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Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Rise (Order of the Krigers, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
Well, now that school's over, time to get back into the swing of things... I think. But really, I'd like to apologize to anyone and anybody I've bothered because of the lack of motivation over here (the slump is real and it's horrible, and I think 2.5 years of "consistent" blogging is finally catching up and smacking me upside the head).
Moving on, but fair warning: this review might be short.
I feel like <i>Rise</i> falls a little short but I really can't do much comparing aside literally one book (<i>Cage of Deceit). T</i>he first book in the <i>Order of the Krigers</i> series starts off a little slow and draggy lots of preparing for Kaia to step into the role of a Kriger, so there is plenty of walking, talking, and training going on for awhile. But despite the feel of slowness and dragginess, I actually found a lot of the talking really interesting, because the world Jennifer Anne Davis builds in her newest series is just intriguing to learn about. It also helps that Kaia has this interest of learning as much as she can about the Krigers.
But anyways, while Rise felt like a slow start to the series, I don't think Jennifer Anne Davis will fail to deliver in future books. In fact... I think the slowness of the first book will be well worth it.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-rise-by-jennifer-anne-davis-arc-review-and-giveaway/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Well, now that school's over, time to get back into the swing of things... I think. But really, I'd like to apologize to anyone and anybody I've bothered because of the lack of motivation over here (the slump is real and it's horrible, and I think 2.5 years of "consistent" blogging is finally catching up and smacking me upside the head).
Moving on, but fair warning: this review might be short.
I feel like <i>Rise</i> falls a little short but I really can't do much comparing aside literally one book (<i>Cage of Deceit). T</i>he first book in the <i>Order of the Krigers</i> series starts off a little slow and draggy lots of preparing for Kaia to step into the role of a Kriger, so there is plenty of walking, talking, and training going on for awhile. But despite the feel of slowness and dragginess, I actually found a lot of the talking really interesting, because the world Jennifer Anne Davis builds in her newest series is just intriguing to learn about. It also helps that Kaia has this interest of learning as much as she can about the Krigers.
But anyways, while Rise felt like a slow start to the series, I don't think Jennifer Anne Davis will fail to deliver in future books. In fact... I think the slowness of the first book will be well worth it.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/blog-tour-rise-by-jennifer-anne-davis-arc-review-and-giveaway/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Speak (2004) in Movies
Feb 1, 2020
I loved this film. I think it's one of the better film adaptations that's been done. My favorite scene is when Melinda shows Mr. Freeman her closet and all the trees she's ever done. I know it's not in the book, but I almost wish that it was. I think that would've really added to the story.
I think Kristin Stewart was a great Melinda, for the most part, but I wish there was even more emotion. I know that she doesn't talk much in the film, she actually talks even less in the book, but there were moments where I felt the emotion could've been more. Her facial expressions were just blank at times and that can definitely cause the film to lose its believability.
The other thing that I didn't like about this film was the ending. What I loved so much about the book was how open-ended it was - you aren't really sure what happens to Andy, you don't know if Melinda ever tells her parents, we don't know what happens with her friendship with Rachel, there's a lot of unanswered questions. I think that's what makes the book so good. I hate that there's a push in movies for everything to be wrapped up, for all the conflicts to reach some kind of conclusion, and for this film, it was telling Melinda's parents, but I wish they didn't. I wish they would've just ended the film with her walking out of the school after Andy attacked her in the closet. I think that would've held much more meaning than her telling her mom.
Regardless, I think this film is great. I appreciate that it actually felt like high schoolers and not just adults playing 16-year-olds, and I like that the story was the focus and that's what shined through in the end.
I think Kristin Stewart was a great Melinda, for the most part, but I wish there was even more emotion. I know that she doesn't talk much in the film, she actually talks even less in the book, but there were moments where I felt the emotion could've been more. Her facial expressions were just blank at times and that can definitely cause the film to lose its believability.
The other thing that I didn't like about this film was the ending. What I loved so much about the book was how open-ended it was - you aren't really sure what happens to Andy, you don't know if Melinda ever tells her parents, we don't know what happens with her friendship with Rachel, there's a lot of unanswered questions. I think that's what makes the book so good. I hate that there's a push in movies for everything to be wrapped up, for all the conflicts to reach some kind of conclusion, and for this film, it was telling Melinda's parents, but I wish they didn't. I wish they would've just ended the film with her walking out of the school after Andy attacked her in the closet. I think that would've held much more meaning than her telling her mom.
Regardless, I think this film is great. I appreciate that it actually felt like high schoolers and not just adults playing 16-year-olds, and I like that the story was the focus and that's what shined through in the end.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Window Breaks in Books
Mar 1, 2020
Dripping with tension and atmosphere
Well, that certainly was a page-turner with non-stop action from the sound of breaking glass to the sickening crack of metal against bone.
Tom, his wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Holly, have been through it. First their teenage son, Michael, and his girlfriend, Fiona, die in a road traffic collision when Michael was driving and if that wasn't bad enough, Holly is viciously attacked by a mugger. What's needed is for them to getaway and take Tom's boss up on his offer of time away at his secluded and secure lodge in Scotland ... what could possibly go wrong?
Written mainly from Tom's perspective, we are taken on a thrilling journey of survival; we are lulled into a false sense of security when Tom and his family arrive at the lodge but are quickly plunged into a nightmare when they are awoken by the sound of someone walking on broken glass. When Tom goes to investigate, what he sees makes his heart drop to his toes and so it begins 😰
Tom's voice is a breath of fresh air because he is not your usual macho Bear Grylls hero, he is a "normal" husband and father ... vulnerable, fearful and afraid but determined to protect his family despite not being particularly brave, strong or fit ... this made him more real somehow and because of this, you are never quite sure how this was going to end.
With an easy to read, flowing style, this book is dripping with tension and atmosphere with many hold-your-breath moments that had me gripped and eagerly flipping my Kindle® ... I couldn't read fast enough.
Recommended reading for action/thriller/suspense lovers.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest review.
Tom, his wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Holly, have been through it. First their teenage son, Michael, and his girlfriend, Fiona, die in a road traffic collision when Michael was driving and if that wasn't bad enough, Holly is viciously attacked by a mugger. What's needed is for them to getaway and take Tom's boss up on his offer of time away at his secluded and secure lodge in Scotland ... what could possibly go wrong?
Written mainly from Tom's perspective, we are taken on a thrilling journey of survival; we are lulled into a false sense of security when Tom and his family arrive at the lodge but are quickly plunged into a nightmare when they are awoken by the sound of someone walking on broken glass. When Tom goes to investigate, what he sees makes his heart drop to his toes and so it begins 😰
Tom's voice is a breath of fresh air because he is not your usual macho Bear Grylls hero, he is a "normal" husband and father ... vulnerable, fearful and afraid but determined to protect his family despite not being particularly brave, strong or fit ... this made him more real somehow and because of this, you are never quite sure how this was going to end.
With an easy to read, flowing style, this book is dripping with tension and atmosphere with many hold-your-breath moments that had me gripped and eagerly flipping my Kindle® ... I couldn't read fast enough.
Recommended reading for action/thriller/suspense lovers.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest review.
JT (287 KP) rated The Boy (2016) in Movies
Mar 2, 2020 (Updated Mar 3, 2020)
Gripping in parts but not a standout
d put off watching this for some time, but when I caught the trailer for Brahms: The Boy II which on the face of it looked quite good, I had to give the original one a go.
Having seen Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead for as many seasons as I could stand before I gave up on it, she always stood out as a talented actress.
Here she plays Greta Evans who is looking to escape an abusive past and finds sanctuary in a small English village as a nanny for a wealthy couple and their 8-year old boy, Brahms.
Turns out that young Brahms is a doll and parents Mr and Mrs Heelshire care for him just like a real boy, as a way to cope with the death of their actual son 20-years earlier.
The Boy is a horror film that does little to ignite the nerves but it does hold a degree of suspense. Greta, unconvinced by Brahms flaunts a set of strict rules set by the parents and it’s only then that things start to get eerie.
With no one to turn to except local deliveryman Malcolm (Rupert Evans), she is convinced there is something more to Brahms than just his creepy blank stare. And she would be right, as the little wooden boy goes full Pinocchio and starts moving about, or does he?
While it’s daft I did find myself gripped in certain parts although I’m not sure it warranted a sequel but a sequel it has got – just don’t expect a standout horror film.
Having seen Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead for as many seasons as I could stand before I gave up on it, she always stood out as a talented actress.
Here she plays Greta Evans who is looking to escape an abusive past and finds sanctuary in a small English village as a nanny for a wealthy couple and their 8-year old boy, Brahms.
Turns out that young Brahms is a doll and parents Mr and Mrs Heelshire care for him just like a real boy, as a way to cope with the death of their actual son 20-years earlier.
The Boy is a horror film that does little to ignite the nerves but it does hold a degree of suspense. Greta, unconvinced by Brahms flaunts a set of strict rules set by the parents and it’s only then that things start to get eerie.
With no one to turn to except local deliveryman Malcolm (Rupert Evans), she is convinced there is something more to Brahms than just his creepy blank stare. And she would be right, as the little wooden boy goes full Pinocchio and starts moving about, or does he?
While it’s daft I did find myself gripped in certain parts although I’m not sure it warranted a sequel but a sequel it has got – just don’t expect a standout horror film.
Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated The Campaign (2012) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
When a pug owning, sweater-wearing simpleton, Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), unexpectedly becomes the congressional candidate of choice for two wealthy businessmen, he finds himself in a wild race against the walking political stereotype incumbent, Cam Brady (Will Ferrell).
Galifianakis fans will be excited to see the star playing a new role; the slightly sweet bumpkin, Marty, is a far cry from Galifianakis’ breakout character in “The Hangover”. And his co-star, Will Ferrell once again steps out of the shadow of Frank the Tank to remind the public just how funny he can be. And the film is well rounded with the noteworthy side characters, from the unstoppably serious campaign manager played by Dylan McDermott to the sharply focused politician’s wife played by Katherine LaNasa
Offering viewers an unending stream of chuckles, “The Campaign” is not gut-bustingly-hilarious. Instead the film is a stream of small jokes about the American political system, focusing on the lying and issue-skirting that the politics are famed for. Dotted with the occasional crazed political strategy and creative mud-slinging, “The Campaign” avoids trying too hard through simple comedy.
However, the film is not without fault. The movie is slow at times and there are a number of unnecessarily forced scenes, such as the already rumor-riddled CGI baby punch. Moreover, the disappointing portrayal of Cam’s advisor, Mitch, by the usually hilarious Jason Sudeikis, added no value to the picture.
Even with these small flubs, the film succeeds due to the comedic partnership of Galifianakis and Ferrell. The duo knows no bounds when it comes to delivering ridiculous funny lines.
A pleasant way to kick-off the political season, “The Campaign” manages to avoid all-too-common political comedy errors by focusing on the funny facets of the political process and avoiding the actual issues.
Galifianakis fans will be excited to see the star playing a new role; the slightly sweet bumpkin, Marty, is a far cry from Galifianakis’ breakout character in “The Hangover”. And his co-star, Will Ferrell once again steps out of the shadow of Frank the Tank to remind the public just how funny he can be. And the film is well rounded with the noteworthy side characters, from the unstoppably serious campaign manager played by Dylan McDermott to the sharply focused politician’s wife played by Katherine LaNasa
Offering viewers an unending stream of chuckles, “The Campaign” is not gut-bustingly-hilarious. Instead the film is a stream of small jokes about the American political system, focusing on the lying and issue-skirting that the politics are famed for. Dotted with the occasional crazed political strategy and creative mud-slinging, “The Campaign” avoids trying too hard through simple comedy.
However, the film is not without fault. The movie is slow at times and there are a number of unnecessarily forced scenes, such as the already rumor-riddled CGI baby punch. Moreover, the disappointing portrayal of Cam’s advisor, Mitch, by the usually hilarious Jason Sudeikis, added no value to the picture.
Even with these small flubs, the film succeeds due to the comedic partnership of Galifianakis and Ferrell. The duo knows no bounds when it comes to delivering ridiculous funny lines.
A pleasant way to kick-off the political season, “The Campaign” manages to avoid all-too-common political comedy errors by focusing on the funny facets of the political process and avoiding the actual issues.
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