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It (2017)
It (2017)
2017 | Drama, Horror
8
7.9 (355 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
My mom took me to see the new It – and it was great. It does have a few changes that are worth noting though – and I’m curious as to how they will play out in the next part. Presently, the film only covers the part that takes place in 1957-1958 (though in the movie, it’s 1988), which leaves things open for another film.

First, I want to say that I have a thing for Bill Skarsgård. I have since I watched Hemlock Grove, where he plays an upir. So finding out that he would be playing Pennywise somehow dispelled my fear of clowns (which actually formed when I was eight and watched the It miniseries – or at least, the first bit of it). Skarsgård performance is spectacular and I have no complaints regarding his acting.

For the most part, It follows a line between the miniseries and the book. When it comes to a tome the size of It, obviously things have need cutting out. To expect more would likely have mean an entire series (not that I’d complain). There are a few things that really bugged me though. First, Richie does not do his voices in It. This is a major character trait that I feel should have been included – especially since he uses his voice imitations in the book to get past Pennywise. To leave out one of Richie’s defining characteristics is disappointing, as I really wanted to see how it would play out.

Second, once again, what Stan sees differs from the book. Those that have read It know that Stan ends up trapped in a standpipe. Here, a corpse comes at him and in order to escape, he recites the names of birds from a book he keeps in his pocket. This causes the door to open and thus Stan Uris lives. His obsession with birds, like Richie’s voice imitations, is another defining characteristic of the boys that is left out.

Because the movie is pressed for time, it’s easier to understand why other elements are left out – such as the real reason behind Eddie Corcoran’s death (which is left simply at “missing” in the film). In fact, several of the disappearance are touched upon just enough to remind viewers how threatening Pennywise is – and that’s perfect for this film.

Overall, I really enjoyed It. I feel that leaving out those two defining characteristics of Richie and Stan was unnecessary. Despite that, It comes in as one of my favorite film so far this year and I might have to bug Mom to get it for me on DVD.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Wool in Books

Jul 25, 2017  
Wool
Wool
Hugh Howey | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.5 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
A highly original dystopian novel
It's a sign of good book when you can't bring yourself to put it down, and Wool certainly fulfills this.

It's a fantastic and a different take on the dystopian future novel. It's claustrophobic and one of the few books I love that I'd actually like to see made into a (decent) film. There are some great characters, an intriguing premise and it just keeps you reading.
  
Ready Player One (2018)
Ready Player One (2018)
2018 | Sci-Fi
Very good film set in the future where everything is done in the virtual world so hardly any human interaction goes on. If you like sci-fi films this might appeal to you but there is a moral of the story and glad to see it plays out in the end. Seen a couple of times as you can miss bits the first time although as in most cases the book is better.
  
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
2012 | Drama

"I loved the book. I’m probably one of those readers who judges movie adaptations far too harshly, but I was very excited to see the movie and when it came out, not disappointed at all. So incredible. I loved Logan Lerman, and Ezra and Emma as well. The cinematography, the acting, everything was just spectacular. A special film, especially to teenagers growing up in this world and finding out completely who you are."

Source
  
Skinwalker Ranch (2013)
Skinwalker Ranch (2013)
2013 | Horror, Sci-Fi
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
She me good effects (0 more)
Real life scarrier than fiction (0 more)
Average.
Skinwalker Ranch is a very scary place. A bunch of scientists went to investigate it and what they witnessed was insane (go listen to Astonishing Legends if you want to know more). The movie takes that concept and turns it into an average silly horror film when in fact if they simply followed the story in the book of actually events you would be more scared, instead it's all a bit meh.
  
It: Chapter Two (2019)
It: Chapter Two (2019)
2019 | Horror, Thriller
Throughly enjoyed
This film definitely lived up to my expectations. It makes you love the characters more and manages to keep all the charm from the first. Admittedly it wasn't as scary as I expected, but made up for it in creep and emotional nostalgia. Watching all the adults confront the core essence of their fears was heart warming, and some of the metaphors were exceptionally clever. Loved Stephen King's cameo too, made me smile. Need to read that book now!
  
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Lindsay (1752 KP) rated Murder on Safari in Books

Aug 30, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)  
MO
Murder on Safari
Peter Riva | 2015
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Pero is sent to film some wildlife. When they get there and settle for the first night. They plan for a photo shoot in the morning. Things start to get interesting once a truck appears and Pero and Mbuno. They start to run.

A terrorist cell intercepts them. When they find that Simon as landed and is already dead. They start to wonder who killed him. Why are they after Pero and his film crew?

I really like this book by Peter Riva has I feel I was part of the story and he captured my interest as to what will happen to Pero and his crew. I have become fond of Pero and Mbuno and Heep. He does a wonderful job and you just want to keep reading. His book is a page turner.

It got to twist and turns and surprises on the every page. You may think you know you found the person, but it gets weirder and stranger. The adventure gets more interesting and excited. Can they save Jimmy Threte and Mary and the thousand of Kenyans? Will they stop the terrorist attack?
  
The Girl with All the Gifts
The Girl with All the Gifts
M.R. Carey | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry, Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.1 (43 Ratings)
Book Rating
I went to see the film adaptation of this on Saturday, and I have to say I was pretty impressed with it! Obviously the book is a whole lot better, but I think they did a pretty good job of transferring the book to screen. The characters felt a bit different to how they came across in the novel, <spoiler> Caldwell was nowhere near as evil and we didn't get to know Parks enough for his death to be that traumatising like it was in the novel</spoiler>, but I'd say it's one of the better book-to-film movies!

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Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-reviews/the-girl-with-all-the-gifts-m-r-carey

<b>4.5 stars</b>

I don’t really want to say a lot about this book, for 2 reasons. Reason one is to keep potential readers in the dark about what this entire book is. I feel like it’s one of those reads where you want to go in blind, it definitely made it more enjoyable for me going into it that way. The second reason is more selfish… I felt a lot of different emotions going through this book, especially within the last 50 pages! I have no desire to relive the rollercoaster I went through! I feel like the emotions from this book are gonna stay with me for a long time, so don’t expect much from this review other than spoilers (which will be hidden) of me getting emotional.

If you’re looking for a book that gets straight into a story then this will definitely please you. There’s no dilly dallying whatsoever, we get into the meat of the book within the first 50 pages which is such a relief because I hate chunky books that seem to take forever to get into the story. I wouldn’t recommend reading this if you have quite serious trypophobia. I have it quite mildly but there were a lot of times where I was reading and getting very panicky and sick feeling because of the grotesque imagery.

Each character is developed so incredibly well, as there aren’t many throughout the book we’ve got loads of time to get to know them with each chapter flitting about between perspectives. <spoiler>MELANIE WAS CUTE AF AND SO MATURE AND LOVELY AND AWW. HELEN WAS BADASS AND SASSY AND AWESOME. PARKS WAS A GENTLE GIANT AND IM SO HAPPY HE GOT TO FUCK HELEN BEFORE HE DIED CAUSE HIS DEATH MADE ME SUPER DUPER SERIOUSLY SAD. CAROLINE WAS A BITCH FROM START TO FINISH, I FELT NO REMORSE FOR HER DEATH, SHE WAS EVIL.</spoiler>

I don’t know if I’d class this as purely a thriller, it’s is also a horror and a sci-fi, which is definitely a great mix. It was definitely a really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading more of Carey’s work. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26030697-fellside?ac=1&from_search=true">Fellside</a>; is next on my list to read!
  
The Outsiders (1983)
The Outsiders (1983)
1983 | Drama
7
8.0 (11 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A very hard hitting and moving story
Contains spoilers, click to show
A very hard hitting and moving story about rival gangs and the effect it has on the lives of the people in and around the gangs. The story follows two of the younger greasers after one of them accidentally kills a rival gang member in self defence. They leave town and believe they will have to remain on the run forever.

With a cast to die for, The Outsiders is an incredible, hard hitting film. Portrayed in a believable and moving way, the cast includes Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, C. Thomas Howell and Rob Lowe. But Ralph Macchio stands out in this film as Johnny Cade.

The direction of Francis Ford Coppola along with stunning performances from the cast bring this film to life. You feel for the characters as they take you on an emotional roller-coaster. You laugh along with them and share in the anguish and feel the pain they all go through just to survive. It is hard not to watch the film now without comparing other films the cast have made since this film. But for many of the cast, it is up there with the finest performances of their career.

The film is an adaption of a classic novel by S.E. Hinton who was just 16 when the novel was first published in 1967. It was also her first novel. The book has become part of school English curriculum