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Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Beatles: Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years (2016) in Movies
Sep 29, 2021
A film worth getting into your life.
Reviewing documentaries is always a bit tricky, since it is often difficult to separate the quality of the film making from your emotional attachment to the subject material. In my case, my early life was saturated with Beatlemania. Although I was only 2 year’s old in 1963 at the start of it all, I had three older siblings who ramped up the excitement so much that it permeated my young mind. I still remember being vehemently “Sssshhed” since I was making too much noise during the live and ground-breaking “All you need is Love” telecast!
Ron Howard’s film focuses on “the touring years” which as depicted were truly manic, spanning from 1963 to 1966 before then skipping forward to 1969 for their final rooftop concert. This was in a time when airline travel was not the more comfortable and smoke-free environment it is today, so these worldwide trips much have been seriously grueling, even without the adoration that reached dangerous proportions when they reached their destinations.
Howard has clearly had his research team scour the world for archive clips since – whilst sensitively skipping some of the more ‘commonly seen’ materials, like the “jewelry shaking” clip – the film shows concert action I certainly had never seen before.
The film is also nicely interlaced with celebrity cameos recalling their linkage to the Fab Four’s performances (often moving, like Whoopi Goldberg’s) and the group’s “legacy” effect on modern-day art (in Richard Curtis’s case rather less convincing). One of the most striking of these is that of Sigourney Weaver recounting her attendance as a pre-teen at the Beatle’s Rose Bowl performance in LA. There, in the newsreel footage of adoring fans, is the unmistakable face of the ‘before she was famous’ actress: at least I hope it really was her (as the clip’s timing implied) and not a lookalike, since that would be really disappointing!
Also featuring – although not enough for my liking – are Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, recounting their feelings about the events and what happened behind the closed doors of hotel rooms or – most notably – a meat truck.
What shines through is the honesty and intelligence of Lennon and McCartney, typified by the idiotic questioning of journalists, some of who had done so little homework they didn’t even know there wasn’t a Beatle called Eric! Some of the group’s off the cuff responses were priceless: “What is the secret of your success?” asks one journo. “We don’t know” quips John. “If we knew we’d form another group and be managers.”
While the film has enormous energy in its first two thirds, it rather runs out of momentum in its final reel…. a bit like the Beatles did in fact. It also has elements of gimmickry like the smoke rising from photo cigarettes which gets a tad tiresome after the tenth occurrence.
But this is a very watchable and enjoyable rock down memory lane for 50-somethings and for any fans old and young of the Fab Four’s music. Highly Recommended. Note that the documentary itself is about 90 minutes in length, with another 30 minutes of live concert music tagged onto the end post-titles (which for travel reasons I was unfortunately unable to stay for so can’t comment on).
Ron Howard’s film focuses on “the touring years” which as depicted were truly manic, spanning from 1963 to 1966 before then skipping forward to 1969 for their final rooftop concert. This was in a time when airline travel was not the more comfortable and smoke-free environment it is today, so these worldwide trips much have been seriously grueling, even without the adoration that reached dangerous proportions when they reached their destinations.
Howard has clearly had his research team scour the world for archive clips since – whilst sensitively skipping some of the more ‘commonly seen’ materials, like the “jewelry shaking” clip – the film shows concert action I certainly had never seen before.
The film is also nicely interlaced with celebrity cameos recalling their linkage to the Fab Four’s performances (often moving, like Whoopi Goldberg’s) and the group’s “legacy” effect on modern-day art (in Richard Curtis’s case rather less convincing). One of the most striking of these is that of Sigourney Weaver recounting her attendance as a pre-teen at the Beatle’s Rose Bowl performance in LA. There, in the newsreel footage of adoring fans, is the unmistakable face of the ‘before she was famous’ actress: at least I hope it really was her (as the clip’s timing implied) and not a lookalike, since that would be really disappointing!
Also featuring – although not enough for my liking – are Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, recounting their feelings about the events and what happened behind the closed doors of hotel rooms or – most notably – a meat truck.
What shines through is the honesty and intelligence of Lennon and McCartney, typified by the idiotic questioning of journalists, some of who had done so little homework they didn’t even know there wasn’t a Beatle called Eric! Some of the group’s off the cuff responses were priceless: “What is the secret of your success?” asks one journo. “We don’t know” quips John. “If we knew we’d form another group and be managers.”
While the film has enormous energy in its first two thirds, it rather runs out of momentum in its final reel…. a bit like the Beatles did in fact. It also has elements of gimmickry like the smoke rising from photo cigarettes which gets a tad tiresome after the tenth occurrence.
But this is a very watchable and enjoyable rock down memory lane for 50-somethings and for any fans old and young of the Fab Four’s music. Highly Recommended. Note that the documentary itself is about 90 minutes in length, with another 30 minutes of live concert music tagged onto the end post-titles (which for travel reasons I was unfortunately unable to stay for so can’t comment on).
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Odin's Ravens (second edition) in Tabletop Games
Sep 8, 2021
Getting the group together for game nights has always been a struggle – especially now (at time of writing) in this Covid world. So finding good games for 1-2 players has become a priority for me recently. Enter Odin’s Ravens, a 2-player race across the world. Does this game soar to meet my expectations, or does it fall flat in the end? Keep reading to find out.
Odin’s Ravens is a light game of strategy and hand management in which 2 players are racing to be the first of Odin’s ravens (duh) to travel around the world. To setup the game, shuffle the land cards and place a line of 16 cards directly between the two players. Land cards are divided into two halves, each depicting a different landscape. This line of Land cards acts as the route around the world for both Ravens. Players choose one end to be the start/finish lines, and place their Raven meeple on their corresponding side of the starting Land card. During play, the Ravens will travel down their side of the Land cards, and will switch to the opponent’s side for the flight back to the finish. Each player receives a set of 25 Flight cards and 8 Loki cards, to be shuffled and kept separate from each other. Both players then draws 5 cards into their hand, in any combination of Flight and Loki cards. Choose a starting player, and the game is ready to begin!
On a typical game turn, you will play as many cards from your hand as you want, either Flight cards, Loki cards, or combinations of the two. Flight cards allow you to move your raven down the path. In order to move your raven, you must play a Flight card that matches the landscape of the next Land card on your path. (Ex. if the next space is a Forest, you must play a Forest Flight card). If you have no Flight cards in hand that match the next card on your path, then you may discard any two flight cards of the same type to move forward one space. Loki cards allow you to perform Trickery actions, which alter the flight paths of both players. Some actions include rotating Land cards, moving ravens forward/backward a number of spaces, swapping Land cards, etc. It is important to note that once a Loki card has been played, it is removed from the game entirely – you only have 8 Loki cards total, so use them wisely! After you have played all the cards you wish on your turn, you will then draw 3 cards (in any combination of Flight/Loki cards), and end your turn. You may never have more than 7 cards in hand. Play continues in this fashion until one player has reached the end of their flight path – resulting in victory!
Seems simple enough, right? Well, it is and it isn’t. The overall gameplay itself is simplistic – draw and play cards to move your raven towards victory. The implementation of Loki cards adds a strategic twist to the game that keeps each player on their toes. Flight cards alone leave you at the mercy of the luck of the draw, but Loki cards give players a little more control over their game strategy. They provide ways to alter the flight path to benefit yourself or inhibit your opponent at various points throughout the game. Add in the fact that each player only has 8 Loki cards total, and that ups the strategy as well . You only have a finite amount of trickery to pull, so you have to be sure to use it at the perfect time. Was your opponent able to counteract your attempted trickery, or did you execute it perfectly for them to fall into your trap?
The components of this game are pretty standard and straightforward. The cards are good quality and are easy to manipulate, and the wooden raven meeples are big and chunky. Nice and simple! The artwork of the game, although clear and effective, is pretty basic and leaves much to be desired. It is clear in the way that it is easy to identify each type of landscape and determine the actions of Loki cards, but overall it feels a little too simplistic and not as immersive as it could be.
Odin’s Ravens is a decent 2-player game, although not my favorite. If I needed something simple, light, and relatively fast for 2 players, it is definitely one that I would pull off the shelf. But I have other 2-player games that I would rather play instead. Will it stay in my collection forever? Hard to say, but for the time being it has a spot on my shelves. If you are looking for something that is relatively simple, but has opportunities for strategy, check out Odin’s Ravens. Purple Phoenix Games gives this one a flighty 13 / 18 – you just gotta keep your eye on that Loki…
Odin’s Ravens is a light game of strategy and hand management in which 2 players are racing to be the first of Odin’s ravens (duh) to travel around the world. To setup the game, shuffle the land cards and place a line of 16 cards directly between the two players. Land cards are divided into two halves, each depicting a different landscape. This line of Land cards acts as the route around the world for both Ravens. Players choose one end to be the start/finish lines, and place their Raven meeple on their corresponding side of the starting Land card. During play, the Ravens will travel down their side of the Land cards, and will switch to the opponent’s side for the flight back to the finish. Each player receives a set of 25 Flight cards and 8 Loki cards, to be shuffled and kept separate from each other. Both players then draws 5 cards into their hand, in any combination of Flight and Loki cards. Choose a starting player, and the game is ready to begin!
On a typical game turn, you will play as many cards from your hand as you want, either Flight cards, Loki cards, or combinations of the two. Flight cards allow you to move your raven down the path. In order to move your raven, you must play a Flight card that matches the landscape of the next Land card on your path. (Ex. if the next space is a Forest, you must play a Forest Flight card). If you have no Flight cards in hand that match the next card on your path, then you may discard any two flight cards of the same type to move forward one space. Loki cards allow you to perform Trickery actions, which alter the flight paths of both players. Some actions include rotating Land cards, moving ravens forward/backward a number of spaces, swapping Land cards, etc. It is important to note that once a Loki card has been played, it is removed from the game entirely – you only have 8 Loki cards total, so use them wisely! After you have played all the cards you wish on your turn, you will then draw 3 cards (in any combination of Flight/Loki cards), and end your turn. You may never have more than 7 cards in hand. Play continues in this fashion until one player has reached the end of their flight path – resulting in victory!
Seems simple enough, right? Well, it is and it isn’t. The overall gameplay itself is simplistic – draw and play cards to move your raven towards victory. The implementation of Loki cards adds a strategic twist to the game that keeps each player on their toes. Flight cards alone leave you at the mercy of the luck of the draw, but Loki cards give players a little more control over their game strategy. They provide ways to alter the flight path to benefit yourself or inhibit your opponent at various points throughout the game. Add in the fact that each player only has 8 Loki cards total, and that ups the strategy as well . You only have a finite amount of trickery to pull, so you have to be sure to use it at the perfect time. Was your opponent able to counteract your attempted trickery, or did you execute it perfectly for them to fall into your trap?
The components of this game are pretty standard and straightforward. The cards are good quality and are easy to manipulate, and the wooden raven meeples are big and chunky. Nice and simple! The artwork of the game, although clear and effective, is pretty basic and leaves much to be desired. It is clear in the way that it is easy to identify each type of landscape and determine the actions of Loki cards, but overall it feels a little too simplistic and not as immersive as it could be.
Odin’s Ravens is a decent 2-player game, although not my favorite. If I needed something simple, light, and relatively fast for 2 players, it is definitely one that I would pull off the shelf. But I have other 2-player games that I would rather play instead. Will it stay in my collection forever? Hard to say, but for the time being it has a spot on my shelves. If you are looking for something that is relatively simple, but has opportunities for strategy, check out Odin’s Ravens. Purple Phoenix Games gives this one a flighty 13 / 18 – you just gotta keep your eye on that Loki…
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2393 KP) rated Drowned Under in Books
Mar 20, 2019
Cyd’s Cruising to Find Missing Passengers
It’s the week before Christmas, and Cyd is dreading the upcoming holiday filled with rumors, whispers, and awkward family moments. Then Barry Manzoni comes to her for help. Barry is a childhood friend and Cyd’s ex-husband. His parents are on an Australian cruise, and they vanished part way through. Even though they didn’t book with Redondo Travel, Cyd still begins to use her contacts to see what she can learn. In fact, she uses one of those contacts to get herself booked on the next cruise their ship is taking, which is following the same route. Okay, so she might be using the trip to avoid Christmas with her family, but she does want to help Barry.
After a whirlwind trip half way around the world, she arrives on the ship only to find a dead body. The crew want to say it is a tragic accident, but Cyd suspects foul play. Does this tie into the disappearance of the Manzonis? Can Cyd trust anyone on board?
If you haven’t read the first book in the series, a warning – this book does by necessity spoil some of the events of the first book in the series. If you have read the first book, you know exactly what to expect here, and you won’t be disappointed. We’ve got a fast-paced story with twists that keep Cyd hopping as she tries to uncover what exactly is happening. There is a strong screwball comedy element that keeps us laughing, although some events and Cyd herself keeps us grounded. I did feel the book got a bit frantic at times, but it never lasted too long. The characters are a little caricature as well, but that just makes them fit perfectly into this world. There is a smattering of foul language here. We also have a very strong sub-plot with another endangered animal, but there is no animal cruelty involved this time around. I enjoyed the different take on the Christmas setting – since the book is set mostly off the coast of Australia, we don’t have cold and snow, after all. This is a fun ride, so pick up this book and hold on tight.
After a whirlwind trip half way around the world, she arrives on the ship only to find a dead body. The crew want to say it is a tragic accident, but Cyd suspects foul play. Does this tie into the disappearance of the Manzonis? Can Cyd trust anyone on board?
If you haven’t read the first book in the series, a warning – this book does by necessity spoil some of the events of the first book in the series. If you have read the first book, you know exactly what to expect here, and you won’t be disappointed. We’ve got a fast-paced story with twists that keep Cyd hopping as she tries to uncover what exactly is happening. There is a strong screwball comedy element that keeps us laughing, although some events and Cyd herself keeps us grounded. I did feel the book got a bit frantic at times, but it never lasted too long. The characters are a little caricature as well, but that just makes them fit perfectly into this world. There is a smattering of foul language here. We also have a very strong sub-plot with another endangered animal, but there is no animal cruelty involved this time around. I enjoyed the different take on the Christmas setting – since the book is set mostly off the coast of Australia, we don’t have cold and snow, after all. This is a fun ride, so pick up this book and hold on tight.
BookblogbyCari (345 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books
Jul 31, 2018
This book is an all-singing, all-dancing time-travel-mystery-thriller - the plot is simultaneously absurd and delightful.
The action kicks off immediately when the Protagonist wakes up with no recollection of who he is, and witnesses a murder. But events take a stranger turn the following day when he wakes up as someone else, replaying the events of the previous day.
Effectively, the Protagonist takes the roles of several different versions of himself in randomly assigned host bodies, replaying the events of the same day over and over. His predicament is a form of rehabilitative imprisonment, and he soon learns he can only escape this predicament by solving the murder.
There are plots and sub plots galore, with juicy gossip at every turn, and I revelled in it! With so much going on, I had no pause to try and figure out who the murderer was. It became quite hard to keep up even before I had reached the halfway mark. As I went along the book, I found that the author was making reference to a lot of things that had slipped my mind.
The Protagonist struggles with ascertaining and maintaining his true identity and struggles to ascertain and assure himself of who’s a friend and who’s a foe. He tries to leave clues for himself and his helpers but his host bodies alternatively provide assistance and impediments.
The Protagonist solves the central murder with 20% of the book left to go - he's still on a mission to do the save the others in his situation. And with 10% of the book left he sets out to solve another murder on the same premises.
The author uses an old fashioned but bearable writing style. One thing I particularly enjoyed about the book was how the soul of the Protagonist reacts in the bodies of different hosts, all with different tendencies and propensities.
It is a pleasure to read, and I may have enjoyed it more had I been able to keep track of the minutiae.
You can check out more of my book reviews on Wordpress or Facebook:
https://bookblogbycari.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bookblogbycari/
The action kicks off immediately when the Protagonist wakes up with no recollection of who he is, and witnesses a murder. But events take a stranger turn the following day when he wakes up as someone else, replaying the events of the previous day.
Effectively, the Protagonist takes the roles of several different versions of himself in randomly assigned host bodies, replaying the events of the same day over and over. His predicament is a form of rehabilitative imprisonment, and he soon learns he can only escape this predicament by solving the murder.
There are plots and sub plots galore, with juicy gossip at every turn, and I revelled in it! With so much going on, I had no pause to try and figure out who the murderer was. It became quite hard to keep up even before I had reached the halfway mark. As I went along the book, I found that the author was making reference to a lot of things that had slipped my mind.
The Protagonist struggles with ascertaining and maintaining his true identity and struggles to ascertain and assure himself of who’s a friend and who’s a foe. He tries to leave clues for himself and his helpers but his host bodies alternatively provide assistance and impediments.
The Protagonist solves the central murder with 20% of the book left to go - he's still on a mission to do the save the others in his situation. And with 10% of the book left he sets out to solve another murder on the same premises.
The author uses an old fashioned but bearable writing style. One thing I particularly enjoyed about the book was how the soul of the Protagonist reacts in the bodies of different hosts, all with different tendencies and propensities.
It is a pleasure to read, and I may have enjoyed it more had I been able to keep track of the minutiae.
You can check out more of my book reviews on Wordpress or Facebook:
https://bookblogbycari.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bookblogbycari/
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Where We Belong in Books
Jan 2, 2019
What do ancient artifacts, camels, the Chicago fire, sisters, and romance have in common??? LYNN AUSTIN and Where We Belong!!! I have a confession...this was my first Lynn Austin book. I know, I know, put the pitchforks down. But when I saw the cover and the time period(Gilded Age)....I knew I just HAD up read it! What's even better, is that the sisters in this story were inspired by real sisters who travelled and did research and found incredible ancient artifacts...in the 1800s. These days it is far from unusual to have women scientists and archeologists, researchers and professors...however, in the 1800s, it was highly frowned upon and many doors to women were closed. And it is because of women like this who paved the way for us today.
The heart of the story is of course, Jesus. And how His forgiveness surpasses all of our mistakes. He is waiting for us to surrender the past to Him and let Him heal our hearts. We also take a little peek into the ancient manuscripts that have been found of the Bible and the proof that followed, that even though hundreds....thousands....of years have passed....God's word has not changed. The Bible we read today is the very same Bible that was originally written.
There were several plot twists and I honestly had no idea HOW this was all going to end. But Lynn Austin did not disappoint. She did a fabulous job weaving the storyline with flashbacks and several different viewpoints. I loved seeing into the past of the main characters. It opens your eyes to why they are the way they are ultimately.
If you are longing for an adventure....this is the book for you! Negotiate with a Bedouin Sheik, overcome the challenges of the past, survive the Chicago fire, and above all, see Jesus work in the lives of normal, everyday people and as a result....see their lives travel down an extraordinary road as they find where they belong.
I received a complimentary copy of Where We Belong from the publishers through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The heart of the story is of course, Jesus. And how His forgiveness surpasses all of our mistakes. He is waiting for us to surrender the past to Him and let Him heal our hearts. We also take a little peek into the ancient manuscripts that have been found of the Bible and the proof that followed, that even though hundreds....thousands....of years have passed....God's word has not changed. The Bible we read today is the very same Bible that was originally written.
There were several plot twists and I honestly had no idea HOW this was all going to end. But Lynn Austin did not disappoint. She did a fabulous job weaving the storyline with flashbacks and several different viewpoints. I loved seeing into the past of the main characters. It opens your eyes to why they are the way they are ultimately.
If you are longing for an adventure....this is the book for you! Negotiate with a Bedouin Sheik, overcome the challenges of the past, survive the Chicago fire, and above all, see Jesus work in the lives of normal, everyday people and as a result....see their lives travel down an extraordinary road as they find where they belong.
I received a complimentary copy of Where We Belong from the publishers through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.