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We've Got Balls (2013)
We've Got Balls (2013)
2013 | Comedy
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
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.
  
Evil Runs
Evil Runs
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
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.
  
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JT (287 KP) rated The Guest (2014) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020  
The Guest (2014)
The Guest (2014)
2014 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
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.
  
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Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) Mar 11, 2020

One of my all time favorite psychological horror films.

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JT (287 KP) Mar 11, 2020

Goes from thriller to 80s slasher flick almost seamlessly

Smith's Corner: Storm & Stone (The Heartwood Series #5)
Smith's Corner: Storm & Stone (The Heartwood Series #5)
Jayne Paton | 2022 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
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
  
Greatest Hits by Rod Stewart
Greatest Hits by Rod Stewart
1979 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This is a bit of a change in mood from the last song! For a long time Rod was a hero and an icon to me. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” is just such a confident song and I remember listening to it a lot as I was starting to perform. I think all artists have a different persona they go into, or a switch they hit when they walk on stage, I would listen to this as a warmup song to get to that place before I performed. “I was lucky enough to re-record the song with Rod Stewart about a year ago - one of those moments when it really came full circle for me. My A&R told me they were planning to do a Rod Stewart tribute album with a bunch of different artists. She first presented a different song and I said “that would be amazing! But I’m definitely doing “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”, right?” I think I even kicked out somebody else who was in line to do it! We recorded it, produced it and then performed it together at the VMAs. “Now we have this cool relationship where I see him when I’m in Vegas and I’m going to try to see one of his shows. Rod Stewart is my rock ‘n’ roll dad! It’s one of those rare experiences when you can say ‘it’s nice to meet your heroes.’"

Source
  
    GPS Hiker

    GPS Hiker

    Navigation and Travel

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    App

    GPS Hiker is a great and free application for outdoor activities. It supports GPS track logging, GPX...