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** ONLINE MULTIPLAYER NOW AVAILABLE !!! ** The OFFICIAL digital adaptation of the best-selling...
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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010) in Movies
Jan 14, 2018
One of the better HP adaptations
I have a bit of an issue with the Harry Potter films in general. I'm grateful that they've at least brought the wizarding world onto the big screen, I just think it's a shame that some of them are very poor versions of the books. Part 1 of the Deathly Hallows is a fairly decent adaptation, but even still it's very frustrating to see how much has been missed out. My other half even commented asking if Dobby had a bigger part in the books, as it was obvious even to him as a non book reader that storylines from the books had been implied in the films rather than actually featured.
Still despite all that, it is definitely one of the better in the series and I like how dark the series has gone. The acting is great from the seasoned cast, but at little hit and miss from the younger actors. The effects are fairly good too if a little overused..
I have a love hate relationship with the HP films. I love the sets and how the wizarding world has been brought to life - without these films we wouldn't have the studios in London and the amazing world in Universal Florida. It's just a shame so much of the back story and detail from the books has been left out.
Still despite all that, it is definitely one of the better in the series and I like how dark the series has gone. The acting is great from the seasoned cast, but at little hit and miss from the younger actors. The effects are fairly good too if a little overused..
I have a love hate relationship with the HP films. I love the sets and how the wizarding world has been brought to life - without these films we wouldn't have the studios in London and the amazing world in Universal Florida. It's just a shame so much of the back story and detail from the books has been left out.
A pleasant surprise
This was always going to be up against it, as Stephen King's book is an epic and there's no way the entire book can be put into 2 films. However as a part 1, this film actually does a pretty good job.
Yes there are things missing from the book, this isn't really a surprise. And they have changed some parts of the story too, and although I don't necessarily agree with these changes, the majority of them don't really have a detrimental effect to the story. And a lot of these changes still hint and nod to the book (e.g. Eddie's broken arm, "beep-beep Richie" etc). The kids themselves I mainly loved and they were well cast, the humour was great. Although I do think Beverly looked a little too old? I also liked some of the exposition and explanatory scenes which happened differently in the book, yet still worked in this.
Despite the old school type scares, I actually found myself quite scared and creeped out at times, which I wasn't expecting. My only issue is I didn't like Pennywise's front teeth, I found them really off putting and didn't look very good. And I think some of the CGI was a little over the top.
So all in, a surprisingly good adaptation. Actually can't wait to see the next chapter.
Yes there are things missing from the book, this isn't really a surprise. And they have changed some parts of the story too, and although I don't necessarily agree with these changes, the majority of them don't really have a detrimental effect to the story. And a lot of these changes still hint and nod to the book (e.g. Eddie's broken arm, "beep-beep Richie" etc). The kids themselves I mainly loved and they were well cast, the humour was great. Although I do think Beverly looked a little too old? I also liked some of the exposition and explanatory scenes which happened differently in the book, yet still worked in this.
Despite the old school type scares, I actually found myself quite scared and creeped out at times, which I wasn't expecting. My only issue is I didn't like Pennywise's front teeth, I found them really off putting and didn't look very good. And I think some of the CGI was a little over the top.
So all in, a surprisingly good adaptation. Actually can't wait to see the next chapter.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Pet Sematary (2019) in Movies
Apr 17, 2019
A little lacklustre
I'm a little unsure what to make of this film. Despite it being a fairly close adaptation of the book and quite a short film (less than 2 hours), I found myself feeling ridiculously bored watching this. It just seemed to lack a little bit magic and came across as a bit flat, and isn't nearly as creepy as it could have been. They've opted for obvious jump scares rather than something a little more subtle, and I hate it when films do this. However that said, the physical effects were pretty good.
Acting wise apart from Ellie, I didn't think any of the cast to be particularly noteworthy. Even the usually wonderful John Lithgow was vastly underused. For the most part this sticks rather faithfully to the book, apart from a couple of bigger changes. I'm a little indifferent about these changes, one of which was spoilt by showing in the trailer. And the ending I still can't decide if I like or not. Whilst definitely creepier than the book ending, for me it seems to be doing the characters and their development a disservice.
Overall I came out of this film feeling a bit meh and unimpressed. Maybe its because there isn't a massive difference between this film and the original one, and this is just another unnecessary remake.
Acting wise apart from Ellie, I didn't think any of the cast to be particularly noteworthy. Even the usually wonderful John Lithgow was vastly underused. For the most part this sticks rather faithfully to the book, apart from a couple of bigger changes. I'm a little indifferent about these changes, one of which was spoilt by showing in the trailer. And the ending I still can't decide if I like or not. Whilst definitely creepier than the book ending, for me it seems to be doing the characters and their development a disservice.
Overall I came out of this film feeling a bit meh and unimpressed. Maybe its because there isn't a massive difference between this film and the original one, and this is just another unnecessary remake.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility in Books
Jun 15, 2019
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
I have never been a big fan of Jane Austen or Manga books. However, combining the two made for an interesting and fun read. Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility (Stacy King (Story Adaptation), Po Tse (Art by), Jane Austen (Original Story)) is part of the Manga Classics series. According to Goodreads, as of 6/13/2019, most of the 15 novels in the series have been adapted by Stacy King with artwork from Po Tse.
I attempted to read Sense and Sensibility several times but, I stop, put it down, and give up. I understand the time period in which it was written so it is not because of the way women behave or how they are treated that I have not finished.
Reading the Manga Classics version I found Austen's well-known classic easier to read and, for the first time, was able to finish reading the story.
I gave 5 stars to Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility not for Austen's work. It is because of the superb way Stacy King was able to adapt the story into a Manga novel without losing the original story.
I feel this series would be a fun way to introduce Classics to "non-readers".
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/15/19
I have never been a big fan of Jane Austen or Manga books. However, combining the two made for an interesting and fun read. Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility (Stacy King (Story Adaptation), Po Tse (Art by), Jane Austen (Original Story)) is part of the Manga Classics series. According to Goodreads, as of 6/13/2019, most of the 15 novels in the series have been adapted by Stacy King with artwork from Po Tse.
I attempted to read Sense and Sensibility several times but, I stop, put it down, and give up. I understand the time period in which it was written so it is not because of the way women behave or how they are treated that I have not finished.
Reading the Manga Classics version I found Austen's well-known classic easier to read and, for the first time, was able to finish reading the story.
I gave 5 stars to Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility not for Austen's work. It is because of the superb way Stacy King was able to adapt the story into a Manga novel without losing the original story.
I feel this series would be a fun way to introduce Classics to "non-readers".
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/15/19
KatieLouCreate (162 KP) rated A Series of Unfortunate Events - Season 1 in TV
Jan 18, 2018
Loved it!
I really enjoyed this adaptation of the books. I was apprehensive at first. I'm always wary when books are adapted onto a screen, but this I really enjoyed watching. You can tell the director(s) have actually read the books themselves. There are numerous little references and Easter eggs throughout which only someone who has read the books will understand. It makes it extra rewarding when watching each episode. I highly reccomend reading the books with the series so you can really get a feel for the series.
Although I didn't rate the books highly, I rate this first season highly. I think they've done a really good job and if anything, it has made me thankful that I at least read the books before watching the series.
The atmosphere is one of my favourite parts. It's still managed to keep that steampunk-esque atmosphere. It's quirky with dark undertones. It reminds me of Pushing Daisies with its style.
There are some differences compared to the book but adaptations will never be spot on. And if anything, I think it makes it better. Even I was questioning what was going on for a few parts but then, at the end, it all clicked into place and made me excited for what season 2 will bring.
I will definitely be watching season two when it is released
Although I didn't rate the books highly, I rate this first season highly. I think they've done a really good job and if anything, it has made me thankful that I at least read the books before watching the series.
The atmosphere is one of my favourite parts. It's still managed to keep that steampunk-esque atmosphere. It's quirky with dark undertones. It reminds me of Pushing Daisies with its style.
There are some differences compared to the book but adaptations will never be spot on. And if anything, I think it makes it better. Even I was questioning what was going on for a few parts but then, at the end, it all clicked into place and made me excited for what season 2 will bring.
I will definitely be watching season two when it is released
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated Pines (Wayward Pines, #1) in Books
Mar 15, 2018
I started reading this as a result of the ads for the upcoming adaptation on Fox, which made it look somewhat cheesy, but intriguingly weird. I was right about the central plot being weird, but luckily, the book is not really cheesy. While on a mission to locate 2 missing Secret Service agents, Ethan Burke finds himself stranded in the mysterious town of Wayward Pines after a car accident which killed his partner. His identification, money and phone are all missing and while the town seems outwardly idyllic, there is something pretty clearly off about it. As Ethan tries to figure out what is happening to him, things get progressively stranger, until he finds himself in a fight for his life. Things get surprisingly creepy and the ending provides a pretty big, and wholly unexpected, explanation for what is going on. While the author claims inspiration from TV show "Twin Peaks", and there is evidence as such, I found it read like one of Stephen King's more sprawling works, but condensed down to its core focus and with a more satisfying conclusion than he often comes up with. I still think the show looks likely to be sort of cheesy, but the book is anything but, and I highly recommend it to fans of suspense, horror or sci-fi.
David McK (3425 KP) rated The Ultimates, Volume 1: Super-Human in Books
Jan 28, 2019
I only picked this up recently out of curiosity when Marvel started doing a hard-backed comic-book collection, to see what it would be like.
Now I've read it, I have to say: I wasn't really that impressed by this. Written pre Joss-Whedon's Avengers movie (and even pre the Marvel Cinematic Universe), I found pretty much all of the characters within to be unlikeable and uninteresting: while you can get away with the former, the latter, however, is a major flaw (IMO) in any story.
I don't know whether that's because I associate the characters more with their big-screen counter-parts than with how they are presented here (both of which, incidentally, are designed to show how the team comes together), with Hank Pym, in particular, coming across as a bit of a jerk while Betty Ross (Bruce Banner's girlfriend) also comes across as, well, just not that pleasant at all.
On the plus side, I did like the (somewhat meta) panels where they were all discussing who would play themselves in the Hollywood adaptation ...
I also noticed that, unlike their movie counterparts, they are able to use the term 'mutants': a term which, I believe, Marvel are unable to use on the big (or small) screen as it is licensed to Fox instead .
Now I've read it, I have to say: I wasn't really that impressed by this. Written pre Joss-Whedon's Avengers movie (and even pre the Marvel Cinematic Universe), I found pretty much all of the characters within to be unlikeable and uninteresting: while you can get away with the former, the latter, however, is a major flaw (IMO) in any story.
I don't know whether that's because I associate the characters more with their big-screen counter-parts than with how they are presented here (both of which, incidentally, are designed to show how the team comes together), with Hank Pym, in particular, coming across as a bit of a jerk while Betty Ross (Bruce Banner's girlfriend) also comes across as, well, just not that pleasant at all.
On the plus side, I did like the (somewhat meta) panels where they were all discussing who would play themselves in the Hollywood adaptation ...
I also noticed that, unlike their movie counterparts, they are able to use the term 'mutants': a term which, I believe, Marvel are unable to use on the big (or small) screen as it is licensed to Fox instead .
Lil' Red - An Interactive Story
Book and Entertainment
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Now for the iPhone & iPod touch! "Simply delightful" - Best Apps for Kids "Breathtakingly original...
The Durrells of Corfu
8.0
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The Durrell family are immortalised in Gerald Durrell's My Family and Other Animals and its ITV...