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Monsters (2010)
Monsters (2010)
2010 | Drama, Horror, International
4
6.3 (11 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Whack
When a probe crash lands in Central America, large creatures form and begin to take over. Journalist Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) is hired by his boss to find his daughter, who is stranded in Central America, and bring her home.

Acting: 8
Very strong performances from the two stars of the film. The acting was far from the problem here. It was everything else. Whitney Able plays Sam Wynden, the woman Andrew was hired to rescue. Her display of emotions are well-ranged and believable. You can feel her dismay, her fear as she moves from one scene to the next. Truly a talent that I enjoyed watching work in her craft.

Beginning: 10

Characters: 1

Cinematography/Visuals: 3

Conflict: 3

Genre: 0

Memorability: 2

Pace: 1

Plot: 7

Resolution: 5

Overall: 40
Nothing eventful really happens for the majority of the film. Like nothing. Not even exaggerating. I could rip this film apart, but you see the numbers. I don't need to waste my time. Don't waste yours either. Stay away from Monsters. Don't say I didn't warn you.
  
TS
The Stolen Chapters (Story Thieves, #2)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When Owen and Kiel wake up, they are in the library with no memory of how they got there or even what happened in the last couple of weeks. Then someone in a mask shows up to announce that their friend Bethany is in danger, and if they don’t rescue her in the next couple of hours, they will never see her again. Then he sets the library on fire and calls the police on them. Can Owen and Kiel find Bethany, figure out who the villain is, and stop him?

This is the second in a series, and you don’t want to start here if you haven’t read the first. However, once you’ve read the first, you’ll absolutely love this book. There are lots of laughs and fun and surprises along the way, including a fantastic cameo by a character I grew up with. The book gets very meta, but just go with it because it is a ton of fun.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-stolen-chapters-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
The One Plus One
The One Plus One
Jojo Moyes | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
One of my favorite books that I read in 2014. It’s sort of silly and outlandish in plot, but you don’t care, because you’re just riveted, wanting to read it as quickly as possible. Jess is a down-on-her-luck mom of two (her daughter, Tanzie, plus stepson Nicky), whose husband has abandoned her so she has to work two jobs to make ends meet. She meets Ed, a millionaire who is also a bit down-on-his-luck (oh just some investment fraud charges and such) while cleaning his vacation home. Eventually Ed comes to their rescue (literally, as the family is sitting on the side of the road) and helps drive them to a math competition for young Tanzie, who is a maths expert. Along the way, a lot happens. You’d think the novel would be pat and predictable, but it’s really just… lovely. And one of the few books I’ve really loved that I actually think would make a good movie, provided I can approve all casting choices, of course.
  
After the Storm (KGI, #8)
After the Storm (KGI, #8)
Maya Banks | 2017 | Romance, Thriller
10
9.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ok so I get why some people didn't like the latest adventure in the KGI series. Yes it wasn't set in so far flung place, God knows where. Killing bad guys to rescue the damsel in distress but you got to see Donovan how he really is, his passion for rescuing women and children from the clutches of evil and his longing to settle down with his own girl and play happy families just like his brothers.
Donovan for all his muscles and hardness is a pussycat really.

"Donovan wouldn't hurt a hair on your head, nor would he hurt you emotionally. He's just not wired that way"

I loved "After The Storm" it's just as good as the others in the series but just different :-)

Page 210, O.M.G that was fabulous and Rusty's story is going to be great, I can't wait for that.

For those who DNF shame on you, you missed the best bits. Oh well, your loss.

Roll on the next in the series Maya can't write fast enough for me x
  
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Big Hero 6 (2014)
2014 | Animation, Family
The storyline (3 more)
The setting
The characters felt solid and real in their personalities (the brothers(
Baymax ofc
Made me cry.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Loved this film, real solid family animation. I can see it being a firm favourite still in years to come.
The loss of his brother in the fire was quite visceral and I teared up bad (im a sucker for a good storyline and emotion), it was almost on par with the loss of mufasa from the Lion king, (still gets me).
I like the portrayal of a slightly different angle where intelligence is actually promoted and displayed- the university and college scenes, rather than the usual hero plot.
The only niggle I had with the film was that the villian storyline seemed a bit off, it was great until you learnt it was all a plot to get revenge for his daughter that then turned into a rescue mission and they are reunited at the end, just appeared a bit lacklustre but then I have to remember its a kids film and not be so critical!
  
Gumballs &amp; Dungeons
Gumballs & Dungeons
Games
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
App Rating
Awesome Free Game
This game is completely free to play, and its super addictive. The higher your level is the more game functions you have access to, so the game never gets repetitive or boring. Once you reach a certain level you can join an alliance and talk to others who play the game. The community is great, and most of the older players are willing to help those that are new.
When you first start the game your main goal is to go on quests in dungeons. Whenever you complete the required quests for a dungeon you rescue that dungeons gumball and add it to your collection. You then have the choice of starting the next maze or picking an endless quest. An endless quest lets you play until you die, and you might come across hidden gumballs in a maze.
The game includes a lot of different gumballs all of which have different abilities. My favorite part is trying to collect them, and then using them to reach higher floors in the mazes.
  
An early Expanded Universe (EU) novel, <i>Shadows of the Empire</i> is really all but Star Wars episode 5.5 in all but name, taking place as it does between the events of <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i> and <i>Return of the Jedi</i>.

Starting with a familiar scene from <i>The Empire Strikes back</i> (at least, it was familiar until Lucas changed it!) but viewed from a different angle, the novel is also unusual in that Vader is actually one of the main protagonists, with he and Prince Xivor (the head of the criminal organization Black Sun) struggling for The Emperor's approval.

With Han Solo frozen in carbonite - indeed, the first attempts to rescue him form one of the main plot strands of the novel - this also introduces Dash Rendar: a character who, if I'm honest, is really all but Han Solo in name.

The novel also provides a little more background into some of the events mentioned in <i>Return of the Jedi</i>, in particular how come "Many Bothans dies to bring us this information ..."
  
Karma -  Rescue Unsold Food
Karma - Rescue Unsold Food
Food & Drink, Lifestyle
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
App Rating
Rescue food that would go in the bin (0 more)
Not enough areas signed up yet (0 more)
Brilliant idea for an app
The concept of this app is awesome. Every single day shops and restaurants throw out perfectly good food just because it needed eating that day and can't be sold the following day so into the bin it closes. Just think, that curry restaurant you adore may be throwing out a whole pan full of delicious curry that you would have eaten. The local sandwich shop will bin your favourite mustard sandwich because tomorrow the bread will be stake but today they are good to eat.

What this app does is let restaurants and shops sign up to Karna. A Thai restaurant may be selling a big pan of curry for five days but on the fifth day that needs eating it it will be thrown out. The restaurant will list Thai Green Curry on Karma for remarkably less money and so you save money and the earth at the same time.

Cool huh!
  
Bootyogomy
Bootyogomy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Max and Kendall have known each other most of their lives. But each of them has feelings for the other, but they don't know. After the opening night of Kendall's new roller rink, they decide that they are going to have a Bootyogomy. No strings attached, but they are the only ones they call for late night nookie. When Kendall finds herself in trouble, Max is there to rescue her as always. Will they keep their bootyogomy or will it become something more serious.

I had to get this book since I was gifted with other books in the series. Frankie Love and C.M. Seabrook write quick steamy books that you can get through in less than an hour. I read this one before bed last night.

When Max lost his family, he moved in with Kendall and her brother Grady who is Max's best friend. Kendall and Max have pined for each other since that time, but never did anything because of Grady. But now is their chance. They are both adults and are doing exactly what they want to be doing.