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David McK (3191 KP) rated Jungle Cruise (2021) in Movies
Aug 8, 2021
Another film gettign the concurrent cinema/Disney+ (behind a paywall) release date, this one is very much a throw-back to the days of yore: the most relevant comparison I can come up with, perhaps, is my understanding of what 'The African Queen' is like (never seen that film) in that both films rely on the star power of their respective leads (here Johnson/Blunt, as opposed to Bogart/Bacall).
Like Disney's earlier 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films, this is also - loosely - based on a theme ride: this time, the setting being a cruise down the Amazon. Like 'Pirates...', this also injects a fair does of the supernatural into the proceedings: I have no idea whether or not that is part of the ride, never having been to any of the Disney resorts.
I also have to say that I felt, at times, that Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson and Emily Blunt came across more as bickering siblings rather than falling-in-love, and that Jack Whitehall's character (the brother of Emily Blunt's character) more-or-less faded into the background for a fair chunk of the movie ...
Like Disney's earlier 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films, this is also - loosely - based on a theme ride: this time, the setting being a cruise down the Amazon. Like 'Pirates...', this also injects a fair does of the supernatural into the proceedings: I have no idea whether or not that is part of the ride, never having been to any of the Disney resorts.
I also have to say that I felt, at times, that Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson and Emily Blunt came across more as bickering siblings rather than falling-in-love, and that Jack Whitehall's character (the brother of Emily Blunt's character) more-or-less faded into the background for a fair chunk of the movie ...
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) created a post
May 17, 2017
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) in Movies
Jul 26, 2017
They should've stopped after the 1st one
Okay for starters, isn't this called Salazar's Revenge?
Anyway they really need to stop making these films. The first one was fantastic, but they've gradually gone worse since then and this 5th film is really scraping the bottom of the barrel. It's ridiculously over the top even for Jack Sparrow, completely unfunny and mostly nonsense. I really didn't understand what was going on with the over the top CGI either with Salazar and his pirates, it looked awful.
I really hope this is the last one...
Anyway they really need to stop making these films. The first one was fantastic, but they've gradually gone worse since then and this 5th film is really scraping the bottom of the barrel. It's ridiculously over the top even for Jack Sparrow, completely unfunny and mostly nonsense. I really didn't understand what was going on with the over the top CGI either with Salazar and his pirates, it looked awful.
I really hope this is the last one...
Auburn (57 KP) rated The Displaced in Books
Apr 10, 2019
Outlander fans rejoice there is a book that brings that exact feel but in a different time period. War, love torn apart, and suprisingly realistic detail are all shown throughout the book.
Why the 3 stars? To me this book seemed a tad drawn out. Almost as if the author had read the Bloody Jack series and decided to create a book with less pirates. Love blossoms through distance and strife.
I feel this is the perfect book for Outlander lovers and those who want a realistic romance.
Why the 3 stars? To me this book seemed a tad drawn out. Almost as if the author had read the Bloody Jack series and decided to create a book with less pirates. Love blossoms through distance and strife.
I feel this is the perfect book for Outlander lovers and those who want a realistic romance.
Gareth Michael Lewis (6 KP) rated The Aeronaut's Windlass in Books
Jan 20, 2018
Mixes high fantasy with steampunk overtures beautifully
I've read almost everything I can of Jim Butcher, so any new series he brings out will be worthy my attention.
In this new series he introduces some truly fantastical elements which blend themes of pirates, airships, high fantasy and steampunk technology to a breathtaking world.
Easy to get into and hard to put down, it's a novel you'll want to read again and again.
In this new series he introduces some truly fantastical elements which blend themes of pirates, airships, high fantasy and steampunk technology to a breathtaking world.
Easy to get into and hard to put down, it's a novel you'll want to read again and again.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated A Touch of Gold (A Touch of Gold #1) by Annie Sullivan in Books
Jul 16, 2019
Ready For Book Two
Can I start by asking, "When does the second book come out?! This retelling of King Midas surpassed all my wildest expectations and then some. This spin was written rather creatively and I found myself enjoying this adventure full of pirates, first loves and curses. I will tell you that I was shocked and caught off guard by some startling revelations and I eagerly await with anticipation for the next book. Kudos to this author's storytelling and spell weaving as I fell in love with the web she spun!
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Bermuda Pirates in Tabletop Games
Sep 8, 2021
The Bermuda Triangle. The area within the Atlantic Ocean that is rumored to be home of an aquatic black hole through which people and ships have gone inexplicably missing for years. What an excellent theme for a board game! I must admit, I learned of this game via one of Marco Arnaudo’s con videos and just had to have it. Was I bamboozled or is this a great game? Well, the ratings graphic above spoils that, but why is it so?
Bermuda Pirates pits players against each other in a mad dash to collect a set of colored gems from the middle island and bring them back to the home port first. Pirates (the players) will be encountering whirlpool vortexes along the way and can even place buoys to remind themselves to steer clear. The first player to bring back a whole set of gems successfully will be the winner!
To setup, first place the bracket piece (can only be seen partially in the final photo) in the middle of the table. Next orient the first layer of four square tiles (unseen in photos) on the bracket and then place the game board atop the tiles. Place flags upon the bracket nubs and matching gems at their bases. Each player chooses a color, takes the boat and buoys of that color and places them near the land with the matching dock color. The game may now begin!
On a player’s turn they must begin their journey from their home dock toward the center island to collect gems. They move their boat using one finger at the stern of the boat and pushing it across the board. Players will know when the boat has hit a hidden whirlpool when the magnets within the boat and within the board meet and create sudden resistance. The player may then place a buoy on that spot to remind themselves, and opponents, where a potential whirlpool spot is located. Should the player make a whirlpool-free trek to the central island, they must dock and collect a gem. From here the player must decide to either return back to their home dock to bank the gem or continue to collect gems before returning home.
Once a player has decided to return home with gem(s) aboard, they must take care not to hit whirlpools along the way because once the boat and whirlpool meet the boat will stop and the gems will fly across the board or even off the board. Those gems that land in the sea stay on the board to be collected by ANY player, and those gems that leave the board are lost forever. Herein lies the fun of Bermuda Pirates. Seeing gems flying will give players of any age and ability a giant piratey smile. The game ends once all players have had an equal amount of turns, and those pirates who have collected a set of one gem of each color will be the winners!
Components. I would certainly be remiss if I did not congratulate the designer and manufacturer of Bermuda Pirates for an absolutely gorgeous game with ingenious components. You see, the magnets that trip up the boats are hidden within that first layer of tiles that are placed on the bracket underneath the main game board. But even if you were to inspect these tiles, you would not necessarily know exactly where the magnets are placed. So every game will be different because of the order and orientation of the tiles setup. Bravo! Truly wonderful outside-the-box designing here. Yes, all the cardboard and plastic pieces are also great quality, but the ingenuity is what makes this one special.
I cannot say enough good things about Bermuda Pirates. My 4-year-old has a BLAST playing this one (even though the box says 7+. Shh, don’t tell anyone)! Seeing his face light up every time the gems go a-flying is just pure joy for a parent. Even when my wife and I played just the two of us, we were smiling the entire time we played. It’s that kind of game.
Bermuda Pirates will probably never reach my Top 10 Games of All Time list, but I certainly will hold onto it and cherish it in my collection. I think this game can work with any group of gamers of any skill or experience level. It is simply a joy to play as you push along your little boat hoping upon hope not to run into the whirlpool and have your four gems strewn about the ocean. Or placing the buoys just ever so slightly in the wrong location so that your opponents accidentally run into the whirlpool by trying a tangential approach. My family loves this game, and that is why Purple Phoenix Games gives this a very family-friendly piratey 10 / 12. If you are looking for something light and dextrous, with a great theme and excellent production quality, please check out Bermuda Pirates. It will definitely be a hit with anyone you introduce to it.
Bermuda Pirates pits players against each other in a mad dash to collect a set of colored gems from the middle island and bring them back to the home port first. Pirates (the players) will be encountering whirlpool vortexes along the way and can even place buoys to remind themselves to steer clear. The first player to bring back a whole set of gems successfully will be the winner!
To setup, first place the bracket piece (can only be seen partially in the final photo) in the middle of the table. Next orient the first layer of four square tiles (unseen in photos) on the bracket and then place the game board atop the tiles. Place flags upon the bracket nubs and matching gems at their bases. Each player chooses a color, takes the boat and buoys of that color and places them near the land with the matching dock color. The game may now begin!
On a player’s turn they must begin their journey from their home dock toward the center island to collect gems. They move their boat using one finger at the stern of the boat and pushing it across the board. Players will know when the boat has hit a hidden whirlpool when the magnets within the boat and within the board meet and create sudden resistance. The player may then place a buoy on that spot to remind themselves, and opponents, where a potential whirlpool spot is located. Should the player make a whirlpool-free trek to the central island, they must dock and collect a gem. From here the player must decide to either return back to their home dock to bank the gem or continue to collect gems before returning home.
Once a player has decided to return home with gem(s) aboard, they must take care not to hit whirlpools along the way because once the boat and whirlpool meet the boat will stop and the gems will fly across the board or even off the board. Those gems that land in the sea stay on the board to be collected by ANY player, and those gems that leave the board are lost forever. Herein lies the fun of Bermuda Pirates. Seeing gems flying will give players of any age and ability a giant piratey smile. The game ends once all players have had an equal amount of turns, and those pirates who have collected a set of one gem of each color will be the winners!
Components. I would certainly be remiss if I did not congratulate the designer and manufacturer of Bermuda Pirates for an absolutely gorgeous game with ingenious components. You see, the magnets that trip up the boats are hidden within that first layer of tiles that are placed on the bracket underneath the main game board. But even if you were to inspect these tiles, you would not necessarily know exactly where the magnets are placed. So every game will be different because of the order and orientation of the tiles setup. Bravo! Truly wonderful outside-the-box designing here. Yes, all the cardboard and plastic pieces are also great quality, but the ingenuity is what makes this one special.
I cannot say enough good things about Bermuda Pirates. My 4-year-old has a BLAST playing this one (even though the box says 7+. Shh, don’t tell anyone)! Seeing his face light up every time the gems go a-flying is just pure joy for a parent. Even when my wife and I played just the two of us, we were smiling the entire time we played. It’s that kind of game.
Bermuda Pirates will probably never reach my Top 10 Games of All Time list, but I certainly will hold onto it and cherish it in my collection. I think this game can work with any group of gamers of any skill or experience level. It is simply a joy to play as you push along your little boat hoping upon hope not to run into the whirlpool and have your four gems strewn about the ocean. Or placing the buoys just ever so slightly in the wrong location so that your opponents accidentally run into the whirlpool by trying a tangential approach. My family loves this game, and that is why Purple Phoenix Games gives this a very family-friendly piratey 10 / 12. If you are looking for something light and dextrous, with a great theme and excellent production quality, please check out Bermuda Pirates. It will definitely be a hit with anyone you introduce to it.
Merissa (11679 KP) rated In Deeper Water: Part Two (Aria & the Seven Seas, #2) in Books
Nov 22, 2022
Political machinations, pirates, and leviathans all feature here!
IN DEEPER WATER is the second in the Aria and the Seven Seas series and continues where book one left off.
In this one, Aria adds to her Royal Pod but it isn't as easy as you may think. Political machinations, pirates, and leviathans all feature here. Each kingdom is so very different from the previous ones. I love how Aria is herself, no matter what. The other members of her Pod become clear but the road to true love is never smooth, so Aria and her Pod have some work to do before they all get their HEA.
No middle-book-slump for this series, no sirree. Instead, we have a story full of action and adventure, with plenty of steam. The relationships within the Pod make it so much more interesting than 'just' an erotic tale.
A great addition to the series and definitely recommended by me. Can't wait for the finale.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
In this one, Aria adds to her Royal Pod but it isn't as easy as you may think. Political machinations, pirates, and leviathans all feature here. Each kingdom is so very different from the previous ones. I love how Aria is herself, no matter what. The other members of her Pod become clear but the road to true love is never smooth, so Aria and her Pod have some work to do before they all get their HEA.
No middle-book-slump for this series, no sirree. Instead, we have a story full of action and adventure, with plenty of steam. The relationships within the Pod make it so much more interesting than 'just' an erotic tale.
A great addition to the series and definitely recommended by me. Can't wait for the finale.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Lenard (726 KP) rated How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) in Movies
Apr 1, 2019
Nearly the perfect ending for this trilogy. What started as a story about an abnormal boy and the lost dragon he adopts is now a story of leadership and growing up. Hiccup is the chief of his clan of Vikings who now live harmously with dragons in Berk. After an unsuccesful kidnapping of valuable dragons, pirates hire a powerful dragon hunter who wants to kill the last Nightfury. Using the distraction of a mysterious Lightfury, he displaces the village of Berk and kidnaps Toothless. Both Hiccup and Toothless learn that leadership requires tough choices that influence human history forever.
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Marisol: Spanish Rose (Charleston Brides #1) in Books
Feb 23, 2021
This story was such a unique combination of different cultures and historical facts.
Elva Cobb Martin wrote a story that combines rich Spanish history, travel on the high seas (PIRATES!), the American indentured, murder, romance and God’s will in our lives. The main characters Ethan and Marisol had interesting backstories that made them stronger. They were a cute couple to get to know, although at first, I was not sure where Elva Cobb Martin was taking them. By then end of the book I genuinely liked the characters and felt happy with the conclusion to the story
Elva Cobb Martin wrote a story that combines rich Spanish history, travel on the high seas (PIRATES!), the American indentured, murder, romance and God’s will in our lives. The main characters Ethan and Marisol had interesting backstories that made them stronger. They were a cute couple to get to know, although at first, I was not sure where Elva Cobb Martin was taking them. By then end of the book I genuinely liked the characters and felt happy with the conclusion to the story