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Peppermint (2018)
Peppermint (2018)
2018 | Action, Drama, Thriller
You've seen it all before
I hate to sound like a broken record here, but these movies are all starting to run together for me.

 The premise, innocent woman has her family gunned down in front of her eyes. She goes off the grid for several years and then returns to track down and administer her own form of private justice in her complete transformation into a hardened killer. Along the way she encounters the usual sympathetic cop, dirty cop, innocent bystanders and becomes a social media sensation.

It is all too familiar like the recent Death Wish and Equalizer remakes it feels like this story has been told too many times recently and better than this one. The characters (especially the villains) are so generic and unmemorable they just blend into the background.

These "take the law into your own hands" films really have to go above and beyond to deliver something unique for me to be memorable since they are so formula these days and this one definitely did not.

I did enjoy watching Jennifer Garner kick some bad guy ass, but even that was done better in the recent Atomic Blonde.

Overall, meh.

  
Show all 4 comments.
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ClareR (5879 KP) Apr 15, 2019

@Kevin Phillipson I’m in the U.K. - it’s free on Amazon Prime at the moment if you have it!

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Kevin Phillipson (10072 KP) Apr 15, 2019

Okay thanks

Poster Boy
Poster Boy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Broadcast live, Rosa Lincoln takes to the stage at her brother’s memorial service with a bomb concealed beneath her clothes. Being in Jimmy’s shadow was never easy, even when he was alive, but in death he has become a national hero.
When she crosses paths with the enigmatic Teresa, she discovers that those she has been taught to view as enemies may not be the real villains after all.
The lies need to be stopped, and Rosa intends on doing just that.

Wow! This book started with a bang - well a potential bang - and didn't let up until the very end with all its twists and turns along the way.
Although this is fiction it very much reflects what is going on around the world right now, sadly. It has its basis in fact and recent happenings which makes it hard-hitting, emotive, topical and timely.
The main issues it explores are terrorism, extremism, propaganda, xenophobia, nationalism, racism, good vs evil and the current political climate; it does so with considerable tact while questioning each of them making this a thought-provoking read.
Very good work of dystopian fiction.
Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
  
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
2018 | Action, Animation, Sci-Fi
An absolute joy from start to finish
Into the Spider-Verse is nothing short of excellent.

The animation style is beautiful, quirky, packed with colour, and doesn't let go of your attention until the credits have finished rolling.
The assembled voice cast are all great, and compliment the emotion and humour felt throughout.
The humour in question is flawless...every joke and humourous beat land perfectly. It's a funny movie, as well as carrying along a powerful message about growing up, and realising that you're not alone.

The storyline is pretty crazy, and as it deals with multiple dimensions, there's a chance to pull in some fun characters from the comic world, including Peni Parker, Spider-Ham, Spider Gwen, and Spider-Man Noir (hilarious btw). It's definitely out there, but it works very well.

Miles' universe, where the movie takes place, is a setting that allows the writers to take free reign, tinkering with classic villains we know and love, making this a Spider-Man movie worth seeing for fans old and new.

Possibly the best Spider-Man movie yet (maybe in a par with Far From Home).





End note - the post credit scene is just the best thing ever.
  
LU
Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker
Emma Hox | 2010
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Longbourn's Unexpected Matchmaker is a P&P variation - it starts at the same point as the original novel but then diverges from the original plot for a number of reasons. Overall I did enjoy it; it's a frothy feel-good sort of book that kept me smiling. Poetic justic was handed out in spades to the villains of the piece - although I'm not quite sure that her brother, even as a belted Earl, would have been able to manage what actually happens to Lady Catherine, but it's a nice thought!

I suppose on the downside you could say that all potential sources of conflict are resolved rather too quickly and easily. I'm still not entirely convinced about Lizzy sitting and singing in trees either!

It also could have done with some better editing. The typesetting was odd as there were sometimes unecessarily large gaps between words. The bookseller at Meryton was named one thing one minute and something else a few pages on which threw me for a minute. There were also errors and inconsistancies in title usage: Sir William Lucas was referred to both as Sir William (correctly) and Sir Lucas (no-no).

I would have thought higher of Darcy's intelligence though - surely he should have figured out who Mr Bennet was?!
  
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Ross (3284 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies

Nov 19, 2019  
Joker (2019)
Joker (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama
Phenomenal
Finally a film that does justice to one of the most twisted, yet relatable, villains out there. With the focus on his character, rather than that caped guy, we could really start to appreciate how such a villain could emerge.
In a Gotham very similar to today (government budget cuts, strain on mental health services, increasing divide between the rich and poor, and figures of power and responsibility showing no empathy for the downtrodden), Arthur Fleck is a man struggling to juggle (accidental circus pun) work, caring for his mother and his stand-up career. With a supposed tourettes-like condition where he spontaneously bursts out laughing at the most inappropriate times, Arthur is also finding it hard to find a place in society, and longs to be accepted, if not loved.
The film is an excellent example of how events can conspire to make someone vulnerable and repeatedly abandoned by society suddenly snap. And also how the downtrodden masses will take inspiration from an unlikely hero to rise up and take a stand for their own rights.
The film itself mirrors Arthur's moods, at times serene, at others whimsical with sudden moments of utter mad violence.
A very stylish and dark film, but with a quality story and cast to match.
  
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BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated Brightburn (2019) in Movies

Mar 14, 2020 (Updated Mar 14, 2020)  
Brightburn (2019)
Brightburn (2019)
2019 | Horror
Contains spoilers, click to show
Wow... I've always loved anti villains but this was just fab! Very gory but who doesn't love some blood and guts in a horror!?? The whole movie plays along like Clark Kent: SuperVillain... and that credits scene with Micheal Rooker was amazing too. Hinting at possible sequels and/or a Injustice Leauge style group.

Back to the movie. The kid himself is terrifying, like seriously. If I seen him irl I would know he was a criminal or something. The actors themselves play the scared townsfolk very well. If I had to be disappointed at anything, it would be how stupid they are. I don't necessarily hate it but it annoys me in films when the characters can't put 2 and 2 together... everyone except the mother pretty much knew it was the kid and she was still in denial until she went upstairs and found visual evidence. 'No way! My son from another planet could no way have lifted a car or murdered people. Especially not after he smashes my husband backwards into a wall' 🙄

But apart from that, this could be one of my new horrors! I hope there is at least a second film, possibly featuring the anti-aquawoman or anti-wonderwoman featured in the credits scene.
  
The Cruel Prince
The Cruel Prince
Holly Black | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.4 (36 Ratings)
Book Rating
I picked this up as a recommendation from my local library, and wasn't disappointed!
I have been lucky enough to pick up the follow up books one after the other, I think having to wait for the next parts would have been far too frustrating.


Holly weaves a fantastical world with perfectly imperfect characters, that you can't help but gravitate towards.

This was a great starter book but the next two in the series were even better.

If you enjoy fantasy lands that intersect with our own, combined with weird and wonderful creatures. Assassin's in training, and the beginnings of many schemes to go awry then this will be perfect for you.

There is also magic in this land but it is not showy, and doesn't become the be all and end all focus, as so many books with magic potential do, and often fall flat because of it.

There is great character development, and you will be torn over whether you should be rooting for 'heroes' or 'villains', and there is a lot of grey area around that.

Please do go and read this series, Holly is a fantastic writer and you can really feel the care and love she has put into building this world, you won't regret picking it up.