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BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Lone Star Trail (Texas Trails, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
What happens when two families, who have experienced tragedy and loss, and are from very different backgrounds are thrown together?
It is 1845, the Morgans are Texans through and through. They raise the famous Morgan Horses on their ranch, the Running M Ranch and have fought hard and sacrificed much to be the successful ranchers that they are. The Fleischer family have traveled from Germany and just arrived in Texas. This foreign land has taken much from them in the short time they have been here. Jud Morgan carries bitterness and distrust for the Germans who have begun to overtake "his" Texas. But his eyes are opened to the Lord's love for all people when he accepts the friendship of the Fleischers. Especially when the eldest daughter, Wande, catches his eye. It becomes apparent that the Lord brought these two families together. To work and live side by side to survive the untamed land of the "Lone Star State".
I couldn't put this book down! Depending on the personal events of our family, it usually takes me a little while to complete a book, no matter how interesting it is. But with this book, I couldn't help it. The dishes piled up, the laundry went unwashed and I read every second I could. Darlene Franklin captured my attention from the start. I always enjoy reading about this particular time era, when families are venturing into unknown land to build a new life. And Lone Star Trail did not disappoint. I look forward to reading the rest of the Texas Trails series and continuing the Morgan family adventure!
As part of their Blogger Review program I received a free copy of Lone Star Trail from Moody Publishers. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
It is 1845, the Morgans are Texans through and through. They raise the famous Morgan Horses on their ranch, the Running M Ranch and have fought hard and sacrificed much to be the successful ranchers that they are. The Fleischer family have traveled from Germany and just arrived in Texas. This foreign land has taken much from them in the short time they have been here. Jud Morgan carries bitterness and distrust for the Germans who have begun to overtake "his" Texas. But his eyes are opened to the Lord's love for all people when he accepts the friendship of the Fleischers. Especially when the eldest daughter, Wande, catches his eye. It becomes apparent that the Lord brought these two families together. To work and live side by side to survive the untamed land of the "Lone Star State".
I couldn't put this book down! Depending on the personal events of our family, it usually takes me a little while to complete a book, no matter how interesting it is. But with this book, I couldn't help it. The dishes piled up, the laundry went unwashed and I read every second I could. Darlene Franklin captured my attention from the start. I always enjoy reading about this particular time era, when families are venturing into unknown land to build a new life. And Lone Star Trail did not disappoint. I look forward to reading the rest of the Texas Trails series and continuing the Morgan family adventure!
As part of their Blogger Review program I received a free copy of Lone Star Trail from Moody Publishers. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Michelle (114 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) in Movies
Mar 16, 2018
Loved this film even though all three of the original films were filmed and seen before the first part of the Star Wars series. Mark Hamell, Harrison Ford, The late Carrie Fisher were the best as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Lai she soon should everyone that she was not some helpless princess who let everyone else do things while she sat back and did nothing. Her costumes were amazing, she was right in there fighting along with them to save their homelands/worlds from the Dark Lord Darth Vada. The ariel battles were fantastic. Storm Troopers were meant to be menacing when in fact they were quite funny at times. R2 D2 and 3PO where hilarious and Chewie adorable. The Jedi training was good. The shock about Luke's father I mean who would not be shocked and disgusted at finding out your father is Darth Vada and the girl you love turns out to be your sister.
A Crown of Wishes (The Star-Touched Queen, #2)
8.0
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She is the princess of Bharata—captured by her kingdom’s enemies, a prisoner of war. Now that...
Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020), Volume 1
Greg Pak, In-Hyuk Lee and Raffaele Ienco
6.0
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“JOIN ME, AND TOGETHER, WE CAN RULE THE GALAXY AS FATHER AND SON!” In the shattering climax of...
David McK (3801 KP) rated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) in Movies
Jul 2, 2023
I remember going to see Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014.
I had no clue what to expect, and did wonder how the space-faring sheenanigans would fit into the (then) relatively grounded MCU.
Groot stole to show.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2, in 2017?
That belonged to Yondu "he may be your father, kid, but he certainly wasn't your daddy".
Both of those films largely revolved around Chris Pratt's Star-Lord and Zoe Saldana's Gamora.
Volume 3 - again helmed by James Gunn, after a period where he was in Disney's black book due to some old, now deleted, tweets - moves away from that (although it does form one of the sub-plots, following the events of Endgame), instead focusing more on Bradley Cooper's Rocket Raccoon, exploring his (somewhat harrowing) origins as a disposable experiment by the so-called High Evolutionary.
This, IMO, is quite possibly the best Marvel movie since "No Way Home".
I had no clue what to expect, and did wonder how the space-faring sheenanigans would fit into the (then) relatively grounded MCU.
Groot stole to show.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 2, in 2017?
That belonged to Yondu "he may be your father, kid, but he certainly wasn't your daddy".
Both of those films largely revolved around Chris Pratt's Star-Lord and Zoe Saldana's Gamora.
Volume 3 - again helmed by James Gunn, after a period where he was in Disney's black book due to some old, now deleted, tweets - moves away from that (although it does form one of the sub-plots, following the events of Endgame), instead focusing more on Bradley Cooper's Rocket Raccoon, exploring his (somewhat harrowing) origins as a disposable experiment by the so-called High Evolutionary.
This, IMO, is quite possibly the best Marvel movie since "No Way Home".
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated Thirst of Steel (The Tox Files, #3) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
Sweet Lord Above. Yes, that's the best way to start this off as I reflect back on all that I just read in the final Tox File novel by the brilliant Ronie Kendig. Lord have mercy on my soul, she absolutely took my breath away with this incredibly moving, powerfully suspenseful, amazingly addictive novel. Ronie Kendig is a master of epic proportions when it comes to writing a Christian romantic suspense novel. This book will leave you like me: reflecting and wanting more.
The characters within this book are wonderful. They are created with a real-to-life feel about them, and when I followed their story, I felt every emotion, every action, every message they did. The intensity of the suspense, the splash of the romance, the powerful faith that flows with Kendig's words is beyond captivating. I loved these characters, and I don't want to say goodbye!
Mrs. Kendig has created a final addition to the Tox Files that is worthy of the highest recommendations. Her research, her creativity, the way she knows what to give her fans, is awe-inspiring. I loved every second of this 5 star novel and I can't wait to recommend it to everyone that asks for one of my top reads of the year. Hats off to you, Mrs. Kendig and I can't wait to see what you have in store for you fans. Bring on another fantabulous novel please!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
The characters within this book are wonderful. They are created with a real-to-life feel about them, and when I followed their story, I felt every emotion, every action, every message they did. The intensity of the suspense, the splash of the romance, the powerful faith that flows with Kendig's words is beyond captivating. I loved these characters, and I don't want to say goodbye!
Mrs. Kendig has created a final addition to the Tox Files that is worthy of the highest recommendations. Her research, her creativity, the way she knows what to give her fans, is awe-inspiring. I loved every second of this 5 star novel and I can't wait to recommend it to everyone that asks for one of my top reads of the year. Hats off to you, Mrs. Kendig and I can't wait to see what you have in store for you fans. Bring on another fantabulous novel please!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
The 2nd best star wars film
The Star Wars universe just got a whole lot bigger. When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was announced by Disney a couple of years ago, diehard fans of the sci-fi saga met the news with a huge dose of scepticism.
After all, the prequel trilogy was an unmitigated disaster, doing all it could to destroy not only the greatest villain in the history of film, but the series itself. Then Gareth Edwards was announced as director, whose film credits include the brilliant Monsters and Godzilla, which was critically praised but received a lukewarm reception publically.
THEN Disney announced the film was undergoing “heavy” reshoots to its first cut, reportedly due to executives being unhappy with the finished product’s tone.
So it’s clear that it’s not been plain sailing for Rogue One, but that headline isn’t a misprint – the finished article is just that damn good. But why?
In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
If you cast your minds back to 1977 and the release of A New Hope, Rogue One takes place just before those events, acting as a stop-gap between the ending of Revenge of the Sith and the film that started it all.
A cast that includes Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn and Mads Mikkelsen all gel together incredibly well to form one of the most coherent ensemble groups the galaxy has ever seen. Not since the introduction of Han, Chewie, Luke and Leia has the Star Wars franchise been so superbly kept afloat. Jones in particular is excellent and adds yet another leading lady to a franchise that loves putting women at the forefront, and rightly so.
Elsewhere, the cinematography is sublime. Director Gareth Edwards is renowned for his stunning shot choices and Rogue One is no exception. The intense variety of planets created from photo-realistic CGI and real landscapes adds an immersive quality that it has to be said, was lacking somewhat in The Force Awakens.
Then there is the much publicised return of Lord Vader. The aforementioned villain has been playing heavy on the minds of Star Wars fans for years after he was ridiculously robbed of any street cred at the climax of Revenge of the Sith. Mercifully, Edwards keeps his appearances to but a few, though he does loom heavy throughout the course of the film’s 133 minute running time, and returns to the dark presence he once was – it’s also nice to see James Earl Jones returning to the series.
There are Star Wars easter eggs abound, some only noticeable to diehards, whilst others smack you in the face with their lack of subtlety – though each and every one is placed at a point where the film feels better because of it. I’m not going to mention any by name, but a couple of old faces received cheers from the audience.
Any negatives? Well, Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera fails to make a lasting impact and feels a little too much like executives wanted to shoehorn the Clone Wars television series into the film, and as much as it pains me to say, Michael Giacchino’s bombastic score, whilst brimming with nostalgia, doesn’t hit the right notes 100% of the time – with some musical elements feeling a little out of place with what is occurring on the screen.
Then there’s the dreaded reshoots. Well, they’re not noticeable… unless you’ve been watching the trailers, from which there are numerous scenes that aren’t included in the final cut. That’s a shame, though they’ll feature on the extended edition that will no doubt follow when the film is released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Overall, Rogue One is better than anyone could have hoped. 2016 has been one of the worst years in decades for disappointing blockbusters and as it nears its end, we have one of the best yet. Smartly written with a heartfelt and engaging story, it adds a new and exciting layer to the Star Wars saga, and what’s even more impressive is its ability to make A New Hope a better film because of its existence.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2016/12/16/the-2nd-best-star-wars-film-rogue-one-review/
After all, the prequel trilogy was an unmitigated disaster, doing all it could to destroy not only the greatest villain in the history of film, but the series itself. Then Gareth Edwards was announced as director, whose film credits include the brilliant Monsters and Godzilla, which was critically praised but received a lukewarm reception publically.
THEN Disney announced the film was undergoing “heavy” reshoots to its first cut, reportedly due to executives being unhappy with the finished product’s tone.
So it’s clear that it’s not been plain sailing for Rogue One, but that headline isn’t a misprint – the finished article is just that damn good. But why?
In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
If you cast your minds back to 1977 and the release of A New Hope, Rogue One takes place just before those events, acting as a stop-gap between the ending of Revenge of the Sith and the film that started it all.
A cast that includes Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn and Mads Mikkelsen all gel together incredibly well to form one of the most coherent ensemble groups the galaxy has ever seen. Not since the introduction of Han, Chewie, Luke and Leia has the Star Wars franchise been so superbly kept afloat. Jones in particular is excellent and adds yet another leading lady to a franchise that loves putting women at the forefront, and rightly so.
Elsewhere, the cinematography is sublime. Director Gareth Edwards is renowned for his stunning shot choices and Rogue One is no exception. The intense variety of planets created from photo-realistic CGI and real landscapes adds an immersive quality that it has to be said, was lacking somewhat in The Force Awakens.
Then there is the much publicised return of Lord Vader. The aforementioned villain has been playing heavy on the minds of Star Wars fans for years after he was ridiculously robbed of any street cred at the climax of Revenge of the Sith. Mercifully, Edwards keeps his appearances to but a few, though he does loom heavy throughout the course of the film’s 133 minute running time, and returns to the dark presence he once was – it’s also nice to see James Earl Jones returning to the series.
There are Star Wars easter eggs abound, some only noticeable to diehards, whilst others smack you in the face with their lack of subtlety – though each and every one is placed at a point where the film feels better because of it. I’m not going to mention any by name, but a couple of old faces received cheers from the audience.
Any negatives? Well, Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera fails to make a lasting impact and feels a little too much like executives wanted to shoehorn the Clone Wars television series into the film, and as much as it pains me to say, Michael Giacchino’s bombastic score, whilst brimming with nostalgia, doesn’t hit the right notes 100% of the time – with some musical elements feeling a little out of place with what is occurring on the screen.
Then there’s the dreaded reshoots. Well, they’re not noticeable… unless you’ve been watching the trailers, from which there are numerous scenes that aren’t included in the final cut. That’s a shame, though they’ll feature on the extended edition that will no doubt follow when the film is released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Overall, Rogue One is better than anyone could have hoped. 2016 has been one of the worst years in decades for disappointing blockbusters and as it nears its end, we have one of the best yet. Smartly written with a heartfelt and engaging story, it adds a new and exciting layer to the Star Wars saga, and what’s even more impressive is its ability to make A New Hope a better film because of its existence.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2016/12/16/the-2nd-best-star-wars-film-rogue-one-review/
Paul Palin (3 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) in Movies
Dec 16, 2017
It was Ok I guess
Contains spoilers, click to show
The movie on the whole was pretty decent yet I felt there was something missing. I feel like there was questions left than answers given. I also feel they tried to mimic Empire just s bit too much especially with the opening scenes where the rebels were evacuating the base. I had hoped for a bit more information as to who Lord Snoke really was and as a character he was wasted. I felt Disney tried to Marvel the movie by adding unnecessary humour is Finn banging his head on his healing capsule and walking around half naked with tubes dripping or with Snoke hitting Rey in the head with a floating light sabre just to mention a few. That being said I did enjoy the movie and strongly recommend it to any Star Wars fans out there. The light sabre battle at the end between Kylo and Rey vs The imperial guards was worth the wait and Luke's triumphant return to the force was a spectacle to behold.
The Craggus (360 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) in Movies
Nov 26, 2018 (Updated Nov 26, 2018)
To fall victim to one dark lord may be considered a misfortune. For it to happen on a cyclical basis suggests a fundamental structural flaw in your society. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2018) #Review
There’s a touch of vanity to the new Wizarding World logo which follows the Warner Bros shield at the start of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Gindelwald”, equal in hubris if not in ironic overconfidence to the unveiling (and shuttering) of Universal’s Dark Universe at the star of “The Mummy”. The mission is clear: expand the brand, diminish ‘Harry Potter’. The trouble is, the charm of Harry Potter was in its lead characters and their coming of age journey against the backdrop of a secret wizarding world falling back into a war which had not yet been won. You take those appealing characters away and all you’re left with is a wizarding world which doesn’t hold up to even the most cursory scrutiny in a movie that, for a family-friendly blockbuster, sure has a lot of baby murders in it....
FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusGrindelwald
FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusGrindelwald
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Easily the best Agpeya application on the App Store. (5 Star rating in over 60 different countries) ...