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Wonder Woman (2017)
Wonder Woman (2017)
2017 | Action, Fantasy, War
Strong female characters (3 more)
Love Interest without a "damsel in distress"
Not too dark, and not too happy either
The most cohesive DCEU film to date
Not the most fascinating story (0 more)
A Triumph for Women Everywhere (and the DCEU)
Gal Gadot is perfect. She kicks ass and looks great doing it, dominating every frame she inhabits. Thanks to Patty Jenkin's guiding hand, Gadot's iteration of Wonder Woman does so without becoming yet another one-dimensional sex symbol. The movie itself is the most cohesive and fun segment the DCEU has offered yet. Free of the glowering and overbearing lens Zack Snyder has placed over Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman touches on themes of hope and discovered humanity that were yet to be seen in DC's fledgling movie universe. Even if the story is a little basic, and a little reminiscent of Captain America: The First Avenger, it stands on its own two feet and puts up a good fight for two hours and twenty minutes.
  
Call the Midwife (The Midwife Trilogy #1)
Call the Midwife (The Midwife Trilogy #1)
Jennifer Worth | 2015 | History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
True stories about real life in 1950's (3 more)
Compelling story
A real eye opener
A warts and all insight into pregnancy and life in the 1950's
Not sure I have any bad points to raise (0 more)
A compelling read
This book made me laugh, cry, retch and stayed with me for some time after I finished it.
It gives you a real insight into the gruesome stories and life that the women (and men) of the 1950's endured and how nursing and midwives played a part in that.
I must admit that parts of the book will require a strong stomach to read, but I assume that if you are willing to read about childbirth in this era, then you expect some grueling details.
I did truly enjoy this book, and the authors interpretation of her past. Even if you have not experienced childbirth or pregnancy, I think that you would enjoy this book.
  
Penelope Sutherland is beginning to build her catering company, and landing the job catering the movie her best friend Arlena is starring is in a plum gig indeed. That is until a dead body is found outside the house where the two women live and accidents keep happening to on the set that appear to make Arlena the target. What is going on?

I love movies as well as mysteries, so this combination of the two was right up my alley. It’s a very fun book as well. The pacing was a bit off, but never for very long at a time, and the mystery led up to a great solution. The characters are strong and human, not the over the top characters we can get somethings when movie stars are involved. I’m definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-murder-on-silver-platter-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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ClareR (5726 KP) rated Becoming in Books

Jan 30, 2019  
Becoming
Becoming
Michelle Obama | 2019 | Biography, History & Politics
9
8.9 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Non-fiction isn't usually my 'cup of tea', so I started this with an element of trepidation. I needn't have worried. It's like listening to a more experienced friend telling you what they've done with their life (it would be a long chat, obviously).
From Michelle Obama's poor start in life, via her mother and father's interventions (actually, more her mother's) in her education and the sacrifices they made to give her the best education they could afford, to meeting Barack, getting married, having children, supporting his political life, all the while working herself. And she enjoyed her work. She's a strong woman. She gives an insight to the difficulties for black men and women in daily life, at academic institutions, and in work - especially those which are white dominated (which appears to be the majority).
She just comes across as an extremely likeable person. It was a fascinating book, and I really enjoyed it.
  
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
2019 | Biography, Crime, Thriller
Manages to tell the story without glamorising it
When I heard about this film, and that it wasn't your normal horror type serial killer film, I was intrigued. I like the odd slasher film but feel guilty when I find out they had been inspired by horrific real life crimes.
"Extremely ... " manages to focus on the life and relationships around Bundy without gratuitously showing his crimes. While there was a chance this could be seen as demeaning the horror these young women went through, I think it manages to avoid this ... just.
Efron ticks the boxes for the public side of the psychopath, but the darker side is not explored. Some might see this as suggesting his innocence but I see it as allowing the film to focus on how others perceived him, and show why he got away with it for so long.
The rest of the cast are strong as well.
An enjoyable different take on a horrific man.
  
'You're pulling my leg,' says one character when the events of Almodovar's seventh movie are explained to him: suffice to say this is a frantic screwball farce (with the odd serious moment), involving a voice-over actress, a cell of Shiite terrorists, the least successful viewing of a rental property in Spanish history and a jug of gazpacho soup spiked with tranquilisers. Starts slow, but accelerates rapidly once it gets into its stride.

Almodovar is coming into his stride as a film-maker and his classic style has more or less appeared by this point: the film is full of strong but vulnerable women (the men are feckless or stupid and generally not worth bothering with), the whole thing is bursting with colour and compassion, and the plotting is rather preposterous even before we consider the outrageous coincidences peppering the film. Very entertaining; if not quite one of Almodovar's best movies, then an important step on the way there.