David McK (3816 KP) rated Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) in Movies
Nov 21, 2021
We've had Origin stories (upon origin story upon origins story ...)
We've had 'fish out of water' comedies (see: Thor)
We've had outright sci-fi/sci-fantasy (see: Guardians of the Galaxy)
We've had political thrillers (see: Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
We've had team-up (see: The Avengers)
We've had crime capers (See: Ant-man)
Up until now, we've had no Martial Arts movies (sorry, Netflix's 'Iron Fist': you don't count as a movie).
We've also had no movies with a mainly Asian cast. Until now.
This also brings back the 10 Rings organisation (first name-dropped all the way back in 2008's 'Iron Man'), with the plot outline of the movie actually quite different than what I expected - lots of Martial Arts sequences (the fight on the bamboo scaffolding is a high-light), the usual Marvel musings on family, and one or two character inclusions that I wasn't expecting (but really should have been) ...
Sixteen Horses
7.0
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Near the dying English seaside town of Ilmarsh, local police detective Alec Nichols discovers...
Literary Fiction Trigger Warning: Animal Cruelty and Dismemberment
We All Want Impossible Things
10.0
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Who knows you better than your best friend? Who knows your secrets, your fears, your desires, your...
The Lessons We Learn
10.0
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March 1943. As the Buffalo winter ends, the father of Betty Ahern's friend, Lee Tillotson,...
David McK (3816 KP) rated The Incredible Hulk (2008) in Movies
Jan 30, 2021 (Updated Sep 18, 2022)
Anyway, all that said, this is solidly mid-tier stuff: better than the Ang Lee version from circa 2003, sure, but not up there with the likes of The Winter Soldier or Avengers Assemble.
The Du Lac Chronicles (The Du Lac Chronicles #1) by Mary Anne Yarde
8.0
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A generation after Arthur Pendragon ruled, Briton lies fragmented into warring kingdoms and...
Historical Fiction Historical Fantasy Historical Romance
The Dark Cry of Aristid
10.0
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A forgotten village strikes a desperate bargain - and brings down the wrath of the gods. The...
Dark Fantasy
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Wicked Kingdom ( Crown of Blood and Frost book 3) in Books
Jul 26, 2022
Kindle
Wicked Kingdom ( Crown of Blood and Frost book 3)
By C.Y. Jones
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I never wanted the crown, the Throne, Elyeria... I never wanted any part of it. That’s my father’s world, not mine. Or so I thought.The false Queen needs to be stopped. She’s has gone too far this time. When you mess with any of my mates, you mess with me. Turning against one of my mates, I’ll do anything to protect him.Secrets are uncovered and bad guys become allies. There’s no such thing as rules in the war of the heart.I’m Winter DelaCort, Princess, Queen. No matter what you call me, I’m the true ruler of this Wicked Kingdom.
I didn’t end this one as much as I’ve enjoyed the others it lacked something. I thought a few bits were just eye rolling annoying. I found scenes with Kaiden a little uncomfortable too. Some of the language and words used I thought were just thrown in for a reaction. It was a bit meh.
The Whistling
8.0
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Alone in the world, Elspeth Swansome has taken the position of nanny to a family on the remote...
Ghost story
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Captain America: Civil War (2016) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
The film is set in the aftermath of “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” where the governments of the world have grown fearful of the devastation that can be unleashed by their super-powered protectors and their enemies and devises a plan of action.
A law is introduced that requires heroes to register and be held accountable to governing bodies which for the most part would also control their activities.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), is still reeling from his part in the Ultron threat and the usually smug and cocky Iron Man is all in favor of the new legislation proposal.
Captain America/Steve Rogers on the other hand remembers the evils of making various groups register and answer to the government during World War II and he is very opposed to this new development.
As if this was not enough for the heroes to deal with, a villain named Crossbones (Frank Grillo) is causing trouble and then there is the matter of The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), which is like adding gasoline on a raging fire.
The Winter Soldier is blamed for a horrific tragedy and the forces of the world are poised to bring him to a final justice no matter the cost.
Rogers believes that his former friend can be saved and as such is willing to take great risks to do so. Stark and his supporters believe that The Winter Soldier is a threat that must be stopped at all costs. This combined with the already growing tensions over the new legislation divides the former allies and puts friends and allies at odds with one another.
The resulting backlash is a battle that threatens to destabilize those sworn to protect society and makes the world an even more dangerous and volatile place especially with an ever darker threat looming in the shadows.
The film does a great job mixing in intense action sequences that are visual effect spectacles, yet never losing the fact that is story powered by real characters with real issues.
The characters may be super powered, but they are dealing with real issues ranging from trust, loyalty, betrayal, and accountability in an ever changing world that seems to be caught in the crossfire of their heroic deeds.
The large ensemble cast works very well with one another and this is the key to making a film like this work. This is not simply pitting characters against one another in a conflict; this is a well-developed story that sets up future films very well but uses compelling and interesting characters with some timely humor to carry the film.
There are plenty of surprise moments in the film and Directors Anthony and Joe Russo proved that their last Captain America outing was no fluke, as they have delivered an action-packed and gripping film with some very mature content and themes set against some dazzling and intense action sequences which have become a trademark of the Marvel Film Franchise.
http://sknr.net/2016/05/03/captain-america-civil-war/