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Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Mist (2007) in Movies
Jan 6, 2018
The creatures (2 more)
The feud
The ending
When walking into The Mist, I was hopeful and skeptical at the same time.
I knew director Frank Darabont could product a great film as he did with The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Even being comfortable with Stephen King material was a plus. However, I just thought another lame creature feature with no real development or point and just a lot of senseless gore.
I could not have been more wrong.
The visual effects, creatures and scares in this film are definitely A+ for sure, but what makes the film work without a doubt is the fantastic screenplay.
When people start dying, it doesn't really matter unless you care about them first as people and get invested in their circumstance and fate. Once the townspeople are trapped by the mist in the grocery store, some of their true personalities start to emerge as the tension builds.
Much has been written about the ending whether plausible, not necessary, too much of a coincidence or just right. In the day of carbon copy, nonoriginal storytelling, I would definitely reward a film that takes risks vs. one that doesn't.
The risks in this film pay off big time.
I knew director Frank Darabont could product a great film as he did with The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Even being comfortable with Stephen King material was a plus. However, I just thought another lame creature feature with no real development or point and just a lot of senseless gore.
I could not have been more wrong.
The visual effects, creatures and scares in this film are definitely A+ for sure, but what makes the film work without a doubt is the fantastic screenplay.
When people start dying, it doesn't really matter unless you care about them first as people and get invested in their circumstance and fate. Once the townspeople are trapped by the mist in the grocery store, some of their true personalities start to emerge as the tension builds.
Much has been written about the ending whether plausible, not necessary, too much of a coincidence or just right. In the day of carbon copy, nonoriginal storytelling, I would definitely reward a film that takes risks vs. one that doesn't.
The risks in this film pay off big time.
Sheridan (209 KP) rated Halo: Hunters in the Dark in Books
Jul 9, 2017
Very Enjoyable
Having a massive video gaming background, I'm finding it strange that I never really bothered with Halo. I'm beginning to wonder why that is... It's an interesting world to say the least. My Dad let me borrow this novel after he read it because he knows I love my sci-fi. If I'm honest I was a little skeptical about it, having never actually played Halo I was worried it wouldn't make much sense, but it was quite good, it wasn't bogged down with too much information, yet still explained things so that someone who hasn't ever played Halo could still enjoy the novel. I liked the characters and all their differences from each other. Some interactions between characters were particularly amusing at times. If I had one negative thing to say about this one was the ending was a tad predictable. I knew how it was going to go from around the end of chapter ten. Other than that it was an interesting read with a few gripping moments that had me walking around with my nose in the book :) You like sci-fi and aliens? Pick this one up, it's not overly taxing to weave your way through the Halo world, and it's enjoyable too.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Chasing the Dime in Books
Apr 27, 2018
I woke up, and rubbed my eyes. I pushed myself up. my shoulders hurt. Probably from all the hard work I did yesterday, sitting in front of a computer and debating about a review I wrote. I rolled my neck. Slowly I pushed myself up, swung my legs over the side of my bed, and stood up. I was cold. I decided it was a good idea to grab a bath-robe or something.
Pointless jabber. That’s what that feels like. Tons of stupid little details that I don’t really need to know and really don’t care about.
The whole book so far has read like the above paragraph. I don’t want to know the details behind setting up your voicemail. I felt like this whole section so far could have been done in one or two chapters rather than te several that I’ve listened to so far. It was boring, slow, and redundant. I’ll always give a book a chance, but I don’thave time to waste on walking into the office, signing into the log, and noticing all the little details about old coffee cups and ugly posters on the wall, and the memories associated with them.
Which is really too bad, because there’s a great story in there. But the execution was poor.
Pointless jabber. That’s what that feels like. Tons of stupid little details that I don’t really need to know and really don’t care about.
The whole book so far has read like the above paragraph. I don’t want to know the details behind setting up your voicemail. I felt like this whole section so far could have been done in one or two chapters rather than te several that I’ve listened to so far. It was boring, slow, and redundant. I’ll always give a book a chance, but I don’thave time to waste on walking into the office, signing into the log, and noticing all the little details about old coffee cups and ugly posters on the wall, and the memories associated with them.
Which is really too bad, because there’s a great story in there. But the execution was poor.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Street Lawyer in Books
May 10, 2018
John Grisham really has a way of pulling you into the story right away. It starts off with a homeless man walking into one of the largest law firms in Washington D.C. and holding it's lawyers hostage. Michael Brock was one of those lawyers. Shortly after, he meets Mordecai Green who is a lawyer for the homeless, he knew Mister, the homeless man that held the firm hostage. Spending the night in a homeless shelter and meeting those who are homeless,Brock feels forced to examine his life as an attorney. With Mordecai's help Michael goes from being a lawyer at a huge law firm to an advocate for the homeless, a Street Lawyer.
I have been a fan of John Grisham for a while and it has been a long time since I have read one of his books. I gave this book 4 stars, it held my interest and really made me think about my involvemet with the homeless. Yes, we see them on the streets and may give them some change every once in a while, but do we ever think, how did the person get to be in a situation they are in? This books helps us to see that side of homeless.
I have been a fan of John Grisham for a while and it has been a long time since I have read one of his books. I gave this book 4 stars, it held my interest and really made me think about my involvemet with the homeless. Yes, we see them on the streets and may give them some change every once in a while, but do we ever think, how did the person get to be in a situation they are in? This books helps us to see that side of homeless.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Snow Way Out (Snow Globe Shop Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Cami Brooks is enjoying running her family’s curio shop and reconnecting with her friends. One night, after hosting a snow globe making class, she is walking how through the park when she finds a man asleep on the park bench. Only, he’s not sleeping, as she discovers when he falls over, revealing the knife in his back. The scene looks just like a strange snow globe she’d seen in her shop before she left, but when she goes back with the police, it’s gone. What is happening?
The characters in this book were wonderful. I could feel the basis for their friendships and the loving relationships with Cami’s family. They could have used a bit more development, but I would have been willing to revisit them if the plot were better. Sadly, the book is filled with events happening to Cami; she doesn’t do much to drive the plot at all. Worse yet, the climax is weak and the explanation for some of the events is adequate at best. And let’s not discuss a scene that would never happen involving Cami and the police.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-snow-way-out-by-christine.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The characters in this book were wonderful. I could feel the basis for their friendships and the loving relationships with Cami’s family. They could have used a bit more development, but I would have been willing to revisit them if the plot were better. Sadly, the book is filled with events happening to Cami; she doesn’t do much to drive the plot at all. Worse yet, the climax is weak and the explanation for some of the events is adequate at best. And let’s not discuss a scene that would never happen involving Cami and the police.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-snow-way-out-by-christine.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Train to Busan (2016) in Movies
Aug 14, 2018
One of the best zombie movies in ages.
Okay I kept hearing people talk about Train to Busan and just how amazing of a movie it was not just as a movie but as a zombie movie and with the market being so saturated in zombie movies since the success of The Walking Dead I've been really worried about watching zombie movies anymore cuz I used to be a huge fan but just the amount of them that they were throwing at you just really drained me and kept me away from the genre for a while, but when a movie gets the amount of hype I was hearing and especially a foreign horror movie to get that much hype I knew I had to check it out.
And holy crap I am so glad I gave the movie a shot from start to finish it really is an amazing movie and one of the best zombie movies I've probably ever seen. You really get invested in the characters even the awful ones the plot really keeps you at the edge of your seat even though it's not the most original I can admit that but there's just something about it that just kept you hooked.
And holy crap I am so glad I gave the movie a shot from start to finish it really is an amazing movie and one of the best zombie movies I've probably ever seen. You really get invested in the characters even the awful ones the plot really keeps you at the edge of your seat even though it's not the most original I can admit that but there's just something about it that just kept you hooked.
Karica Truebenbach (156 KP) rated The Exorcist (1973) in Movies
Sep 27, 2018
A classic for a reason
This movie has everything a horror fan could want. Demons, possession, the never-not-scary backward walking down the staircase, and of course, head spinning. This story of a girl possessed and slowly being devoured by a demon is my favorite kind of horror because it doesn't make you scared for a second. It makes you scared for years. The kind of story where you feel like it could really happen so you go home and check your closets, under the beds, and your kids' foreheads for triple sixes.
Compared to what we have now, the visual aspect of the movie is not the cleanest, but that doesn't detract from the awesome makeup and other effects. Reagan's slow descent into hell is reflected in her appearance as her teeth blacken and her skin rots with lesions. She does something in the movie that still makes my skin crawl (crucifix scene, ugh) but that's how I can tell that the movie hit its mark, if I can think on it years later and still get the creeps. This is definitely something to add to your Halloween collection if you haven't already.
Compared to what we have now, the visual aspect of the movie is not the cleanest, but that doesn't detract from the awesome makeup and other effects. Reagan's slow descent into hell is reflected in her appearance as her teeth blacken and her skin rots with lesions. She does something in the movie that still makes my skin crawl (crucifix scene, ugh) but that's how I can tell that the movie hit its mark, if I can think on it years later and still get the creeps. This is definitely something to add to your Halloween collection if you haven't already.
Kelly (279 KP) rated Surviving the Evacuation: London in Books
Jan 11, 2019
An interesting first person insight into the Zombie Apocalypse
Contains spoilers, click to show
I confess I only downloaded this book originally because it was free on kindle, however, that being said, I was surprised at how good it was.
The story is written in diary form by fictional character Bill Wright. Similar to Rock Grimes (Walking Dead), Bill missed the initial apocalypse due to injury. His government links tried to rescue him during the evacuation, however, at the last stage the chauffeur fails. The story primarily centres around Bills attempts to escape London on his own, with a leg in cast, without falling victim to the Zombie virus.
The use of a diary to move the story forward is a different approach to most Zombie books, and allows us to to have a greater insight into the thoughts and feelings of the main character in hindsight of the events.
If you are looking for an in-depth and complex book, this is not the book for you, however if you are looking for a quick easy read on the go, I highly recommend this. I have already downloaded the sequel to this story (not free) in order to find out what is next in store for Bill.
The story is written in diary form by fictional character Bill Wright. Similar to Rock Grimes (Walking Dead), Bill missed the initial apocalypse due to injury. His government links tried to rescue him during the evacuation, however, at the last stage the chauffeur fails. The story primarily centres around Bills attempts to escape London on his own, with a leg in cast, without falling victim to the Zombie virus.
The use of a diary to move the story forward is a different approach to most Zombie books, and allows us to to have a greater insight into the thoughts and feelings of the main character in hindsight of the events.
If you are looking for an in-depth and complex book, this is not the book for you, however if you are looking for a quick easy read on the go, I highly recommend this. I have already downloaded the sequel to this story (not free) in order to find out what is next in store for Bill.
Josh Burns (166 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of The Bellows in Video Games
Jun 21, 2019
Decent scares (1 more)
Accessable to nongamers
Can you handle this VR haunted house simulator?
The Bellows was an early psvr horror experience that had a mixed to negative reception. It wasn't as "gamey" as most people expected, and it's also quite short. That being said, going into knowing what it is, I liked it. It's basically a VR haunted house that you walk through. It has a creepy atmosphere and some good jump scares (which are way more fun in VR). It's not something you'll play over and over, maybe when Halloween rolls around each year, but there is another big positive to this game. Something that makes it a must have if you like horror that even my beloved Here They Lie, or the acclaimed Resident Evil 7 (aside from the demos) doesn't have. Given it's short length, simple mechanics of... pretty much just walking, anyone can play it, making it a fantastic pass the headset game with friends. You can shut off the tv so no one sees what the player sees so everyone has the same surprises. I cannot say enough how fun it is to watch others get scared in VR. And finally, it has a very cheap price tag.
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated The Lighthouse (2019) in Movies
Oct 30, 2019
I steered me vessel to the theater last night and saw The Lighthouse. Not much I can say about the movie itself without giving spoilers, it's definitely one that can only be discussed between two people that have been stranded together for a couple of hours in a theater staring at the light from the projector viewing this film. Is it possible to love everything about a movie, but not really like the movie? Maybe I'm just going mad. The acting from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson is some of the best you'll see this year, or any for that matter. The look and feel of the movie is as magical as the beauty and song of a siren on the rocky shore. To be honest, while giving praise to every aspect of it, I didn't feel like I actually liked the movie itself walking away from it. But with loving everything Robert Eggers cooked up with The Lighthouse and reflecting on my take away and interpretation of the story, it's one of my favorite movies of the year. This is why I love art so much; to really take a masterpiece like this in, to tear apart and pick at internally like a seagull, and then flatulate how I feel about it.