for the state of New York. This is in the midst of The Bard, a serial killer preying on women and writing poetry on their bodies. Interestingly, these two stories work in parallel, Rorschach only catching up to deal out justice in the final pages. This goes against the reader's expectations and was a nice contra-twist.
The book demonstrates his determination to seek justice, despite everything thrown at him, which we see later in the Watchmen book proper.
Rorschach is determined to try and clean up the streets and seeks out the pimps and drug dealers he feels are responsible for the state of New York. This is in the midst of The Bard, a serial killer preying on women and writing poetry on their bodies. Interestingly, these two stories work in parallel, Rorschach only catching up to deal out justice in the final pages. This goes against the reader's expectations and was a nice contra-twist.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Cruella (2021) in Movies
Jun 16, 2021 (Updated Jun 17, 2021)
Emma Thompson (2 more)
Awesome Soundtrack
Fantastic Fashion
DeVilish
A fantastically fun and entertaining origin story. Great to see this creative story based on such a well known villian from Disney.
I wasn't overly interested when I heard about this but after seeing the trailer I had to see it.
Emma Thompson is amazing as The Baroness fashion designer in full Devil wears Prada extreme mode. Emma Stone is equally fun playing both sides of Cruella/Estella with a wicked glint in her eye.
Add to this an awesome soundtrack of the period and some very stylish fashion. Make this very pleasing on the eyes and ears. Maybe it's a little long and the ending was a little dragged out, but these are minor issues in a very enjoyable film.
I wasn't overly interested when I heard about this but after seeing the trailer I had to see it.
Emma Thompson is amazing as The Baroness fashion designer in full Devil wears Prada extreme mode. Emma Stone is equally fun playing both sides of Cruella/Estella with a wicked glint in her eye.
Add to this an awesome soundtrack of the period and some very stylish fashion. Make this very pleasing on the eyes and ears. Maybe it's a little long and the ending was a little dragged out, but these are minor issues in a very enjoyable film.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Thor (2011) in Movies
Sep 7, 2018
I saw this movie last week in IMAX 3D for the Marvel Studios 10 film festival.
I remember really disliking the film when I saw it the first time. For two reasons, one, I thought Hemsworth was super corny in parts of the movie as Thor, and two, his EYEBROWS. I get distracted easily, so when something is off, it bothers me throughout the film.
This is a fairly normal origin story of Thor. The visual effects are stunning, and seeing it in 3D was really cool, especially when they were on Jotunheim.
My favorite parts were most scenes with Hiddleston's Loki, and Dennings' Darcy.
I remember really disliking the film when I saw it the first time. For two reasons, one, I thought Hemsworth was super corny in parts of the movie as Thor, and two, his EYEBROWS. I get distracted easily, so when something is off, it bothers me throughout the film.
This is a fairly normal origin story of Thor. The visual effects are stunning, and seeing it in 3D was really cool, especially when they were on Jotunheim.
My favorite parts were most scenes with Hiddleston's Loki, and Dennings' Darcy.
Hutch (9 KP) rated Ant-Man (2015) in Movies
Jun 18, 2019
Small but perfectly formed
This film feels like it's on a slightly smaller scale than the recent MCU entries which is pretty apt given its hero. Its skirts around the bigger stories and characters of the other films but 100% delivers in it's own right. It's an origin story like most you've seen before but with that magic marvel touch that gives you the right amount of excitement, emotion and a new style of comedy for the MCU.
Yellow jacket may not be the most menacing villain you meet but he doesn't have to be. You couldn't put a rookie Ant Man up against Thanos and expect a happy ending.
Yellow jacket may not be the most menacing villain you meet but he doesn't have to be. You couldn't put a rookie Ant Man up against Thanos and expect a happy ending.