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David McK (3562 KP) rated Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) in Movies
Feb 10, 2019 (Updated May 8, 2021)
It's a Star Wars movie (3 more)
Donald Glover
Woody Harrelson
Alden Ehrenreich gives it his all in playing a younger Han Solo
Alden Ehrenreich is no Harrison Ford (2 more)
Predictable plot
The leader of Crimson Dawn didn't need to be who it is
The second of Disney's 'A Star Wars story' spin-off from the main (numbered) films followimg Rogue One, this one is largely held responsible for Disney's decision to slow down on releasing this spins offs (originally intended to be one every other year, in between the main ones) when it underperformed at the box office.
Personally, I feel a large reason for that underperformance is that, of all the characters in the original saga, Han is probably one of those least in the need to get an origin/prologue movie and that this was released during the summer months instead of the more traditional festive release period for a Star Wars movie.
Whereas Rogue One was, largely, a war movie, this one takes a different approach: more of a heist (complete with double and triple crossing) Western movie, if anything.
Personally, I feel a large reason for that underperformance is that, of all the characters in the original saga, Han is probably one of those least in the need to get an origin/prologue movie and that this was released during the summer months instead of the more traditional festive release period for a Star Wars movie.
Whereas Rogue One was, largely, a war movie, this one takes a different approach: more of a heist (complete with double and triple crossing) Western movie, if anything.
Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated After The Cure in Books
Feb 1, 2018
A non-traditional zombie book that stays with you.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I loved this book. It had such a unique take on the zombie genre, rivaled perhaps only by M.R. Carey's The Girl with all the Gifts . Even compared to Carey's book, it's still in a league of its own. Just read the title. After the Cure.
Can you imagine what that would be like for the 'zombies'? To be cured, but have memories of all the horrible things they did while they were infected? To try to pick up again, to reintegrate into life? How positively horrifying.
Then there's the research to build a case against the jerks that started it all. There's intrigue, twists, horror, and discoveries, all told from the viewpoint of after the world almost ended, but humanity managed to save itself just in the nick of time. ...Right?
I haven't read the rest of this series, so I can't speak for it all...but I can speak for this book. This was, is, an awesome book that I highly recommend for zombie fans!
Can you imagine what that would be like for the 'zombies'? To be cured, but have memories of all the horrible things they did while they were infected? To try to pick up again, to reintegrate into life? How positively horrifying.
Then there's the research to build a case against the jerks that started it all. There's intrigue, twists, horror, and discoveries, all told from the viewpoint of after the world almost ended, but humanity managed to save itself just in the nick of time. ...Right?
I haven't read the rest of this series, so I can't speak for it all...but I can speak for this book. This was, is, an awesome book that I highly recommend for zombie fans!
GirlzRevil (7 KP) rated All the Crooked Saints in Books
Mar 2, 2018
Slow to suck you in, but then seriously moving
This book was so hard for me to get into. I restarted it four times - I'm confident that was a result of my self inflicted expectations.
The Crooked Saints are not the traditional fictional characters we have grown to expect from Maggie - they are instead a reflection, a little bit from each of us. They are the struggles that we each experience, and for some of us the self-actualization that helps us move successfully through life.
I thought that once I brought it home, I'd read this book in just a few hours. I was so excited by this prospect, that the fiction of my assumption actually shocked me. I was somewhat disappointed in myself for my delay, but as I went on to learn - some miracles take longer than others.
I love this book. I will place it with my favorites and go back whenever I need a reminder about the type of person I'd like to be.
The Crooked Saints are not the traditional fictional characters we have grown to expect from Maggie - they are instead a reflection, a little bit from each of us. They are the struggles that we each experience, and for some of us the self-actualization that helps us move successfully through life.
I thought that once I brought it home, I'd read this book in just a few hours. I was so excited by this prospect, that the fiction of my assumption actually shocked me. I was somewhat disappointed in myself for my delay, but as I went on to learn - some miracles take longer than others.
I love this book. I will place it with my favorites and go back whenever I need a reminder about the type of person I'd like to be.
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Star Wars: Imperial Assault in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Star Wars: Imperial Assault: The Kotaku Review
Imperial Assault is a board game that was released in late 2014. I only got around to playing it over the weekend, and I already count those months between as wasted.
Having made a ton of money off their excellent X-Wing game before moving onto capital ship battles, Imperial Assault is Fantasy Flight’s shot at moving Star Wars into more traditional tabletop territory.
If you’ve ever played HeroQuest, Space Crusade or even XCOM, you’ll be familiar with the basics here: players take control of a character and take turns to move about a grid-based battlefield, using terrain as cover as they battle enemies and complete objectives.
It’s designed for 2-5 players, but shines brighter the closer you get to the latter. A single player—basically the dungeon master—takes control of all Imperial forces, while everyone else selects a single Rebel character, choosing from a stable of RPG class stalwarts (support, sniper, etc).
Reviewer: Luke Plunkett
Read the full review here: https://kotaku.com/star-wars-imperial-assault-the-kotaku-review-1734772222
Having made a ton of money off their excellent X-Wing game before moving onto capital ship battles, Imperial Assault is Fantasy Flight’s shot at moving Star Wars into more traditional tabletop territory.
If you’ve ever played HeroQuest, Space Crusade or even XCOM, you’ll be familiar with the basics here: players take control of a character and take turns to move about a grid-based battlefield, using terrain as cover as they battle enemies and complete objectives.
It’s designed for 2-5 players, but shines brighter the closer you get to the latter. A single player—basically the dungeon master—takes control of all Imperial forces, while everyone else selects a single Rebel character, choosing from a stable of RPG class stalwarts (support, sniper, etc).
Reviewer: Luke Plunkett
Read the full review here: https://kotaku.com/star-wars-imperial-assault-the-kotaku-review-1734772222
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dirty Harry (1971) in Movies
Feb 17, 2018 (Updated Feb 17, 2018)
Supremely tough cop thriller that helped elevate Clint Eastwood to iconic status. Worthless hippie-scumbag Scorpio commences reign of terror in San Francisco, only laconic police detective Harry Callaghan has the spine to do what must be done in order to stop him.
Probably best not to think too hard about the morality and politics on display: they are at best deeply illiberal and at worst borderline fascist (antihero Harry doesn't give a fig about Scorpio's legal rights, tortures a wounded prisoner for information, etc). The film is playing with a stacked deck, anyway: Scorpio (nice performance from Andy Robinson - it almost ended his career, as he became so closely associated with the role) is an irredeemable monster, the embodiment of every concern respectable folks had about the 60s counterculture. Needless to say Harry (embodying traditional American values) shows no mercy as the story progresses. Story is very well-told, with just enough moments of ambiguity to keep it from being solely a piece of ultra-right-wing wish fulfilment. Essential Clint.
Probably best not to think too hard about the morality and politics on display: they are at best deeply illiberal and at worst borderline fascist (antihero Harry doesn't give a fig about Scorpio's legal rights, tortures a wounded prisoner for information, etc). The film is playing with a stacked deck, anyway: Scorpio (nice performance from Andy Robinson - it almost ended his career, as he became so closely associated with the role) is an irredeemable monster, the embodiment of every concern respectable folks had about the 60s counterculture. Needless to say Harry (embodying traditional American values) shows no mercy as the story progresses. Story is very well-told, with just enough moments of ambiguity to keep it from being solely a piece of ultra-right-wing wish fulfilment. Essential Clint.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Lost Connections in Books
Mar 19, 2018
Sentiment is worthy but not cohesive
Johann Hari has delved into the world of depression and psychiatry, revealing his own battles with the condition and attempting to debunk approaches towards mental health. His intentions are worthy as it is a dense topic of discussion, and absolutely essential, but unfortunately Hari only focuses on one side.
His views on overprescription are completely accurate as many mental health professionals have a tendency to equate behaviour as a science, therefore looking towards traditional methods of treatment. However, his views that depression is totally reactive to environment is incorrect as many with other serious conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar, would have "endogenous" depression ie. where something goes wrong in the brain.
Much of this book concentrates on the disconnection from vital human requirements such as neighbourliness, professional fulfillment, acknowledgement of trauma and so on. His approach suggests that reconnecting may help the malaise. While I agree with half of his argument, others may find it oversimplified. But no doubt we do need a more compassionate attitude towards mental health.
His views on overprescription are completely accurate as many mental health professionals have a tendency to equate behaviour as a science, therefore looking towards traditional methods of treatment. However, his views that depression is totally reactive to environment is incorrect as many with other serious conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar, would have "endogenous" depression ie. where something goes wrong in the brain.
Much of this book concentrates on the disconnection from vital human requirements such as neighbourliness, professional fulfillment, acknowledgement of trauma and so on. His approach suggests that reconnecting may help the malaise. While I agree with half of his argument, others may find it oversimplified. But no doubt we do need a more compassionate attitude towards mental health.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Fellowship of the Ring in Books
Mar 23, 2018
So I listened to the audio book for this because I don't actually have the physical book and my library has it online that way. This was a dramatization of the book, more like a radio play than anything, and I really enjoyed it! It was like watching a full production while I was painting!
I have obvivously seen the movies quite a few times and I feel that they tie in very well together. There were a few things I did not recognize. I think a lot was left out, at least in the prose sections, not the dialogue, so I will go back and hopefully read this when I actually have the book. It has been something I have been wanting to do for a while. I did think that the audio book would be more like a traditional one, but this was the only one the library had, so there we go.
I am going to read the other two as soon as they become available!
I have obvivously seen the movies quite a few times and I feel that they tie in very well together. There were a few things I did not recognize. I think a lot was left out, at least in the prose sections, not the dialogue, so I will go back and hopefully read this when I actually have the book. It has been something I have been wanting to do for a while. I did think that the audio book would be more like a traditional one, but this was the only one the library had, so there we go.
I am going to read the other two as soon as they become available!
Gail (4 KP) rated Seventeen Days in Books
Jun 4, 2018
Seventeen days to fall in love. To give your everything to one person and hope for forever. Morgan is spoiled but not in the traditional way. Her mother wants nothing to do with her. She just wants her to stay out the light and press. She has no father either. So after a trip to Paris where she ends up in jail. She has been sent to live with her aunt.
Harrison is pretty awesome. Morgan has been through so much and yet she keeps moving. Nothing prepared her for Harrison and definitely wasn’t ready for his love or the consequences of that love. Harrison has overcome hardships and is a great catch for any girl. The love is instant and some what believable but I enjoyed it anyway.
This is a great book for an debut. I was amazed at home put together it was. No grammatical errors that I noticed. The plot and character growth were great. I can’t wait to see what she has in story for us next.
Harrison is pretty awesome. Morgan has been through so much and yet she keeps moving. Nothing prepared her for Harrison and definitely wasn’t ready for his love or the consequences of that love. Harrison has overcome hardships and is a great catch for any girl. The love is instant and some what believable but I enjoyed it anyway.
This is a great book for an debut. I was amazed at home put together it was. No grammatical errors that I noticed. The plot and character growth were great. I can’t wait to see what she has in story for us next.
Connie (244 KP) rated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in Video Games
Dec 8, 2018 (Updated Dec 8, 2018)
An amazing addition to an already fantastic franchise!
I haven't tried the actual online gameplay yet, but I can tell you that adventure mode is fantastic. I spent 8 hours after a full workday playing adventure mode; I've unlocked maybe a dozen fighters all told, some of whom I don't even recognize. There's a new mechanic that allows me to customize each fighter as I play, which allows me to improve characteristics that I like or use more frequently. I can even train my fighters to have different statistics, which unlocks a multitude of different playstyles.
I haven't actually tried to play the online Quickplay yet, though I will probably do so sometime this weekend. It's great that they have online as an option, because that was always an issue for me--often I couldn't find anyone available at the same time as myself, so I only had CPUs or each hero's journey to complete.
I'd give this 15 out of 10 if I could... And 20 out of 10 with the more traditional controller!
I haven't actually tried to play the online Quickplay yet, though I will probably do so sometime this weekend. It's great that they have online as an option, because that was always an issue for me--often I couldn't find anyone available at the same time as myself, so I only had CPUs or each hero's journey to complete.
I'd give this 15 out of 10 if I could... And 20 out of 10 with the more traditional controller!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Who is The Mystery Reader? in Books
Nov 4, 2019
Reading is a Superpower!
This book is broken up into many parts. The main story involves Zoom Squirrel who gets some help in reading for The Mystery Reader, a costumed superhero. But who is the masked man, er squirrel? And can Zoom enter the world of masked superheroes? After the main story, we get a couple of terrible (and by that, I mean delightful) puns and jokes related to reading. There’s also a section where we see the work that goes into creating a book.
As an adult, I don’t find these picture books as delightful as some of Mo’s other works. They are missing the humor and charm. However, I can see the appeal to young readers, and if the addition of superheroes to reading encourages kids to read, I’m all in favor of it. The multiple sections can make the book disjointed, especially if you are reading the book to a group of kids, but it would be great for kids ready to expand their reading beyond the traditional easy readers.
As an adult, I don’t find these picture books as delightful as some of Mo’s other works. They are missing the humor and charm. However, I can see the appeal to young readers, and if the addition of superheroes to reading encourages kids to read, I’m all in favor of it. The multiple sections can make the book disjointed, especially if you are reading the book to a group of kids, but it would be great for kids ready to expand their reading beyond the traditional easy readers.