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Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated The Great Gatsby (2013) in Movies
Mar 21, 2020
waste. of. time.
I cannot believe I sat through two and a half hours of nothingness. Of bad characters, bad plot, bad music. The best part about this film was the color that they used. They had such vibrant shades and beautiful sets - that's the only positive. DiCaprio is a great actor, I've loved him in most all his films. This one is just not it. I had no clue Tobey Maguire was in this film and I think he was just as bad. I thought Joel Edgerton was fine.
The movie is as pointless as the book, if not more so. Nothing happened for an hour and a half. It's a 200-page book and they made a 2 and a half hour movie. I don't understand. This film is so bad. SO boring. Not worth the time or energy to keep your eyes open.
The movie is as pointless as the book, if not more so. Nothing happened for an hour and a half. It's a 200-page book and they made a 2 and a half hour movie. I don't understand. This film is so bad. SO boring. Not worth the time or energy to keep your eyes open.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
Oct 21, 2017
Fun, a little too geeky, poor context development
This book is no doubt quite exciting at times, and has an underlying cautionary message of being obsessed with technology. The story, set in a dystopian 2044, follows Wade Watts on his search for an Easter egg in a virtual simulation, the discovery of which will lead him to inherit a vast fortune in a world wrecked by an energy crisis.
Growing up in the 1980's means I can relate to much of the references in this book such as Blade Runner, Ferris Bueller's Day Out etc. but it seems to be laid on too thick as if it's trying to go along with this new revival of the era (Stranger Things, Ghostbusters).
Also as a non-gamer, this virtual world appears fatuous and vapid, hence the author seems to be gearing this book towards a new generation of players rather than those who were actually living during this time.
The character development and context of much of the book is poor, as Wade seems to have skills that materialise from nowhere, we just have to accept that he had indeed "read this and that". Overall, this book was clearly made to be a film, so it's unsurprising that Steven Spielberg has bought the rights.
Growing up in the 1980's means I can relate to much of the references in this book such as Blade Runner, Ferris Bueller's Day Out etc. but it seems to be laid on too thick as if it's trying to go along with this new revival of the era (Stranger Things, Ghostbusters).
Also as a non-gamer, this virtual world appears fatuous and vapid, hence the author seems to be gearing this book towards a new generation of players rather than those who were actually living during this time.
The character development and context of much of the book is poor, as Wade seems to have skills that materialise from nowhere, we just have to accept that he had indeed "read this and that". Overall, this book was clearly made to be a film, so it's unsurprising that Steven Spielberg has bought the rights.
The Ordinary Man of Cinema
Jean Louis Schefer, Max Cavitch and Noura Wedell
Book
When it was first published in French in 1980, The Ordinary Man of Cinema signaled a shift from the...
Karla Dee (6 KP) rated Bad Girls Never Say Die in Books
Nov 19, 2021
Thank you so much to Bookishfirst! I received my copy using my bookish first points and chose this book because of the Netflix film Moxie. I loved that movie and have yet to read the book but it is def on my TBR. This is the first book I have read from this author and I definitely plan to check out her other book, Moxie. The authors writing style leaves you wanting more and this was a really good book.
The time setting is in the 1960s and I agree with most of the other reviews that say it reminds you of the outsiders but instead of a bunch of bros there are chicas being badass. Anyone who liked the outsiders should check out this read because the author did base the story on the classic novel so that's why it is super similar. And if you love zines Jennifer Mathieu's book Moxie is perf for all the riot grrls out there and the movie is directed by Amy Poehler!
The time setting is in the 1960s and I agree with most of the other reviews that say it reminds you of the outsiders but instead of a bunch of bros there are chicas being badass. Anyone who liked the outsiders should check out this read because the author did base the story on the classic novel so that's why it is super similar. And if you love zines Jennifer Mathieu's book Moxie is perf for all the riot grrls out there and the movie is directed by Amy Poehler!
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated 2001: A Space Odyssey in Books
Oct 16, 2017
The godfather of science fiction
Arthur C. Clarke's vision of a dystopian world, where technology has advanced to frightening levels, is how science fiction was really born in my opinion. Writing this book whilst working with Stanley Kubrick on the film makes it a good accompaniment, if not even better, because of the amount of detail into each facet.
But the main element is the eeriness which HAL brings to the book. At times you think the isolation is making the protagonist Dr Bowman hallucinate, and at times you think the machine really has become self-aware. No one can forget that epic monolith, and the symbolism that it brings - is it a metaphor for God or something much larger than oneself? The final chapter haunts me to this day.
There are a few obvious changes such as when Bowman visits Saturn rather than Jupiter, which Clarke explains is because of what could be feasibly built on set. So for fans of the film, definitely read the book.
But the main element is the eeriness which HAL brings to the book. At times you think the isolation is making the protagonist Dr Bowman hallucinate, and at times you think the machine really has become self-aware. No one can forget that epic monolith, and the symbolism that it brings - is it a metaphor for God or something much larger than oneself? The final chapter haunts me to this day.
There are a few obvious changes such as when Bowman visits Saturn rather than Jupiter, which Clarke explains is because of what could be feasibly built on set. So for fans of the film, definitely read the book.
Erika (17789 KP) rated The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) in Movies
Nov 10, 2018
For starters, I haven't bothered to read this book, or the next book that weren't written by Stieg Larsson... If this film is any indication of how the book was... I'm glad I didn't waste the time.
There's nothing really wrong with the film, per say, it's an interesting thriller. It really wasn't the Lisbeth Salander I remember, she's been changed into just a bland, strong female character with an edgy look.
It was a strange move for Sony to skip the rest of the original trilogy. I thought Rooney Mara was a fantastic Salander, and I thought Daniel Craig did alright.
Claire Foy did alright, I guess, if that was the script she was given. Still, I couldn't help but compare her, and I don't think I'm the only one that will do that. I did really like Sverrir Gudnason as Blomkvist.
The opening credits tried so hard to be like GWTDT, but failed, and it kind of annoyed me that they even attempted it. Sorry but, you can't compete with a Trent Reznor and KO cover of the Immigrant Song.
There's nothing really wrong with the film, per say, it's an interesting thriller. It really wasn't the Lisbeth Salander I remember, she's been changed into just a bland, strong female character with an edgy look.
It was a strange move for Sony to skip the rest of the original trilogy. I thought Rooney Mara was a fantastic Salander, and I thought Daniel Craig did alright.
Claire Foy did alright, I guess, if that was the script she was given. Still, I couldn't help but compare her, and I don't think I'm the only one that will do that. I did really like Sverrir Gudnason as Blomkvist.
The opening credits tried so hard to be like GWTDT, but failed, and it kind of annoyed me that they even attempted it. Sorry but, you can't compete with a Trent Reznor and KO cover of the Immigrant Song.
Darren (1599 KP) rated The Grinch (2018) in Movies
Feb 16, 2020
Verdict: True Christmas Message
Story: The Grinch starts as we head to Whoville as they are preparing for Christmas the happiest time of the year for the town, only The Grinch sits above the town hating the holiday and everything about it with his dog Max.
AS Whoville is trying to have the biggest Christmas of all time, he plans to destroy Christmas once and for all, while a county Who Cindy-Lou is looking to ask for the simplest gift, help for her mother Donna that has been raising the children alone.
Thoughts on The Grinch
Characters – The Grinch is the grumpy who that lives above the town with Max the dog, he hates Christmas the most, he decides that this year is the year that he steals Christmas from the rest of the town, because of his own hate, this is a more cunning plan than the live action film gave us. Cindy-Lou is the one of the youngest members of the town, she wants to wish for help for her mother who is raising her siblings alone while working. She has a plan to try and capture Santa to make this wish in person. Donna is the single parent that has been raising her children alone, while working nights, she does well keeping things together without letting it show too much to her kids. We do have the other young whos that are helping Cindy, and we get Max who gets plenty of laughs with Grinch.
Story – The story here follows the Grinch who decides he wants to steal Christmas from the town who are always rubbing it in his face, while a plucky young girl wants to ask for something more than just a present. This is the second film version of the book I have seen, it is clearly a lot better than the Ron Howard version, holding together the clever dialogue Dr Seuss was famous for, it does ditch the personal back story of the Grinch which does help show him to be a wacky villain always planning, while giving the story a big heart with how the little girl wants what is best for her mother, this is a joy to watch because it is true to what Christmas is really about.
Fantasy/Family – The family message in this film is clear, this is the highlight of the film which is a joy to see, being together is important, whether it true family or people you can call family, while the fantasy side of the film is the world we are thrown into, which does work for the film.
Settings – The small town is always going to work for the film, it shows the unity within one town over the isolation of the Grinch that he is feeling.
Animation – The animation looks wonderful through the film which helps make the film more enjoyable, being able to give us the wacky moments and slapstick working in a way only animation can pull off.
Scene of the Movie – The present.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Not knowing the book, so not sure if it is closer or not.
Final Thoughts – This is a joyful Christmas film that could be enjoyed by all, it hits the right marks through the film with ease and gets laughs whenever you need it.
Overall: Christmas Joy.
Story: The Grinch starts as we head to Whoville as they are preparing for Christmas the happiest time of the year for the town, only The Grinch sits above the town hating the holiday and everything about it with his dog Max.
AS Whoville is trying to have the biggest Christmas of all time, he plans to destroy Christmas once and for all, while a county Who Cindy-Lou is looking to ask for the simplest gift, help for her mother Donna that has been raising the children alone.
Thoughts on The Grinch
Characters – The Grinch is the grumpy who that lives above the town with Max the dog, he hates Christmas the most, he decides that this year is the year that he steals Christmas from the rest of the town, because of his own hate, this is a more cunning plan than the live action film gave us. Cindy-Lou is the one of the youngest members of the town, she wants to wish for help for her mother who is raising her siblings alone while working. She has a plan to try and capture Santa to make this wish in person. Donna is the single parent that has been raising her children alone, while working nights, she does well keeping things together without letting it show too much to her kids. We do have the other young whos that are helping Cindy, and we get Max who gets plenty of laughs with Grinch.
Story – The story here follows the Grinch who decides he wants to steal Christmas from the town who are always rubbing it in his face, while a plucky young girl wants to ask for something more than just a present. This is the second film version of the book I have seen, it is clearly a lot better than the Ron Howard version, holding together the clever dialogue Dr Seuss was famous for, it does ditch the personal back story of the Grinch which does help show him to be a wacky villain always planning, while giving the story a big heart with how the little girl wants what is best for her mother, this is a joy to watch because it is true to what Christmas is really about.
Fantasy/Family – The family message in this film is clear, this is the highlight of the film which is a joy to see, being together is important, whether it true family or people you can call family, while the fantasy side of the film is the world we are thrown into, which does work for the film.
Settings – The small town is always going to work for the film, it shows the unity within one town over the isolation of the Grinch that he is feeling.
Animation – The animation looks wonderful through the film which helps make the film more enjoyable, being able to give us the wacky moments and slapstick working in a way only animation can pull off.
Scene of the Movie – The present.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Not knowing the book, so not sure if it is closer or not.
Final Thoughts – This is a joyful Christmas film that could be enjoyed by all, it hits the right marks through the film with ease and gets laughs whenever you need it.
Overall: Christmas Joy.
Abbie Devine (3 KP) rated Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018) in Movies
Jan 2, 2019
Interactive Film (2 more)
Alternative Endings
Intriguing themes such as mental health and government conspiracy theories
Stefan is simply trying to complete the coding for his new game derived from a choose your own adventure book 'Bandersnatch'. Will you help him stay focused and complete the game or will you force him to descend into madness?
I was apprehensive when I found out the new Black Mirror film was going to be interactive as I didn't want the plot to be overshadowed by the interactive feature. But I was wrong
The film is great. An original story archetype of time looping but with that classic Black Mirror edge.
If you are a tiny bit obsessive like me, you might want to set aside two hours or so to explore every choice and ending.
Without any spoilers, some endings can be rather satisfying, whilst others can be a bit hit or miss but quite often with the chance to retry from a certain point without necessarily changing the timeline.
So if you are looking for a new existential crisis, Bandersnatch is the one for you.
I was apprehensive when I found out the new Black Mirror film was going to be interactive as I didn't want the plot to be overshadowed by the interactive feature. But I was wrong
The film is great. An original story archetype of time looping but with that classic Black Mirror edge.
If you are a tiny bit obsessive like me, you might want to set aside two hours or so to explore every choice and ending.
Without any spoilers, some endings can be rather satisfying, whilst others can be a bit hit or miss but quite often with the chance to retry from a certain point without necessarily changing the timeline.
So if you are looking for a new existential crisis, Bandersnatch is the one for you.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Dune (2021) in Movies
Nov 11, 2021 (Updated Nov 11, 2021)
Great visuals (1 more)
Very good ensemble cast
Space Opera
I'm totally new to Dune, I know nothing of the book or the previous film. So I have nothing to compare it to it that sense.
It's visually stunning and on a grand scale, with many wide angle shots to to get a good effect of scale. The design, look and feel of the film, along with Zimmer's score are all quality.
Then to the story which feels like a mix of The Matrix, meets Game of Thrones with a Star Wars setting. For new comers like myself it might be difficult keeping track of who is in alliance with who, as a lot of various faction names appear. The political side of things doesn't get too bogged down though. I did expect bigger and longer action scenes for a film of this scale. What action you do see is very good and the SFX are great.
So to those who are new to Dune it might be a bit of a mixed bag but there is no doubting the quality overall. Roll on part 2.
It's visually stunning and on a grand scale, with many wide angle shots to to get a good effect of scale. The design, look and feel of the film, along with Zimmer's score are all quality.
Then to the story which feels like a mix of The Matrix, meets Game of Thrones with a Star Wars setting. For new comers like myself it might be difficult keeping track of who is in alliance with who, as a lot of various faction names appear. The political side of things doesn't get too bogged down though. I did expect bigger and longer action scenes for a film of this scale. What action you do see is very good and the SFX are great.
So to those who are new to Dune it might be a bit of a mixed bag but there is no doubting the quality overall. Roll on part 2.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Change 2: New York: The Queen of Coney Island in Books
Nov 2, 2020
Very odd
The second book adds no real substance to what exactly happened in "The Change", I think I am just going to have to accept that "things changed".
In the first New York book, we meet Grace, who is trying to reunite with her brother, an inmate of Rikers before The Change. Trying to get safe passage up the Hudson river, she has to ask the Queen of Coney Island for a boat and permission. On the way to do so, she meets up with God (as you do), and enters the former Coney Island amusement park. It is populated with odd people and creatures, some of whom are real, some of whom are formerly real and brought back to life due to the change, others are physical embodiments of ideas and film characters.
Grace and God are given a seemingly simple task to achieve before being given safe passage, but it inevitably turns out to be a very difficult and dangerous one.
The book has a very different feel to the first, London-based one, with a very odd Alice in Wonderland feel to it, with crazy characters helping the one seemingly normal one to her goal.
The one thing that is consistent with the London book is the feeling of wanting more at the end. This time the character had a goal and (spoiler alert) she didn't achieve it by the end of the book.
In the first New York book, we meet Grace, who is trying to reunite with her brother, an inmate of Rikers before The Change. Trying to get safe passage up the Hudson river, she has to ask the Queen of Coney Island for a boat and permission. On the way to do so, she meets up with God (as you do), and enters the former Coney Island amusement park. It is populated with odd people and creatures, some of whom are real, some of whom are formerly real and brought back to life due to the change, others are physical embodiments of ideas and film characters.
Grace and God are given a seemingly simple task to achieve before being given safe passage, but it inevitably turns out to be a very difficult and dangerous one.
The book has a very different feel to the first, London-based one, with a very odd Alice in Wonderland feel to it, with crazy characters helping the one seemingly normal one to her goal.
The one thing that is consistent with the London book is the feeling of wanting more at the end. This time the character had a goal and (spoiler alert) she didn't achieve it by the end of the book.