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Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Rules of Betrayal in Books
Jan 15, 2018
The 1st thing I have to say about this book is I could NOT put it down! This story is packed with nonstop action. Dr. Ransom & his spy wife Emma are intriguing & well rounded characters. I was concerned about not getting the plot as this is a few books into the series, but it was not an issue at all. It was simply an entertaining read. I look forward to reading more books in the series.
Li Hughes (285 KP) rated Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) in Movies
Aug 5, 2017
This is a movie that I re-watch a lot. I don't know quite why, but it's one of my current loves. It's a great mash-up/send up of old-school spy movies, particularly James Bond, and it does it well. Samuel L. Jackson's over-the-top villain Valentine is great and Sophia Boutella's side-kick Gazelle is way more than just a side-kick.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: Mission Berlin
Games
App
Play as the CIA's finest or the KGBs best in the new 3D multiplayer action-based adventure game, The...
Stormbreaker
8.0
Rate It
Book
The first book in the number one bestselling Alex Rider series. In the first book in the number one...
The World at Night
Book
Paris 1940. The civilised, upper-class life of film producer Jean Casson ends with the German...
Kevin Phillipson (10017 KP) rated The Wrecking Crew (1968) in Movies
Aug 17, 2019
Dean Martin (1 more)
Sharon Tate
Always liked the Matt helm spy spoof movies of the sixties with Dean Martin in the lead role the plot maybe abit silly but remember watching them on my portable black and white TV in the eighties but I remember this one more due to the film once upon a time in Hollywood due to Sharon Tate was in the film all I can good harmless fun movie always worth a rewatch when it's on
Commitment (2013)
Movie
The son of a North Korean spy decides to follow in his father's footsteps to protect his little...
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Red Sparrow (2018) in Movies
Mar 3, 2018
A Sexy spy thriller that would have been better without the SEXY
The new Jennifer Lawrence spy thriller RED SPARROW is being advertised as a "sexy" thriller, and if you watch the trailers for it, you would think it was a Jason Bourne/Mission Impossible-type of action thriller - with "sexy" action - and you would be misled and disappointed.
For, RED SPARROW, is a sexy, intelligent, inner-workings, "out-smart-the-other-guy" type of spy thriller in more of the mode of a John LeCarre novel (like TINKER, TAILOR, SOLIDER, SPY). It does have some action and some GRAPHIC torture scenes, but I would not classify it as an action film, so those looking for that will be bored.
RED SPARROW follows the tale of Bolshoi Ballet Prima Ballerina, Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) who, after an accident ends her ballet career, is drawn into the deadly world of International Intelligence by her Uncle and must her her body as well as her mind to survive.
This is billed - and shot - as a "sexy" thriller with "SEXY" being the primary driving force - and that is too bad, for I found the sex and nudity to be gratuitous and didn't really drive the narrative forward. When the film stopped focusing on this aspect and focused on the mystery - and misdirection - at hand and Dominika's ability to outsmart and outhink those around her, that the film really catches it's footing and is quite good.
Unfortunately, you have to sit through the first 1/2 of this film - the training portion - and that is filled with gratuitous sex and sexual conquest and using your sex to disarm the enemy. It's an unfortunate choice that almost took me out of the movie, so when the (really) good second half of the film came about, I was surprised by it.
But if you can get through that, you'll be rewarded by a pretty good, pretty smart, pretty INTELLIGENT thriller.
Letter Grade: B (C for the 1st half, A for the 2nd half)
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
For, RED SPARROW, is a sexy, intelligent, inner-workings, "out-smart-the-other-guy" type of spy thriller in more of the mode of a John LeCarre novel (like TINKER, TAILOR, SOLIDER, SPY). It does have some action and some GRAPHIC torture scenes, but I would not classify it as an action film, so those looking for that will be bored.
RED SPARROW follows the tale of Bolshoi Ballet Prima Ballerina, Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) who, after an accident ends her ballet career, is drawn into the deadly world of International Intelligence by her Uncle and must her her body as well as her mind to survive.
This is billed - and shot - as a "sexy" thriller with "SEXY" being the primary driving force - and that is too bad, for I found the sex and nudity to be gratuitous and didn't really drive the narrative forward. When the film stopped focusing on this aspect and focused on the mystery - and misdirection - at hand and Dominika's ability to outsmart and outhink those around her, that the film really catches it's footing and is quite good.
Unfortunately, you have to sit through the first 1/2 of this film - the training portion - and that is filled with gratuitous sex and sexual conquest and using your sex to disarm the enemy. It's an unfortunate choice that almost took me out of the movie, so when the (really) good second half of the film came about, I was surprised by it.
But if you can get through that, you'll be rewarded by a pretty good, pretty smart, pretty INTELLIGENT thriller.
Letter Grade: B (C for the 1st half, A for the 2nd half)
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018) in Movies
Nov 20, 2018
If you like the leads, you'll like this film
The family was surfing through the "Pay-Per-View" films the other night when we settled on THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME. I knew that this action.comedy came and went pretty quickly this past summer, so I wondered what was wrong with it. But with 2 strong leads in Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon, we decided to give it a try.
And we're glad we did, for THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME is a very fun, very funny action/comedy that delivers the goods with 2 charismatic and very watchable lead actresses.
Kunis stars as Audrey, a waitress who's boyfriend dumps her. Unbeknownst to her, her boyfriend was...any guesses...a spy! And in his things in Audrey's apartment is an item that other spies want to get. Audrey must go on the run with her roommate and best friend, Morgan to escape the "bad guys" and figure out what to do to stay alive while keeping the item safe.
Pretty standard plot set-up, to be sure. But in the hands of 2 comics like Kunis and McKinnon, it rises above average fair. Kunis is winning in her role and is pleasant enough personality to spend 2 hours with. McKinnon, on the other hand, is hilarious. Now, some say that "a little Kate McKinnon goes a long way". I don't agree with that. I find her fascinatingly funny to watch. Ranking right up there with Will Ferrell as a comedian who will go anywhere and do anything for a joke. Joining in on the fun are Jane Curtin and Paul Reiser as the parents of one of the characters. They are a welcome addition to the proceedings.
Writer and Director Susanna Fogel does a nice job of keeping the plot moving and mixes fun action/chase scenes in between the comedy sequences in a formula that works very well, indeed.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed THE SPY WHO DUMPED - and you (and your house guests) will, too.
Letter Grade: B+
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
And we're glad we did, for THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME is a very fun, very funny action/comedy that delivers the goods with 2 charismatic and very watchable lead actresses.
Kunis stars as Audrey, a waitress who's boyfriend dumps her. Unbeknownst to her, her boyfriend was...any guesses...a spy! And in his things in Audrey's apartment is an item that other spies want to get. Audrey must go on the run with her roommate and best friend, Morgan to escape the "bad guys" and figure out what to do to stay alive while keeping the item safe.
Pretty standard plot set-up, to be sure. But in the hands of 2 comics like Kunis and McKinnon, it rises above average fair. Kunis is winning in her role and is pleasant enough personality to spend 2 hours with. McKinnon, on the other hand, is hilarious. Now, some say that "a little Kate McKinnon goes a long way". I don't agree with that. I find her fascinatingly funny to watch. Ranking right up there with Will Ferrell as a comedian who will go anywhere and do anything for a joke. Joining in on the fun are Jane Curtin and Paul Reiser as the parents of one of the characters. They are a welcome addition to the proceedings.
Writer and Director Susanna Fogel does a nice job of keeping the plot moving and mixes fun action/chase scenes in between the comedy sequences in a formula that works very well, indeed.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed THE SPY WHO DUMPED - and you (and your house guests) will, too.
Letter Grade: B+
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
David McK (3372 KP) rated The Devil's Assassin (Jack Lark, #3) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The third full-length Jack Lark novel, this sees the eponymous hero - after his impersonation is uncovered, in the first quarter of the story - becoming involved in the murky world of counter-intelligence (Spy Hunting) when the Persians move against the British territory in Persia.
For some reason, I found Jack to be less of a likable character than before, meaning I never really rooted for him as much as in the previous two ([b: The Scarlet Thief|18752323|The Scarlet Thief (Jack Lark, #1)|Paul Fraser Collard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383577532s/18752323.jpg|24752025] and [b: The Maharajah's General|21307578|The Maharajah's General (Jack Lark, #2)|Paul Fraser Collard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418764237s/21307578.jpg|25081676]), with the identity of the spy also - I felt - telegraphed pretty early on! OK, I may not have seen *why* they did it, however ...
Ending with Jack Lark honourably discharged, and able to - finally - use his own identity again, I also wonder just what the hook for the next novel will be. That's not to say, however, that I won't be reading it!
For some reason, I found Jack to be less of a likable character than before, meaning I never really rooted for him as much as in the previous two ([b: The Scarlet Thief|18752323|The Scarlet Thief (Jack Lark, #1)|Paul Fraser Collard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383577532s/18752323.jpg|24752025] and [b: The Maharajah's General|21307578|The Maharajah's General (Jack Lark, #2)|Paul Fraser Collard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418764237s/21307578.jpg|25081676]), with the identity of the spy also - I felt - telegraphed pretty early on! OK, I may not have seen *why* they did it, however ...
Ending with Jack Lark honourably discharged, and able to - finally - use his own identity again, I also wonder just what the hook for the next novel will be. That's not to say, however, that I won't be reading it!