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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) in Movies
Jan 25, 2021
New Vibes, New Dopeness
When I first saw that Sony was playing nice with Disney/Marvel, I almost lost it when I saw that Spider-Man would make an appearance in Captain America: Civil War. Nerd Moment: I’ve always thought that all of the Marvel properties belonged together and this was a step in the right direction. It’s been amazing what’s happened since. In this third reboot since the new century, Spider-Man: Homecoming is the story of a young Peter Parker handling his role as a teenager and a webslinging superhero.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
Characters: 7
Peter (Tom Holland) is a lovable kid surrounded by a fun cast of friends and foes. They took a different and, in my opinion, smarter route by making Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) younger and more relatable. Not only did it pay off but it helped contribute to side jokes in the story involving Happy (Jon Favreau) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Yes, there are so many characters to love here, both familiar and new…that is until we get to the villain played by one of my favorite actors Michael Keaton. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t horrible, I just couldn’t buy his motivation which made it hard at times to connect to the overall story and conflict.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Watching some of these scenes play out seriously made me wish I was Spider-Man. The aerial combat and clever use of webs is such a treat to watch and experience, both at home. and in the theater. Marvel hit another home run here with cinematic perfection that stretches all over the great city of New York.
Conflict: 10
The conflict isn’t just about Spider-Man fighting bad guys. Rather it’s about having to do all of this and be a kid at the same time…and impress Tony Stark…and get used to his new suit…and keep all of this a secret from his caretaker. So many things wrapped into one makes this such a fun ride. Yes, there is plenty of spider fights to enjoy, but there is so much more to love about the movie as a whole.
Entertainment Value: 9
Memorability: 8
Pace: 10
Plot: 9
Really enjoyed the story and how it plays into the Marvel universe as a whole. A few twists here and there keep things interesting. Again there is so much driving conflict here and character growth that it’s easy to miss the complexities of everything involved in the story. Again, not in love with Vulture’s motivation, but it doesn’t diminish things too badly.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 90
The difficulty of Peter trying to get used to his new suit alone was enough to keep me beaming watching this movie. Marvel movies are known for packing a mega punch and Spider-Man: Homecoming definitely stands up there as one of the stronger ones. Great movie.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
Characters: 7
Peter (Tom Holland) is a lovable kid surrounded by a fun cast of friends and foes. They took a different and, in my opinion, smarter route by making Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) younger and more relatable. Not only did it pay off but it helped contribute to side jokes in the story involving Happy (Jon Favreau) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Yes, there are so many characters to love here, both familiar and new…that is until we get to the villain played by one of my favorite actors Michael Keaton. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t horrible, I just couldn’t buy his motivation which made it hard at times to connect to the overall story and conflict.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Watching some of these scenes play out seriously made me wish I was Spider-Man. The aerial combat and clever use of webs is such a treat to watch and experience, both at home. and in the theater. Marvel hit another home run here with cinematic perfection that stretches all over the great city of New York.
Conflict: 10
The conflict isn’t just about Spider-Man fighting bad guys. Rather it’s about having to do all of this and be a kid at the same time…and impress Tony Stark…and get used to his new suit…and keep all of this a secret from his caretaker. So many things wrapped into one makes this such a fun ride. Yes, there is plenty of spider fights to enjoy, but there is so much more to love about the movie as a whole.
Entertainment Value: 9
Memorability: 8
Pace: 10
Plot: 9
Really enjoyed the story and how it plays into the Marvel universe as a whole. A few twists here and there keep things interesting. Again there is so much driving conflict here and character growth that it’s easy to miss the complexities of everything involved in the story. Again, not in love with Vulture’s motivation, but it doesn’t diminish things too badly.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 90
The difficulty of Peter trying to get used to his new suit alone was enough to keep me beaming watching this movie. Marvel movies are known for packing a mega punch and Spider-Man: Homecoming definitely stands up there as one of the stronger ones. Great movie.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
I'm terrible with watching films in sequence, but I've been seeing the trailers for War for the Planet of the Apes repeatedly and really wanted to watch it. I saw the first one when it came out in some fashion, the second one has eluded me though.
The films begins with the Alpha-Omega paramilitary group laying down an attack on Caesar's ape clan. There is heavy resistance and several of Alpha-Omega's team are captured. Caesar, wanting to bring some form of peace to his clan, sends back the captured soldiers to the Colonel with a message, they did not start this war and that they want to live in peace together.
Caesar's son, Blue Eyes, returns from searching for a safe haven, and has found a place across the desert for them all to live. Thinking that they need more time to prepare, Caesar puts off their departure with tragic consequences. During the night the Colonel and a team of men infiltrate their camp, and her slaughters Blue Eyes and Caesar's wife, believing it was him.
Seeking revenge, Caesar leaves the camp to hunt down the Colonel, accompanied by a small group. Along the way they encounter a single soldier with his daughter in a camp, who Caesar kills when he goes for his gun. The girl doesn't speak and deciding not to leave her there alone, they take her with them on their journey.
The group make their way to the Border with the help of Bad Ape and Caesar discovers that the rest of their clan has been captured and is imprisoned below. After being captured they must plan their escape from both inside and outside the walls of the Border any way they can...
Quite simple put, this was an epic feat, and well worth the watch. At some point while it was on I honestly forgot that what I was seeing wasn't real. The effects are magnificent, and the emotions in Caesar in particular are just incredible. Those alone should be sure fire reasons to watch it, but if you're not convinced, then the story line isn't bad either.
I always think it's amazing how well movies manage to match up the emotion of the actor with their digitised counterpart. That takes an amazingly skilled group behind the scenes. My first reaction when I saw Woody Harrelson in the trailer was not a good one. He's amusing, but I couldn't name a film of his that I've enjoyed him in. I'm happy to say that this one has changed all of that. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance, you see his character go from one end of the spectrum to the other, and Harrelson does it all so well. Amiah Miller who plays Nova was amazing too, barely any lines and acting at something that gets put in the scene after the fact must be incredibly difficult and she managed to pull it off with real emotion.
The films begins with the Alpha-Omega paramilitary group laying down an attack on Caesar's ape clan. There is heavy resistance and several of Alpha-Omega's team are captured. Caesar, wanting to bring some form of peace to his clan, sends back the captured soldiers to the Colonel with a message, they did not start this war and that they want to live in peace together.
Caesar's son, Blue Eyes, returns from searching for a safe haven, and has found a place across the desert for them all to live. Thinking that they need more time to prepare, Caesar puts off their departure with tragic consequences. During the night the Colonel and a team of men infiltrate their camp, and her slaughters Blue Eyes and Caesar's wife, believing it was him.
Seeking revenge, Caesar leaves the camp to hunt down the Colonel, accompanied by a small group. Along the way they encounter a single soldier with his daughter in a camp, who Caesar kills when he goes for his gun. The girl doesn't speak and deciding not to leave her there alone, they take her with them on their journey.
The group make their way to the Border with the help of Bad Ape and Caesar discovers that the rest of their clan has been captured and is imprisoned below. After being captured they must plan their escape from both inside and outside the walls of the Border any way they can...
Quite simple put, this was an epic feat, and well worth the watch. At some point while it was on I honestly forgot that what I was seeing wasn't real. The effects are magnificent, and the emotions in Caesar in particular are just incredible. Those alone should be sure fire reasons to watch it, but if you're not convinced, then the story line isn't bad either.
I always think it's amazing how well movies manage to match up the emotion of the actor with their digitised counterpart. That takes an amazingly skilled group behind the scenes. My first reaction when I saw Woody Harrelson in the trailer was not a good one. He's amusing, but I couldn't name a film of his that I've enjoyed him in. I'm happy to say that this one has changed all of that. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance, you see his character go from one end of the spectrum to the other, and Harrelson does it all so well. Amiah Miller who plays Nova was amazing too, barely any lines and acting at something that gets put in the scene after the fact must be incredibly difficult and she managed to pull it off with real emotion.
The Room Where It Happened
Book
As President Trump’s National Security Advisor, John Bolton spent many of his 453 days in the room...
LucyB (47 KP) rated The Raven Boys in Books
Jul 23, 2017
A well-plotted, fresh take on the whole magical realism genre - very entertaining!
To be honest, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I presumed, judging by the front cover, that it'd be some sort of high fantasy (which isn't normally my thing) and was very pleasantly surprised.
The story focuses on two main characters - Blue, a 16 year old who lives with her witchy mother and who seems to be surrounded by equally spooky aunts, and Gansey, a rich 'Raven boy' from the local public school, who is obsessed with finding the mythical Welsh king Glendower.
So far, so intriguing! And it really was. I found myself propelled through this book, eager to know what was going to happen next, which is the highest praise I can give a book really, I do love a good page-turner. I especially loved that the author so deftly avoided the boring stereotypes. The aunts are all psychic, but are they at all spooky / ethereal? Absolutely not. They're all very practical, down-to-earth, and fairly acerbic to boot. Are public school boys all over-privileged toffs? No! The characters were all impressively well defined, and I LOVED the character of Noah - I saw the twist coming, but wasn't sure how the author would pull it off. She did so, very effectively indeed.
A highly enjoyable read, and I'll be looking out for the next ones in the series.
The story focuses on two main characters - Blue, a 16 year old who lives with her witchy mother and who seems to be surrounded by equally spooky aunts, and Gansey, a rich 'Raven boy' from the local public school, who is obsessed with finding the mythical Welsh king Glendower.
So far, so intriguing! And it really was. I found myself propelled through this book, eager to know what was going to happen next, which is the highest praise I can give a book really, I do love a good page-turner. I especially loved that the author so deftly avoided the boring stereotypes. The aunts are all psychic, but are they at all spooky / ethereal? Absolutely not. They're all very practical, down-to-earth, and fairly acerbic to boot. Are public school boys all over-privileged toffs? No! The characters were all impressively well defined, and I LOVED the character of Noah - I saw the twist coming, but wasn't sure how the author would pull it off. She did so, very effectively indeed.
A highly enjoyable read, and I'll be looking out for the next ones in the series.
Lucy Ellis (1 KP) rated Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) in Movies
Jan 13, 2018 (Updated Jan 13, 2018)
Character Development (2 more)
Fight Scenes
It gave me the feels
Better than I expected
Contains spoilers, click to show
I heard a lot of bad things about this film before I saw it so I was apprehensive but it was so much better than I expected it to be.
Everyone was saying it’s nowhere near as good as the first one and to be honest I’d have to disagree. Yes it did pay homage to the first film a lot and it’s storyline relied slightly more on suspension of disbelief than the first one but as a film separate from its predecessor i genuinely thought it was good.
There was a clear story arc that felt like something that could be told as an extension to the first film without it seeming as though they were milking it dry for some dollar. There was a higher quality of characterisation in this film - particularly with secondary characters. And it didn’t have Samuel L Jackson playing a lisp twat so that was a bonus.
The only issue for me was Harry’s character. The fact that they brought him back from the dead so he could flail around as a useless butterfly enthusiast for half an hour before coming back to the film with some form of immature portrayal of PTSD flashbacks just made me frustrated. Don’t even get me started on Merlin. (Although his death was beautiful and a lovely addition to the film I still miss him and I cried so no)
Everyone was saying it’s nowhere near as good as the first one and to be honest I’d have to disagree. Yes it did pay homage to the first film a lot and it’s storyline relied slightly more on suspension of disbelief than the first one but as a film separate from its predecessor i genuinely thought it was good.
There was a clear story arc that felt like something that could be told as an extension to the first film without it seeming as though they were milking it dry for some dollar. There was a higher quality of characterisation in this film - particularly with secondary characters. And it didn’t have Samuel L Jackson playing a lisp twat so that was a bonus.
The only issue for me was Harry’s character. The fact that they brought him back from the dead so he could flail around as a useless butterfly enthusiast for half an hour before coming back to the film with some form of immature portrayal of PTSD flashbacks just made me frustrated. Don’t even get me started on Merlin. (Although his death was beautiful and a lovely addition to the film I still miss him and I cried so no)
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Red Hot Fury (Shades of Fury, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
For about the first forty pages, RED HOT FURY has a rocky start, but after it gets over that hump it's a worthwhile read. The Furies are an interesting breed that brings a welcome change from all the vampires, weres, witches, et al. to the urban fantasy genre, and the author adds her own spin to the species. Marissa, or rather Riss, is a tough, sarcastic, sure-of-herself character that won't appeal to everyone, but if you like them more on the gritty side then she might be the heroine for you. The world is interesting and there are good ideas, which includes Greek, Egyptian, and European mythology, but unfortunately the execution could have been better. Sometimes I was confused by explanations of the world, organizations, magic, etc., all of which, at times, were vague and periodically the dialogue fell flat. Adding to that, there was an unnecessary number of action scenes and a few too many characters to keep completely straight. However, there were some nice twists and turns, and although I saw the big reveal coming a mile away, I enjoyed the book and will look for the second in the series. Hopefully, all the kinks will be ironed out for that one. It's not quite a 4-star book, but a little better than a 3, so I'll settle for 3.5 stars.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
Provided to me free for review through Amazon Vine.
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated United 93 (2006) in Movies
Feb 18, 2019
A gripping and moving historical document...
This is simply an incredible movie. Certainly one of the most moving and intense that I have seen in many years.
Now, seventeen years on, this film’s poignancy is still as relevant today as it ever was. Casting relative unknowns was the key to this frightening realistic portrayal of the world shattering events of September 11. Though, due to the casting real people in many of the their actual roles, the dialogue’s delivery does suffer from time to time, but it is also those faults that make this so credible.
The sense of shock at the second plane hitting the South Tower was so well portrayed, edited and directed that it still sends shivers down my spine. Though in many ways because I saw this day unfold live myself as millions around shared this inexplicable experience. This is a gripping drama, which has the courage of its convictions, staying the path of its internal truths and never drifting into theatricalities often attributed to movie of this type. Simply put; The story is dramatic enough in its own right and needs little if any real embellishment.
This is truly one of the greats, dealing with a historical event in such a mature way that it should stand as a historical document for decades to come.
Now, seventeen years on, this film’s poignancy is still as relevant today as it ever was. Casting relative unknowns was the key to this frightening realistic portrayal of the world shattering events of September 11. Though, due to the casting real people in many of the their actual roles, the dialogue’s delivery does suffer from time to time, but it is also those faults that make this so credible.
The sense of shock at the second plane hitting the South Tower was so well portrayed, edited and directed that it still sends shivers down my spine. Though in many ways because I saw this day unfold live myself as millions around shared this inexplicable experience. This is a gripping drama, which has the courage of its convictions, staying the path of its internal truths and never drifting into theatricalities often attributed to movie of this type. Simply put; The story is dramatic enough in its own right and needs little if any real embellishment.
This is truly one of the greats, dealing with a historical event in such a mature way that it should stand as a historical document for decades to come.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The Girl Before in Books
Feb 25, 2019
J.P. Delaney is a new-to-me author and one that I will definitely be checking out again. I saw this book and read the synopsis while standing in Barnes and Noble, and took a chance on it, as it sounded phenomenal. It was.......to a point. The switching between two characters got a little confusing but the plot line itself was outstanding.
The dark, psychological twists that Delaney implements in this story are incredible. The creepy factor of this is off the charts awesome. I found myself white knuckling the book while turning each page to find out what was happening with Jane and with Emma. I can't imagine living in a house like they did, let alone experiencing the same thing as the girl before me. But, I felt it. I felt transported to London, felt the insane twists, and the roller coaster turns of the story.
While I would love to give this a 4 star review, I can't. I give it 3.5 stars. The switching between Jane and Emma sometimes had me confused on whose story was whose. That's the one and only downside to the book. But, I still highly recommend this! The actual plot line, is as I said before, outstanding! This is one book you don't want to miss! It's creepy, it's twisty, it's thrilling. I'm looking forward to reading more of Delaney's work!
*I purchased my own copy of this book. All opinions, positive or negative, are my own.*
The dark, psychological twists that Delaney implements in this story are incredible. The creepy factor of this is off the charts awesome. I found myself white knuckling the book while turning each page to find out what was happening with Jane and with Emma. I can't imagine living in a house like they did, let alone experiencing the same thing as the girl before me. But, I felt it. I felt transported to London, felt the insane twists, and the roller coaster turns of the story.
While I would love to give this a 4 star review, I can't. I give it 3.5 stars. The switching between Jane and Emma sometimes had me confused on whose story was whose. That's the one and only downside to the book. But, I still highly recommend this! The actual plot line, is as I said before, outstanding! This is one book you don't want to miss! It's creepy, it's twisty, it's thrilling. I'm looking forward to reading more of Delaney's work!
*I purchased my own copy of this book. All opinions, positive or negative, are my own.*
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Too Far Down (The Cimarron Legacy, #3) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
I am a long time fan of Ms. Connealy's and I always look forward to her new releases. I was super excited when I saw she had the third book coming out for the Cimarron Legacy. It's one of my favorites of hers! This book was highly anticipated and it did not let me down.
This conclusion to the Cimarron Legacy was wonderfully done. She brings the Boden family full circle with this book, and I once again, fell in love with her cowboy. Cole Boden stole my heart and he didn't let it go. Watching his laugh out loud story line come to life before was so fun. He was a little stuffy, and a whole lot of hot God-fearing cowboy! Throw in the sweet cowgirl, Melanie and Ms. Connealy made a movie-worthy conclusion to her best series to date!
This is beyond 5 star worthy. There is love, there is laughter, there is twists and turns that will leave you in awe, and there is a powerful message from God woven in. Ms. Connealy is definitely a praise worthy queen of cowboy fiction in the Christian world. I am looking forward to keeping this book on my keeper shelf and can't wait for another bang of a book from this talented author. Fantabulous work, Ms. Connealy. Bravo!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
This conclusion to the Cimarron Legacy was wonderfully done. She brings the Boden family full circle with this book, and I once again, fell in love with her cowboy. Cole Boden stole my heart and he didn't let it go. Watching his laugh out loud story line come to life before was so fun. He was a little stuffy, and a whole lot of hot God-fearing cowboy! Throw in the sweet cowgirl, Melanie and Ms. Connealy made a movie-worthy conclusion to her best series to date!
This is beyond 5 star worthy. There is love, there is laughter, there is twists and turns that will leave you in awe, and there is a powerful message from God woven in. Ms. Connealy is definitely a praise worthy queen of cowboy fiction in the Christian world. I am looking forward to keeping this book on my keeper shelf and can't wait for another bang of a book from this talented author. Fantabulous work, Ms. Connealy. Bravo!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The Christmas Prayer in Books
Feb 27, 2019
It's Fall. It's time for all things Fall-y, Halloween-y and best of all? Christmas-y! So, when I saw that Ms. Brunstetter was releasing The Christmas Prayer, I jumped on the chance! I love a good novella that's filled with snow, history and best of all? Wanda Brunstetter's addictive characters. This book had it all and so much more, for such a small, quick read.
Sitting down to read this, we are taken to history, during the 1850's, and introduced to some amazing, fun loving characters. Each character has something different for the story, each of their journeys for a different reason, but with God, prayer and unforgettable messages, these characters make being snowed in, a fun treat!
Ms. Brunstetter is the type of author who can write 5 star books across the genre grid. From Amish fiction to historical romance, she can bring the reader to the heart of the story instantly, and keep them their til the very last page is turned. Once you're finished, you want more. She's that good. Ms. Brunstetter is my top author when it comes to historical and Amish romances. If you are looking for a 5 star, winter-y read to set the mood for Christmas this year, look no further than this amazing, soul moving novella! Well done, Ms. Brunstetter! Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Sitting down to read this, we are taken to history, during the 1850's, and introduced to some amazing, fun loving characters. Each character has something different for the story, each of their journeys for a different reason, but with God, prayer and unforgettable messages, these characters make being snowed in, a fun treat!
Ms. Brunstetter is the type of author who can write 5 star books across the genre grid. From Amish fiction to historical romance, she can bring the reader to the heart of the story instantly, and keep them their til the very last page is turned. Once you're finished, you want more. She's that good. Ms. Brunstetter is my top author when it comes to historical and Amish romances. If you are looking for a 5 star, winter-y read to set the mood for Christmas this year, look no further than this amazing, soul moving novella! Well done, Ms. Brunstetter! Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*