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Micah Ulibarri (79 KP) rated Google Assistant in Apps
Apr 14, 2018
Helpful, though not entirely intuitive
It's a useful app if you don't have a number of other apps. I imagine Alexa is much more intuitive. Some things it was very helpful for (ex. My wife breeds snake and when asked how to treat snake burns it found and recited accurate information). On the other hand I asked how many QuikTrip are between my home and work. It brought me a Wikipedia of the wrong company.
The games were very simple. Not the worst thing if you are passing the time. On the other hand, not great.
The news was good. I brought it down to pretty specific and broad terms and it always found good and current (less than 24hours) on the topic.
The games were very simple. Not the worst thing if you are passing the time. On the other hand, not great.
The news was good. I brought it down to pretty specific and broad terms and it always found good and current (less than 24hours) on the topic.
Sara Cox (1845 KP) rated Athena's Choice in Books
Oct 8, 2019
A story set in the late 2000's and nearing the turn of the century. A virus killed everyone containing the Y chromosome. A genetics company is working on creating the genome to bring men back, but it's been stolen and Athena is the only one who can get it back. This story is very well researched, nothing mentioned here is scientifically impossible with more developments. It is well written and easy to read and understand. With concepts and history that would be everyday knowledge in this fictional future there are Wikipedia pages within the book to explain, which is an amazing idea and a flip of what I have usually read where there is a lack of females.
But does Athena decide to bring men back or does she think the world is better without them?
But does Athena decide to bring men back or does she think the world is better without them?
David McK (3233 KP) rated I Am Legend in Books
Jul 7, 2019 (Updated Mar 19, 2023)
Richard Matheson's classic 1954 horror story, that (according to Wikipedia) has been converted four times into movies: The Last Man on Earth (1964), The Omega Man(1971),I Am Legend(2007) and I Am Omega(2007)
Of those, I was aware of only Charlton Heston's The Omega Man and Will Smith's I Am Legend, only having seen the latter. I'm also aware that that film also deviates from the source material (when do they not!), with the book describing the pandemic as (more-or-less) turning people into vampires rather than the zombies of the film. In both cases, Robert Neville seems to be immune to the virus, and is trying to work out how to cure it, while seemingly the last human being on the planet. The two versions, however, also end rather differently, with the novell(a) suiting the title 'I am legend' (and explaining why) more than the movie does!
Of those, I was aware of only Charlton Heston's The Omega Man and Will Smith's I Am Legend, only having seen the latter. I'm also aware that that film also deviates from the source material (when do they not!), with the book describing the pandemic as (more-or-less) turning people into vampires rather than the zombies of the film. In both cases, Robert Neville seems to be immune to the virus, and is trying to work out how to cure it, while seemingly the last human being on the planet. The two versions, however, also end rather differently, with the novell(a) suiting the title 'I am legend' (and explaining why) more than the movie does!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Glass (2019) in Movies
Jan 22, 2019 (Updated Jan 22, 2019)
More Than Half Empty
Long-awaited sequel to Unbreakable; also not-quite-so-long-awaited sequel to Split, as M Night Shyamalan's various superheroes and villains assemble in a nuthouse: roll-call includes Bruce Willis (special power: being, um, unbreakable), James McAvoy (special power: one of his multiple personalities is a bit of an animal), and Samuel L Jackson (special power: being older than his own mum - it's true, I checked Wikipedia).
Starts off very promisingly but soon collapses into a saggy and self-indulgent mess in the traditional Shyamalan style; many long-winded scenes and much mysto-babble. Another bravura performance from McAvoy, and Jackson (when he finally turns up) carves himself a thick slice of ham, but the consequence of this is that Bruce Willis mostly vanishes into the background. The climax is remarkably portentous considering it's mostly just two guys wrestling each other fairly clumsily in a car park. Not sure three half-assed plot twists add up to a decent ending. All in all, a curious attempt to make a superhero movie in the style of a horror film, but ultimately rather disappointing given the potential and the talent involved.
Starts off very promisingly but soon collapses into a saggy and self-indulgent mess in the traditional Shyamalan style; many long-winded scenes and much mysto-babble. Another bravura performance from McAvoy, and Jackson (when he finally turns up) carves himself a thick slice of ham, but the consequence of this is that Bruce Willis mostly vanishes into the background. The climax is remarkably portentous considering it's mostly just two guys wrestling each other fairly clumsily in a car park. Not sure three half-assed plot twists add up to a decent ending. All in all, a curious attempt to make a superhero movie in the style of a horror film, but ultimately rather disappointing given the potential and the talent involved.
Lou Grande (148 KP) rated The Hunger in Books
Jun 28, 2018
Either narrow the focus or expand the scope
Contains spoilers, click to show
This book was so hyped. I was getting emails about it for months; Stephen King recommended it up and down. And it was good! Sort of.
As others have noted, Katsu does an excellent job of building atmosphere and tension in the first half of the book, but when things start to unravel for the Donner Party, so does the narrative. There are too many characters to keep track of interspersed with too many flashbacks. It weakens the impact of what happened up in those mountains. In fact, it barely mentions them at all.
Yes, there are supernatural elements woven into an historical event. But—you know, it wasn’t really necessary. I thought the idea of linking it (the hunger) to a disease was an interesting one that ultimately went nowhere. It all just got too convoluted. I continuously had to keep rechecking who each character was, because some would disappear between chapters. There is so much that is lost between pages, including the fates of (what the reader is led to believe are) key characters.
Do yourself a favor if you pick this one up, and read the Wikipedia article on the Donner Party first. At least then you can maybe keep track of the characters.
As others have noted, Katsu does an excellent job of building atmosphere and tension in the first half of the book, but when things start to unravel for the Donner Party, so does the narrative. There are too many characters to keep track of interspersed with too many flashbacks. It weakens the impact of what happened up in those mountains. In fact, it barely mentions them at all.
Yes, there are supernatural elements woven into an historical event. But—you know, it wasn’t really necessary. I thought the idea of linking it (the hunger) to a disease was an interesting one that ultimately went nowhere. It all just got too convoluted. I continuously had to keep rechecking who each character was, because some would disappear between chapters. There is so much that is lost between pages, including the fates of (what the reader is led to believe are) key characters.
Do yourself a favor if you pick this one up, and read the Wikipedia article on the Donner Party first. At least then you can maybe keep track of the characters.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated 806 in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. Ò806Ó by Cynthia Weir is a fun, fast-read about three newly found siblingsÕ road trip to find their biological father. Even though the issues discussed are serious, the author was able to portray them in an easy-to-read and upbeat way.
Often, we use novels, especially Young Adult novels, as a way to escape our own lives and this book allows you to follow the main characters along a very interesting road trip. The teens are portrayed as real teens. They are not perfect. They make mistakes. They say and/do the wrong things. They have feelings. They express those feelings without falling into teenager's typical stereotypes. They have opinions. They let those opinions be known. While some of their antics were a bit unbelievable, don't most novels make you suspend reality? I found myself enjoying and engrossed by the story and characters and cheering for them to succeed and find their father.
I thoroughly enjoyed the authorÕs writing style. I have not read anything by this author but I have heard, liked, and sang along with many of the songs she wrote. Check out her long list of songs on Wikipedia. I would add her to my "want to read" list.
Often, we use novels, especially Young Adult novels, as a way to escape our own lives and this book allows you to follow the main characters along a very interesting road trip. The teens are portrayed as real teens. They are not perfect. They make mistakes. They say and/do the wrong things. They have feelings. They express those feelings without falling into teenager's typical stereotypes. They have opinions. They let those opinions be known. While some of their antics were a bit unbelievable, don't most novels make you suspend reality? I found myself enjoying and engrossed by the story and characters and cheering for them to succeed and find their father.
I thoroughly enjoyed the authorÕs writing style. I have not read anything by this author but I have heard, liked, and sang along with many of the songs she wrote. Check out her long list of songs on Wikipedia. I would add her to my "want to read" list.
Lee Ronaldo recommended Colour Green by Sibylle Baier in Music (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Amélie (2001) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
Rich cinematic comfort food, not only am I wholly befuddled by this - but shocked at how many people don't hate it. By most means this shouldn't work let alone as remarkably as it does: it exudes any and all of the qualities that defined late 90s/early 00s Miramax-style cinema which sort of began with 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 and plateaued with 𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 where everyone was randomly obsessed with people doing 'adorkable' quirky things for little to no reason (i.e. painting the same Renoir piece once a year for 20 years, looking under photo booths for torn up pictures that you then put together into an extensive photo album collection [??]) and ubiquitous, fast-talking overnarration that just explains a lot of excess details that only exist to be eccentric. I myself will most certainly cop to having a huge warm spot for that sort of film - for the most part - as now we've sort of crescendoed back into the 'monotonous, stock Wikipedia article' type of film. At any rate, this was just so wonderful. An ode to the good in life with pretty much spotless dialogue, scenes that snap together like puzzle pieces, and a deservedly iconic aesthetic - the way better version of 𝘗𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥. Audrey Tatou deserved *so* much better than slumming it in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦 after this.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Shadow Queen in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! I'm not normally big on historical fiction unless it is about World War II, but this book was wonderful. I didn't even know who Wallis Simpson was to be honest. Sure, I'd heard of her, but didn't know much about her life at all. She is such a fascinating character with such a horrific, yet charmed life it was hard not to like her & feel for her with all that she went through.
The book is a mix of fiction & real life, so I don't know exactly what was true & what wasn't. But honestly it doesn't really matter. The story is so easy to lose yourself in & the characters are all so real (I know some of them are really real!) I found myself looking Wallis up on Wikipedia before I was even halfway through the novel, that is how fascinated I had become by her.
I really hope that Rebecca Dean writes another book about Simpson. The book ends before Prince Edward becomes her beau, but it is obvious that is where the whole thing is going. In fact, Edward is hardly even a character in the book. Sure he's in it, but most of it is as a pin up from a magazine or in girlhood fantasies of Wallis & Pamela. He doesn't become real until very late in the story. I would love to read more about their life together!!
Very well done Rebecca!!!
The book is a mix of fiction & real life, so I don't know exactly what was true & what wasn't. But honestly it doesn't really matter. The story is so easy to lose yourself in & the characters are all so real (I know some of them are really real!) I found myself looking Wallis up on Wikipedia before I was even halfway through the novel, that is how fascinated I had become by her.
I really hope that Rebecca Dean writes another book about Simpson. The book ends before Prince Edward becomes her beau, but it is obvious that is where the whole thing is going. In fact, Edward is hardly even a character in the book. Sure he's in it, but most of it is as a pin up from a magazine or in girlhood fantasies of Wallis & Pamela. He doesn't become real until very late in the story. I would love to read more about their life together!!
Very well done Rebecca!!!
The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) rated Jack Reacher (2012) in Movies
Apr 1, 2018
A serviceable thriller, but this isn't Jack Reacher
It's just not possible.... Jack Reacher is HUGE, he is a Giant among men. His physical statue is part of the story... Tom Cruise is not. It's not his fault but this is bad casting. According to wikipedia: Explaining the casting decision, author Lee Child said that it would be impossible to find a suitable actor to play the giant Reacher and to recreate the feel of the book onscreen, and that Cruise had the talent to make an effective Reacher. Child also said, "Reacher's size in the books is a metaphor for an unstoppable force, which Cruise portrays in his own way." Of Cruise's relatively small stature, Child said, "With another actor you might get 100% of the height but only 90% of Reacher. With Tom, you'll get 100% of Reacher with 90% of the height."
I respectfully disagree. Lee Child can do whatever he likes, he created the character... but I think Mickey Rourke (as he did in Sin City) could've done a hell of a job. Or Clive Owen who is 6'2 and has action chops as well as a subtle humor.... And if you've going to without the height I think Bruce Willis is your man. Maybe they turned it down which is a shame if that's the case. This is one of my favorite literary characters.
The movie was acceptable, but could've been great.
I respectfully disagree. Lee Child can do whatever he likes, he created the character... but I think Mickey Rourke (as he did in Sin City) could've done a hell of a job. Or Clive Owen who is 6'2 and has action chops as well as a subtle humor.... And if you've going to without the height I think Bruce Willis is your man. Maybe they turned it down which is a shame if that's the case. This is one of my favorite literary characters.
The movie was acceptable, but could've been great.