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AmyBee (4 KP) rated We Need to Talk About Kevin in Books
Sep 5, 2018
WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!!! ALSO, THIS REVIEW IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION SO IF PARTS DON'T MAKE SENSE, WORRY NOT, I'LL BE BACK TO FINISH IT LATER!
I quite liked this psychological family/crime drama although I did think it dragged on quite a bit with a LOT of unnecessary information. I understand that we are meant to be inside Eva's head, experiencing and feeling everything that she does/did but there is still a hell of a lot in there that could easily have been omitted with no harm to the rest of the story. On the other hand, this approach helps if we want to read the story like a 'stream of consciousness' style of narrative.
That said, it was still enjoyable if a little tedious at times due to my above point and I absolutely was not prepared for the ending!
Several people asked on Quora whether the younger sister harmed herself with the cleaning fluid on purpose, which made it very clear to me that some readers have fundamentally misunderstood the entire story, and this makes me wonder if they have a different view altogether on the ending - who do they see as being responsible for the murders? Kevin? Kevin's mother? Or, a combination of the actions of each character and toxic social/familial environments which ignored and subsequently exacerbated the poor mental health of several characters, encouraged cycles of abuse, revenge and retaliation. My guess is that they entirely and wrongly blame Kevin.
Shriver has written this novel very cleverly, as when we think about each character's transgressions out of context, we all know what is wrong and who is responsible; however this is written in such a way that it encourages the reader to pick a character to blame, providing arguments for and against each one along the way. In real life, this would never happen, as we do not get this kind of depth of insight into the lives of mass murderers. We simply blame the killer first and foremost, maybe looking briefly in disdain at his neglectful family.
In this novel, it isn't as easy to simply blame Kevin. He may be the killer, but there are so many more mitigating factors to consider.
His mother's narcissism makes her unable to see or accept her role in the actions of her very sick son. She sees him as "bad" and that's just not true. Even worse is that she treats him as though he is just bad rather than extremely ill.
I do wonder also, if the author got any backlash for writing this on the back of all the school shootings there has been in the US since the 1990's? Did people think this was an opportunistic move in the same way that they lambasted Emma whats-her-name for writing ROOM after the Josef Fritzl scandal?
I quite liked this psychological family/crime drama although I did think it dragged on quite a bit with a LOT of unnecessary information. I understand that we are meant to be inside Eva's head, experiencing and feeling everything that she does/did but there is still a hell of a lot in there that could easily have been omitted with no harm to the rest of the story. On the other hand, this approach helps if we want to read the story like a 'stream of consciousness' style of narrative.
That said, it was still enjoyable if a little tedious at times due to my above point and I absolutely was not prepared for the ending!
Several people asked on Quora whether the younger sister harmed herself with the cleaning fluid on purpose, which made it very clear to me that some readers have fundamentally misunderstood the entire story, and this makes me wonder if they have a different view altogether on the ending - who do they see as being responsible for the murders? Kevin? Kevin's mother? Or, a combination of the actions of each character and toxic social/familial environments which ignored and subsequently exacerbated the poor mental health of several characters, encouraged cycles of abuse, revenge and retaliation. My guess is that they entirely and wrongly blame Kevin.
Shriver has written this novel very cleverly, as when we think about each character's transgressions out of context, we all know what is wrong and who is responsible; however this is written in such a way that it encourages the reader to pick a character to blame, providing arguments for and against each one along the way. In real life, this would never happen, as we do not get this kind of depth of insight into the lives of mass murderers. We simply blame the killer first and foremost, maybe looking briefly in disdain at his neglectful family.
In this novel, it isn't as easy to simply blame Kevin. He may be the killer, but there are so many more mitigating factors to consider.
His mother's narcissism makes her unable to see or accept her role in the actions of her very sick son. She sees him as "bad" and that's just not true. Even worse is that she treats him as though he is just bad rather than extremely ill.
I do wonder also, if the author got any backlash for writing this on the back of all the school shootings there has been in the US since the 1990's? Did people think this was an opportunistic move in the same way that they lambasted Emma whats-her-name for writing ROOM after the Josef Fritzl scandal?
Darren (1599 KP) rated Rec 3: Genesis (2012) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Story: We start by seeing friends and family coming together for the wedding of our two leads Clara and Koldo. The wedding goes perfectly but as they after party continues one of the guests starts coming off sick and the quarantine team turn up. One an infected guest starts to spread the virus all hell lets loose and we have to follow our groom and a few friends as they try to find safety and watch how he has to find his bride. All this while the bride tries to escape but refuses to leave without her groom.
With the first two in the series being set in the same building it is nice to see something different and with the wedding we get a one night chaos idea. It has the basic escape from the zombie like creatures that we have seen before with the self-sacrifice but lacks the unique kills. It ends up turning into a romantic escape as the two want to find each other and end up getting all their friends and family killed. It is very basic but does what you ask it too. (6/10)
Actor Review
Leticia Dolera: Clara bride who escapes with a priest and a few friends but once she releases her groom is not out she wants to go back and armed with chainsaw she goes back for him. Leticia gives a good performance. (7/10)
Diego Martin: Koldo groom who escapes and tries to save the people he is with before going back in his armour to save his bride. Diego gives a good performance. (7/10)
Support Cast: Friends and family back up the support cast and end up becoming victims while our heroes try to escape.
Director Review: Paco Plaza – Paco makes a solid bloody zombie film that has some good kills but lacks what made the first one special. (5/10)
Horror: Never really reaches the levels of the first ones. (3/10)
Settings: Fresh setting for the series works because it shows how one of the greatest moments of a couple’s life could turn into the biggest nightmare in a matter of moments. (8/10)
Special Effects: Great effects used for the kills and zombies images. (9/10)
Suggestion: This is one for the horror fans to try, it is bloodier that the first too but lacks the suspense they had. (Try It)
Best Part: Chainsaw time
Worst Part: No suspense
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: There is a fourth in the series.
Opening Credits Rating: We get to see photos of the two leads as they grow up until they are about to get married. (7/10)
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Tagline: You may now kiss the bride
Overall: That moment when zombies crash your wedding
https://moviesreview101.com/2014/12/05/rec-3-genesis-2012/
With the first two in the series being set in the same building it is nice to see something different and with the wedding we get a one night chaos idea. It has the basic escape from the zombie like creatures that we have seen before with the self-sacrifice but lacks the unique kills. It ends up turning into a romantic escape as the two want to find each other and end up getting all their friends and family killed. It is very basic but does what you ask it too. (6/10)
Actor Review
Leticia Dolera: Clara bride who escapes with a priest and a few friends but once she releases her groom is not out she wants to go back and armed with chainsaw she goes back for him. Leticia gives a good performance. (7/10)
Diego Martin: Koldo groom who escapes and tries to save the people he is with before going back in his armour to save his bride. Diego gives a good performance. (7/10)
Support Cast: Friends and family back up the support cast and end up becoming victims while our heroes try to escape.
Director Review: Paco Plaza – Paco makes a solid bloody zombie film that has some good kills but lacks what made the first one special. (5/10)
Horror: Never really reaches the levels of the first ones. (3/10)
Settings: Fresh setting for the series works because it shows how one of the greatest moments of a couple’s life could turn into the biggest nightmare in a matter of moments. (8/10)
Special Effects: Great effects used for the kills and zombies images. (9/10)
Suggestion: This is one for the horror fans to try, it is bloodier that the first too but lacks the suspense they had. (Try It)
Best Part: Chainsaw time
Worst Part: No suspense
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: There is a fourth in the series.
Opening Credits Rating: We get to see photos of the two leads as they grow up until they are about to get married. (7/10)
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Tagline: You may now kiss the bride
Overall: That moment when zombies crash your wedding
https://moviesreview101.com/2014/12/05/rec-3-genesis-2012/
Leigh J (71 KP) rated A Serbian Film (2010) in Movies
Nov 8, 2019
Be Prepared to Cry...
Contains spoilers, click to show
Milos is a successful Porn Star who is now retired with a small Family of a Wife and little Boy. As with any Family, they have everyday expenses that are soon racking up and eating into what little savings they have left. In need of cash, Milos meets up with an old friend and Co-Worker, who tells him about a new Director in the Industry who wants to work with Milos. Milos of course seizes this opportunity, and goes to meet with the Director in question, Vukmir.
Vukmir, it turns out, is eccentric to say the least, and offers Milos an amount that would set his Family up financially for the rest of their lives... on the condition that Milos comes, has sex with whomever (or whatever) and then leaves. Milos signs, thinking "how bad can it be?!"... yeah, BAD idea. His first job with Vukmir turns out to be in an abandoned Orphanage, recieving Oral Sex from a Woman, whilst he is forced to watch a young girl eating a Lolly on multiple screens. Distressed and wierded out by his first job, Milos confronts Vukmir about what type of Movies he's actually doing... to which Vukmir shows him an abhorrent "Movie" that leaves Milos understandably sick to his stomach, and extremely distressed that he has entered into work with this type of person. Milos decides to try and leave the business again, disgusted by what he's seen, but Vukmir hasn't finished with Milos, or his Family, yet. And what he has in mind for Milos to do next is going to possibly destroy Milos and his Family forever...
I'd just like to make a point before I go on that A Serbian Film is a Drama, and is not intended to be a Horror at all. It's regularly dumped into the Horror genre, and there are definitely some scenes us Horror fans can appreciate, but I believe this Movie really is a Drama and should be watched as such. I personally liked Milos and his little Family, and felt incredibly saddened that this was happening to them. The end made me ugly cry, it's an extremely tragic Movie.
Ignore all the hype around ASF, and just watch it for the tense, shocking, heartbreaking Drama that is truly is. The scenes that are horrible are put across as such, and are put across to be the vile and cruel situations that they are (there's a lot of hype around these scenes... normally from people who've never even seen the Movie) and the plot speaks volumes about the politics in Serbia, how the poor are treated and what lengths people will go to to provide for themselves and/or their families. You've been warned, but give it a watch. It's the Drama to end all Dramas.
Vukmir, it turns out, is eccentric to say the least, and offers Milos an amount that would set his Family up financially for the rest of their lives... on the condition that Milos comes, has sex with whomever (or whatever) and then leaves. Milos signs, thinking "how bad can it be?!"... yeah, BAD idea. His first job with Vukmir turns out to be in an abandoned Orphanage, recieving Oral Sex from a Woman, whilst he is forced to watch a young girl eating a Lolly on multiple screens. Distressed and wierded out by his first job, Milos confronts Vukmir about what type of Movies he's actually doing... to which Vukmir shows him an abhorrent "Movie" that leaves Milos understandably sick to his stomach, and extremely distressed that he has entered into work with this type of person. Milos decides to try and leave the business again, disgusted by what he's seen, but Vukmir hasn't finished with Milos, or his Family, yet. And what he has in mind for Milos to do next is going to possibly destroy Milos and his Family forever...
I'd just like to make a point before I go on that A Serbian Film is a Drama, and is not intended to be a Horror at all. It's regularly dumped into the Horror genre, and there are definitely some scenes us Horror fans can appreciate, but I believe this Movie really is a Drama and should be watched as such. I personally liked Milos and his little Family, and felt incredibly saddened that this was happening to them. The end made me ugly cry, it's an extremely tragic Movie.
Ignore all the hype around ASF, and just watch it for the tense, shocking, heartbreaking Drama that is truly is. The scenes that are horrible are put across as such, and are put across to be the vile and cruel situations that they are (there's a lot of hype around these scenes... normally from people who've never even seen the Movie) and the plot speaks volumes about the politics in Serbia, how the poor are treated and what lengths people will go to to provide for themselves and/or their families. You've been warned, but give it a watch. It's the Drama to end all Dramas.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Assured Destruction (Assured Destruction #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
Oh hey! Another book has been knocked off my kindle library. How very relevant. Sarcasm intended there.
<b>ATTENTION: BIRDS HAVE INVADED BOOKWYRMING THOUGHTS. THE BIRDIE APOCALYPSE IS NEAR. ~Sincerely, You Have Been Birdified</b>
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iiTRgOpfhJM/U2qVoO_yHnI/AAAAAAAADO0/yjZFuon1rqc/s1600/th.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="180">
Shoo. *kicks the bird out* I have made another Twitter account. It's called TopSecretSophia. If you believed that was a true account made by me – if it even exists, you obviously got fooled. I should warn of a few things that will be different in this review:
~ No Tweet goes over 140 characters. I've checked through Tweetdeck.
~ There will be text lingo. If there are any... they'll be in caps. Usually. I have a habit with it to distinguish it unless I'm on my Kindle. :p
<b>Tweet #1</b>
Janus (MC) works at a warehouse destroying hard drives for a living. Some she pieces together into this place called the Shadownet.
<b>Tweet #2</b>
AD1 actually links to websites/twitters of people on Shadownet, who are like Alter Egos. It's majorly cool IMHO. Usually it doesn't happen.
<b>Tweet #3</b>
Would love to be Janus for a day! She seems to be really different from other heroines you see in novels and does things BEHIND the screen.
<b>Tweet #4</b>
Early in the novel I got confused whether the Twitters are doing it automatically, which would be REALLY amazing, or Janus is doing it.
<b>Tweet #5</b>
I have met a new fun word next to hoopla: HULLABALOO. Have you noticed words starting with "H" tends to be more fun? What's with that? O_O
<b>Tweet #6</b>
This will make an interesting movie. Someone PLEASE notify me if Assured Destruction movie tickets go on sale. Or I will haunt you (JK). O_O
<b>Tweet #7</b>
Why can I never say the right thing? ~ Janus | That tends to be my case... A LOT. #TongueTied
<b>Tweet #8</b> (Quote)
Google is sometimes closer to Hollywood than to the realities of a true computer forensics team.
<b>Tweet #9</b> (Quote)
People are so over dramatic. Really? Are all mail carriers felons then? It’s a wonder any mail makes it to the right place.
<b>Tweet #10</b>
Interesting end... I shall be "stalking" the series. It's a semi-cliffhanger. Better than an actual cliffhanger, right???
<b>Verdict in a Tweet</b>
If you're ever on a social media break and Twitter sick, Assured Destruction might save you. However temporary that is, it's a cure. ;)
------------------
Updated Review copy provided by the author for tour review
This review and more can be found over at <a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2014/05/blog-tour-assured-destruction-by-michael-f-stewart-review-and-giveaway.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi5Rk5yLloA/UtliaUbdL3I/AAAAAAAACbE/J27z92_qrYU/s1600/Official+Banner.png" /></a>
<b>ATTENTION: BIRDS HAVE INVADED BOOKWYRMING THOUGHTS. THE BIRDIE APOCALYPSE IS NEAR. ~Sincerely, You Have Been Birdified</b>
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iiTRgOpfhJM/U2qVoO_yHnI/AAAAAAAADO0/yjZFuon1rqc/s1600/th.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="180">
Shoo. *kicks the bird out* I have made another Twitter account. It's called TopSecretSophia. If you believed that was a true account made by me – if it even exists, you obviously got fooled. I should warn of a few things that will be different in this review:
~ No Tweet goes over 140 characters. I've checked through Tweetdeck.
~ There will be text lingo. If there are any... they'll be in caps. Usually. I have a habit with it to distinguish it unless I'm on my Kindle. :p
<b>Tweet #1</b>
Janus (MC) works at a warehouse destroying hard drives for a living. Some she pieces together into this place called the Shadownet.
<b>Tweet #2</b>
AD1 actually links to websites/twitters of people on Shadownet, who are like Alter Egos. It's majorly cool IMHO. Usually it doesn't happen.
<b>Tweet #3</b>
Would love to be Janus for a day! She seems to be really different from other heroines you see in novels and does things BEHIND the screen.
<b>Tweet #4</b>
Early in the novel I got confused whether the Twitters are doing it automatically, which would be REALLY amazing, or Janus is doing it.
<b>Tweet #5</b>
I have met a new fun word next to hoopla: HULLABALOO. Have you noticed words starting with "H" tends to be more fun? What's with that? O_O
<b>Tweet #6</b>
This will make an interesting movie. Someone PLEASE notify me if Assured Destruction movie tickets go on sale. Or I will haunt you (JK). O_O
<b>Tweet #7</b>
Why can I never say the right thing? ~ Janus | That tends to be my case... A LOT. #TongueTied
<b>Tweet #8</b> (Quote)
Google is sometimes closer to Hollywood than to the realities of a true computer forensics team.
<b>Tweet #9</b> (Quote)
People are so over dramatic. Really? Are all mail carriers felons then? It’s a wonder any mail makes it to the right place.
<b>Tweet #10</b>
Interesting end... I shall be "stalking" the series. It's a semi-cliffhanger. Better than an actual cliffhanger, right???
<b>Verdict in a Tweet</b>
If you're ever on a social media break and Twitter sick, Assured Destruction might save you. However temporary that is, it's a cure. ;)
------------------
Updated Review copy provided by the author for tour review
This review and more can be found over at <a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2014/05/blog-tour-assured-destruction-by-michael-f-stewart-review-and-giveaway.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi5Rk5yLloA/UtliaUbdL3I/AAAAAAAACbE/J27z92_qrYU/s1600/Official+Banner.png" /></a>
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Revenant (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The movie The Revenant is a new release starring Leonardo DiCaprio
(playing Hugh Glass), Tom Hardy (playing John Fitzgerald), Will Poulter
(playing Jim Bridger), and Forrest Goodluck (playing Glass’ half Indian
son Hawk). It is directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu and Mark L Smith.
Based on previews and ads I had seen for the film; I was really looking
forward to screening this movie.
I am a huge DiCaprio fan, and I have liked most of the recent roles I
have seen Tom Hardy in as well.
The story is based off of true events and follows a novel by Michael
Punke about an actual 19th-century incident in the days of the Western
fur trade. It involves Indian attacks, animal attacks, the struggle for
survival and vengeance.
The background and scenery in the move are breathtaking. The acting is
believable, mostly. The emotions of the characters definitely come
shining through.
Some of the camera shots that the director chooses to hone in on, are
not to my taste. There are only so many up close and personal tight
angle shots of snot running from someone’s nose in a movie that I really
care to see. One time is plenty. There are far more than one of those
types of shots though, and it sort of turned me off.
One of the major scenes involves a vicious bear attack. It was gruesome
and believable and horrifying… the entire audience gasped and squirmed
in their seats uncomfortably.
As much as I wanted to like the film, it just seemed like it dragged on
and on for me. I kept wondering when it was going to end. I’m not sure
if that was because I didn’t like some of the gorier close up shots, or
some of the bouncy camera footage (it makes me feel sick to my stomach)
or if each individual piece of the story itself was just a bit too long
which just added up throughout the movie, but I feel like I spent more
time wondering whether it was going to be over soon, than really truly
getting into the movie. In many longer movies, I am so into the story
that I don’t even notice the passage of time, but that was definitely
not the case for this film.
DiCaprio did a great job portraying a broken, beaten man trying to
survive and ultimately seeking vengeance upon the man who did him wrong,
and Tom Hardy did a great job portraying a man sucked in by greed, but
the performances couldn’t overcome the amount of time spent on getting
from one pint to the next in the film.
I would personally give this movie 2.5 out of 5 stars, but can see how
others would give it a higher rating. It just didn’t turn out to be my
cup of tea.
(playing Hugh Glass), Tom Hardy (playing John Fitzgerald), Will Poulter
(playing Jim Bridger), and Forrest Goodluck (playing Glass’ half Indian
son Hawk). It is directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu and Mark L Smith.
Based on previews and ads I had seen for the film; I was really looking
forward to screening this movie.
I am a huge DiCaprio fan, and I have liked most of the recent roles I
have seen Tom Hardy in as well.
The story is based off of true events and follows a novel by Michael
Punke about an actual 19th-century incident in the days of the Western
fur trade. It involves Indian attacks, animal attacks, the struggle for
survival and vengeance.
The background and scenery in the move are breathtaking. The acting is
believable, mostly. The emotions of the characters definitely come
shining through.
Some of the camera shots that the director chooses to hone in on, are
not to my taste. There are only so many up close and personal tight
angle shots of snot running from someone’s nose in a movie that I really
care to see. One time is plenty. There are far more than one of those
types of shots though, and it sort of turned me off.
One of the major scenes involves a vicious bear attack. It was gruesome
and believable and horrifying… the entire audience gasped and squirmed
in their seats uncomfortably.
As much as I wanted to like the film, it just seemed like it dragged on
and on for me. I kept wondering when it was going to end. I’m not sure
if that was because I didn’t like some of the gorier close up shots, or
some of the bouncy camera footage (it makes me feel sick to my stomach)
or if each individual piece of the story itself was just a bit too long
which just added up throughout the movie, but I feel like I spent more
time wondering whether it was going to be over soon, than really truly
getting into the movie. In many longer movies, I am so into the story
that I don’t even notice the passage of time, but that was definitely
not the case for this film.
DiCaprio did a great job portraying a broken, beaten man trying to
survive and ultimately seeking vengeance upon the man who did him wrong,
and Tom Hardy did a great job portraying a man sucked in by greed, but
the performances couldn’t overcome the amount of time spent on getting
from one pint to the next in the film.
I would personally give this movie 2.5 out of 5 stars, but can see how
others would give it a higher rating. It just didn’t turn out to be my
cup of tea.
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Rob Zombie recommended Dracula (1958) in Movies (curated)
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