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Jubal Early: Robert E. Lee's Bad Old Man
Book
In Jubal Early: Robert E. Lee's Bad Old Man, a new critical biography of Confederate Lieutenant...
The Rosie Effect
2.0
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Book
The Rosie Effect is the charming and hilarious sequel to Graeme Simsion's bestselling debut novel...
FDR
Book
One of today's premier biographers has written a modern, comprehensive, indeed ultimate book on the...
Svensk Lexikon
Travel and Reference
App
Detta har varit dåligt översatt :-) See below for english... Ett svenskt språk ordlista iOS app....
Kyera (8 KP) rated Unborn (Unborn, #1) in Books
Feb 1, 2018
I was incredibly and pleasantly (surprised) autopsied by this novel. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of things that leave the reader wanting more (and not in a good way), but overall it was well thought out.
There is a prevalent element of mythology in this novel. Aspects of Greek mythology like the Underworld, Hades, Ares, and other (demi-)godly players are rampant throughout the story. But, it's combined with the (fallen) angels and heaven of religious mythology and stories. It's a strange combination that doesn't lend itself to logical commingling, although it worked relatively well here. Perhaps I'm just biased because I adore the mythology in all cultures.
My highest praise for this novel is the writing quality, not the characters, world, or plot - just the simple allure of a book that's written in proper, intelligent English. A surprising rarity in Y.A. books. The author has a wonderful command of the English language and uses vocabulary that make a reader wonder, "What does that mean?" I love books that will chose to use words strode or sauntered, rather than another banal alternative when expressing how someone made their way down the street. You want them to reference a thesaurus to make their lexicon as diverse as possible. No one wants to hear, he said, she said, they said over and over. Perhaps they shouted, or she bit back her words? Anything to give the story real depth and reality.
The shortcomings? Character development and world building. Don't get me wrong, it was certainly there but not as well thought out as it should have been. Relationships were crafted much more quickly than reasonably could be expected and it created a sense of falseness. If more attention had been given to those two aspects, it would have been a strong 4-star rating (rather than my 3/4 rating.)
Another trait of a good story, be it in a book, movie, tv show, or something else is lack of predictability. If you can guess what it going to happen in the story from just the first 50 pages, than it seems less appealing to continue. On this account, the author both confirmed my suspicions and utterly surprised me. Not long into my reading, I was jotting down notes and thoughts as I felt a situation professing. I wanted to have quotes, events, and feelings to reference later - especially if my expectations were fufilled. The end of the book on the other hand - completely unexpected.
There is a prevalent element of mythology in this novel. Aspects of Greek mythology like the Underworld, Hades, Ares, and other (demi-)godly players are rampant throughout the story. But, it's combined with the (fallen) angels and heaven of religious mythology and stories. It's a strange combination that doesn't lend itself to logical commingling, although it worked relatively well here. Perhaps I'm just biased because I adore the mythology in all cultures.
My highest praise for this novel is the writing quality, not the characters, world, or plot - just the simple allure of a book that's written in proper, intelligent English. A surprising rarity in Y.A. books. The author has a wonderful command of the English language and uses vocabulary that make a reader wonder, "What does that mean?" I love books that will chose to use words strode or sauntered, rather than another banal alternative when expressing how someone made their way down the street. You want them to reference a thesaurus to make their lexicon as diverse as possible. No one wants to hear, he said, she said, they said over and over. Perhaps they shouted, or she bit back her words? Anything to give the story real depth and reality.
The shortcomings? Character development and world building. Don't get me wrong, it was certainly there but not as well thought out as it should have been. Relationships were crafted much more quickly than reasonably could be expected and it created a sense of falseness. If more attention had been given to those two aspects, it would have been a strong 4-star rating (rather than my 3/4 rating.)
Another trait of a good story, be it in a book, movie, tv show, or something else is lack of predictability. If you can guess what it going to happen in the story from just the first 50 pages, than it seems less appealing to continue. On this account, the author both confirmed my suspicions and utterly surprised me. Not long into my reading, I was jotting down notes and thoughts as I felt a situation professing. I wanted to have quotes, events, and feelings to reference later - especially if my expectations were fufilled. The end of the book on the other hand - completely unexpected.
Gareth von Kallenbach (971 KP) rated Obliteracers in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
So many games today take older ideas and look to infuse a new wrinkle into them in order to great something fresh. One such game is Obliteracers which looks to take a page from the classic character-based racing games such as Mario Kart and infuse new life into a genre which too many had become fairly stale in recent years. The game puts less emphasis on racing as finishing first or last doesn’t really matter for the most part as the goal is to obliterate your opponents as you race around the track. There are a variety of tracks such as a futuristic city, tropical beach, oil tanker, and so on, many which will seem familiar to people who spent a lot of time in the genre.
By using weapons such as missiles, oil slicks, flamethrowers, mines, machine guns, and such, the strategy is to take out as many of them before they get you. When the field of opponents is reduced to one, the match starts over and continues until a champion has been reached based on a point system from the earlier matches. This at this point players can then move on to another locale and start the battle all over. There are variations in the gameplay mode where in addition to wiping out your opponents, factors such as staying in the lead, endurance, and such do help you increase your score which will ultimately lead to your overall championship. After a brief introduction to the game, I found myself able to win my earlier matches without too much difficulty and ultimately advance through the rankings fairly quickly.
There is a multiplayer mode for the game and matchmaking at me racing against another player in no time however it was a simple two player match and not nearly as exciting as having a field of players to race against. I hope in time that will be more customization options for vehicles, tracks, characters, and so on as the game is an amusing if albeit fleeting diversion. For value priced software it does hold a solid amount of entertainment if you’re willing to overlook some of the shortcomings and things such as random clipping issues were my car became part of the track at various times during the race.
Obliteracers gave me a couple of hours of pleasant distraction, and as such might be worth your time if this is something that would interest you.
http://sknr.net/2016/02/28/81389/
By using weapons such as missiles, oil slicks, flamethrowers, mines, machine guns, and such, the strategy is to take out as many of them before they get you. When the field of opponents is reduced to one, the match starts over and continues until a champion has been reached based on a point system from the earlier matches. This at this point players can then move on to another locale and start the battle all over. There are variations in the gameplay mode where in addition to wiping out your opponents, factors such as staying in the lead, endurance, and such do help you increase your score which will ultimately lead to your overall championship. After a brief introduction to the game, I found myself able to win my earlier matches without too much difficulty and ultimately advance through the rankings fairly quickly.
There is a multiplayer mode for the game and matchmaking at me racing against another player in no time however it was a simple two player match and not nearly as exciting as having a field of players to race against. I hope in time that will be more customization options for vehicles, tracks, characters, and so on as the game is an amusing if albeit fleeting diversion. For value priced software it does hold a solid amount of entertainment if you’re willing to overlook some of the shortcomings and things such as random clipping issues were my car became part of the track at various times during the race.
Obliteracers gave me a couple of hours of pleasant distraction, and as such might be worth your time if this is something that would interest you.
http://sknr.net/2016/02/28/81389/
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated The Favourite (2018) in Movies
Jan 24, 2019
Quirky and original with strong performances and direction
Greek Director Yorgos Lanthimos is the director of such quirky, bizarre comedy/dramas as DOGTOOTH, THE LOBSTER and KILLING OF A SACRED DEER and his latest, THE FAVOURITE is no different, so when it was nominated for 10 Oscars, I thought I'd better go see what all the fuss was all about.
And I'm glad I did for THE FAVOURITE is a biting, funny, sarcastic, bizarre, intense and interesting Royal Court drama about the inner workings, back channel dealings and backstabbing social climbing in Queen Anne's court in England in the early 18th Century as seen through Lanthimos' camera lens - a lens that is different indeed.
Starring Oscar winners Rachel Weisz (THE CONSTANT GARDNER) and Emma Stone (LA LA LAND) in their Oscar nominated turns as cousins who vie for the attentions of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman, also Oscar nominated), it is the rare film that features 3 strong women who play off each other well and where each one is a full character in and of themselves - all 3 with strengths and weaknesses that make them real and compelling and performed by 3 strong actresses. Needless to say that each Oscar nod is well deserved.
But the real star of this film is the sensibilities and camera work of Lanthimos. He uses unusual camera angles, unusual angles and bizarre imagery to show the unreality of the court in relation to the real world around them and is a commentary on these people as much as it shows the action on the screen. This film is an artist with a true, unique vision and is one that, while not for everyone, is one that worked for me.
Lanthimos layers on a rich tapestry of story (by Oscar nominated Screenplay writers Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara) locations (by Oscar nominated Production Designers Fijona Crombie and Alice Felton), Costumes (by Oscar nominated costumer Sandy Powell) , editing (by Oscar nominated Yorgos Mavropsaridis), Cinematography (by Oscar nominated Robbie Ryan) and performances, direction and film.
I think you get the point - this film has become (rightfully so) a darling of the Awards season and is well worth checking out - while this film is not entirely successful in what it attempts to do, it is fun to watch the attempt and the strong performances, characters, direction, costumes, cinematography, etc...which more than makes up for any shortcomings in the story (especially the final act of the film).
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(OfMarquis)
And I'm glad I did for THE FAVOURITE is a biting, funny, sarcastic, bizarre, intense and interesting Royal Court drama about the inner workings, back channel dealings and backstabbing social climbing in Queen Anne's court in England in the early 18th Century as seen through Lanthimos' camera lens - a lens that is different indeed.
Starring Oscar winners Rachel Weisz (THE CONSTANT GARDNER) and Emma Stone (LA LA LAND) in their Oscar nominated turns as cousins who vie for the attentions of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman, also Oscar nominated), it is the rare film that features 3 strong women who play off each other well and where each one is a full character in and of themselves - all 3 with strengths and weaknesses that make them real and compelling and performed by 3 strong actresses. Needless to say that each Oscar nod is well deserved.
But the real star of this film is the sensibilities and camera work of Lanthimos. He uses unusual camera angles, unusual angles and bizarre imagery to show the unreality of the court in relation to the real world around them and is a commentary on these people as much as it shows the action on the screen. This film is an artist with a true, unique vision and is one that, while not for everyone, is one that worked for me.
Lanthimos layers on a rich tapestry of story (by Oscar nominated Screenplay writers Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara) locations (by Oscar nominated Production Designers Fijona Crombie and Alice Felton), Costumes (by Oscar nominated costumer Sandy Powell) , editing (by Oscar nominated Yorgos Mavropsaridis), Cinematography (by Oscar nominated Robbie Ryan) and performances, direction and film.
I think you get the point - this film has become (rightfully so) a darling of the Awards season and is well worth checking out - while this film is not entirely successful in what it attempts to do, it is fun to watch the attempt and the strong performances, characters, direction, costumes, cinematography, etc...which more than makes up for any shortcomings in the story (especially the final act of the film).
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(OfMarquis)
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) in Movies
Jan 17, 2020
Implausibility Can't Stop This Fun Movie
The gang from the original are back to deal with new issues and square off against new zombies. Definitely not as good as the first, Zombieland: Double Tap packs enough of an entertaining punch to be worth your while.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 8
Cinematography/Visuals: 7
Conflict: 10
Between the group’s personal issues and loads beyond loads of zombies, the movie definitely isn’t short of conflict. The film wins ultimately with the originality and variety of the zombie kills. The action is fun and, although lighthearted at times, it keeps you engaged in the movie.
Entertainment Value: 8
There was some implausibility here that made it a challenge at times to enjoy the movie. I also felt like the movie spent more time than needed trying to “chase a ghost” rather than just stand out and be its own thing. In spite of those shortcomings, man was this movie fun to watch!
Memorability: 5
Its been-there-done-that feel keeps this movie out of the classics range. There are quite a few bright spots, but nothing that made me say, “I want to watch this again right now!” Good? Absolutely. Memorable? Meh…
Pace: 10
A quick adventure that moves at a solid clip. I was never bored at any point. In fact, I had to pee extremely bad at one point and was pissed (pun intended) I had to get up. Not surprising, I missed a pretty important part of the movie. Damn you, Alamo Drafthouse, for having bathrooms so far away! What I’m saying is, the story’s flow was extremely smooth.
Plot: 2
The story is so weak it’s maddening at times. I swear, if it wasn’t such an insanely fun movie to watch, I wouldn’t have scored it nearly as high. I say maddening because the first film had so many layers to it while this one seems content on being mediocre in story.
Resolution: 10
Fun ending with a great payoff. If you’re a fan of the original, make sure not to leave right away as the credits are coming up. Cracked me up for sure!
Overall: 80
Despite a plot as strong as Jello, Zombieland: Double Tap will entertain you if you allow yourself a suspension of disbelief. The fun characters and consistent action are enough to carry the movie as a whole. Not as good as the first, but certainly not the first sequel to suffer from that issue. I recommend!
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 8
Cinematography/Visuals: 7
Conflict: 10
Between the group’s personal issues and loads beyond loads of zombies, the movie definitely isn’t short of conflict. The film wins ultimately with the originality and variety of the zombie kills. The action is fun and, although lighthearted at times, it keeps you engaged in the movie.
Entertainment Value: 8
There was some implausibility here that made it a challenge at times to enjoy the movie. I also felt like the movie spent more time than needed trying to “chase a ghost” rather than just stand out and be its own thing. In spite of those shortcomings, man was this movie fun to watch!
Memorability: 5
Its been-there-done-that feel keeps this movie out of the classics range. There are quite a few bright spots, but nothing that made me say, “I want to watch this again right now!” Good? Absolutely. Memorable? Meh…
Pace: 10
A quick adventure that moves at a solid clip. I was never bored at any point. In fact, I had to pee extremely bad at one point and was pissed (pun intended) I had to get up. Not surprising, I missed a pretty important part of the movie. Damn you, Alamo Drafthouse, for having bathrooms so far away! What I’m saying is, the story’s flow was extremely smooth.
Plot: 2
The story is so weak it’s maddening at times. I swear, if it wasn’t such an insanely fun movie to watch, I wouldn’t have scored it nearly as high. I say maddening because the first film had so many layers to it while this one seems content on being mediocre in story.
Resolution: 10
Fun ending with a great payoff. If you’re a fan of the original, make sure not to leave right away as the credits are coming up. Cracked me up for sure!
Overall: 80
Despite a plot as strong as Jello, Zombieland: Double Tap will entertain you if you allow yourself a suspension of disbelief. The fun characters and consistent action are enough to carry the movie as a whole. Not as good as the first, but certainly not the first sequel to suffer from that issue. I recommend!
Alanatomy: The Inside Story
7.0
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If you loved Alan's first memoir - Look Who It Is! - then this follow-up, Alanatomy, will take you...
Learning iOS Penetration Testing
Book
Secure your iOS applications and uncover hidden vulnerabilities by conducting penetration tests...