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David McK (3687 KP) rated 1917 (2020) in Movies
Feb 13, 2020 (Updated Oct 17, 2020)
Sam Mendes World War One epic, which follows - in virtually one long tracking shot - two British soldiers sent on a mission across No Mans Land and enemy territory to deliver a message to stop their comrades (including one of the soldiers older brother) from walking into a trap.
Undeniably beautifully shot, showing the true horrors of the war - this does, however, require a serious amount of buy-in from the viewer: just why would a British General send only tow soldiers to deliver such an important message (especially against the clock), when it could have been delivered far quicker, easier and safer by the Royal Flying Corp??
Putting that aside for the moment, the only other recent movie I can think of that even attempts to show the trenches during World War One is 2017's 'Wonder Woman'. Remember the stand-out scene where Diana charges heroically across No Mans Land, under fire from the Germans the entire way? This is nothing like that.
Undeniably beautifully shot, showing the true horrors of the war - this does, however, require a serious amount of buy-in from the viewer: just why would a British General send only tow soldiers to deliver such an important message (especially against the clock), when it could have been delivered far quicker, easier and safer by the Royal Flying Corp??
Putting that aside for the moment, the only other recent movie I can think of that even attempts to show the trenches during World War One is 2017's 'Wonder Woman'. Remember the stand-out scene where Diana charges heroically across No Mans Land, under fire from the Germans the entire way? This is nothing like that.
How I Live Now
7.5
Rate It
Book
“Every war has turning points and every person too.” Fifteen-year-old Daisy is sent from...
Carma (21 KP) rated Avengers: Endgame (2019) in Movies
Jun 17, 2019 (Updated Jun 23, 2019)
Thanos show down part two
Contains spoilers, click to show
I absolutely couldn't wait for the conclusion to Infinity War to see how our heroes reverse the snap. Honestly I have to say I read some spoilers before and had an idea of what might happen (not that most of that did) but I can say I was a little disappointed. Full disclosure, I saw the movie 4 times, I didn't plan to but I did. Anyway, while I appreciated the movie working on the core 6 and finishing up their story arcs, I still can't get on board with the total movie "knocking my socks off". There were too little fight scenes for me, too much filler in spots and conversations that didn't move the story line forward for me. Now the end big assemble was exactly what I was looking for but wishing it was a couple more time throughout the movie. The humor was high in this one (I think making up for Infinity Wars darkness) and some points were worth it, others the humor was a little much. I definitely enjoyed Infinity War better than Endgame but I am still a MCU fan forever. I did the culmination of Tony becoming the hero in the end, something he struggled with but had in him from the first Avengers movie in 2012. We see Cap call him out as not falling on the sword for others and in each movie after Tony definitely has his sword moments.
Merissa (13659 KP) rated War (The Four Horsemen #2) in Books
Apr 25, 2023
In this story, we meet with War, the second of the Horsemen. He is still wrapped in guilt at the role he played in the destruction of a neighbouring tribe when he was alive. He was murdered by a survivor of that village, and he let it happen, thinking that he deserved it. Russell is a modern-day soldier, serving in Afghanistan, when he is wounded and left for dead. Death shows up and tells him to hang on, help is on the way. War then arrives, on Death's instructions, and feels the need to help this individual. We have a quick reunion with Aldo, before Russell gets taken to a hospital in Germany. He is sent back to war far too soon and ends up having a mental breakdown due to circumstances.
The PTSD is handled incredibly well in this book, and it doesn't shy away from the grim reality of war. Both Russell and War have guilt issues to work through, and together, they help each other. Their relationship, although fast, still has time to develop.
We get a few extra snippets in this book, including the fact that the horses can speak in the world between worlds. Death is as intriguing and cryptic as ever, although I still love him.
A very different series that I am thoroughly enjoying. Definitely recommended for anyone who wants a slightly different read.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 12, 2015
The PTSD is handled incredibly well in this book, and it doesn't shy away from the grim reality of war. Both Russell and War have guilt issues to work through, and together, they help each other. Their relationship, although fast, still has time to develop.
We get a few extra snippets in this book, including the fact that the horses can speak in the world between worlds. Death is as intriguing and cryptic as ever, although I still love him.
A very different series that I am thoroughly enjoying. Definitely recommended for anyone who wants a slightly different read.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 12, 2015
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated The Pianist (2002) in Movies
Feb 21, 2018 (Updated Feb 21, 2018)
This movie will literally crush your soul
Okay to start off I am not a crier it is so rare that I cry in a movie that I honestly can say I've only cried in about a handful of movies. And when I first saw this movie I don't even think I'd ever cried during a movie except when I was like four and I watch The Little Mermaid but oh man did I openly oh man did I openly SOB like a baby during this movie.... he'll even thinking about a certain scene in this movie makes me want to cry.
The movie follows a Polish Jewish man's Journey through Warsaw during World War II and all the horrors he not only witnessed but survived. The whole movie is just so raw and Adrian Brody' s performance is just so heart-wrenchingly beautiful that I felt like I've been through everything he's been through and by the end I found myself so shaken I had to take a few minutes just to calm myself down.
The movie follows a Polish Jewish man's Journey through Warsaw during World War II and all the horrors he not only witnessed but survived. The whole movie is just so raw and Adrian Brody' s performance is just so heart-wrenchingly beautiful that I felt like I've been through everything he's been through and by the end I found myself so shaken I had to take a few minutes just to calm myself down.
Parade's End: Some Do Not...; No More Parades; A Man Could Stand Up -; The Last Post
Julian Barnes and Ford Madox Ford
Book
Booker Prize-winner Julian Barnes introduces Ford Madox Ford's masterpiece Parade's End - now a...
This was amazing! I love the art work and the story line was beautifully done.
Alana and Marko are soldiers from 2 different worlds,on opposite sides of a war. When an unexpected love brews, these two risk everything to stay together and bring their daughter into the chaotic world.
Written in the point of view of the daughter, this takes you on Alana and Markos Journey.
Cant wait to continue on with the next one.
Alana and Marko are soldiers from 2 different worlds,on opposite sides of a war. When an unexpected love brews, these two risk everything to stay together and bring their daughter into the chaotic world.
Written in the point of view of the daughter, this takes you on Alana and Markos Journey.
Cant wait to continue on with the next one.
The Complete Peanuts 1991-1992: Volume 21
Charles M. Schulz and Tom Tomorrow
Book
Love takes many shapes and shades in The Complete Peanuts: 1991-1992. Charlie Brown's interest in...
Dave Filipi recommended Ivan's Childhood (1962) in Movies (curated)
BookblogbyCari (345 KP) rated A Short History of the World in Books
Aug 5, 2018
Best known for his classic fiction, HG Wells also wrote a non-fiction book summarising the history of the world, going from the history of the solar system, right up to the date the book was published in 1922.
As I hoped, the book often reads like a novel, with 67 distinct sections, each like a mini story. In order to fit the history of the whole world into one book, by nature the story telling ranges from nice and rapid, to a little too rapid. I found it rather like a catalogue of numerous interesting little nuggets of information. Despite covering events from all over the world, the topics often flow seamlessly from one topic to the next. Due to so many overlapping topics, this history of the world isn't told in a linear purely chronological pattern, but has to go backwards a little, now and again.
At various times throughout, the stories are gripping and Wells successfully brings history to life. I particularly liked the various sections on religious leaders. Appropriately, Wells tackles religion as would any unbiased historian-become storyteller. I also enjoyed the beginning, where Wells paints a crystal clear picture of our solar system and the vast empty space that our dramas are within. His description of our galaxy sounds nothing short of beautiful.
The book was meant to be predominantly factual, but Wells did include a substantial amount of speculation and opinion. This does not distract from the storyline, but adds value in generating the concepts of the time periods.
It covers progress and prosperity as much as carnage and decimation, and provides good explanations of everything it covers. (Although it would benefit from more illustrations). At times it feels detail heavy but also gives the reader a feel for each age - the book is not limited to which country went to war with which country and when, but also examines changes in ways of thinking through the ages. Including the Ancient Greek philosophers, Arabian progress in maths and science, the advent of experimental science, and the development of political and social ideas in Wells’ time.
I was reassured to learn that despite not studying the history of the world in its entirety in school, I was already familiar with much of the book’s content. Having said that, there were also topics where I really felt I was learning something. I read Wells’ opinion on why the Roman Empire fell, and how the industrial revolution was not merely a revolution in machinery, but rather a revolution in how people conducted their everyday lives. There were also some important figures from history described that were never mentioned in my school days, particularly Charlemagne and Roger Bacon.
Towards the end of the book, Wells correctly predicts another war like that of the Great War. However his final message was one of faith and hope in humanity’s progress.
With such a huge scope, Wells must have struggled with deciding what topics to include and what to exclude. I thought he ought to have included a touch more detail on Ancient Egypt, and on the causes of the Great War (World War 1). As a British person myself I would have liked to have seen more on British history.
Likewise, if the book were written now rather than 1922 I began to speculate on what he would and wouldn’t have included. I imagine there would certainly be a section on World War 2, rockets into space, the internet, and 9/11. He would have provided an excellently conducted section on how humans are destroying the planet.
One of the beauties of this book has to be its availability. If you type “short history of the world” into Google, the free PDF of this book takes up much of the first 2 pages of results. If you’re sketchy on world history, this book will fill in the main blanks, and is worth a read if this is your aim, especially if you wish to do so quickly. The fact that it’s split up into so many succinct sections also means that you can pick up and put down the book as often as opportunity allows. It also works well as a reference book, as it does not need to be read from cover to cover in order to look up one particular event or time period.
In summary, this book would be a welcome addition to bookshelf (or ebook library) of the general non-fiction fan or historian.
Find more of my book review on www.bookblogbycari.com
As I hoped, the book often reads like a novel, with 67 distinct sections, each like a mini story. In order to fit the history of the whole world into one book, by nature the story telling ranges from nice and rapid, to a little too rapid. I found it rather like a catalogue of numerous interesting little nuggets of information. Despite covering events from all over the world, the topics often flow seamlessly from one topic to the next. Due to so many overlapping topics, this history of the world isn't told in a linear purely chronological pattern, but has to go backwards a little, now and again.
At various times throughout, the stories are gripping and Wells successfully brings history to life. I particularly liked the various sections on religious leaders. Appropriately, Wells tackles religion as would any unbiased historian-become storyteller. I also enjoyed the beginning, where Wells paints a crystal clear picture of our solar system and the vast empty space that our dramas are within. His description of our galaxy sounds nothing short of beautiful.
The book was meant to be predominantly factual, but Wells did include a substantial amount of speculation and opinion. This does not distract from the storyline, but adds value in generating the concepts of the time periods.
It covers progress and prosperity as much as carnage and decimation, and provides good explanations of everything it covers. (Although it would benefit from more illustrations). At times it feels detail heavy but also gives the reader a feel for each age - the book is not limited to which country went to war with which country and when, but also examines changes in ways of thinking through the ages. Including the Ancient Greek philosophers, Arabian progress in maths and science, the advent of experimental science, and the development of political and social ideas in Wells’ time.
I was reassured to learn that despite not studying the history of the world in its entirety in school, I was already familiar with much of the book’s content. Having said that, there were also topics where I really felt I was learning something. I read Wells’ opinion on why the Roman Empire fell, and how the industrial revolution was not merely a revolution in machinery, but rather a revolution in how people conducted their everyday lives. There were also some important figures from history described that were never mentioned in my school days, particularly Charlemagne and Roger Bacon.
Towards the end of the book, Wells correctly predicts another war like that of the Great War. However his final message was one of faith and hope in humanity’s progress.
With such a huge scope, Wells must have struggled with deciding what topics to include and what to exclude. I thought he ought to have included a touch more detail on Ancient Egypt, and on the causes of the Great War (World War 1). As a British person myself I would have liked to have seen more on British history.
Likewise, if the book were written now rather than 1922 I began to speculate on what he would and wouldn’t have included. I imagine there would certainly be a section on World War 2, rockets into space, the internet, and 9/11. He would have provided an excellently conducted section on how humans are destroying the planet.
One of the beauties of this book has to be its availability. If you type “short history of the world” into Google, the free PDF of this book takes up much of the first 2 pages of results. If you’re sketchy on world history, this book will fill in the main blanks, and is worth a read if this is your aim, especially if you wish to do so quickly. The fact that it’s split up into so many succinct sections also means that you can pick up and put down the book as often as opportunity allows. It also works well as a reference book, as it does not need to be read from cover to cover in order to look up one particular event or time period.
In summary, this book would be a welcome addition to bookshelf (or ebook library) of the general non-fiction fan or historian.
Find more of my book review on www.bookblogbycari.com