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Erika (17789 KP) rated Damsel (2018) in Movies

Jul 1, 2018 (Updated Jul 1, 2018)  
Damsel (2018)
Damsel (2018)
2018 | Comedy, Western
I was psyched when the local indie theater added this film to their lineup this weekend, because I'd been wanting to see this since Sundance. I also love anything with Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska.
The damsels in the film are contrary to what you would ordinarily think, which was humorous. It was billed as a western-comedy, and normally, I'm all for off-kilter humor, but I didn't find it funny, it was more awkward. I think the only reason I was entertained was because of Pattinson and Wasikowska's characters, other than that, the story seemed to move at a snail's pace. The nearly two hour run time wasn't really necessary.
Overall, I wanted to like it more than I did. I'm only rating it an 8 for the actors.
  
This book is the first of a set of four, written by four different authors. It started with a single idea - rewrite fairytales with a mystical twist. Collectively, it's called the Royal House of Shadows.

I've enjoyed Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series and wanted to see how she would write under a "Mills & Boon" title!!!

I enjoyed this book and read it in one evening. It is a fast-paced book, not 'heavy' at all, although there are some twists and turns to the story as it involves memories being taken and you have to stay up to date with who did what to whom.

On the whole, a pleasant read. It didn't blow my socks off or make me blush but wasn't a waste of time either.
  
Hamilton (2020)
Hamilton (2020)
2020 | Biography, Drama, History, Musical
8
8.2 (17 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Sing so quickly it can be hard to understand (0 more)
A captivating production of the life of Alexander Hamilton. It was emotional and historic. I can see why all the hype. The performers did an amazing job. This play made me want to research more about early American history, if for nothing else to see how historically accurate it is (Pretty accurate, from what do know/remember). Yeah, the King of England is portrayed in the role of an "toxic abusive boyfriend" (my sister's analogy not mine) but he has some of the best songs. I don't think they over glorify the Founding Fathers although they do gloss over some things. However, it is a 2 1/2 hour play that spans a great number of years you have to gloss over some stuff unfortunately.
  
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David Lowery recommended Roma (2018) in Movies (curated)

 
Roma (2018)
Roma (2018)
2018 | Drama

"Why not see this movie twice? Even if you don’t like it, it’s worth revisiting. Films like this don’t come along that often, or perhaps ever. Granted, I suspect that it’s far more exciting for filmmakers than for general audiences, just because Cuaron did with this movie what we all wish we could do: he took his time. It’s easy to make comparisons to Proust, except that the film isn’t really Proustian; it isn’t fluid enough, it doesn’t resemble the memories it’s based on but the real events that begat them. It’s closer to Knausgard in that regard, but let me dispense with literary comparisons because this is a movie with a capital M: it’s been declaring itself so very loudly all fall, and I’m happy to join the chorus."

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Gold by The Velvet Underground
Gold by The Velvet Underground
2005 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"By 1972, I’ve finished up in art schools, hitchhiked around the country, and I moved to Providence, Rhode Island. In the mid-’70s, I was in a band with Chris Frantz from Talking Heads, and I wrote a couple songs that stuck during that period, including “Psycho Killer.” We also did a lot of cover songs—Al Green, Velvet Underground, the Sonics, the Troggs. The Velvet Underground were a big revelation. I realized, Oh, look at the subject of their songs: There’s a tune and a melody, but the sound is either completely abrasive or really pretty. They swing from one extreme to the other. “White Light/White Heat” is just this noise, and then “Candy Says” is incredibly pretty but really kind of dark. As a young person, you go, What is this about?"

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The Wrong Missy (2020)
The Wrong Missy (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Romance
1
5.8 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
It eventually ends (0 more)
Horrible script (4 more)
Generic plot
They try to make you sympathize with Missy
Missy does some...illegal things to David Spade that would get her sent to prison
It's almost like "Just Go With It" but worse if that's even possible
The Wrong Everything
Wow this was bad. Probably the worst Happy Madison movie I've seen and that's saying a lot. The plot itself is pretty mediocre and harmless. Most of the frustration comes from Missy's character. This character single handedly ruined the movie. I don't blame Lauren Lapkus and think she did a decent job acting wise. Missy was written to be such an unlikeable character though. I understand that's what was intended but they take it way too far. This might be free on Netflix but it's not worth the time.
  
The Strength Of His Heart (Enhanced #4)
The Strength Of His Heart (Enhanced #4)
Victoria Sue | 2018 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
my fav of the four!
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted the AUDIO version of this book.
This is book 4 in the Enhanced series, and it’s not necessary to have read/listened to the other three books, but it might help give you a better picture of what it means to be Enhanced, and what this team means to Vance.
All Vance wanted to do, as a child, was follow in his father’s footsteps and join the police force. Waking up with the mark on his face put pays to that, but he was one of the lucky ones. His family did not treat him any differently, and they love Vance, period. Sam’s upbringing is very different, never knowing his father, and his mother dying when was he was a small child. Joining the DEA as an undercover agent helped him get over that, but now he wants out. Meeting Vance and the members of HERO is a dream come true, and Vance himself is a wet dream come true for Sam. But Sam won’t be drawn into anything with the much bigger man, he suffered before and will not again. But when Sam is kidnapped and Vance’s undercover gig is blown, they have to trust each other’s heart will be strong enough to get them out of this.
Vance is a sweetheart! Oh, I loved him here, once we get into his head. He really just wants to look after people, even though his gift was size and strength, he doesn’t want to use it. And Sam? Sam pushes all of Vance’s buttons and then some, he really does. Vance is smitten, right from when we met Sam in book three, and being partnered with Sam here? Vance is in heaven. At least till Sam and Vance have an encounter that ends all kinds of wrong for all kinds of reasons and neither man will talk to the other.
Sam’s past comes back to kidnap him here, and when it’s discovered WHO? I did NOT see that one coming, let me tell ya! But what they are doing with Enhanced adults and indeed some children, is awful, and it’s difficult reading, it really is.
This is far less explicit than the other three books, but I think it didn’t need to be. There is enough of Vance and Sam’s emotions to keep you going!
We meet Vance’s brother here. And while I had him pegged as the partner of a certain nurse, it turns out I am wrong and one of the team is strangely affected by Daniel. Their story, I *think* is next and I cannot wait to read it! Or listen, rather, cos I don’t like to flip between listening and reading in a series!
Nick J. Russo again narrates.
I am loving the combination of Ms Sue and Mr Russo, I really am!
Russo’s voices are clear and consistent across all four books, and his reading voice is deep and even. I have no trouble keeping up with multiple person conversations.
It’s the EMOTIONS I find, that Russo gets across. You can’t always pick that up when you read a book, no matter how well it’s written (and these books are VERY well written!) but hearing someone’s voice, telling you about their rotten childhood and what they had to do to survive, it gets you, right in the heart. I had to stop what I was doing many times, just to LISTEN, you know?? I had to concentrate on what was being said, cos it got to me so much.
I hope that Russo will continue to narrate the books that Victoria Sue continues to write! Cos you know, everyone needs to be happy, and they ain’t right now!
5 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration
5 stars overall
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**