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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 1 in TV
May 28, 2019
A (mostly) enjoyable start to this MCU spin off show
Contains spoilers, click to show
Clark Gregg's Phil Coulson was a fan favourite in the MCU before his untimely demise in Avengers, so it's a pleasure to see him back, heading a SHIELD based spin off show.
The first season, for the first half at least, is pretty average, every week, Coulson and his team come across some kind of comic book threat, and swiftly put an end to said threat, rinse and repeat.
It's when the events of Winter Soldier happen when things really go up a gear.
As soon as the HYDRA plot point from the second Captain America film is put into action, the show turns into a thrilling drama, full of plot turns, good guys turned bad, and pretty solid action for the most part.
The main cast are all extremely likable and in turn, it's easy to become invested in what they do.
Add in some comic book characters here and there (Dethlok was a highlight here) and a cheeky cameo from Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, and you end up with a debut series that is pretty entertaining, even if it does take a while for it to find it's footing.
The first season, for the first half at least, is pretty average, every week, Coulson and his team come across some kind of comic book threat, and swiftly put an end to said threat, rinse and repeat.
It's when the events of Winter Soldier happen when things really go up a gear.
As soon as the HYDRA plot point from the second Captain America film is put into action, the show turns into a thrilling drama, full of plot turns, good guys turned bad, and pretty solid action for the most part.
The main cast are all extremely likable and in turn, it's easy to become invested in what they do.
Add in some comic book characters here and there (Dethlok was a highlight here) and a cheeky cameo from Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, and you end up with a debut series that is pretty entertaining, even if it does take a while for it to find it's footing.
The Fantasy of Reality: Critical Essays on the Real Housewives
Book
With over twenty different casts, multiple spin-off series, and five international locations, The...
David McK (3425 KP) rated The Fate of the Furious (2017) in Movies
Aug 26, 2019
Somebody please tell me, at what point did a movie series about illegal street racing become a large, dumb, action blockbuster?
Because that's what this film is.
Don't get me wrong - I enjoy large, dumb, action block-busters!
Known in the UK as simply Fast and Furious 8, this one sees Dim - for reasons - turning against his former crew, leading to multiple car chases, explosions, fights, gunplay, muscle flexing and good cop/bad cop buddy buddy repartee between several of its core cast - the latter most noticeably between The Rock and Jason Statham, who now have their own spin-off movie - finally culminating in a long (20 minutes?) set piece across the frozen ice as they try to stop a stolen nuclear submarine from escaping to sea.
Because that's what this film is.
Don't get me wrong - I enjoy large, dumb, action block-busters!
Known in the UK as simply Fast and Furious 8, this one sees Dim - for reasons - turning against his former crew, leading to multiple car chases, explosions, fights, gunplay, muscle flexing and good cop/bad cop buddy buddy repartee between several of its core cast - the latter most noticeably between The Rock and Jason Statham, who now have their own spin-off movie - finally culminating in a long (20 minutes?) set piece across the frozen ice as they try to stop a stolen nuclear submarine from escaping to sea.
NieR: Automata
7.8
Rate It
Video Game
Nier: Automata is an action role-playing video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by...
Nier: Automata
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Building Empires(MidKnight Blue #1) in Books
Dec 28, 2017
A Law Enforcement Thrill Ride
This book is a spin off of another series that Sherryl D. Hancock writes but slightly different in that the primary characters are not lesbians. That said you will see some of those characters in this book because all is intertwined in the world Hancock creates.
This is the in depth introduction to Midnight Chevalier. As always Hancock does a fantatstic job creating characters and Midnight does not disappoint as the tough, no nonsense female protagonist. There is more violence in this book but that is indicitive of the life Midnight lives. It is also what you would expect from this character and her motley crew of unlikely heros.
I love everything Hancock writes because she focuses on allowing the character drive the story and her characters are amazingly developed. I have already recommended the MidKnight Blue series to friends who love crime stories and romance and action andjust good writing. Pretty much anyone who likes to read.
This is the in depth introduction to Midnight Chevalier. As always Hancock does a fantatstic job creating characters and Midnight does not disappoint as the tough, no nonsense female protagonist. There is more violence in this book but that is indicitive of the life Midnight lives. It is also what you would expect from this character and her motley crew of unlikely heros.
I love everything Hancock writes because she focuses on allowing the character drive the story and her characters are amazingly developed. I have already recommended the MidKnight Blue series to friends who love crime stories and romance and action andjust good writing. Pretty much anyone who likes to read.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Shattered Spear (The Lost Stars, #4) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Fourth entry in Jack Campbell/John Hemrys spin-off series from 'The Lost Fleet' series (and I've lost count of what entry number this is in total), this is set back in what-used-to-be Syndicate Space, with The Syndicate themselves (as always) coming across as Stalin-era Soviets.
While they do put in an appearance, they're not actually the maion threat in this entry - rather, that is provided in the form of the alien Enigmas who, previous novels have shown, are to blame for the centuries-long war between The Alliance and The Syndicate and who, in this, are pushing into/trying to gain a toe-hold on a planet that falls with Human space.
All of which is a long way of saying: more of the same; more political machinations, space battles (in 'real-time' (as it were), and more ground battles.
A bit of a guilty pleasure, in short.
While they do put in an appearance, they're not actually the maion threat in this entry - rather, that is provided in the form of the alien Enigmas who, previous novels have shown, are to blame for the centuries-long war between The Alliance and The Syndicate and who, in this, are pushing into/trying to gain a toe-hold on a planet that falls with Human space.
All of which is a long way of saying: more of the same; more political machinations, space battles (in 'real-time' (as it were), and more ground battles.
A bit of a guilty pleasure, in short.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Deadpool (2016) in Movies
Aug 15, 2019
An X-Men spin off, of a poorly received character from an earlier X-Men spin off... FOX must have had some major trust in Ryan Reynolds to give Deadpool the green light after the mess of X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
I've been a huge fan of Deadpool comics since as long as I can remember. When I was younger, the 4th wall breaking, the hyper violence, comedy, and self awareness that he is a comic book character, was always something that appealed to me.
So I, like many other Marvel fans, really hated what they did with the character in Origins, and it seems Ryan Reynolds did as well, pitching a rough sequence to FOX which convinced them to give this beloved characters another shot. God bless Ryan Reynolds.
And it paid off in spades. And it's easy to see why - Deadpool is a great movie.
The character himself is near perfect. He looks the part, he sounds the part, and it's great that the studio didn't shy away from an R rating.
The violence in Deadpool is frequent and messy, as is the cursing and crudeness, and the result is hilarious.
The story is told mostly in flashbacks before the big last showdown, and is nicely mapped out, and we're given a hugely likable cast.
Ryan Reynolds is of course , as is T.J. Miller and Morena Baccarin.
I even liked Ed Skrein's villain, Ajax.
Deadpool even manages to sneak in a couple of X-Men with a completely CGI Colossus joining the party, as well as Negasonic Teenage Warhead - the best superhero name ever, and coincidentally the films shining star after Ryan Reynolds - Brianna Hildebrand is a welcome addition to the film, and I genuinely hope that she makes in over to the MCU in the recent Disney Fox merge.
Deadpool is important for a number of reasons - it finally does the character justice. It's also shows that spin off films away from the main X-Men cast can be really decent, and it also shows that R rated superhero films can do the business at the box office.
It's certainly in the top tier of the FOX X-Men series.
I've been a huge fan of Deadpool comics since as long as I can remember. When I was younger, the 4th wall breaking, the hyper violence, comedy, and self awareness that he is a comic book character, was always something that appealed to me.
So I, like many other Marvel fans, really hated what they did with the character in Origins, and it seems Ryan Reynolds did as well, pitching a rough sequence to FOX which convinced them to give this beloved characters another shot. God bless Ryan Reynolds.
And it paid off in spades. And it's easy to see why - Deadpool is a great movie.
The character himself is near perfect. He looks the part, he sounds the part, and it's great that the studio didn't shy away from an R rating.
The violence in Deadpool is frequent and messy, as is the cursing and crudeness, and the result is hilarious.
The story is told mostly in flashbacks before the big last showdown, and is nicely mapped out, and we're given a hugely likable cast.
Ryan Reynolds is of course , as is T.J. Miller and Morena Baccarin.
I even liked Ed Skrein's villain, Ajax.
Deadpool even manages to sneak in a couple of X-Men with a completely CGI Colossus joining the party, as well as Negasonic Teenage Warhead - the best superhero name ever, and coincidentally the films shining star after Ryan Reynolds - Brianna Hildebrand is a welcome addition to the film, and I genuinely hope that she makes in over to the MCU in the recent Disney Fox merge.
Deadpool is important for a number of reasons - it finally does the character justice. It's also shows that spin off films away from the main X-Men cast can be really decent, and it also shows that R rated superhero films can do the business at the box office.
It's certainly in the top tier of the FOX X-Men series.
Game Saver (Game #3)
10.0
Rate It
Book
From the USA Today bestselling author of the Bliss series comes a new spin off series featuring your...
Game Maker (Game, #2)
10.0
Rate It
Book
A new spin off series of interconnected standalones featuring your favorite Bliss series characters...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Balance (Matefinder #3) in Books
Aug 19, 2021
136 of 250
Kindle
Balance ( Matefinder book 3)
By Leia Stone
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Ever since Kai revealed the supernatural race to the humans, riots and chaos have reigned down on Mount Hood. Aurora is going crazy just sitting around and waiting for Layla to show up so that Aurora can finish her task and kill her, bringing peace to her pack. Kai does everything in his power to keep Aurora safe and confined on the heavily guarded mountain. But he should know that no one can really keep Aurora from the things she wants in life. She is determined to find Layla and end this war, forever. But at what cost?
I have enjoyed this series so much! The last book did not disappoint it was full of emotion and strong women! I love the was Leia writes here supernaturals they are just so refreshing. Can’t wait to be reading more from the spin off series excited to see what the next Generation brings!
Kindle
Balance ( Matefinder book 3)
By Leia Stone
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Ever since Kai revealed the supernatural race to the humans, riots and chaos have reigned down on Mount Hood. Aurora is going crazy just sitting around and waiting for Layla to show up so that Aurora can finish her task and kill her, bringing peace to her pack. Kai does everything in his power to keep Aurora safe and confined on the heavily guarded mountain. But he should know that no one can really keep Aurora from the things she wants in life. She is determined to find Layla and end this war, forever. But at what cost?
I have enjoyed this series so much! The last book did not disappoint it was full of emotion and strong women! I love the was Leia writes here supernaturals they are just so refreshing. Can’t wait to be reading more from the spin off series excited to see what the next Generation brings!