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Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated I Feel Like Going On: Life, Game, and Glory in Books
May 10, 2018
<u>I Feel Like Going On</u> tells the story of Ray Lewis's life through his point of view. From his early childhood to the man he is today. I learned quite a bit about Ray Lewis that I didn't know and found very interesting. A religious and family man with seven children, he is a very different person than the man who used to be on the football field.
Growing up in Maryland, I only root for two teams, the Washington Redskins and whoever is playing the Dallas Cowboys. When I was a kid, the Baltimore team had been long, so the Redskins were who I went for. I respect, Ray Lewis as an amazing defensive player in the NFL. Occasionally, I would cheer for Baltimore especially when they were in the Super Bowl. It was interesting to find out that the Redskins were Ray's favorite as well. He has a very religious side to him that you don't get to see on the field. He is also very family oriented, always there for his kids as well as his mother and brothers and sisters. There are a lot of things I learned from this book about Ray Lewis and about life in general. The best part of the book came at the end when Ray talks about what his mother taught him.
"Be an example. Be a force for good. And know that every one with a great name has been through something. A great deal of something. It's not about doing what everybody else is doing. It's just about being true to yourself whatever the majority of people are doing, go ahead and do the opposite--if you know what you're doing to be right and good and true. Live your legacy. Do your thing. Walk in a certain light."
This book is an inspiration to anyone who is struggling through life and may be unsure how they are going to make it through the storm. Ray Lewis made it through a single mom household, losing friends and coaches, and being accused of the most terrible things. He made it through alive andd on top.
Growing up in Maryland, I only root for two teams, the Washington Redskins and whoever is playing the Dallas Cowboys. When I was a kid, the Baltimore team had been long, so the Redskins were who I went for. I respect, Ray Lewis as an amazing defensive player in the NFL. Occasionally, I would cheer for Baltimore especially when they were in the Super Bowl. It was interesting to find out that the Redskins were Ray's favorite as well. He has a very religious side to him that you don't get to see on the field. He is also very family oriented, always there for his kids as well as his mother and brothers and sisters. There are a lot of things I learned from this book about Ray Lewis and about life in general. The best part of the book came at the end when Ray talks about what his mother taught him.
"Be an example. Be a force for good. And know that every one with a great name has been through something. A great deal of something. It's not about doing what everybody else is doing. It's just about being true to yourself whatever the majority of people are doing, go ahead and do the opposite--if you know what you're doing to be right and good and true. Live your legacy. Do your thing. Walk in a certain light."
This book is an inspiration to anyone who is struggling through life and may be unsure how they are going to make it through the storm. Ray Lewis made it through a single mom household, losing friends and coaches, and being accused of the most terrible things. He made it through alive andd on top.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated The Walking Dead - Season 10 in TV
Oct 21, 2020
The latest season of The Walking Dead is why I have trust issues. I was all but done with this show during season 8, and now, I'm genuinely sad that we only have one more season left. Stop playing with my emotions!
Seriously though, season 10 is a proper return to form in my opinion. The show continues to prove that the time jump introduced last season was a positive direction to take.
Finally, I care about almost every character again. Negan is a huge highlight this time around. The contrast between the bonafide maniac he once once, and the humble guy genuinely looking for acceptance now is massive, buts it's pulled off in a way that is 100% believable. Big props to Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
This is the first full season not to feature Rick Grimes, so the position of lead character is shared out between Daryl (Norman Reedus), Carol (Melissa McBride) and Michonne (Danai Gurira). I like all three characters so this wasn't an issue for me. With Daryl and Carol in particular being season 1 veterans, it's easy to be on their side.
The villains are once again The Whisperers. I can acknowledge that TWD has delved into antagonist back stories before, but the amount of time spent with Alpha and Beta is commendable. The more screentime they get, the more unhinged they seem. They feel dangerous. There's a trio of mid season episodes here (Stalker, Morning Star, Walk With Us) that are hugely tense and high stakes, and reminded me of some of The Governor episodes from way back that had me on a seats edge.
Samantha Morton and Ryan Hurst sell these characters so so well, and are some of the best villains this show has seen.
TWD is never going to be the same show it was when it started, and it's taken the show runners a hell of a long time to figure out how it's going to look going forward. With the movies and various spin offs approaching, I feel they've finally found their footing again. Here's hoping for a rager of a final season.
Seriously though, season 10 is a proper return to form in my opinion. The show continues to prove that the time jump introduced last season was a positive direction to take.
Finally, I care about almost every character again. Negan is a huge highlight this time around. The contrast between the bonafide maniac he once once, and the humble guy genuinely looking for acceptance now is massive, buts it's pulled off in a way that is 100% believable. Big props to Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
This is the first full season not to feature Rick Grimes, so the position of lead character is shared out between Daryl (Norman Reedus), Carol (Melissa McBride) and Michonne (Danai Gurira). I like all three characters so this wasn't an issue for me. With Daryl and Carol in particular being season 1 veterans, it's easy to be on their side.
The villains are once again The Whisperers. I can acknowledge that TWD has delved into antagonist back stories before, but the amount of time spent with Alpha and Beta is commendable. The more screentime they get, the more unhinged they seem. They feel dangerous. There's a trio of mid season episodes here (Stalker, Morning Star, Walk With Us) that are hugely tense and high stakes, and reminded me of some of The Governor episodes from way back that had me on a seats edge.
Samantha Morton and Ryan Hurst sell these characters so so well, and are some of the best villains this show has seen.
TWD is never going to be the same show it was when it started, and it's taken the show runners a hell of a long time to figure out how it's going to look going forward. With the movies and various spin offs approaching, I feel they've finally found their footing again. Here's hoping for a rager of a final season.
Vegetarian Comfort Foods: The Happy Healthy Gut Guide to Delicious Plant-Based Cooking
Book
The Happy Healthy Gut Guide to Delicious Plant-Based Cooking More than seventy-five recipes to...
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Queen & Slim (2019) in Movies
Oct 29, 2020
Extremely Entertaining
In the first ten minutes, you have a good idea of how Queen & Slim is going to end. Two black people on a first date end up killing a cop during a traffic stop. In spite the dread of knowing where things are heading, the movie is so powerfully done that it gave me a bit of a chill as the credits were rolling.
Acting: 10
Daniel Kaluuya puts on yet another powerful performance, this time playing the role of the male love interest Slim. I love the way he chose to play this role as a man that doesn’t have it all together trying to figure things out on the fly. His counterpart Jodi Turner-Smith playing Queen is so on point as well carrying the strong emotional defensiveness of the lawyer that she is. Their chemistry drives this movie to heights I wasn’t expecting.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
The movie is beautifully shot with a number of strong sequences and setpieces that keep things interesting. Director Melina Matsoukas is a master of capturing emotional moments with well-timed closeups and long pauses. She pushes the emotions out of the viewers with tender scenes and scenes that get your blood boiling.
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 10
Memorability: 9
This movie sticks, it sticks with you. It’s hard to walk away from it and not feel some way or the other. It will challenge you emotionally and mentally. It’s not perfect as it does stick to a pretty linear script, but it’s extremely memorable nonethless.
Pace: 10
Because of the constant danger the two main characters are under, the movie moves quick even when they’re just sitting around awaiting their next piece of the plan. It’s heartpounding like knowing a car crash is coming, but you’re forced to watch it anyway. There is no standing still. They’re always on the run so the pace remains uptempo.
Plot: 8
Resolution: 10
Overall: 97
Yes Queen & Slim is pretty linear, but it works for the building of the relationship within the story. And yes you see the ending coming but there’s a true power that comes from it that makes it worth it. The conflict is great, but the dialogue solidifies it for me as a classic. See this movie.
Acting: 10
Daniel Kaluuya puts on yet another powerful performance, this time playing the role of the male love interest Slim. I love the way he chose to play this role as a man that doesn’t have it all together trying to figure things out on the fly. His counterpart Jodi Turner-Smith playing Queen is so on point as well carrying the strong emotional defensiveness of the lawyer that she is. Their chemistry drives this movie to heights I wasn’t expecting.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
The movie is beautifully shot with a number of strong sequences and setpieces that keep things interesting. Director Melina Matsoukas is a master of capturing emotional moments with well-timed closeups and long pauses. She pushes the emotions out of the viewers with tender scenes and scenes that get your blood boiling.
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 10
Memorability: 9
This movie sticks, it sticks with you. It’s hard to walk away from it and not feel some way or the other. It will challenge you emotionally and mentally. It’s not perfect as it does stick to a pretty linear script, but it’s extremely memorable nonethless.
Pace: 10
Because of the constant danger the two main characters are under, the movie moves quick even when they’re just sitting around awaiting their next piece of the plan. It’s heartpounding like knowing a car crash is coming, but you’re forced to watch it anyway. There is no standing still. They’re always on the run so the pace remains uptempo.
Plot: 8
Resolution: 10
Overall: 97
Yes Queen & Slim is pretty linear, but it works for the building of the relationship within the story. And yes you see the ending coming but there’s a true power that comes from it that makes it worth it. The conflict is great, but the dialogue solidifies it for me as a classic. See this movie.
Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated We've Got Balls (2013) in Movies
Jun 26, 2020
I tend to go out of my way to enjoy movies that might not have too many redeeming qualities, just because I don't want to walk away feeling like I have wasted my time or energy on something and not gotten anything in return. As a result, I've found redeeming qualities in some pretty poor films in the past.
Finding that type of quality in this movie proved to be very difficult.
The first thing that I noticed was the production quality. Now, I completely understand that everybody has to start somewhere. I can overlook poor production quality when warranted. In order to do that though, there has to be exceptional praise elsewhere. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here.
The premise seemed alright, if not generic. A small town (population 52, which is mentioned several times) bowling alley is at risk of closing down to make room for a new casino that the land owner wants to put in that location. The city bonds together to prevent this from happening. And that's where things start to go off the rails.
I try not to include spoilers as a rule, so I will abide by that here. But I will say that the story doesn't improve from there. It's about as generic as they come with very little exception. One interesting element is the tournament that takes place in an effort to save the building. It starts as a humorous prospect but fails to launch from there.
I appreciate the film makers efforts here, which is why I have this as a four star rating. I hope that they learned from making this movie and can apply that to other projects going forward.
This film is currently available as part of Amazon Prime Video or for purchase. Clocks in around an hour and a half, but frankly, it's a VERY LONG hour and a half.
Finding that type of quality in this movie proved to be very difficult.
The first thing that I noticed was the production quality. Now, I completely understand that everybody has to start somewhere. I can overlook poor production quality when warranted. In order to do that though, there has to be exceptional praise elsewhere. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here.
The premise seemed alright, if not generic. A small town (population 52, which is mentioned several times) bowling alley is at risk of closing down to make room for a new casino that the land owner wants to put in that location. The city bonds together to prevent this from happening. And that's where things start to go off the rails.
I try not to include spoilers as a rule, so I will abide by that here. But I will say that the story doesn't improve from there. It's about as generic as they come with very little exception. One interesting element is the tournament that takes place in an effort to save the building. It starts as a humorous prospect but fails to launch from there.
I appreciate the film makers efforts here, which is why I have this as a four star rating. I hope that they learned from making this movie and can apply that to other projects going forward.
This film is currently available as part of Amazon Prime Video or for purchase. Clocks in around an hour and a half, but frankly, it's a VERY LONG hour and a half.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Evil Runs in Books
Apr 9, 2019
A French priest, a Texas sheriff, and a female CIA agent walk into a bar looking for Evil. Sounds like the start of a corny joke, but it's not. Evil Runs by Vince Milam is a religious thriller that takes these three on a trip around the world to destroy the evil that has disrupted their lives.
Still grieving the loss of his wife, Sheriff Cole Garza is now dealing with multiple homicides at a nursing home in his small Texas town. Leaving the scene, he sees a most peculiar man who appears to be running away from another man with a long gray ponytail who is just as peculiar. Looking into the eyes of the murder suspect, Cole sees something familiar, something he saw in the eyes of his wife's murderer. When Father Francois Domaine appears in Texas with orders from the Vatican, things begin to really get strange. They have a suspect in custody and are currently looking for his accomplice, Adal Moloch. He was the peculiar man seen leaving the crime scene, and the hunt is on. With the help of Nadine May, a CIA operative with unbelievable tracking and computer skills, they are able to follow Moloch wherever he goes. Will they find him and bring him to justice before more people are hurt?
This is a book for those who believe in a higher power, or for those that don't, you just might after reading this book. Adal Moloch is not your typical suspect. He is a demon sent to have his evil bidding done by anyone who is willing to follow him. Destroying him is going to take more than a bullet to the head, but also a faith that God is stronger than him with that faith you can destroy anything. We always wonder if faith is enough. Can our faith in God destroy the evil that is around us? Can we rise above the evil and do what is right? At first, I was a little skeptical about this book thinking it was going to get a bit paranormal, but it didn't which made me thoroughly enjoy it. This is the first book i a series and I can't wait to read what is next.
Still grieving the loss of his wife, Sheriff Cole Garza is now dealing with multiple homicides at a nursing home in his small Texas town. Leaving the scene, he sees a most peculiar man who appears to be running away from another man with a long gray ponytail who is just as peculiar. Looking into the eyes of the murder suspect, Cole sees something familiar, something he saw in the eyes of his wife's murderer. When Father Francois Domaine appears in Texas with orders from the Vatican, things begin to really get strange. They have a suspect in custody and are currently looking for his accomplice, Adal Moloch. He was the peculiar man seen leaving the crime scene, and the hunt is on. With the help of Nadine May, a CIA operative with unbelievable tracking and computer skills, they are able to follow Moloch wherever he goes. Will they find him and bring him to justice before more people are hurt?
This is a book for those who believe in a higher power, or for those that don't, you just might after reading this book. Adal Moloch is not your typical suspect. He is a demon sent to have his evil bidding done by anyone who is willing to follow him. Destroying him is going to take more than a bullet to the head, but also a faith that God is stronger than him with that faith you can destroy anything. We always wonder if faith is enough. Can our faith in God destroy the evil that is around us? Can we rise above the evil and do what is right? At first, I was a little skeptical about this book thinking it was going to get a bit paranormal, but it didn't which made me thoroughly enjoy it. This is the first book i a series and I can't wait to read what is next.
Paris ci la sortie du Métro
Travel and Navigation
App
Paris-ci la sortie du Métro is the only app which helps you to save time in Parisian subway, to...
JT (287 KP) rated The Guest (2014) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
If there was any further indication needed that British leading men make for accomplished villains, this is a prime example. The softly spoken Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) can now walk shoulder to shoulder with the likes of other talented antagonists such as Mark Strong, Tom Hiddleston and Ben Kingsley.
Director Adam Wingard‘s home invasion horror You’re Next received high acclaim so this was always going to be an exciting follow up. When I caught the trailer not a lot was given away. I like the fact that you’re going in almost blind. It makes for better viewing.
David (Stevens) enters the life of the Peterson family who are still grieving from the loss of their son Caleb who was killed in Iraq. Quickly he becomes an integral part of their lives, always around to help them out of difficult situations or as a shoulder to cry on.
It’s clear there is something more disturbing beneath his chilling blue eyes and it doesn’t take long for us to find out what. The Guest is a tense intriguing thriller that never gives too much away, making it one of its strong points. We all know there is something wrong with David, that much is clear from the shots of him grimly staring into the distance.
He manifests himself as a psychotic guardian angel with ulterior motives that are never revealed until the bodies start to pile up and we get to delve further into his back story. Even then Stevens plays his character with deadpan charm that makes us like him even more.
There are a number of genres all thrown in that ultimately work well alongside each other. A nice dose of action thanks to a backyard shootout is quickly morphed into an 80s slasher horror that echoes Halloween. The soundtrack is slick and pulsating, with comparisons drawn to Drive not just from the score but from Stevens somewhat uncanny resemblance to Ryan Gosling.
It never feels disjointed at any point and while it might wobble a little with the surprise ending (of which you knew was coming) it doesn’t damage the overall integrity if the story.
Director Adam Wingard‘s home invasion horror You’re Next received high acclaim so this was always going to be an exciting follow up. When I caught the trailer not a lot was given away. I like the fact that you’re going in almost blind. It makes for better viewing.
David (Stevens) enters the life of the Peterson family who are still grieving from the loss of their son Caleb who was killed in Iraq. Quickly he becomes an integral part of their lives, always around to help them out of difficult situations or as a shoulder to cry on.
It’s clear there is something more disturbing beneath his chilling blue eyes and it doesn’t take long for us to find out what. The Guest is a tense intriguing thriller that never gives too much away, making it one of its strong points. We all know there is something wrong with David, that much is clear from the shots of him grimly staring into the distance.
He manifests himself as a psychotic guardian angel with ulterior motives that are never revealed until the bodies start to pile up and we get to delve further into his back story. Even then Stevens plays his character with deadpan charm that makes us like him even more.
There are a number of genres all thrown in that ultimately work well alongside each other. A nice dose of action thanks to a backyard shootout is quickly morphed into an 80s slasher horror that echoes Halloween. The soundtrack is slick and pulsating, with comparisons drawn to Drive not just from the score but from Stevens somewhat uncanny resemblance to Ryan Gosling.
It never feels disjointed at any point and while it might wobble a little with the surprise ending (of which you knew was coming) it doesn’t damage the overall integrity if the story.
Istanbul Marco Polo Guide
Book
Experience all of Istanbul's attractions with this up-to date and authoritative guide, complete with...
Debbiereadsbook (1749 KP) rated Smith's Corner: Storm & Stone (The Heartwood Series #5) in Books
Mar 16, 2022
love it when Stone fully lets go!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 5 in the Smith's Corner series. While it can be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend that you read the other books before this one. It will give you a better and bigger picture of this family group, and how Stone's brothers have fallen one by one. It will also show you just how long Stone and Storm have been dancing around each other.
Storm needs honesty, and she will walk away if she thinks she isn't getting it. Stone, on the other hand, was burnt, badly by his ex when he was honest, so tries hard to keep it all in. Storm can see right through Stone though! And I loved that she could.
Because that ex does try hard to get to Stone and what I especially LOVED about this book, was that Storm never once doubted Stone. She knew, KNEW that he was a good man, and the ex just wanted to destroy him. Ex doesn't, just so you know, but Storm makes sure that Stone sees STORM, rather than the ex.
It's quite emotional in places, but equally there is laughter. Stone messes up, but his heart is in the right place! I loved that, when Stone lets himself really go, they are so great together! He really needs to trust Storm.
We catch up with the other brothers and their ever-growing families, and we get a taste of what's to come with Hunter and Holden. Cos ooooooeeeee those boys are getting close to breaking!
A lovely edition to this series, I am thoroughly enjoying them all.
4 solid stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 5 in the Smith's Corner series. While it can be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend that you read the other books before this one. It will give you a better and bigger picture of this family group, and how Stone's brothers have fallen one by one. It will also show you just how long Stone and Storm have been dancing around each other.
Storm needs honesty, and she will walk away if she thinks she isn't getting it. Stone, on the other hand, was burnt, badly by his ex when he was honest, so tries hard to keep it all in. Storm can see right through Stone though! And I loved that she could.
Because that ex does try hard to get to Stone and what I especially LOVED about this book, was that Storm never once doubted Stone. She knew, KNEW that he was a good man, and the ex just wanted to destroy him. Ex doesn't, just so you know, but Storm makes sure that Stone sees STORM, rather than the ex.
It's quite emotional in places, but equally there is laughter. Stone messes up, but his heart is in the right place! I loved that, when Stone lets himself really go, they are so great together! He really needs to trust Storm.
We catch up with the other brothers and their ever-growing families, and we get a taste of what's to come with Hunter and Holden. Cos ooooooeeeee those boys are getting close to breaking!
A lovely edition to this series, I am thoroughly enjoying them all.
4 solid stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere