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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Alien: Blackout in Video Games
Jun 19, 2019
FoxNext and D3 Go have presented Alien fans a new game for mobile devices entitled Alien: Blackout. When it was first announced; many fans thought it was the Alien Shooter that had been announced earlier in 2018 but that is to come at a later date according to FoxNext.
The game has players play as Amanda Ripley; Daughter of the main character of the “Alien” film series and star of the Alien: Isolation game. Although it is described as not being a sequel to Alien: Isolation, Amanda does briefly mention events from the game as her prior experience with the title creature.
Hidden in an Air Vent; Amanda must direct members of a docked shuttle through seven levels as they attempt to locate items and accomplish tasks needed to escape.
There is of course an Alien on the loose and using Motion Trackers, video cameras, and luck, players have to protect Amanda and the shuttle crew as the movie around the map.
The Alien can come after Amanda who can protect herself by closing a vent. The issue is in doing so she cannot look at the map and cameras, and as such The Alien can vanish anywhere including one of the other tunnels that lead to her. Having to watch two or three tunnels as well as a map can be difficult as players have to rely on sound and luck to assume when the Alien is creeping down a tunnel towards them.
Players also have to make hard choices like allowing the Alien to attack and kill a character so another one can move along toward a goal. Being able to open and close doors also allows Amanda to help fence in the creature but it does not always appear on the cameras and as such players have to guess where it is. Amanda can tell characters to hide or hurry up, but there is also the matter of a ticking clock which requires objectives to be completed before a timer runs out.
The game does offer some fun and challenge but is short as with only seven levels, you can complete the game in under an hour once you get the basics down. The game allows players to pick up from the chapter they last completed and does offer some fun cut scenes to enjoy.
The biggest issue is while affordable at $4.99 fans may want more out of the game as aside from the short play time; this style of game may not be the best use of the Alien franchise. It would make a great segment of a larger game but after guiding Amanda through Alien: Isolation; having her hide in vents and direct others seems to be a step down.
While Alien: Blackout is not the game that fans had hoped for; it does offer some decent entertainment and hopefully will tide players over until the next game in the series is released.
http://sknr.net/2019/01/31/alien-blackout/
The game has players play as Amanda Ripley; Daughter of the main character of the “Alien” film series and star of the Alien: Isolation game. Although it is described as not being a sequel to Alien: Isolation, Amanda does briefly mention events from the game as her prior experience with the title creature.
Hidden in an Air Vent; Amanda must direct members of a docked shuttle through seven levels as they attempt to locate items and accomplish tasks needed to escape.
There is of course an Alien on the loose and using Motion Trackers, video cameras, and luck, players have to protect Amanda and the shuttle crew as the movie around the map.
The Alien can come after Amanda who can protect herself by closing a vent. The issue is in doing so she cannot look at the map and cameras, and as such The Alien can vanish anywhere including one of the other tunnels that lead to her. Having to watch two or three tunnels as well as a map can be difficult as players have to rely on sound and luck to assume when the Alien is creeping down a tunnel towards them.
Players also have to make hard choices like allowing the Alien to attack and kill a character so another one can move along toward a goal. Being able to open and close doors also allows Amanda to help fence in the creature but it does not always appear on the cameras and as such players have to guess where it is. Amanda can tell characters to hide or hurry up, but there is also the matter of a ticking clock which requires objectives to be completed before a timer runs out.
The game does offer some fun and challenge but is short as with only seven levels, you can complete the game in under an hour once you get the basics down. The game allows players to pick up from the chapter they last completed and does offer some fun cut scenes to enjoy.
The biggest issue is while affordable at $4.99 fans may want more out of the game as aside from the short play time; this style of game may not be the best use of the Alien franchise. It would make a great segment of a larger game but after guiding Amanda through Alien: Isolation; having her hide in vents and direct others seems to be a step down.
While Alien: Blackout is not the game that fans had hoped for; it does offer some decent entertainment and hopefully will tide players over until the next game in the series is released.
http://sknr.net/2019/01/31/alien-blackout/
Darren (1599 KP) rated St. Agatha (2018) in Movies
Oct 2, 2019
Characters – Mary is a pregnant young lady with a tragic past which saw her running from her abusive father, she seeks refuge to have her child, which sees her in a convent, only for this to be a worse hell than her previous life, she is stuck with the abusive religious nuns that want her baby, even renaming her Agatha. Mother Superior runs the convent, she has strict rules and expects the women to follow these rules or face punishment, she does however want the children to be born, which means the punishments won’t put the babies at risks, she has women under her control, but when it comes to Mary she must go to new extremes to keep her position of power in place. Catherine is one of the few women that offers Mary any help within the walls, she is also pregnant further along than Mary, meaning the two teaming up would mean more risk for her. We do have other girls that are under different levels of control, while we also have other nuns who are trying to prove their level of strictness to the Mother Superior.
Performances – Sabrina Kern in the leading role is great to watch, she brings the broken figure and shows us just how determined she is to make the most out of her life with her child. Carolyn Hennessy does bring us the strict figure required for her role which will show how capable to she to take control of the scenes through the film. the rest of the cast do a solid job throughout, they each get their moment to shine in the film’s story too.
Story – The story follows a young woman who seeks refuge in a convent to help her have her child only to find the convent is being controlled by nuns that don’t always follow the bible when it comes to helping the young women that come to them for help. With this story we do get to give until the personal life of Mary that does have a tragic past and does show how far she has had to go to fix the problems in her life. The main focus is on the convent which does keep us guessing to what the Mother Superior will do next because they want the babies and can’t risk damaging them, but do need to punish the women. We do get elements of the theme around the idea of cults which does play an important factor in just where the film ends up going. We also have women at different stages of pregnancy which shows us and Mary just what will happen to her if she stays.
Horror – The horror in the film follows the events in the convent, we get a mix of hauntings and torture, which are only making Mary look like she is losing her mind.
Settings – The film is set in the convent, we get to see how the locked doors keep people in and just how they are going to be forcing the woman to follow the rules.
Special Effects – The effects in this film are used to show the injuries which aren’t as graphic as they could have been, though they imply horrific injuries given.
Scene of the Movie – The baby is coming.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – It could have gone a lot darker that is does go.
Final Thoughts – This is a solid enough horror that uses the themes of religious cults to make the horror seem more realistic and shocking.
Overall: Religious Cult 101
Performances – Sabrina Kern in the leading role is great to watch, she brings the broken figure and shows us just how determined she is to make the most out of her life with her child. Carolyn Hennessy does bring us the strict figure required for her role which will show how capable to she to take control of the scenes through the film. the rest of the cast do a solid job throughout, they each get their moment to shine in the film’s story too.
Story – The story follows a young woman who seeks refuge in a convent to help her have her child only to find the convent is being controlled by nuns that don’t always follow the bible when it comes to helping the young women that come to them for help. With this story we do get to give until the personal life of Mary that does have a tragic past and does show how far she has had to go to fix the problems in her life. The main focus is on the convent which does keep us guessing to what the Mother Superior will do next because they want the babies and can’t risk damaging them, but do need to punish the women. We do get elements of the theme around the idea of cults which does play an important factor in just where the film ends up going. We also have women at different stages of pregnancy which shows us and Mary just what will happen to her if she stays.
Horror – The horror in the film follows the events in the convent, we get a mix of hauntings and torture, which are only making Mary look like she is losing her mind.
Settings – The film is set in the convent, we get to see how the locked doors keep people in and just how they are going to be forcing the woman to follow the rules.
Special Effects – The effects in this film are used to show the injuries which aren’t as graphic as they could have been, though they imply horrific injuries given.
Scene of the Movie – The baby is coming.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – It could have gone a lot darker that is does go.
Final Thoughts – This is a solid enough horror that uses the themes of religious cults to make the horror seem more realistic and shocking.
Overall: Religious Cult 101
Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence
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Award-winning filmmaker Tanya Selvaratnam bravely recounts the intimate abuse she suffered from...
ClareR (5911 KP) rated The Doors of Eden in Books
Feb 28, 2022
The Doors of Eden is such a complex book to even start to describe, but here goes:
When Lee and Mal fall through a crack between worlds, we begin to see that there isn’t just one Earth, and they’re not all as ‘civilised’ as the one we inhabit. Lee manages to make it back to our Earth, Mal doesn’t.
Kay Amal Khan is attacked, and Julian Sabreur from MI5 is tasked with investigating. He sees some security camera footage that shows Mal - who is still missing, presumed dead - with a frankly enormous man, leaving Khan’s flat, with the men who were going to hurt him and/ or kidnap him (who knows) badly injured or dead.
Were any or all of these people after Khan’s research? Because the research seems to be proving that there are countless parallel Earths, and the walls between them are coming down - with no good end in sight.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this: creatures from different Earths, all with different values and wished. I mean, who’s to say that this couldn’t really happen (err… lots of scientists?)? It’s all so credibly written. And the interludes between chapters from another book:”Other Edens: Speculative Evolution and Intelligence” by Professor Ruth Emerson explains how these Earths evolved. It gives an explanation of the many characters from the different Earths.
There’s just so much interesting detail in this book. I finished it feeling that I really knew the characters, and that I had an understanding of these other Earths. I had to remind myself that they weren’t real (they’re not real, are they?).
This was an exciting, complex, just really interesting sci-fi adventure, and I took the dog for extra long walks, just so that I could keep listening (well, she was happy!). This isn’t my first Adrian Tchaikovsky book, and I’ll be reading/ listening to more - I haven’t been disappointed yet!
When Lee and Mal fall through a crack between worlds, we begin to see that there isn’t just one Earth, and they’re not all as ‘civilised’ as the one we inhabit. Lee manages to make it back to our Earth, Mal doesn’t.
Kay Amal Khan is attacked, and Julian Sabreur from MI5 is tasked with investigating. He sees some security camera footage that shows Mal - who is still missing, presumed dead - with a frankly enormous man, leaving Khan’s flat, with the men who were going to hurt him and/ or kidnap him (who knows) badly injured or dead.
Were any or all of these people after Khan’s research? Because the research seems to be proving that there are countless parallel Earths, and the walls between them are coming down - with no good end in sight.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this: creatures from different Earths, all with different values and wished. I mean, who’s to say that this couldn’t really happen (err… lots of scientists?)? It’s all so credibly written. And the interludes between chapters from another book:”Other Edens: Speculative Evolution and Intelligence” by Professor Ruth Emerson explains how these Earths evolved. It gives an explanation of the many characters from the different Earths.
There’s just so much interesting detail in this book. I finished it feeling that I really knew the characters, and that I had an understanding of these other Earths. I had to remind myself that they weren’t real (they’re not real, are they?).
This was an exciting, complex, just really interesting sci-fi adventure, and I took the dog for extra long walks, just so that I could keep listening (well, she was happy!). This isn’t my first Adrian Tchaikovsky book, and I’ll be reading/ listening to more - I haven’t been disappointed yet!
Lauren (6 KP) rated Supergirl - Season 2 in TV
Jul 9, 2018 (Updated Jul 9, 2018)
Chyler Leigh!! (4 more)
Floriana Lima
Melissa Benoist
Jeremy Jordan
The addition oaf a Luthor
Character development (2 more)
Network switch
Lovesick Kara took away from the supposed theme
Contains spoilers, click to show
This season had some absolutely great aspects and some that were not so stellar.
I think that the show did an amazing job with Alex's coming out storyline. It was so real and raw. This storyline was looked upon so highly by the LGBTQ community as it seemed to really speak to so many people. It was also a great example of a healthy relationship, with both women being so supportive of one another and helping each other grow. I read an article that praised it as being one of the healthiest on TV. I also think that Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor was a great addition. She brought a bit of conflict and mixed emotions. Can a Luthor get along with a Super? Is she bad or is she good? I think the moral dilemma was actually a nice addition. It was super fun seeing all the guest stars from the old Superman and super hero shows/movies making an appearance. I also liked seeing Superman a bit. I didn't like the prospect of him taking away from her and swooping in to save the day, and was happy that it didn't really seem to happen that way.
Generally speaking I thought that the move to the CW hurt the show, despite opening some doors for things that may not have been included had the show remained on CBS. I noticed a lack of character development in this season. Characters that I thought grew a to last season seemed to stay the same. There was no character growth at all. Characters that were introduced this season didn't seem to have much back story and remained 1 dimensional. There seemed to be a lot of missed opportunity. I also think that Kara falling for and pining after Mon-El so much seemed to take away from the empowerment that she had so much of in the first season. She focused so much on him that it seemed to make her forget so much of what she stood for. Not to mention that he didn't respect her at all and she continued pining after him. She so quickly jumped from loving James to immediately chasing a guy with qualities and from a planet she claimed to hate. It didn't make much sense.
I think that the show did an amazing job with Alex's coming out storyline. It was so real and raw. This storyline was looked upon so highly by the LGBTQ community as it seemed to really speak to so many people. It was also a great example of a healthy relationship, with both women being so supportive of one another and helping each other grow. I read an article that praised it as being one of the healthiest on TV. I also think that Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor was a great addition. She brought a bit of conflict and mixed emotions. Can a Luthor get along with a Super? Is she bad or is she good? I think the moral dilemma was actually a nice addition. It was super fun seeing all the guest stars from the old Superman and super hero shows/movies making an appearance. I also liked seeing Superman a bit. I didn't like the prospect of him taking away from her and swooping in to save the day, and was happy that it didn't really seem to happen that way.
Generally speaking I thought that the move to the CW hurt the show, despite opening some doors for things that may not have been included had the show remained on CBS. I noticed a lack of character development in this season. Characters that I thought grew a to last season seemed to stay the same. There was no character growth at all. Characters that were introduced this season didn't seem to have much back story and remained 1 dimensional. There seemed to be a lot of missed opportunity. I also think that Kara falling for and pining after Mon-El so much seemed to take away from the empowerment that she had so much of in the first season. She focused so much on him that it seemed to make her forget so much of what she stood for. Not to mention that he didn't respect her at all and she continued pining after him. She so quickly jumped from loving James to immediately chasing a guy with qualities and from a planet she claimed to hate. It didn't make much sense.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Rogue: Untouched in Books
May 11, 2021
Great X-person origin story+
Anyone who has seen the first X-men film will be aware of Rogue's backstory to an extent - an unfortunate teenage snog leaving a boy in a coma and resulting in her spending all her time isolated from touching others and spending her allowance on gloves.
In that film, Rogue is played by the wonderful Anna Paquin, who also starred as Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood. It both helped and confused me that in this book Rogue is waiting tables in a smalltown diner, blurring the lines between Rogue and Sookie for me. I kept expecting a vampire to walk through the diner doors. Instead, we are treated to the superb cajun Gambit, my favourite character from the early 90s cartoon series. He helps Rogue (Anna Marie) to discover that she has some mutant powers and how they could be used.
At the same time, Rogue meets two mysterious ladies who are seeking new students for their academy and encourage her to take a chance and give up her waiting career.
Rogue then finds herself embroiled in Gambit's past exploits with a mutant slave trader and has to quickly learn to use her powers (and those of the mutants around her) to escape their capture.
The book flows well, with plenty of character development for Rogue and a satisfying cast of familiar and new (to me at least!) mutants along the way - including one late reveal that I'm sure all readers will see coming a mile off.
While the book never dragged and the pace was great, I did struggle to get through this book as quickly as I had hoped. This is more down to things going on outwith my reading schedule (stupidly listening to 500 albums, marking professional exams and the kids' school holidays). However, while I can't quite put my finger on anything specific, the book didn't quite drag me back in for a sneaky 10 minutes during the day.
I did enjoy this book, as with some of the other Marvel novels issued recently, and would recommend it to anyone looking for something a bit super-hero-y but in a novel.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publishers and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In that film, Rogue is played by the wonderful Anna Paquin, who also starred as Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood. It both helped and confused me that in this book Rogue is waiting tables in a smalltown diner, blurring the lines between Rogue and Sookie for me. I kept expecting a vampire to walk through the diner doors. Instead, we are treated to the superb cajun Gambit, my favourite character from the early 90s cartoon series. He helps Rogue (Anna Marie) to discover that she has some mutant powers and how they could be used.
At the same time, Rogue meets two mysterious ladies who are seeking new students for their academy and encourage her to take a chance and give up her waiting career.
Rogue then finds herself embroiled in Gambit's past exploits with a mutant slave trader and has to quickly learn to use her powers (and those of the mutants around her) to escape their capture.
The book flows well, with plenty of character development for Rogue and a satisfying cast of familiar and new (to me at least!) mutants along the way - including one late reveal that I'm sure all readers will see coming a mile off.
While the book never dragged and the pace was great, I did struggle to get through this book as quickly as I had hoped. This is more down to things going on outwith my reading schedule (stupidly listening to 500 albums, marking professional exams and the kids' school holidays). However, while I can't quite put my finger on anything specific, the book didn't quite drag me back in for a sneaky 10 minutes during the day.
I did enjoy this book, as with some of the other Marvel novels issued recently, and would recommend it to anyone looking for something a bit super-hero-y but in a novel.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publishers and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Develop your Personal Leadership
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Develop your Personal Leadership What if you could open doors to a world of possibilities and...
Lucy Buglass (45 KP) rated Lion (2017) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Upon discovering this short film, I was impressed with how well it had performed. During its first year of distribution, it has won 126 awards at a variety of film festivals which is quite the selling point. Walking in to the film, I didn’t know much about it but the air of mystery made my viewing experience even better. The film is set in an isolated cabin, on a snowy night, which creates the perfect backdrop for a horror tale…
From the very first scene you can tell this cabin is not a happy place to be. Straight away we’re created with sounds of domestic violence, making the viewer feel instantly uncomfortable. The father in the film is repulsive and lives in a squalor, with cigarette butts, leftover pizza and empty cans of beer dotted everywhere. Michael Segal really brought this character to life, showing us that not all villains are supernatural or machete wielding psychopaths. Some evil can be found in the average home, behind closed doors, where violence takes over. Sometimes humans can be more terrifying than anything else.
The way Lion deals with domestic violence, particularly against children, was done incredibly well. It’s not an easy topic to cover but this short makes an impact without going too far and making it gratuitous. Part of what makes this film so good is what you don’t see on screen, and how your imagination runs wild. It has a slow burning narrative that builds up the suspense and finally unleashes the climactic moment with only a few minutes to spare, providing closure and satisfaction for the spectator.
I really liked the use of special effects throughout the film, because they blended in nicely with the rest of the scene and weren’t overdone at any point. Cinematically it hits all the right notes for a horror film through it’s use of low-lighting, tense creeping moments, and an excellent use of music. Jump scares and gore weren’t needed in Lion, because it manages to deliver real horror in a much more subtler, but effective way. The presence of the lion throughout was a good motif to use as well, as they’re synonymous with courage and being a fighter. You’ll see what I mean when you watch it.
Lion is an incredibly important short film that I believe is a must watch, even for those who don’t tend to reach for horrors. The final card at the end reiterates the important message that is present throughout the film, and it really resonated with me. It’s a film with fantasy elements, yet still deep rooted within reality that it makes you want to stand up and take action in any way you can.
https://jumpcutonline.co.uk/lion-short/
From the very first scene you can tell this cabin is not a happy place to be. Straight away we’re created with sounds of domestic violence, making the viewer feel instantly uncomfortable. The father in the film is repulsive and lives in a squalor, with cigarette butts, leftover pizza and empty cans of beer dotted everywhere. Michael Segal really brought this character to life, showing us that not all villains are supernatural or machete wielding psychopaths. Some evil can be found in the average home, behind closed doors, where violence takes over. Sometimes humans can be more terrifying than anything else.
The way Lion deals with domestic violence, particularly against children, was done incredibly well. It’s not an easy topic to cover but this short makes an impact without going too far and making it gratuitous. Part of what makes this film so good is what you don’t see on screen, and how your imagination runs wild. It has a slow burning narrative that builds up the suspense and finally unleashes the climactic moment with only a few minutes to spare, providing closure and satisfaction for the spectator.
I really liked the use of special effects throughout the film, because they blended in nicely with the rest of the scene and weren’t overdone at any point. Cinematically it hits all the right notes for a horror film through it’s use of low-lighting, tense creeping moments, and an excellent use of music. Jump scares and gore weren’t needed in Lion, because it manages to deliver real horror in a much more subtler, but effective way. The presence of the lion throughout was a good motif to use as well, as they’re synonymous with courage and being a fighter. You’ll see what I mean when you watch it.
Lion is an incredibly important short film that I believe is a must watch, even for those who don’t tend to reach for horrors. The final card at the end reiterates the important message that is present throughout the film, and it really resonated with me. It’s a film with fantasy elements, yet still deep rooted within reality that it makes you want to stand up and take action in any way you can.
https://jumpcutonline.co.uk/lion-short/
Jay Shafer's DIY book of backyard sheds & tiny houses: Build your own guest cottage, writing studio, home office, craft workshop, or personal retreat
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This book comes from internationally recognized small living expert Jay Shafer. It contains photos,...
Making Magic
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With Making Magic, expert teacher Briana Saussy invites you to discover a practice of magic that...