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Dean (6927 KP) rated Aladdin (2019) in Movies
May 22, 2019 (Updated May 22, 2019)
Very entertaining family film
Well I have to say I was a bit surprised when I saw Guy Ritchie come up as the director at the start, especially after the King Arthur film. Gladly none of his usual editing techniques are on show here. I can only just remember the cartoon version when I was younger. The humour of the genie voiced by Robin Williams made the film for me.
So a tough act to follow. The film is visually dazzling, in the costumes, sets, CGI and SFX in general. It all looks very realistic. I'm not a big fan of the songs, some are better than others. Overall it's a bit unfair to compare it to the original. It's a fun and light hearted film that goes by at a good pace and doesn't feel like a long film. Naomi Scott does look like a Disney princess. Maybe not as funny as the original but it's still a film all ages should enjoy.
So a tough act to follow. The film is visually dazzling, in the costumes, sets, CGI and SFX in general. It all looks very realistic. I'm not a big fan of the songs, some are better than others. Overall it's a bit unfair to compare it to the original. It's a fun and light hearted film that goes by at a good pace and doesn't feel like a long film. Naomi Scott does look like a Disney princess. Maybe not as funny as the original but it's still a film all ages should enjoy.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Inspector (Zvyozdniy inspektor) (1980) in Movies
May 26, 2019 (Updated May 26, 2019)
Borderline-unwatchable Soviet-era sci-fi film, also known as Space Cop (according to the subtitles on the version I saw, anyway). The reappearance of a ship thought lost in space, and an attack on Space Police HQ, results in a patrol spaceship being sent to investigate, the search leading to one of those planets which looks suspiciously like a quarry. What ensues there is a joyless, repetitive trudge.
Feels like one of those films made by people who've had sci-fi explained to them over the phone, but who have no first-hand familiarity with the genre, or indeed much familiarity with storytelling in general. This is before we get to the primitive production values, the aspects of the story which don't travel well (the villains are a trio named Doug, Marge, and Steve), or the heavy reliance on technobabble plot devices. Has the general feel of an episode of Space 1999. There are some interesting psychedelic visuals on display, and the special effects are often amusing (this was not the intention), but this is grim stuff for the most part.
Feels like one of those films made by people who've had sci-fi explained to them over the phone, but who have no first-hand familiarity with the genre, or indeed much familiarity with storytelling in general. This is before we get to the primitive production values, the aspects of the story which don't travel well (the villains are a trio named Doug, Marge, and Steve), or the heavy reliance on technobabble plot devices. Has the general feel of an episode of Space 1999. There are some interesting psychedelic visuals on display, and the special effects are often amusing (this was not the intention), but this is grim stuff for the most part.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Woman in the Window in Books
Jun 13, 2019 (Updated Jun 13, 2019)
Gripping unreliable narrator thriller
Housebound Anna Fox loves watching old movies and drinking a lot of wine, that is when she isn’t spying on her neighbours from out of the window. Not long after a new family move in Anna sees someone murdered but no one is willing to believe the drunk and that includes even Anna doubting what she saw.
There are a lot of unreliable narrator books around at the moment in the thriller genre and I think this is a solid addition, it’s a well written fast paced read. The plot doesn't seem to be anything groundbreaking and lacks in any real surprises in the plot but it’s very engagingly narrated. Maybe my love for staying in at home and drinking wine made this book speak to me but I found it engrossing and enjoyable. If your into old films you'll probably get a kick out of all the references to those as well.
Oh and net curtains when you are in a home that is overlooked why isn't that a thing....
There are a lot of unreliable narrator books around at the moment in the thriller genre and I think this is a solid addition, it’s a well written fast paced read. The plot doesn't seem to be anything groundbreaking and lacks in any real surprises in the plot but it’s very engagingly narrated. Maybe my love for staying in at home and drinking wine made this book speak to me but I found it engrossing and enjoyable. If your into old films you'll probably get a kick out of all the references to those as well.
Oh and net curtains when you are in a home that is overlooked why isn't that a thing....
ArecRain (8 KP) rated To Hell With Love in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I seriously do not even know what to say about this piece of work. It's a rare and special day when you run across a romance novel where the male protagonist is death/devil/Hades. They are personal favorites of mine. So you can imagine I snatched this one up as soon as I saw it. I am glad I only dished out $2 for it.
The plot is as thin as wet tissue and more boring than watching mud dry. Every page was obvious and expected, the obstruction between the protagonists was blaring, and it was just very...bland. I will give the author credit for knowing how to write and tell the story she wants to tell. However, I must deduct points for the lack of creativity. I wanted so much to be wowed or at least enjoy the novel, but instead I felt like this would be a the love story about death and his lady as written by a high school freshmen, still dewy eyed.
The plot is as thin as wet tissue and more boring than watching mud dry. Every page was obvious and expected, the obstruction between the protagonists was blaring, and it was just very...bland. I will give the author credit for knowing how to write and tell the story she wants to tell. However, I must deduct points for the lack of creativity. I wanted so much to be wowed or at least enjoy the novel, but instead I felt like this would be a the love story about death and his lady as written by a high school freshmen, still dewy eyed.
Kay Bee (1 KP) rated John Wick (2014) in Movies
Jan 28, 2018
Best Movie Surprise I've Ever Had
I generally like Keanu Reeves even though he can be wooden at times action films have become his Forte. My husband and I both love action movies so we went to see it when it came out in the theater and hadn't really heard any Buzz about it. I was absolutely blown away and it was my favorite movie of the year, so much so that we were in line opening night to see John Wick 2 (and were not disappointed in that one either but that's another review). It really is just an all-around great movie if you like action films, revenge thrillers, or Keanu Reeves; you really can't go wrong. The score is so great I bought and downloaded it immediately after we left the theater. The club scene is perfection.
Dakota Morrill (17 KP) rated The Shawshank Redemption (1994) in Movies
Mar 2, 2018
Great movie with one annoying flaw
Contains spoilers, click to show
I saw this movie for the first time only recently after hearing my friends preach about it for years. I knew it was a short story by Steven King that was adapted into an extremely long movie, but I had no idea what the movie was about until I hit that play button.
The question of whether or not Andy actually killed his wife and her lover is never answered. I’d held my breath hoping we’d get some form of true closure, but with the events that transpire, any chances of finding out what truly happened is shut down.
The biggest reason that I would prefer to give this film an 8.5 however is the boring stereotypical ending involving Andy escaping, the evil Warden dying, the mean enforcer being enforced, and Red simply joining Andy in dream land working together forever more to live happily ever after. It feels like they just got bored after writing such a long script that they wrote a placeholder then walked away, forgetting to come back later and finish. Disappointing.
The question of whether or not Andy actually killed his wife and her lover is never answered. I’d held my breath hoping we’d get some form of true closure, but with the events that transpire, any chances of finding out what truly happened is shut down.
The biggest reason that I would prefer to give this film an 8.5 however is the boring stereotypical ending involving Andy escaping, the evil Warden dying, the mean enforcer being enforced, and Red simply joining Andy in dream land working together forever more to live happily ever after. It feels like they just got bored after writing such a long script that they wrote a placeholder then walked away, forgetting to come back later and finish. Disappointing.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Dial M for Mousse (Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Winnie gets an advance order for the people staying at the retreat out of town, she gladly spends the weekend thinking up fun desserts to encourage these artists. However, when she goes to deliver them, she arrives just as the owner of the retreat center dies. Only later, Winnie begins to question what she saw. Was someone trying to deceive her at the time? Can she figure out what really happened?
This is such a fun idea and fun series, and this book was no exception. I did feel the emphasis was on the series regulars and their sub-plots, but I didn’t mind too much since I do like these characters. And that’s not to say we didn’t get some twists along the way to the climax. The suspects add to the fun as they are a very unique group of people.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-dial-m-for-mousse-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is such a fun idea and fun series, and this book was no exception. I did feel the emphasis was on the series regulars and their sub-plots, but I didn’t mind too much since I do like these characters. And that’s not to say we didn’t get some twists along the way to the climax. The suspects add to the fun as they are a very unique group of people.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-dial-m-for-mousse-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Giant Claw (1957) in Movies
Mar 14, 2018
Notorious Z-grade monster movie is actually quite entertaining if you treat it as an unintentional comedy. Plot just shows what horrors can result when research into particle physics gets it on with Japanese monster movies, as there is a mind-boggling attempt to give proceedings a veneer of scientific plausibility by saying the giant bird-monster has an anti-matter shield, explaining why they don't just shoot the damn thing down.
The fact that some of the scenes between Morrow and Corday could conceivably be quite effective in a more conventional movie just adds to the general weirdness of the whole Giant Claw experience. Normally I would attempt to describe the impact made by the boggle-eyed monster puppet, but words are just not enough. All you really need to know is that star Jeff Morrow left the first screening of the movie he saw early, afraid he might be recognised, went home and allegedly started drinking. I would say get the drinking out of the way before you watch the movie.
The fact that some of the scenes between Morrow and Corday could conceivably be quite effective in a more conventional movie just adds to the general weirdness of the whole Giant Claw experience. Normally I would attempt to describe the impact made by the boggle-eyed monster puppet, but words are just not enough. All you really need to know is that star Jeff Morrow left the first screening of the movie he saw early, afraid he might be recognised, went home and allegedly started drinking. I would say get the drinking out of the way before you watch the movie.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Annihilation (2018) in Movies
Mar 15, 2018 (Updated Mar 15, 2018)
Last scene was the only good scene
I may be able to speak for many who saw this film and thought what the heck was that about? Natalie Portman, a biologist, ventures into unknown territory after her husband, played by Oscar Isaac, mysteriously reappears after a year completely oblivious to where he had been. In a bid to seek answers, she teams up with a group of women for what can only be described as a suicide mission.
This may have gone far past Philip K. Dick territory in bizarreness. Most of the film felt inconsequential, with strange atmospheric music, and confusing sequences of events. It definitely seemed like the director tried incredibly hard to create an intelligent science fiction thriller in the same vein as @Solaris (2002) or @Arrival (2016), but the weak plot just seemed to refract his overall intention (see what I did there?)
The last few scenes were probably the most gripping, and rather unnerving. But unfortunately two scenes does not make a film.
This may have gone far past Philip K. Dick territory in bizarreness. Most of the film felt inconsequential, with strange atmospheric music, and confusing sequences of events. It definitely seemed like the director tried incredibly hard to create an intelligent science fiction thriller in the same vein as @Solaris (2002) or @Arrival (2016), but the weak plot just seemed to refract his overall intention (see what I did there?)
The last few scenes were probably the most gripping, and rather unnerving. But unfortunately two scenes does not make a film.
Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated Glasshouse in Books
Mar 1, 2018
The cover of this book actually put me off the contents the first few times I saw it. It isn't as if the cover is bad, and it actually reflects the book fairly well—but I like books about <b>people</b>, and when there's not a person anywhere on the cover, I have to be prettty bored to read the book.
I'm glad I did read it, although there were some rough bits. I need happy endings in my fiction. I just do, okay? This is pleasure reading, after all. And at one point the main character was so very far down that I felt hopeless for the him! Having experienced major depression, I fully recognized that he was very close to suicide. That wasn't very easy for me to read.
If gender bending is an issue for you, stay away from this one. It goes well beyond <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27341.John_Varley">John Varley's</a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49842.Steel_Beach">Steel Beach</a>. I was tickled to see several casual references to polyamory.
I'm glad I did read it, although there were some rough bits. I need happy endings in my fiction. I just do, okay? This is pleasure reading, after all. And at one point the main character was so very far down that I felt hopeless for the him! Having experienced major depression, I fully recognized that he was very close to suicide. That wasn't very easy for me to read.
If gender bending is an issue for you, stay away from this one. It goes well beyond <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27341.John_Varley">John Varley's</a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49842.Steel_Beach">Steel Beach</a>. I was tickled to see several casual references to polyamory.