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Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla (2014) in Movies
Mar 24, 2018 (Updated Mar 24, 2018)
Second American attempt at a Godzilla movie avoids some of the old pitfalls which scuppered the Roland Emmerich version, but discovers some brand ones and promptly stumbles into those instead. A slightly oblique take on the Godzilla mythology - Godzilla is not the result of nuclear testing but a survivor from an earlier epoch - and the fact the film often seems more interested in the Muto monsters (Godzilla's opponents this time around) result in a film with a rather odd feel, for all that on paper it looks like a more 'classic' Godzilla story.
They get a lot right - Godzilla is a properly imposing beast, and there are monster battles at the centre of the film - but it's much more po-faced than the Emmerich version, apparently worried that if it cracks a smile for a second or acknowledges its own absurdity everyone will instantly lose interest. Gareth Edwards' habit of cutting away to another sequence every time the monsters start fighting rapidly becomes very annoying, too. A better Godzilla movie than the 1998 version, certainly; but less assured and capable as a piece of entertainment.
They get a lot right - Godzilla is a properly imposing beast, and there are monster battles at the centre of the film - but it's much more po-faced than the Emmerich version, apparently worried that if it cracks a smile for a second or acknowledges its own absurdity everyone will instantly lose interest. Gareth Edwards' habit of cutting away to another sequence every time the monsters start fighting rapidly becomes very annoying, too. A better Godzilla movie than the 1998 version, certainly; but less assured and capable as a piece of entertainment.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Murder in Court Three (Flick Fortune and Baggo Chandavarkar, #3) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I received a free review copy of this book from NetGalley***
The body of Farquhar Knox, QC, has been found in courtroom number three, pierced through the heart with an arrow. It's up to DI Flick Fortune and her team to find the killer. Things are made all the more difficult when a Chief Superintendent shows up on their suspect list, and the local paper implies that the very pregnant Flick and her department may not be up to the task at hand.
This was a very enjoyable read. It's the third in a series of traditional police procedurals from author Ian Simpson, but the first one that I had read. I was worried after seeing the long list of characters included at the beginning of the book that I might feel lost or have trouble keeping everyone straight, not having read the two previous books. This was not the case, however, and Simpson does a good job of making his characters distinct and recognizable. A very well-written mystery with several sub-plots and lots of red herrings, I would recommend Murder in Court Three to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
The body of Farquhar Knox, QC, has been found in courtroom number three, pierced through the heart with an arrow. It's up to DI Flick Fortune and her team to find the killer. Things are made all the more difficult when a Chief Superintendent shows up on their suspect list, and the local paper implies that the very pregnant Flick and her department may not be up to the task at hand.
This was a very enjoyable read. It's the third in a series of traditional police procedurals from author Ian Simpson, but the first one that I had read. I was worried after seeing the long list of characters included at the beginning of the book that I might feel lost or have trouble keeping everyone straight, not having read the two previous books. This was not the case, however, and Simpson does a good job of making his characters distinct and recognizable. A very well-written mystery with several sub-plots and lots of red herrings, I would recommend Murder in Court Three to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
Caitlin Ann Cherniak (85 KP) rated Love, Nina: Despatches from Family Life in Books
Oct 21, 2018
Taken from my review on Goodreads: I enjoy reading my memoirs every once in a while because you have no idea what voices real people will have written on paper. The first half of the memoir actually had endearing moments, especially when it came to how Nina bonded with the boys she was watching while their mother worked. I enjoyed the boys' antics because at least this proves that they are real people. The second half of the book was a lot more boring, especially when it comes to Nina mocking lots of classic literature. Maybe I just didn't like Nina as a character in the memoir. She just seemed way too judgmental of everything even though she did love the boys she was caring for in the 80's. As much as I really wanted to like this book, I started to get bored to the point that I almost dropped it. In fact, I barely remember what happened towards the end because I just skimmed through my Kindle like a zombie. If you guys can survive through it, wonderful. It's just not exactly for me.
Otway93 (580 KP) rated Resident Evil 2: The Board Game in Tabletop Games
Oct 25, 2019
Game (4 more)
Pieces
Expansions Available
1-4 Players
Tension
Cost (1 more)
Packaging
Excellent game, though far too expensive!
A truly superb game that thoroughly surprised me!
At first I was a little sceptical about how Resident Evil 2 would translate to a board game, but the creators managed to capture the story and the horror perfectly, somehow making everybody involved absolutely terrified, just like the game!
The game is slightly complicated for those new to dice based games (me included), but I believe it to be an excellent starter for beginners.
The game is also unusually for 1-4 players, though I can't imagine it being much fun solo.
Another plus is the number of expansions, all enjoyable, but just like the core game, they are all considerably expensive for what's involved.
The cost is the main issue with this game, the core game costing between £60-80, and expansions anywhere between £15-30 each.
The expansions, with the exception of the rather good B-Files Expansion, contain very little, and add very little. They contain very little and still use the same amount of packaging, using a lot of plastic and wasting paper and cardboard.
At first I was a little sceptical about how Resident Evil 2 would translate to a board game, but the creators managed to capture the story and the horror perfectly, somehow making everybody involved absolutely terrified, just like the game!
The game is slightly complicated for those new to dice based games (me included), but I believe it to be an excellent starter for beginners.
The game is also unusually for 1-4 players, though I can't imagine it being much fun solo.
Another plus is the number of expansions, all enjoyable, but just like the core game, they are all considerably expensive for what's involved.
The cost is the main issue with this game, the core game costing between £60-80, and expansions anywhere between £15-30 each.
The expansions, with the exception of the rather good B-Files Expansion, contain very little, and add very little. They contain very little and still use the same amount of packaging, using a lot of plastic and wasting paper and cardboard.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Crimes Against Magic (The Hellequin Chronicles #1) in Books
Dec 27, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
It’s been almost ten years since Nathan Garrett woke on a cold warehouse floor with nothing but a gun, a sword, and no idea of who he was or how he got there. His only clue … a piece of paper with his name on it. Since then, he’s discovered he’s a powerful sorcerer and has used his abilities to work as a thief for hire. But he’s never stopped hunting for his true identity, and those who erased his memory have never stopped hunting for him. When the barrier ...
Absolutely brilliant!
I will admit my usual books tend to have women as female leads! This was totally refreshing and did remind me a bit of Dresden. Following Nate through his self discovery was fascinating and I found the book hard to put down. It's non stop action with so many interesting turns. Love how Steve uses characters we have all heard of from past history whether they are fictional or real and tales we all grew up with then twists them to fit his writing. So looking forward to reading more in the series. Would definitely recommend.
Absolutely brilliant!
I will admit my usual books tend to have women as female leads! This was totally refreshing and did remind me a bit of Dresden. Following Nate through his self discovery was fascinating and I found the book hard to put down. It's non stop action with so many interesting turns. Love how Steve uses characters we have all heard of from past history whether they are fictional or real and tales we all grew up with then twists them to fit his writing. So looking forward to reading more in the series. Would definitely recommend.
Johnny-Mac Willcox-Beney (10 KP) rated The Quiet Year in Tabletop Games
Jul 20, 2019
Gorgeous illustrations (5 more)
No prep needed
Good inspiration for post apocalyptic settings
Great first TTRPG
Cheap! ($6)
Replayable for different communities
Fantastic Post-Apocalyptic Story Gaming
Absolutely gorgeous single-session GMless story centered game. Players must navigate a year in a community after an apocalypse. Each week is represented by a card from a standard 52 card deck, each suit a season.
When a card is drawn it introduces a new choice to be made by a player about your community, with limited organised discussions about these choices replicating failures in communications in real communities. This choice is then represented on a map of your community that you build as you play.
This game is absolutely brilliant as a first TTRPG, a first session to build the setting for a post apocalyptic game in another system or just as a standalone one shot. It only takes one 2-3 hour session, some paper, pens, 6 sided dice, a standard deck of playing cards and the PDF. The questions it asks prompt very interesting ideas about your community to build somewhere that feels alive and fully fleshed out. A great buy!
When a card is drawn it introduces a new choice to be made by a player about your community, with limited organised discussions about these choices replicating failures in communications in real communities. This choice is then represented on a map of your community that you build as you play.
This game is absolutely brilliant as a first TTRPG, a first session to build the setting for a post apocalyptic game in another system or just as a standalone one shot. It only takes one 2-3 hour session, some paper, pens, 6 sided dice, a standard deck of playing cards and the PDF. The questions it asks prompt very interesting ideas about your community to build somewhere that feels alive and fully fleshed out. A great buy!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Restaurant at the End of the Universe in Books
Nov 25, 2019
Like the first book, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is based on the radio series Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. But where the first book was more-or-less the plot of the first four episodes, for the second book Adams included many of the best bits of the second series too, changing the story around to keep some semblance of plot (beyond Arthur's search for a decent cup of tea).
A perfect example of his ability to 'write backwards' the contents of 8 half hour radio scripts are condensed into one book, then expanded again with further footnotes and wry observations of the human condition. There is so much to like, so much to enjoy. The visit to the Hitchhiker head office, the Total Perspective Vortex, lemon soaked paper napkins, the Restaurant itself. And of course the classic and downbeat ending.
As a pair of books this and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy will keep you smiling for days, first as you read them and then as you remember all the little quotes, footnotes and bizarre extracts from The Book.
Nobody has ever come close to replicating Adams. This book shows why.
A perfect example of his ability to 'write backwards' the contents of 8 half hour radio scripts are condensed into one book, then expanded again with further footnotes and wry observations of the human condition. There is so much to like, so much to enjoy. The visit to the Hitchhiker head office, the Total Perspective Vortex, lemon soaked paper napkins, the Restaurant itself. And of course the classic and downbeat ending.
As a pair of books this and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy will keep you smiling for days, first as you read them and then as you remember all the little quotes, footnotes and bizarre extracts from The Book.
Nobody has ever come close to replicating Adams. This book shows why.
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