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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated Story Thieves (Story Thieves, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Owen lives in the world of his favorite books – at least in his mind. But when he meets Bethany emerging from a book, he realizes he might be able to do that for real. Despite Bethany’s strict rules, Owen tricks her into going and changing the outcome of the sixth Kiel Gnomefoot book. However, the consequences are more than he bargained for. Will he and Bethany be able to return things to the way they should be?
Having dreamed of jumping into books myself, I loved the premise of this book even before I read it. It delivered on the promise in spades. I wasn’t super impressed with the Kiel Gnomefoot story within the story, but that was a minor complaint. The plot overall was very engrossing and the characters were fun. I can’t wait to see what happens to Owen and Bethany next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-story-thieves-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Having dreamed of jumping into books myself, I loved the premise of this book even before I read it. It delivered on the promise in spades. I wasn’t super impressed with the Kiel Gnomefoot story within the story, but that was a minor complaint. The plot overall was very engrossing and the characters were fun. I can’t wait to see what happens to Owen and Bethany next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-story-thieves-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated Dangerous to Know (Lillian Frost & Edith Head #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
In December 1938, an FBI investigation into the smuggling activities of Albert Chaperau has reached the doors of Paramount, where Edith Head is the head of costumes. Since Lillian Frost was at the dinner party where Albert was exposed, she finds herself involved in attempts to head off the investigation. Meanwhile, Lillian is also looking into the disappearance of Jens Lahse. No one has seen him for a week. Where could he have gone?
This book plunges us into the world of old Hollywood, and doesn’t let us out. Real and fictional blend seamlessly on the page, all of them coming to wonderful life. The book takes time to lay the foundation of both stories and introduce the characters, but once that happens, it is off and running and hard to put down. Add in a touch of Christmas, and you have a very charming book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-dangerous-to-know-by-renee.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book plunges us into the world of old Hollywood, and doesn’t let us out. Real and fictional blend seamlessly on the page, all of them coming to wonderful life. The book takes time to lay the foundation of both stories and introduce the characters, but once that happens, it is off and running and hard to put down. Add in a touch of Christmas, and you have a very charming book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-dangerous-to-know-by-renee.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Batman (1989) in Movies
Feb 25, 2018
Tim Burton's landmark superhero adaptation was an unavoidable media juggernaut on original release; has stood the test of time pretty well. Bruce Wayne begins his battle against crime as Batman, inadvertently creates psycho crime-lord the Joker; the two of them both take a shine to reporter Vicki Vale.
Enormously influenced by Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, clearly, but then you could say the same about every single other Batman movie since. The real innovation at the time was to create a distinctive fantasy world around Batman so he appears less absurd: hence the gothic nightmare of Gotham City's architecture, and the combination of elements of 40s and 80s fashion in the costume design. Whole film is arguably unbalanced by Jack Nicholson's not-exactly-understated performance as the Joker, though Michael Keaton does his best. Is there really anything behind all the art direction and overacting? Possibly not, but that may be missing the point.
Enormously influenced by Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, clearly, but then you could say the same about every single other Batman movie since. The real innovation at the time was to create a distinctive fantasy world around Batman so he appears less absurd: hence the gothic nightmare of Gotham City's architecture, and the combination of elements of 40s and 80s fashion in the costume design. Whole film is arguably unbalanced by Jack Nicholson's not-exactly-understated performance as the Joker, though Michael Keaton does his best. Is there really anything behind all the art direction and overacting? Possibly not, but that may be missing the point.
Flynn (6 KP) rated Lizard Radio in Books
Sep 18, 2018
<spoiler>Kind of disappointed there weren't actual lizard people, and we never learned what vaping actually was, or if blight was as bad as they made it out to be,</spoiler> so the book left me wanting a lot more answers to my questions in a fairly unsatisfying way. A lot of terms thrown at you to with no explanation, and the context makes it hard to actually figure out what stuff means.
Pretty good rep of non-binary and trans folk though and how confusing and hard it can be to be yourself in a strict binary world, but for people who haven't experienced anything really related to being gender non-conforming, it might be a bit hard to understand Kivali's perspective.
As a kid who legit thought they weren't human because they were different and wished I was picked up by my fellow aliens, having actual aliens get Kivali would've been a lot more satisfying than them not being real.
Pretty good rep of non-binary and trans folk though and how confusing and hard it can be to be yourself in a strict binary world, but for people who haven't experienced anything really related to being gender non-conforming, it might be a bit hard to understand Kivali's perspective.
As a kid who legit thought they weren't human because they were different and wished I was picked up by my fellow aliens, having actual aliens get Kivali would've been a lot more satisfying than them not being real.
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.
KatyShubo (75 KP) rated Big Love - Season 1 in TV
Jan 19, 2019
Characters (2 more)
Bizarrely normal
Theme tune
It’s Big Love from me
Big Love straddles the bizarre and the normal in a way that only they could. You will find yourself finding a favourite wife, (personally I can’t stand Margene- she’s too chirpy)
The cast put in stellar performances which make you feel like their just a normal family.
I love the theme tune and the opening sequence, it’s one of the most onpoint tv openers ever and it beautifully foreshadows things to come.
You will end up falling in love with this crazy, quirky little world.
This has been my choice of tv bingeing for the past few weeks and I had forgotten just how good this show is, it makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes your skin crawl and it will bring out your inner judge and if you are anything like me you will begin googling polygamy because you will want to know if Big Love is real or just a fanciful tale
The cast put in stellar performances which make you feel like their just a normal family.
I love the theme tune and the opening sequence, it’s one of the most onpoint tv openers ever and it beautifully foreshadows things to come.
You will end up falling in love with this crazy, quirky little world.
This has been my choice of tv bingeing for the past few weeks and I had forgotten just how good this show is, it makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes your skin crawl and it will bring out your inner judge and if you are anything like me you will begin googling polygamy because you will want to know if Big Love is real or just a fanciful tale
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated Venom (2018) in Movies
Jul 2, 2019
Like a small dog that an old lady would sneak into a hospital, Venom had plenty of bark leading up to its release but not much bite. I love Tom Hardy, he's one of my favorite actors in the business right now, but even he couldn't save this movie. I feel like they did a great job with Tom Hardy and the Venom character itself, I dug it and got some good laughs out of it. For me though, the story they were stuck in was the real parasite. This is one of those movies I'm sure many will enjoy and many will hate. I always hope everyone enjoys every movie they watch though, no matter my opinion. The voice in my head says to wrap this rambling up so we can go eat, so let me finish with this. Here's to dreaming of a world where one day humans, with all of our opinions and differences, can peacefully intertwine and be symbiotic.
Ande Thomas (69 KP) rated Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) in Movies
Jul 25, 2019
When I hear anything about Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, it's usually in the manner of "omgz orgy movie" but that's completely glossing over what I think makes this movie so great. Yes, it's about a couple's journey into sexual freedom, but the thing that elevates this film to five stars for me is the exploration by the characters into their own senses of intimacy.
As the film unfolds, we get to watch each character evolve and work through their own insecurities and feelings in a way that I think is sorely absent in today's world. In real time, we can see them identify the feeling they are having, trace it to it's source, and push past it towards a resolution.
The performances, especially Natalie Woods' as Carol, are chock full of great nonverbal expressions that bring the subtext of the film to life.
What Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice has to offer is a masterclass in the subtleties of human expression and it is a joy to watch.
As the film unfolds, we get to watch each character evolve and work through their own insecurities and feelings in a way that I think is sorely absent in today's world. In real time, we can see them identify the feeling they are having, trace it to it's source, and push past it towards a resolution.
The performances, especially Natalie Woods' as Carol, are chock full of great nonverbal expressions that bring the subtext of the film to life.
What Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice has to offer is a masterclass in the subtleties of human expression and it is a joy to watch.
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