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Wolfwalkers (2020)
Wolfwalkers (2020)
2020 | Animation, Family
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Wolfwalkers is the latest animated offering from Irish based studio, Cartoon Saloon. I’m actually ashamed to say that before watching Wolfwalkers, I was pretty unfamiliar with their previous Irish folklore offerings - The Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014) - but having seen this latest animated feature, it’s a mistake that I will be looking to correct as quickly as possible.

Wolfwalkers is set in Kilkenny, Ireland (which is also the home of Cartoon Saloon!) during the 17th century. Robyn (Honor Kneafsey) has moved from Yorkshire with her father, Bill (Sean Bean) to the walled town, where Bill has been tasked by the rather menacing Lord Protector (Simon McBurney) to clear the surrounding forest of wolves. Once the forest is clear, the woodsmen can fell the trees and the farmers can start working the land.

There are signs everywhere, throughout the town and pinned to trees in the forest, showing a snarling wolf with a red cross drawn over it. A wolf attack on some woodsmen early on shows us just how dangerous the wolves are, and also introduces us to the Wolfwalkers that walk among them. With blazing eyes and fiery red hair, the Wolfwalkers are able to communicate with and control the wolves, calling them off their attacks on the humans. They also appear to possess magical healing abilities, using them to heal a wolf scratch on the chest of one of the men.

Robyn has dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a hunter as she practices her crossbow skills. So rather than work all day in the scullery, she decides to slip past the guards at the outer gate (no children are allowed beyond the town walls) and secretly follow her father out into the forest, watching him as he sets traps for the wolves. When she comes face to face with a wolf, it’s much smaller and a lot cuter than the ones we’ve seen before, and Robyn learns that it is, in fact, a young Wolfwalker named Mebh.

Robyn forms a bond with Mebh and discovers that when the Wolfwalkers sleep, they assume the body of a wolf, leaving their human body to sleep until they return in order to wake it up. Mebh is worried because her mother has been asleep for some time and her wolf form has not yet returned. Robyn learns that the Wolfwalkers are simply trying to defend the animals from the modern world that is encroaching on their forest and Robyn vows to help find her mother. A difficult task when the Lord Protector has given her father 2 days to clear the forest of wolves, and he isn’t listening to his daughter as she pleads with him to stop.

I found Wolfwalkers to be simply wonderful, with a captivating story full of twist and turns for both kids and adults to enjoy. It’s beautiful to look at too, utilising a watercolour style with rough pencil sketches visible in most of the characters and scenery only adding to its visual appeal. I was completely taken by surprise and just couldn’t fault it.
  
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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Thomasine in Books

May 15, 2020  
Thomasine
Thomasine
Jordan Elizabeth Mierek | 2020 | Horror, Paranormal, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ghosts, a murderous cult, and men who can turn into wolves
Ghosts, a murderous cult, and men who can turn into wolves feature in Jordan Elizabeth's latest novelette Thomasine. As a young girl, Thomasine believed there was something sinister living in the cellar of their farmhouse and was thankful when the family moved away. Now she has returned for a funeral and cannot shake off the uneasy feeling that there is evil afoot. On top of that, Thomasine can see ghosts and there is one, in particular, that is begging her for help.

The story switches between Thomasine's point of view and Adelajda, a Polish girl from 1888. The girls' stories combine in a supernatural way, which brings the story to its dramatic climax. Thomasine discovers her family history is dark and complicated and her future looks bleak. If she tries to escape her fate, Thomasine's parents would be in grave danger. Just as she was beginning to despair, Thomasine discovers a solution to her problems in the form of Adelajda...

Thomasine is a fast-paced story, 155 pages in length, that keeps the reader entertained from beginning to end. Mystery, fantasy and mild horror are all combined together with a hint of romance to create a welcome addition to Jordan Elizabeth's œuvre.
  
Rejected Mate (Shifter World: Royal-Kagan #5)
Rejected Mate (Shifter World: Royal-Kagan #5)
Nancy Corrigan | 2015 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
In book 1 of the Kagan Wolves series, we meet Nic and Riley. Nic is the alpha's son, primed to take over as Alpha when his father steps down. Riley is an honorary pack member as she is wholly human. She is also the Pack's Doctor, although she will treat any shifter that turns up.

I loved the twist in this book - that Nic the human loved and wanted Riley, but Nic the wolf saw her as weak because she couldn't give him pups! The frustration felt by Nic was tangible as you read through. Riley is a strong character and I honestly don't know if I could do what she did! I think I would have run at the first opportunity, but that's why the book isn't about me! lol

I enjoyed seeing Sean and Jenna again, and how they both helped Riley and Nic. This is what friends do for each other, even if you don't always agree with their decisions.

Very well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this was a wonderful full-length read into the world of the Kagan Wolves. Definitely recommended.

* Verified Purchase on Amazon *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2016
  
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Dean (6926 KP) rated The Grey (2012) in Movies

Feb 10, 2018  
The Grey (2012)
The Grey (2012)
2012 | Action, Drama
6
7.0 (15 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A decent survival drama/thriller as a group of men try to survive a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness with a pack of Wolves on their trail. Neeson seems to be the flavour of the year at present and does another good job here. The only problem is the story is a little bleak and tries to carry a message about death and the afterlife as well. Which starts fairly subtle before cropping up quite regularly towards the end. It has a very short scene after the credits as well. Reminded me of The Edge as well.
  
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Uwe Boll recommended Dances With Wolves (1990) in Movies (curated)

 
Dances With Wolves (1990)
Dances With Wolves (1990)
1990 | Action, Drama, Western

"I love a big adventure; it’s one of the reasons I like Dances with Wolves, also on the list. Because I feel that this was also a big adventure [to film] and I like the very realistic feeling, what Kevin Costner did with that movie. I love that movie. It’s emotional, and it’s real, in a way. I really like it. [Editor’s note: check back for next week’s full interview with Uwe Boll as he tells us how he almost got Kevin Costner to join the cast of Dungeon Siege: In the Name of the King!]"

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