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Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One (2018)
2018 | Sci-Fi
When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.



I might have to take back my negative ramblings about 3D briefly for this one. I was cursing under my breath when I saw the showing go up in the listings. You know my general feelings about the pointless format.

While I'm in no way converted, and out of choice I will always pick a 2D showing, this one was good. But I'm inclined to put that down to the video game nature of much of the film. I would note though that the film was clearer and more crisp to watch. Possibly this is down to the equipment used in the screens, as this was a different one to Tomb Raider which was decidedly fuzzy.

I didn't know anything about this film before going into it. Many people had told me that the book was difficult to read, and potentially that much of it might translate badly to the screen. I'm inclined to think that this film knocked its book out of the park judging by the crowd's reaction.

Most of the time, and compared to many of my friends, I consider myself to be a bit of a nerd. Even so, there were still a lot of references that completely passed me by on this one. It's a perfect film for the nostalgic nerd. At so many points I found myself smiling from memories of something as I saw it on the screen.
  
Yardie (2018)
Yardie (2018)
2018 | Crime
This was the first film in quite some time that has had a trailer that accurately portrayed what you ended up viewing. So often I find I'm confused about something or, surprisingly, end up wondering where a clip from the trailer has actually gone during the film.

Yardie was a good watch. But... I don't really know. I honestly wish I knew what I didn't like about it, perhaps it's more accurate to say that I can't actually say what I was wowed by in it. The music is the one thing that I consistently enjoyed overall.

I'm familiar with the accent, but even I found it difficult to follow at the beginning, and while there's lingo too, it isn't difficult to decipher that in the context of the scenes. As we left the screen a woman behind me said she felt it needed subtitles, to which her boyfriend just laughed. As you go through the film it does get easier to understand, but there's no denying that it will lose some people on the journey. That being said, if they'd sacrificed the authentic accents then it wouldn't have been true to its roots.

I don't know the story it's based on, I would imagine the film is going to be fairly accurate giving the authenticity of everything involved. The ending of the film left me with no real feeling of pleasure considering the lead up to it.

What should you do?

You should see this one. I might not have enjoyed it as much as I was hoping but it's still an interesting story.

Movie thing you wish you could take home

That music.
  
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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated You in Books

Mar 25, 2022  
You
You
Caroline Kepnes | 2014 | Crime, Mystery
8
8.0 (27 Ratings)
Book Rating
I wasn’t sure that I would enjoy this book, knowing that it was about a man stalking a woman. But I decided to give it a try and before I gave the TV series a try.
I was blown away by Caroline Kepnes’s writing, it drew me in from the first page and made me want to keep reading so much that I had to force myself to put it down to sleep.
It is all written from the perspective of Joe Goldberg as he falls in love with Guinevere Beck. The trouble is Guinevere (or Beck as she prefers to be called) doesn’t know who he is and has a boyfriend of her own. Joe begins to stalk Beck and try to learn everything about her by watching her while she is in her apartment.
After a while, Joe and Beck finally go on a date and Joe starts to see his dreams become a reality… while Beck is still hung up on her ex. Joe knows that he needs to do something about him and all of the other people in Beck’s life that take the focus away from him.
This book gives an insight into the delusions that a stalker might have that leads them to start stalking the object of their desire. Whilst I enjoyed reading the book, at times it was quite disturbing to read some of Joe’s thought processes and how he wasn’t wrong, everyone else was.
I will be looking at reading the sequel at some point in the future as I would like to know what else Joe gets up to.
  
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Merissa (11961 KP) rated Knight to Castle Two (Diviner's Game #2) in Books

Feb 12, 2021 (Updated Aug 3, 2023)  
Knight to Castle Two (Diviner's Game #2)
Knight to Castle Two (Diviner's Game #2)
Jennifer Cody | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
KNIGHT TO CASTLE TWO is the second book in the Diviner's Game trilogy and this time we find out just what's going on with human Headsman, Loki, and his step-brother Drakon, Gage.

We met with Loki and Gage in book one, and this one runs on a parallel time, so we see some of the same events but from their eyes instead. This is incredibly hard to do but excellently executed by Jennifer Cody.

Loki and Gage are as close as two people can be, but DO NOT share blood. They are not related in any way, apart from being step-brothers. Their relationship might raise a few eyebrows but is not incestuous in any way. What it is though, is hot as hell! Loki is a leather-wearing, kick-ass, take no s**t Headsman, but Gage is the force in their relationship. I loved seeing what makes both of them tick.

A little bit more of the intrigue is unravelled in this book, but not enough for me! I guess I'll just have to read the third book to find out the whole story. Oh, what a shame. The pacing is just as perfect as the first book, and I also loved seeing Matt and Deejay through someone else's eyes too.

What a fantastic trilogy this is turning out to be. Two down, one to go, and I honestly can't wait. Absolutely recommended!

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 12, 2021
  
Luce (2019)
Luce (2019)
2019 | Drama
Luce was an interesting film to watch, it shows a lot of different relationships and as such it's a very wordy sort of film. I'm not averse to wordy films but they can be a little dry to watch, luckily in this case the main cast are engaging and keep you interested.

Had we not been blessed with such a great performance from Kelvin Harrison Jr as Luce I think this would have failed to make it out of the blocks. Luce becomes something very serious in his hands and the swing in the character left me with an uneasy feeling as I watched. The one frustrating thing I found was that I could sense the insincerity in all of his responses so I was frustrated that it was only really Miss Wilson that picked up on it. I understand that it's a necessary part of the story... but still.

Octavia Spencer didn't disappoint as Harriet Wilson. She got to give a good range as she devolves after going head to head with Luce. I think she probably managed to cover every emotion and handles either end of the spectrum very well.

Tim Roth and Naomi Watts play Luce's adoptive parents. Roth is someone I love on screen but Watts is an unknown entity for me as I've only seen her in 2005's King Kong. There's obviously a certain amount of tension/conflict between the couple but even taking that into consideration I didn't feel there was much of a rapport between them. Even when you take into account the conflict in the film I couldn't quite find it in me to feel anything for the couple, good or bad. Roth as Peter was good and brought across the slightly bitter side of the character well but Watt's Amy didn't seem to have enough emotion behind her. I'd have said that Amy in particular could have stood to be a little grittier, at least a small part of her did need to be a bit of a pushover but combined with her activities in the film the character didn't feel entirely believable.

Luce was enjoyable to watch but looking back I'm less enthusiastic despite the good performances at the front of it. The good sadly didn't outway the average for me and at times it became a little confusing, but it's still a solid film.
From the full review previously posted on: http://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2019/10/luce-movie-review.html
  
Kink (Vixen Bluff #2)
Kink (Vixen Bluff #2)
Catherine Black | 2018 | Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
99 of 250
Kindle
Kink ( Vixen Bluff book 2)
By Catherine Black

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Molly I haven't been with a man in over five years. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking. You're wondering if I have a couple dozen cats or if I have to sweep the cobwebs out before getting a Brazilian. But, ladies, I wanna let you in on a little secret... There is money to be made in what us working girls at White Light Sirens like to call 'non-penetrative fantasies'. That's right. You want me—Molly Wilder—to parade around the room dressed like a giant teddy bear while you touch yourself? Sure. You want me to paint your naked body, turning you into an impressionist's wet dream? I'm on it. But if you even think about sliding between my legs, I'll rip our contract to shreds and kick you out the door so fast your manhood won't have time to soften. Barrett Molly makes a snap judgment about me the second I walk through her studio door, but I'm used to it. Women take one look at this body, this face, and immediately label me. I can see the flashing sign above their heads every time. “Danger! Danger!” If they only knew... Molly thinks I'm a client—just another John—and that's fine. I'm content to play her game because when I break her rules, when I expose her secrets and have her on her knees, vulnerable and afraid, then she'll understand. But until then, I have a job to do, and my first order of business is to make Molly realize I'm a man worth breaking for. Whether she knows it or not, her dry spell is about to come to an end. Make it rain, Miss Wilder. Make it rain.

Haha this was just pure filth! I usually skip most sex scenes in some of these books but if I did that I would have about 50 pages to read! The only difference being this one I didn’t as it was well written! The only reason I haven’t gone with a 4 star as I think it lacked a little depth, I know it’s only a short book it took just over an hour to read I just can’t figure out what was missing. Not sure I’ll ever look at a jar of peanut butter the same way again though 😂.
  
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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) in Movies

Aug 12, 2020 (Updated Aug 12, 2020)  
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
2020 | Action, Adventure, Animation
Packs a Surprising Impact
Based on the bestselling video game, super cool Sonic (Ben Schwartz) has to outsmart the evil Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) who wants him captured. Sonic the Hedgehog was pulled originally to revamp the look of the character. That fact alone had me worried about the viability of the movie. After watching, I have to be honest: I didn’t hate it. Dare I say, I actually kinda liked it.

Acting: 10
Sure Ben Schwartz was pretty solid as Sonic, but this movie would be nothing without the hilarious performance of Jim Carrey. Carrey has always been hit or miss for me, but he hits a homerun in Sonic. His timing is perfect as he is constantly doing things to keep you laughing. The “Left Yourself Open” scene is a constant rewinder in my household. He gives the movie a much needed shine.

Beginning: 6

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 7
Despite the exorbitant amount of time spent on fixing Sonic’s character there is still a bit to be desired in the visuals department. Some of the slow-mo scenes feel stolen from the Quicksilver scenes in the X-Men Franchise. Don’t get me wrong, there are quite a few cool moments, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen some of it before.

Conflict: 10

Entertainment Value: 5
What Pixar manages to do extremely well in moments is make you feel like you’re not watching a movie for kids. For me, that was the primary reason I couldn’t allow myself to fully get into Sonic the Hedgehog. It oozes with cheesiness in spots which takes away from some of the overall appeal. It would be one thing if it embraced the ridiculousness of these moments, but the movie actually expects you take some of these moments seriously.

Memorability: 7
On a positive note, there are quite a few hilarious moments and some of the action scenes are really cool to watch unfold. it definitely leaves an impact even if it’s not a lasting one. I’ve seen worse kids movies and I’ve for sure seen worse video game adaptations.

Pace: 7

Plot: 4

Resolution: 10

Overall: 76
Sonic the Hedgehog is a solid movie to watch when you’re with your kids and you’ve expended your options. It’s not going to win any awards, but it packs heart. Sometimes that’s enough to carry a movie. In the case of Sonic, at the very least it makes it a fun ride.
  
Bound (The Academy #3)
Bound (The Academy #3)
D.D. Larsen | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BOUND is the third book in The Academy series, and we return to Jamie with Wren still unconscious after whatever happened to him in book two. Events are moving forward at a fast pace but now she has to stand on her own two feet, instead of leaning on Wren.

Romance is definitely down the list in this book, apart from hints of the dratted triangle. Maybe I'm cold-hearted but I can't say I was disappointed by what he did at the end! I do feel this side of things was let down in this book though. There was no development with Wren - being as he was out of it for 90% of the book. I would have liked to see how their lives were entwined together. It wasn't for Wren to save the day but it didn't seem like a partnership either.

Now, if you wanted action instead of romance, this is for you. The action is non-stop. Jamie still doesn't know who to trust, and now the Elders are involved too. Their participation just sort of fizzled out though, so unless there are more books planned, you'll never know what went on there. The same for Wren, really. The big bad is revealed at the end, and it was no surprise, although it was to Jamie. But were they the ones to poison Wren? How did that happen? Who did it? These are the questions I am left with unanswered.

Although Jamie's storyline is concluded, it has also been left wide open for stories from others - including Jacob and Cass, Forrest and Chloe - to name just two.

On the whole, this was a slightly different take on Shifters and their history. I loved hearing about Jeanetta. If you like your books heavy on action and less on romance, this could be just the series for you.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

 Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Serpents In The City
Serpents In The City
H.N. Wake | 2019
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this book so much, I also purchased a copy from Amazon.

Mac Ambrose just wants to start living a normal life, but getting away from the CIA is not an easy task. Asked by one of her closest friends to investigate a leaked sex tape of a U.S. Senator, Mac is reluctant to take the case. When she finds something not quite fitting the description of what she was looking for, she regrets her decision to take this case on. The Senator isn't telling the whole truth about this tape and now that Mac is involved, she has to find out why.

Mac Ambrose seems like the kind of woman we all could be friends with. She cares about those who are close to her and those she works with But, don't cross her because you don't want to be on her bad side. The thing I liked most about this boo is how quickly it drew me in It was a hard bookk to put down and a book I would recommend firsts to all of my female friends. Mac Ambrose will make you fell empowered and in fact, she does make another female in the book feel empowered.

There were a few twists and turns in the book that made you wonder what was going to happen next. I would have given the book five stars, but there were a few times when there were new characters introduced that I had to go back to figure out who they were and how they fit into the story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I look forward to see what will happen to Mac next.
  
Active: Workouts that Work for You
Active: Workouts that Work for You
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
If there is one thing you should know about the author, Holly Davidson, is she’s an active little soul, so when I discovered her book, “Active: Workouts that work for you”, that can even be done from a settee, I put down my chocolate bar, picked up this book and shouted ‘take me to it, sister!’ eager to learn more.

Holly is a top personal trainer who likes to take a holistic approach to keeping fit, healthy, and eating well. She believes fitness is within us, and can be done anywhere – at home on your settee, outside, even sitting at your desk.

After the exercises, which are all laid out nicely with colour photos showing the various different positions of each step, comes the chat about diet and nutrition.

I was relieved to hear Holly’s a big believer in just eating healthier. No dieting. No starving yourself, or obscure ingredients. Just delicious healthy food. There’s even a no fuss chocolate brownies recipe, as she admits she too is a chocoholic.

Finally, at the back of the book are some ‘at-a-glance’ workout summaries which list all the exercises that make up each work out and the number of reps and timings, for a quick and easy way to remember the order of each different workout. With tips for planning your routines during a normal week and during a busy week included.

Very well thought out. Great photos. And it smells absolutely good enough to eat! This is going on my top ten of ‘Great smelling books’ which will absolutely delight other booksniffers, I’m sure!

Over all, I enjoyed reading this book and will endeavour to give this a go – after I’ve finished my chocolate bar first.