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The Christmas Caper
9.0
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Tempest Raj’s next puzzle is wrapped in a festive, Scottish Yuletide package. The Christmas Caper...
The Scots of Dalriada
Book
THREE BROTHERS Fergus, Loarn and Angus, Princes of the Dalriada, are forced into exile by their...
Historical Fiction
Thirsty Animals
10.0
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WATER RUNS OUT? THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF WATER. With supply in the...
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Outlaw King (2018) in Movies
Jul 2, 2019
After more than eight years of war with King Edward I of England (Stephen Dillane) the Scottish Nobles swear allegiance to the crown, ending the brutal. This includes Robert Bruce (Chris Pine) who is one of two men in line to be King of Scots. But by pledging his loyalty to they agree to be under the supervision of the Earl of Pembroke, Aymer de Valence (Sam Spruell). Robert’s father, Robert Bruce Senior (James Cosmo), had pushed for the peace with England but when he dies and the younger Robert is in charge a new fight for independence seems eminent. When the last remaining outlaw, William Wallace, is killed by the English Robert knows the time to fight is now. He decides to meet with his rival for the crown, John Comyn (Callan Mulvey), to have a united Scotland fighting for freedom. When Comyn denies Robert’s request and tells him he will use the information to be named King by Edward I, Robert kills him. This proves costly as it divides the Scottish Lords. Robert is determined and will take a small group loyal to him and fight one of the largest and most feared armies in the world.
This film is based on historical events and follows Robert the Bruce in his guerilla warfare battle for independence against the English. The film definitely seemed to take some poetic license with the story, but overall it feels realistic. Set in the medieval Scotland this is both a gritty and beautifully shot film. The wide shots show the beautiful country and coasts of Scotland. Then the day to day life and the battle scenes are dirty and grimy. The film is a brutal as advertised not only in the battle scenes but also throughout the film. Director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Starred Up) crafts a well thought out story that moves briskly along. I had a couple of issues with the CGI not being super realistic. One brutal scene where someone drawn and quartered, I’ll let you research that, and the body looks like a blob rather than a torso. There were also some awkward cut scenes that didn’t make sense to me. Really not making sense. The opening sequence of the film is done in one shot and might be one of the most impressively shot sequences I have seen in a movie in a long time. The performances are also really good. Billy Howie, Prince of Wales, is a good antagonist and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Douglas, is a marvelous madman protector of the Robert the Bruce.
I enjoyed this movie in the theater and think a Netflix view is going to be perfect. It is brutal so the faint of heart should be prepared to look away multiple times. It may get compared to another famous Scottish film from not too long ago and I think this is a nice update. But this is not that film, both in good and bad ways. I enjoyed my watching experience and will definitely catch it streaming on its release date.
This film is based on historical events and follows Robert the Bruce in his guerilla warfare battle for independence against the English. The film definitely seemed to take some poetic license with the story, but overall it feels realistic. Set in the medieval Scotland this is both a gritty and beautifully shot film. The wide shots show the beautiful country and coasts of Scotland. Then the day to day life and the battle scenes are dirty and grimy. The film is a brutal as advertised not only in the battle scenes but also throughout the film. Director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Starred Up) crafts a well thought out story that moves briskly along. I had a couple of issues with the CGI not being super realistic. One brutal scene where someone drawn and quartered, I’ll let you research that, and the body looks like a blob rather than a torso. There were also some awkward cut scenes that didn’t make sense to me. Really not making sense. The opening sequence of the film is done in one shot and might be one of the most impressively shot sequences I have seen in a movie in a long time. The performances are also really good. Billy Howie, Prince of Wales, is a good antagonist and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Douglas, is a marvelous madman protector of the Robert the Bruce.
I enjoyed this movie in the theater and think a Netflix view is going to be perfect. It is brutal so the faint of heart should be prepared to look away multiple times. It may get compared to another famous Scottish film from not too long ago and I think this is a nice update. But this is not that film, both in good and bad ways. I enjoyed my watching experience and will definitely catch it streaming on its release date.
JT (287 KP) rated A Lonely Place to Die (2011) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Set against the sweeping landscape of the Scottish Highlands it would seem like a perfect place as any to stage a cat mouse style thriller – and that is exactly what we get. When a group of climbers out on excursion discover a young girl buried alive with only a tube for air they take the decision to rescue her, which just became their biggest mistake.
It’s a fast paced edge of the seat ride which never stops for a second to catch its breath. George puts in a worthy performance, gripped by fear she runs on adrenalin in order to try and outwit her villainous opponents.
There is something truly unnerving about setting a thriller in such a picaresque backdrop, it worked for The Decent and certainly for Deliverance. Here Gilby does more than enough to raise the tension, from an opening that will surely shake the viewer up it only takes a strangle hold on them further.
The acting is if I’m honest below par from a majority of the party, George shines there is no question of that, but it’s the inclusion of protagonist Sean Harris as Mr. Kidd that really gives the film a chilling edge.
He’s a dead pan actor, that has the look of a complete bastard, cold callous and methodical. When he recalls a past tale during the climax of the film its a reminder that he takes his business very seriously.
George puts in a worthy performance, gripped by fear she runs on adrenalin in order to try and outwit her villainous opponents
For the last act the film moves from the heights of the forest to a small Scottish town deep in a local festival and while you may feel that some of the tension might be lost, think again.
The inclusion of a few bounty hunters adds to the action and elaborates on the plot further, and it races to a pulsating finish. It’s a commendable effort from Gilbey whose last outing Rise of the Footsoldier was also met with great acclaim.
While it may be consigned to the group labelled B-Moives, this has enough to keep even the seasoned film fan strapped to their chairs.
It’s a fast paced edge of the seat ride which never stops for a second to catch its breath. George puts in a worthy performance, gripped by fear she runs on adrenalin in order to try and outwit her villainous opponents.
There is something truly unnerving about setting a thriller in such a picaresque backdrop, it worked for The Decent and certainly for Deliverance. Here Gilby does more than enough to raise the tension, from an opening that will surely shake the viewer up it only takes a strangle hold on them further.
The acting is if I’m honest below par from a majority of the party, George shines there is no question of that, but it’s the inclusion of protagonist Sean Harris as Mr. Kidd that really gives the film a chilling edge.
He’s a dead pan actor, that has the look of a complete bastard, cold callous and methodical. When he recalls a past tale during the climax of the film its a reminder that he takes his business very seriously.
George puts in a worthy performance, gripped by fear she runs on adrenalin in order to try and outwit her villainous opponents
For the last act the film moves from the heights of the forest to a small Scottish town deep in a local festival and while you may feel that some of the tension might be lost, think again.
The inclusion of a few bounty hunters adds to the action and elaborates on the plot further, and it races to a pulsating finish. It’s a commendable effort from Gilbey whose last outing Rise of the Footsoldier was also met with great acclaim.
While it may be consigned to the group labelled B-Moives, this has enough to keep even the seasoned film fan strapped to their chairs.
A little gem
What a little gem this is - totally gripping, full of atmosphere, tension and general creepiness all set in the stunning but isolated Scottish island of Rum which creates a sense of trepidation all on its own.
This book can be likened to a classic who-dunnit story - a group of people trapped together in an isolated location with a possible murderer amongst them - it's your job to try and work out who it is from the drips of clues amongst the red herrings provided by the author and I have to give Ms Taylor a round of applause because I didn't figure it out until it was right in my face! and, to be honest, that doesn't happen too often.
Excellent characters - some nice, some not so nice - absolutely perfect setting, great story line and ideal pace makes this a great read and one I have little hesitation in recommending to all psychological thriller lovers out there.
A very big thank you to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
This book can be likened to a classic who-dunnit story - a group of people trapped together in an isolated location with a possible murderer amongst them - it's your job to try and work out who it is from the drips of clues amongst the red herrings provided by the author and I have to give Ms Taylor a round of applause because I didn't figure it out until it was right in my face! and, to be honest, that doesn't happen too often.
Excellent characters - some nice, some not so nice - absolutely perfect setting, great story line and ideal pace makes this a great read and one I have little hesitation in recommending to all psychological thriller lovers out there.
A very big thank you to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Marston Moor (Civil War Chronicles, #6) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Regarded as the turning point of the English Civil War, the battle of Marston Moor was the largest of the Civil War and saw a combined force of English Parliamentarians and Scottish Covenanters defeat the Royalist force under Prince Rupert of the Rhine.
As befitting any historical soldier protagonist of the ECW, it's also one in which (now) Major Stryker gets caught up (fighting for the Royalists). As the author states in the author's note at the end of the story, he'd originally intended to write the story just around the battle itself; however found the story needed the campaign to give it context. To my eyes, that was a good call - starting with the sack of Bolton and leading through the siege of York to Rupert's lightning march to relieve the same, this all leads into the reason for the battle (which itself takes up, say, roughly the last third of the story), providing more flavour and understanding to the reader of what is occurring than just diving headlong into said battle.
As befitting any historical soldier protagonist of the ECW, it's also one in which (now) Major Stryker gets caught up (fighting for the Royalists). As the author states in the author's note at the end of the story, he'd originally intended to write the story just around the battle itself; however found the story needed the campaign to give it context. To my eyes, that was a good call - starting with the sack of Bolton and leading through the siege of York to Rupert's lightning march to relieve the same, this all leads into the reason for the battle (which itself takes up, say, roughly the last third of the story), providing more flavour and understanding to the reader of what is occurring than just diving headlong into said battle.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Mary Queen of Scots (2018) in Movies
Dec 23, 2018
I finally saw this film yesterday, and I'm not going to nitpick the historical inaccuracies that much. The only one that really bothered me was Mary having a Scottish accent when she was raised in France. I did roll my eyes at some of them, but honestly, I'm not going to b about it.
The costumes were absolutely beautiful, and I really liked the general story line. Though, I can live my entire life without seeing another damn birth scene in a film. They're all the same, please cut it out film industry.
All of the actors were well suited to their roles, and I did overall enjoy it. The film starts out with the execution scene (not a spoiler alert, it happened in the 1580s), and I was slightly confused as to why Mary hadn't aged at all, but it's definitely explained in the end. It was very effective story telling. This film definitely had the aim of rehabilitating Mary's image, and I believe it was mostly successful. I would definitely see this film again.
The costumes were absolutely beautiful, and I really liked the general story line. Though, I can live my entire life without seeing another damn birth scene in a film. They're all the same, please cut it out film industry.
All of the actors were well suited to their roles, and I did overall enjoy it. The film starts out with the execution scene (not a spoiler alert, it happened in the 1580s), and I was slightly confused as to why Mary hadn't aged at all, but it's definitely explained in the end. It was very effective story telling. This film definitely had the aim of rehabilitating Mary's image, and I believe it was mostly successful. I would definitely see this film again.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The English Game in TV
Apr 5, 2020
So, overall, I really enjoyed this series. I was wary at first, because the Fellowes dude is the one that did Downton Abbey. I never made it past the 1st ep of that, too boring and slow.
There were two facets that attracted me, the fact it was a period piece, and the football. The show focuses on the difference of the classes and the upper class bemoaning that the sport is no longer for gentlemen. Two Scottish players are brought to play for Darwen, a team from the North. The scandal is that they're getting paid, which was against the rules at the time.
I really enjoyed watching it, and watched the last 4 episodes in a row. It couldn't have been trimmed down to a movie, or fewer episodes if the silly soap-opera romance junk was taken out. It really wasn't necessary.
To watch this, I don't think you specifically need to be into football. Maybe the soap opera stuff was in there to attract a wider audience? I don't know, but I don't think the show needed it.
There were two facets that attracted me, the fact it was a period piece, and the football. The show focuses on the difference of the classes and the upper class bemoaning that the sport is no longer for gentlemen. Two Scottish players are brought to play for Darwen, a team from the North. The scandal is that they're getting paid, which was against the rules at the time.
I really enjoyed watching it, and watched the last 4 episodes in a row. It couldn't have been trimmed down to a movie, or fewer episodes if the silly soap-opera romance junk was taken out. It really wasn't necessary.
To watch this, I don't think you specifically need to be into football. Maybe the soap opera stuff was in there to attract a wider audience? I don't know, but I don't think the show needed it.
Way of the Wanderers: The Story of Travellers in Scotland
Book
TV programmes like My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, books like Gypsy Boy and the recent disturbances at...