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How Long 'til Black Future Month?: Stories
Book
In these stories, Jemisin sharply examines modern society, infusing magic into the mundane, and...
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys
Leigh Bardugo, Jay Kristoff, Danielle Paige, Kendare Blake, Jonathan Maberry, Marie Lu, Megan Shepherd, Carrie Ryan, Cat Winters, April Genevieve Tucholke, Nova Ren Suma, Stefan Bachmann, A. G. Howard and McCormick Templeman
7.0
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Book
A host of the smartest young adult authors come together in this collection of scary stories and...
anthology short stories
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1992) in Movies
Oct 29, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
This sequel to the 1984 movie that was based on Stephen King’s short story follows on from the first film as the bodies of the adults are discovered in a cellar, which grabs the attention of the authorities and the media.
Now if you have read my review of the first film the other day you will have seen how much I still enjoyed the film that starred Linda Hamilton, Peter Horton and John Franklin, but when it came to Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice which came along in 1992 (8 years after the first film), it becomes a bit more tongue in cheek over the original film.
Now if you have read my review of the first film the other day you will have seen how much I still enjoyed the film that starred Linda Hamilton, Peter Horton and John Franklin, but when it came to Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice which came along in 1992 (8 years after the first film), it becomes a bit more tongue in cheek over the original film.
Polar Nights (Under an Arctic Sky #1.5)
8.0
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Book
Andreas has been in love with Christian for as long as he can remember, but he’s also always known...
Contemporary MM Romance Short Story
Normal Rules Don’t Apply
9.0
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Book
The first story collection from Kate Atkinson in twenty years, Normal Rules Don't Apply is a...
Short stories
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The King of Staten Island (2020) in Movies
Jan 25, 2021
Incredible
An amateur tattoo artist is forced to grow up when his mom (who he is living with) falls in love with a new boo.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
The very first few moments sees main character Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) driving on the highway with his eyes closed, seemingly trying to off himself. It’s a powerful scene followed quickly by Scott and his friends tripping out with the typical hilarious banter you find in a Judd Apatow movie. While both great scenes, you still don’t get a full sense of where the story is going after the first ten minutes hence the score.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 9
Shot in a memorable style that brings out the best and worst of Staten Island at the same time. Director Apatow has a knack for capturing extremely impactful moments, especially the awkward ones. Every scene, no matter how short makes the most of its time and tells its own story. It’s such a hard thing to do yet Apatow finds a way to do it repeatedly.
Conflict: 10
It’s funny, I can’t look at Scott’s character without thinking about my 16-year-old son. He’s kind of drifting about in the same aimless way and, like Scott, doesn’t seem to understand how his now actions will affect his later. The beauty of having a character like this is the ability to be able to drive external conflict through Scott’s internal growth. He is struggling for selfish reasons. He wants his mom to be happy, but not at his expense. The dynamic of conflict is perfect.
Entertainment Value: 9
Memorability: 10
Pace: 8
The story flows along pretty smoothly, although I wasn’t happy with the 147-minute runtime. That’s a bit extensive for a comedy in my opinion. Again, I was impressed about how time was maximized for the most part, but there were a few spots where I felt things could have been trimmed.
Plot: 7
The movie does cheat to meet its end, but I was ultimately ok with it because the rest of the story was pretty incredible. The cheat is a blip on an otherwise quality story that really enhances the growth of the characters. Every scene really does come together well to tell a great story.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 90
From jump, The King of Staten Island hits you in the mouth and keeps you entertained. I enjoyed this movie for multiple reasons, but mostly because it checks all the boxes. Even the things it falls short on is just slightly missing the mark. Highly recommended.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 7
The very first few moments sees main character Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) driving on the highway with his eyes closed, seemingly trying to off himself. It’s a powerful scene followed quickly by Scott and his friends tripping out with the typical hilarious banter you find in a Judd Apatow movie. While both great scenes, you still don’t get a full sense of where the story is going after the first ten minutes hence the score.
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 9
Shot in a memorable style that brings out the best and worst of Staten Island at the same time. Director Apatow has a knack for capturing extremely impactful moments, especially the awkward ones. Every scene, no matter how short makes the most of its time and tells its own story. It’s such a hard thing to do yet Apatow finds a way to do it repeatedly.
Conflict: 10
It’s funny, I can’t look at Scott’s character without thinking about my 16-year-old son. He’s kind of drifting about in the same aimless way and, like Scott, doesn’t seem to understand how his now actions will affect his later. The beauty of having a character like this is the ability to be able to drive external conflict through Scott’s internal growth. He is struggling for selfish reasons. He wants his mom to be happy, but not at his expense. The dynamic of conflict is perfect.
Entertainment Value: 9
Memorability: 10
Pace: 8
The story flows along pretty smoothly, although I wasn’t happy with the 147-minute runtime. That’s a bit extensive for a comedy in my opinion. Again, I was impressed about how time was maximized for the most part, but there were a few spots where I felt things could have been trimmed.
Plot: 7
The movie does cheat to meet its end, but I was ultimately ok with it because the rest of the story was pretty incredible. The cheat is a blip on an otherwise quality story that really enhances the growth of the characters. Every scene really does come together well to tell a great story.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 90
From jump, The King of Staten Island hits you in the mouth and keeps you entertained. I enjoyed this movie for multiple reasons, but mostly because it checks all the boxes. Even the things it falls short on is just slightly missing the mark. Highly recommended.
*＊✿❀ Maki ❀✿＊* (7 KP) rated Questing Beast in Books
May 3, 2018
Questing Beast had an interesting enough premise, but it certainly would have benefited from being longer. There were several ideas and plots introduced in the thirty-some pages of this short story, but that wasn't exactly enough room for all of the ideas (or characters) to fully develop. Or, at least, develop beyond absolute basic information.
The overall plot of the story is that these scientists have to file their findings on a planet for...a scientific survey? Something along those lines. A virus somehow gets into their system, though, and completely destroys the data they've been gathering for the past two years.
The only possible back up is called Nannybot, and is also partially infected. The virus has Nannybot believe that it is Sir Pellinor, and it has to find the Questing Beast. If the scientists can make Nannybot think that it has caught the Questing Beast, then the virus can be overwritten, and the two years of data can be retrieved, saving the careers of everyone involved.
The Authurian elements of the story don't go much beyond the Questing Beast itself. The rest is the drama of the report being due, and the age-old implications of introducing foreign wildlife into ecosystems. Very Star Trek.
The overall plot of the story is that these scientists have to file their findings on a planet for...a scientific survey? Something along those lines. A virus somehow gets into their system, though, and completely destroys the data they've been gathering for the past two years.
The only possible back up is called Nannybot, and is also partially infected. The virus has Nannybot believe that it is Sir Pellinor, and it has to find the Questing Beast. If the scientists can make Nannybot think that it has caught the Questing Beast, then the virus can be overwritten, and the two years of data can be retrieved, saving the careers of everyone involved.
The Authurian elements of the story don't go much beyond the Questing Beast itself. The rest is the drama of the report being due, and the age-old implications of introducing foreign wildlife into ecosystems. Very Star Trek.
*＊✿❀ Maki ❀✿＊* (7 KP) rated Selfies in Books
May 3, 2018
Selfies was a fun combination of modern day vanity and the old belief that taking a picture of someone captures a part of that person's soul.
It was...okay. I liked how the story was told in a series of photo descriptions. The build up towards the ending is pretty well paced, although the strange break at the beginning where the random kid delivers exposition felt a bit out of place. It felt like it would have served better as an epilogue, rather than an opening.
My biggest problem was that I really couldn't take the story seriously. It was never scary or creepy for me.
I guess I've just read one too many <a href="http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Creepypasta_Wiki">creepypastas</a>;. (I had an addiction to them earlier on in the year.)
This short even follows the general format of a creepypasta, down to the girl getting the phone from a creepy old man in a store that mysteriously disappears after the phone is passed off on her. The story was at least well-written, and properly edited, which is more than I can say for most creepypastas out there.
You can read it for free <a href="http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/09/selfies-lavie-tidhar">here</a>;.
It was...okay. I liked how the story was told in a series of photo descriptions. The build up towards the ending is pretty well paced, although the strange break at the beginning where the random kid delivers exposition felt a bit out of place. It felt like it would have served better as an epilogue, rather than an opening.
My biggest problem was that I really couldn't take the story seriously. It was never scary or creepy for me.
I guess I've just read one too many <a href="http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Creepypasta_Wiki">creepypastas</a>;. (I had an addiction to them earlier on in the year.)
This short even follows the general format of a creepypasta, down to the girl getting the phone from a creepy old man in a store that mysteriously disappears after the phone is passed off on her. The story was at least well-written, and properly edited, which is more than I can say for most creepypastas out there.
You can read it for free <a href="http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/09/selfies-lavie-tidhar">here</a>;.
Benedick Lewis (3001 KP) rated Marvel's Spider-Man in Video Games
Mar 10, 2019
Excellent combat system (5 more)
Changes it up a lot
You are Spider-Man
The story is incredible
Rewards you for being a fan but doesn’t alienate newcomers
References everywhere
Can be repetitive in places (1 more)
Could be considered short (15 hours gameplay)
One of the best games I have played in a while
Spider-Man PS4 is one of the best games I have played in a while. I was dubious getting it at first. It’s the first Spider-Man title I have bought and played all the way through. The game is designed so that while you start with a lot of Spidey’s powers initially, you build upon them to become, as the tagline says, greater. It treats the gamer with respect. You build upon your powers the way you want to progress and how you fight. The story is incredible and one of Spidey’s best (I’ve read a few graphic novels in my time about Spider-Man!). It mixes emotion with great story telling that builds to a very tense climax. Sure questions are left unanswered for a sequel but that raises two questions: how do they go on from there and if this game is great, how do they make it better?
Autumn (3 KP) rated The Wise Man's Fear in Books
Jan 19, 2018
does anyone else find it annoying when people rate books they haven't actually read yet?
update: now that I'VE read this i can review it properly. (see how that works, people? read a book THEN rate it. i know, complicated.)
i loved this book. i would have given it 5 stars but i honestly thought it was too short. there were places that Kvothe skipped over his story that, as an outsider looking in as opposed to a character in the novel (like Chronicler) we haven't heard the rumors or stories or gossip about the events. i would have LOVED to have heard the story about the shipwreck, especially the mysterious man. it was quite frustrating to have something with so much potential tossed aside. also, i would have appreciated a bit more of the trial in Imre. at least a third or fourth hand account of it, the version of the story Chronicler heard.
alternatively, the time spent with Felurian was beaten to death, in my opinion, and Kvothe's time in Ademre was a bit drawn out. probably something to do with the publisher's wanting more sex, i expect. sigh.
still, i puffy heart love this series and will probably buy it once it's all in paperback.
update: now that I'VE read this i can review it properly. (see how that works, people? read a book THEN rate it. i know, complicated.)
i loved this book. i would have given it 5 stars but i honestly thought it was too short. there were places that Kvothe skipped over his story that, as an outsider looking in as opposed to a character in the novel (like Chronicler) we haven't heard the rumors or stories or gossip about the events. i would have LOVED to have heard the story about the shipwreck, especially the mysterious man. it was quite frustrating to have something with so much potential tossed aside. also, i would have appreciated a bit more of the trial in Imre. at least a third or fourth hand account of it, the version of the story Chronicler heard.
alternatively, the time spent with Felurian was beaten to death, in my opinion, and Kvothe's time in Ademre was a bit drawn out. probably something to do with the publisher's wanting more sex, i expect. sigh.
still, i puffy heart love this series and will probably buy it once it's all in paperback.