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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The First Purge (2018) in Movies
Mar 3, 2019
Entirely unnecessary
It really frustrates me when they make films like this that are so obviously motivated by the money only. Did we really need a prequel to the Purge films to know exactly how it all began? Of course we didn't as everything we needed to know was in the other Purge films anyway. How many people have really wanted a Purge prequel? And sadly this film is as unnecessary as you'd expect.
Most of it plays out in a similar way to the others, and is entirely predictable and lacking in originality. It doesn't even have any creepy costumes or decent deaths like the others, so it really is lacking entirely. It gets slightly more interesting towards the end with the Raid-like tower block scenes but even this seems to just be trying to replicate the Raid and all of the other films like it. The characters too are all immediately forgettable.
Unless you absolutely love the other Purge films, this really isn't worth a watch.
Most of it plays out in a similar way to the others, and is entirely predictable and lacking in originality. It doesn't even have any creepy costumes or decent deaths like the others, so it really is lacking entirely. It gets slightly more interesting towards the end with the Raid-like tower block scenes but even this seems to just be trying to replicate the Raid and all of the other films like it. The characters too are all immediately forgettable.
Unless you absolutely love the other Purge films, this really isn't worth a watch.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Chime and Punishment (Clock Shop Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
With just two weeks to go until the town’s clock town starts ticking again, Ruth Clagan and her friends are busy getting everything ready to go. In order to help offset the expenses, they are hosting a fund raiser. However, Kim Gray, the town manager, is a no show until she is discovered crushed under the bell destined for the tower. Obviously, someone hated her. But who?
I was very surprised to see Kim was the victim, but pleasantly so since she’s been a pain in the previous books in the series. We learn even more what a nasty character she is along the way to the satisfying climax, even if one small part of the mystery isn’t quite resolved. The characters are charming as ever, and we get to know a few different supporting players this time, which I enjoyed.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-chime-and-punishment-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was very surprised to see Kim was the victim, but pleasantly so since she’s been a pain in the previous books in the series. We learn even more what a nasty character she is along the way to the satisfying climax, even if one small part of the mystery isn’t quite resolved. The characters are charming as ever, and we get to know a few different supporting players this time, which I enjoyed.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-chime-and-punishment-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Spooner (0 KP) rated The Dark Tower (2017) in Movies
Feb 25, 2018
Could have been so good!!!
Omg. If there was a book that could have been a great movie franchise,Dark Tower was that book. What the hell was Stephen King thinking with selling the rights to a no name director. I heard the only reason the director got the job was because the books helped him learn English.
Yeah ok so what? Just because I played a video game all the way through doesen't mean I should direct a movie version of it.
Why the hell was this a sequel to the books also? Not everyone has read the books. Newcomers aren't gonna understand this because they never read the books.
Idris Elba was a great Roland and sadly the only good thing about the movie. Matthew mccoughnahey was ok as the man in black. Honestly I thought Ray liotta would have been better.
This isn't a god awful movie,it's just a very poor take on the books. If Ron Howard had stayed on I know he would have nailed it.
Yeah ok so what? Just because I played a video game all the way through doesen't mean I should direct a movie version of it.
Why the hell was this a sequel to the books also? Not everyone has read the books. Newcomers aren't gonna understand this because they never read the books.
Idris Elba was a great Roland and sadly the only good thing about the movie. Matthew mccoughnahey was ok as the man in black. Honestly I thought Ray liotta would have been better.
This isn't a god awful movie,it's just a very poor take on the books. If Ron Howard had stayed on I know he would have nailed it.
Reiko LJ (126 KP) rated Hearts in Atlantis in Books
Jul 26, 2018
Hearts in lukewarm water
As someone who hasn't read any of the Dark Tower series outside of the mentions in King's short stories it was interesting to have a reference pop up again. Coupled with the "The Little Sisters of Eluria" from 'Everything's Eventual' it's enough to pique my interest in the series.
And on that note, the first section of this book was probably the best. A great reflection on the ideals and struggles of adolescence with a hearty mix of emotion and the ties that bind us.
What followed was a slog of a read. It was nice to follow the threads of connection between the original three friends through the years but most of the time it was just a chore.
It seems as though I always struggle when King's work that veers from the supernatural or strange. He meanders around with unnecessary details and where it matters, leaves too much unsaid.
Another mediocre one for me.
And on that note, the first section of this book was probably the best. A great reflection on the ideals and struggles of adolescence with a hearty mix of emotion and the ties that bind us.
What followed was a slog of a read. It was nice to follow the threads of connection between the original three friends through the years but most of the time it was just a chore.
It seems as though I always struggle when King's work that veers from the supernatural or strange. He meanders around with unnecessary details and where it matters, leaves too much unsaid.
Another mediocre one for me.
Deborah (162 KP) rated White Rose Dies in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Main problem is that as its heart it assumes that the skeletons found in the reign of Charles II are the so-called Princes in the Tower and that they were murdered, neither of which I believe to be true. There isn't a shred of evidence that they were killed by anyone and the skeletons in questions we can't even be sure of the gender of. The author claims they are where Thomas More said they were buried, but in fact they were supposedly found exactly where More said they weren't! Said skeleton were also supposedly tipped on a rubbish heap and then later recovered, so there can be no absolute certainty that the bones interred in Westminster Abbey are the same ones. Of course science could answer so many of our questions now, but these bones have been refused permission for further examination - presumably as the powers that be realise that this will put paid to what they see as a good story on their tourist trail!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) in Movies
Jul 3, 2019 (Updated Jul 3, 2019)
Seventh Spider-Man movie gets off to a slightly wobbly start, almost seeming to have been slipped a real hospital pass by Endgame: clearly it feels obliged to address the rather messy state of the MCU, in addition to making a big fuss about being a proper MCU film (much more than the non-Sony MCU films do). However, once Spider-Man and his moderately amazing friends head off to Europe the film perks up considerably, especially with the appearance of Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio (Gyllenhaal is very good value).
The film is genuinely funny and benefits a lot from a clever plot - the problem is that the nature of the plot is extremely guessable, even if you're only passingly familiar with the comics. Still, good jokes, nice performances, and the best Tower Bridge-based VFX sequence since Gorgo in 1961. I think it would be unwise to try and intuit the whole future direction of the Marvel project from this one film, but this is still good (if slightly uneven) fun.
The film is genuinely funny and benefits a lot from a clever plot - the problem is that the nature of the plot is extremely guessable, even if you're only passingly familiar with the comics. Still, good jokes, nice performances, and the best Tower Bridge-based VFX sequence since Gorgo in 1961. I think it would be unwise to try and intuit the whole future direction of the Marvel project from this one film, but this is still good (if slightly uneven) fun.
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