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Dean (6925 KP) rated Mini Projector in Tech
Jan 23, 2020
Noisy (2 more)
Sound quality
Some ports didn't work?
Disappointing
Well this is a shame I got this through the giveaway competition. I've tried to give it a good test but it didn't fare well.
The good thing is the projection area can be very large and still fairly sharp in focus. It recommends up to 60" but could easily get closer to 80" TV screen size equivalent. Any bigger and the image wouldn't be as sharp or colourful but if you don't mind that it could take up a whole wall. The HDMi port works so you could connect it to your sky box, xbox, dvd player. The sound quality from it isn't great though as it's only a small device, unless you also connect a speaker. It can be a little noisy as well during operation.
Unfortunately the microSD card and USB ports don't appear to be working on this unit? I tried a couple of cards and a USB card reader but nothing worked. This would be handy for viewing photos. It also has an AV port for music. It does come with a remote, HDMi cable and an adapter that would work with a camcorder or even a Wii console.
The power cable isn't particularly long but once charged it can be used cordless. It doesn't really have a stand to help if you wanted to project onto your ceiling.
So it really depends what you are going to use it for. Plug your xbox in for wall size gaming, or your phone via HDMi to watch Netflix, YouTube etc. I don't think it's something you would use for serious movie watching if you care about the sound quality as well unless you connect headphones or a speaker as well via the phonejack.
The good thing is the projection area can be very large and still fairly sharp in focus. It recommends up to 60" but could easily get closer to 80" TV screen size equivalent. Any bigger and the image wouldn't be as sharp or colourful but if you don't mind that it could take up a whole wall. The HDMi port works so you could connect it to your sky box, xbox, dvd player. The sound quality from it isn't great though as it's only a small device, unless you also connect a speaker. It can be a little noisy as well during operation.
Unfortunately the microSD card and USB ports don't appear to be working on this unit? I tried a couple of cards and a USB card reader but nothing worked. This would be handy for viewing photos. It also has an AV port for music. It does come with a remote, HDMi cable and an adapter that would work with a camcorder or even a Wii console.
The power cable isn't particularly long but once charged it can be used cordless. It doesn't really have a stand to help if you wanted to project onto your ceiling.
So it really depends what you are going to use it for. Plug your xbox in for wall size gaming, or your phone via HDMi to watch Netflix, YouTube etc. I don't think it's something you would use for serious movie watching if you care about the sound quality as well unless you connect headphones or a speaker as well via the phonejack.
Gareth von Kallenbach (974 KP) rated Tonight You're Mine (2012) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
Indie music sensation Adam (Luke Treadaway) is interrupted from shooting his band’s new music video by a childish fight with punk rock girl Morello (Natalia Tena). In a moment of binding conflict resolution the two characters are handcuffed together starting a concert-filled night of adventure and romance for the two musicians and their variety of hipster friends.
Like a sharply cut YouTube video, “Tonight You’re Mine” is quick-paced, jostled, and deeply impacted by the music in the background. The film is scattered with songs to represent all musical genres found at the giant Scottish music festival that serves as the film’s sole environment. Moreover, this continual musical metamorphosis helps to skirt the fatigued plot: of a boy who dislikes a girl until they fall in love.
But the film avoids the image of squeaky-clean new lovers by literally marching the leads through the muddy grounds of the festival. The expansive habitat invites the characters to be odd and open to rapidly changing experiences, sounds, and obstacles. The empowered characters take advantage of the freedoms offered by the concerts, filling the scenes with gritty honest language that pokes fun, sling insults, and express emotions directly. The result is a film that is as hip and likeable, just like Adam and Morello.
While you know better than to root for a perfect ending, “Tonight Your Mine” has the draw of an indie “High School Musical”; the love story is so far-fetched that you can’t help but hope it will all turn out in end.
The single night adventure film spun around, “Tonight You’re Mine” provides audiences with characters who are more engaging, slightly darker, and quickly established as too cool to care what their critics think. The result is a film that is honest and very likeable even when the plot is one you already know by heart.
Like a sharply cut YouTube video, “Tonight You’re Mine” is quick-paced, jostled, and deeply impacted by the music in the background. The film is scattered with songs to represent all musical genres found at the giant Scottish music festival that serves as the film’s sole environment. Moreover, this continual musical metamorphosis helps to skirt the fatigued plot: of a boy who dislikes a girl until they fall in love.
But the film avoids the image of squeaky-clean new lovers by literally marching the leads through the muddy grounds of the festival. The expansive habitat invites the characters to be odd and open to rapidly changing experiences, sounds, and obstacles. The empowered characters take advantage of the freedoms offered by the concerts, filling the scenes with gritty honest language that pokes fun, sling insults, and express emotions directly. The result is a film that is as hip and likeable, just like Adam and Morello.
While you know better than to root for a perfect ending, “Tonight Your Mine” has the draw of an indie “High School Musical”; the love story is so far-fetched that you can’t help but hope it will all turn out in end.
The single night adventure film spun around, “Tonight You’re Mine” provides audiences with characters who are more engaging, slightly darker, and quickly established as too cool to care what their critics think. The result is a film that is honest and very likeable even when the plot is one you already know by heart.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Impractical Jokers: The Movie (2020) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
As someone who's been an "Impractical Jokers" fan since the very first episode aired way back on December 15th, 2011 (and still to this day) - I'm not sure how *this* big of a downgrade was managed going from a TruTV show to a major motion picture. The narrative framing device is un-fucking-watchable and the best bits from the pranks themselves are less convincingly faked than even some of the more middling episodes of the show. I - with the general consensus - vote this should have just been a ~90 minute episode rather than this pat material padding out a small handful of pranks. Not 100% sure if this just isn't really isn't good overall or if its chintziness in the extreme let it down; the "Drake & Josh" movies are seriously more well built than this. I think these four very original guys are hilarious, each brim with distinct personality, and have some of the best comedic timing of the 2010s decade (and there still is a lot of funny stuff in here delivered with that same knack) - so it is confusing to see them flounder so hard in just about every other thing they try besides the show. The (still staged) broken-down car bit and Paula Abdul saying she has more power than the cartel are high points, much of everything else is a depressing low for this IP. Even the admittedly awesome in theory ending punishment falls flat. A dud, honestly not awful but there's literally no point in paying to see this in a theater even despite being able to watch more high quality entertainment from these guys on YouTube or home television. Tonight's biggest loser: the audience. Sidenote: they didn't censor fuck or shit, but did so for pussy? Twice?
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Beast (Six Stories, #4) in Books
Sep 24, 2020
I find it hard to determine, who was the protagonist of this story. Scott King is interviewing people, who knew Youtube Vlogger Elizabeth or her killers, and trying to find out why and who locked Elizabeth in the Vampire Tower, where she was found dead. The characters in this novel are absolutely brilliant. They are diverse, complex, incredibly absorbing and mysterious. I really liked the way Scott King was choosing the people he interviewed, it showed different opinions and views, that kept me immensely intrigued.
The narrative was told from multiple sources, I should say. We are able to read what Elizabeth was saying to her followers, while she is doing an online challenge, as well as to read what Scott King uncovers during his interviews. I loved everything about this narrative, the way vampires were incorporated, giving this book a dark and ghostly feeling, the kind of Q&A writing style, and all the twists and discoveries that unravel as we read along. The topics discussed in this book were very dark, troublesome but at the same time very modern and realistic. Such as need of validation, the power of manipulation, abuse and bullying, social exclusion, social degradation and many, many more.
I really loved the setting of this book as well. It is set in Ergarth, a miserable town, that feels forgotten by the world, where unemployment and homelessness thrive, where the trouble is always next to you, and it is haunted by the Vampire Tower. LOVED IT! The whole book is divided into six chapters, and they are quite long, but the story absorbed me so much, that the pages just flew by. (And that comes from a person who despises long chapters
The narrative was told from multiple sources, I should say. We are able to read what Elizabeth was saying to her followers, while she is doing an online challenge, as well as to read what Scott King uncovers during his interviews. I loved everything about this narrative, the way vampires were incorporated, giving this book a dark and ghostly feeling, the kind of Q&A writing style, and all the twists and discoveries that unravel as we read along. The topics discussed in this book were very dark, troublesome but at the same time very modern and realistic. Such as need of validation, the power of manipulation, abuse and bullying, social exclusion, social degradation and many, many more.
I really loved the setting of this book as well. It is set in Ergarth, a miserable town, that feels forgotten by the world, where unemployment and homelessness thrive, where the trouble is always next to you, and it is haunted by the Vampire Tower. LOVED IT! The whole book is divided into six chapters, and they are quite long, but the story absorbed me so much, that the pages just flew by. (And that comes from a person who despises long chapters
The Every would appear to be something of a ‘Marmite’ book. I liked it, but I think I would have liked it more if it hadn’t been like a personal vendetta towards what Dave Eggers in the novel , very frequently refers to as “an e-commerce behemoth named after a South American jungle”. He’s blatantly anti-Amazon, and that’s ok, each to their own. This whole book seemed to be a cautionary tale of big business (particularly the online type), and smart phones (particularly the apps). This last part I can actually agree with: my sons are pretty much glued to their phone screens (although they seem to prefer YouTube, Reddit and Discord to some of the apps described in the book).
The characters who work for The Every are evangelical about their employer - they can see no wrong in their monopoly of, well, everything really. This in itself would throw up every red flag to me - and it does to the main character, Delaney. And when her co-conspirator joins the dark side, it seems even less unlikely that she’ll be able to bring the company down. The more weird and whacky her ideas for ridiculous apps become, the more the company likes them. And that means everyone - the company and the customers. It starts to seem unlikely that Delaney will be successful.
I think that there may well be a follow up to this - it’s left open-ended. Even though I’m a big fan of the open-ended-ending, I really don’t know whether I’ll read the next one (if it comes!), although I should think I’ll have time to decide whether I will or won’t!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and the publisher for serialising this.
The characters who work for The Every are evangelical about their employer - they can see no wrong in their monopoly of, well, everything really. This in itself would throw up every red flag to me - and it does to the main character, Delaney. And when her co-conspirator joins the dark side, it seems even less unlikely that she’ll be able to bring the company down. The more weird and whacky her ideas for ridiculous apps become, the more the company likes them. And that means everyone - the company and the customers. It starts to seem unlikely that Delaney will be successful.
I think that there may well be a follow up to this - it’s left open-ended. Even though I’m a big fan of the open-ended-ending, I really don’t know whether I’ll read the next one (if it comes!), although I should think I’ll have time to decide whether I will or won’t!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and the publisher for serialising this.
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated RWBY in TV
May 27, 2017
Hilarious (6 more)
Adorable characters
Brilliant and ever improving animation
Insanse action sequences
Great voice cast
Brilliant Character developments
Awesome plot
This show is incredible
RWBY is an anime show created by the Rooster Teeth team famous for their many YouTube channels such as Lets Play, Achievement Hunter, and many more. With a cast starring some of their own team as well as some other voice actors, this show has some great references to a variety of things such as the Grimm monsters, one being called a Nevermore which is a giant bird, clearly a reference to Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven.
The action sequences are insane and so entertaining, and the characters are really adorable and hilarious. Perfectly timed gags, with adorable voices make this an incredible show.
Some viewers may find it easier to watch if you know the Rooster Teeth Team since some of the main cast are voiced by them and represent them in a way such as Yang making bad puns just like her voice actress Barbara Dunkelman, does in a lot of the Rooster Teeth shows.
However, if you are a fan of anime shows, I recommend this show, because it doesn't take long to get through as each of the episodes are a maximum of 10-20 minutes long each depending on the season and the importance of the events. Some can be as short at 2-3 minutes, whilst other, more important event based episodes, can be between 15-20 minutes. So it's easy to binge watch and enjoy it to the fullest as quick as you can. This means that whilst some shows struggle to keep you hooked, this show will quickly get through the lesser entertaining areas (of which there are very few in this, if any) and get you back to the fun and action.
The action sequences are insane and so entertaining, and the characters are really adorable and hilarious. Perfectly timed gags, with adorable voices make this an incredible show.
Some viewers may find it easier to watch if you know the Rooster Teeth Team since some of the main cast are voiced by them and represent them in a way such as Yang making bad puns just like her voice actress Barbara Dunkelman, does in a lot of the Rooster Teeth shows.
However, if you are a fan of anime shows, I recommend this show, because it doesn't take long to get through as each of the episodes are a maximum of 10-20 minutes long each depending on the season and the importance of the events. Some can be as short at 2-3 minutes, whilst other, more important event based episodes, can be between 15-20 minutes. So it's easy to binge watch and enjoy it to the fullest as quick as you can. This means that whilst some shows struggle to keep you hooked, this show will quickly get through the lesser entertaining areas (of which there are very few in this, if any) and get you back to the fun and action.
TacoDave (3601 KP) rated Young In My Head by Starflyer 59 in Music
May 9, 2019 (Updated May 9, 2019)
songs (3 more)
instruments
vocals
vibe
15 Albums In and Starflyer 59 Still Rocks
If you've never heard of Starflyer 59, I have a treat for you.
What began as a "shoegazer" band in the mid 90's (think Smashing Pumpkins meets The Smiths) has progressed over the years through heavy, chunky guitars, to Brit-pop mixed with synth, to this new album which just ... rocks. With the release of the band's 15th full album (not to mention many EPs and collections), band lead Jason Martin has shown that he's still got it. "Young In My Head" is soothing, catchy rock that is perfect driving music.
I'll attach a Youtube link so you can hear the title song from the album.
The songs themselves are catchy in a way that makes you sing along without realizing it. The lyrics are surprisingly melancholy, dealing with growing older and realizing that you aren't the energetic kid you were when you started ("It's been 25/since I wrote/Blue Collar Love/Man, I had my turn/I need to go/Stayed longer than most"). But the music still has an upbeat groove to it that keeps it from feeling depressing. Martin walks that line between melancholy and depression like an expert.
My only complaint isn't really a complaint: Starflyer has some of the best guitar solos to end songs, and this album is no different, but they feel truncated - like they cut out too early. I would love longer outros like they used on older albums. Listen to the song "Cry," for a good example - the end of the song is amazing, beginning at 2:00, but it doesn't last long enough.
In the past 25 years Starflyer 59 has not released a bad album. Each album has a different sound and groove to it, but they are all undeniably Starflyer. I, for one, will continue to listen to their albums and hope they go another 25 years.
What began as a "shoegazer" band in the mid 90's (think Smashing Pumpkins meets The Smiths) has progressed over the years through heavy, chunky guitars, to Brit-pop mixed with synth, to this new album which just ... rocks. With the release of the band's 15th full album (not to mention many EPs and collections), band lead Jason Martin has shown that he's still got it. "Young In My Head" is soothing, catchy rock that is perfect driving music.
I'll attach a Youtube link so you can hear the title song from the album.
The songs themselves are catchy in a way that makes you sing along without realizing it. The lyrics are surprisingly melancholy, dealing with growing older and realizing that you aren't the energetic kid you were when you started ("It's been 25/since I wrote/Blue Collar Love/Man, I had my turn/I need to go/Stayed longer than most"). But the music still has an upbeat groove to it that keeps it from feeling depressing. Martin walks that line between melancholy and depression like an expert.
My only complaint isn't really a complaint: Starflyer has some of the best guitar solos to end songs, and this album is no different, but they feel truncated - like they cut out too early. I would love longer outros like they used on older albums. Listen to the song "Cry," for a good example - the end of the song is amazing, beginning at 2:00, but it doesn't last long enough.
In the past 25 years Starflyer 59 has not released a bad album. Each album has a different sound and groove to it, but they are all undeniably Starflyer. I, for one, will continue to listen to their albums and hope they go another 25 years.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Turtles All The Way Down in Books
Feb 8, 2018
Excellent descriptions of mental illness (1 more)
Unique main character
Another excellent book from John Green
So what the cover description of this book doesn't explicitly mention is that Aza, the main character, has a pretty severe anxiety disorder. That's really the core topic of the book - her thought spirals and dealing with life while caught in them. I trust John Green to write about these because he also suffers from severe anxiety. He's talked about it in interviews and on his vlogbrothers Youtube channel. (I'm a big Green brothers fan - what's known as a nerdfighter.) So when John Green writes a character with anxiety, I believe that it's a realistic portrayal. I loved the integration of technology in the story - two characters don't just text each other, the text conversation is on the page, formatted differently, so it's obvious these are text messages. I always love books that do that.
There's not a whole lot I can say about the book without giving things away; a lot of John Green's characters tend to wax eloquently about philosophy and things outside themselves, and Aza doesn't do that because she's so trapped within her own thoughts. She can't think of the future or existential dread because she's too worried about the microbes in her stomach getting out of control and giving her diseases. Definitely a departure from his usual story, though it does fit his standard MO of Main character meets other character who profoundly changes main character's life in some way. (There's a third part that is also consistent with most of John Green's novels but it's a spoiler.)
I think the book is a really good book for anyone who loves someone with anxiety. Or even for those who have anxiety themselves, to see that they're not alone.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
There's not a whole lot I can say about the book without giving things away; a lot of John Green's characters tend to wax eloquently about philosophy and things outside themselves, and Aza doesn't do that because she's so trapped within her own thoughts. She can't think of the future or existential dread because she's too worried about the microbes in her stomach getting out of control and giving her diseases. Definitely a departure from his usual story, though it does fit his standard MO of Main character meets other character who profoundly changes main character's life in some way. (There's a third part that is also consistent with most of John Green's novels but it's a spoiler.)
I think the book is a really good book for anyone who loves someone with anxiety. Or even for those who have anxiety themselves, to see that they're not alone.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
Kurt Vile recommended Karma by Pharoah Sanders in Music (curated)
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Never Hike Alone (2017) in Movies
Oct 20, 2020
Never Hike Alone is a hell of an accomplishment - a fan made film based on Friday the 13th that is as good, maybe even better, than the best entries in the main franchise.
It's premise is simple - a survival/hiking enthusiast is collecting footage for his YouTube channel when he accidentally stumbles across the remains of Camp Crystal Lake, resulting in a one on one fight for his life when he discovers that Jason Voorhees still resides there - and it's short runtime (clocking in at just under an hour) make for a no-filler, sharp-shock slice of slasher goodness.
It carries a lot of tension, the first half being relatively calm as protagonist Kyle (Drew Leighty) explores the remnant of the camp. Fans of the original film will surely get a kick out of recognisable landmarks, including the bed that Kevin Bacon was skewered through. It's a nice way of showing that this short is a true love letter to the franchise. Kyle is a likable and believable lead who's survival skill set makes him a good match for the big bad.
When Jason eventually shows up, he's damn scary! This version of Jason is just relentless. He's quick, heavy footed, and smashes through doors like they're not even there. Director Vincent DiSanti fills the shoes of Jason, and his tall and broad figure make for a genuinely intimidating version of this beloved horror icon.
He looks fantastic as well, it's clear that a lot of effort was put into his make up and costume.
Top all of this off with a cameo from Thom Mathews himself, and what you get is a recipe for a successful short film, made for fans, by fans.
Never Hike Alone is a real treat for anyone who even has a passing interest in Friday the 13th. Hats off to Womp Stomp Films for their great work.
It's premise is simple - a survival/hiking enthusiast is collecting footage for his YouTube channel when he accidentally stumbles across the remains of Camp Crystal Lake, resulting in a one on one fight for his life when he discovers that Jason Voorhees still resides there - and it's short runtime (clocking in at just under an hour) make for a no-filler, sharp-shock slice of slasher goodness.
It carries a lot of tension, the first half being relatively calm as protagonist Kyle (Drew Leighty) explores the remnant of the camp. Fans of the original film will surely get a kick out of recognisable landmarks, including the bed that Kevin Bacon was skewered through. It's a nice way of showing that this short is a true love letter to the franchise. Kyle is a likable and believable lead who's survival skill set makes him a good match for the big bad.
When Jason eventually shows up, he's damn scary! This version of Jason is just relentless. He's quick, heavy footed, and smashes through doors like they're not even there. Director Vincent DiSanti fills the shoes of Jason, and his tall and broad figure make for a genuinely intimidating version of this beloved horror icon.
He looks fantastic as well, it's clear that a lot of effort was put into his make up and costume.
Top all of this off with a cameo from Thom Mathews himself, and what you get is a recipe for a successful short film, made for fans, by fans.
Never Hike Alone is a real treat for anyone who even has a passing interest in Friday the 13th. Hats off to Womp Stomp Films for their great work.