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NerdGeek (155 KP) rated Inkheart (2009) in Movies
Jul 7, 2018
Acting (1 more)
Premise of story
Paul Bethany makes this film
I wasn't sure about this movie the first time I watched it, but over the years I have come to respect Paul Bettany so much as an actor that I will watch, and enjoy, anything he's in. This story centers around Mo, and his ability to read characters out of books. He's known as a silvertongue. But when he accidentally swaps his wife into a book, releasing a criminal in her place, he refuses to ever read aloud again.
This movie is good. It's worth a watch if you're in the mood for something different and enjoyable.
This movie is good. It's worth a watch if you're in the mood for something different and enjoyable.
Lost Horizon (1973)
3.0
Rate It
Movie
Musical adaptation of the 1937 film version of James Hilton's novel. A disparate group of travellers...
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated It: Chapter Two (2019) in Movies
Sep 7, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
IT, Chapter two
The Losers are all grown up and living their own lives when they each receive a call to return to Derry, the town they all grew up in. The problem is none of them remember their childhoods or why they need to return.
IT Chapter Two picks up 27 years after the first film, the main cast have all moved on with their lives when Pennywise re-appears in Derry and so they all have to return to try to stop the creature once and for all.
There is a lot going on in the film, first off, it is a lot more like the original mini-series as it predominantly follows the losers as adults but also flashes back to them as children. The flashbacks show each of the young losers having separate meetings with Pennywise and none of these are shown in the first film. We also find out more about where Pennywise came from although the film does give us two possibilities’ (Kind of) although only one is real. There is also details of a group of native Americans who encountered and (Supposedly) defeated Pennywise, although he was not in clown form then. We also get more of a glimpse of Pennywise’s shape changing ability’s which include the spider form that is seen in the original mini-series.
IT Chapter two also plays homage to a lot of other films, the most obvious are the thing, the shining and poltergeist. There is also a recurring theme where it is mentioned by a number of different characters (one played by Stephen King) that Bill does not know how to finish a story, this is a complaint that Stephen King has received more than once, some people found a scene at the end of the IT novel wrong and a lot of people didn’t like the ending of the seventh and final (At the time) ‘Dark Tower’ book.
All of this leads to the film being just under three hours long, but honestly you don’t notice it.
The Losers are all grown up and living their own lives when they each receive a call to return to Derry, the town they all grew up in. The problem is none of them remember their childhoods or why they need to return.
IT Chapter Two picks up 27 years after the first film, the main cast have all moved on with their lives when Pennywise re-appears in Derry and so they all have to return to try to stop the creature once and for all.
There is a lot going on in the film, first off, it is a lot more like the original mini-series as it predominantly follows the losers as adults but also flashes back to them as children. The flashbacks show each of the young losers having separate meetings with Pennywise and none of these are shown in the first film. We also find out more about where Pennywise came from although the film does give us two possibilities’ (Kind of) although only one is real. There is also details of a group of native Americans who encountered and (Supposedly) defeated Pennywise, although he was not in clown form then. We also get more of a glimpse of Pennywise’s shape changing ability’s which include the spider form that is seen in the original mini-series.
IT Chapter two also plays homage to a lot of other films, the most obvious are the thing, the shining and poltergeist. There is also a recurring theme where it is mentioned by a number of different characters (one played by Stephen King) that Bill does not know how to finish a story, this is a complaint that Stephen King has received more than once, some people found a scene at the end of the IT novel wrong and a lot of people didn’t like the ending of the seventh and final (At the time) ‘Dark Tower’ book.
All of this leads to the film being just under three hours long, but honestly you don’t notice it.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Shazam! (2019) in Movies
May 14, 2019 (Updated Dec 15, 2019)
A refreshing, and often humourous entry into the otherwise troubled DCEU
Contains spoilers, click to show
I went into Shazam! with low expectations, after not being particularly taken with the majority of past DCEU films.
I left feeling pretty positive about the whole goofy experience.
As with most DC material, the film starts on a fairly dark note, introducing us to a young Dr Sivana (a truly old school super villain, dating all the way back to the late 30s).
After a bit of back story as to why he gets all villainy, the movie wastes no time introducing us to Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and the rest of his foster family, and the movie succeeds in making all of the younger characters likable.
After a bit of comic book magic, we're eventually acquainted with the true power of Shazam!
Zachary Levi absolutely shines as he clearly relishes in playing this goofy, excitable teenager trapped in the body of a God. He bounces back and forth with Jack Dylan Grazer pretty well, and for the most part the relentless stream of jokes land nicely.
The film starts to waiver slightly towards the end, as the story hurtles towards a standard comic book movie CGI showdown, with a by the numbers comic book movie performance from Mark Strong, and some sketchy CGI cloud monsters, but it's hard not to grin with the surprise introduction of the Shazam! family (something I would surely expect from a sequel).
Shazam! also struggles at times to balance it's humour with it's more serious beats, but for the most part is an enjoyable origin story that the whole family can enjoy.
I left feeling pretty positive about the whole goofy experience.
As with most DC material, the film starts on a fairly dark note, introducing us to a young Dr Sivana (a truly old school super villain, dating all the way back to the late 30s).
After a bit of back story as to why he gets all villainy, the movie wastes no time introducing us to Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and the rest of his foster family, and the movie succeeds in making all of the younger characters likable.
After a bit of comic book magic, we're eventually acquainted with the true power of Shazam!
Zachary Levi absolutely shines as he clearly relishes in playing this goofy, excitable teenager trapped in the body of a God. He bounces back and forth with Jack Dylan Grazer pretty well, and for the most part the relentless stream of jokes land nicely.
The film starts to waiver slightly towards the end, as the story hurtles towards a standard comic book movie CGI showdown, with a by the numbers comic book movie performance from Mark Strong, and some sketchy CGI cloud monsters, but it's hard not to grin with the surprise introduction of the Shazam! family (something I would surely expect from a sequel).
Shazam! also struggles at times to balance it's humour with it's more serious beats, but for the most part is an enjoyable origin story that the whole family can enjoy.
Erika (17789 KP) rated John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) in Movies
May 25, 2019
John Wick Chapter 3 picks up immediately after Chapter 2, which I liked, so it got going right away. The fighting is so well choreographed, and my favorite section of fighting was with the book in the New York Public Library. You apparently can kill someone with a very weighty book.
This chapter provided much more information on the Continental/High Table mythos, which I thought was cool. Asia Kate Dillon was stone cold as the Adjudicator, and I can't wait to see more of Dillon in Chapter 4.
I could have done without Halle Berry being in the film. She really didn't add anything, and both my father and I were annoyed that it cut away from Keanu fighting to show her, when frankly, the only person I really want to see kicking ass is Keanu.
This chapter provided much more information on the Continental/High Table mythos, which I thought was cool. Asia Kate Dillon was stone cold as the Adjudicator, and I can't wait to see more of Dillon in Chapter 4.
I could have done without Halle Berry being in the film. She really didn't add anything, and both my father and I were annoyed that it cut away from Keanu fighting to show her, when frankly, the only person I really want to see kicking ass is Keanu.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated The Body Finder (The Body Finder, #1) in Books
Jun 7, 2018
Okay, so I didn't fall in love with this book right away. For awhile, I thought I was going to rate the book 2, maybe 3 stars. However, about 2/3 of the way into the book, it became really good, and it definitely got boosted to 4 stars.
I loved, loved, loved the relationship between Jay & Violet. I thought it was really sweet =) I loved how protective he was of her, not in the "she's a girl so she can't take care of herself" way but because he genuinely cared for her.
The character of Chelsea made me laugh. I loved her sarcasm =)
It did have a hint of Mean Girls in it though. The character of Claire reminded me a lot of Amanda Seyfried's character in the film. And there is the mention of a Queen Bee.
I loved the plot as well. I've never read anything like it. I like the way the author brought together the elements of suspense, crime, romance, and paranormal. They all blended very well.
I'd definitely recommend this book. It does take a long time to get going, as I've said before, but once it does, it definitely drags you in!
I loved, loved, loved the relationship between Jay & Violet. I thought it was really sweet =) I loved how protective he was of her, not in the "she's a girl so she can't take care of herself" way but because he genuinely cared for her.
The character of Chelsea made me laugh. I loved her sarcasm =)
It did have a hint of Mean Girls in it though. The character of Claire reminded me a lot of Amanda Seyfried's character in the film. And there is the mention of a Queen Bee.
I loved the plot as well. I've never read anything like it. I like the way the author brought together the elements of suspense, crime, romance, and paranormal. They all blended very well.
I'd definitely recommend this book. It does take a long time to get going, as I've said before, but once it does, it definitely drags you in!
Zerovillie
Book
A Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Newsweek Best Book of the Year It is an August afternoon...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated The Last Dinosaur (Mirage Mysteries #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Melissa Baugh was the victim of a dinosaur – at least the one being used to film a movie outside of Phoenix. Someone used the full size dinosaur to trample her. Phoenix cops Joe and Tommy are called into help with the investigation, but as it leads in some unexpected directions, will they be able to find her killer?
This mystery doesn’t wrap up as neatly as I normally enjoy since a couple of the hows are left for us to figure out. We can, but it would be nice if we didn’t have to guess. However, the who and the why are perfectly logical, and it is a fun ride getting to the end. Joe and Tommy are fun main characters, and I like watching them and the supporting cast in action. We get to see more of Rico, Joe’s son, and I enjoyed that as well. A sub-plot involving a traveling preacher adds to the fun, and the Christian elements adds to the book overall without becoming preachy.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-last-dinosaur-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This mystery doesn’t wrap up as neatly as I normally enjoy since a couple of the hows are left for us to figure out. We can, but it would be nice if we didn’t have to guess. However, the who and the why are perfectly logical, and it is a fun ride getting to the end. Joe and Tommy are fun main characters, and I like watching them and the supporting cast in action. We get to see more of Rico, Joe’s son, and I enjoyed that as well. A sub-plot involving a traveling preacher adds to the fun, and the Christian elements adds to the book overall without becoming preachy.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-last-dinosaur-by-sandy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The Thames & Hudson Introduction to Art
Debra J. DeWitte, Ralph M. Larmann and M. Kathryn Shields
1.0
Rate It
Book
This is a bestselling and comprehensive introductory textbook that uses a four-part structure to...
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Nightmare Alley (2021) in Movies
Dec 2, 2021
Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper); is a man trying to get by in late 1930s America in the new film “Nightmare Alley”. Our first introduction to Stanton is less than flattering and he soon finds himself employed at a Carnival after coming upon it by chance.
The eager Stanton is given advice and tools of the trade by his boss Clem (Willem Dafoe) as well as the mystic Zeena (Toni Collette) and Stanton eagerly wants to get ahead. While striking a friendship with fellow employee Molly (Rooney Mara); Stanton learns that Zeena’s older and alcoholic husband has a skill from a former act where he learns to read people and use verbal cues to appear to have the power of clairvoyance.
Eventually, Stanton seeks bigger opportunities and leaves with Molly for the city where they in time develop a successful act that offers them two shows a night at a fancy hotel and some of the finer things in life.
Unwilling to be content with what he has; Stanton becomes involved with a Psychologist named Lilith (Cate Blanchett) and uses her knowledge to set up higher-profile marks who will pay well for his supposed abilities and in doing so; sets a dangerous chain of events into motion.
The film is based on the 1946 book of the same name and an earlier 1947 film, and while it does an amazing job with the visuals and moody atmosphere of the era; it is a very long and slowly-paced film. The movie is over 2.5 hours long and comes across as overly long and self-indulgent as Director Guillermo del Toro could easily have shaved 30-45 minutes from the film and told the story without losing much.
The cast and performances are very good but a slow-paced and dour film is not an ideal way to spend 2.5 hours at the movies no matter how much it has going for it. The movie does have some good points but I think it will do much better on streaming and home video where audiences can pause and take a break.
If you are a fan of the Noir style of old; then this may be just what you are looking for, but I think it should have been so much more.
3.5 stars out of 5
The eager Stanton is given advice and tools of the trade by his boss Clem (Willem Dafoe) as well as the mystic Zeena (Toni Collette) and Stanton eagerly wants to get ahead. While striking a friendship with fellow employee Molly (Rooney Mara); Stanton learns that Zeena’s older and alcoholic husband has a skill from a former act where he learns to read people and use verbal cues to appear to have the power of clairvoyance.
Eventually, Stanton seeks bigger opportunities and leaves with Molly for the city where they in time develop a successful act that offers them two shows a night at a fancy hotel and some of the finer things in life.
Unwilling to be content with what he has; Stanton becomes involved with a Psychologist named Lilith (Cate Blanchett) and uses her knowledge to set up higher-profile marks who will pay well for his supposed abilities and in doing so; sets a dangerous chain of events into motion.
The film is based on the 1946 book of the same name and an earlier 1947 film, and while it does an amazing job with the visuals and moody atmosphere of the era; it is a very long and slowly-paced film. The movie is over 2.5 hours long and comes across as overly long and self-indulgent as Director Guillermo del Toro could easily have shaved 30-45 minutes from the film and told the story without losing much.
The cast and performances are very good but a slow-paced and dour film is not an ideal way to spend 2.5 hours at the movies no matter how much it has going for it. The movie does have some good points but I think it will do much better on streaming and home video where audiences can pause and take a break.
If you are a fan of the Noir style of old; then this may be just what you are looking for, but I think it should have been so much more.
3.5 stars out of 5