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Rhubarbio (27 KP) rated BioShock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia in Tabletop Games
May 26, 2019
Mechanics reflect the game, such as Booker chasing Elizabeth (2 more)
The board and pieces are beautiful
Enjoyable game, if you enjoy the Bioshock world
Good for those who enjoyed Bioshock Infinite
I really wanted to love this game and looking at the board and pieces, you can see that time and attention was put into this project. The mechanics also look to replicate Bookers search for Elizabeth, whilst the two factions fight a war. However, the game takes quite a while to play and I just feel there are better games out there to satisfy what is essentially a map domination game.
BLAST THE RIGHT
Podcast
Politics, bare-knuckles style. I use facts and logic to kick right wing butt! Subjects include: U.S....
Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War
8.5
Rate It
Book
From the acclaimed military historian, a new history of the outbreak of World War I: the dramatic...
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) in Movies
Feb 2, 2023
Shows The Futility and Bleakness of War
War is hell. And if you don’t think it is check out the 2022 German film version of the classic novel ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT about a young German’s experience towards the end of World War I. It is a bleak, grim view of war told unflinchingly and drives home the point of the pointlessness of war (especially the trench warfare of WWI). It is bravura filmmaking that deserves to be mentioned with the great war films of all time.
And the book is even bleaker.
Directed by Edward Berger, ALL QUIET follows young Felix Kammerer (Paul Baumer) as he joyfully joins the German army to fight the French. Quickly, Felix learns of the cost of war and the grim reality of trench warfare.
Berger has a strong view of all of this and his Direction and Camerawork are squarely focused on young Felix and his continued attempts to stay alive amidst the fighting. Berger handles the action - and the acting - strongly and the Cinematography of this film by James Friend aides in the bleakness and futility of the conflict, showering the combatants in muted blues and grays and covering them all in mud. Berger does not hold back on the horrors of war (without going to “gorey”) and delivers a moody, bleak and important film.
Baumer plays Felix with an innocent sincerity that gives way to resolute abandonment of hope as the bleakness of the affair drags on. His futility is, then, juxtaposed against German envoy Matthias Erzberger (Daniel Bruhl) who is trying to negotiate a surrender with the French. The building frustration of both men are clearly shown growing as the film elapses.
And that is another strong suit about this film - it shows the situations, the hopelessness and negativity of war without having to “tell” or comment about it. The pictures are all one needs to know.
An anti-war film of the highest order, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT is a must see - the best adaptation of this classic novel ever.
Letter Grade: A
9 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
And the book is even bleaker.
Directed by Edward Berger, ALL QUIET follows young Felix Kammerer (Paul Baumer) as he joyfully joins the German army to fight the French. Quickly, Felix learns of the cost of war and the grim reality of trench warfare.
Berger has a strong view of all of this and his Direction and Camerawork are squarely focused on young Felix and his continued attempts to stay alive amidst the fighting. Berger handles the action - and the acting - strongly and the Cinematography of this film by James Friend aides in the bleakness and futility of the conflict, showering the combatants in muted blues and grays and covering them all in mud. Berger does not hold back on the horrors of war (without going to “gorey”) and delivers a moody, bleak and important film.
Baumer plays Felix with an innocent sincerity that gives way to resolute abandonment of hope as the bleakness of the affair drags on. His futility is, then, juxtaposed against German envoy Matthias Erzberger (Daniel Bruhl) who is trying to negotiate a surrender with the French. The building frustration of both men are clearly shown growing as the film elapses.
And that is another strong suit about this film - it shows the situations, the hopelessness and negativity of war without having to “tell” or comment about it. The pictures are all one needs to know.
An anti-war film of the highest order, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT is a must see - the best adaptation of this classic novel ever.
Letter Grade: A
9 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
I do like a post-apocalyptic kind of book, and this delivered in spades. It was written in a completely believable way, beginning with a second American Civil war, that was ended by the North releasing hundreds of airborne viruses that infected and killed those in the South indiscriminately. And those viruses continue to kill.
Vida meets two brothers, Garrett and Dyce, and they travel together in a world where to travel alone is death, to travel or to be outside when the wind blows is death.
I loved the world building in this. There will always be comparisons to Stephen Kings ‘The Stand’ with books like this, but other than viruses and a complete breakdown of society, I couldn’t actually see a comparison.
I’m looking forward to reading ‘North’, which is the final part of this two part series, and seeing where the authors take us.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Corvus, for my copy of this book.
Vida meets two brothers, Garrett and Dyce, and they travel together in a world where to travel alone is death, to travel or to be outside when the wind blows is death.
I loved the world building in this. There will always be comparisons to Stephen Kings ‘The Stand’ with books like this, but other than viruses and a complete breakdown of society, I couldn’t actually see a comparison.
I’m looking forward to reading ‘North’, which is the final part of this two part series, and seeing where the authors take us.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Corvus, for my copy of this book.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Battlefield 1 in Video Games
Jul 27, 2017
Graphics (2 more)
WWI setting
Character stories
Through the mud and the blood
Disclaimer: I am not an online gamer, so when I play through Battlefield or COD, I am simply reviewing the campaign.
Battlefield 1 is set during the first world war, which isn't a setting that we have seen much before in video games. The campaign is broke up into several different soldier's stories and each of them is engaging and entertaining in their own right. The weapons and mechanics are fun to experiment with as well, even if some liberties are taken with the level of weaponry available at the time. If you like FPS games and are looking for an alternative to futuristic sci fi shooters, then this is one for you.
Battlefield 1 is set during the first world war, which isn't a setting that we have seen much before in video games. The campaign is broke up into several different soldier's stories and each of them is engaging and entertaining in their own right. The weapons and mechanics are fun to experiment with as well, even if some liberties are taken with the level of weaponry available at the time. If you like FPS games and are looking for an alternative to futuristic sci fi shooters, then this is one for you.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated City of Girls in Books
Apr 11, 2020
This book starts with 19 year old Vivan writing to women about how she came to know and what she possibly was to this womens father. It takes us on her journey of 1940s New York through the war and after how the world changed. Vivian does focus a lot on Vivian but the story is hers to tell, and she isn't shy about her faults. I loved her and I have to say there were things she did, said and felt that I feel came directly out of me. Elizabeth Gilbert worte a beautiful story that took at times a slow pace but still felt as though my time was valuable in experiencing the whole story. Now were are my pearls and a good cocktail ...
Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated The Catcher Was a Spy (2018) in Movies
Jun 25, 2020
Very interesting (and excellent) cast. Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti, Jeff Daniels, and Guy Pierce all step outside their general wheel houses and bring together a wonderful performance about a true chain of events that unfolded during World War II.
As a Red Sox fan I had a general idea of the story surrounding Moe Berg, but I was enlightened about several different elements of the story by the movie and even more so I was driven to do additional research and found out even more information about this unheralded American Hero.
If you're looking for an action romp this isn't where you'll find it. This is a movie that will capture your imagination and you will almost forget that this is all based on a true story.
As a Red Sox fan I had a general idea of the story surrounding Moe Berg, but I was enlightened about several different elements of the story by the movie and even more so I was driven to do additional research and found out even more information about this unheralded American Hero.
If you're looking for an action romp this isn't where you'll find it. This is a movie that will capture your imagination and you will almost forget that this is all based on a true story.
Daniel Radcliffe recommended Matter of Life and Death (1981) in Movies (curated)
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Darkest Hour (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
During the early days of World War II, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler, or fight on against incredible odds.
Gary Oldman... well what can I say? Is there nothing that this man can't do? I still now, after having seen it, can't reconcile him playing this part in my head. He really shone through in Darkest Hour, he succeeded in rallying the audience to the edge of their seats. Seeing him perform "We shall fight on the beaches"... was incredible.
I'm no history buff, I can't tell you what was accurate, and honestly I don't think I want to know which bits fit the bill exactly and which were ad-libbed for effect. It was immensely enjoyable to watch, fun and ignites just a bit of national pride within you.
Gary Oldman... well what can I say? Is there nothing that this man can't do? I still now, after having seen it, can't reconcile him playing this part in my head. He really shone through in Darkest Hour, he succeeded in rallying the audience to the edge of their seats. Seeing him perform "We shall fight on the beaches"... was incredible.
I'm no history buff, I can't tell you what was accurate, and honestly I don't think I want to know which bits fit the bill exactly and which were ad-libbed for effect. It was immensely enjoyable to watch, fun and ignites just a bit of national pride within you.