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Daniel L. Bamberg (1 KP) rated Justice League (2017) in Movies
Nov 22, 2017
Character interaction and development. (4 more)
Pacing.
Story / Action is even.
Exciting and fun.
Comic book fan appreciation.
Weak villain (1 more)
The plot is a little basic.
Justice Prevails!
Far and away the most rewarding comic book film that has ever been made, Justice League prevails in almost every imaginable category.
These heroes are portrayed mostly spot-on and in the cases of Cyborg and Aquaman are miles more interesting on screen than they ever were in the comics.
Justice League has a very basic plot, but this allows us to really get to know the characters through interaction rather than backstory.
The villain is weak but we feel his threat more through the way the heroes respond because of it.
It's an origin tale that doesn't pander to the audience, rather it tells us all we need to know through amazing visuals, entertaining dialogue, and solid characters.
Justice League is also one of the first "team up" comic book films that flows through a well "beaten" three-act structure. The pacing is a thing of mastery.
Highly recommended.
These heroes are portrayed mostly spot-on and in the cases of Cyborg and Aquaman are miles more interesting on screen than they ever were in the comics.
Justice League has a very basic plot, but this allows us to really get to know the characters through interaction rather than backstory.
The villain is weak but we feel his threat more through the way the heroes respond because of it.
It's an origin tale that doesn't pander to the audience, rather it tells us all we need to know through amazing visuals, entertaining dialogue, and solid characters.
Justice League is also one of the first "team up" comic book films that flows through a well "beaten" three-act structure. The pacing is a thing of mastery.
Highly recommended.
Domonique (0 KP) rated The Walking Dead: v. 1: Days Gone Bye in Books
May 12, 2018
This was awesome! I've been watching the show for years, but I never read the comic even though I knew that's what it was based on. And people kept saying how good it was, but I read so many other things that I just never had a chance to check out. But I got this free trial on Comixology and thought, why not? And let me tell you, I am hooked, I think I read this in a day and it's a comic book so it's not like it takes longs to read anyway but I found it hard to focus on other things when all I wanted to do was read this. It's exactly like the show, and of course I know this came first, but it's kind of cool to read this after watching the show to see how true they stayed to the story. I've started Volume 2 already and I'm pretty sure I'm going to finish this quickly as well. Before long, I might be caught on the comics like I am with the show.
David McK (3649 KP) rated Star Wars, Vol. 9: Hope Dies in Books
Apr 11, 2019
Now that is more like it.
Collecting Star Wars Comics #50-55 (and, for some reason, a seemingly tacked-on story from Star Wars Annual #4), this finally feels like the Star Wars we all know and love.
I think a large part of that is because this, effectively, in the graphic novel equivalent of the denouement of all the stories leading up to this: the whole thing, really, is one giant battle in space (think Return of the Jedi) after the Rebels secret location is betrayed while they are all gathered in that one place and their fighters are (at least initially) all unable to launch.
And so, we have Vader (in his TIE Advanced prototype) vs Han's Millennium Falcon, a guerrilla raid on the Super Star Destroyer Executor (in order to get the over-ride codes to let those fighters launch), Han in an X-Wing, Luke trusting the guidance of the Force and a lead-in, basically, to the start of The Empire Strikes Back
Collecting Star Wars Comics #50-55 (and, for some reason, a seemingly tacked-on story from Star Wars Annual #4), this finally feels like the Star Wars we all know and love.
I think a large part of that is because this, effectively, in the graphic novel equivalent of the denouement of all the stories leading up to this: the whole thing, really, is one giant battle in space (think Return of the Jedi) after the Rebels secret location is betrayed while they are all gathered in that one place and their fighters are (at least initially) all unable to launch.
And so, we have Vader (in his TIE Advanced prototype) vs Han's Millennium Falcon, a guerrilla raid on the Super Star Destroyer Executor (in order to get the over-ride codes to let those fighters launch), Han in an X-Wing, Luke trusting the guidance of the Force and a lead-in, basically, to the start of The Empire Strikes Back
Rickey A. Mossow Jr. (689 KP) rated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) in Movies
May 21, 2019
Great movie, even to a Spiderman purist.
I've always been a purist. I enjoy the classic comics and their stories the most. Just how I was raised and what I grew up with. I know of the Morales storyline, just never gave it much credence. So, I was a little hesitant heading into this movie to say the least. That all aside, this little flick was a lot of fun. A fun, though not original, story leads all the various Spider characters together in a fun ride through Marvel lore. Was also very pleased with the adult overtones to the story while keeping it an animation movie for kids, which so many new cartoon movies do so well these days. In the end, while I may still believe that Peter Parker is the Spiderman, I now have a better understanding and appreciation of Morales and the other variations of Spiderman and their place in the Marvel Universe. Well done, Sony. And, of course, RIP Stan Lee. You will be missed.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Monopoly: The Walking Dead in Tabletop Games
Apr 4, 2018
I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for a themed version of Monopoly so a Walking Dead version really appealed. Although it's a good version, personally its not my favourite.
For starters, this is based on the original comics/graphic novels so there is quite a bit in this that won't be familiar to fans of the show (like me). It's not as easy to get into a themed game like this when you don't know everything about the subject. I also think that the themed items (money, properties and chance/community chest cards) are a little weak compared to other themed versions out there. Although this could just be because I'm not as big a fan of The Walking Dead as I thought! What I did love was the tokens, it's a little dark and disturbing to get to play as Lucille or a bucket of body parts.
The rest of the gameplay is standard Monopoly fare as expected, but maybe this is one made for die hard Walking Dead fans.
For starters, this is based on the original comics/graphic novels so there is quite a bit in this that won't be familiar to fans of the show (like me). It's not as easy to get into a themed game like this when you don't know everything about the subject. I also think that the themed items (money, properties and chance/community chest cards) are a little weak compared to other themed versions out there. Although this could just be because I'm not as big a fan of The Walking Dead as I thought! What I did love was the tokens, it's a little dark and disturbing to get to play as Lucille or a bucket of body parts.
The rest of the gameplay is standard Monopoly fare as expected, but maybe this is one made for die hard Walking Dead fans.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Arrow - Season 1 in TV
Feb 23, 2018
What DC really needed at the time
Arrow season one was definitely one of the best seasons and really helped DC since they were kinda struggling along at the time this came out compared to Marvel who was put ping out media left and right.
I absolutely loved the cast and characters they all had such great chemistry and really helped to suck you into to the show. While they had plenty of hidden and not so hidden things for long time comic fans you didn't feel like you had to know anything about the characters or the plot before watching but at the same time as a long time standing fan of the comics it was fresh and fun enough where you didn't feel bored.
The only thing that would get to me and that carries on into later seasons which ultimately led to me stop watching the series is it would get very soap opera-y to the point of rolling your eyes at the screen.
I absolutely loved the cast and characters they all had such great chemistry and really helped to suck you into to the show. While they had plenty of hidden and not so hidden things for long time comic fans you didn't feel like you had to know anything about the characters or the plot before watching but at the same time as a long time standing fan of the comics it was fresh and fun enough where you didn't feel bored.
The only thing that would get to me and that carries on into later seasons which ultimately led to me stop watching the series is it would get very soap opera-y to the point of rolling your eyes at the screen.
Carma (21 KP) rated Avengers: Infinity War (2018) in Movies
Jun 18, 2019
A great big cast of heroes take on the big bad Mad Titan
Infinity War was promised to be the big hero movie of the year. Reading from the comics it was looking like a bloodbath, I was curious to see how it would translate to the movies. It didn't slack on fight scenes, just about every represented Avenger was involved in at least 1 fight. Seeing Cap in his Nomad suit and facial hair was enough to get this girl's heart pumping. I preferred IW to Endgame with this being more action filled overall. While IW is darker than a normal avengers movie, it is with a purpose. This isn't a movie where the normal quips and jokes would fit in. While I didn't like the fact that the heroes were spread out over the world, I understand in the bigger scheme of things that it was needed. A great lead in movie to Endgame's payoff.
David McK (3649 KP) rated Aliens: Nightmare Asylum in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The second entry in the ALiens series of books/comics released in the aftermath of Aliens (the movie) but before Alien3, that continues the story of Newt and Hicks (sorry: Billie and Wilks) from [b:Aliens: Earth Hive|343281|Aliens Earth Hive|Steve Perry|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1366133734s/343281.jpg|333628]: a novel in which (spoiler!) scientists thought it would be a good idea to bring an Alien Queen to planet Earth while a military expedition is en-route to their home-planet, with the Alien on Earth then escaping and over-running the planet.
On reading this, this seems to have a more claustrophibic setting than the expanse, starting with Billie, Wilks and Bueller trapped on a cargo-spaceship heading towards an unknown destination: a ship that also contains three of the Aliens. When they get to their destination, things don't get any better, as they encounter a crazy general with an insane plan to control 'his' Aliens to take back planet Earth - a plan which, of ocurse, does not go by the book.
In short: pure sci-fi junk food.
On reading this, this seems to have a more claustrophibic setting than the expanse, starting with Billie, Wilks and Bueller trapped on a cargo-spaceship heading towards an unknown destination: a ship that also contains three of the Aliens. When they get to their destination, things don't get any better, as they encounter a crazy general with an insane plan to control 'his' Aliens to take back planet Earth - a plan which, of ocurse, does not go by the book.
In short: pure sci-fi junk food.
Otway93 (580 KP) rated Star Wars: Queen's Shadow in Books
Dec 31, 2019 (Updated Dec 31, 2019)
Idea (1 more)
Captain Panaka
Characters (1 more)
Story
The most tedious entry to the Star Wars canon.
When I heard about this book I was fascinated to know she went from Queen Amidala to Senator Amidala, and what happened following The Phantom Menace. Turns out, not much.
All of this can be read on the blurb: basically her royal predecessor asked her to. That was basically it.
The book answers these questions rather pointlessly, and describes her relationship with her handmaidens. The book can therefore be summarised in a single sentence: She was very close with her royal handmaidens, and the next Queen asks her to be senator.
The book is incredibly slow, to the point you can no longer be bothered and just want to skip to the next part of the Star Wars canon, a few Age of Republic comics, which are shorter, but far more fun.
It's single redeeming feature is the inclusion of Captain Panaka, the character portrayed by Hugh Quarshie in the prequel trilogy, a rather underrated and underused character.
All of this can be read on the blurb: basically her royal predecessor asked her to. That was basically it.
The book answers these questions rather pointlessly, and describes her relationship with her handmaidens. The book can therefore be summarised in a single sentence: She was very close with her royal handmaidens, and the next Queen asks her to be senator.
The book is incredibly slow, to the point you can no longer be bothered and just want to skip to the next part of the Star Wars canon, a few Age of Republic comics, which are shorter, but far more fun.
It's single redeeming feature is the inclusion of Captain Panaka, the character portrayed by Hugh Quarshie in the prequel trilogy, a rather underrated and underused character.
David McK (3649 KP) rated Star Wars: Screaming Citadel in Books
Jun 30, 2019
This is a essentially a cross-over graphic novel, collecting issues 7-8 of Doctor Aphra, issues 31-32 of the 'main' Star Wars stories, and issue #1 (of 1) of The Screaming Citadel.
As such, the artwork doesn't always mesh, with the story feeling (to me) rather disjointed: here we have Luke teaming up with Dr Aphra (first introduced in the earlier run of these comics) to investigate the Screaming Citadel, where the queen of said Citadel only opens up her doors once a year to receive supplicants from all over the galaxy.
Why the team up? Because Dr Aphra has a Jedi Holocron, and Luke - at this point (pre Empire Strikes Back, remember!) is in lack of a teacher. And what does Dr Aphra get out of it? Knowledge.
What this then devolves into - for my money - is a pretty standard double and triple-cross tale, with Luke eventually learning that there are no short cuts to learning the ways of the Force, and with a set-up for a yet-to-be-followed-up-on sequel to the story.
As such, the artwork doesn't always mesh, with the story feeling (to me) rather disjointed: here we have Luke teaming up with Dr Aphra (first introduced in the earlier run of these comics) to investigate the Screaming Citadel, where the queen of said Citadel only opens up her doors once a year to receive supplicants from all over the galaxy.
Why the team up? Because Dr Aphra has a Jedi Holocron, and Luke - at this point (pre Empire Strikes Back, remember!) is in lack of a teacher. And what does Dr Aphra get out of it? Knowledge.
What this then devolves into - for my money - is a pretty standard double and triple-cross tale, with Luke eventually learning that there are no short cuts to learning the ways of the Force, and with a set-up for a yet-to-be-followed-up-on sequel to the story.