Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2047 KP) rated Spy School Secret Service (Spy School, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This premise sets us off on another wonderful wild ride into the world of espionage. Oh, the fact that Ben is only twelve-years-old might be unrealistic, but it is so much fun and author Stuart Gibbs makes it work here. There are lots of twists leading up to the wonderful climax. The characters are good, although they could be a little stronger. That’s probably just the adult in me talking, however because it certainly wasn’t on my mind when I was busy turning pages. The book also packs a fair number of laughs that caught me off guard and truly made me laugh out loud. Kids of all ages will love this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-spy-school-secret-service.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
David McK (3162 KP) rated Casino Royale Vintage 007 in Books
Jan 30, 2019
And that's the crux of this book: British (not-so) secret Agent James Bond is chosen to go undercover to bankrupt Le Chiffre in gambling at the Casino Royale of the title.
THis Bond is also quite 'hard', more akin to the Bond of the Dalton or Craig era of the films than to that of (say) the Moore era or - my favourite - the Brosnan era. As the first novel in the series, this also highlights to Bond just how cold the spy game an be, with the inclusion of Vesper Lynd: one of only two female's in his (literary) life who have such an impact on him.
While the prose does flow well enough, and the novel is short enough not to out-stay it's welcome, it none-the-less failed to ignite any desire in me to hunt down any other of Ian Fleming's Bond novels: I'm not going to avoid them (or say no if I come across them), but neither I am going to actively hunt them out.
lurkykitty (3 KP) rated Woven in Moonlight in Books
Mar 25, 2020
Gareth von Kallenbach (962 KP) rated American Ultra (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
That isn’t to say the film is bad. I went in with low expectations and enjoyed myself. It has some chuckles but they are few and far between. Kristen Stewart seems right at home with her performance of Eisenberg’s girlfriend who is caught up in the ride and helps him along the way. While Jesse Eisenberg and Topher Grace are not menacing and their action sequences seem stiff and awkward. However this film makes it clear that it doesn’t take itself seriously and thus if you just go along with the ride you may enjoy it.
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