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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Hacksaw Ridge (2016) in Movies
Dec 6, 2017
Good but too Hollywood-ised
This is yet another true life story I've never heard about until watching the film, but its a fascinating and harrowing story.
Andrew Garfield gives a great performance as Desmond, and his story is truly an intriguing one. The second half of the film during the actual war was very well done, it seemed very realistic and graphic without being too ott gory. And the documentary footage at the end of the real Desmond Does nearly had me in tears.
The main problem is this film has been Hollywood-ised, with over the top and out of place acting from some actors (my other half pointed this out early on and it was something I couldn't then unsee!) to irritating slow motion and patchy CGI. If they could just tell the real story without embellishing, it'd be so much better.
Andrew Garfield gives a great performance as Desmond, and his story is truly an intriguing one. The second half of the film during the actual war was very well done, it seemed very realistic and graphic without being too ott gory. And the documentary footage at the end of the real Desmond Does nearly had me in tears.
The main problem is this film has been Hollywood-ised, with over the top and out of place acting from some actors (my other half pointed this out early on and it was something I couldn't then unsee!) to irritating slow motion and patchy CGI. If they could just tell the real story without embellishing, it'd be so much better.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated The Blind Side (2009) in Movies
Jan 7, 2018
From rags to the Gridiron
The true story of of NFL professional player Michael Oher. It is the story about him how he was forgotten about and was being pushed through they system until the mother of a family feels for him and takes him in. The family teaches him about being part of the family and shows him he is important. They also stride to help him because of his raw size and talent joing the high school football team. Though his grades are a problem they all help him teachers included to strive and become a better student. The story is also the tale of how he made it into college and into the nfl and getting not only his high school degree but, his college degree. With out the help of the Tuohy family he might have ended up no where in life and had no future.
"Fairy tale meets Sci-Fi is a good way to describe the book Cinder. Cinder is based off of the character Cinderella, and the book carries bits of the fairy tale throughout it’s telling. She’s a true heroine that I’ve never seen before. She just wants to live her life. She doesn’t want to be judged or mistreated anymore. I think that’s something a lot of people can understand.
With most fairy tales, there is a prince, and as we all know Cinderella meets Prince Charming. Cinder meets her prince, Prince Kai, when he seeks her out. There are obviously some changes to the original Cinderella tale, and it is infused in an original story created by Marissa Meyer. She does a really good job combining the two stories without it becoming nonsense." Read the entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/cinder-by-marissa-meyer/
With most fairy tales, there is a prince, and as we all know Cinderella meets Prince Charming. Cinder meets her prince, Prince Kai, when he seeks her out. There are obviously some changes to the original Cinderella tale, and it is infused in an original story created by Marissa Meyer. She does a really good job combining the two stories without it becoming nonsense." Read the entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/cinder-by-marissa-meyer/
Awix (3310 KP) rated Fisherman's Friends (2019) in Movies
Mar 20, 2019 (Updated Mar 20, 2019)
Punishingly trite, manipulative and formulaic (not very) based-on-a-true-story rom-com melodrama. Jaded urban over-achiever finds himself stranded in remote rural community, learns to appreciate the value of The Important Things in Life; meanwhile a crew of hairy fishermen sing songs with lyrics like 'Nacker-nacker-toory-ay'. Cornwall and its inhabitants are arguably patronised a lot.
Utterly predictable and not very funny (well, we did laugh a lot during the bit with the funeral, but we're not very proud of that), the script overdoses on feelgood platitudes while not bothering all that much about things like characterisation or internal logic. The music is not that bad (if you like that sort of thing), but sheesh, you can go and buy a CD for that. In the end this is a sort of lobotomised version of Local Hero with added folk music.
Utterly predictable and not very funny (well, we did laugh a lot during the bit with the funeral, but we're not very proud of that), the script overdoses on feelgood platitudes while not bothering all that much about things like characterisation or internal logic. The music is not that bad (if you like that sort of thing), but sheesh, you can go and buy a CD for that. In the end this is a sort of lobotomised version of Local Hero with added folk music.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist (Mrs. Pollifax, #13) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Mrs. Pollifax teams up with her old friend Farrell and heads to Jordan to smuggle out a manuscript about life in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Their mission is complicated when someone - the wrong someone – seems interested in them. Might it have something to do with Mrs. Pollifax’s seatmate from the plane?
Welcome back to the late 90’s and the penultimate Mrs. Pollifax adventure. Things get off to a great start, but unfortunately Mrs. Pollifax isn’t a driving force in most of the climax. That’s only a minor complaint because any time spent with Mrs. Pollifax is plenty of fun, and that holds true again here. The characters, new and old, are a delight. And the book provides a good reminder of the political situation of 20 years ago.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-mrs-pollifax-innocent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Welcome back to the late 90’s and the penultimate Mrs. Pollifax adventure. Things get off to a great start, but unfortunately Mrs. Pollifax isn’t a driving force in most of the climax. That’s only a minor complaint because any time spent with Mrs. Pollifax is plenty of fun, and that holds true again here. The characters, new and old, are a delight. And the book provides a good reminder of the political situation of 20 years ago.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-mrs-pollifax-innocent.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Mercy (2018) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018
A little depressing
I think the problem with this film is that it's a little too depressing. It's a true story that hasn't been hollywood-ised, and it comes across as very bleak and sad.
Performance wise, Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz do well and they come across as endearing and likeable characters. The issue is that the story feels like it's missing something. It hurries along at a rather speedy pace and although it doesn't at least linger too long, I feel like there's more to Donald Crowhurst's story and life than they tell us. The score at times seems a little misplaced, seeming ominous in what should be a fairly light hearted scene. The scenes towards the end of the film that really highlight the loneliness and madness are done well and some are actually quite harrowing to watch. This is definitely not a feel good film.
Performance wise, Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz do well and they come across as endearing and likeable characters. The issue is that the story feels like it's missing something. It hurries along at a rather speedy pace and although it doesn't at least linger too long, I feel like there's more to Donald Crowhurst's story and life than they tell us. The score at times seems a little misplaced, seeming ominous in what should be a fairly light hearted scene. The scenes towards the end of the film that really highlight the loneliness and madness are done well and some are actually quite harrowing to watch. This is definitely not a feel good film.
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Books
Jul 12, 2018
This year I have challenged myself into reading novels that are not the typical novel that I would have picked up. This was one of those novels that I just never really thought I needed to read. The characters are very developed and the main character was very realistic to me. I found myself enthralled by the characters and how it is true to high school friendships.
This book deals with some mature topics and can be a trigger for anyone who has been sexually abused. I thought that this book dealt nicely with the character's faults and his significant life problems. This was nothing like I expected. By the end of the novel I felt kind of numb and on the verge of tears.
I think this is a very powerful novel. I am glad that I gave this book a chance. I would definitely recommend this book.
This book deals with some mature topics and can be a trigger for anyone who has been sexually abused. I thought that this book dealt nicely with the character's faults and his significant life problems. This was nothing like I expected. By the end of the novel I felt kind of numb and on the verge of tears.
I think this is a very powerful novel. I am glad that I gave this book a chance. I would definitely recommend this book.
Sarah (7800 KP) created a post in Dear Smashbomb....
Jan 18, 2019
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Maleficent (2014) in Movies
Nov 8, 2019
Fairy Tale: True Loves Kiss
Maleficent- is a movie that people are mix about. Some people hate it, some people love it. For me i like it. Its a different take on the oringal source materal but with the same elements.
The plot: As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.
Angelina Jolie is really good as Maleficent and Elle Fanning is really good as Aurora.
It is a underrated movie and should be watched.
The plot: As a beautiful young woman of pure heart, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) has an idyllic life in a forest kingdom. When an invading army threatens the land, Maleficent rises up to become its fiercest protector. However, a terrible betrayal hardens her heart and twists her into a creature bent on revenge. She engages in an epic battle with the invading king's successor, then curses his newborn daughter, Aurora -- realizing only later that the child holds the key to peace in the kingdom.
Angelina Jolie is really good as Maleficent and Elle Fanning is really good as Aurora.
It is a underrated movie and should be watched.
These Wings Can Fly - Discover the Power of Your Mind
Book
With its fresh approach to self-development this book has had a profound effect on all those that...