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Andy K (10823 KP) rated Pet Sematary (2019) in Movies
Nov 30, 2019 (Updated Nov 30, 2019)
I don't read
I don't watch a lot of remakes, especially horror remakes, especially modern horror remakes, but on the advice of a friend, I thought I would give it a try.
If you want to start an argument with me, please say the book is better simply because it is different the film. I double dare you. Books and movies are different mediums, therefore, certain elements may lend themselves to one medium better than the other. Did you really want to see young Beverly Marsh have an orgy with the other It kids right after their conquest of Pennywise (or something like that)? I didn't think so. Sometimes changing things is all right and not automatically bad just because it is different!
OK got that off my chest! 😌
So it was 80-90% the same as the 1989 version? That was all right with me this time around. The acting and use of modern CGI effects were good and fit this film well. The CGI was not overused, so my usual complaint about that is unfounded this time. The major plot change for this film I felt was a great idea and kept the audience confused as to them already thinking they knew what was going to happen during that one particular scene.
The ending was somewhat gruesome, but this is a horror movie after all so I enjoyed it.
If you want to start an argument with me, please say the book is better simply because it is different the film. I double dare you. Books and movies are different mediums, therefore, certain elements may lend themselves to one medium better than the other. Did you really want to see young Beverly Marsh have an orgy with the other It kids right after their conquest of Pennywise (or something like that)? I didn't think so. Sometimes changing things is all right and not automatically bad just because it is different!
OK got that off my chest! 😌
So it was 80-90% the same as the 1989 version? That was all right with me this time around. The acting and use of modern CGI effects were good and fit this film well. The CGI was not overused, so my usual complaint about that is unfounded this time. The major plot change for this film I felt was a great idea and kept the audience confused as to them already thinking they knew what was going to happen during that one particular scene.
The ending was somewhat gruesome, but this is a horror movie after all so I enjoyed it.
Awix (3310 KP) rated A History of Heavy Metal in Books
Jan 7, 2020 (Updated Jan 7, 2020)
Knockabout trot through the history of the genre makes up for in enthusiasm what it lacks in objectivity, probably. Full disclosure: I'm not a huge fan of metal, but I'm always interested in learning new stuff , and you'd think that would make me the ideal audience for this book. However, there's an in-jokeyness here, a level of gushy fannishness, and a way in which the book prioritises jokes over facts, that leads me to suspect it's aimed at the devoted rather than newcomers.
It is good on the origins and early years of the music (or so it seems to me), but as it gets closer to the present day the narrative becomes increasingly fragmented and coloured by the author's personal tastes. Do you really need to try to be funny when writing about a genre featuring artists like Ozzy Osbourne and Lawnmower Deth? The book keeps the one-liners coming regardless. The blokey familiarity of it also feels inappropriate sometimes - subjects are referred to by their first names, even when they are white supremacists and convicted murderers (oh, the metal lifestyle). It's okay, but I didn't learn as much as I hoped and am not even that inspired to listen to more of this music after finishing the book.
(It may be a bit more satisfactory if you just approach it as a comedy book for metal fans. Didn't really make me laugh though.)
It is good on the origins and early years of the music (or so it seems to me), but as it gets closer to the present day the narrative becomes increasingly fragmented and coloured by the author's personal tastes. Do you really need to try to be funny when writing about a genre featuring artists like Ozzy Osbourne and Lawnmower Deth? The book keeps the one-liners coming regardless. The blokey familiarity of it also feels inappropriate sometimes - subjects are referred to by their first names, even when they are white supremacists and convicted murderers (oh, the metal lifestyle). It's okay, but I didn't learn as much as I hoped and am not even that inspired to listen to more of this music after finishing the book.
(It may be a bit more satisfactory if you just approach it as a comedy book for metal fans. Didn't really make me laugh though.)
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The King of Bones and Ashes (Witches of New Orleans #1) in Books
Mar 13, 2020
From the bestselling author of the Witching Savannah series comes the first book in a fascinating trilogy following the quest of a young witch to uncover her family’s terrifying secret history…
Magic is seeping out of the world, leaving the witches who’ve relied on it for countless centuries increasingly hopeless. While some see an inevitable end of their era, others are courting madness—willing to sacrifice former allies, friends, and family to retain the power they covet. While the other witches watch their reality unravel, young Alice Marin is using magic’s waning days to delve into the mystery of numerous disappearances in the occult circles of New Orleans. Alice disappeared once, too—caged in an asylum by blood relatives. Recently freed, she fears her family may be more involved with the growing crisis than she ever dared imagine.
Yet the more she seeks the truth about her family’s troubled history, the more she realizes her already-fragile psyche may be at risk. Discovering the cause of the vanishings, though, could be the only way to escape her mother’s reach while determining the future of all witches.
A decent book and a brilliant take on different magical communities in New Orleans. I really enjoyed the 1st book in the Savannah series so thought I'd try this one to. I enjoyed the book although sometimes I found myself a little lost in so much information,but overall I quite enjoyed it! Would recommend especially to those witch loving readers.
Magic is seeping out of the world, leaving the witches who’ve relied on it for countless centuries increasingly hopeless. While some see an inevitable end of their era, others are courting madness—willing to sacrifice former allies, friends, and family to retain the power they covet. While the other witches watch their reality unravel, young Alice Marin is using magic’s waning days to delve into the mystery of numerous disappearances in the occult circles of New Orleans. Alice disappeared once, too—caged in an asylum by blood relatives. Recently freed, she fears her family may be more involved with the growing crisis than she ever dared imagine.
Yet the more she seeks the truth about her family’s troubled history, the more she realizes her already-fragile psyche may be at risk. Discovering the cause of the vanishings, though, could be the only way to escape her mother’s reach while determining the future of all witches.
A decent book and a brilliant take on different magical communities in New Orleans. I really enjoyed the 1st book in the Savannah series so thought I'd try this one to. I enjoyed the book although sometimes I found myself a little lost in so much information,but overall I quite enjoyed it! Would recommend especially to those witch loving readers.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated McFarland USA (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The new Disney movie, McFarland USA, is based on a true story.
I didn’t recognize any of the actors in it, except Kevin Costner, but that didn’t take anything away from the movie for me.
I really enjoyed the film a lot.
I laughed, I cried, I held my breath, and it had me on the edge of my seat in some parts too.
Costner plays Coach Jim White, who, due to an outburst of temper at his previous position, has had to take on a teaching and assistant coaching job in an out of the way tiny town called McFarland, CA.
He has a slight run in with the head coach, and gets demoted.
Discovering the untapped potential in a handful of the McFarland high school boys, Coach White petitions the principal for permission to start a cross country track team.
The principal gives his consent, and the story unfolds.
The kids help the Coach on his ‘life journey’ as much as he helps them.
He helps them realize their potential, and teaches them how to dream big and never give up, and they teach him about the importance of community, that ‘bigger’ isn’t always ‘better’, and that sometimes having the heart and desire to do something means more than a fat paycheck.
I wouldn’t bring very young kids to this movie, but children from maybe 9 and up should appreciate and enjoy it.
I would give this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars.
I didn’t recognize any of the actors in it, except Kevin Costner, but that didn’t take anything away from the movie for me.
I really enjoyed the film a lot.
I laughed, I cried, I held my breath, and it had me on the edge of my seat in some parts too.
Costner plays Coach Jim White, who, due to an outburst of temper at his previous position, has had to take on a teaching and assistant coaching job in an out of the way tiny town called McFarland, CA.
He has a slight run in with the head coach, and gets demoted.
Discovering the untapped potential in a handful of the McFarland high school boys, Coach White petitions the principal for permission to start a cross country track team.
The principal gives his consent, and the story unfolds.
The kids help the Coach on his ‘life journey’ as much as he helps them.
He helps them realize their potential, and teaches them how to dream big and never give up, and they teach him about the importance of community, that ‘bigger’ isn’t always ‘better’, and that sometimes having the heart and desire to do something means more than a fat paycheck.
I wouldn’t bring very young kids to this movie, but children from maybe 9 and up should appreciate and enjoy it.
I would give this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Cake (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The movie ‘Cake’ starring Jennifer Anniston as Claire, who is an accident survivor struggling with chronic pain and emotional pain was really hard to watch.
It was very slow in the beginning and I felt like it dragged on and was taking driver to ‘get anywhere’.
Anniston, in my opinion, completely captured what the struggle of many people with chronic pain, emotional pain, and dependence on pharmaceuticals can look like. I found myself thinking to myself, ‘wow, she looks and moves and acts just like a friend that I have that gas chronic pain’.
I’ve never seen Anniston look so haggard and ‘un-put-together’, but it certainly lent credence to the role.
Anniston is tended to by her housekeeper Silvana (Adriana Barraza) who tries her best to keep Claire on track. I think she did a really good job of portraying the frustrations of trying to help someone who won’t help themselves and seems to not want to help themselves sometimes.
Parts of the movie were physically difficult for me to watch, and I did spend most of the last half of the movie in tears.
I don’t think its a movie that everyone would enjoy seeing because it can be slow, and very emotionally taxing, but its a good portrayal of a person with chronic pain and how it affects them and those around them and the struggles they face daily.
I would give this movie
It was very slow in the beginning and I felt like it dragged on and was taking driver to ‘get anywhere’.
Anniston, in my opinion, completely captured what the struggle of many people with chronic pain, emotional pain, and dependence on pharmaceuticals can look like. I found myself thinking to myself, ‘wow, she looks and moves and acts just like a friend that I have that gas chronic pain’.
I’ve never seen Anniston look so haggard and ‘un-put-together’, but it certainly lent credence to the role.
Anniston is tended to by her housekeeper Silvana (Adriana Barraza) who tries her best to keep Claire on track. I think she did a really good job of portraying the frustrations of trying to help someone who won’t help themselves and seems to not want to help themselves sometimes.
Parts of the movie were physically difficult for me to watch, and I did spend most of the last half of the movie in tears.
I don’t think its a movie that everyone would enjoy seeing because it can be slow, and very emotionally taxing, but its a good portrayal of a person with chronic pain and how it affects them and those around them and the struggles they face daily.
I would give this movie
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Erika (17789 KP) Nov 30, 2019
Andy K (10823 KP) Nov 30, 2019