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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated After the End in Books
Jun 25, 2019
Max and Pip have a deep, untenable bond and a strong marriage that they feel is sealed by fate. But when their nearly three-year-old son, Dylan, gets sick, everything they know changes. Dylan has a brain tumor, and now Pip spends her days in the PICU, while Max tries to juggle work and being strong for his wife and child. Then, the couple receives the worst of all news: the chemo isn't helping Dylan's tumor, and the doctors feel Dylan's condition is terminal. Suddenly, Max and Pip find themselves on opposite sides--each wanting different medical treatment for their beloved boy.
Clare Mackintosh offers us a beautiful, poignant, and heartbreaking book based on her life experiences, having lost her own son. Knowing this makes the book even more tender and real, as each word is based on a kernel of truth. Reading this book isn't always easy--as a parent, my heart digested these words and put myself in the shoes of Max and Pip. This book makes you think, and it makes you so incredibly grateful for your own life, wanting to snuggle your own children and hold them dear.
"How can my son be a breath away from death, when evidence of his life is all around me? When I feel him in my heart, as surely as when I carried him in my womb?"
The story is one of loss, yes, but it's also a love story: Max and Pip, Dylan and his family, and more. We are introduced to Dylan's family and also to Dylan's doctor, Leila, whom I really liked. Leila has her own struggles. Her mom, Habibeh, is visiting, but won't leave the house, preferring to watch QVC and cook endlessly for her daughter. (Habibeh is a trip; she's awesome.) The decision of Dylan's fate falls on Leila's shoulders first: a lot for a young doctor to bear. We get the story through her eyes and then each of Dylan's parents. As a mom, I felt drawn to Pip, but I liked how we got both Pip and Max's perspectives. Each only wants what is best for their son--and, at first, each feels they are doing the right thing.
"However long you spend with someone, however well you think you know them, they can still be a stranger to you."
Mackintosh is best known for her thrillers, and, this book is just as well-written as those. And, interestingly enough, she throws in a bit of a twist here, too. I won't spoil it, per se, but will tell you that this book is a fascinating exploration of choices, allowing you to think about life and the various paths that everyone can take. It's a sad book, yes, but lovely too--a tribute to parents, medical professionals, and to the children we love so much. It's a reminder to cherish those we hold dear and that life can be short but beautiful, no matter which way it may turn out.
Overall, even though I found this difficult to read at times, I'm really glad I did. I was reminded, yet again, what a good writer Clare Mackintosh is. I'm so incredibly sorry she lost her son, and I'm in such awe that she could turn that loss into such a lovely book. I highly recommend this--it's a beautiful exploration of life's different paths and what fate can bring us.
Clare Mackintosh offers us a beautiful, poignant, and heartbreaking book based on her life experiences, having lost her own son. Knowing this makes the book even more tender and real, as each word is based on a kernel of truth. Reading this book isn't always easy--as a parent, my heart digested these words and put myself in the shoes of Max and Pip. This book makes you think, and it makes you so incredibly grateful for your own life, wanting to snuggle your own children and hold them dear.
"How can my son be a breath away from death, when evidence of his life is all around me? When I feel him in my heart, as surely as when I carried him in my womb?"
The story is one of loss, yes, but it's also a love story: Max and Pip, Dylan and his family, and more. We are introduced to Dylan's family and also to Dylan's doctor, Leila, whom I really liked. Leila has her own struggles. Her mom, Habibeh, is visiting, but won't leave the house, preferring to watch QVC and cook endlessly for her daughter. (Habibeh is a trip; she's awesome.) The decision of Dylan's fate falls on Leila's shoulders first: a lot for a young doctor to bear. We get the story through her eyes and then each of Dylan's parents. As a mom, I felt drawn to Pip, but I liked how we got both Pip and Max's perspectives. Each only wants what is best for their son--and, at first, each feels they are doing the right thing.
"However long you spend with someone, however well you think you know them, they can still be a stranger to you."
Mackintosh is best known for her thrillers, and, this book is just as well-written as those. And, interestingly enough, she throws in a bit of a twist here, too. I won't spoil it, per se, but will tell you that this book is a fascinating exploration of choices, allowing you to think about life and the various paths that everyone can take. It's a sad book, yes, but lovely too--a tribute to parents, medical professionals, and to the children we love so much. It's a reminder to cherish those we hold dear and that life can be short but beautiful, no matter which way it may turn out.
Overall, even though I found this difficult to read at times, I'm really glad I did. I was reminded, yet again, what a good writer Clare Mackintosh is. I'm so incredibly sorry she lost her son, and I'm in such awe that she could turn that loss into such a lovely book. I highly recommend this--it's a beautiful exploration of life's different paths and what fate can bring us.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Once Upon A Deadpool (Deadpool 2 PG-13 Version) (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
So you want to see a family friendly version of Deadpool 2? Well you're out of luck because after all their editing it didn't make it past the 12A certificate criteria and had to be released as a 15 again. It still deserved that 15, it wasn't exactly hiding it's sweary side very well, and the violence is still there, you just don't get splattered with as much blood.
The editing unfortunately leaves you with some obvious continuity errors. The one that bugged me the most was the scene where DP is shot through the hand. They've left out the CGI for the gaping hole but it appears later in the film.
But lets look at the extra content you get.
Fred Savage and DP cut into the film in a homage to The Princess Bride. It's an amusing addition and I really did enjoy the Matt Damon skit.
They also edited the Stan Lee mural to say RIP, it definitely made it stick out more as I completely missed it the first time I saw DP2 at the cinema.
We also got an extra three credit scenes. One before the existing ones and two after. I nearly left... I was convinced that the fourth one was the end and I stood up to leave just as the fifth one started, and someone shouted at me to sit down. I'm not even mad, I was shouting internally at myself too. I was so glad to have seen it. The end Stan Lee montage brought a tear to my eye and was horribly poignant footage.
Is it in any way an improvement on the original? Absolutely not. Was it worth watching at the cinema? Definitely, yes. The screen was packed with people who knew what they were getting and were just there to have fun. (Apart from the two people who left after about ten minutes... spoil-sports.) We laughed together like it was the first time we'd seen the film and it was a great experience. With tickets in our cinema currently ÂŁ5 of free with your Unlimited card it was well worth seeing on the big screen for the experience.
I'm left actively annoyed now though because it'll probably be another DVD I have to buy. Really there is no way to make Deadpool family friendly without taking everything away that makes him so fun. The ideal scenario would have been to have the Fred Savage bits edited together with the relevant snippets of the film and had it as a 20 minutes extra when they released it to buy. That or create a MST3K style commentary track for the film where you just see DP silently miming actions to Savage while he's telling him the story and we're watching the film, then having DP physically pause the film when Savage asks him questions so that they can do the scenes. Okay, I'm calm again now.
What you should do
I don't know if they're going to release it to buy or stream, and it was a one hit wonder at the cinema so I'm not really sure what you'll be able to do about seeing it. Ultimately though it's probably just worth watching the original again in all it's sweary and bloody glory.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
From this adaptation I think I'd like to have the bleeping buzzer that Deadpool uses in the added scenes. That would really come in handy on a day to day basis.
The editing unfortunately leaves you with some obvious continuity errors. The one that bugged me the most was the scene where DP is shot through the hand. They've left out the CGI for the gaping hole but it appears later in the film.
But lets look at the extra content you get.
Fred Savage and DP cut into the film in a homage to The Princess Bride. It's an amusing addition and I really did enjoy the Matt Damon skit.
They also edited the Stan Lee mural to say RIP, it definitely made it stick out more as I completely missed it the first time I saw DP2 at the cinema.
We also got an extra three credit scenes. One before the existing ones and two after. I nearly left... I was convinced that the fourth one was the end and I stood up to leave just as the fifth one started, and someone shouted at me to sit down. I'm not even mad, I was shouting internally at myself too. I was so glad to have seen it. The end Stan Lee montage brought a tear to my eye and was horribly poignant footage.
Is it in any way an improvement on the original? Absolutely not. Was it worth watching at the cinema? Definitely, yes. The screen was packed with people who knew what they were getting and were just there to have fun. (Apart from the two people who left after about ten minutes... spoil-sports.) We laughed together like it was the first time we'd seen the film and it was a great experience. With tickets in our cinema currently ÂŁ5 of free with your Unlimited card it was well worth seeing on the big screen for the experience.
I'm left actively annoyed now though because it'll probably be another DVD I have to buy. Really there is no way to make Deadpool family friendly without taking everything away that makes him so fun. The ideal scenario would have been to have the Fred Savage bits edited together with the relevant snippets of the film and had it as a 20 minutes extra when they released it to buy. That or create a MST3K style commentary track for the film where you just see DP silently miming actions to Savage while he's telling him the story and we're watching the film, then having DP physically pause the film when Savage asks him questions so that they can do the scenes. Okay, I'm calm again now.
What you should do
I don't know if they're going to release it to buy or stream, and it was a one hit wonder at the cinema so I'm not really sure what you'll be able to do about seeing it. Ultimately though it's probably just worth watching the original again in all it's sweary and bloody glory.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
From this adaptation I think I'd like to have the bleeping buzzer that Deadpool uses in the added scenes. That would really come in handy on a day to day basis.
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017) in Movies
Sep 29, 2021
The Arthurian legend: but with Cockneys.
So, bit difficult to describe this one⌠so I asked my bloke Alfie from Londinium to explain whatâs it all aboutâŚ
ââEre, OK bruv. So this is dun by that geezer Guy Ritchie â yer know, the one that dun that Sherlock Holmes with the Iron Man geezer Robert Junior Downey, that one. His new film is a rip-roarinâ acshun movie what retells da Arfurian legend in a novel new way.
That Hulk bloke Eric Bana is Arfurâs farfer anâ âeâs âavinâ a few problems wiv âis bruvver Vortigern (Jude Law, whoâs a biâ ov a cockney âimself, but âere speaks like a posh bloke. Know what I mean?) So âe (Vortigern dat is) gets some magical âelp from some slippery watery bints in a puddle and so âis dad puts âis God Forbid in a boat anâ sends âim down da river ter The Smoke ter live wiv some prozzies.
But âe grows up big anâ strong anâ âandy wiv a sword. His friends tell âim ter get aaaht ov town as da Kingâs blokes are lookinâ fer da young geezer who would be king. Anâ e says like âScapa Flow sowf ov da river at dis time ov night. Are yew mad?â. So e gets caught like anâ gets tested by some famous football bloke ter pull a big sword aaaht ov just a random biâ ov stone (nod, nod, wink wink, nice twist â ssshhh!).
The Vortigern bloke is very cross anâ tries to kill âim but âe gets rescued by some bird who can make birds, lol, anâ other fings do what she wants. So can Arfur beat âis uncle? Gawdon Bennet, Iâm not gonâa tell yew da whole darn fing! Yerâll âave ter go anâ watch iâ ter find out.â
Thanks Alfie. Couldnât have said it better myself!
The quirky style of Guy Ritchie isnât one that you would think would translate well to the Arthurian setting, and as the film starts you tend to think you were right! But if you give it a chance it wears you down into acceptance and then â ultimately â a lot of enjoyment.
Jude Law is deliciously evil mixed with a heavy dose of mad, and delivers the goods.
Charlie Hunnam who plays Arthur (no, I hadnât heard of him either but he was in the âLost City of Zâ) does a decent job as the medieval hunk, although he seems at time to have taken voice coaching in âOlde-Englishâ from Russell Crowe, since the ladâs Geordie accent seems to wander from Cockney through central southern England to Liverpudlian at one point (definitely channelling a young John Lennon)! Relative newcomer, the Spanish actress Astrid Bergès-Frisbey is effectively weird as the mage.
Particularly noteworthy (no pun intended) is the superb action soundtrack by Daniel Pemberton (âSteve Jobsâ, âThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.â) which propels the action really well and contains some standout moments.
Also a standout in the technical categories is the editing by James Herbert, who did both of Downey Juniorâs âSherlock Holmesâ films (in a similar style) and also âEdge of Tomorrowâ. The style is typified with Arthurâs growth to manhood in the streets of London which is stylishly done.
I saw the film in 3D â not a particularly favourite format â but quite well done, although falls into the âtrying too hardâ category at times with lots of drifting embers⌠you know the sort.
Itâs not bloody Shakespeare. Itâs not even the bloody Arthurian legend as you know it. But it is bloody good fun if you let it in.
ââEre, OK bruv. So this is dun by that geezer Guy Ritchie â yer know, the one that dun that Sherlock Holmes with the Iron Man geezer Robert Junior Downey, that one. His new film is a rip-roarinâ acshun movie what retells da Arfurian legend in a novel new way.
That Hulk bloke Eric Bana is Arfurâs farfer anâ âeâs âavinâ a few problems wiv âis bruvver Vortigern (Jude Law, whoâs a biâ ov a cockney âimself, but âere speaks like a posh bloke. Know what I mean?) So âe (Vortigern dat is) gets some magical âelp from some slippery watery bints in a puddle and so âis dad puts âis God Forbid in a boat anâ sends âim down da river ter The Smoke ter live wiv some prozzies.
But âe grows up big anâ strong anâ âandy wiv a sword. His friends tell âim ter get aaaht ov town as da Kingâs blokes are lookinâ fer da young geezer who would be king. Anâ e says like âScapa Flow sowf ov da river at dis time ov night. Are yew mad?â. So e gets caught like anâ gets tested by some famous football bloke ter pull a big sword aaaht ov just a random biâ ov stone (nod, nod, wink wink, nice twist â ssshhh!).
The Vortigern bloke is very cross anâ tries to kill âim but âe gets rescued by some bird who can make birds, lol, anâ other fings do what she wants. So can Arfur beat âis uncle? Gawdon Bennet, Iâm not gonâa tell yew da whole darn fing! Yerâll âave ter go anâ watch iâ ter find out.â
Thanks Alfie. Couldnât have said it better myself!
The quirky style of Guy Ritchie isnât one that you would think would translate well to the Arthurian setting, and as the film starts you tend to think you were right! But if you give it a chance it wears you down into acceptance and then â ultimately â a lot of enjoyment.
Jude Law is deliciously evil mixed with a heavy dose of mad, and delivers the goods.
Charlie Hunnam who plays Arthur (no, I hadnât heard of him either but he was in the âLost City of Zâ) does a decent job as the medieval hunk, although he seems at time to have taken voice coaching in âOlde-Englishâ from Russell Crowe, since the ladâs Geordie accent seems to wander from Cockney through central southern England to Liverpudlian at one point (definitely channelling a young John Lennon)! Relative newcomer, the Spanish actress Astrid Bergès-Frisbey is effectively weird as the mage.
Particularly noteworthy (no pun intended) is the superb action soundtrack by Daniel Pemberton (âSteve Jobsâ, âThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.â) which propels the action really well and contains some standout moments.
Also a standout in the technical categories is the editing by James Herbert, who did both of Downey Juniorâs âSherlock Holmesâ films (in a similar style) and also âEdge of Tomorrowâ. The style is typified with Arthurâs growth to manhood in the streets of London which is stylishly done.
I saw the film in 3D â not a particularly favourite format â but quite well done, although falls into the âtrying too hardâ category at times with lots of drifting embers⌠you know the sort.
Itâs not bloody Shakespeare. Itâs not even the bloody Arthurian legend as you know it. But it is bloody good fun if you let it in.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) in Movies
Apr 2, 2021
Could have used more Kong versus Godzilla
If you are going to sit down and watch a movie that is entitled GODZILLA vs. KONG, you pretty much know what you are going to get, the highest your expectation should be is a âpretty fun B pictureâ with a giant Gorilla and a giant Lizard punching it out.
AndâŚthat is pretty much what you getâŚthough the âlaws of diminishing returnsâ is catching up to this franchise.
It all started with the reboot of GODZILLA in 2014 - a better than B âB Movieâ that introduced audiences to Monarch and the Monsters they were following. This was followed up by the âvery much a B Movieâ KONG: SKULL ISLAND where Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman and a host of others run around, getting picked off one-by-one in an enjoyable romp and hopes remained high for the ongoing Kong/Godzilla âUniverseâ.
Unfortunately, 2019âs GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS was a step down and the franchise showed signs of weakness with weaker plot linesâŚeven weaker human charactersâŚand overblown special effects.
Next came this film, GODZILLA vs. KONG - it was supposed to be released in theaters last summer, but because of the pandemic made itâs theatrical release at the same time it was shown on HBO Max (where I viewed it) - and Iâm glad they did that, for if I would have shelled out money in a movie theater to check out this mess, I would have been angry, indeed.
GODZILLA vs. KONG follows, unfortunately, the trend started by GODZILLA: KING OF THE THE MONSTERS in that it has overblown CGI action with very little in the way of coherent plot and characters that you couldnât care less about. Itâs a mess of a movie that strings together a slim plot to get from one CGI battle to another.
ButâŚif it has CGI Giant Gorilla on CGI Radioactive Lizard fighting in itâŚit should be fine, right? WellâŚthatâs where Director Adam Wingard (YOUâRE NEXT) really fails, for a movie called GODZILLA vs. KONG has very little Kong fighting Godzilla in itâŚso one cannot even get too excited by that.
To be fair to this film, it doesnât try to be anything more than it is intended to be - a âBâ flick with giant monsters fighting each other, butâŚit only manages to be a B- flick at best. So, feel free to kick back and watch the CGI action, youâll enjoy most of it - just donât spend too much time looking for plot or characters that you care about.
AndâŚunfortunatelyâŚitâs making me care less and less about future sequels - or the future of the Kong/Godzilla Universe.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
AndâŚthat is pretty much what you getâŚthough the âlaws of diminishing returnsâ is catching up to this franchise.
It all started with the reboot of GODZILLA in 2014 - a better than B âB Movieâ that introduced audiences to Monarch and the Monsters they were following. This was followed up by the âvery much a B Movieâ KONG: SKULL ISLAND where Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman and a host of others run around, getting picked off one-by-one in an enjoyable romp and hopes remained high for the ongoing Kong/Godzilla âUniverseâ.
Unfortunately, 2019âs GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS was a step down and the franchise showed signs of weakness with weaker plot linesâŚeven weaker human charactersâŚand overblown special effects.
Next came this film, GODZILLA vs. KONG - it was supposed to be released in theaters last summer, but because of the pandemic made itâs theatrical release at the same time it was shown on HBO Max (where I viewed it) - and Iâm glad they did that, for if I would have shelled out money in a movie theater to check out this mess, I would have been angry, indeed.
GODZILLA vs. KONG follows, unfortunately, the trend started by GODZILLA: KING OF THE THE MONSTERS in that it has overblown CGI action with very little in the way of coherent plot and characters that you couldnât care less about. Itâs a mess of a movie that strings together a slim plot to get from one CGI battle to another.
ButâŚif it has CGI Giant Gorilla on CGI Radioactive Lizard fighting in itâŚit should be fine, right? WellâŚthatâs where Director Adam Wingard (YOUâRE NEXT) really fails, for a movie called GODZILLA vs. KONG has very little Kong fighting Godzilla in itâŚso one cannot even get too excited by that.
To be fair to this film, it doesnât try to be anything more than it is intended to be - a âBâ flick with giant monsters fighting each other, butâŚit only manages to be a B- flick at best. So, feel free to kick back and watch the CGI action, youâll enjoy most of it - just donât spend too much time looking for plot or characters that you care about.
AndâŚunfortunatelyâŚitâs making me care less and less about future sequels - or the future of the Kong/Godzilla Universe.
Letter Grade: B-
6 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
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Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Deception: Murder in Hong Kong in Tabletop Games
Jun 12, 2019
One of the funnest (yeah I know, itâs not a word) parts of board gaming is getting to introduce new people to the hobby! Whether itâs a family gathering or a party with friends, I love breaking out a fun game for any occasion! Some board gamers have an aversion to the âpartyâ games category, but I think you just need to find the right game for the group to have the best experience! One of those games, for me, is Deception: Murder in Hong Kong!
MURDER! As an Investigator, thatâs just another day on the job for you. This time feels different, though. Something about this case is off⌠After the initial evidence is gathered, the teamâs Forensic Scientist has disclosed to the team that the killer is one of the Investigators! Everyone is on edge, accusing every other Investigator of being the murderer. Everyone had potential means and motive, and it is up to you to figure it out! As the Forensic Scientist uncovers more evidence, the details of the crime will come to light, and the killer will be revealed. Put your investigative and deductive skills to the test as you try to unmask the killer, or throw the team off your scent if you are the culprit!
DISCLAIMER!! This review is for vanilla Deception: Murder in Hong Kong. We have plans to add in the expansion once one of us purchases it and learns it and teaches it to the rest of us. Should that happen and our review change, we will add that information to this review or to a new review and link to it from here. -T
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is a game of bluffing, deduction, and hidden identity. All players (except for the Forensic Scientist) have a secret role in the game â Investigator, Witness, Murderer, or Accomplice. The Forensic Scientist knows who the killer is, and how they did it. It is their job to guide the Investigators to the killer by providing clues about the uncovered evidence. The Investigators are trying to interpret the clues and uncover the killerâs identity. The Witness knows who the killer is, but has not yet figured out how they did it. The Murderer and Accomplice are looking to pin the murder on one of the other innocent members of the team! As clues are revealed, each player gets a chance to make a case against the player whom they think is the murderer. You must convince everyone of your logic, or else the killer could get away! In a game where everyone is a suspect, who can you trust? Gather clues, present your case, and put your poker face to the test in this ultimate game of deception! (See what I did there?)
I thoroughly enjoy games of deduction. Anything where you have to think and solve puzzles/riddles/etc. is fun for me. In Deception, itâs a race to see who can find the solution first. Not only do you have to deduce the correct answer from the provided clues, but you also have to put your persuasive skills to the test! Unless you can convince everyone that a specific player is the killer, they might turn their accusations towards someone else, or even worse, towards YOU! You really have to think outside of the box to interpret the Forensic Scientistâs clues, and I like to challenge myself to find the solution in as few turns as possible. The faster I can solve the murder, the smarter I feel. Donât lie, it makes you feel smart too when you figure it out before anyone else!
The only part of Deception that I donât really enjoy is the bluffing aspect, which is one of the most integral parts of the game, I know. I am just a horrible liar with a questionable poker face. If we play and I am the Murderer, I am almost always found out. Whenever anyone accuses me, my mind blanks and I cannot think of a single convincing way to get everyone off my scent! That is a personal problem, though, because when I get to be just a regular olâ Investigator, I have a blast! I can still be accused, but I always feel like I have an easier time getting people off my case if I am actually innocent. I know some people really enjoy being the Murderer because they like the challenge of deceiving the entire team. I am not one of those people though. If I was guaranteed to be just a plain Investigator (or the Forensic Scientist) every time, I would probably pull this game out more!
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is a âpartyâ game, but with the right group, it can still be a challenging game. A higher player count, in this case, does not necessarily equate to a chaotic game either. So give Deception a try. Itâll be worth it! Purple Phoenix Games gives it a 17 / 24.
https://purplephoenixgames.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/deception-murder-in-hong-kong-review/
MURDER! As an Investigator, thatâs just another day on the job for you. This time feels different, though. Something about this case is off⌠After the initial evidence is gathered, the teamâs Forensic Scientist has disclosed to the team that the killer is one of the Investigators! Everyone is on edge, accusing every other Investigator of being the murderer. Everyone had potential means and motive, and it is up to you to figure it out! As the Forensic Scientist uncovers more evidence, the details of the crime will come to light, and the killer will be revealed. Put your investigative and deductive skills to the test as you try to unmask the killer, or throw the team off your scent if you are the culprit!
DISCLAIMER!! This review is for vanilla Deception: Murder in Hong Kong. We have plans to add in the expansion once one of us purchases it and learns it and teaches it to the rest of us. Should that happen and our review change, we will add that information to this review or to a new review and link to it from here. -T
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is a game of bluffing, deduction, and hidden identity. All players (except for the Forensic Scientist) have a secret role in the game â Investigator, Witness, Murderer, or Accomplice. The Forensic Scientist knows who the killer is, and how they did it. It is their job to guide the Investigators to the killer by providing clues about the uncovered evidence. The Investigators are trying to interpret the clues and uncover the killerâs identity. The Witness knows who the killer is, but has not yet figured out how they did it. The Murderer and Accomplice are looking to pin the murder on one of the other innocent members of the team! As clues are revealed, each player gets a chance to make a case against the player whom they think is the murderer. You must convince everyone of your logic, or else the killer could get away! In a game where everyone is a suspect, who can you trust? Gather clues, present your case, and put your poker face to the test in this ultimate game of deception! (See what I did there?)
I thoroughly enjoy games of deduction. Anything where you have to think and solve puzzles/riddles/etc. is fun for me. In Deception, itâs a race to see who can find the solution first. Not only do you have to deduce the correct answer from the provided clues, but you also have to put your persuasive skills to the test! Unless you can convince everyone that a specific player is the killer, they might turn their accusations towards someone else, or even worse, towards YOU! You really have to think outside of the box to interpret the Forensic Scientistâs clues, and I like to challenge myself to find the solution in as few turns as possible. The faster I can solve the murder, the smarter I feel. Donât lie, it makes you feel smart too when you figure it out before anyone else!
The only part of Deception that I donât really enjoy is the bluffing aspect, which is one of the most integral parts of the game, I know. I am just a horrible liar with a questionable poker face. If we play and I am the Murderer, I am almost always found out. Whenever anyone accuses me, my mind blanks and I cannot think of a single convincing way to get everyone off my scent! That is a personal problem, though, because when I get to be just a regular olâ Investigator, I have a blast! I can still be accused, but I always feel like I have an easier time getting people off my case if I am actually innocent. I know some people really enjoy being the Murderer because they like the challenge of deceiving the entire team. I am not one of those people though. If I was guaranteed to be just a plain Investigator (or the Forensic Scientist) every time, I would probably pull this game out more!
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is a âpartyâ game, but with the right group, it can still be a challenging game. A higher player count, in this case, does not necessarily equate to a chaotic game either. So give Deception a try. Itâll be worth it! Purple Phoenix Games gives it a 17 / 24.
https://purplephoenixgames.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/deception-murder-in-hong-kong-review/
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Tiny Epic Galaxies: Beyond the Black in Tabletop Games
Mar 11, 2022
In the expansion review series, we take a look at a game expansion to discuss whether it is a necessary purchase/addition to oneâs collection.
This review is a breakdown of the Beyond the Black expansion for Tiny Epic Galaxies. Beyond the Black introduces several new components to the game: Pilot cards, Hangars, and Exploration cards. To set up for a game with the expansion, things are done as normal with a few additions. The deck of Pilot cards is shuffled, and a market is created above the row of Planet cards. Each player receives a Hangar mat with 4 Advanced Ships, and the Exploration cards are shuffled and placed face-down on the Exploration mat. A handful of new Planet and Secret Mission cards are included in this expansion, and are shuffled into their respective decks. Pictured below are some of the expansion components.
The gameplay with the Beyond the Black expansion is essentially identical to that of the base game, with two new action options. On your turn, when you have rolled your dice, you have the option to Hire Pilots. These Pilots will take control of an Advanced Ship from your Hangar mat, and will provide special and powerful abilities in the game. In order to Hire a Pilot, you must pay the dice cost for the specific type of Advanced Ship for which you are hiring. Take the Pilot card and place it on your Hangar mat, on the corresponding Advanced Ship. You then replace one of your normal ships with the new Advanced Ship, to be used throughout the rest of the game. Not all Pilots can control every ship, so you have to strategize on which Pilots to hire.
The other new action option is Exploration. On your turn, when you roll a âMove a Shipâ action, you may move a ship to the Exploration mat. Exploring uncharted space could result in helpful discoveries (gaining resources) or dangerous consequences (usually losing resources). Once on the Exploration mat, you have the option to take any face-up card from the Exploration row, if there are any, or you have the option to reveal the top card of the Exploration deck. If you reveal the top card and it is a green Discovery card, you may choose to take it and reap the rewards, or you can choose to push your luck and draw another card hoping for something better. If you draw a red Danger card, you must immediately take it and suffer the consequences, thus ending your turn. The Exploration row can only ever have 3 face-up cards at a time, so knowing when to push your luck or when to take a safe card is key.
The game continues in the normal fashion, with these additional actions, until a player has earned 21 or more VP. Along with the base game VP, the expansion allows players to earn VP for hired Pilots and Exploration cards. When the game end is triggered, players will then score their Secret Mission cards and VP earned from Exploration cards, and the player with the highest total is declared the winner!
Official recommendation: If youâve read our review of Tiny Epic Galaxies, and itâs newest iteration, Tiny Epic Galaxies Blast Off!, then youâll know that we absolutely love this game. The gameplay is excellent, the theming is on point, and the mechanics are engaging. That being said, is the Beyond the Black expansion necessary? If you, like us, are serious fans of the base game, I would say yes. This expansion builds upon the great elements of the base game, and provides even more opportunities for strategy in your gameplay. Should you hire this Pilot now, and for which Advanced Ship? Youâre allowed to replace Pilots in future turns, but what if you replace someone and then regret it? How far are you willing to push your luck to Explore uncharted space? The benefits are nice, but the consequences can be brutal. The gameplay is elevated by the inclusion of these new elements, and is not bogged down by unnecessary additions. When first introducing this game to people, I would probably just use the base game to build an understanding of the gameplay. But beyond that (see what I did there?), I would highly recommend grabbing a copy of the Beyond the Black expansion to include in your future plays of this awesome little space game.
This review is a breakdown of the Beyond the Black expansion for Tiny Epic Galaxies. Beyond the Black introduces several new components to the game: Pilot cards, Hangars, and Exploration cards. To set up for a game with the expansion, things are done as normal with a few additions. The deck of Pilot cards is shuffled, and a market is created above the row of Planet cards. Each player receives a Hangar mat with 4 Advanced Ships, and the Exploration cards are shuffled and placed face-down on the Exploration mat. A handful of new Planet and Secret Mission cards are included in this expansion, and are shuffled into their respective decks. Pictured below are some of the expansion components.
The gameplay with the Beyond the Black expansion is essentially identical to that of the base game, with two new action options. On your turn, when you have rolled your dice, you have the option to Hire Pilots. These Pilots will take control of an Advanced Ship from your Hangar mat, and will provide special and powerful abilities in the game. In order to Hire a Pilot, you must pay the dice cost for the specific type of Advanced Ship for which you are hiring. Take the Pilot card and place it on your Hangar mat, on the corresponding Advanced Ship. You then replace one of your normal ships with the new Advanced Ship, to be used throughout the rest of the game. Not all Pilots can control every ship, so you have to strategize on which Pilots to hire.
The other new action option is Exploration. On your turn, when you roll a âMove a Shipâ action, you may move a ship to the Exploration mat. Exploring uncharted space could result in helpful discoveries (gaining resources) or dangerous consequences (usually losing resources). Once on the Exploration mat, you have the option to take any face-up card from the Exploration row, if there are any, or you have the option to reveal the top card of the Exploration deck. If you reveal the top card and it is a green Discovery card, you may choose to take it and reap the rewards, or you can choose to push your luck and draw another card hoping for something better. If you draw a red Danger card, you must immediately take it and suffer the consequences, thus ending your turn. The Exploration row can only ever have 3 face-up cards at a time, so knowing when to push your luck or when to take a safe card is key.
The game continues in the normal fashion, with these additional actions, until a player has earned 21 or more VP. Along with the base game VP, the expansion allows players to earn VP for hired Pilots and Exploration cards. When the game end is triggered, players will then score their Secret Mission cards and VP earned from Exploration cards, and the player with the highest total is declared the winner!
Official recommendation: If youâve read our review of Tiny Epic Galaxies, and itâs newest iteration, Tiny Epic Galaxies Blast Off!, then youâll know that we absolutely love this game. The gameplay is excellent, the theming is on point, and the mechanics are engaging. That being said, is the Beyond the Black expansion necessary? If you, like us, are serious fans of the base game, I would say yes. This expansion builds upon the great elements of the base game, and provides even more opportunities for strategy in your gameplay. Should you hire this Pilot now, and for which Advanced Ship? Youâre allowed to replace Pilots in future turns, but what if you replace someone and then regret it? How far are you willing to push your luck to Explore uncharted space? The benefits are nice, but the consequences can be brutal. The gameplay is elevated by the inclusion of these new elements, and is not bogged down by unnecessary additions. When first introducing this game to people, I would probably just use the base game to build an understanding of the gameplay. But beyond that (see what I did there?), I would highly recommend grabbing a copy of the Beyond the Black expansion to include in your future plays of this awesome little space game.
My First High School Crush
Games and Entertainment
App
~~> Get ready to meet & fall in love with the cutest boy in school! ~~> Yay â he asked you out!...
Scott Tostik (389 KP) rated Raw (2017) in Movies
Jul 28, 2017
Great lead actress (1 more)
Weird twist
WTF did I just watch... In a good way :)
Contains spoilers, click to show
What can be said about french horror that the amazing film Martyrs couldn't say?
A whole mouthful as made apparent by this entry from the land of Eiffel.
It starts slow, which in horror can make the viewer lose interest and get bored. But by the end of the first act you find yourself strangely intrigued by the story of Justine.
Who knew the students in veterinary school could be so harsh on rookies of the program. They shower them in blood and make them eat raw meat. Justine, a strict vegetarian protests, but her older sister makes her eat it, beginning a whirlwind of activity from the prudish Justine that seems completely out of character.
She and her roommate, who is supposed to be a girl, but is a gay young man, engage in pleasantries when she first gets there and a solid connection between the two characters is made.
During a botched Brazilian wax, Justine kicks a pair of scissors from her sister's hand, accidentally removing her ring finger in the process. Sister passes out, Justine calls the paramedics who tell her to put it on ice and rush her into the ER.
But Justine has other plans, she begins smelling the finger, then sucking the blood from the severed end, before snacking on the removed digit feverishly as Alex wakes up and awkwardly stares at her with a look of disbelief.
I'm not going to reveal anymore of this film, to do so would be rude and ignorant to the reader.
This movie is something that needs to be viewed to fully appreciate. It's utterly amazing to watch Justine's transformation.
As an avid horror fanatic, I can only make a recommendation that this film be watched by you the viewer, and your own assumptions be made.
I can lead you to the water, but I can't make you drink. But take my advice... Drink!!! Guzzle!!!! CHUG IT TIL YOU CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE!!!!
A whole mouthful as made apparent by this entry from the land of Eiffel.
It starts slow, which in horror can make the viewer lose interest and get bored. But by the end of the first act you find yourself strangely intrigued by the story of Justine.
Who knew the students in veterinary school could be so harsh on rookies of the program. They shower them in blood and make them eat raw meat. Justine, a strict vegetarian protests, but her older sister makes her eat it, beginning a whirlwind of activity from the prudish Justine that seems completely out of character.
She and her roommate, who is supposed to be a girl, but is a gay young man, engage in pleasantries when she first gets there and a solid connection between the two characters is made.
During a botched Brazilian wax, Justine kicks a pair of scissors from her sister's hand, accidentally removing her ring finger in the process. Sister passes out, Justine calls the paramedics who tell her to put it on ice and rush her into the ER.
But Justine has other plans, she begins smelling the finger, then sucking the blood from the severed end, before snacking on the removed digit feverishly as Alex wakes up and awkwardly stares at her with a look of disbelief.
I'm not going to reveal anymore of this film, to do so would be rude and ignorant to the reader.
This movie is something that needs to be viewed to fully appreciate. It's utterly amazing to watch Justine's transformation.
As an avid horror fanatic, I can only make a recommendation that this film be watched by you the viewer, and your own assumptions be made.
I can lead you to the water, but I can't make you drink. But take my advice... Drink!!! Guzzle!!!! CHUG IT TIL YOU CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE!!!!
Kristy H (1252 KP) Jul 1, 2019
ClareR (6054 KP) Jul 1, 2019