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The Ritual  (2017)
The Ritual (2017)
2017 | Horror
Setting (1 more)
Creative monster design
While I'm not a huge horror fan, I do have an appreciation for this movie. The tension built up very well at some parts, but the main selling point for me was the monster design. I thought it was pretty cool and something I haven't really seen before (but, of course, I'm not well versed in horror, so what is novel for me may be commonplace for you). Also, the movie had some truly beautiful scenes due to its setting.

The move did have some scenes/shots that gave off Blair Witch Project vibes, but it didn't really take away anything from the movie for me.
  
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
1991 | Animation, Family, Musical
What's not to love. A heroine that reads books and speaks her mind. Singing candlesticks and a beautiful monster. (0 more)
I thought I would say the live action remake, but I love that too. (0 more)
My favourite disney film.
An epic morality tale that questions whether beauty and kindness of spirit are more than skin deep. With singing bric a brac to lighten the mood.
  
A Monster Calls (2016)
A Monster Calls (2016)
2016 | Drama, Fantasy
The acting (2 more)
The CGI
The tree was like a giant Groot
No closer with Dad and bully (0 more)
Imaginative, fun and emotional
This was a fantastic film. I did not know much going into this movie other then there being a giant tree monster. This movie took my breath away. From the acting to the CGI. The animation sequences made to look like water colors was just brilliant.

You just never new what to expect out of the movie which is always a good thing. You don't know if the tree is good or if it is evil. Something you think the tree is just a big jerk trying to pull one over on Conner. I like how they made it seem that the monster was growing inside of Conner, showing that Conner was the monster, even though I never thought that during the movie. I thought he was just a kid in trouble. Bully's at school, dad not there, mom sick and a Grandma that treated him like a baby. Eventually you new he was just going to act out. When he did there was no punishment. They just told him why bother. I thought this was either because he could learn from his mistakes or that everyone felt sorry that his mom was dying. I think he just wanted to be punished for acting out. But no punishment did seem like his punishment.


The water color stories in the movie were done really well, it felt like you were falling into the story. It showed there is many ways to take life or how to interpret life experiences. What you do is what matters most. In the end Conner just had to learn the truth.


There is a monster tree lurking in all of us, we just have to listen for it. See the movie and you will know why.
  
The Witcher - Season 1
The Witcher - Season 1
2019 | Action, Drama, Fantasy
Magic & Monsters (0 more)
Henry Cavill's monotone voice (0 more)
Toss a coin to your Witcher
I can't say I know anything of the games or books. Saw this pop up on Netflix and hoped for something to fill the GoT void. With Magic and a monster hunter I hoped for great things especially as it seems to have a big budget. Although it is good and entertaining it wasn't the grand scale epic I thought it might be. For a monster hunter there are few episodes with any grand beasts. Some of them were a little underwhelming. It can be a bit slow in some episodes and Cavill's dull tones do become a bit annoying after a while. Thankfully it did pick up towards the end. Hopefully if they do a second series we will see a bit more monster action.
  
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
2017 | Action, Sci-Fi
CGI (1 more)
Cast
A Fresh Take On A Classic Character
This movie has been polarizing and I can see why. Some of the creative decisions taken seem odd and feel slightly out of place is a monster movie blockbuster and more as if they belong in an indie art movie. Although I thought that for the most part these decisions worked in the movie's favour. Also, one thing is for sure, it's better than the last Godzilla movie that we got.
  
Stephan's Monster (Vampires of Vadin #2)
Stephan's Monster (Vampires of Vadin #2)
Shelby Rhodes | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Stephan's Monster (Vampires of Vadin #2) by Shelby Rhodes
Stephen's Monster is the second book in the Vampires of Vadin, and it goes off in a different direction than I thought it would! I was hoping for Asher and Kaiden's story, but no. Instead I get Jayden and Stephen, an opposite's attract couple, with deep and dark similarities. They are drawn to each other, and Stephen tries to help Jayden overcome his 'monster'.

Whilst these two have backgrounds as heartbreaking as you could imagine, this is not a heartbreaking story. Instead, it is one of acceptance, of love, and even of hope. Stephen's obsession with pink made me laugh, as Jayden's monster made me cry. So many highs and lows in this book, and I loved every word.

Nice to reunite with Adrian and Xavier from book one, plus other characters. If you enjoy dark romances with tortured heroes, then I can absolutely and utterly recommend this book!

**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!
  
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
2021 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Great Sfx (1 more)
The big fights
Rather silly plot (0 more)
Not the Monster Mash I hoped for
Finally back in the Cinema last night to see this. I've not thought much of the last few Godzilla films compared to the old '98 one or even the old Godzilla vs films. This is better than the recent ones just by a small margin. The SFX are great, very detailed and the fights are very good. Just wish they lasted longer and were more of them. The plot stringing them together is rather silly though and by the end almost forgotten about.
  
Colossal (2016)
Colossal (2016)
2016 | Comedy, Drama
Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is out all night drinking and comes home to her boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens). Tim is headed to work and tired of Gloria’s partying ways. He’s packed her bags and tells her to not be there when he comes home from work. With no job, no place to live, and her life seemingly in at its low point she decided to go back to her home town. She is able to stay in her childhood home which is empty and she finds herself sleeping on the floor. Gloria heads out to get an air mattress to make her a little more comfortable. On her way back she runs into a childhood friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis). He invites her to the bar he owns and despite the fact drinking ruined her relationship and is the reason she finds herself in this position she agrees.

Gloria winds up spending all night drinking with Oscar and his buddies. She stumbles home and passes out. She is awoken the next day by a phone call telling her about a giant monster that has appeared in Seoul. Gloria, Oscar and his two friends (Tim Blake and Austin Stowell) meet up again that night to talk about the Earth shaking event and wind up drinking all night, again. Gloria wakes up in the morning and again the monster appears in Seoul. It showed up at the exact time and the exact same spot in Seoul. As Gloria watches the footage of the newest sighting a strange thing occurs, the monster scratches its head in a very familiar way. Ever since Gloria was little she had a tick of scratching the top of her head in a particular way. Now on TV the monster is doing the same thing. She looks at the footage from the last sighting and notices that the monster looks to be carrying something, exactly like she was carrying the mattress she bought the morning before through the park. Is she the monster? If she is why is it only appearing in Seoul?

Colossal is a very interesting and original take on the “monster” movie. I hesitate to describe any more of the movie in the narrative because I really was surprised by the direction the movie took and think anyone why watches it should not have a preconceived idea of what is going to happen. Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis are real good. Sudeikis really surprised me in his role. It wasn’t his typical character and I thought he played it really well. The supporting cast is okay but not particularly memorable. But the story really was focused on the two main characters. I thought the film was funny and dark. I definitely laughed throughout the film. There were times I questioned where the story was going. It didn’t transition from one point to the next very well. But I thought it did a good job of bringing everything together in the end. The visuals were good but not great but that is to be expected with an independent film. Another thing I will remember from this film was the soundtrack. The music seem to really follow the tone of the movie well.

This is a movie I will definitely find myself watching again. The story was interesting and, minus some sloppy plot transitions, was really well done.
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) in Movies

Apr 11, 2021 (Updated Apr 11, 2021)  
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
2021 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
You would think that a film about massive monsters battling out wouldn't be boring... but it was. My friend had warned me, but I thought maybe she was being too hard on the film. These Godzilla/Kong movies are normally big, dumb fun. This one? Snore.
The monster fights were the best parts, seriously, cut all the humans and I would have actually enjoyed it. I want to know where these scientists get their degrees, because they are all dumb af. There wasn't even someone attractive to keep me engaged, my chicken tendies and the promise of the big monster fight at the end were basically the reason I stayed.

I imagine I'll forget this film by tomorrow, much like I did the other two Godzilla films. At least the previous Kong film had Tom Hiddleston in the tight blue t-shirt to keep things interesting.

Just go re-watch Pacific Rim.
  
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Rodney Barnes (472 KP) rated Monster Hunter (2020) in Movies

Feb 19, 2021 (Updated Feb 19, 2021)  
Monster Hunter (2020)
Monster Hunter (2020)
2020 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Elements of the Game (0 more)
Dialogue and the Soundtrack (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
I am a big fan of the Monster Hunter games, That is a consistently good game series. This movie was good in the sense that it stayed true to a lot of elements in the game, but disappoints in story mode. Instead of this being a straight fantasy movie that takes place in the game world, they made it a dimensional crossover into the Monster Hunter world. Jovovich and her team of Army Rangers are looking for a lost team that got pulled into the other world by a storm. They all except her meet their end due to the creatures of that world. The dialogue between Jaa and Jovovich in the movie was tiresome. In the sense he didn't talk English and they were communicating through single words and gestures. It was not until you meet Pearlman's character until you get more good dialogue. The fight scenes and the action was very good. Milla is a badass as always. The ending was set up for sequel. The only thing that I think needs to be done is to get another director and someone else to do the Soundtrack for this franchise. I thought the music was terrible. If you love playing Monster Hunter...then give this movie a chance.