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Identity (2003)
Identity (2003)
2003 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Sadly Predictable
This is old-dark-house stuff. A group of people stay at a motel and start dying. My first complaint: I don't like gore. To me it's a good indicator that the people who made the film don't think they have a strong enough plot-line to engage people.
It's not over-board in this film, but there's more than I am comfortable with.
It's not a bad film, and it ticks along quite nicely ,with all the usual, 'we've got to get this guy','we have to stick together' stuff but the trouble is it is usual: seen before in a hundred other films. Eventually the filmakers paint themselves into a corner from where they can only head for an ending that is weak and predictable - although I'm not sure what ending wouldn't have been for this.

A good, strong cast including Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina, Jake Busey,and Rebecca De Mornay, class acts all, sadly let down by the material.
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Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars
2016 | Business / Industrial, Economic, Environmental, Science Fiction, Territory Building
Terraforming Mars review: Turn the “Red Planet” green with this amazing board game
But to find the fun, you have to give Terraforming Mars a chance—and the game does itself few favors when it comes to table appeal.

The game's icons look like vector clip art from the early 2000s, all glittering gold surfaces and apparent depth. The player mats are thin cardboard that provide just enough space to track the game's essential production levels using cubes; because they have no linen finish, the mats are also smooth. Even tiny bumps can dislodge these core gameplay elements, so you need to be extremely careful while playing. Speaking of cubes, those used for counting resources come coated in metallic paint, which has already begun to chip off some of the corners, giving them a slightly sad faux-luxury look.


Critic: Nate Anderson
Read the full review here: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/10/terraforming-mars-review/
  
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game
2012 | Bluff, Collectible Components, Entertainment, Flight / Aviation, Miniatures
Next to the iconic light saber battles, nothing excites a Star Wars fan more than the epic space battles. The original Star Wars trilogy had some of the most unique and beautifully designed space ships in all of science fiction. For its time, the X-Wing was a truly iconic piece of special effects. With the introduction of Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures game from Fantasy Flight Games, players can now have their own space battles with these memorable ships. Does Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures have what it takes to score a victory on you table top or should it be encased in carbonite? Read on to find out!
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures is a miniatures game of space combat for 2 players. The game players in about 30-60 minutes and can be expanded to accommodate more players.




Reviewer: Tony MastrangeliRead the full review here: https://www.boardgamequest.com/x-wing-miniatures-board-game-review/
  
Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express
Agatha Christie | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.4 (65 Ratings)
Book Rating
When Poirot is called back to England, he must forgo a planned layover in Istanbul and find a berth on a surprisingly crowded train. A freak snow storm strands the train on the tracks, and that night a murder takes place. The victim had come to Poirot because he feared that his life was in danger. With the train stuck, the killer is still on board. But who could it be?

I had not read this book before, but I still knew the ending. Even knowing that, I was enthralled watching how it all played out. There is a reason that Agatha Christie is considered the queen of plots to this day. I also found the characters strong enough that I could keep them all straight, and there are plenty of suspects.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/08/book-review-murder-on-orient-express-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
After an especially tension filled Township Board meeting, paramedic Zoe Chambers is called to an abandoned car with a dead body in the front seat. That discovery on a cold winter night plunges Zoe and Police Chief Pete Adams into a complex mystery that hits too close to home. Where will it end?

I shouldn’t have put this debut off for so long. It’s an amazing book full of great writing. The characters are strong, and they pull us into the story quickly. There are so many twists and turns along the way, but everything makes perfect sense by the time we reach the end. Zoe and Pete share third person narrator duties, something the author uses perfectly to let us get to know the leads and build the tension in the story.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-circle-of-influence-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Coverdale is all talking about the Porter family who has just moved into town. Unfortunately, they arrive with the family accountant in tow, and Dirk Unger is not a nice man at all. When he is poisoned and the son of a friend becomes the prime suspect, Piper must jump in and figure out what really happened.

The book took a bit to get going, but once it did I was fully on board. I do like these characters, and it was great to see them again. The plot took some unexpected twists on the way to a creative climax, and I read the second half in one day so I could find out what was happening.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-scene-of-brine-by-mary.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Before the Fall
Before the Fall
Noah Hawley | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.4 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
The description of the book (who crashed a private jet killing nearly everyone on board) makes it sound like another twisty-turny thriller along the lines of "The Girl on the Train", and while the central mystery does have some surprises and keeps one wanting to read, this is actually a much smarter book than that. It is far more interested in human nature, what makes each of us what we are, how we cope with tragedy, and how our minds can jump to make conclusions that aren't there. It even manages to dig into themes like art, the recent financial crisis, and the 24-hour news cycle. All of the characters are interesting and very well written. Everything seems entirely believable and the book is full of moments of genuine emotion. Those looking for another trendy "thriller-of-the-month" might be disappointed, but anyone looking for a truly great novel, possibly one of the year's best, should pick this up.
  
TB
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Big Flood: The Story of Noah and the Ark by Paul Gully is a wonderful new look at the story of Noah and the Ark. The illustrations are well done, very fun to look at and would definitely appeal to youngsters. The text is rhyming and easy to understand, just right for little ones to enjoy. This is a well adapted Bible story.

The story teaches young kids about the unshakeable faith that Noah portrays when God asks him to build an ark and then take care of all the animals on board. He alerts Noah to the fact that He is sending a huge rainstorm that will result in the flooding of the entire earth and He warns Noah that all the non-believers will perish if they refuse to come onto the ark which will be a safe haven for them. 

I received an ARC from Broadstreet Publishing Group LLC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  
Monopoly Deal
Monopoly Deal
2014 | Card Game
The game is small and travel friendly. It allows you to play multiple games as it does not take as long as the original monopoly game boards. It is very different from the actuall monopoly game but I would personally say just as enjoyable. (0 more)
This game is a card version of monopoly which is very useful for being on the go. The game only contains card's no board or playing piece's. The main goal of this game is to complete 3 full property set's the fastest. This is a game which is family friendly and allows lots of people to play and can be a quick game so no one will get too bored. This game I would recommend for those that are travelling and want some fun to pass the time . I would also recommend it to the people who don't necessarily want to commit to an overly long game which you tend to find happening during the original monopoly games.
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Record of a Spaceborn Few
Record of a Spaceborn Few
Becky Chambers | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
"From the ground, we stand. From our ships, we live. By the stars, we hope..."
The lives of five people and their friends and family are followed on board one of the ships of the Exodus fleet. These are the descendants of those who escaped a dying Earth, not knowing if what they were doing would result in their deaths anyway. It didn't.
I loved reading about these people: they illustrated the different kinds of lives they had, and how they were regarded in the wider universe.
Becky Chambers books are so descriptive without being boring: I felt as though I was walking the corridors and sitting in the 'hexes' with the families. All three of these Wayfarers novels have had that personal feel to them, and this is something that has really appealed to me and kept me coming back for more. I can't wait to see where Chambers goes next. Whether she continues with the Wayfarers or not, I'll definitely read them!
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