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Debbiereadsbook (1675 KP) rated Sloane's List in Books
Dec 19, 2023
high on the cute scale!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Sloane is now an empty nester, after sending her 18 year old daughter off to college. She has a list of ten things she wants to do. She just needs a man to help her. Enter Oscar. He meets her the day before Paige goes off, and is smitten from then on. But Oscar is younger than Sloane, and has a bit of a reputation. What's a girl to do, eh?
Bar one thing, and I will come back to that, I loved this!
It's a really easy read, and I mean that in a very VERY good way.
There were some plot lines I did not see coming, so well played there, but the penny did drop really fast! And some coming at ya like a freaking freight train, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. But I loved that! Sometimes, it really is lovely to see it all laid out for you.
It's not overly explicit, and I loved that here, for these two. I was expecting it to be, for some reason, and I loved being proven wrong about what I needed to read at this point in time.
Fairly low on the angst scale, but high on the cute scale and scorching on the warm and fuzzy scale!
I loved that we got to hear from both Sloane and Oscar, but also from Paige (Sloane's daughter) Alex (Oscar's brother) and the mother hen in the apartment complex, Auntie Ernie.
So, what didn't I like? Simple. First person, present tense AND multi point of view. In fact, I very VERY nearly dumped this, once I saw how it was written. So very VERY glad I didn't!
I haven't read anything by this author before, and I think I'd like to read something with a bit more bite.
But still, a very VERY good, 4 star read.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Sloane is now an empty nester, after sending her 18 year old daughter off to college. She has a list of ten things she wants to do. She just needs a man to help her. Enter Oscar. He meets her the day before Paige goes off, and is smitten from then on. But Oscar is younger than Sloane, and has a bit of a reputation. What's a girl to do, eh?
Bar one thing, and I will come back to that, I loved this!
It's a really easy read, and I mean that in a very VERY good way.
There were some plot lines I did not see coming, so well played there, but the penny did drop really fast! And some coming at ya like a freaking freight train, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. But I loved that! Sometimes, it really is lovely to see it all laid out for you.
It's not overly explicit, and I loved that here, for these two. I was expecting it to be, for some reason, and I loved being proven wrong about what I needed to read at this point in time.
Fairly low on the angst scale, but high on the cute scale and scorching on the warm and fuzzy scale!
I loved that we got to hear from both Sloane and Oscar, but also from Paige (Sloane's daughter) Alex (Oscar's brother) and the mother hen in the apartment complex, Auntie Ernie.
So, what didn't I like? Simple. First person, present tense AND multi point of view. In fact, I very VERY nearly dumped this, once I saw how it was written. So very VERY glad I didn't!
I haven't read anything by this author before, and I think I'd like to read something with a bit more bite.
But still, a very VERY good, 4 star read.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Merissa (13834 KP) rated Bleed In The Night (Blood and Bonds #2) in Books
Mar 1, 2024
BLEED IN THE NIGHT is the second book in the Blood and Bonds series and follows Lucien and Tyler, both of whom we met in the previous book.
Tyler has been through a traumatic experience - admittedly of his own making - and hasn't been sleeping since. He wants to know Lucien has been apprehended but no one seems to take him seriously. Taking matters into his own hands, he employs 'Damon' to capture Lucien. As with most things though, Tyler doesn't think it through and soon faces a choice.
I was surprised when I saw it was Lucien and Tyler in this book. I was convinced it would be Darragh and Tom. I do like it when I'm wrong. And this book continued to surprise. Tyler is still a hothead but I learnt more about what makes him tick and the work he does to help those with less than him. He doesn't come across as just a thug anymore. And Lucien? What can I say about him? I love him! He has reasons for the way he is and they are completely understandable. These two are almost touch-starved but when they're together? Yeah, not so much! đ
Although I can understand where they're coming from, I have to say Emory and Co. really dropped the ball with Lucien. There was more understanding from Tyler than there was from them. This certainly differs from the norm where Elders are respected!
I was happy with the ending for Tyler and Lucien, although I hope it's not the last we see of them. I was also shocked by the ending, but it has left me with a desire to continue the series, so I guess it did its job!
Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Feb 20, 2024
Tyler has been through a traumatic experience - admittedly of his own making - and hasn't been sleeping since. He wants to know Lucien has been apprehended but no one seems to take him seriously. Taking matters into his own hands, he employs 'Damon' to capture Lucien. As with most things though, Tyler doesn't think it through and soon faces a choice.
I was surprised when I saw it was Lucien and Tyler in this book. I was convinced it would be Darragh and Tom. I do like it when I'm wrong. And this book continued to surprise. Tyler is still a hothead but I learnt more about what makes him tick and the work he does to help those with less than him. He doesn't come across as just a thug anymore. And Lucien? What can I say about him? I love him! He has reasons for the way he is and they are completely understandable. These two are almost touch-starved but when they're together? Yeah, not so much! đ
Although I can understand where they're coming from, I have to say Emory and Co. really dropped the ball with Lucien. There was more understanding from Tyler than there was from them. This certainly differs from the norm where Elders are respected!
I was happy with the ending for Tyler and Lucien, although I hope it's not the last we see of them. I was also shocked by the ending, but it has left me with a desire to continue the series, so I guess it did its job!
Definitely recommended by me.
** 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!
Feb 20, 2024
Debbiereadsbook (1675 KP) rated Demon's Obsession (Obsessions #1) in Books
Oct 9, 2024
Silas' tre makes for some fun times!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is the start of a new series by these 2 authors, and I have to say, very different from the Tangled Tentacles and I loved that it is!
Silas goes to town once a week to sing. He can only manage short times away from his tree and the forest, being a dryad. Dakata is a demon, living in the human world, managing music acts. Dakata's demon reacts to Silas, making Dak aware that his Blissful One is near. But others are against the mating. And danger looms.
I just gotta mention the cover! When I got my copy, it didn't have a cover, and I only saw the cover AFTER I read it. It fits, perfectly! The scene it's taken from? Comes over exactly like the cover! Love it!!
I loved this, I really did. It's a bit different, with Silas being a dryad. He is bonded to a tree, and cannot be far from it. The tree talks to Silas, but also is able to move freely. Which makes for some fun times, especially when Dak is near and they get down and dirty! Phew!! Dak's demon talks to the tree too.
I liked that the danger was simple jealousy. No complicated plot with twist and turns to follow. I even liked the way Dak's demon dealt with that threat.
So, I have a couple of questions!
Will Wanda get a book? I mean, she has three trees she is bonded to, will she get three partners?
Will Dougal and George get stories too?? I loved these two and hope they do.
And just who is the goat, in dak's apartment that kicks Merihem in the nuts??!!
It's a little bit out there, but Sayle is becoming a master at the out there troupe!
Loved it, can't wait for more!
5 full and shiny stars.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is the start of a new series by these 2 authors, and I have to say, very different from the Tangled Tentacles and I loved that it is!
Silas goes to town once a week to sing. He can only manage short times away from his tree and the forest, being a dryad. Dakata is a demon, living in the human world, managing music acts. Dakata's demon reacts to Silas, making Dak aware that his Blissful One is near. But others are against the mating. And danger looms.
I just gotta mention the cover! When I got my copy, it didn't have a cover, and I only saw the cover AFTER I read it. It fits, perfectly! The scene it's taken from? Comes over exactly like the cover! Love it!!
I loved this, I really did. It's a bit different, with Silas being a dryad. He is bonded to a tree, and cannot be far from it. The tree talks to Silas, but also is able to move freely. Which makes for some fun times, especially when Dak is near and they get down and dirty! Phew!! Dak's demon talks to the tree too.
I liked that the danger was simple jealousy. No complicated plot with twist and turns to follow. I even liked the way Dak's demon dealt with that threat.
So, I have a couple of questions!
Will Wanda get a book? I mean, she has three trees she is bonded to, will she get three partners?
Will Dougal and George get stories too?? I loved these two and hope they do.
And just who is the goat, in dak's apartment that kicks Merihem in the nuts??!!
It's a little bit out there, but Sayle is becoming a master at the out there troupe!
Loved it, can't wait for more!
5 full and shiny stars.
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Merissa (13834 KP) rated A Liar's Moon (Strength of the Pack #2) in Books
Feb 6, 2026
A LIAR'S MOON is the second book in the newly rewritten and expanded Strength of the Pack series. Although reading book one isn't necessarily needed, I would recommend it. This time, it's Jason's turn.
Jason, if you don't already know, is the soft-spoken one, the one with a heart of gold, who isn't sure he belongs due to how his old pack treated him. So it makes complete sense to me that this book reflects him. It's not full of action, chaos, and mayhem, but more hurt/comfort, and seeing the joy on people's faces. And most of the time, it's Riley who makes Jason happy. Most of the time, but not all of it. Riley was rejected by his family when he came out, and he has wandered since then, doing different jobs. He's on his last chance, and needs to write about the Elk Ridge Pack and a possible Argent. But he doesn't count on Jason.
I was completely engrossed with this story, from beginning to end. I loved how their relationship grew, and boy, was I invested in it! When what was inevitable finally happened, my heart broke, not just for Jason, but for Riley too. Jason at least had his pack there for him, whereas Riley had no one. It was really emotional, seeing it play out, and I couldn't read fast enough, while simultaneously not wanting to finish.
The ending was perfect for Jason and Riley, and I look forward to seeing them in future books, just as I saw Matt and Jesse in this one. It's Tristan's book next, and I can't wait! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** 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!
Feb 5, 2026
Jason, if you don't already know, is the soft-spoken one, the one with a heart of gold, who isn't sure he belongs due to how his old pack treated him. So it makes complete sense to me that this book reflects him. It's not full of action, chaos, and mayhem, but more hurt/comfort, and seeing the joy on people's faces. And most of the time, it's Riley who makes Jason happy. Most of the time, but not all of it. Riley was rejected by his family when he came out, and he has wandered since then, doing different jobs. He's on his last chance, and needs to write about the Elk Ridge Pack and a possible Argent. But he doesn't count on Jason.
I was completely engrossed with this story, from beginning to end. I loved how their relationship grew, and boy, was I invested in it! When what was inevitable finally happened, my heart broke, not just for Jason, but for Riley too. Jason at least had his pack there for him, whereas Riley had no one. It was really emotional, seeing it play out, and I couldn't read fast enough, while simultaneously not wanting to finish.
The ending was perfect for Jason and Riley, and I look forward to seeing them in future books, just as I saw Matt and Jesse in this one. It's Tristan's book next, and I can't wait! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** 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!
Feb 5, 2026
Merissa (13834 KP) rated Jordan's Breakthrough (Unexpected Love #3) in Books
Jul 24, 2025
JORDAN'S BREAKTHROUGH is the third book in the Unexpected Love series, but you don't have to read the first two to appreciate this one. I haven't read them, but they are now on my TBR list!
Jordan has his mask firmly in place, with his friends, his family, and anyone else who might see him. That changes when he's behind his own doors though, and the state of his motorhome reflects just how dark things are for him. A light in the darkness is a connection he makes with Miles. From a conversation about identifying a plant, these two become everything to each other in a way that is both hot and romantic.
There is a content warning at the beginning of this, and I appreciated that. I found the descriptions of depression, the hopelessness, the lethargy, the feeling of emptiness, even the side effects of some medications, exceedingly well-written. Some days even nothing is too much, and most people I know who fight depression have had their own 'day and time', including myself.
This story hit home in so many ways, and yes, I was in tears. I loved how Jordan and Miles were there for each other, and their friends were there for them both. I was ecstatic when I saw that everything went both ways (no spoilers!) and the actions that were taken.
This is a story of love and support, of friendship and romance, of being so low you are drowning and then the heart-rending daily drag of trying to fight your way back to feeling 'normal', whatever that is. An amazing story that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, so long as you are in the right place to read it.
** 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!
Jul 24, 2025
Jordan has his mask firmly in place, with his friends, his family, and anyone else who might see him. That changes when he's behind his own doors though, and the state of his motorhome reflects just how dark things are for him. A light in the darkness is a connection he makes with Miles. From a conversation about identifying a plant, these two become everything to each other in a way that is both hot and romantic.
There is a content warning at the beginning of this, and I appreciated that. I found the descriptions of depression, the hopelessness, the lethargy, the feeling of emptiness, even the side effects of some medications, exceedingly well-written. Some days even nothing is too much, and most people I know who fight depression have had their own 'day and time', including myself.
This story hit home in so many ways, and yes, I was in tears. I loved how Jordan and Miles were there for each other, and their friends were there for them both. I was ecstatic when I saw that everything went both ways (no spoilers!) and the actions that were taken.
This is a story of love and support, of friendship and romance, of being so low you are drowning and then the heart-rending daily drag of trying to fight your way back to feeling 'normal', whatever that is. An amazing story that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, so long as you are in the right place to read it.
** 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!
Jul 24, 2025
Merissa (13834 KP) rated Worth the Fight (Worth It #2) in Books
Dec 22, 2025
WORTH THE FIGHT is the second book in the Worth It series, and features the cocky fireman from book one, Reece. It also stars Trent, the paramedic who seems to have all the answers. Guess what? He doesn't.
Told from dual perspectives, their story gives you all the information you need - from the current time to a couple of flashbacks, which help you understand their relationship better. I wasn't that bothered about Reese in the first book, and just saw what he presented to the world, but I really enjoyed him in this one. Seeing the man behind the mask, with all his vulnerabilities and wishes, really hit the mark. And I would say the same for Trent. Seeing this capable paramedic turn into something else when he's off shift was so well-written. And the two of them together? Hot!!! It's a good job Reese is a fireman, although I don't think he's got a snowball's chance in hell of putting this fire out.
The overall arc continues and moves forward, especially with Reece's twin brother, Ethan. And that was the other thing I loved. The similarities in looks, differences in personalities, and yet when the crunch came, Ethan was there for Reece. I'm hoping he is in the next book, just so I can see how his story pans out.
And happily for me, Nathan, Freddie, and Alfie were here too. I was a little traumatised during their story (as I was supposed to be), and I'm really hoping again that we catch up with them in the third book, as I NEED to know that Alfie is okay now.
A great read that had me gripped. A wonderful addition to the story, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** 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!
Dec 22, 2025
Told from dual perspectives, their story gives you all the information you need - from the current time to a couple of flashbacks, which help you understand their relationship better. I wasn't that bothered about Reese in the first book, and just saw what he presented to the world, but I really enjoyed him in this one. Seeing the man behind the mask, with all his vulnerabilities and wishes, really hit the mark. And I would say the same for Trent. Seeing this capable paramedic turn into something else when he's off shift was so well-written. And the two of them together? Hot!!! It's a good job Reese is a fireman, although I don't think he's got a snowball's chance in hell of putting this fire out.
The overall arc continues and moves forward, especially with Reece's twin brother, Ethan. And that was the other thing I loved. The similarities in looks, differences in personalities, and yet when the crunch came, Ethan was there for Reece. I'm hoping he is in the next book, just so I can see how his story pans out.
And happily for me, Nathan, Freddie, and Alfie were here too. I was a little traumatised during their story (as I was supposed to be), and I'm really hoping again that we catch up with them in the third book, as I NEED to know that Alfie is okay now.
A great read that had me gripped. A wonderful addition to the story, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.
** 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!
Dec 22, 2025
Debbiereadsbook (1675 KP) rated Mayfair Madame (Mayfair heights #1) in Books
Sep 21, 2025
Ms Adams smashes it, she really does!
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Ok so!
I have followed Ms Adams from the beginning, and her skill as an author continues to grow. THIS book, though, is a step away from her usual fair, and I will be honest, wasn't sure how it was gonna go.
I need NOT have worried! Because Ms Adams smashed it, she really did!
Naomi lives in Mayfair Heights, and runs an escort business. A physical assault (on page, but needed) brings her into contact with Ellie Sharpe, a detective dealing with her case. For both of them, there is powerful attraction, but they cannot act on it, until the case is dropped and Ellie and Naomi are free to do as they wish. But someone doesn't want to let it go. And both women carry some emotional baggage. Can they find the love they both so desperately want and need?
I loved this, I really did.
I loved that both Naomi and Ellie have a say. I loved the way things developed between the two of them. I loved the emotional connection and how Naomi SAW Ellie, even if Ellie didn't want to be seen.
I loved the steam level here. While not especially explicit, the physical connection between Ellie and Naomi is powerful and it shows in the way they are together.
It is a bit darker, Naomi gets assaulted a couple of times, but I think it is needed to get the point across.
I LOVED the whole team who live in Mayfair Heights! Some characters have piqued my interest more than others, but they all pulled a string and I look forward to those strings being unravelled.
Thank you, Ms Adams, for falling in love with the cover, the picture portrays Naomi beautifully and I cannot wait to get to know the others in more detail.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Ok so!
I have followed Ms Adams from the beginning, and her skill as an author continues to grow. THIS book, though, is a step away from her usual fair, and I will be honest, wasn't sure how it was gonna go.
I need NOT have worried! Because Ms Adams smashed it, she really did!
Naomi lives in Mayfair Heights, and runs an escort business. A physical assault (on page, but needed) brings her into contact with Ellie Sharpe, a detective dealing with her case. For both of them, there is powerful attraction, but they cannot act on it, until the case is dropped and Ellie and Naomi are free to do as they wish. But someone doesn't want to let it go. And both women carry some emotional baggage. Can they find the love they both so desperately want and need?
I loved this, I really did.
I loved that both Naomi and Ellie have a say. I loved the way things developed between the two of them. I loved the emotional connection and how Naomi SAW Ellie, even if Ellie didn't want to be seen.
I loved the steam level here. While not especially explicit, the physical connection between Ellie and Naomi is powerful and it shows in the way they are together.
It is a bit darker, Naomi gets assaulted a couple of times, but I think it is needed to get the point across.
I LOVED the whole team who live in Mayfair Heights! Some characters have piqued my interest more than others, but they all pulled a string and I look forward to those strings being unravelled.
Thank you, Ms Adams, for falling in love with the cover, the picture portrays Naomi beautifully and I cannot wait to get to know the others in more detail.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) in Movies
Sep 28, 2021
Would the last straight woman in Stockholm turn off the lights?
Youâve gotta love a Scandi-thriller. Well, that was until last yearâs hopeless Michael Fassbender vehicle âThe Snowmanâ which devalued the currency better than Brexit has done to the pound! The mother of them all though was the original âGirl with the Dragon Tattooâ trilogy (in Swedish) in 2009. Although subject to a wholly unnecessary English remake two yearâs later by David Fincher (with Mara Rooney and Daniel Craig) it was Noomi Rapace who struck the perfect note as the original anarchic and damaged Lisbeth Salander: a punk wielding a baseball bat like an alien-thing possessed (pun well and truly intended!).
Now though we have âA New Dragon Tattoo Storyâ (as the filmâs subtitle clumsily declares) based on the book by David Lagercrantz, who took over the literary franchise after the untimely death of Stieg Larsson. Picking up the reins as Salander is that most British of actresses Claire FoyâŚ. which seems an odd choice, but one which â after you get past the rather odd accent â she just about pulls off.
The Plot
Lizbeth Salendar (Claire Foy) has an interesting hobby. She is a vigilante, like a lesbian Batman, stalking the streets of Stockholm putting wrongs right where abusive boyfriends/husbands are concerned.
She is also a hacking machine for rent. And Frans Balder (Stephen Merchant) has a problem. He has invented a software program that allows its user to control every nuclear warhead in the world from a single laptop (cue every other Bond/24/Austin Powers script ever written). But he has had second thoughts and wants it back from its resting place on the server of the NSAâs chief hacker, Ed Needham (Lakeith Stanfield). Balder recruits Salander to recover it, but when things go pear-shaped Salander finds herself on the wrong side of both the law and the encircling terrorist âspidersâ.
The Review
Scandi-dramas work best when they exploit the snow; maintain a sexual tension; and go dark, gritty and violent. On the plus side, âThe Girl in the Spiderâs Webâ ticks most of those boxes adequately. Foyâs Salandar is smart, sassy and sexy, outwitting the best of the best, and only once finding her intellectual match. (If youâre a lesbian, Stockholm is most definitely the place to be: there only seemed to be one hetero-female there, and she was an adulteress).
But Salander also has a Bond-like invincibility that unfortunately tests your incredulity at multiple points. Contributing to the excitement is the stunt team, who keep themselves busy with some great car and bike chases.
So, the movie has its moments and is great to look at. But the film ends up a sandwich or two short of a smorgasbord, thanks largely to some totally bonkers plot points and more than a few ridiculous coincidences. There are without doubt an array of well-constructed set pieces here, but they fail to fully connect with any great conviction. An example of a scene that infuriates is a dramatic bathroom fight in a red-lit gloom with identical protagonists that is cut together so furiously you would need a Blu-ray slo-mo to work out what the hell is going on⌠and then I fear you might fail.
So itâs an A- for the Production Design (Eve Stewart, âThe Danish Girlâ) and the Cinematography (Pedro Luque, âDonât Breatheâ), but a C- for the director Fede Alvarez (also âDonât Breatheâ).
Avoid the Trailer
I will save my biggest source of wrath though for that major bug-bear of mine: trailers that spoil the plot.
Iâve asked before, but for a film like this, WHO EXACTLY PUTS TOGETHER THE TRAILER? Iâd like to think itâs some mindless committee of marketing execs somewhere. Because I HONESTLY CANâT BELIEVE it would be the director! (If Iâm wrong though, I would point my finger at Mr Alvarez and chant âshame, shame, shameâ!)
For the trailer that I saw playing in UK cinemas does itâs level best to not only drop in the key spoilers of the plot (including the climactic scene), but also spoils just about every action money-shot in the movie. Itâs all so pointless. If youâve by any chance managed to get to this point without seeing the trailer, then SAVE YOURSELVES and AVOID IT!
(The one attached below by the way is slightly â slightly! â better, including some over-dubbing of a line that I donât think was in the film. Perhaps they realised their huge mistake and reissued it?)
The Turns
As I mentioned earlier, Claire Foy again extends her range by playing Salander really well. She is the reason to go and see the film.
The Daniel Craig part of Blomkvist is played here by Sverrir Gudnason, who was in âThe Circleâ (which I saw) and was Borg in âBorg McEnroeâ (which I didnât). Blomkvist really is a lazy ****, since he works for the publication âMilleniumâ but writes absolutely nothing for years. It must be only because the boss (Vicky Krieps) fancies him that he keeps his job. Gudnason is good enough, but has very little to do in the movie: its the Salander/Foy show. Slightly, but only slightly, more involved is Lakeith Standfield as the US intelligence man.
Given little to do in the plot. Sverrir Gudnason as the incredibly unproductive âjournalistâ Mikael Blomkvist. (Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Stephen Merchant is an odd casting choice for Balder. Not withstanding that he was brilliant when almost unrecognisable in âLoganâ, here he looks far too much like his âRicky Gervais sidekickâ persona to be taken seriously: and itâs not even remotely a comedy (there is only one humorous moment in the film, a nice âclickerâ gag in a car park).
Final Thoughts
I had high hopes for this film from the trailer, but I was left disappointed. Itâs not classic Scandi-noir like the original âTattooâ; and itâs not going for the black comedy angle of âHeadhuntersâ (which I saw again last week and loved⌠again!). It falls into a rather âmehâ category. Itâs not a bad eveningâs watch, but perhaps worth leaving for a DVD/cable showing.
Now though we have âA New Dragon Tattoo Storyâ (as the filmâs subtitle clumsily declares) based on the book by David Lagercrantz, who took over the literary franchise after the untimely death of Stieg Larsson. Picking up the reins as Salander is that most British of actresses Claire FoyâŚ. which seems an odd choice, but one which â after you get past the rather odd accent â she just about pulls off.
The Plot
Lizbeth Salendar (Claire Foy) has an interesting hobby. She is a vigilante, like a lesbian Batman, stalking the streets of Stockholm putting wrongs right where abusive boyfriends/husbands are concerned.
She is also a hacking machine for rent. And Frans Balder (Stephen Merchant) has a problem. He has invented a software program that allows its user to control every nuclear warhead in the world from a single laptop (cue every other Bond/24/Austin Powers script ever written). But he has had second thoughts and wants it back from its resting place on the server of the NSAâs chief hacker, Ed Needham (Lakeith Stanfield). Balder recruits Salander to recover it, but when things go pear-shaped Salander finds herself on the wrong side of both the law and the encircling terrorist âspidersâ.
The Review
Scandi-dramas work best when they exploit the snow; maintain a sexual tension; and go dark, gritty and violent. On the plus side, âThe Girl in the Spiderâs Webâ ticks most of those boxes adequately. Foyâs Salandar is smart, sassy and sexy, outwitting the best of the best, and only once finding her intellectual match. (If youâre a lesbian, Stockholm is most definitely the place to be: there only seemed to be one hetero-female there, and she was an adulteress).
But Salander also has a Bond-like invincibility that unfortunately tests your incredulity at multiple points. Contributing to the excitement is the stunt team, who keep themselves busy with some great car and bike chases.
So, the movie has its moments and is great to look at. But the film ends up a sandwich or two short of a smorgasbord, thanks largely to some totally bonkers plot points and more than a few ridiculous coincidences. There are without doubt an array of well-constructed set pieces here, but they fail to fully connect with any great conviction. An example of a scene that infuriates is a dramatic bathroom fight in a red-lit gloom with identical protagonists that is cut together so furiously you would need a Blu-ray slo-mo to work out what the hell is going on⌠and then I fear you might fail.
So itâs an A- for the Production Design (Eve Stewart, âThe Danish Girlâ) and the Cinematography (Pedro Luque, âDonât Breatheâ), but a C- for the director Fede Alvarez (also âDonât Breatheâ).
Avoid the Trailer
I will save my biggest source of wrath though for that major bug-bear of mine: trailers that spoil the plot.
Iâve asked before, but for a film like this, WHO EXACTLY PUTS TOGETHER THE TRAILER? Iâd like to think itâs some mindless committee of marketing execs somewhere. Because I HONESTLY CANâT BELIEVE it would be the director! (If Iâm wrong though, I would point my finger at Mr Alvarez and chant âshame, shame, shameâ!)
For the trailer that I saw playing in UK cinemas does itâs level best to not only drop in the key spoilers of the plot (including the climactic scene), but also spoils just about every action money-shot in the movie. Itâs all so pointless. If youâve by any chance managed to get to this point without seeing the trailer, then SAVE YOURSELVES and AVOID IT!
(The one attached below by the way is slightly â slightly! â better, including some over-dubbing of a line that I donât think was in the film. Perhaps they realised their huge mistake and reissued it?)
The Turns
As I mentioned earlier, Claire Foy again extends her range by playing Salander really well. She is the reason to go and see the film.
The Daniel Craig part of Blomkvist is played here by Sverrir Gudnason, who was in âThe Circleâ (which I saw) and was Borg in âBorg McEnroeâ (which I didnât). Blomkvist really is a lazy ****, since he works for the publication âMilleniumâ but writes absolutely nothing for years. It must be only because the boss (Vicky Krieps) fancies him that he keeps his job. Gudnason is good enough, but has very little to do in the movie: its the Salander/Foy show. Slightly, but only slightly, more involved is Lakeith Standfield as the US intelligence man.
Given little to do in the plot. Sverrir Gudnason as the incredibly unproductive âjournalistâ Mikael Blomkvist. (Source: Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Stephen Merchant is an odd casting choice for Balder. Not withstanding that he was brilliant when almost unrecognisable in âLoganâ, here he looks far too much like his âRicky Gervais sidekickâ persona to be taken seriously: and itâs not even remotely a comedy (there is only one humorous moment in the film, a nice âclickerâ gag in a car park).
Final Thoughts
I had high hopes for this film from the trailer, but I was left disappointed. Itâs not classic Scandi-noir like the original âTattooâ; and itâs not going for the black comedy angle of âHeadhuntersâ (which I saw again last week and loved⌠again!). It falls into a rather âmehâ category. Itâs not a bad eveningâs watch, but perhaps worth leaving for a DVD/cable showing.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Lords of Chaos (2018) in Movies
Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)
I saw one trailer for this and at that point I instantly assumed that it wouldn't show at my local Cineworld, but it did, with a surprising amount of showings. The gentleman and I who attended this particular screening really did not look like your typical black metal fans, but then it's always the quiet ones...
In my non-fan status I can't say anything to its accuracy. From what I understand there are disagreements over some of it, the trailer does state "based on truth and lies" so somewhere along the line they know they've taken some necessary artistic license.
Lords Of Chaos is a pretty honest movie, and by that I mean it doesn't sugarcoat anything. There are violent and horrific scenes that any movie looking for a 15 certificate would have looked away at the last minute or done something artistic with the camera angle, but LOC just went "F*** it, zoom in." and I think that was a great benefit to it. I actually found it less shocking for that exact reason. If you can stomach it then seeing what actually happens is a lot less affecting than being left to imagine it. I'm aware that that probably says something horrific about me personally.
I was... put off? by the casting of Rory Culkin as the lead in this. I couldn't honestly tell you why, I've only really seen him in Scream 4 and I love that. His performance from start to finish was incredible, including the voiceovers which were placed in exactly the right places throughout. I was blown away by him when I'd expected to dislike his character. Culkin seems to know exactly where Euronymous is going, he adapts to the changes in him and you see the schemer, the worrier and all the associated emotions that go with them.
Emory Cohen gave an interesting performance as Varg, but I wasn't particularly fond of the character. To see his transformation from almost puppy dog longing to connect before he spirals into paranoia and his ever-expanding need to be the best was intriguing, it ultimately left me with an awkward feeling that I wasn't particularly fond of.
The two of them together made for a good contrast with both characters progressing in opposite directions yet never meeting and being able to connect in the middle. I liked that they both seemed to underestimate the other and that impact brought out very different characteristics in them both. That ultimately led to a strong conclusion to the film and allowed Culkin to really end it with a bang.
The film itself was beautifully shot and many of the shots seemed frivolous at the time but actually allowed for some respite from the carnage and allowed you to take in the gravity of some of the actions.
While Lords Of Chaos is probably not a film I would have ever seen in the past I was actually pleased that I saw it. This regime of seeing (almost) everything that comes out at my cinema has its ups and downs but this was a pretty interesting watch. Culkin performed his socks off and it was a very entertaining surprise. This is a topic that will definitely need some further reading beyond what is portrayed here as I'm certain that to make a film of this suitable for a movie-going audience it would have needed a lot of tweaking from the truth.
What you should do
This is definitely not for the faint hearted, I would absolutely not recommend it to you if you don't like blood, violence or are susceptible to self-harm on screen. If you can stomach all of those things and have an interest in music then I'd say it's worth giving a go.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
Running my own record store looks like it migt be fun, but I don't think that my music taste would make it a very popular shop.
In my non-fan status I can't say anything to its accuracy. From what I understand there are disagreements over some of it, the trailer does state "based on truth and lies" so somewhere along the line they know they've taken some necessary artistic license.
Lords Of Chaos is a pretty honest movie, and by that I mean it doesn't sugarcoat anything. There are violent and horrific scenes that any movie looking for a 15 certificate would have looked away at the last minute or done something artistic with the camera angle, but LOC just went "F*** it, zoom in." and I think that was a great benefit to it. I actually found it less shocking for that exact reason. If you can stomach it then seeing what actually happens is a lot less affecting than being left to imagine it. I'm aware that that probably says something horrific about me personally.
I was... put off? by the casting of Rory Culkin as the lead in this. I couldn't honestly tell you why, I've only really seen him in Scream 4 and I love that. His performance from start to finish was incredible, including the voiceovers which were placed in exactly the right places throughout. I was blown away by him when I'd expected to dislike his character. Culkin seems to know exactly where Euronymous is going, he adapts to the changes in him and you see the schemer, the worrier and all the associated emotions that go with them.
Emory Cohen gave an interesting performance as Varg, but I wasn't particularly fond of the character. To see his transformation from almost puppy dog longing to connect before he spirals into paranoia and his ever-expanding need to be the best was intriguing, it ultimately left me with an awkward feeling that I wasn't particularly fond of.
The two of them together made for a good contrast with both characters progressing in opposite directions yet never meeting and being able to connect in the middle. I liked that they both seemed to underestimate the other and that impact brought out very different characteristics in them both. That ultimately led to a strong conclusion to the film and allowed Culkin to really end it with a bang.
The film itself was beautifully shot and many of the shots seemed frivolous at the time but actually allowed for some respite from the carnage and allowed you to take in the gravity of some of the actions.
While Lords Of Chaos is probably not a film I would have ever seen in the past I was actually pleased that I saw it. This regime of seeing (almost) everything that comes out at my cinema has its ups and downs but this was a pretty interesting watch. Culkin performed his socks off and it was a very entertaining surprise. This is a topic that will definitely need some further reading beyond what is portrayed here as I'm certain that to make a film of this suitable for a movie-going audience it would have needed a lot of tweaking from the truth.
What you should do
This is definitely not for the faint hearted, I would absolutely not recommend it to you if you don't like blood, violence or are susceptible to self-harm on screen. If you can stomach all of those things and have an interest in music then I'd say it's worth giving a go.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
Running my own record store looks like it migt be fun, but I don't think that my music taste would make it a very popular shop.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies
Dec 8, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
Had this been released on any regular week I'd have seen Joker the day it came out and not been overly bothered by the Twitter frenzy that happened in the aftermath of the opening... but, Joker came out two days into the London Film Festival and that meant I couldn't see it straight away. I ended up taking a day off in the middle of it and going out to have a regular cinema outing, it was only 6 days after release but the barrage of feedback online was enough to make me bored at the thought of seeing it.
I do not know how to do this review. It's not that I don't have things to say about it, because I do, but there's a lot of grumbling. I'm going to try bullet pointing it as it covers things that cross audience feedback with moaning.
⢠What is real? We see the Sophie shots replayed without her in them and we realise he imagined it but we also know that he's imagined other things... everything could be a twist on reality.
⢠I did not assume that the man with Bruce at home was Alfred.
⢠I would not have found it unbelievable had Arthur and Sophie been a couple.
⢠This film could easily have been a pre-origin story for the Joker character.
⢠I know Arthur needs every push to make the story progress but I don't see that Thomas Wayne needed to be that aggressive.
⢠Wouldn't it have been good if this film made no reference to anything Batman/Joker related and the first time we're actually shown the connection is in that iconic alley scene?
So there are the things I had thoughts, they all have me waffling on for ages when I voice them out loud.
Joaquin Phoenix really commits to the journey of Arthur and it's an incredible depiction. I'm not so bothered about the violence in the movie, what disturbed me more was how Phoenix manages to laugh without it showing on his face... that was chilling. Everything crafted around him really shows his life, the way he's captured in the shots, the way you see the darker side taking over him, you can see it in every scene. It's uncomfortable to watch him sometimes, but that's the way it needs to be.
As an environment you can feel the dirt and the story of the city really comes through in everything you see. There's a very clear divide between rich and poor and I really thought the sets and costumes worked perfectly.
I'm going to mention the song... it worked perfectly in the scene, it had the right tone for it and I thought it was very effective. As you look down the rest of the tracklisting it was nice to see that everything had a very theatrical leaning.
When we get to the point where Arthur, now under the guise of Joker, appears on Murray's talk show there's an element of uncertainty about what's going to happen. The escalation is chilling and when he starts his speech you can feel the change in him. That speech had a moment of understanding in it before you remember everything we've just seen. I would happily have seen the film end with that test card.
What happens after this is a big piece that feels like hallucination moments rather than real ones. I really didn't need that... BUT... it did bring us to that iconic alleyway scene. It was perfectly captured and would have been amazing if we saw the clown slip into the alleyway and then... no pearls. I groaned when I saw that. I'm fed up with it, it took that tense moment and could have left you with that sense of knowing without hitting you with that now rather common slap in the face of an image.
Unlike other films I still don't have a very clear idea of how I feel about this film, there are lots of issues I had with it but then there's that brilliant performance from Joaquin Phoenix. I'm sure this needs another viewing, but even then I'm not sure I'd be totally certain about how I felt.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2019/11/joker-spoilers-movie-review.html
I do not know how to do this review. It's not that I don't have things to say about it, because I do, but there's a lot of grumbling. I'm going to try bullet pointing it as it covers things that cross audience feedback with moaning.
⢠What is real? We see the Sophie shots replayed without her in them and we realise he imagined it but we also know that he's imagined other things... everything could be a twist on reality.
⢠I did not assume that the man with Bruce at home was Alfred.
⢠I would not have found it unbelievable had Arthur and Sophie been a couple.
⢠This film could easily have been a pre-origin story for the Joker character.
⢠I know Arthur needs every push to make the story progress but I don't see that Thomas Wayne needed to be that aggressive.
⢠Wouldn't it have been good if this film made no reference to anything Batman/Joker related and the first time we're actually shown the connection is in that iconic alley scene?
So there are the things I had thoughts, they all have me waffling on for ages when I voice them out loud.
Joaquin Phoenix really commits to the journey of Arthur and it's an incredible depiction. I'm not so bothered about the violence in the movie, what disturbed me more was how Phoenix manages to laugh without it showing on his face... that was chilling. Everything crafted around him really shows his life, the way he's captured in the shots, the way you see the darker side taking over him, you can see it in every scene. It's uncomfortable to watch him sometimes, but that's the way it needs to be.
As an environment you can feel the dirt and the story of the city really comes through in everything you see. There's a very clear divide between rich and poor and I really thought the sets and costumes worked perfectly.
I'm going to mention the song... it worked perfectly in the scene, it had the right tone for it and I thought it was very effective. As you look down the rest of the tracklisting it was nice to see that everything had a very theatrical leaning.
When we get to the point where Arthur, now under the guise of Joker, appears on Murray's talk show there's an element of uncertainty about what's going to happen. The escalation is chilling and when he starts his speech you can feel the change in him. That speech had a moment of understanding in it before you remember everything we've just seen. I would happily have seen the film end with that test card.
What happens after this is a big piece that feels like hallucination moments rather than real ones. I really didn't need that... BUT... it did bring us to that iconic alleyway scene. It was perfectly captured and would have been amazing if we saw the clown slip into the alleyway and then... no pearls. I groaned when I saw that. I'm fed up with it, it took that tense moment and could have left you with that sense of knowing without hitting you with that now rather common slap in the face of an image.
Unlike other films I still don't have a very clear idea of how I feel about this film, there are lots of issues I had with it but then there's that brilliant performance from Joaquin Phoenix. I'm sure this needs another viewing, but even then I'm not sure I'd be totally certain about how I felt.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2019/11/joker-spoilers-movie-review.html