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Awix (3310 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Dec 8, 2018 (Updated Dec 8, 2018)
Eighth movie in the Rocky series is well-nigh miraculous, not for being a well-made sports drama (though it is that) but for revisiting some of the characters and events of Rocky IV (the silliest of these films) and still producing a credible, involving story. Donnie Creed wins the world title, but is challenged by Viktor Drago, the son of the man who killed his father umpty-tump years ago. What follows is a classical story of hubris, comeuppance, and redemption, with powerful themes of parental responsibility, legacy, and what it means to have the heart of a fighter. Plus lengthy sequences of beefy men bashing the living daylights out of each other, and the odd training montage too.
Really quite good in every department: the fights are as predictable as ever, but the storytelling really makes you feel them, and you care about the characters so much it doesn't really matter anyway. Carl Weathers must still be off somewhere muttering bitterly to himself about the fact that (one presumes) he's not making any money off these things, but Stallone does his latter-day character actor thing, Jordan carries the film well, and Tessa Thompson makes the most of a slightly underwritten part. Almost certainly the best movie in the filmography of Dolph Lundgren (this is not saying much) or Brigitte Nielson (this is probably saying even less).
Really quite good in every department: the fights are as predictable as ever, but the storytelling really makes you feel them, and you care about the characters so much it doesn't really matter anyway. Carl Weathers must still be off somewhere muttering bitterly to himself about the fact that (one presumes) he's not making any money off these things, but Stallone does his latter-day character actor thing, Jordan carries the film well, and Tessa Thompson makes the most of a slightly underwritten part. Almost certainly the best movie in the filmography of Dolph Lundgren (this is not saying much) or Brigitte Nielson (this is probably saying even less).
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Merissa (12827 KP) rated The Last Son of Venus by Dion Marc in Books
Jul 4, 2022 (Updated Jul 5, 2023)
THE LAST SON OF VENUS is the first book in a new series. It is hot and dark, and leaves you wanting more!
We start off with a young anxiety-ridden Alex, on his first trip abroad and lost in London. Things start going a bit strange for him and he has no idea what's going on. What's worse is he can't get hold of his parents for their advice. Nikos has been Alex's Guardian for a while now but this is his first interaction with him directly. Add Alex and Nikos, together with Jin - a queer descendant of Hekate, against an evil sect disguising themselves as the church, and you have an action-packed story that will keep you turning the pages.
This is definitely character-led - you get the steadiness of Nikos, the quirkiness of Jin, plus the anxiety of Alex. These characters change as the story progresses. Obviously, the biggest change is Alex, but Jin changes too!
Told from varying perspectives, it allows you to see the inner workings of just what's going on. And, trust me, there's a lot. There are multiple players in this story and not all of them are black and white.
A brilliant start to a new series by a new-to-me author. I absolutely recommend this book, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
** 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 22, 2022
We start off with a young anxiety-ridden Alex, on his first trip abroad and lost in London. Things start going a bit strange for him and he has no idea what's going on. What's worse is he can't get hold of his parents for their advice. Nikos has been Alex's Guardian for a while now but this is his first interaction with him directly. Add Alex and Nikos, together with Jin - a queer descendant of Hekate, against an evil sect disguising themselves as the church, and you have an action-packed story that will keep you turning the pages.
This is definitely character-led - you get the steadiness of Nikos, the quirkiness of Jin, plus the anxiety of Alex. These characters change as the story progresses. Obviously, the biggest change is Alex, but Jin changes too!
Told from varying perspectives, it allows you to see the inner workings of just what's going on. And, trust me, there's a lot. There are multiple players in this story and not all of them are black and white.
A brilliant start to a new series by a new-to-me author. I absolutely recommend this book, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
** 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 22, 2022
Merissa (12827 KP) rated Always (Single Dads #4) in Books
Mar 30, 2021 (Updated Aug 2, 2023)
ALWAYS is the fourth book in the Single Dads series, and this time we meet Adam, Eric's friend. He now lives in Sean, Eric, and Leo's old house, where he is recuperating from a career-losing injury. He is able to offer a couple of rooms to rent for one of his friend's friends and his son. Cam is trying to hide from the media and wronged people for a while before he disappears again.
Adam does not have it easy - and this story helps bring to light his constant physical pain and mental anguish when someone treats him like he's fragile. Cam has his own injuries, but they're all on the inside. He is (understandably) skittish and is determined to make it to Montana, where he is convinced a better life awaits him and Finn.
This one wasn't as 'light and fluffy' as the others and previous couples still play a big part in the story, especially Eric as he was a co-worker and has his own guilt to contend with. I thought the pacing was perfect, and the storyline was smooth and kept my interest from beginning to end. There are some sexy scenes but they certainly don't take over the story.
This was a great addition to the series, and I can't wait for Nick's story. Definitely 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!
Mar 30, 2021
Adam does not have it easy - and this story helps bring to light his constant physical pain and mental anguish when someone treats him like he's fragile. Cam has his own injuries, but they're all on the inside. He is (understandably) skittish and is determined to make it to Montana, where he is convinced a better life awaits him and Finn.
This one wasn't as 'light and fluffy' as the others and previous couples still play a big part in the story, especially Eric as he was a co-worker and has his own guilt to contend with. I thought the pacing was perfect, and the storyline was smooth and kept my interest from beginning to end. There are some sexy scenes but they certainly don't take over the story.
This was a great addition to the series, and I can't wait for Nick's story. Definitely 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!
Mar 30, 2021
Merissa (12827 KP) rated Rejected Mate (Shifter World: Royal-Kagan #5) in Books
Jun 8, 2023
In book 1 of the Kagan Wolves series, we meet Nic and Riley. Nic is the alpha's son, primed to take over as Alpha when his father steps down. Riley is an honorary pack member as she is wholly human. She is also the Pack's Doctor, although she will treat any shifter that turns up.
I loved the twist in this book - that Nic the human loved and wanted Riley, but Nic the wolf saw her as weak because she couldn't give him pups! The frustration felt by Nic was tangible as you read through. Riley is a strong character and I honestly don't know if I could do what she did! I think I would have run at the first opportunity, but that's why the book isn't about me! lol
I enjoyed seeing Sean and Jenna again, and how they both helped Riley and Nic. This is what friends do for each other, even if you don't always agree with their decisions.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this was a wonderful full-length read into the world of the Kagan Wolves. Definitely recommended.
* Verified Purchase on Amazon *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2016
I loved the twist in this book - that Nic the human loved and wanted Riley, but Nic the wolf saw her as weak because she couldn't give him pups! The frustration felt by Nic was tangible as you read through. Riley is a strong character and I honestly don't know if I could do what she did! I think I would have run at the first opportunity, but that's why the book isn't about me! lol
I enjoyed seeing Sean and Jenna again, and how they both helped Riley and Nic. This is what friends do for each other, even if you don't always agree with their decisions.
Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this was a wonderful full-length read into the world of the Kagan Wolves. Definitely recommended.
* Verified Purchase on Amazon *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2016
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2336 KP) rated Killer on the Court in Books
May 18, 2022
Hunting a Killer on Vacation
Jessica Fletcher has just sent her latest manuscript to her publisher, so she is happy she gets to spend some time with her nephew, Grady, his wife, Donna, and their son. They are staying in a cottage right on the beach for a month thanks to Donna’s job. However, Jessica’s first morning there, Donna finds the body of her boss on a private tennis court. Jessica doesn’t want to get involved, but she can’t stop asking questions. Will she figure out what happened?
Grady and Donna (after Grady met her) were some of my favorite supporting characters on Murder, She Wrote, so I was pleased with how they were captured here. I could easily hear the actors in my head, and I loved spending time with them. Sadly, the rest of the characters were a little weak with only one or two defining characteristics. Meanwhile, the plot wandered some with a slow start and a bit too much vacation time. That’s not to say it didn’t have a couple of good twists and a nice resolution. Ultimately, fans of the series will enjoy getting to spend time with favorite characters again.
Grady and Donna (after Grady met her) were some of my favorite supporting characters on Murder, She Wrote, so I was pleased with how they were captured here. I could easily hear the actors in my head, and I loved spending time with them. Sadly, the rest of the characters were a little weak with only one or two defining characteristics. Meanwhile, the plot wandered some with a slow start and a bit too much vacation time. That’s not to say it didn’t have a couple of good twists and a nice resolution. Ultimately, fans of the series will enjoy getting to spend time with favorite characters again.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Dec 7, 2018
Good Enough
By my count, this is the 8th time that Sylvester Stallone has put on the character of Rocky Balboa. This time it comes after the resurgence of this character (and franchise) with the introduction of Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) and a script that allowed Stallone to explore the character in a way that he had not previously been able to - and garnered him a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his efforts.
In CREED II we are back to an above average by-the-numbers boxing picture with Jordan's Adonis Creed character starting the picture on top, losing it all when he loses himself (and stops listening to Rocky) in his success only to go on a journey of redemption (by following Rocky's advice) at the end. This is, in essence, a regurgitation of ROCKY III and I was somewhat bored by it.
That is, until the final bout, then (gosh darnnit) I was drawn right into the melodrama, pomp and pageantry of the fight and was cheering along with the rest of the audience at all the appropriate moments.
In Creed II, Apollo Creed's son battles Ivan Drago's son. For those of you not up on your Rocky history, Drago (Dolph Lundgren, reprising his role) was the boxer that killed Apollo Creed (Adonis' father) in the ring all those years ago.
Jordan is properly cocky, arrogant, stubborn, shell-shocked, morose, repentant and cocky (again) as the script would indicate. Tessa Thompson (as his wife) deserves better material than what she is given as does Stallone, who falls back to "being Rocky" without anything really new here. Surprisingly, Dolph Lundgren does a nice job as the washed-up boxer who's life was "ruined" when he lost to Rocky at the end of Rocky IV (not a spoiler). Finally, Russel Horsnby (as the "I just want to earn money" promoter of the fight) and Phylicia Rashad (as Adonis' mother/Apollo's wife) are both really good in roles that deserved to be much bigger - and more fleshed out - than they were.
My biggest disappointment from this film is the ommision of Director Ryan Coogler. He brought a visceral attitude to the series in the first CREED film and I felt that this spark of energy was just missing throughout this film with Steven Caple, Jr at the helm. It seemed, to me, that this series is quickly devolving into "paycheck" movies for Stallone and that really saddens me.
All-in-all a rather above average "by-the-numbers" boxing flick with a really good fight at the end of the film that is well worth sticking around for.
Letter Grade: B
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
In CREED II we are back to an above average by-the-numbers boxing picture with Jordan's Adonis Creed character starting the picture on top, losing it all when he loses himself (and stops listening to Rocky) in his success only to go on a journey of redemption (by following Rocky's advice) at the end. This is, in essence, a regurgitation of ROCKY III and I was somewhat bored by it.
That is, until the final bout, then (gosh darnnit) I was drawn right into the melodrama, pomp and pageantry of the fight and was cheering along with the rest of the audience at all the appropriate moments.
In Creed II, Apollo Creed's son battles Ivan Drago's son. For those of you not up on your Rocky history, Drago (Dolph Lundgren, reprising his role) was the boxer that killed Apollo Creed (Adonis' father) in the ring all those years ago.
Jordan is properly cocky, arrogant, stubborn, shell-shocked, morose, repentant and cocky (again) as the script would indicate. Tessa Thompson (as his wife) deserves better material than what she is given as does Stallone, who falls back to "being Rocky" without anything really new here. Surprisingly, Dolph Lundgren does a nice job as the washed-up boxer who's life was "ruined" when he lost to Rocky at the end of Rocky IV (not a spoiler). Finally, Russel Horsnby (as the "I just want to earn money" promoter of the fight) and Phylicia Rashad (as Adonis' mother/Apollo's wife) are both really good in roles that deserved to be much bigger - and more fleshed out - than they were.
My biggest disappointment from this film is the ommision of Director Ryan Coogler. He brought a visceral attitude to the series in the first CREED film and I felt that this spark of energy was just missing throughout this film with Steven Caple, Jr at the helm. It seemed, to me, that this series is quickly devolving into "paycheck" movies for Stallone and that really saddens me.
All-in-all a rather above average "by-the-numbers" boxing flick with a really good fight at the end of the film that is well worth sticking around for.
Letter Grade: B
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
All of a Winter's Night
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When Aidan Lloyd's bleak funeral is followed by a nocturnal ritual in the fog, it becomes all too...