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Earthquake Bird (2019)
Earthquake Bird (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Stylish with no substance
Here is yet another disappointing Netflix original. I like Alicia Vikander but sadly even she can’t save this, despite speaking Japanese impressively well. The film looks good and it’s very stylish, with an atmospheric and quite haunting soundtrack. The problem is that the plot is rather dull and even the confused mind of Vikander’s character can’t make it any more interesting. It just comes across as your average thriller with a decent setting, sadly story wise it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. The ending is maybe slightly unpredictable but not entirely surprising either, and overall just a very uninspired film.
  
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)
1970 | Comedy, Drama, Music
5.7 (7 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"Russ Meyer’s magnum opus is a singular, nonstop whirlwind of a movie—and proof positive that the style of a work can also be its substance. Meyer was one of cinema’s most meticulous craftsmen and also one of the most innovative editors of the twentieth century. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a beautiful, visceral movie, and it’s so far ahead of its time that we’re still catching up with it. Nothing here is accidental. This is capital-A Art. Anyone who thinks this movie is “so bad it’s good” has no sense of taste or style and is probably bad in bed."

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Black Christmas (2019)
Black Christmas (2019)
2019 | Horror
I have seen so many films like this that rely on political commentary in an inappropriate way, so I've come up with an outline that I will be filling out as a review for all of them.

Dear Black Christmas, if you are going to use political commentary as your main talking and plot point, it is essential that you use it in a classy and substance filled way. You did not do that, so please fade away into eternity. I especially didn't like the Brett Kavanaugh line, so please get over yourself and make your political commentary make sense. I root for you guys, but you make it very hard.
  
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
All style, too much substance
I'm a big Tarantino fan and I really wanted to like this film, but I'm afraid like The Hateful Eight before it, I just found it far too rambling and long winded.

Don't get me wrong, I get what he was trying to do here with the classic Hollywood era, I just think it has been poorly executed. Instead of going for 'all style, no substance', Tarantino appears to have gone for all style and too much substance. Visually this film looks stunning, the set design and the costumes look amazing. The cast are brilliant, there's some great supporting faces in this and truly marvellous turns from Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. Honestly it's these two that kept my attention for the nearly 3 hour run time. The ideas are good and the dialogue is good, the problem is that there's just way too much of it. Every scene has been dragged out way past the point of enjoyment, and there are so many pointless scenes in this that could easily have been cut out without affecting the barely there plot. He could've at least replaced some of these dragged out scenes with more of a main plot, especially as the only thing interesting about this film was the small bits with the Mansons in it.

I'm starting to wonder if Tarantino is becoming a bit complacent. He's known for his dialogue, but this is just too much. Its worrying when a 3 hour film gets interesting 15 minutes towards the end, which is the only time we see any in depth violence. Had this film been cut by at least an hour, it would've actually been very good. It's just a shame it had to ramble on for so long.

I've marked this higher than I probably should, but only because there is a lot to appreciate in this film and some wonderful performances, it just should've been in a much shorter runtime. I havent seen The Hateful Eight since it was on at the cinema as I can't bear to put myself through it again, and I'm afraid to say it's the same for this.
  
I liked this book, but I have to admit, I did expect something more. For the most part, it's mostly lists of suggested goals - grouped into different types - taken from the old 43things.com website.

There's very little in the way of suggestions on how to actually achieve your goals, or anything of any real substance.

I think the main use of the book comes as a result of the fact that the 43things.com website no longer exists; were it still around, then it would be easy enough to go online and browse for ideas for your own list; as it is, this is a helpful reference to begin your own life list - but really, nothing more than that.
  
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Tracy (238 KP) rated Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol 1: The Crucible in Books

Aug 15, 2018 (Updated Aug 15, 2018)  
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol 1: The Crucible
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol 1: The Crucible
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack | 2016 | Comics & Graphic Novels
10
8.4 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
The over the top Satanic Witch storyline (3 more)
Great plot!
I really liked the art
I have several issues with it (see below) and I still love it too much to give it less than 10 bombs
It needed some spell checking. Several errors in the writing. (3 more)
The Witches (especially Sabrina’s Aunts) lack substance. I hope that will change as the series develops.
These ideas of Satanic Witches being cannibals and murderers and Satan being conjured in the woods is fun at first, but it seems so irresponsible to revert back to the ideas that created Satanic Panic.
The aunts are cannibals. Fine I guess, but why?
It’s like EC Comics had a baby with the Archie Universe