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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies
Oct 10, 2019
Why so serious?
This is the first film in a long time that I've come out of feeling very divided, and it's taken a rather lengthy internal debate on the way home to figure out how I really feel about it.
This starts off slow, very slow and I was worried that I was going to get very bored very quickly. However Joaquin Phoenix's performance is phenomenal and although he is disturbingly thin for this, he's brilliant to watch, even considering the subject matter. If it wasn't for the Gotham setting and mention of the Wayne's, this wouldn't feel like a DC superhero/villain film and this is my main criticism. I love how dark and gritty Joker is and that this is mainly a study about mental health, but I do wish it had a little more in it to tie it to it's source material. Even just a nod to his most well known origin story as seen in some of the other films would've made this even better. I've heard a lot of people say this is uncomfortable viewing, but I didnt see that myself. It's just a stark portrayal of mental health and it does very well in this respect. The violence is sparse yet fits well - I didn't think it was overdone or excessive. And the final act with the talk show and ending was sheer brilliance and really brought Joker towards the character we know and love. It's this final part that sold this film for me, and I'm interested to see how they fit this into the rest of the DC universe, and if we start seeing more superhero films that are much darker and realistic. This is definitely a good example to follow!
This starts off slow, very slow and I was worried that I was going to get very bored very quickly. However Joaquin Phoenix's performance is phenomenal and although he is disturbingly thin for this, he's brilliant to watch, even considering the subject matter. If it wasn't for the Gotham setting and mention of the Wayne's, this wouldn't feel like a DC superhero/villain film and this is my main criticism. I love how dark and gritty Joker is and that this is mainly a study about mental health, but I do wish it had a little more in it to tie it to it's source material. Even just a nod to his most well known origin story as seen in some of the other films would've made this even better. I've heard a lot of people say this is uncomfortable viewing, but I didnt see that myself. It's just a stark portrayal of mental health and it does very well in this respect. The violence is sparse yet fits well - I didn't think it was overdone or excessive. And the final act with the talk show and ending was sheer brilliance and really brought Joker towards the character we know and love. It's this final part that sold this film for me, and I'm interested to see how they fit this into the rest of the DC universe, and if we start seeing more superhero films that are much darker and realistic. This is definitely a good example to follow!
Overheated: The Human Cost of Climate Change
Book
Deniers of climate change sometimes quip that claims about global warming are more about political...
Andrew Thomas (363 KP) rated The Purge (2013) in Movies
Aug 12, 2020 (Updated Aug 19, 2020)
My first exposure to smart horror.
Contains spoilers, click to show
With the exception of SAW, I didn't have a high regard for modern horror films for a longtime...until I saw The Purge.
For starters, we have quality actors like Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey that portray two seemingly unsympathetic and unrelatable rich yuppies. But eventually they prove themselves to be resourceful and in possession of some morals...unlike the crazies outside who actively celebrate The Purge.
While the very notion of The Purge is outlandish and unrealistic in our own society, the writer/director does an amazing job grounding it in reality and making it appear to be possible. It also forces you to ruminate about yourself and what you would be capable of doing if you could behave however you wish without consequences. It also makes you take a closer glance at your friends and neighbors, forcing you to ruminate about how they might act during The Purge.
The only complaint I have is that the film throws alot of lore at you without any explanation. For example, the emergency broadcast alert that announces the commencement of The Purge includes the quote "blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn" First time I saw this part I said "I don't like the sound of that" Who were these New Founding Fathers? What the hell has happened to America where The Purge is now the new normal?
In conclusion, The Purge restored my enthusiasm for modern horror and captured my imagination. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in ultra violent crime thrillers or dystopian future stories.
For starters, we have quality actors like Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey that portray two seemingly unsympathetic and unrelatable rich yuppies. But eventually they prove themselves to be resourceful and in possession of some morals...unlike the crazies outside who actively celebrate The Purge.
While the very notion of The Purge is outlandish and unrealistic in our own society, the writer/director does an amazing job grounding it in reality and making it appear to be possible. It also forces you to ruminate about yourself and what you would be capable of doing if you could behave however you wish without consequences. It also makes you take a closer glance at your friends and neighbors, forcing you to ruminate about how they might act during The Purge.
The only complaint I have is that the film throws alot of lore at you without any explanation. For example, the emergency broadcast alert that announces the commencement of The Purge includes the quote "blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn" First time I saw this part I said "I don't like the sound of that" Who were these New Founding Fathers? What the hell has happened to America where The Purge is now the new normal?
In conclusion, The Purge restored my enthusiasm for modern horror and captured my imagination. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in ultra violent crime thrillers or dystopian future stories.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) in Movies
Sep 30, 2020 (Updated Sep 30, 2020)
Exhibit no. 853928706 on why DC has been *crushing* Marvel these past four years. I do have my grievances: they pretty much skip all the actual Birds of Prey stuff (you know, what the movie is titled lmao) until the last twenty minutes, it takes a bit too much time at points, and not to mention this is a completely different character than what was presented in ππΆπͺπ€πͺπ₯π¦ ππ²πΆπ’π₯ (for better and for worse) which I confess I would have liked to have seen more psychotic. Otherwise though this is pretty much exactly what movies were made for - a candy-coated live action cartoon sprinkled heavily with orgasmically choreographed savage violence, plentiful vulgarity, and the cheerfully dark edge that the aforementioned ππ²πΆπ’π₯ (which I still defend for at least being a good time) desperately craved. Robbie, Messina, and McGregor knock it out of the park and it's just great seeing Rosie Perez punch people in the face with brass knuckles. Furthermore this is one of the precious few recent studio 'girl power' movies where I actually bought that it gave a shit about the girls beyond superficial, insincere, and reductive woke points. At its core lies a legitimately poignant story about these women being chastised, abused, undermined, and taken advantage of for having the same traits (in a world that would already jump at the opportunity to eat them alive even if they didn't have them) that men get a pass and/or are even encouraged for having - so they respond by beating the ever-loving, merciless fuck out of them and it's deeply satisfying. No wonder usual superhero audiences who are used to female characters with zero personality or dynamism let this flop. Though I'm probably the only person on the planet who though that Leto's cracked-out Joker would have made a perfect addition to this.
BookishWoo (317 KP) rated Zodiac in Books
May 25, 2020 (Updated May 25, 2020)
Zodiac is the 2nd book of the Sergiu Manta Series and the first to be translated into English.
I was captivated by Zodiac right from the first page. Anamarie wrote this extremely well and in a way that you felt you were reading a script for a crime drama, scene by scene. This is slightly different to what I'm used to, but I found as long as I paced myself and didnt speed through it I could keep up with the scene jumps and found that I completely enjoyed her writing style. Although this is a fast paced thriller do not be fooled that being only 218 pages long you can speed through this quickly. This is a book to savour and enjoy.
I can honestly say that I fell in love with the main protagonaist Sergiu, he was an unpredicatable, motorbike riding, charming "Agency" man willing to do whatever it takes no matter what the cost.
His character was in stark contrast to Marius who was a typical police inspector and family man with a moral conscience. This worked well alongside Sergiu's character and didnt give you that typical good cop, bad cop feel. They complimented each other well.
The plot was fantastic, and just when I thought I had it all figured out the twist came along and surprised me completely!
I cant wait to read more of the series and hope that the first book gets translated so I can read this too!
If you are a fan of fast paced thrillers I highly recommend this!
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape, murder, guns, violence
I received Zodiac by Amamaria Ionescu for free in exchange for an honest review from Love Book Tours and Corylus Books.
I was captivated by Zodiac right from the first page. Anamarie wrote this extremely well and in a way that you felt you were reading a script for a crime drama, scene by scene. This is slightly different to what I'm used to, but I found as long as I paced myself and didnt speed through it I could keep up with the scene jumps and found that I completely enjoyed her writing style. Although this is a fast paced thriller do not be fooled that being only 218 pages long you can speed through this quickly. This is a book to savour and enjoy.
I can honestly say that I fell in love with the main protagonaist Sergiu, he was an unpredicatable, motorbike riding, charming "Agency" man willing to do whatever it takes no matter what the cost.
His character was in stark contrast to Marius who was a typical police inspector and family man with a moral conscience. This worked well alongside Sergiu's character and didnt give you that typical good cop, bad cop feel. They complimented each other well.
The plot was fantastic, and just when I thought I had it all figured out the twist came along and surprised me completely!
I cant wait to read more of the series and hope that the first book gets translated so I can read this too!
If you are a fan of fast paced thrillers I highly recommend this!
Trigger Warnings: swearing, sexual themes, rape, murder, guns, violence
I received Zodiac by Amamaria Ionescu for free in exchange for an honest review from Love Book Tours and Corylus Books.
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