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graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated City Of in Books
Feb 15, 2019
This is a novelization of the first episode of Angel and a good introduction to the series. I liked the added depth to some scenes and the characters rang true, which probably has to do with it being based off the teleplay. While there might have been some inconsistencies, that might have more to do with changes that occurred after the book was even written. Nevertheless, at 177 pages, it's a fast and easy read.
Paul (106 KP) rated Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story (2019) in Movies
May 21, 2019
Excellent documentary funny, heartfelt but honest.
I can truely say this was an excellent documentary regarding a talent that was genius. Tells of young Chris and how he adapted his way of thinking to create the great Frank Sidebottom and the internal conflict it created within the artist.
Its funny, moving and doesn't paint Mr Sievy to be an angel. It's a must watch for any fans of comedy.
Its funny, moving and doesn't paint Mr Sievy to be an angel. It's a must watch for any fans of comedy.
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Alita: Battle Angel (2019) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
A visual spectacle
It’s always a worry when a production company feels the need to force feed you the fact that a big-name is in a relatively minor role. In the case of Alita: Battle Angel, 20th Century Fox have been hammering home the fact that James Cameron is involved in a Producer capacity.
You have to feel a little sorry for director Robert Rodriguez as his name has been almost usurped by Cameron’s in the marketing push for this live-action adaptation of the classic manga. Of course, Cameron is too busy making the four Avatar sequels no-one actually cares about anymore and instead, entrusted his vision for Alita: Battle Angel to Rodriguez. He’s certainly an intriguing choice of director, but does the finished product work?
Set several centuries in the future, the abandoned Alita (Rosa Salazar) is found in the scrapyard of Iron City by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate cyber-doctor who takes the unconscious cyborg Alita to his clinic. When Alita awakens, she has no memory of who she is, nor does she have any recognition of the world she finds herself in. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious past.
After spending nearly $200million on Alita, Fox clearly think they’ve got another massive hit on their hands and to an extent, they deserve one. Battle Angel is a majestic film, filled with visual presence not dissimilar to the spectacle of watching Avatar for the first time in 2009. The bustling world of Iron City feels as if it’s living and breathing right before our eyes and that’s a testament to both Cameron and Rodriguez as well as the visual effects people down at Weta Digital.
This thriving metropolis is populated by practical and CGI effects of varying qualities, but as a movie world, it works much better than Wakanda did in Black Panther and is leagues ahead of the empty, soulless Asgard from Thor.
It is reminiscent of Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok however, with its narrow streets and market stalls. The difference here is that Iron City is a much darker, eerier place than Sakarr ever was, save for Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster towering above everything.
The casting is also very good and features some household names that were clearly intrigued by the project. Waltz is excellent as the compassionate Ido and Jennifer Connelly works well as his ex-wife, though she is underused throughout.
Alita: Battle Angel is a pleasant surprise from a director who has needed a hit for quite some time.
Ed Skrein turns up every now and then as Zapan, a cyborg bounty hunter and provides some light comic relief in a film that has more than its fair share of darker moments. TV actor Keann Johnson makes his big-budget film debut here and he is excellent as Hugo, Alita’s love interest.
Unfortunately, the initial optimism fades somewhat when you realise that Alita: Battle Angel struggles under the weight of its own script. Plot points in the first 45 minutes feel ridiculously rushed and then the film hurtles towards its climax without stopping for breath.
You get the feeling there was much more that had to be cut to trim the runtime down to a more family friendly 2 hours. The dialogue too isn’t a strong point. Overly expositional and riddled in cliché, Alita is not a film you watch because of its sparkling and witty one-liners.
Niggles aside though and Alita: Battle Angel is much better than I thought it was going to be. The plot, while unoriginal, is sweet and easy enough to swallow, making it a great family film. True, it has its darker moments, but the strong visuals and vibrant environment will make it enjoyable for older children and adults alike.
Overall, Alita: Battle Angel is a pleasant surprise from a director who has needed a hit for quite some time. It’s a flawed film that struggles to cope with its many ideas that continuously pull it in hundreds of different directions, but it’s worth a watch just for the visual spectacle and emotionally arresting story. Whether or not it recoups that colossal $200million budget remains to be seen.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/02/09/alita-battle-angel-review-a-visual-spectacle/
You have to feel a little sorry for director Robert Rodriguez as his name has been almost usurped by Cameron’s in the marketing push for this live-action adaptation of the classic manga. Of course, Cameron is too busy making the four Avatar sequels no-one actually cares about anymore and instead, entrusted his vision for Alita: Battle Angel to Rodriguez. He’s certainly an intriguing choice of director, but does the finished product work?
Set several centuries in the future, the abandoned Alita (Rosa Salazar) is found in the scrapyard of Iron City by Ido (Christoph Waltz), a compassionate cyber-doctor who takes the unconscious cyborg Alita to his clinic. When Alita awakens, she has no memory of who she is, nor does she have any recognition of the world she finds herself in. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to shield her from her mysterious past.
After spending nearly $200million on Alita, Fox clearly think they’ve got another massive hit on their hands and to an extent, they deserve one. Battle Angel is a majestic film, filled with visual presence not dissimilar to the spectacle of watching Avatar for the first time in 2009. The bustling world of Iron City feels as if it’s living and breathing right before our eyes and that’s a testament to both Cameron and Rodriguez as well as the visual effects people down at Weta Digital.
This thriving metropolis is populated by practical and CGI effects of varying qualities, but as a movie world, it works much better than Wakanda did in Black Panther and is leagues ahead of the empty, soulless Asgard from Thor.
It is reminiscent of Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok however, with its narrow streets and market stalls. The difference here is that Iron City is a much darker, eerier place than Sakarr ever was, save for Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster towering above everything.
The casting is also very good and features some household names that were clearly intrigued by the project. Waltz is excellent as the compassionate Ido and Jennifer Connelly works well as his ex-wife, though she is underused throughout.
Alita: Battle Angel is a pleasant surprise from a director who has needed a hit for quite some time.
Ed Skrein turns up every now and then as Zapan, a cyborg bounty hunter and provides some light comic relief in a film that has more than its fair share of darker moments. TV actor Keann Johnson makes his big-budget film debut here and he is excellent as Hugo, Alita’s love interest.
Unfortunately, the initial optimism fades somewhat when you realise that Alita: Battle Angel struggles under the weight of its own script. Plot points in the first 45 minutes feel ridiculously rushed and then the film hurtles towards its climax without stopping for breath.
You get the feeling there was much more that had to be cut to trim the runtime down to a more family friendly 2 hours. The dialogue too isn’t a strong point. Overly expositional and riddled in cliché, Alita is not a film you watch because of its sparkling and witty one-liners.
Niggles aside though and Alita: Battle Angel is much better than I thought it was going to be. The plot, while unoriginal, is sweet and easy enough to swallow, making it a great family film. True, it has its darker moments, but the strong visuals and vibrant environment will make it enjoyable for older children and adults alike.
Overall, Alita: Battle Angel is a pleasant surprise from a director who has needed a hit for quite some time. It’s a flawed film that struggles to cope with its many ideas that continuously pull it in hundreds of different directions, but it’s worth a watch just for the visual spectacle and emotionally arresting story. Whether or not it recoups that colossal $200million budget remains to be seen.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/02/09/alita-battle-angel-review-a-visual-spectacle/
Merissa (11774 KP) rated Her Guardian Angel (Her Angel: Eternal Warriors #1) in Books
Apr 10, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
Marcus wants to be a warrior angel, protecting heaven. Instead, he is a guardian angel with cursed wings, overseeing his charge on Earth. Nothing could be further from what he wants. Amelia is his charge and has really bad taste in men. He has a flat near hers so that he can keep an eye on her although he's not entirely sure why. Things are not as they seem though and things soon hot up, both between Amelia and Marcus AND heaven and hell.
What they discover will challenge Marcus' beliefs in heaven and who and what Amelia thought she was. Luckily for them, there are 3 sets of Marcus' friends who are more than willing to help them.
I have to say, for me, I didn't really warm up to Amelia although I did have tears in my eyes at one point, but I think that was more for Marcus' reaction than what had happened to her. Marcus, I loved. I loved his reactions to the situations, how he felt, and even his rage. Amelia, meh, she's... okay, I just couldn't 'gel' with her. The story itself I thought was wonderful, still part of the series but can be read as a standalone. Looking forward to Her Demonic Angel, which is the next in this series
* 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!
September 10, 2016
What they discover will challenge Marcus' beliefs in heaven and who and what Amelia thought she was. Luckily for them, there are 3 sets of Marcus' friends who are more than willing to help them.
I have to say, for me, I didn't really warm up to Amelia although I did have tears in my eyes at one point, but I think that was more for Marcus' reaction than what had happened to her. Marcus, I loved. I loved his reactions to the situations, how he felt, and even his rage. Amelia, meh, she's... okay, I just couldn't 'gel' with her. The story itself I thought was wonderful, still part of the series but can be read as a standalone. Looking forward to Her Demonic Angel, which is the next in this series
* 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!
September 10, 2016
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Fractured Angel in Books
Jan 12, 2018
This book was AMAZING! [Ken Williams] tells the inside story of working with the homeless in the backyard of the rich and famous. In [Fractured Angel] he draws on his own experiences to create a fictionalized account of a social worker, a mother, and a fifteen year old runaway all trying to cope with their demons. [Williams] has a way with storytelling and the empathy he shows for all his characters shows through in his words.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated If I Speak True (Flora, #1) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This was a good YA fantasy, especially for younger teens. There's no bad language or sex, and the teens acted very much like teens. A sweet love story, a bit of mystery, and another world all combine to make this a fun listen!
Angel Clark did a great job with the female teens voices, inflections and all.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the audio edition from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Angel Clark did a great job with the female teens voices, inflections and all.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the audio edition from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Chuck Palahniuk recommended They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) in Movies (curated)
Jennifer Reeder recommended All That Jazz (1979) in Movies (curated)
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Ferns Decision ( Sisters of Hex Fern book 1) in Books
Feb 6, 2022
22 of 230
Kindle
Ferns Decision ( sisters of Hex Fern book 1)
By Bea Paige
Death is a lonely place, silent, or so everyone thinks... Fern is no stranger to death, or the singing that accompanies it. She has always known when a person is about to die, for the singing foretells it. Her mother passed it off as an oddity never to be discussed, so she learned to tune out the voices until they disappeared for good. Or so she thought. Then one day, as she fights to bring back a dying baby in the hospital where she works, Fern hears the familiar melody once more. Except this time the voice belongs to a man with ice-blue eyes and black angel wings. As the baby takes its final breath, the angel sings his last note. For this isn't an angel who gives life, it is one that takes it. One year has passed since that encounter, and just when Fern is beginning to believe it had all been an illusion, the angel returns, and this time he's not alone. For now there are three Angels of Death and Fern appears to be their next victim.Fern's Decision is the first book of Fern's trilogy and continues the Sisters of Hex story. Although this is the start of a standalone trilogy, to get a full picture of the overarching storyline you might wish to read Accacia's trilogy first.***TRIGGER WARNING - This book contains content that some may find triggering***
I loved the first set of Hex sister books so I was looking forward to this set. I wasn’t disappointed in the first book at all I really enjoyed it although the first few chapters were extremely hard to get through with it being so close to my own heart of losing my own baby a few time I cried thinking I need to push through. It was well handled and I’m glad I pushed through a good start to the new trilogy and sister. I would recommend but with a caution of possible trigger warning if you have lost a baby.
Kindle
Ferns Decision ( sisters of Hex Fern book 1)
By Bea Paige
Death is a lonely place, silent, or so everyone thinks... Fern is no stranger to death, or the singing that accompanies it. She has always known when a person is about to die, for the singing foretells it. Her mother passed it off as an oddity never to be discussed, so she learned to tune out the voices until they disappeared for good. Or so she thought. Then one day, as she fights to bring back a dying baby in the hospital where she works, Fern hears the familiar melody once more. Except this time the voice belongs to a man with ice-blue eyes and black angel wings. As the baby takes its final breath, the angel sings his last note. For this isn't an angel who gives life, it is one that takes it. One year has passed since that encounter, and just when Fern is beginning to believe it had all been an illusion, the angel returns, and this time he's not alone. For now there are three Angels of Death and Fern appears to be their next victim.Fern's Decision is the first book of Fern's trilogy and continues the Sisters of Hex story. Although this is the start of a standalone trilogy, to get a full picture of the overarching storyline you might wish to read Accacia's trilogy first.***TRIGGER WARNING - This book contains content that some may find triggering***
I loved the first set of Hex sister books so I was looking forward to this set. I wasn’t disappointed in the first book at all I really enjoyed it although the first few chapters were extremely hard to get through with it being so close to my own heart of losing my own baby a few time I cried thinking I need to push through. It was well handled and I’m glad I pushed through a good start to the new trilogy and sister. I would recommend but with a caution of possible trigger warning if you have lost a baby.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Watchers of the Fallen (Second Death, #1) in Books
May 22, 2019
Fallen angels were sent to kill Frank when he was a boy.
Hes been killing them ever since.
When a Watcher is gruesomely murdered, the Order suspects its one of the Fallen and tasks Frank with apprehending the killer. But nothing could prepare Frank or the Order for what he finds during the investigation:
Someone has used stolen magic to free Arraziel, a fallen angel who feeds on the life force of humans. Frank needs to stop Arraziel and find the killer before more of the Fallen are freed.
If he fails, the human race may not survive.
This is an amazing book!
It has loads of action and intrigue to keep you hooked to the end.
The plot was intriguing and exciting. It focuses on Frank, a watcher and Jessie, a girl who had a horrible life and is now in communication with a dangerous demon.
It's Angel vs. Demons in this series and I am so hooked and need the next book now!
Recommend reading!
I received this book free and this is my honest voluntary review.
Hes been killing them ever since.
When a Watcher is gruesomely murdered, the Order suspects its one of the Fallen and tasks Frank with apprehending the killer. But nothing could prepare Frank or the Order for what he finds during the investigation:
Someone has used stolen magic to free Arraziel, a fallen angel who feeds on the life force of humans. Frank needs to stop Arraziel and find the killer before more of the Fallen are freed.
If he fails, the human race may not survive.
This is an amazing book!
It has loads of action and intrigue to keep you hooked to the end.
The plot was intriguing and exciting. It focuses on Frank, a watcher and Jessie, a girl who had a horrible life and is now in communication with a dangerous demon.
It's Angel vs. Demons in this series and I am so hooked and need the next book now!
Recommend reading!
I received this book free and this is my honest voluntary review.