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David McK (3562 KP) rated Flying Colours in Books

Feb 8, 2020

Flying Colours

CS Forester | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Chronologically the seventh (of eleven) of CS Forester's Hornblower series of books, this was actually the third published in the series, and follows on pretty much directly from the ending of 'Ship of the Line', with Hornblower and his men captured by the French after he had to surrender the HMS Sutherland at the end of that previous book.

Unlike the other entries, this one takes place largely on land, with the majority - a good two thirds, say - of the novel dealing with Hornblower's (and Bush, and Brown) captivity, escape from the same and journeys across France before a daring raid that sees him recapture and return home (where he has been presumed dead) with a (now re)captured British vessel.

As such, this is perhaps more character-driven than we have been used to so far, with large swathes of the book concerned with Hornblower himself and his mental state, riven with self-doubt and jealousy, and unsure of how his surrender will be viewed at home: a home where he is both unhappily married and awaiting the birth of his third child (after the death of his previous two to Smallpox).

Kudos

LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Child's Play 2 (1990) in Movies

Aug 4, 2019

Child's Play 2 (1990)

1990 | Horror

7.4

(14 Ratings)

Movie Rating

An enjoyably stupid step down from the first one

Child's Play 2 picks up pretty much where the first is left off, with Chuckys body being recovered and refurbished ready for a re sell.

Of course it doesn't take long for Chucky to escape, and head off on a murder spree to get back to Andy (the same kid from the first one)

This sequel straight up lacks the same quality that the first one boasts. The acting is pretty terrible for the most part (although it nice to see Twin Peaks veteran Grace Zabriskie), and the movie hasn't aged as well as the first.
It still has it's charms though. Chucky is ten times more foul mouthed than before, and the movie wastes little time in setting him loose.

I found it to be fairly boring for the most part, but the whole final act makes up for it.
The final showdown in a Good Guys factory is absolutely ludicrous, but it's part of what makes this series so iconic, and gives the film much needed boost ensuring that it ends on a high note.