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A Long Way Down (2014)
A Long Way Down (2014)
2014 | International, Comedy, Drama
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Story: A Long Way Down starts on New Year’s Eve as disgraced TV celebrity Martin (Brosnan) is planning to kill himself only to get interrupted by the lonely Maureen (Collette), heartbroken Jess (Poots) and cancer stricken JJ (Paul) who are also using the same rooftop to plan their suicide.

All going against the suicide the four make a pact to not kill themselves until at least Valentine’s day and support each other through the six weeks once the tabloids want to make a story of why they were together. The four become good friends exposing their own secrets to why they want to escape their lives.

 

Thoughts on A Long Way Down

 

Characters/Performance – Martin is the disgraced TV talk show host, his small mistake has ruined his career, his family and even finding himself in jail. Now out of jail he wants to kill himself to get away from the headlines. Maureen is a single mother spending everyday looking after her disabled son, not getting any real free time. Jess is the daughter of politician whose sister vanished a few years before, she is a lost soul in the world turning to the drinks and drugs. JJ is an American musician who can’t find his place in the world.

Performance wise, I feel all four of the main actors give brilliant performances, Paul and Poots both show that this could be one of their best of their careers in film, while Brosnan and Collette must have theirs put on their underrated performances of their careers.

Story – The story shows the struggles everyday people can have with depression, it shows that you can get support from people you didn’t even know. I think this film tackles the issues of depression on a brilliant level, and shows just how you can find light in the strangest places.

Settings – The settings are used to show just how different the location these four have come from, it shows just how important finding help outside your comfort zone can be.

Final Thoughts – This is a film I didn’t expect too much from and I can say I truly enjoyed the film, the characters all feel real, their problems feel real and most importantly the answers to the problems didn’t cure everything they helped them realizes how important they are.

 

Overall: This is a very underrated film I feel people should be seeing.

https://moviesreview101.com/2017/09/15/a-long-way-down-2014/
  
The Women at Hitler’s Table
The Women at Hitler’s Table
Rosella Postorino | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Even though The Women at Hitler’s Table doesn’t feature an appearance by Hitler himself, it is very much about Hitler’s Germany and how his paranoia directly affected the women who were forced into becoming his food tasters. 1943 saw a shift in the Second World War, the Allies and Russia began to take the upper hand, and Hitler saw assassination plots around every corner (he wasn’t far wrong, but it was generally instigated by his own side).

Rosa Sauer moves from Berlin to live with her husbands parents in the countryside, to escape the bombs that killed her parents. However, in doing so she draws attention to herself and ends up being ‘enlisted’ by the SS as one of the female food tasters at the Wolfschanze (Wolfs Lair). In some ways this is a privileged position - food is scarce and people are starving. Rosa and her fellow food tasters are guaranteed regular food, but each meal could be their last. They have no choice but to eat: SS guards watch their every mouthful. Some of the women are Hitler loyalists and see it as an honour to do this, whilst others (Rosa included) aren’t as keen. Rosa is beginning to see the cracks in the regime, and in fact has disagreed with the party’s politics for a long time. But she has chosen not to do or say anything - as many people did.

This book looks at what life was like for the ordinary Germans. Their loves, loyalties, secrets and the fear for both their present circumstances and their futures. This isn’t a comfortable read. It looks at some very unsettling subjects, and the fear of the women is palpable. I think the story would have stood up well without the romance element, but I’m sure some would disagree with me and would enjoy that aspect more.

I really liked the links with real historical figures: Claus Von Stauffenberg, some local nobility and a real food taster that the story was based on (Margot Wölk). I also liked the style in which this was written. It was dark, subdued, much like how I imagine the country felt as a whole at this point. I really did enjoy this book - it was an interesting and new angle to look at a period in history which we all feel that we know a lot about. Just when you thought you’d seen it all, Hitler’s female food tasters make their appearance....

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my copy of this book to read and review.
  
The Island at the Top of the World (1974)
The Island at the Top of the World (1974)
1974 | Action, Family, Sci-Fi
6
6.8 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Characters – Professor Ivarsson is an expert on culture and language, he is almost forced into going on this expedition, where he gets to show off all the skills he has, while being wowed by the new location they find. Sir Anthony Ross has put together the expedition in hopes of finding his son, who has been missing for two years. He has always used his position of power and money to get what he wants and must learn to let his son live his own life. Captain Brieux is the captain of the zeppelin, he might have his own style which does clash with Anthony’s but he will take the risks others would consider. Oomiak is a local guide that is known as the most fearless in the land, he is the generic local figure that understands weak English.

Performances – The performances for the most part do feel very British, while that might be what the film was targeting, it does have a lot of, the idea that these people are better than anyone else, Donald Sinden is the highlight of this because he will get laughs from just how over the top he actually is in the performance. David Hartman doesn’t show that much charisma which might have made his character more interesting. Jacques Marin get laughs with his role, while Mako gets the laughs, he is capable of something much more entertaining.

Story – The story here follows four explorers that go in search of a mysterious island in the Artic, this will take people from different backgrounds to an unknown location with an unknown threat which they must survive. The story does feel like it is just another version of ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ or ‘The Lost World’ which can be entertaining to watch, but they aren’t the most challenging of films to watch once you have seen a few. This story does feel tamer, while trying to bring a more realistic balance with the threat being Vikings, which could work with the number of tribes around the world that don’t want human contact. The story does rely on how the visuals of the settings look with most of the running scenes which just takes more away from the story’s impact on us.

Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-Fi – The adventure side of the film is searching for a new world, this is always going to be appealing and once we see the new world, we are left with our jaw dropped at how beautiful it is. The fantasy sci-fi elements mix together as they show how a community of people could have survived in an isolated location away from the world for so long.

Settings – The film does rely heavily on the settings which do look wonderful, we have the open ice location before we hit the land which is a thing of beauty, even if certain parts involving peril could have looked even more threatening.


Scene of the Movie – The escape.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The dated special effects.

Final Thoughts – This is one of the most British attempts at a brand-new adventure idea, it is filled with stunning locations which only end up leaving us feeling like we have seen this all before.

 

Overall: The Brits will lead the way.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Starworld in Books

Jun 21, 2019  
Starworld
Starworld
7
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Despite running in very different circles in school, Sam Jones and Zoe Miller have more in common than they think: they both want to escape the difficulty that is their home lives. Sam is a quiet loner, content to spend Sundays with her best friend, Will. She loves the stars, but isn't sure she'll ever be able to study them, thanks to her mom, whose life is ruled by obsessive compulsive disorder. Ever since her Dad moved overseas, the burden of caring for her Mom falls squarely on Sam. Meanwhile, at school, Zoe seems carefree and popular. But her charisma hides her secrets: she struggles with the fact that she's adopted. She also has a mom in remission from cancer and a disabled younger brother who is the main focus of her parents. When the girls have a chance meeting at school, they exchange phone numbers, and suddenly find themselves bonding over text messages and a land they've created together: Starworld. Starworld gives Zoe and Sam the escape from reality they both so desperately need. But can it survive all the outside influences and stress each are facing?


"If I have a superpower, it's invisibility. Like the perpetually overcast skies of Portland in winter, I'm part of the background -- a robot with a disappearance drive, the dullness against which everyone else shines."
~Sam

This was an interesting and somewhat different YA novel. I enjoyed the story of two brave girls battling tough circumstances. Boy, poor Zoe and Sam certainly had the weight of the world on their shoulders. I really liked both of our main characters. The book tells the story from each of their perspectives, making it easy to know each girl. I found myself a bit more aligned to Sam--probably because she was queer and shy (like drawn to like, right?). As other reviews have mentioned, some of the book is in texting format, as Sam and Zoe fall into Starworld. Being far removed from teenagehood myself (sigh), I will admit that I did sometimes sort of "fast read" or skim those sections. I appreciated them--because Starworld meant so much to these girls and their friendship--but the text-speak wasn't always the easiest to read and digest.

I had picked this up thinking it was a love story, but it's not a true romance, though there's love in other forms. There's some great representation in this book: a queer character in Sam, plus discussion of adoption, mental illness (OCD and anxiety), disabilities, and more. All were very well treated too, I felt.

The book felt a little slow at times. It felt a little repetitive in its insistence on Zoe feeling different due to being adopted. Still, I was very drawn to Sam and Zoe's story. There was a strength in each of them, and I was intrigued to see what was going to happen. Sam's arc as she struggled with her romantic feelings was especially strong and wonderfully done.

Even though much of the book is serious, it's also very funny at times, with some excellent quotes and zingers. (I really did love Sam and her sense of humor; she was right up my alley.)

"I hate using phones for their original intended purpose. It's like Alexander Graham Bell wondered, Hey, what could maximize the awkwardeness of human-to-human communication? And then answered himself by giving us the ability to speak to one another through stupid disembodied little boxes."

I mean, right? One of the best quotes ever.

So, overall, this book is really a love story of friendship and triumph. It's very easy to root for the characters and get caught up in their lives. I was often just aghast at how much these poor girls had to go through. If you're not necessarily used to text-speak, it may give you a pause, but Starworld is a big part of the book (obviously!) and it's woven well into the story. This was a different and intriguing read, and I'm glad I picked it up. 3.5+ stars (rounded up to 4 here).
  
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)
James Patterson | 1993 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
10
8.3 (32 Ratings)
Book Rating
where to start.

I fell in love with J.Pat after reading his Maximum Ride series in about... a week. then i read his other kids book, the dangerous days of Daniel X. very good.

but Along Came a Spider surprised me.

he continued his style that i love-- not being afraid to write from anyone's perspective, good guy, bad guy, minor or random character that he'll never mention again.

his characters, as always, are very defined and specific immediately. i had an understanding of Alex Cross right away. i could see how he thought, how Samson thought, how the other characters thought. except Jezzie.

i didn't expect the twists he put in here. Jezzie being a double agent, Michael Goldberg being killed. and I still don't know for sure about the Soneji/Murphey. multiple personality disorder, or not? idk. but whatever he really was, he was a genius.

at the end of the book, when i found out about Jezzie and when i saw Soneji escape, and when Jezzie died, it left my mind reeling. my heart was beating hard from chapter 80 on up, and i really couldn't stop reading this.

J.Pat is a good writer. not just a creative and fearless genius, but his writing is good. i could associate with the characters, i could see what was happening. his words sounded good (save the occasional foul language, which did tick me off quiet a bit.)

and about that-- honestly, does he have to use so much language? because really it isn't necessary. i took a pen to my copy of the book. good thing i bought it used and i wasn't afraid to mark it up-- because i did a lot of marking. more than i'd have preferred.

I can't wait to see what happens to Alex Cross.
  
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Deborah (162 KP) rated Seeking Mr Hare in Books

Dec 21, 2018  
SM
Seeking Mr Hare
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've not read anything by Maurice Leitch before, but like most people I've heard of Burke & Hare, so thought this would be worth a read.

Overall it was very well written. As well as the historical Mr Hare, Thomas de Quincey (Confessions of An English Opium Eater) makes an appearance. The novel starts with Hare still held in gaol and we see him turn King's Evidence and be allowed to go free while his partner in crime (pun intended!) goes to the gallows. A plaster cast is taken of Hare's head and a phrenologist has a good feel of his skull!

Being somewhat notorious and with many people being outraged with his perceived escape from justice, Hare has some difficulty in getting away and he has little money and few possessions to his name.

So much for Hare's half of the narrative. His account is interspersed with chapters in the form of letters or journal entries from Mr Speed, a former police detective. He had been charged by a Lord with an interest in science and criminology to track Hare down. This is the weak point for me - I don't quite understand why. Hare was imprisoned while the trial was going on, so why is it only after he is released he has to be tracked down. What is Speed supposed to do for him employer if and when he catches up with Hare? What exact;y does he want to know? This isn't clear to me and so the book as a whole rather loses its point. I can't say much more as it will end up spoiling things, but the ending did seem very anti-climactic to me.
  
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Merissa (11953 KP) rated Thanatos (Guardians of Hades #8) in Books

Jun 16, 2021 (Updated Jul 18, 2023)  
Thanatos (Guardians of Hades #8)
Thanatos (Guardians of Hades #8)
Felicity Heaton | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THANATOS is the eighth book in the Guardians of Hades series and the final one of this series... I think! There is mention of them returning (which I can't wait for) but whether it will be a separate series or not, well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Calindria has been thought dead for six centuries, and the woman she is now is very different from the girl she once was. She has a power over nature, and a power over death, both of them out of control. She needs time and peace to learn to control them, not so easy when you're in a very dodgy realm trying to escape with your life. Luckily for her, Thanatos is on hand to help, although he also comes with his own issues.

This was a brilliant book. I was hooked from the very first page. Calindria is a great character, being both soft and hard when necessary. My heart broke for Thanatos' history, and I'm glad they were both able to work through it. The pacing is perfect - not too fast or slow. Instead, you are whisked away on an adventure with some steamy moments.

The world-building in this story also deserves a mention. It was so descriptively written, it felt real when they were talking about having certain powers dampened or completely gone.

A fantastic end to this series while still leaving me wanting more. I do think it should be titled Calindria though, not Thanatos! LOL Absolutely brilliant, and highly recommended by me.

** 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!
Jun 16, 2021
  
Lie to Me - Single by Veronica Fusaro
Lie to Me - Single by Veronica Fusaro
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Veronica Fusaro is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Thun, Switzerland. Not too long ago, she released a music video for her “lie to me” single.

“If I told you not to leave would you turn and look back to me? And maybe if you’d stay, we could try to dream away the day is way too bright, it’s fulfilled with lies anyway. Have another drink, you could show me how you wink all of your sorrows away. Something is telling me that you’re my escape.” – lyrics

‘lie to me’ tells an adorable tale of a young woman who is in a foggy room at night with someone who she desires to be with.

Apparently, she doesn’t care if this person tells her stories which aren’t necessarily true. All she wants is for him to keep talking for a few more months until July comes.

Later, she admits that she wants to frame his face just in case he disappears outside into the cold weather.

‘lie to me’ contains a relatable storyline and ear-welcoming vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses guitar-driven instrumentation scented with a lovely commercial pop fragrance.

“‘lie to me’ is “inspired by a Friday night out, but talks about much more than just a weekend. It addresses the rapidity of the world we live in and our desperate cry to find real emotions.” – Veronica Fusaro

Veronica Fusaro stepped into the spotlight in 2016 with her self-produced EP, entitled, “Lost In Thought”.

Shortly afterward, she surprised the Swiss music industry by winning the “Demo of the Year” at the M4Music-Festival.

Since then, she has toured small and large stages, from New Zealand to London and all the way back to Switzerland. With the experience of 136 shows in 2018, this year is set to be even more exciting for Fusaro.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/veronica-fusaro-lie-to-me/