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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2464 KP) rated Shady Hollow in Books

Oct 3, 2025 (Updated Oct 3, 2025)  
Shady Hollow
Shady Hollow
Juneau Black | 2022 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not Bad, but Didn’t Quite Work For Me
Welcome to the village of Shady Hollow, a place where woodland creatures live in peace and harmony. That is, until someone kills Otto, a toad. Vera Vixen, a fox and reporter for the local paper, is on the case. But can she figure out who committed the crime?

When I heard about this series, I had to give the book a chance since it sounded creative and fun. The book’s omniscient narration took a little for me to adjust to, but once I did, it worked okay. It did give the book a slower start than I would have liked, but the mystery was decent once it got going. And I liked the characters. While I found the idea of these characters living side by side and interacting fun, it does take some buying into this world, something I was ready to do. I did feel the authors could have done a more creative job of creating their world, or at least that’s what I was expecting. My biggest hang up was the idea of interspecies romance. I realize that’s a me thing, but it is enough that I won’t be returning to the series. Others love it, so if this intrigues you, by all means, give the series a chance.
  
12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men (1957)
1957 | Classics, Drama
Contains spoilers, click to show
Story: 12 Angry Men starts with our jury being taken to the jury room to make their verdict. Early conversations discuss the idea that the case being cut and dry, but when the first vote goes up only eleven men pick guilty while one man stands up and votes not guilty. He wants to discuss the case before making it quick decision on whether to send the accused the death row.

As the 12 men discuss the case the solo juror that stood up against the guilty verdict slowly starts to talk the rest of the jury into looking at the facts of the case and slowly starts to turn the jury.

12 Angry Men is one of the simplest stories you will ever see, it also takes a fresh turn on a trial film. On paper this could sound very boring, and it would be hard to talk anyone out of that, but once you watch this you will not be able t look away. When you look at what this film achieves you will bee impressed too a new level and even with this film being nearly 60 years old it hasn’t dated a single bit. (10/10)

Actor Review

Full Cast: 12 Angry Men only uses the 12 actors and I don’t think it would be fair to judge each individual performance because this could easily be the best ensemble cast of all time, each character has their different background and opinion on what is the outcome of the case. Every single cast member does a brilliant job showing just how intense being stuck on a jury can be.cast

Director Review: Sidney Lumet – Sidney gives us one of the greatest films ever put onto film, end of discussion. (10/10)

Crime: 12 Angry Men shows the 12 juror discussing a criminal case while making final verdict, this is a great insight into how they would have got to the final out come. (10/10)

Drama: 12 Angry Men gets top marks for this brilliant piece of work. (10/10)

Settings: 12 Angry Men uses just the jury room for the whole setting giving us an insight to just the conversation between the jurors. (10/10)

Suggestion: 12 Angry Men is a must watch for all the film fans out there I do still think casual film fans might find it not their cup of tea. (Watch)

Best Part: The performances are all brilliant.

Worst Part: No, isn’t one.

Believability: While I have been on a jury and understand how the discussion take place this cold very well be how intense it gets in there. (10/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: Nominated for 3 Oscars

Budget: $350,000

Runtime: 2 Hours 1 Minute

Tagline: They have twelve scraps of paper… Twelve chances to kill!

Overall: One of the greatest films you will ever see.

https://moviesreview101.com/2015/08/25/12-angry-men-1957/
  
State of Play (2009)
State of Play (2009)
2009 | Drama, Mystery
9
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
In the corridors of the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. alliances and wheeling and dealing are the name of the game. With billions if not trillions of dollars hinging on new laws and policy, corporations clearly have an interest in which way the political winds are leaning and how it will affect their all important bottom line.
In the political thriller “State of Play”, Director Kevin MacDonald has combined a stellar cast with a strong script from Tony Gilroy, Billy Ray, and Matthew Michael Carnahan to craft one of the best dramas since Gilroy’s “Michael Clayton”.

When the lead researcher of Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), dies in an accident, it is a devastating blow to the young Congressman as he prepares for a series of hearings intended to cull the growth of a private security firm.

What is at first listed as an accident raises suspicion in veteran news reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe), who has had a long friendship, with Collins. Despite tension in recent years, Collins turns to Cal when it is revealed that he had an affair with his researcher. As Cal looks into the story he is under pressure from his editor (Helen Mirren), to deliver a story to keep the papers new owners happy. If this was not bad enough, Cal is also dogged by an online reporter for the paper named Della (Rachael McAdams), who is looking to make a name for herself at the paper.

Cal soon learns that the assistant was killed in what was made to look like an accident, and that a shooting incident that occurred prior to the death may be related to the murder.

Cal teams up with Della and soon learns that some very big players may be involved and that they will stop at nothing to protect their secret.

In a race against time, Cal and Della must get to the bottom of the mystery and stay alive. Unsure who to trust and which way their leads will follow, Cal and Della look for the answers that unaware that the quest they have undertaken will affect the halls of power as well as the very nation itself.

“State of Play” is a very tight thriller that is filled with twists and turns. The characters are interesting and well developed and the performances are first rate. Crowe is powerful as the determined Cal and works well with Affleck and Adams. Robin Wright Penn and Helen Mirren also give very strong performances.
The story of the film seems ripped from the headlines and has an eerie sense of reality to it, and works much better than “The International” attempted to do with its conspiracy premise.

While I have avoided as many spoilers as I could, suffice it to say that the film does have a deep plot that twists and turns to a rewarding conclusion and will keep your attention. I would hope that the fine work in this film is not forgotten when the Oscars come up next.
  
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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
2017 | Sci-Fi
Visual effects (0 more)
The reviews of this film on most critic sites seem to slate it. however I dont think this film deserves the hate it seems to get.

First of all like most Luc Besson Film the actual set designs and visual world is simply stunning.


Dante and Cara Delevainge seem a weird casting choice at first glance for me. I know the comics and of one thing Valerian and Laurline always seemed older. That being said they both did a better job than I thought they would do. Whilst both actors are incredibly beutiful that most people can only wish to be there faces are so angular pulling of a softer look and side is harder to see and connect with than any other actor I've known. However whislt it was hard to get that softer emotional connection there was moments it was there and was nice to see. I wish I had seen some of it more in paper towns from cara but in this film I did see it.


 I was slighty disappointed with the great Rihanna part given the amount of press she had I was expecting something more than ten mins (if that) of screen time. in fact there was a very small cast list a majority of film was just Dante and Cara which takes a lot more script writing and acting to keep you involde in story and film