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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.
An amazing recreation of Harlan Ellison's ORIGINAL screenplay for City on the Edge of Forever, regarded to this day as one of Star Trek's best stories. And while the differences are fairly major, the character of the piece remains, a timeless love story set against a ticking clock, a death that must happen or all of history will be erased. The script is good, (but sorry, Harlan, it is un-filmable in this form, at least as a Trek episode. There are simply too many small bits--like the portrayal of Spock--that just don't line up with what the show had set forth previously. But there are other moments, like the steely resolve of Yeoman Rand that I desperately wish had made the cut.)
Scott and David Tipton are no strangers to Trek, and they have adapted the screenplay masterfully. J.K. Woodward, who's watercolor paintings I did not like in the Doctor Who Trek crossover, work fantastically here for this story, and the art really helps capture the look and feel of 1930s. Outstanding all the way around and well worth your time, no matter how familiar you are with the source material, or the episode that it became.
Scott and David Tipton are no strangers to Trek, and they have adapted the screenplay masterfully. J.K. Woodward, who's watercolor paintings I did not like in the Doctor Who Trek crossover, work fantastically here for this story, and the art really helps capture the look and feel of 1930s. Outstanding all the way around and well worth your time, no matter how familiar you are with the source material, or the episode that it became.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Gone Girl (2014) in Movies
Aug 23, 2017
Rosamund Pike (1 more)
The plot was interesting
Ben Affleck... I Just hate him okay (1 more)
I guessed the ending.
One of the biggest let downs.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Okay I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but personal opinion I just really didn't care for this movie that much. My biggest problem was everybody just talked about how there was no movie like this the story was so unique the plot twist was going to blow you away when I managed to guess the plot twist with no problem whatsoever so to say I was really disappointed is a bit of an understatement.
I found a majority of the movie to be very monotone and boring which for me basically sums up Ben Affleck's acting but what can I say I've just never been a fan of the guy.
Okay so it wasn't all bad the parts that I did like was Rosamund Pike really stole the entire movie she was brilliant I really liked her character as well as her acting was top notch I really bought her as Amy Dunne. My favorite scene was the bedroom scene with her and Neil Patrick Harris if there was more of that through out they movie I would have probably liked it more.
I found a majority of the movie to be very monotone and boring which for me basically sums up Ben Affleck's acting but what can I say I've just never been a fan of the guy.
Okay so it wasn't all bad the parts that I did like was Rosamund Pike really stole the entire movie she was brilliant I really liked her character as well as her acting was top notch I really bought her as Amy Dunne. My favorite scene was the bedroom scene with her and Neil Patrick Harris if there was more of that through out they movie I would have probably liked it more.
Rodney Barnes (472 KP) rated Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) in Movies
Mar 11, 2019
Another Good Anthology
Contains spoilers, click to show
I must say despite the protest for this movie for the last...well you know; I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. The characters were spot on. Donald Glover did the best job in my opinion. The story was good, Han looking for his lost love may have been a little stretch at that point in his career but it worked. The one thing I didn't like was the way Han and Chewy met. I know they wouldn't do it like the old canon, which would have been hard to do but I wish it could have been done a little different. Aside from the this movie met my expectations, as a Star Wars fan. I even liked the way they incorporated Lando's sidekick droid into the Falcon. We can now understand it's really a she. The part that excited me most was the ending. That was very unexpected for me. One of my favorite Sith Lords of all time made a showing. Darth Maul!! I hope this story arc continues with him in future anthology movies. This movie is a solid 8 for me. We will see what the future holds for more movies like this
Ashley Valencia (5 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) in Movies
Mar 31, 2019
This film was just a mess. There are so many characters thrown in that it's hard to care about any of them. They aren't given enough time to be fully fleshed out or even memorable. I don't remember the names of even half of them. And while we see Grindelwald commit a few crimes, in the end his motivation is to stop police brutality and prevent World War 2 from even happening. If he's painted as anything in this film I would maybe say he was more of an anti hero than a villain and that's not what he was supposed to be. Don't even get me started on his non relationship with Dumbledore. JK Rowling wants all of the credit for having a gay character without doing any of the work. I find it to be annoying. In the trailer, Dumbledore is shown in front of the Mirror of Erised, that shows him Grindelwald. So I had some hope that their relationship would at least be mentioned in the film. Nope. Not even a little. They had a gay character in the same way the live action of Beauty and the Beast did - in that they didn't. Unless you squint.
ClareR (5906 KP) rated An American Marriage in Books
Apr 26, 2019
A thought provoking novel
The story of Roy, Celestine and André. Roy is falsely accused of rape and is imprisoned for ten years. He and Celestine haven’t been married for much more than a year, and Celestine finds quite early on that she can’t cope with being alone and a prisoners wife. I have to admit that I disliked her a great deal for this. She knew that he was innocent, but couldn’t stand by him. She stops visiting, cuts off contact, but still pays money into his jail bank account. Her childhood friend, and Roy’s best friend develops into something more at Roy’s mothers funeral. I realise, looking back on this, that I was very judgemental of someone who was put into an impossible situation. Celestine didn’t ask for any of the problems that were thrown at her after Roy’s imprisonment, and I really think that this book was very good at making you see all sides of the story. People had their reasons for doing what they did.
I actually listened to this on audiobook, and I think this was in large part to ‘blame’ for my very emotional reaction to Celestine’s apparent abandonment of Roy. The narrators were excellent.
I actually listened to this on audiobook, and I think this was in large part to ‘blame’ for my very emotional reaction to Celestine’s apparent abandonment of Roy. The narrators were excellent.
The Yuletide Inn is a cornerstone of Rudolph, New York, offering a nice place to stay and nice restaurant for the many people who come to take part in the Christmas festivities that the town hosts all year long. When the owner has a heart attack just a couple weeks before Christmas, his son Gord comes to town to help run things, but he immediately starts making plans for big changes – changes that could hurt the town. Merry is concerned about what this will do to her own shop, her friends, and family. But when Gord is killed, she has a new concern – find the killer before someone she loves his arrested for the crime.
I was in the mood for a Christmas cozy, and this one delivered in spades. Being set in December certainly helped. The author does a good job of setting up suspects and motives before the murder happens, but I did feel the book stalled out a bit in the middle as events pushed actual investigating to the background. The characters are wonderful and charming once again.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-we-wish-you-murderous.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was in the mood for a Christmas cozy, and this one delivered in spades. Being set in December certainly helped. The author does a good job of setting up suspects and motives before the murder happens, but I did feel the book stalled out a bit in the middle as events pushed actual investigating to the background. The characters are wonderful and charming once again.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-we-wish-you-murderous.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Danii19936 (3 KP) rated This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor in Books
Aug 20, 2018
MUST READ
After I graduated this summer I was reading just about anything I could due to all my free time and I saw sooooo many people recommending this book so although it’s not what I would normally read I gave it a go. I am SO glad I did, I read it within a couple of hours and I would argue it is my favourite book of the summer! It is incredibly eye opening. As a law graduate I like to think I am relatively clued up about society and although I knew that the medical profession gets no where near the credit they deserve I couldn’t believe how much they are put through! Adam Kay writes such a powerful piece while still being witty and engaging, you almost forget it is a true story! I fully support his message and as soon as I put the book down I was telling everyone I could about it! I would urge everyone to read this book! As a side note (and probably completely irrelevant) I couldn’t believe it when I saw an acknowledgement to one of my closest friends at the end of the book, it’s such a small world!
Irene M (130 KP) rated Infographics for Kids in Books
Dec 7, 2018
I received this book from Toppsta to review
"Infographics help us to understand information, learn and remember it!" ... and this book has that in abundance.
My own first impressions included how wonderful bright and colourful this book was, and the great thick quality of the pages.
Every double-page infographic in the book has something interactive for the little ones to expand on, be it simple colouring in or a question to make them think, and so packed full of informative facts that even if you don't read from cover to cover and just open and point there will be something of interest.
I have two boys so needless to say the fact about a human poop weighing the same as two apples was MOST entertaining and I have a feeling it might get repeated often at school today.
My 8 year old had no problems reading thru the book, my 6 year old only needed help with one or two words, and both showed much glee at regurgitating their new found information with their Dad at the dinnertable even a couple of days after reading the book ... so they definitely did take in the information which is exactly what the cover says.
A great read for all ages.
"Infographics help us to understand information, learn and remember it!" ... and this book has that in abundance.
My own first impressions included how wonderful bright and colourful this book was, and the great thick quality of the pages.
Every double-page infographic in the book has something interactive for the little ones to expand on, be it simple colouring in or a question to make them think, and so packed full of informative facts that even if you don't read from cover to cover and just open and point there will be something of interest.
I have two boys so needless to say the fact about a human poop weighing the same as two apples was MOST entertaining and I have a feeling it might get repeated often at school today.
My 8 year old had no problems reading thru the book, my 6 year old only needed help with one or two words, and both showed much glee at regurgitating their new found information with their Dad at the dinnertable even a couple of days after reading the book ... so they definitely did take in the information which is exactly what the cover says.
A great read for all ages.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated On Shifting Sand in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Dust, sand, grit everywhere. When there is a door to a different form of life's satisfaction will Nola take it?
Nola has married Russ Merrill to escape the harsh hand of her father. But now she feels trapped and is withering away. When an unexpected guest comes to stay, she blossoms. But will this lead her down a path that she shouldn't go?
Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this book. Allison Pittman did a wonderful job capturing the feel of the Dust Bowl life. I loved the style of writing that she used. Very elegant and easy to read. However, I had a hard time with the story line. There few things in life that I cannot stand more than infidelity. If I had read the book description more closely, I would have realized that this is the basis for this story. And from the very beginning you know what is going to happen, which made me dread picking up the book. It is a good book. Well written and very captivating. However, I was unable to complete it due to my own standards in life.
I received a free copy of On Shifting Sand from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Nola has married Russ Merrill to escape the harsh hand of her father. But now she feels trapped and is withering away. When an unexpected guest comes to stay, she blossoms. But will this lead her down a path that she shouldn't go?
Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this book. Allison Pittman did a wonderful job capturing the feel of the Dust Bowl life. I loved the style of writing that she used. Very elegant and easy to read. However, I had a hard time with the story line. There few things in life that I cannot stand more than infidelity. If I had read the book description more closely, I would have realized that this is the basis for this story. And from the very beginning you know what is going to happen, which made me dread picking up the book. It is a good book. Well written and very captivating. However, I was unable to complete it due to my own standards in life.
I received a free copy of On Shifting Sand from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.