Search

Search only in certain items:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)
2013 | Action, Animation, Family
Runs at about <0.2x the pace of the first, with the exact same breed of that formularized 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘵 & 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬 style non-plot drivel I detest. But otherwise? Yeah it was cute enough to suffice. Still gets docked a half star based solely on the sickly oversweetened last half hour filled with monotonous genre tropes and atrocious, badly-aged family-friendly pop crap (anyone remember Cody Simpson lmfao). But the foodimal designs here are so fucking cute holy shit - and just speaking generally the thing is an energetic, luminous laser light show to look at which manages to not only distinct itself from the original; but also packs ceaseless creativity in practically every inch of every frame. Plus the animation that's used to do so, even looking at it today, is gobsmackingly beautiful. Add in that it's occasionally pretty damn funny (again, if not matching up to the rate of the first) and that these characters are impossible not to root for even if they're merely a shadow of their former selves and you've got yourself a really nice time. I've always liked the subversion and general respect given to the Sam Sparks character in this relationship and I'm glad to see it remains intact with this one. Shame we never got any more of these.
  
S1m0ne (2002)
S1m0ne (2002)
2002 | Drama, Sci-Fi
The trifecta of flatness: a comedy with next to no laughs, a satire with no bite, and a drama without sufficient emotion. Yet another technophobic dud that fires on zero cylinders and has nothing to say - try to picture if 𝘏𝘦𝘳 was one of the (many) shittier "Black Mirror" episodes. Besides Rachel Roberts' perfectly realized, fittingly mysterious performance (which, of course, is underused) nothing else shines through here - has zero depth beyond a few performative quips and has that rush-through-everything-of-any-importance pacing + structure that I detest. Here we have what could have been a poignantly interesting film about a disenchanted director whose only authentic relationship is with a synthetic A.I. as well as a boiling satire about the state of celebrity, the objectification of women in entertainment, technology, etc. But instead we're left with such a rote, surface-level, come-and-go boilerplate narrative about this thinly-written 'failed director' trope having to hide an obviously fake woman from every idiot on the planet. Skimps out on where it counts, the brief spoof arthouse movies in these are more intelligent and watchable than the actual movie - which ironically feels as insincere and fakey as its central character. Also I miss Jay Mohr.
  
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
7
8.2 (101 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dysfunctional and heart-warming
Read this before I made the decision to watch the movie, and I certainly enjoyed the book more (although the movie was not a bad one). The more I read the book, the more I was hooked, (possibly because it was quite a heavy read, and I wanted to finish it, again not because I dislike it). Many of the characters are likeable, and the material was well written.
A coming of age story of a young man beginning high school with the emotional and mental baggage of his traumatic childhood. Charlie was an unusual main lead, appearing quite odd at times and very emotional. He made friends with Sam and Patrick, and the relationship was heart warming if not a little dysfunctional.
My rating of the book, did not quite give it the max rating, as I felt after I had finished reading, I was left a little confused, and with a number of unanswered questions. At times throughout the novel, I kept thinking the next chapter will be the big reveal, but that chapter never came.
I can see why it has the following it has, went mainstream and has remained popular, but not a book I aim to reread anytime soon.
  
Happy Anymore - Single by Savannah Sgro
Happy Anymore - Single by Savannah Sgro
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Savannah Sgro is Nashville-based singer-songwriter from Las Vegas, Nevada. Not too long ago, she released a gloomy pop tune, entitled, “Happy Anymore”.

“Turn the TV off ‘cause I don’t wanna see this part. They’re in each other’s arms and it’s just too hard on my heart. I don’t wanna see another kiss, another smile on their lips. No, I couldn’t be more over this. I’m sick of seeing people happy ‘cause all it does is remind me that that’s not what we are anymore.” – lyrics

‘Happy Anymore’ tells a bitter tale of a young woman who shares a dysfunctional relationship with her significant other.

Apparently, they’ve tried kissing and making up, and everything else under the sun. But nothing seems to make them happy.
Later, the woman admits that she and her partner used to make each other happy, but now they’re not happy anymore because they can’t compromise.

‘Happy Anymore’ contains a relatable storyline, pleasing vocals, and warm instrumentation scented with sentimental ingredients.

“I wrote the song with my friends Savana Santos and Emily Falvey. It was written while I was inspired by watching ‘The Bachelor’. It was hard to watch all these couples happy when my boyfriend and I were fighting.” – Savannah Sgro
  
Oh No! - Single by EMAN8
Oh No! - Single by EMAN8
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
EMAN8 (Brandyn Burnette) is an LA-based artist from Saint Louis, MO. Not too long ago, he released a groovy urban pop tune, entitled, “Oh No!”.

“Baby, you so sick you make me nausea. Please forgive me I’m just being cautious. I know that you got a couple of options. Lately, you’ve been checking all my boxers. All my homies told me not to fall for it. Put me on the court and I’ma ball for it. I just need to know if you are all in. I know that you’re drunk that’s why you’re calling.” – lyrics

‘Oh No!’ tells an interesting tale of a young guy who has high hopes for a problematic relationship which he shares with his significant other.

Apparently, he can’t believe what she tells him and can’t decipher if it’s a nightmare or dream that he has fallen deeply into.
Later, he admits that this was everything he ever wanted, but every day feels like it’s haunted.

‘Oh No!’ contains a cautionary storyline, harmonious vocals, and groovy instrumentation flavored with urban R&B and hip-hop elements.

EMAN8 hopes to emanate the true authentic vibration of his experiences, soundscapes, and songwriting.

His name comes from his Jamaican middle name “Emanate”, which means to come forth.
  
Love Letters to the Dead
Love Letters to the Dead
Ava Dellaira | 2014 | Young Adult (YA)
8
6.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
The last 100 pages saved this book from a 3 star! Laurel is given an assignment in school which is to write a letter to someone who is dead. She chooses Kurt Cobain, who she feels as a lot in common with her sister May who died young just like she did. Soon she begins writing to lots of other famous people who have died too, through her letters to get to know about her life and her thoughts and feelings. I found Laurel to be very dislikeable at the start, she lives in her sisters shadow but it so caught up in trying to be her she becomes completely wrapped up in it. After finishing this book I can understand why she was portrayed this way to begin with, as the story developed I gained more of an understanding into who she is away from her sister. I loved her relationship with Sky and I love the friendships she also gained (I wasn't too sure of them at first) I felt at times it dragged but the last 100 pages really did it for me and I ended up loving how it all came together. Its definitely worth a read stick with it you won't be disappointed.
  
40x40

ClareR (5911 KP) rated Platform Seven in Books

Sep 1, 2019 (Updated Sep 2, 2019)  
Platform Seven
Platform Seven
Louise Doughty | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
6.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
A beautiful, sad story.
If I could give more than 10/10 for Platform Seven, I would. The main character, and I’m giving nothing away here, is a ghost. She doesn’t know her name or why she’s there, but she knows that she’s dead, and she knows that she can’t leave the confines of Peterborough train station. However, two things trigger the return of her memories: a suicide on Platform Seven, and the appearance of a (living) young man in the station. We then learn her name, and the sequence of events that resulted in her death and afterlife at Peterborough train station.

This was a beautifully told story, and I’ll warn you now that you’ll need to read it with tissues at hand. I cried, and I cried quite a lot! This isn’t an action packed thriller. It’s thoughtful, emotional, and at times it’s frustrating. It’s easy to read a story and say to yourself that you won’t make the same mistakes as the lead character, that that character should have made different choices, but this book explains so well a manipulative, emotionally abusive relationship.

I would recommend this story - it really is well worth reading.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this outstanding book.
  
Thick Skin by Tia Gostelow
Thick Skin by Tia Gostelow
2019 | Indie
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Album Rating
2018 was a tremendous year for Tia Gostelow as her debut album Thick Skin was received with incredible warmth all over the globe - including a Triple J album feature, serious global play-listing, sold-out shows, and invitations to perform at music festivals all over the world. Her single Strangers also just clicked over 2 million streams on Spotify.

Tia wrote her debut single State Of Art in 2015 when she was only 16 years old. The song caught the attention of producer Konstantin Kersting and they recorded it together at Airlock Studios in Brisbane - this was the start of a creative relationship that has carried through to the recording process for Thick Skin. Tia describes her new song Get To It as representing a new mindset for her, where she no longer allows fear to hold her back. With a dedicated band behind her, she is ready to write the next chapter in the story of her success, as their songs continue to resonate with fans in Australia, and around the world. Get To It, the latest from Tia Gostelow, is a wistful look back at life, as we look for which memories are worth keeping and which way to go now.
  
City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5)
City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5)
Cassandra Clare | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry, Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
6
8.2 (27 Ratings)
Book Rating
43 of 250
Book
City of Lost Souls ( Shadowhunter book 5)
By Cassandra Clare

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Discover more secrets about the Shadowhunters as they fight to protect the world from demons in the fifth book in the internationally bestselling series. What price is too high to pay, even for love? Clary is willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? This edition contains a map and a new foreword by Cassandra Clare. Read all the sensational books in The Shadowhunter Chronicles: The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, The Bane Chronicles, The Dark Artifices, The Last Hours and The Shadowhunter’s Codex.


So I’ve almost totally given up on these books Clary and Jace drive me mental!
This one was the only one I actually enjoyed the reason being it brought the other characters forward instead of focusing on this toxic childish relationship.
I will stick to the end as I’m not for giving up on a series especially 5 books in. The reason for the 3 stars instead of 2 was because the book did bring the other characters forward!
  
In His Command (Don&#039;t Tell, #1)
In His Command (Don't Tell, #1)
Rie Warren | 2013
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I read books for the romance and I'll tell you now, this was full of it, which is why I liked it so much. Normally when I read a MM book, it's more concentrating on the sex, whereas this one concentrated on the relationship and how it grew from mistrust into love. It was so sweet in places and I was bawling for a while near the end.

I liked both of the main characters and how they acted around each other. They were both great guys who'd had to put up with a lot of crap in the past and when they finally got it together I was almost cheering.

Liz, Caspar's best friend and one of his Lieutenants, was also a cool character and though I thought we'd never see her again after they left Alpha, she makes another appearance near the end, which also had me smiling.

I should probably point out that it does concentrate more on the romance and it's progression that the dystopian world but it's still a good tale if you don't mind that minor detail.

If you like MM Romances that actually focus on the romance, then this shouldn't be missed. I recommend it.