Search
Search results
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2322 KP) rated At the Drop of a Hat (A Hat Shop Mystery, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Ariana brings one of Mim’s hats in and asks if it can be repaired for her upcoming wedding, Scarlett and Viv are thrilled to take on the challenge. When Scarlett goes to talk to her about it, she finds Ariana kneeling beside a dead body. With the evidence saying Ariana killed the person, Scarlett and Viv step in to prove their new friend is innocent.
While the motive to get involved with the mystery might be a little weak, I’m glad that Scarlett and Viv poked around because this book is lots of fun. A dash of humor enlivens scenes as we weave through clues and suspects before we reach a logical ending. The characters are continuing to grow. A cliffhanger left me wanting the next to know what happens next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-at-drop-of-hat-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While the motive to get involved with the mystery might be a little weak, I’m glad that Scarlett and Viv poked around because this book is lots of fun. A dash of humor enlivens scenes as we weave through clues and suspects before we reach a logical ending. The characters are continuing to grow. A cliffhanger left me wanting the next to know what happens next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-at-drop-of-hat-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Barry Lyndon (1975) in Movies
Jun 27, 2018
Famously demanding costume drama/endurance challenge from Stanley Kubrick. Handsome but dimwitted Irish lad does his thinking with the wrong body parts, becomes fugitive from justice, soldier, duellist, deserter, gambler, and spy before marrying into money; his attempts to climb further up society's tree go badly wrong.
Sounds like a rollicking tale, but many will probably find the, erm, stately pace at which events unfold to be rather punishing; there's also the problem that Ryan O'Neal is basically just an absence of hiatus in the middle of the film - you never really care about Barry Lyndon himself. On the other hand, the film is stuffed with wonderful character cameos and subtly magical moments, and the appearance of the thing is utterly gorgeous. If you're prepared to treat the film essentially as a visual feast peppered with incidental pleasures such as Leonard Rossiter's dancing or the climactic duel, then you will probably find it rather mesmerising - as a conventional piece of entertainment, probably less so.
Sounds like a rollicking tale, but many will probably find the, erm, stately pace at which events unfold to be rather punishing; there's also the problem that Ryan O'Neal is basically just an absence of hiatus in the middle of the film - you never really care about Barry Lyndon himself. On the other hand, the film is stuffed with wonderful character cameos and subtly magical moments, and the appearance of the thing is utterly gorgeous. If you're prepared to treat the film essentially as a visual feast peppered with incidental pleasures such as Leonard Rossiter's dancing or the climactic duel, then you will probably find it rather mesmerising - as a conventional piece of entertainment, probably less so.
FibroBeader (8 KP) rated Goodreads: Book Reviews in Apps
Jun 22, 2018
The review system (3 more)
Making Friends
The chance to talk to your favourite authors
The book lists of similar books so you can find something else in the genre you've just found
The App just isn't the same as the desktop website (1 more)
You can't add novel length FanFiction stories on there to count towards your reading goal.
Goodreads
I love Goodreads. I can keep track of what I've read, find books I want to read, meet new people and join groups, talk to authors, even set yourself a reading challenge for the year. Love that you can review your books, comment other people's reviews, add your Facebook friends and find out what they are reading too! I've found so many new books because of Goodreads. Can even let Goodreads into your kindle account and it will add what books you have bought or got samples of so you can add them into your "To Read" list.
Anna Marie Green (7 KP) rated the Xbox One version of Prey in Video Games
Jul 15, 2018
Excellent Graphics (4 more)
Character
Puzzle Challenge
Game Difficulty
Fun Mechanics
Can be Predictable (1 more)
Wonky Objective Icons
Don't Turn Away
Prey is the sequel to half-life that we'll never get from Valve.
Whether you want to sneak past a Thermal Phantom or atrack a Technopath head-on (which I do not recommend), Prey packs a flexible and versatile gameplay experience with difficulty levels that make you feel like a champion. The maze of Talos is bound to hold dark secrets, tragedies, and ridiculous jokes that will keep you entertained when you're lost for the 18th time.
With a great soundtrack that keeps you on you toes, monsters that scare the living daylights out of you, and that Bethesda charm that causes cups to vibrate (it's definitely more of a feature in this game— you'll see what I mean) Prey is one of the best games of 2017 and deserves some love in 2018.
Mooncrash is a terrifying and equally enrapturing DLC.
Whether you want to sneak past a Thermal Phantom or atrack a Technopath head-on (which I do not recommend), Prey packs a flexible and versatile gameplay experience with difficulty levels that make you feel like a champion. The maze of Talos is bound to hold dark secrets, tragedies, and ridiculous jokes that will keep you entertained when you're lost for the 18th time.
With a great soundtrack that keeps you on you toes, monsters that scare the living daylights out of you, and that Bethesda charm that causes cups to vibrate (it's definitely more of a feature in this game— you'll see what I mean) Prey is one of the best games of 2017 and deserves some love in 2018.
Mooncrash is a terrifying and equally enrapturing DLC.
Not for me!
Why do I keep doing this to myself? Challenge yourself, Clare! Try something you've never read before!
I really need to stop doing this. It rarely ends well. Tudor authors could really have done with better/ any editors. Fact. Get some paragraphs in there, write some shorter sentences, stop wittering on and on and on.....
On a positive note, I now know where the term 'utopian' comes from, and I can safely say that the meaning has altered somewhat over the last 500 years or so. What was utopian then still seems a bit feudalistic now. At least good old Thomas More got everyone thinking though! As a 21st century reader, I can see how daring this book would have been: Kings without riches, no prisons for criminals, people could worship whoever and however they wanted. Very forward thinking for the 16th century. All the same, not a book for me. It was like wading through literary treacle. Not something I'd recommend!
I really need to stop doing this. It rarely ends well. Tudor authors could really have done with better/ any editors. Fact. Get some paragraphs in there, write some shorter sentences, stop wittering on and on and on.....
On a positive note, I now know where the term 'utopian' comes from, and I can safely say that the meaning has altered somewhat over the last 500 years or so. What was utopian then still seems a bit feudalistic now. At least good old Thomas More got everyone thinking though! As a 21st century reader, I can see how daring this book would have been: Kings without riches, no prisons for criminals, people could worship whoever and however they wanted. Very forward thinking for the 16th century. All the same, not a book for me. It was like wading through literary treacle. Not something I'd recommend!
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Escape From Tomorrow (2013) in Movies
Sep 26, 2018
Not a magical movie...
I don't like writing negative reviews, but this confusing story about a family visiting disney world is...well its a mess.
Its a Lynchian dreamscape of a film, which hints at a lot but doesn't really every explain much, other than to suggest there is a dark undercurrent to Disney.
The fact is though that the narrative is untidy and weirdly paced, and can't ever really settle on what it is that it wants viewers to feel.
You can argue thats the point of this sort of film, but there doesn't feel like there is any cleverness to the confusion, just a movie that deliberately tries to unbalance you for no other reason than to have you unbalanced.
I don't really want to say much more other than that there are many better films out there than this, so only watch this if you really fancy a challenge.
Its a Lynchian dreamscape of a film, which hints at a lot but doesn't really every explain much, other than to suggest there is a dark undercurrent to Disney.
The fact is though that the narrative is untidy and weirdly paced, and can't ever really settle on what it is that it wants viewers to feel.
You can argue thats the point of this sort of film, but there doesn't feel like there is any cleverness to the confusion, just a movie that deliberately tries to unbalance you for no other reason than to have you unbalanced.
I don't really want to say much more other than that there are many better films out there than this, so only watch this if you really fancy a challenge.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Twenty Feet from Stardom (2014) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Story: 20 Feet from Stardom starts as we meet different backup singers that have worked with the biggest names in music, Mick Jagger, Sting and Bruce Springsteen to mention a few, we follow these backup singers that have always wanted to sing, but not perform not giving them the fame the lead singer would get, despite the effect their singer put towards the songs.
Thoughts on 20 Feet from Stardom
Final Thoughts – This is a nice documentary about the people that add something to the songs you know and love with their backup vocals, there stories of how they learned from the more famous performers while also aspiring to become the big names on their own stage. This is a documentary that shows that talent comes from each position on the stage.
Overall: Good documentary about the lesser known talents.
https://moviesreview101.com/2018/02/27/abc-film-challenge-oscar-nominations-20-feet-from-stardom-2013/
Thoughts on 20 Feet from Stardom
Final Thoughts – This is a nice documentary about the people that add something to the songs you know and love with their backup vocals, there stories of how they learned from the more famous performers while also aspiring to become the big names on their own stage. This is a documentary that shows that talent comes from each position on the stage.
Overall: Good documentary about the lesser known talents.
https://moviesreview101.com/2018/02/27/abc-film-challenge-oscar-nominations-20-feet-from-stardom-2013/
Ross (3284 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Jan 4, 2019
By far and away, this is the best of the recent DC movies (though I haven't seen Wonder Woman). There is much more humour injected into it, that it finally feels like they've got something to rival Marvel films. It really feels like a normal, decent superhero film.
However, I didn't much like Jason Momoa and thought he lacked the personality to carry the role off and really needed Amber Heard to inject some life into scenes.
A fun enjoyable film but I'm not sure the final battle scene was necessary - why does every superhero film have to lead up to an epic battle these days? While the CGI made this visually stunning, I felt it was totally unnecessary.
And finally, I was so glad when Aquaman's mum's "trident" is broken in the initial challenge for the throne - it had 5 prongs so every time someone referred to it as a trident I wanted to scream.
However, I didn't much like Jason Momoa and thought he lacked the personality to carry the role off and really needed Amber Heard to inject some life into scenes.
A fun enjoyable film but I'm not sure the final battle scene was necessary - why does every superhero film have to lead up to an epic battle these days? While the CGI made this visually stunning, I felt it was totally unnecessary.
And finally, I was so glad when Aquaman's mum's "trident" is broken in the initial challenge for the throne - it had 5 prongs so every time someone referred to it as a trident I wanted to scream.
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Rocky (1976) in Movies
Jun 23, 2019
The Italian stallion
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a small-time boxer from Philadelphia, chosen by reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) who after losing his opponent due to injury, is looking for a challenge like no other and an opportunity to give a nobody a chance at the title. Trained by former bantamweight champion Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith). Rocky enters a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), the wallflower sister of his problematic alcoholic work pal Paulie (Burt Young).
Rocky is a 1976 boxing based drama film directed by John G. Avildsen, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone.
Budget: $1 million
Box office: $225 million
produced by: Irwin Winkler; Robert Chartoff
Music by: Bill Conti
Fun fact: stallone pitched the idea to producer's stating he wanted to be the lead, they said no.
Producer's offered to buy the script of him so they could pick their choice of lead, he said no.
Rocky is a 1976 boxing based drama film directed by John G. Avildsen, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone.
Budget: $1 million
Box office: $225 million
produced by: Irwin Winkler; Robert Chartoff
Music by: Bill Conti
Fun fact: stallone pitched the idea to producer's stating he wanted to be the lead, they said no.
Producer's offered to buy the script of him so they could pick their choice of lead, he said no.
LaBMaC (116 KP) rated Goodreads: Book Reviews in Apps
Jul 17, 2019
Reading Challenges (2 more)
Suggestions based on what you have read
Progress bar
Got me back into reading
I was an avid reader when I was younger. Nowadays I work hard and switch my brain off at night when possible. I wanted to make better use of my time and this app has really got me back into reading.
I set myself a target of 15 books in a year and I'm on target to get there. Its interesting to see other people's ratings of the books I've read and rewarding to see the bar creep up.
As well as the challenge bar the progress bar for each book has been essential for motivating me to pick a book back up.. And maybe its just me, but I don't like to record a book as read if I haven't finished it. Not read any real howlers this year though.
All and all a great app. Helps me remember what I've read for more than 5 seconds as well.
I set myself a target of 15 books in a year and I'm on target to get there. Its interesting to see other people's ratings of the books I've read and rewarding to see the bar creep up.
As well as the challenge bar the progress bar for each book has been essential for motivating me to pick a book back up.. And maybe its just me, but I don't like to record a book as read if I haven't finished it. Not read any real howlers this year though.
All and all a great app. Helps me remember what I've read for more than 5 seconds as well.