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Rob Zombie recommended Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) in Movies (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Congress (2014) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
Restored my belief in the power of movies, one of the most fulfilling cinematic experiences I've ever had and probably will ever have in my lifetime. Not trying to undersell how structureless this is, but it gets a free pass for how rigorously committed to the mindfuck it is - it just wouldn't have worked out even a fraction as well with any sort of form. I spent the better part of this with my jaw frozen in the dropped position, it's been so long since I've truly been blown away and couldn't believe what I was watching actually got made. Part personal, quasi-documentary character study of a real life actress; part actually good "Black Mirror" episode about the evolution of idolization; part 50s cartoon nightmare; part acid trip; part "holy shit my tears are crying" drama. Can't even begin to justifiably describe how good this film looks in words, essential viewing - can only be believed by first having seen. Robin Wright and Harvey Keitel give megaperformances to match the boundless ambition - 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘈𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘴 can't even compare. A nebulous, meditative, and bracingly surreal slideshow of future-fantasy and riffs on what the future could bring with a refreshing lack of pretention and cynicism for once (though I'm sure I stand alone in thinking that) that's never anything less than beautiful. Never wanted to let go, never has some variation of "your past is dead" been said so despondently. And what a fucking A-class score.
Far from the Tree
8.3
Rate It
Book
Perfect for fans of NBC's "This Is Us," Robin Benway’s beautiful interweaving story of three very...
Young Adult
Sago Mini Babies
Education
App
Introducing the Sago Mini babies. Boys and girls love caring for these adorable characters. Feed...
World Whisperer
9.0
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Book
A devastating sacrifice. A daring rescue. A new world of magic unveiled. As a fourteen-year-old...
Fantasy Coming of Age YA
I think there is always a case for choosing a book based purely on the cover. This is another of those times where I’ve done precisely that - and I loved this book.
Fragile is a haunting thriller, where two young people, Nell and Joe, run away to London from their foster home after a tragic event. An event that we’re drip fed the information of as the book progresses.
Joe and Nell become separated, so Nell decides to go and knock on the door of the last place she saw him. When Dr. Robin Wilder opens the door at Starling Villa, Nell manages to talk him into employing her as his housekeeper. But all is not as it seems. Is Nell really safe here? What happened in Wales before she ran away to London with Joe? What does Dr. Wilders wife want with Nell? And where is Joe?
Nell and Joe’s backstories about their lives in care are heartbreaking. From a young age, Nell becomes the house ‘mother’, cleaner and cook. It’s a horrible life for her and so well described. Joe’s life isn’t any better.
Actually, the writing is so descriptive: people and places are described picture perfectly, and some scenes are so emotive, whilst others are really tense. The gripping finale was heartbreaking.
Sarah Hilary is a new author to me, and one that I’ll certainly look out for in future.
Fragile is a haunting thriller, where two young people, Nell and Joe, run away to London from their foster home after a tragic event. An event that we’re drip fed the information of as the book progresses.
Joe and Nell become separated, so Nell decides to go and knock on the door of the last place she saw him. When Dr. Robin Wilder opens the door at Starling Villa, Nell manages to talk him into employing her as his housekeeper. But all is not as it seems. Is Nell really safe here? What happened in Wales before she ran away to London with Joe? What does Dr. Wilders wife want with Nell? And where is Joe?
Nell and Joe’s backstories about their lives in care are heartbreaking. From a young age, Nell becomes the house ‘mother’, cleaner and cook. It’s a horrible life for her and so well described. Joe’s life isn’t any better.
Actually, the writing is so descriptive: people and places are described picture perfectly, and some scenes are so emotive, whilst others are really tense. The gripping finale was heartbreaking.
Sarah Hilary is a new author to me, and one that I’ll certainly look out for in future.
Merissa (13778 KP) rated Mandatory Repairs (Collier's Creek) in Books
Sep 29, 2023
MANDATORY REPAIRS is part of the multi-author Collier's Creek series. In this story, we meet Max and Nash. Nash lives and works on Twisted Pines Ranch. Max is the half-brother of the owner of Twisted Pines. They first meet when Max is drunk (beer, lack of food, and high altitude!) and doesn't remember Nash at all. Nash likes Max until he finds out who he is.
Although I enjoyed this story, it felt jerky and uneven with its pace. I would also have liked more character development. I mean, Nash doesn't like Max once he finds out who he is. But what are the exact reasons, because what we get told is rubbish. And then, Robin (the half-sister) tells him to apologise. He goes to the bar, and then they're in bed! This happens on a couple of occasions.
Saying that, I did love the scene in the bookshop, and also when Max is trying to get out of a sticky situation. He kept his head and did what he could, instead of whimpering and playing the poor princess.
I enjoyed this addition to the series and look forward to reading stories set in Collier's Creek.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 29, 2023
Although I enjoyed this story, it felt jerky and uneven with its pace. I would also have liked more character development. I mean, Nash doesn't like Max once he finds out who he is. But what are the exact reasons, because what we get told is rubbish. And then, Robin (the half-sister) tells him to apologise. He goes to the bar, and then they're in bed! This happens on a couple of occasions.
Saying that, I did love the scene in the bookshop, and also when Max is trying to get out of a sticky situation. He kept his head and did what he could, instead of whimpering and playing the poor princess.
I enjoyed this addition to the series and look forward to reading stories set in Collier's Creek.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 29, 2023
David McK (3713 KP) rated The Dark Knight Rises (2012) in Movies
Jun 30, 2019 (Updated Aug 2, 2024)
The final part of Christopher Nolan's Christian Bale starring Batman trilogy (after both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) that takes a large part of its inspiration from the 1990s Knightfall series of graphic novels in introducing the character of Bane: the man who (quote unquote) 'Breaks the Bat'.
As portrayed by Tom Hardy, this version of the character is nothing at all like you might remember from the Batman and Robin abomination: there's no mention of venom (the drug) in this movie, nor is it overstuffed with villains like that earlier movie/portrayal of the character was.
Instead, we have Bane as the primary antagonist throughout, although - in the tradition of Batman Begins - he is later revealed to be but a pawn, with deliberate call-backs to that first movie. While Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow does make a return (in what largely amounts as a camoe) alongside Ra's Al-Ghul (again, largely as a cameo in flashbacks), there's no Joker this time round - probably as a result of the real-world death of Heath Ledger (although I might have preferred even a throw-away line saying why the character wasn't in this!)
We also have Anne Hathaway's take on Catwoman/Selina Kyle, here portrayed more as a cat burglar than the Michelle Pfeiffer version from Batman Returns, and the 'passing on' of the mantle of Gotham's protector to another very-familiar character (who doesn't use his given name until the very end).
As portrayed by Tom Hardy, this version of the character is nothing at all like you might remember from the Batman and Robin abomination: there's no mention of venom (the drug) in this movie, nor is it overstuffed with villains like that earlier movie/portrayal of the character was.
Instead, we have Bane as the primary antagonist throughout, although - in the tradition of Batman Begins - he is later revealed to be but a pawn, with deliberate call-backs to that first movie. While Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow does make a return (in what largely amounts as a camoe) alongside Ra's Al-Ghul (again, largely as a cameo in flashbacks), there's no Joker this time round - probably as a result of the real-world death of Heath Ledger (although I might have preferred even a throw-away line saying why the character wasn't in this!)
We also have Anne Hathaway's take on Catwoman/Selina Kyle, here portrayed more as a cat burglar than the Michelle Pfeiffer version from Batman Returns, and the 'passing on' of the mantle of Gotham's protector to another very-familiar character (who doesn't use his given name until the very end).
Perfect Vengeance (FBI Strike Force #1)
Book
Trusting him could save her...or destroy her. Robin Hood meets the Sopranos…an insanely...
Romantic Suspense