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David Hare recommended King Lear in Books (curated)

 
King Lear
King Lear
William Shakespeare | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
6.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Seeing Paul Scofield and Irene Worth act in Peter Brook’s great production in 1962 led me to attempt my own in 1985 with Anthony Hopkins playing the king."

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Seth Rogan recommended Total Recall (1990) in Movies (curated)

 
Total Recall (1990)
Total Recall (1990)
1990 | Action, Sci-Fi

"Total Recall‘s just f–king rad. And super violent. That movie is a good indicator that you can take things much farther than you think you could. [Laughs.] And they will strike a chord with the mainstream, I think. That movie goes really far. It’s pretty crazy. I love Paul Verhoeven. He’s the man."

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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Misery in Books

Mar 15, 2018  
Misery
Misery
Stephen King | 1987 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Thriller
10
8.8 (87 Ratings)
Book Rating
Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-reviews/misery-by-stephen-king

<b><i>”Annie Annie oh Annie please please no please don’t Annie I swear to you I’ll be good I swear to God I’ll be good please give me a chance to be good OH ANNIE PLEASE LET ME BE GOOD -”
“Just a little pain. Then this nasty business will be behind us for good Paul.”</b></i>

Well hot fucking damn. Is this the best book I’ve read all year? <b>I think it might be.</b> I am officially a Stephen King fan. A “Stephen King convert” as my mother is calling me. Misery is a goddamn masterpiece. It’s <i>so</i> tense. I don’t know how anyone can write so well that I’m actually squirming. <b>LEGIT SQUIRMING AS I READ.</b>

Misery is about a bestselling author, Paul Sheldon, who, after celebrating his completion of his next (and best) book, drinks a little too much champagne and gets himself into a nasty car accident in the middle of nowhere. He wakes to find his legs shattered but splintered (splinted???) in a mysterious house. Luckily, or unluckily, he’s found himself saved and in the capable hands of his number one fan and ex-nurse, Annie Wilkes.

I put off reading Misery for, oh I don’t know, maybe 5 years? I watched the film, of course, because disliking a film can be down to a number of variables, the wrong director, actors you dislike, bad script etc, but not liking a book, <i>a Stephen King book</i>, is down to one and one thing only, the author. And I was <i>so</i> terrified I wouldn’t like Stephen King! Honestly, terrified is this right word for it. I didn’t want to turn around in a house, no, a society, that claims Stephen King is a modern day Charles Dickens, of sorts, and say “nah, not that into him myself”. But lo and behold, I ended up liking both the film and the book, thank Christ. The book more so than the film, but isn’t that usually the case? Although the actors for both Paul and Annie in the film version were <i>spot on.</i>

I don’t think I’ve ever been so vocal whilst reading a book. Misery had me yelping and oohing and arring and laughing and yucking all the way through. King’s writing is so vivid you <i>are</i> Paul Sheldon for the duration of the book. You’re Paul, rolling around in his wheelchair, holding your breath and crying and sweating, hoping that car you hear isn’t Annie’s. Hoping she’s holding those Godsent Novril tablets every few hours to subdue your pain. Wondering how the hell you’re ever going to be able to escape. You completely immerse yourself in the nail biting story, page by page. This is a perfect novel from start to finish, that’s all I have left to say.

If you’ve never read Stephen King before, start with Misery. <b>I double donkey dare you.</b>
  
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Emily (6 KP) rated Misery in Books

May 20, 2019  
Misery
Misery
Stephen King | 1987 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Thriller
9
8.8 (87 Ratings)
Book Rating
The continual dread (0 more)
Misery - Stephen King
Contains spoilers, click to show
Gripping, suspenseful, terrifying.

I never would have thought a book about humans, with nothing paranormal, could be so utterly disturbing. Annie Wilkes is as terrifying to us, the reader, as she is to Paul. Like him, we never know when she will snap, what will upset her, what she will do. Discovering Annie's past with Paul had me reading and turning the pages with him, I was as afraid as he was when she nearly discovered him.

We never leave Paul Sheldon, so at every moment, we know as much as he does. Not knowing what is happening outside Annie's home adds to the suspense and horror. Is anyone looking for him? Does anyone care? Has anyone thought to suspect Annie? I really enjoyed that we were never shown any external details.


This is the second Stephen King novel I've read, and it was incredible. His style is immediately recognisable, and while it took some getting used to at first, once I had a flow going I could not put the book down. His use of remembering and repetition, and the language he uses, all evoke an astounding reality of a codeine-addicted man held hostage as a psychopaths pet writer.
  
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Misery (1990) in Movies

Oct 11, 2018  
Misery (1990)
Misery (1990)
1990 | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Brilliant
I need to be very honest now, despite being a massive film and Stephen King fan, I have never seen Misery until now. I’ve read the book many times, but for some reason I never got round to watching the film, and I’m pretty ashamed of myself.

This is one of the best Stephen King adaptations out there. Kathy Bates is phenomenal as Annie, she plays her perfectly. James Caan would never have been my first choice as Paul Sheldon, but he does very well. The entire film is so true to the book, it’s surprisingly good. Whilst I wouldn’t call it a horror film, it’s definitely one of the best thriller films out there despite its age. I can’t fault this film at all.
  
The Green Mile
The Green Mile
Stephen King | 1996 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
9.1 (34 Ratings)
Book Rating
Atmosphere (1 more)
Characters
Made me cry (I try to be hard - Gerrrr) (0 more)
A disturbing but beautiful book
I'd seen the film a long time ago so no surprises with the plot but wow was I surprised at how well written and captivating this book was.

Written as the memoir of former Prison Guard Paul Edgecombe we get a look into the life of Block E of the Cold Mountain Penitentiary which Paul is the head guard of in the 1930s. In what we would call death row today they call it the “Green Mile” due to the colour of the floor. We get a snapshot of the period on the block around the time of convicted child killer John Coffey coming onto the “Mile.”

Each part of the book has a bit from the present from as Paul is writing this memoir and these served as lovely little bridge to the next part of his story.

I've read quite a bit of King and enjoy a lot of his work with his well crafted stories, but I've never fallen head over heels for his writing....until now.

Very emotionally engaging King really pulls off a great atmosphere, characters and despite a supernatural element, a story that easily carries you along. Not often I cry reading a book but this one got me.
  
Monster Hunter (2020)
Monster Hunter (2020)
2020 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Please, please, for the love of God please stop letting Paul WS Anderson adapt beloved video games into "films"
Nothing about Monster Hunter feels rewarding. The narrative is diabolically boring, the CGI is complete ass, the dialogue is dumb, and above all none of it is fun.
This 1 star is purely for a half decent final fight scene, Meowscles, and Ron Perlmans hilarouslty stupid wig.
Tony Jaa going from Ong Bak and Warrior King to shit like this and Jui Jitsu is heartbreaking
  
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Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) Feb 26, 2022

Haven't seen it yet but it's that bad huh...

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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) Feb 26, 2022

It wasn't for me mate but I know a few friends who thought it was ok

Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)
2009 | Comedy
6
6.8 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Paul Blart (Kevin James) is a man with a dream. Paul dreams of being an officer with the New Jersey police, but thanks to his hypoglycemia, and weight, he has had a difficult time passing his requirements.

After his latest failure which concluded with him passing out inches from an obstacle course finish line, Paul has hit rock bottom. His daughter and mother encourage him to get on with his life, and look for a woman who will make him happy, (It is learned that his ex-wife only wanted him in her life so she could gain citizenship), and that new opportunities will arise.

The fact that the holidays are coming up is of little consolation, as Paul focuses on his career as a security guard at a local mall where he has worked from the past ten years, With the Black Friday shopping day upcoming, Paul attempts to get closer to the lovely Amy (Jayma Mays), who works at one of the mall’s boutiques.

The fact that Paul is shy and awkward does not help his cause, but in time, he is able to form a friendship with Amy that survives some real obstacles such as a very out of character wild night out which ends in disaster for Paul as his intolerance of alcohol leads to some truly outrageous behavior which embarrasses Amy.

As Paul attempts to recover from his fiasco at the workplace party, he returns to patrol at the mall astride his ever present Segway while a group of thieves secretly plot to take over the mall and rob the various stores.

When the bad guys make their move, Paul is indisposed and is easily overlooked, which in turn keeps him in the dark about what is really happening. When Paul eventually learns what is going on and that Amy is amongst the hostages, he must muster up the courage and abilities he never knew he had in order to save the day and rescue Amy.

What follows is a madcap though slight romp which while not big on over the top laughs has more than enough smiles to keep you amused along the way.

Kevin James is entertaining as the hapless Blart, but he is not given much to work with in his first starring role as the story is very formulaic and restrained which does not allow him to fully display his comedic skills as he did in The King of Queens.

The film was produced by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison company and was co written by James and Nick Bakay. While it is not a bad film, I had hoped for more as the premise is rife with possibilities and the film comes across as playing it safe rather than taking chances. There is very little offensive in the film so it is appropriate for most families, which despite the flaws, makes the film a pleasant if not memorable diversion.
  
Misery (1990)
Misery (1990)
1990 | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Punishment and Toture
Misery- is one of my favorite Stephen King Novel's turned into a movie. James Caan and Kathy Bates are perfect in this movie. Its twisted, horrorfying, suspenseful, mysterious and more.

After a serious car crash, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) is rescued by former nurse Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates), who claims to be his biggest fan. Annie brings him to her remote cabin to recover, where her obsession takes a dark turn when she discovers Sheldon is killing off her favorite character from his novels. As Sheldon devises plans for escape, Annie grows increasingly controlling, even violent, as she forces the author to shape his writing to suit her twisted fantasies.

I would highly reccordmend watching this movie. It is a excellent movie.
  
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Hugh Bonneville recommended Pulp Fiction (1994) in Movies (curated)

 
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
1994 | Crime

"Well, maybe that’s why David Heyman and Paul King cast me in Paddington, I don’t know [laughs]. You’ll be surprised by my fifth one, then. OK, try and find the link with this: Pulp Fiction. I think that’s the exception that proves the rule. I think it was great, it was such a breath of fresh air. That same year, I remember, I was completely enamored by two films: The Lion King and Pulp Fiction, so you couldn’t get more extreme than those two. They both have death in them, I suppose. But Pulp Fiction was such a great breath of fresh air when it came out, and I think it still remains such a cool and fantastic piece of the cinema. Obviously it was the second film after Reservoir Dogs that brought Tarantino into the fold, but I think it’s a gloriously slick and entertaining piece of movie-making, structurally and cinematically, with these great, legendary performances that were instantly loved, and instantly classic and endlessly imitated. The number of people I’ve seen doing Christopher Walken impressions — or Bruce Willis impressions from that movie — or indeed Samuel L Jackson… It’s sort of a great cinematic feat and [it’s filled with] dark, dark humor."

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