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Dare to Remember: New Psychological Crime Drama
Book
Reeling from a brutal attack that leaves her best friend dead and her badly injured, Lisa Fulbrook...
Prophecy (Prophecy #1)
8.0
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A nightmare of galactic proportions... One normal day turns into horror when Earth is attacked....
Science_Fiction Romance
Syren (Septimus Heap #5)
6.0
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In this fifth book in the Magykal series, Septimus ends up on a captivatingly beautiful island, one...
Where We Land
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For college drop-out Lauren Scott, Kalamazoo, Michigan, is the perfect place to lay low and avoid...
New Adult College Romantic Comedy
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021) in Movies
Mar 4, 2022
This movie opens with a "previously on" montage, kind of like a CW show, so that's what we're dealing with here.
The first Escape Room is a relatively tight thriller, with multiple entertaining-as-hell set pieces, all wrapped up in a load of half-baked plot weirdness. This sequel doubles down on both of those things. The puzzle rooms themselves are more extravagant and ambitious, and sometimes, there's some tension on display. I just wish they would lean into the horror more and get gory!
However, the small semblance of plot is needlessly convoluted, and executed so poorly, that it doesn't make much sense, and it just doesn't matter. I wasn't annoyed that it was bullshit, because I just didn't care, as my brain cells slowly fizzled away.
Tournament of Champions is dumb and fun. Pretty forgettable, but a good enough time whilst it's happening.
The first Escape Room is a relatively tight thriller, with multiple entertaining-as-hell set pieces, all wrapped up in a load of half-baked plot weirdness. This sequel doubles down on both of those things. The puzzle rooms themselves are more extravagant and ambitious, and sometimes, there's some tension on display. I just wish they would lean into the horror more and get gory!
However, the small semblance of plot is needlessly convoluted, and executed so poorly, that it doesn't make much sense, and it just doesn't matter. I wasn't annoyed that it was bullshit, because I just didn't care, as my brain cells slowly fizzled away.
Tournament of Champions is dumb and fun. Pretty forgettable, but a good enough time whilst it's happening.
Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated The Maze Runner (2014) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
Kids have one heck of an imagination, and “The Maze Runner” gives off the impression that is exactly where its plot came from. The film is an adaption of the first book in the young adult sci-fi series written by James Dashner.
In the film, the action starts right out of the gate with a boy in a cage being delivered up to a strange place. Upon his arrival, he encounters a group of boys, each of which arrived in the same way. The boys created a sort of primitive community in a beautiful green glade. Each boy is assigned a specific role in order to contribute to their survival. None of them are able to remember where they came from or their life before arriving.
The plot quickly begins to revolve around the boys who have been deemed maze runners. The glade in which the community resides is surrounded, or I should say enclosed, by a gigantic stone maze. The maze runners run through the maze trying to find out more about it in order to eventually escape. But, the maze is unsolvable because it changes shape each day and is too dangerous to stay in overnight.
The main protagonist Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) quickly interjects himself into the maze runner role, against the wishes of the community. But it isn’t long until he proves himself capable of the role when he becomes the first boy to kill what they call a “griever.” His arrival marks the beginning of new hope for the boys’ escape. At this point, one must wonder why none of the boys had ever killed a “griever” before the arrival of Thomas.
The “grievers” are cyborg spiders residing within the maze. They are the main threat keeping the boys confined to the glade, and they come off as an incredibly hokey aspect of the film. However, this may be really enjoyable for fans of corny science fiction.
I have not had a chance to read the series myself, but something tells me details were left out of the film which would have brought the quality of the plot up a level.
Unfortunately, the plot is poorly developed in crucial areas which could have made the film great, had they been further developed. For example, the creators of the strange place and the robotic spiders are not given much depth. The lack of detail in this area is what gives the execution of the plot a make-believe feel. Perhaps this part of the plot is purposefully left open to lay the ground work for the rest of the series to be made into film.
All criticism aside, what makes “The Maze Runner” enjoyable is that it stems from a unique idea. It takes the audience on a new adventure. However, I would hardly say the film aims to please a young adult audience. Its execution seems tailored for tweens. It lacks any real graphic violence, staying well within its PG rating.
I give “Maze Runner” 3 out of 5 stars.
In the film, the action starts right out of the gate with a boy in a cage being delivered up to a strange place. Upon his arrival, he encounters a group of boys, each of which arrived in the same way. The boys created a sort of primitive community in a beautiful green glade. Each boy is assigned a specific role in order to contribute to their survival. None of them are able to remember where they came from or their life before arriving.
The plot quickly begins to revolve around the boys who have been deemed maze runners. The glade in which the community resides is surrounded, or I should say enclosed, by a gigantic stone maze. The maze runners run through the maze trying to find out more about it in order to eventually escape. But, the maze is unsolvable because it changes shape each day and is too dangerous to stay in overnight.
The main protagonist Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) quickly interjects himself into the maze runner role, against the wishes of the community. But it isn’t long until he proves himself capable of the role when he becomes the first boy to kill what they call a “griever.” His arrival marks the beginning of new hope for the boys’ escape. At this point, one must wonder why none of the boys had ever killed a “griever” before the arrival of Thomas.
The “grievers” are cyborg spiders residing within the maze. They are the main threat keeping the boys confined to the glade, and they come off as an incredibly hokey aspect of the film. However, this may be really enjoyable for fans of corny science fiction.
I have not had a chance to read the series myself, but something tells me details were left out of the film which would have brought the quality of the plot up a level.
Unfortunately, the plot is poorly developed in crucial areas which could have made the film great, had they been further developed. For example, the creators of the strange place and the robotic spiders are not given much depth. The lack of detail in this area is what gives the execution of the plot a make-believe feel. Perhaps this part of the plot is purposefully left open to lay the ground work for the rest of the series to be made into film.
All criticism aside, what makes “The Maze Runner” enjoyable is that it stems from a unique idea. It takes the audience on a new adventure. However, I would hardly say the film aims to please a young adult audience. Its execution seems tailored for tweens. It lacks any real graphic violence, staying well within its PG rating.
I give “Maze Runner” 3 out of 5 stars.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Ice Twins in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Angus and Sarah Moorcraft are struggling to keep their marriage in tact after the tragic death of one of their twin daughters. To escape from the memories of the incident and to hopefully push past other issues including alcoholism and infidelity, they move to an isolated lighthouse on an island just off the coast of Scotland, which Angus inherited from his grandmother. It starts promisingly enough for the family, until it becomes apparent that their surviving twin, Kirstie, is very likely Lydia, whom they thought had died. Things begin to spiral further out of control as their daughter appears to be being haunted by her dead sister (whichever one that may be) and both parents begin to go a bit crazy, Sarah especially. Secrets get revealed that threaten to shatter the already fragile balance they're maintaining until finally the truth about the accident comes out. The concept is pretty creepy and the setting is perfect for it. The characters aren't exactly likable, but no one is really as contemptuous as some recent "protagonists" in other novels, which makes it easier to root for them. Once things really get rolling, the twists come out pretty fast and furious and the suspense builds to a somewhat shocking conclusion. Unlikely to be the thriller of the year, but a very entertaining read that is perfect for the Halloween season.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library in Books
Feb 21, 2018
My daughters and I listened to this book on a recent road trip to visit family.
Kyle Keeley loves games. Especially games created by the fabulous Mr Lemoncello. When the new library comes to town and offers 12 lucky essay contest winners a chance to be the first to see it by participating in an overnight event full of food, games, and prizes, Kyle decides he has to be one of the participants. Even better, he discovers that none other than Luigi Lemoncello himself is the mastermind behind the incredible new library.
Once the overnight event is finished, Kyle and the other 11 winning students find themselves still locked in, and invited to participate in one more game. They have to find a way to escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library. With the clues provided in the puzzles and games presented to them, and an entire library at their fingertips, Kyle and his team of friends have to use all of their wits to win the game and find the exit before time runs out.
This was a fun story full of references to books I loved as a kid. My daughter had fun trying to figure out the puzzles as the story went along, and it kept the whole family entertained. We're looking forward to the next installment in this series.
Kyle Keeley loves games. Especially games created by the fabulous Mr Lemoncello. When the new library comes to town and offers 12 lucky essay contest winners a chance to be the first to see it by participating in an overnight event full of food, games, and prizes, Kyle decides he has to be one of the participants. Even better, he discovers that none other than Luigi Lemoncello himself is the mastermind behind the incredible new library.
Once the overnight event is finished, Kyle and the other 11 winning students find themselves still locked in, and invited to participate in one more game. They have to find a way to escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library. With the clues provided in the puzzles and games presented to them, and an entire library at their fingertips, Kyle and his team of friends have to use all of their wits to win the game and find the exit before time runs out.
This was a fun story full of references to books I loved as a kid. My daughter had fun trying to figure out the puzzles as the story went along, and it kept the whole family entertained. We're looking forward to the next installment in this series.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Deep Rising (1998) in Movies
Aug 4, 2019
I love me a creature feature!
A wise-cracking boar captain is hired to bring a band of mercenaries out to sea for an unknown mission. He soon finds out there are several large bombs on board his hull. Meanwhile on a nearby large luxury liner, someone has sabotage's the ships instruments so they are now dead in the water. A beautiful thief is also captured and locked in an inner cabin of the ship.
When the small craft arrives, they notice all the ship's crew and passengers have vanishes do the force of an unknown entity. Once they discover what has happened and what is involved, they have to try and escape the now sinking ship quickly to save themselves.
Treat Williams and Famke Janssen lead the pack here of a very entertaining creature feature in the vein of The Relic, Mimic, Phantoms, The Virus or other films of that era.
Very entertaining as long as you don't think much about it or are able to accept the premise and story as is. The SFX are of the time period. Not great by today's standards or even of those like Jurassic Park which was made years earlier. They are not as bad as The Rock in the Scorpion King (man was that awful)!
When the small craft arrives, they notice all the ship's crew and passengers have vanishes do the force of an unknown entity. Once they discover what has happened and what is involved, they have to try and escape the now sinking ship quickly to save themselves.
Treat Williams and Famke Janssen lead the pack here of a very entertaining creature feature in the vein of The Relic, Mimic, Phantoms, The Virus or other films of that era.
Very entertaining as long as you don't think much about it or are able to accept the premise and story as is. The SFX are of the time period. Not great by today's standards or even of those like Jurassic Park which was made years earlier. They are not as bad as The Rock in the Scorpion King (man was that awful)!
