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Blue beetle (2023)
Blue beetle (2023)
2023 | Action, Adventure
6
7.3 (7 Ratings)
Movie Rating
I'm not sure whether this is officially considered to be one of the last movies in the DC EU (DC Extended Universe) or one of the first in the new DCU (DC Universe) but, regardless, it's about a Superhero that I have never really heard of before and know nothing about.

Like, I suspect, most people.

Anyway, it stars that Mexican kid from Cobra Kai as Jaime Reyes who finds himself in possession of a relic of alien technology, that attempts to form a symbiosis with him and bestows powers upon him (in a world which already includes the DC Holy Trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman).

What happens, them, comes across as a mix of Spider-Man and Iron Man (especially), with a hint of Venom, Shazam and Batman also all thrown in for good measure!

In short: been there, seen that, got the t-shirt ...
  
Wonder Woman (2017)
Wonder Woman (2017)
2017 | Action, Fantasy, War
Gal Gadot (0 more)
OTT CGI (1 more)
Weak villain
Well it's definitely the best DC film so far...
Despite the rave reviews for this film, I hadn't been expecting much mainly as DC films of late haven't really been very good (excluding Nolan's of course). Wonder Woman is by far the best DC film out of the recent bunch, but I'm afraid that's all it really has going for it.

Gal Gadot is a good casting choice as Diana and she does very well. Chris Pine too is perhaps underused but fairly charismatic. I did wonder whether Ewen Bremner is required to play the same character in every film? Or he's sadly just been typecast.


The main issue with this film is the week villain and the ridiculous CGI. There was no real threat of anything from Ares and as with most other superhero films lately, he came across as a very boring and poor adversary. And he was made up of far too much CGI. The whole film really had too much CGI in general, too much slow motion and most of it looked a bit shoddy. Less is more! And the plot itself set within a world war all seemed very Captain America, which was done quite a long time ago now!


In all it was an alright superhero film, with a good female lead. I just wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again.
  
Justice League (2017)
Justice League (2017)
2017 | Action, Adventure
Wonder Woman is nice to look at. (0 more)
Superman's upper lip is horrendous due to poor CGI removal of his filmed mustache. (0 more)
Justice Beer League
Contains spoilers, click to show
What should have been an epic film for the decade fell flat on many levels. I got burned out with the whole superhero theme a while back. So I may have brought a little heat into the burning fire.
They took nearly 4 hours of a film and cut into barely 2 hours. Imagine the editing room floor for just a moment. So much was cut in this movie and seemed so choppy. You can see the edits that most try to hide. The bad guy of the film looked straight out of a cartoon. Which wouldn't be bad if everyone else wasn't portrayed to be a real life character.
It's a good popcorn family flick but for fanboys who have waited years for this movie will be greatly saddened.
  
Pairing a Deception
Pairing a Deception
Nadine Nettmann | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Food, Wine, Murder
Katie Stillwell and her boyfriend, Dean, are out of town for the weekend, spending it at a food and wine festival outside of Santa Barbara. Several times on opening night, they witness a woman who seems to be stalking festival emcee, Hudson Wiley. When a dead body turns up, they begin to wonder what is going on.

With Katie and Dean out of town, they are the only two real returning characters in the series, but I loved getting to spend more time with them. The new characters are good. The mystery is a little light, but once we get past some set up, Katie uncovers some surprises before we reach the logical and suspenseful conclusion. I’m not a wine lover, but the facts about wine certainly make me want to taste some and see if I can tell the differences that Katie talks about, and those who do love wine will enjoy the pairing suggestions at the beginning of each chapter.
  
Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure
I enjoyed everything about this movie. Loved the 80s references, soundtrack, special effects and captain marvel is, well... marvellous (0 more)
Absolutely awesome
I thought the trailers looked good and I wasnt disappointed. I wasnt a big fan but this reinvention is awesome. Love the soundtrack, it fits well with the scenes and is a blast from the past. The special effects are awesome, especially towards the end. The humor is on point, and i love the dry wry wit of Carol Danvers. She totally kicks ass. Wonder woman was my favorite growing up. If this version of Captain Marvel was around then, she would definately be on the top of my list of favorite superheros. Shes a strong stubborn female who doesnt take herself too seriously.
The CGI was really well done on Goose and to make a younger Coulson & Nick Fury. Interesting to see a younger, less serious, humorous Nick Fury. I loved everything about it. One of my top movies for Marvel and 2019.
  
Bring Me Back
Bring Me Back
B.A. Paris | 2018 | Thriller
8
7.9 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
Unnerving with lots of twists
B. A. Paris returns once again with a deeply troubling psychological thriller following a couple and a woman, who disappeared 12 years ago.

Finn and his girlfriend Layla are in France before she mysteriously vanishes, leaving him to answer police questions over her disappearance. Fast forward 12 years, and Finn has settled down, about to marry Layla's older, much more mature sister, but suddenly bizarre events begin to occur, and they wonder - has she returned?

The entire book is unnerving, moving between several narratives and voices, first establishing Finn's version of the past and the present. And then soon after, another voice emerges, and you're left to question whether it really is Layla.

While you do get an inkling with 30 minutes left of the book about what could be possible - it is written so that the final reveal is still harrowing and shocking. Another gripping thriller from Paris.
  
Eliza and Higgins have gone to Ascot to cheer on the race horse that Eliza’s father recently bought a share of. However, a woman is murdered in the stable and a man runs onto the track in the middle of a race. Higgins things he could have stopped the tragic events of the day, so he starts investigating. But another murder makes Eliza wonder if things are really that simple. What is going on?

Those who enjoyed seeing these beloved characters again will be delighted with their return. The writing duo behind these books has done a wonderful job of making them their own and continuing to grow the characters. The mystery is fantastic as well with everything falling perfectly into place during the suspenseful climax.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/09/book-review-move-your-blooming-corpse.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.