David McK (3600 KP) rated The Lost Outlaw (Jack Lark #8) in Books
Apr 12, 2020
Jack remains as compelling an protagonist as ever, having now fought on both sides of the American Civil War and throughout the British colonies (the series started in Alma), although now his past is beginning to tell - he is no longer as cocksure, as certain of himself as before and is suffering from nightmares over all he has witnessed.
And, yes, the finale does very much resemble Rorke's Drift - even the author states as much!
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Tangerine: A Novel in Books
Apr 1, 2018
Alice Shipley, a rather meek woman, lives with her cocky husband in Tangiers, when one day a face from the past comes back to haunt her. Lucy Mason, her former roommate turns up at her doorstep with hidden motives.
This book has been described as similar to The Talented Mr Ripley, and in some ways, we can see how they converge. It is a psychological thriller including aspects of whether Alice can trust her mind, and if Lucy is just a bunny boiler - bringing together all the usual plots. I personally didn't relish this, because the conclusion fizzled out.
The Last One
10.0
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Caz Ripley, a cafe owner from a small, ordinary town, boards the RMS Atlantica with her boyfriend...
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Aliens (1986) in Movies
Feb 13, 2020
The original Alien is about as perfect as sci-fi horror can get, so it was a smart move on James Cameron's part to not recycle that again, and take Alien in a different direction.
The slow burning, claustrophobic high tension of the original is replaced here with all out war.
The simple idea of multiple Xenomorphs is effective and terrifying, and packs the runtime of Aliens with top tier action.
Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley, and whilst she was a tough yet vulnerable survivor first time around, here we get to see her vulnerability crumble away. By the time the final act kicks in and Ripley is decked out in a mech...she just a badass from here on out.
She's is joined by a group of gun toting, 80s as fuck mercenaries, including the likes of Michael Biehn (fresh from the recently released, first Terminator movie), Bill Paxton, Al Matthews, Jenette Goldstein, and of course Lance Henriksen as Android, Bishop. It's a fantastic cast, who all end up mattering one way or another, even the ones who don't last very long.
The Xenomorphs themselves look as horrifying as ever, still practically achieved, and have an urgent sense of visceral danger whenever they're on screen.
Aliens is also the debut if the Alien Queen, a classic staple of the series since.
No matter how much time goes by, Aliens never fails to be entertaining, and still looks great. It's James Cameron at the top of his game.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Aliens (1986) in Movies
Feb 20, 2018
After a long, tense build-up, once the action kicks off the film feels relentless, and in the Queen Alien it comes up with a monster just as iconic as the original creature. Great ensemble cast led by Weaver, terrific set pieces, interesting subtext about the maternal instinct. Every other Alien film since has been judged by the standards established here.
Lumberjanes: Out of Time
Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis and Brooke Allen
7.0
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The mystery of history! Jen just wants to have a normal lesson with her cabin, teaching Jo, April,...
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
7.3
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A.I. -- Artificial Intelligence, directed by Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park), explores the fine...
A. I. artificial intelligence Steven Spielberg Sfx
Social Creature
8.0
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For readers of Gillian Flynn and Donna Tartt, a dark, propulsive and addictive debut thriller,...
Spy School: Project X
10.0
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In the tenth book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series, Ben Ripley races against time...