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Andy K (10823 KP) rated Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959) in Movies
Mar 3, 2019
Dated but still a fun ride
The Jules Verne classic novel of adventure and mayhem comes to life on the big screen in glorious CinemaScope!
Follow a scientist, his assistant, a beautiful widow and others as they decent into the depths of the Earth itself to see what lies beneath. They encounter all sorts of pitfalls including treacherous caves, salt mines and giant lizards along the way.
Will they make it out alive?
Unfortunately, there is the 1950s version of the views of the female race on display which I was not a fan of. If you can get past that, the acting and story are interesting enough as you watch the posse go along their way.
The sets, music and art direction are well done considering this film's age, and if you can look past some of the cheesy elements it really is quite the adventure ride of a film.
Follow a scientist, his assistant, a beautiful widow and others as they decent into the depths of the Earth itself to see what lies beneath. They encounter all sorts of pitfalls including treacherous caves, salt mines and giant lizards along the way.
Will they make it out alive?
Unfortunately, there is the 1950s version of the views of the female race on display which I was not a fan of. If you can get past that, the acting and story are interesting enough as you watch the posse go along their way.
The sets, music and art direction are well done considering this film's age, and if you can look past some of the cheesy elements it really is quite the adventure ride of a film.
Auburn (57 KP) rated Blood Heir (Blood Heir, #1) in Books
Apr 10, 2019
Told from opposing POV this book is long. The world building requires the length. You learn about a new world with Affinities and slave trading. Princess Ana and Con-man Ramson have to race against the empire and themselves to save everyone.
I enjoyed this book but I didn't love it. The plot was fantastic but it was so long. It took me a few days to finish which is weird because normally when I start a great book I rush through it. The slow burn was there and the characters had growth. But it's book 1 in the series and we all know what that means.
The Affinities were something that really got me into the book. I wish they had more of a presence. Otherwise I have all good things for this book. It was great and interesting the slow burn enemies to lovers is a favorite trope of mine.
I enjoyed this book but I didn't love it. The plot was fantastic but it was so long. It took me a few days to finish which is weird because normally when I start a great book I rush through it. The slow burn was there and the characters had growth. But it's book 1 in the series and we all know what that means.
The Affinities were something that really got me into the book. I wish they had more of a presence. Otherwise I have all good things for this book. It was great and interesting the slow burn enemies to lovers is a favorite trope of mine.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) in Movies
Mar 27, 2018 (Updated Mar 28, 2018)
What-time-d'you-call-this-then late-arriving sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2013 love letter to Japanese tokusatsu movies. A new generation of giant robot pilots must stop a new attempt to wipe out the human race using giant monsters.
The plot is fairly forgettable and possibly incoherent, as is most of the acting (though Scott Eastwood makes something of an impression in an underwritten part), but you go to this kind of film to see enormous robots and kaiju smacking each other about the head with bits of skyscraper, and this movie delivers that in spades. Possibly the first western movie to capture the real spirit of Japanese monster movies, and that makes up for a lot. The world-building isn't as interesting as in the first one, but it retains a few compellingly weird touches. Pure popcorn entertainment, but made with real energy and actually quite charming in a puppyish way.
The plot is fairly forgettable and possibly incoherent, as is most of the acting (though Scott Eastwood makes something of an impression in an underwritten part), but you go to this kind of film to see enormous robots and kaiju smacking each other about the head with bits of skyscraper, and this movie delivers that in spades. Possibly the first western movie to capture the real spirit of Japanese monster movies, and that makes up for a lot. The world-building isn't as interesting as in the first one, but it retains a few compellingly weird touches. Pure popcorn entertainment, but made with real energy and actually quite charming in a puppyish way.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Star Trek: Discovery - Season 1 in TV
Feb 13, 2018
Some of the cast are atrocious (1 more)
Takes a dip after a few episodes
Darker than your normal Star Trek
This series of Star Trek comes in after Enterprise, but before the original series, The Next Generation etc. It chronicles the battle of Starfleet against a resurgent Klingon empire.
Gone is the usual Star Trek single episode storylines, where the ship encounters a race or problem and everything is wrapped up in one episode. Everything within the series links together as a whole long storyline without much deviation. In hindsight, I think knowing this would have made me more engaged with the first few episodes, I think I got a bit bored after the first couple.
The series as a whole is good and sets up a nice second series at the end.
One thing that really bugged me was the atrocious sub-Shatner ham acting of Anthony Rapp (Stamets) and Michelle Yeoh chewing the scenery in the last few episodes.
Gone is the usual Star Trek single episode storylines, where the ship encounters a race or problem and everything is wrapped up in one episode. Everything within the series links together as a whole long storyline without much deviation. In hindsight, I think knowing this would have made me more engaged with the first few episodes, I think I got a bit bored after the first couple.
The series as a whole is good and sets up a nice second series at the end.
One thing that really bugged me was the atrocious sub-Shatner ham acting of Anthony Rapp (Stamets) and Michelle Yeoh chewing the scenery in the last few episodes.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dr. Strangelove (1964) in Movies
Jun 12, 2018
Love the Bomb
Inspired, justly-celebrated black comedy satirising the absurdity of the nuclear arms race. American general is unhinged by a sudden attack of impotence, 'does a silly thing' and launches an atomic attack on the USSR. The President tries his best to restore order and sanity but finds the deck is stacked against him - suddenly it feels like too much trouble not to have a war...
The brilliant triple-performance by Peter Sellers is what you remember of this film, but it is powered along by the tension between the black absurdity of its characters and situations and the naturalistic realism with which they are depicted. Some terrific dialogue and brilliant visual gags, and a lacerating subtext about masculinity running out of control. Current concerns about crazed egomaniacs with their fingers on nuclear buttons mean that Dr Strangelove shows every sign of becoming worryingly topical again, but you can hardly blame Stanley Kubrick for that.
The brilliant triple-performance by Peter Sellers is what you remember of this film, but it is powered along by the tension between the black absurdity of its characters and situations and the naturalistic realism with which they are depicted. Some terrific dialogue and brilliant visual gags, and a lacerating subtext about masculinity running out of control. Current concerns about crazed egomaniacs with their fingers on nuclear buttons mean that Dr Strangelove shows every sign of becoming worryingly topical again, but you can hardly blame Stanley Kubrick for that.
ClareR (5906 KP) rated The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography in Books
May 26, 2018
Lyricist. Writer. Activist.
What a life this man has had! He had a hard start, living in one of the least affluent areas of Birmingham (UK), and running away with his mother to escape a violent father. The 1980s saw race riots, miners strikes and demonstrations against police brutality. Zephaniah and his dub poetry were at the forefront. By the 1990s he was a household name, and not just at home in the UK - he travelled and performed around the world.
I really admire this man. He hasn't had an easy life: he was in borstal as a teen, lived a life of crime for a while and decided for himself that he didn't want to live his life as a criminal where he would most certainly end up dead. HE turned his life around. He stands by his beliefs as well. A brilliant, self taught man, who sets a sterling example for all.
I really admire this man. He hasn't had an easy life: he was in borstal as a teen, lived a life of crime for a while and decided for himself that he didn't want to live his life as a criminal where he would most certainly end up dead. HE turned his life around. He stands by his beliefs as well. A brilliant, self taught man, who sets a sterling example for all.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Gamer (2009) in Movies
Sep 21, 2018 (Updated Sep 29, 2018)
Cool ideas (1 more)
Amazing battle scenes
Another high octane, bloody, brutal action film from the guys who gave us Crank. A real mix-match of several ideas thrown in the blender together from Running Man, eXistenZ, Death Race and games like The Sims and Gears of War. So very low on originality but still a cool idea taken a step further. Two games dominate the future world where virtual reality enables the Player to control another human being. In the Society (Sims) game things take on a weird and sexual nature. In the other game Slayers, death row prisoners can earn freedom if they manage to survive 30 missions. The battle scenes are amazing and you feel like you are there right in the middle of it, not just viewing from the sidelines. Quite violent and over the top like the Crank films. If you like those types of films, games mentioned you should like this.
This is a novella, which I think threw a lot of people who were expecting a full length book. What surprised me, is how rounded the characters were in only 132 pages.
The main character, Scott, realises he is losing weight at an alarming weight, and the strange thing is, is that he looks exactly the same. He seeks the advice of a friend - a retired doctor who is as clueless as he is.
Meanwhile, he has an encounter with some new neighbours, a married lesbian couple whose dogs have been using his lawn as their toilet. DeeDee, one of the women, is very defensive, blows it out of proportion and wants nothing to do with him. But after a local 12K race, this all changes.
What happens though, to a man who continues to lose weight? What will happen when he hits zero?
I really enjoyed this. I really liked the characters, and the ending was quite something!!
The main character, Scott, realises he is losing weight at an alarming weight, and the strange thing is, is that he looks exactly the same. He seeks the advice of a friend - a retired doctor who is as clueless as he is.
Meanwhile, he has an encounter with some new neighbours, a married lesbian couple whose dogs have been using his lawn as their toilet. DeeDee, one of the women, is very defensive, blows it out of proportion and wants nothing to do with him. But after a local 12K race, this all changes.
What happens though, to a man who continues to lose weight? What will happen when he hits zero?
I really enjoyed this. I really liked the characters, and the ending was quite something!!
Sometimes too much choice
Netflix is great, it’s introduced me to lots of great tv shows (Hells Kitchen USA, Kimmy Schmidt, Shark Tank) it lets me binge Drag Race over and over and over.
BUT Netflix I have one GIANT question why do you introduce me to a show I love and then not give me every season there is? It’s like saying here is a million pounds but you can only spend £1.27
Netflix is great but sometimes too much choice isn’t great, I can’t be the only one who watches the same thing over and over and over again?
Netflix is responsible for creating some truly great drama and comedy but is that ruining tv as we know it?
Is Netflix classed as tv? Should Netflix shows be considered for tv awards?
Truly 21st Century problems ?
BUT Netflix I have one GIANT question why do you introduce me to a show I love and then not give me every season there is? It’s like saying here is a million pounds but you can only spend £1.27
Netflix is great but sometimes too much choice isn’t great, I can’t be the only one who watches the same thing over and over and over again?
Netflix is responsible for creating some truly great drama and comedy but is that ruining tv as we know it?
Is Netflix classed as tv? Should Netflix shows be considered for tv awards?
Truly 21st Century problems ?
Jordan Binkerd (567 KP) rated Titan A.E. (2000) in Movies
Jul 22, 2019
Stellar story (2 more)
Excellent vocal cast
Early Joss Whedon writing credit
The contrast between the 2D character animation and the 3D environments is incredibly jarring (1 more)
The music is hailed as "groundbreaking" by the DVD case, but is just kinda meh for me.
Very fun, but visually dated
I remember loving this movie when I was younger, and on rewatching it today I still do, but I have to admit that the visuals haven't aged well. The story is great, if occasionally predictable, and most of the characters are quirky and unique (Gune is a personal favorite!) If they'd restrained themselves to using the early CGI to animate the villainous Drej, a race of aliens made of pure energy, that would have probably aged okay. Those scenes still work. But the fact that all the mechanical elements, ships and such, even spacesuited characters are animated in decidedly dated CGI pulls you out of the narrative pretty fast.