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Film and stuff (30 KP) rated Kin (2018) in Movies
May 30, 2019
Underrated
Contains spoilers, click to show
Kin is a modern twist on a story that feels very familiar.
Our hero is a boy that we assume was sent back in time to live in relative safety until his time to do something pivotal in a future war comes about.
The biggest issue is the ending. Audiences are unforgiving of sequel bait endings and this isn't subtle either.
Franco is a cookie cutter bad guy that just about reaches entertaining.
The relationship between our three main characters is thin and underdeveloped.
The beginning catalyst of the father dying suffers from an underdeveloped relationship between him and his sons as well as the father figure being largely unlikable.
All this being said, as an entire piece of work there is plenty to enjoy and that's what you will need to do with this film.
A mild recommendation
Our hero is a boy that we assume was sent back in time to live in relative safety until his time to do something pivotal in a future war comes about.
The biggest issue is the ending. Audiences are unforgiving of sequel bait endings and this isn't subtle either.
Franco is a cookie cutter bad guy that just about reaches entertaining.
The relationship between our three main characters is thin and underdeveloped.
The beginning catalyst of the father dying suffers from an underdeveloped relationship between him and his sons as well as the father figure being largely unlikable.
All this being said, as an entire piece of work there is plenty to enjoy and that's what you will need to do with this film.
A mild recommendation
RebelFleur (1 KP) rated Lust, Lies and Lemon Cakes Too in Books
Jan 30, 2018
I'll be completely honest with you, I didn't have high hopes for this book due to having read the first one in the series. However, it turned out to be a welcome surprise. Not only was the sequel better written than the first but I feel that it was also funnier and easier to read. Adding to this, I was actually dissapointed to find I had come to the end of the book as I was looking forward to learning more about the protagonists funny life.
The books light-hearted nature was definitely helped by the fact that a lot of the humour is revolved about the male protagonist going 'viral' on the internet. I feel this helps the reader to identify with him due to the fact that technology is slowly becoming more and more prevalent in our society.
I would definitely reccommend this book to people who are looking for a light read, due to its funny nature.
The books light-hearted nature was definitely helped by the fact that a lot of the humour is revolved about the male protagonist going 'viral' on the internet. I feel this helps the reader to identify with him due to the fact that technology is slowly becoming more and more prevalent in our society.
I would definitely reccommend this book to people who are looking for a light read, due to its funny nature.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated DV8: Gods and Monsters in Books
Jan 18, 2018
What a fantastic series. It is a shame that more people don't know about it. As a sequel to the first DV8, the first thing I noticed about this comic is that the artwork is so much better than the first. In fact, I find it beautiful.
The story line is one of the best I have read in a long time. These eight people with powers are dropped onto a primitive planet where they are seen as gods. The story is told through Copy Cat, or Gem, who has the power to control people but also has split personalities. The story begins with her sitting in an interrogation cell. As she explains what happened to them after they were dropped on the planet, the art flashback to show what happened in the past.
Such an intriguing story that had me entranced from page one. I couldn't put it down. A must read for the comic fan looking for a different type of story.
The story line is one of the best I have read in a long time. These eight people with powers are dropped onto a primitive planet where they are seen as gods. The story is told through Copy Cat, or Gem, who has the power to control people but also has split personalities. The story begins with her sitting in an interrogation cell. As she explains what happened to them after they were dropped on the planet, the art flashback to show what happened in the past.
Such an intriguing story that had me entranced from page one. I couldn't put it down. A must read for the comic fan looking for a different type of story.
Marqees (17 KP) rated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) in Movies
Jan 20, 2018
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a hilarious romp of a superhero movie. Chris Pratt and friends return as the titular Guardians a few months or so removed from the first film. This time Star-Lord and friends must figure out the mystery of Ego The living planet and Star-Lord's origins. Writer/Director James Gunn strikes gold once again in this highly anticipated sequel. The way he has portrayed this ragtag team has set them apart from other heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. My only issues would be the retread of the whole "we are family" story. Vol. 1 already established that they became tight-knit through their trials on Xandar. The other would of course the weak villian of the film with the whole take over the universe plot point. Other than that it is a solid film.
Lukas Griffith (3 KP) rated Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016) in Movies
Jan 22, 2018
I was a huge fan of the original and Jean-claude Van Damme, the original is an classic martial arts film. The reboot will never be as good as the original but I can say its not bad. Its awesome to see that Van Damme was able to return as the mentor and pass the torch on, his performance was the best out of the whole cast. Bautista playing the villain Tong Po was fierced and brilliant. The fight scenes were crafted exceptional and some were intense and exciting. The story in my opinion was a tad bit jumpy and drug out compared to the original but I did like how they twisted it and tried to make it more original. This movie might not be the best ever reboot, low budget but it was entertaining and Van Damme was brilliant. Hopefully the sequel will be even better.
Joe Julians (221 KP) rated Daddy's Home 2 (2017) in Movies
Feb 6, 2018 (Updated Feb 6, 2018)
The first Daddy's Home was hardly a comedic masterpiece. It was sub par for the most part and only really borderline enjoyable thanks to a cast that seemed enthusiastic and game to play a part in it. For the sequel, like Bad Mom's (a franchise where it's first movie was actually great) it has decided to bring in the grandparents. That didn't work out well for A Bad Mom's Christmas and it doesn't work for Daddy's Home 2 either.
There's nothing wrong with the performances in this one as such. Nobody is all that great, but they do the best they can with the material. The material however is the problem. This script is dire. It's a comedy without any jokes, a christmas movie without any heart and a family story where almost everyone is unwittingly unlikeable. I can't think of a single joke, a single moment that made me laugh and when a film contains Farrel, Wahlberg, Gibson and Lithgow- that's unforgivable.
There's nothing wrong with the performances in this one as such. Nobody is all that great, but they do the best they can with the material. The material however is the problem. This script is dire. It's a comedy without any jokes, a christmas movie without any heart and a family story where almost everyone is unwittingly unlikeable. I can't think of a single joke, a single moment that made me laugh and when a film contains Farrel, Wahlberg, Gibson and Lithgow- that's unforgivable.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Where She Went (If I Stay, #2) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
This is a sequel, of sorts, to "If I Stay" and picks up three years after Mia leaves Adam to start a new life at Juilliard. We learn that Mia has become a star in her own right, while Adam is rock star: the main focus of his band, Shooting Star. He has a celebrity girlfriend, a major tour, and a crazy life. But is he happy? And is Mia content with the choice she made to walk away from Adam?
This book is told from Adam's point of view and we learn about how Mia's decision has left him devastated. It's another rather short book, but it's also lovely. I am not sure exactly how to describe it. I liked "If I Stay," but I truly loved "Where She Went" -- it was beautiful and poignant and touching. Even though Adam (and Mia) could be a bit frustrating at times, it was certainly a worthwhile read.
This book is told from Adam's point of view and we learn about how Mia's decision has left him devastated. It's another rather short book, but it's also lovely. I am not sure exactly how to describe it. I liked "If I Stay," but I truly loved "Where She Went" -- it was beautiful and poignant and touching. Even though Adam (and Mia) could be a bit frustrating at times, it was certainly a worthwhile read.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) in Movies
Mar 14, 2018 (Updated Mar 15, 2018)
Lavish juggernaut follow-up to 1984 original is essentially the James Cameron school of sequel-making incarnate: all the stuff from the first film, only busier, bigger, and louder. Two more time-travelling killers appear in the present day intent on eliminating future-saviour John Connor; lots of stuff blows up.
An extremely accomplished film, in technical terms at least, but once you get past all the pyrotechnic highs and gosh-wow CGI (which was admittedly game-changing 27 years ago), it's basically the same story told rather less effectively from a narrative point of view - man vs machine is a more effective conflict than machine vs slightly more advanced machine, which is what we have here, and the whole subplot forming the basis of the second half only undermines the atmosphere of inevitable doom that was so important to the success of the original film. Bigger than Terminator, but by no means better - builds off the first movie, but adds nothing to it.
An extremely accomplished film, in technical terms at least, but once you get past all the pyrotechnic highs and gosh-wow CGI (which was admittedly game-changing 27 years ago), it's basically the same story told rather less effectively from a narrative point of view - man vs machine is a more effective conflict than machine vs slightly more advanced machine, which is what we have here, and the whole subplot forming the basis of the second half only undermines the atmosphere of inevitable doom that was so important to the success of the original film. Bigger than Terminator, but by no means better - builds off the first movie, but adds nothing to it.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Terminator Genisys (2015) in Movies
Mar 15, 2018
Auction-prize Terminator movie appears to have been made by dyslexics, but that's the least of its worries. A film of two unequal halves: opening section, in which the events of the 1984 movie are cheerfully revisited and rewritten, has a sort of demented energy which makes it rather watchable. The rest of it, in which the action inexplicably shifts to a near future where the nascent Skynet is some kind of app or Windows update, is essentially incoherent cobblers.
Film is not just incoherent, but openly and knowingly incoherent, with elements of backstory and actual plot left unexplained, presumably to be revisited in a future sequel. Action and acting is okay; makes relatively little use of Arnie, all things considered. Hits all the right buttons to keep fans of the series from rising up in a violent revolt (though it's possibly a near thing); it will probably simply bore, confuse, or repel anyone unfamiliar with the earlier movies.
Film is not just incoherent, but openly and knowingly incoherent, with elements of backstory and actual plot left unexplained, presumably to be revisited in a future sequel. Action and acting is okay; makes relatively little use of Arnie, all things considered. Hits all the right buttons to keep fans of the series from rising up in a violent revolt (though it's possibly a near thing); it will probably simply bore, confuse, or repel anyone unfamiliar with the earlier movies.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) in Movies
Mar 27, 2018 (Updated Mar 28, 2018)
What-time-d'you-call-this-then late-arriving sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2013 love letter to Japanese tokusatsu movies. A new generation of giant robot pilots must stop a new attempt to wipe out the human race using giant monsters.
The plot is fairly forgettable and possibly incoherent, as is most of the acting (though Scott Eastwood makes something of an impression in an underwritten part), but you go to this kind of film to see enormous robots and kaiju smacking each other about the head with bits of skyscraper, and this movie delivers that in spades. Possibly the first western movie to capture the real spirit of Japanese monster movies, and that makes up for a lot. The world-building isn't as interesting as in the first one, but it retains a few compellingly weird touches. Pure popcorn entertainment, but made with real energy and actually quite charming in a puppyish way.
The plot is fairly forgettable and possibly incoherent, as is most of the acting (though Scott Eastwood makes something of an impression in an underwritten part), but you go to this kind of film to see enormous robots and kaiju smacking each other about the head with bits of skyscraper, and this movie delivers that in spades. Possibly the first western movie to capture the real spirit of Japanese monster movies, and that makes up for a lot. The world-building isn't as interesting as in the first one, but it retains a few compellingly weird touches. Pure popcorn entertainment, but made with real energy and actually quite charming in a puppyish way.