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    Strimko Gold

    Strimko Gold

    Games

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    STRIMKO™, the popular web-based logical puzzle game, comes to the iPhone / iPod touch (compatible...

    Maldives GPS Map Navigator

    Maldives GPS Map Navigator

    Navigation and Travel

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    Flytomap is a valid and interesting alternative, Benetti Yachts Top Ten since 2008 Featured in : On...

Troubled Skies (Blue Skies #3)
Troubled Skies (Blue Skies #3)
Marie Sinclair | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TROUBLED SKIES is the third and final book in the Blue Skies trilogy, but the first one I have read. Did I need to read the first two? No, but now I definitely want to.

You know how sometimes, you just want a nice, easy book to whisk you away to a different world from the one you currently live in? Well, that was me, and this book came up on my TBR list at just the right time.

It begins pretty angsty - Ricky is in an Air Traffic accident and ends up in hospital. Not only that, but he's also peeved about his friends finding love (it's reasonable, sort of, trust me!), AND gets kicked out of his home by a landlord that isn't worth the time on the page. So, he does what any reasonable person would do... he splurges his life savings on a ticket to Ibiza and uses his middle name, Adrian, instead of Ricky. Of course, that would work better if he didn't have to board a plane to get to Ibiza. No, scrap that - two planes! Luckily for him, Ren is on hand to help his nerves.

This book had me from the very beginning. No, I don't 100% know why Ricky was so peeved, but the explanations given in the book make perfect sense. The fact that he wanted to get away also makes sense. And Ren... ah, what can I say? I loved him from the very beginning. Okay, maybe not the VERY beginning, but as soon as he meets Adrian, definitely. I also loved how they both had their worries about how this would work in the future, but that didn't stop them from enjoying the time they had.

Ren is the more steadfast character out of the two, which was surprising considering his playboy prince persona. I loved how he did everything he could to ease Adrian's life (when Adrian would let him!) and show him different things. Honestly? If Adrian had asked for the sun, Ren would have been on the phone to someone to figure out how to make it happen. And while Ren was my favourite, I also understood how Adrian felt. Bless him, it was all a bit much after everything he'd been through.

A light-hearted, somewhat low-level angsty, and oh-so romantic story. Just what I need and absolutely 100% adored - of course I recommend it!

ps - Did Sheila survive? My mind won't let it go!!!

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 8, 2025
  
40x40

Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Life Of Pi (2012) in Movies

Jun 10, 2019 (Updated Jun 10, 2019)  
Life Of Pi (2012)
Life Of Pi (2012)
2012 | Adventure, Drama
Ang Lee has directed some very artistic and emotionally charged films in his career and his new movie, Life of Pi is certainly no exception. But can his take on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name live up to his usual high standards?

In short, the answer is a resounding yes. From the stunning special effects and beautiful acting to the heart-warming story, it captivates from beginning to end like no other film released this year.

The film begins with a pet hate of mine, the credits. I always think a movie that starts with its credits is usually a huge let-down but something was different here, as soon as the brilliantly filmed names flash across the screen, I knew this film was going to be spectacular, just how spectacular however, I was not prepared for.

The story is, essentially what the title says it is, the life of a boy called Pi and his extraordinary journey from childhood, through adolescence and finally into adulthood. It seems quite simple and perhaps nothing too innovative or different, but the way Lee has captured the magic of the novel really does shine through on screen.

In the present day, Rafe Spall plays a budding writer searching for inspiration for his next big book. He comes across Irrfan Khan who plays the adult Pi and has an unbelievable story to tell. So, as he begins to narrate this incredible journey, the viewer is transported to when Pi was a boy.

It’s true that the film takes a while to get going and the scenes in Pi’s native India are perhaps the most testing of the entire film. The momentum is built up slowly as the boy travels through school life whilst his family run a small zoo in their hometown. Alas, the perfection of his childhood is ruined when his entire family decide to relocate to Canada due to an economic crisis. They are packed onto a tanker with the zoo animals on-board and begin the journey to their new life.

Whilst on the last leg of their journey, their ship is ravaged by a severe storm and Pi’s family is lost, along with most of the zoo animals and, in a scene that even betters the emotionally charged sinking in Titanic and the CGI packed sinking in Poseidon, their tanker is lost to the ocean.

Thankfully he survives, along with an injured zebra, a naughty hyena and a motherly orangutan in a small life-boat. It’s safe to say that the zebra and ape don’t last too long on-board a ship with a hyena and they are picked off as lunch. However, also sailing with them is Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger and he forms the basis of the film, along with Pi. At first, after Richard Parker makes light work of the hyena, the relationship between Pi and his new shipmate is somewhat strained, a constant battle between who is going to eat who and the only sensible option is for Pi to live on separate raft tied to the life-boat.

However, a few days pass and finally they can share a boat, albeit after a couple of amusing scenes involving urine and some flying fish.

Richard Parker is a beautiful animal to say the least, a mixture of live action tigers, CGI animation and animatronics really brings him to life, which is good considering he is the only other character in the film. This is where Ang Lee’s brilliance as a director shines, bringing warmth and heart to a character that is not only not real, but an animal, without the ability to talk and share feelings. Credit must also be given to newcomer Suraj Sharma who plays Pi Patel absolutely brilliantly. I simply could not believe this was his first big acting role; his performance is nothing short of stunning.

Then there are the special effects and 3D. Everything is a wonder to behold and the 3D is a help in enjoying the film, rather than a hindrance which it continues to be in other movies. There are two scenes in particular which really stand out, including a lot of jellyfish and a few thousand meerkats. I won’t say anything else, as they need to be seen to be believed.

Moreover, in the depths of this film lies a huge emotional core, the story of a boy and his ‘pet’ and the perils they face, the togetherness they bring to one another is touching to say the least and let’s just say there were more than a few sniffles coming from the rows behind me in the cinema. However, it is more than just a story of companionship; there is a deep religious message about believing in god even if he seems to not be there 100% of the time. Whether or not you choose to read into this is your decision, but it’s there throughout.

Life of Pi is something really special, a magical journey that needs to be seen to be believed. Very rarely, a film comes along that touches your heart, your soul and your head and this is one of those films. Everything from the performances of all the actors, the beautiful recreation of Richard Parker and stunning special effects make this film as revolutionary as Avatar was in 2009. It is not only the best film of 2012; it is one of the best films ever made. Please, I urge all of you who read this, go see it, and witness history in the making.

https://moviemetropolis.net/2012/12/22/life-of-pi-review-2012/