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Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) in Movies
Jul 13, 2018 (Updated Jul 13, 2018)
Fantastic animation style (3 more)
Great music
Great acting
A unique story
My favourite movie of all time
This is by far my favourite movie of all time.
Created my Tim Burton who is also my favourite director (yes I know he didn't direct this)
The style he uses in incredible. It's all stop motion which basically means he builds real life models, takes a picture of it in a pose and then takes another in a slightly different pose then and another and another until the pictures come together to look like a moving model. It's incredible and if you watch the behind the scenes you can see the effort they put into this movie and it shows.
The character designs are so good as well as the locations.
The plot is pretty much halloweentown finds Christmas for the first time. It's fun, funny, emotional, even creepy and it's just a good time all the way through.
The music is fantastic. Every song is unique and catchy and you will find the soundtrack on my phone. Actors are incredible and at perfect for the roles they play.
People tend to ask if it's a Halloween or Christmas movie but I watch it anytime of the year.
Created my Tim Burton who is also my favourite director (yes I know he didn't direct this)
The style he uses in incredible. It's all stop motion which basically means he builds real life models, takes a picture of it in a pose and then takes another in a slightly different pose then and another and another until the pictures come together to look like a moving model. It's incredible and if you watch the behind the scenes you can see the effort they put into this movie and it shows.
The character designs are so good as well as the locations.
The plot is pretty much halloweentown finds Christmas for the first time. It's fun, funny, emotional, even creepy and it's just a good time all the way through.
The music is fantastic. Every song is unique and catchy and you will find the soundtrack on my phone. Actors are incredible and at perfect for the roles they play.
People tend to ask if it's a Halloween or Christmas movie but I watch it anytime of the year.
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) in Movies
Jul 14, 2018
Unique characters (2 more)
Great cast
Another great tim burton style
Great movie, rather unique
This was a great Tim Burton movie. I do believe it is underrated, I've heard many bad things about this movie mainly being told it's boring but its far from it.
Each character is very unique and sometimes kinda creepy and there were some very interesting parts of the story I found very very interested, more specific the loops.
The cast was great but was surprised not to see Helana Boham Carter playing the lead. I've not heard anything about a sequel but I really hope it happens with the cast returning and maybe add a few new characters (I'm yet to read the books).
It was shot really well, you can see Tim Burton all over it and the CGI was pretty good. I loved the design of the monsters. I would have loved more and it is missing something that I can't quite put my finger on.
However, I could see myself going back and watching this again and that is the sign of a good movie. It was predictable and it's not going on my list of the greatest movies ever but it did not disappoint me.
Each character is very unique and sometimes kinda creepy and there were some very interesting parts of the story I found very very interested, more specific the loops.
The cast was great but was surprised not to see Helana Boham Carter playing the lead. I've not heard anything about a sequel but I really hope it happens with the cast returning and maybe add a few new characters (I'm yet to read the books).
It was shot really well, you can see Tim Burton all over it and the CGI was pretty good. I loved the design of the monsters. I would have loved more and it is missing something that I can't quite put my finger on.
However, I could see myself going back and watching this again and that is the sign of a good movie. It was predictable and it's not going on my list of the greatest movies ever but it did not disappoint me.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) in Movies
Oct 3, 2018
Could've been so much more
I knew relatively nothing about this film but having been impressed by the recent Goosebumps films (not the new sequel), I had fairly high expectations. Sadly it didn't live up to them.
For me this film seemed to be nothing new. I was bored for the most of this and there were only a few parts that I really enjoyed. A lot of the humour and banter between the characters seemed a little too ott and forced and made me cringe more than it made me smile. The effects were alright and there were some truly creepy scenes, just not enough. Cate Blanchett probably saved this, as even Jack Black couldn't bring back the magic he had with RL Stine. And the evil warlock wasn't particularly scary or threatening, and the whole ending was lacking any sort of menacing terror or suspense.
I also spent the entire film thinking the kid was the one from Room (Jacob Tremblay), and wondering why on earth his acting was so bad. The kid was one of the problems in this, I won't lie and his crying was particularly horrendous. And then when the credits rolled I realised it wasn't him after all...
For me this film seemed to be nothing new. I was bored for the most of this and there were only a few parts that I really enjoyed. A lot of the humour and banter between the characters seemed a little too ott and forced and made me cringe more than it made me smile. The effects were alright and there were some truly creepy scenes, just not enough. Cate Blanchett probably saved this, as even Jack Black couldn't bring back the magic he had with RL Stine. And the evil warlock wasn't particularly scary or threatening, and the whole ending was lacking any sort of menacing terror or suspense.
I also spent the entire film thinking the kid was the one from Room (Jacob Tremblay), and wondering why on earth his acting was so bad. The kid was one of the problems in this, I won't lie and his crying was particularly horrendous. And then when the credits rolled I realised it wasn't him after all...
Sarah (7800 KP) rated A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) in Movies
Oct 19, 2018
Completely unnecessary
The original Nightmare on a Elm Street is a classic, so a reboot was always going to be a risky choice. There are parts of this that are actually not too bad, it’s just a shame the rest of the film is a mess.
So story wise, this does have a few nods to the original but yet also expands on the back story behind Freddy, which is definitely a good thing. The amount of gore is still very much present and a lot of the special effects are quite good, although there is a few dodgy patches of CGI. They’ve made Freddy very scary and creepy in this, and gotten rid of the jokes and humour, which really does work. The problem is that Jackie Earle Haley just isn’t Freddy. There was something about him, his look, that really didn’t work for me. And the rest of the casting wasn’t great either - I have no idea what Rooney Mara was doing in this but she was not likeable at all as Nancy. The story faltered too in the second half and dragged on, to the point where it became very boring. And the ending wasn’t a surprise. Yet another unnecessary reboot.
So story wise, this does have a few nods to the original but yet also expands on the back story behind Freddy, which is definitely a good thing. The amount of gore is still very much present and a lot of the special effects are quite good, although there is a few dodgy patches of CGI. They’ve made Freddy very scary and creepy in this, and gotten rid of the jokes and humour, which really does work. The problem is that Jackie Earle Haley just isn’t Freddy. There was something about him, his look, that really didn’t work for me. And the rest of the casting wasn’t great either - I have no idea what Rooney Mara was doing in this but she was not likeable at all as Nancy. The story faltered too in the second half and dragged on, to the point where it became very boring. And the ending wasn’t a surprise. Yet another unnecessary reboot.
♰♰♰ <b>3 'Gloomy' Stars</b>
I didn't quite know how to feel about this book...
I have read a number of books by [a:Susan Hill|18874|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1337917448p2/18874.jpg] and I have found them to be very hit and miss. I seem to compare each one to [b:The Woman in Black|37034|The Woman in Black|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327869942s/37034.jpg|2127172] as this was the one that I enjoyed the most.
There's no denying that Hill's writing is beautiful and she is fantastic at 'setting the scene'. The beginning of 'Dolly' was very well written, very descriptive and creepy, unfortunately this just didn't last throughout the book.
The length of the novel was just too short to fit everything in so it just felt rushed, this meant that so many opportunities were missed where Hill could of shown off the amazing skills that I know she has.
It makes me wonder if she sets a word limit or a page limit on all of her books as all the ones I have read just seem to be 'packed in'.
'Dolly' had the makings of a masterpiece but the execution let it down immensely.
I didn't quite know how to feel about this book...
I have read a number of books by [a:Susan Hill|18874|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1337917448p2/18874.jpg] and I have found them to be very hit and miss. I seem to compare each one to [b:The Woman in Black|37034|The Woman in Black|Susan Hill|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327869942s/37034.jpg|2127172] as this was the one that I enjoyed the most.
There's no denying that Hill's writing is beautiful and she is fantastic at 'setting the scene'. The beginning of 'Dolly' was very well written, very descriptive and creepy, unfortunately this just didn't last throughout the book.
The length of the novel was just too short to fit everything in so it just felt rushed, this meant that so many opportunities were missed where Hill could of shown off the amazing skills that I know she has.
It makes me wonder if she sets a word limit or a page limit on all of her books as all the ones I have read just seem to be 'packed in'.
'Dolly' had the makings of a masterpiece but the execution let it down immensely.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Always Watching (Elite Guardians, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Can I just say...Listening to this was creepier than if I had read it...Especially when I was in the car, alone, at night...in the middle of no where....Maybe not one of my smartest ideas.
That being said...this was a great story. Interesting characters, intense story line, and a healthy dose of creepy-stalkerness. Heart pounding scenes, swoon worthy kisses, and the leading woman is totally my hero! Olivia is a member of a team of body guards. And all the women on the team are incredible. I can't wait to read the rest of their stories now. Olivia's past has things that haunt her, that have changed her, shaped her into the protective, intelligent, woman that she is. I loved watching her grapple with her faith, her feelings for Wade, and letting God heal the broken areas of her life.
If you are looking for a different and unique book, this should hit the mark for you! And don't forget to check out the rest of the series.
I borrowed the audio version of this book from my local library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
That being said...this was a great story. Interesting characters, intense story line, and a healthy dose of creepy-stalkerness. Heart pounding scenes, swoon worthy kisses, and the leading woman is totally my hero! Olivia is a member of a team of body guards. And all the women on the team are incredible. I can't wait to read the rest of their stories now. Olivia's past has things that haunt her, that have changed her, shaped her into the protective, intelligent, woman that she is. I loved watching her grapple with her faith, her feelings for Wade, and letting God heal the broken areas of her life.
If you are looking for a different and unique book, this should hit the mark for you! And don't forget to check out the rest of the series.
I borrowed the audio version of this book from my local library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated A Bridge Across the Ocean in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Susan Meissner has a beautiful style of storytelling. I simply adore her use of dual timelines. Her books are set in such unique settings that are gripping and engaging. However, this particular book wasn't for me. I will tell you upfront that I was unable to finish this book. I read far enough to know that I still think Susan is an incredible author, but there were aspects to this story that I just couldn't handle. Namely, there are ghosts. I do not consider this a spoiler, because you find out on the first page. However, it is not listed in the description very well. They talk about the ship being haunted, but not that the main character actually sees ghosts and talks with them. I tried picking it up a few times, but every time left me disappointed and quite frankly, creeped out. I don't do creepy. If you do enjoy stories with supernatural aspects like ghosts, I am sure you will enjoy this book immensely. I look forward to reading more books by Susan Meissner in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of A Bridge Across the Ocean from the publishers through NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a complimentary copy of A Bridge Across the Ocean from the publishers through NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Attack the Block (2011) in Movies
Dec 30, 2018
A silly, fun British horror
When I first saw this at the cinema I absolutely loved it, but I haven’t really seen it since. On watching it again recently, I have to admit it’s not quite as good as I remembered but it’s still a very enjoyable film.
It’s a very B-movie esque horror film, with very low budget, lots of blood and a fairly unknown cast. Of course a lot of the cast have now gone on to bigger things (John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker and Luke Treadaway mainly), but they’re still very good and great to watch in this. The plot is fun and a little bit silly, and the aliens themselves are very well done. They’re creepy and pretty terrifying, without being overly complicated and there’s a lot of good physical effects thrown in here in addition to cgi. The most annoying thing about this film is the language. I completely understand why it has been set on a council estate in London, that’s part of the entertainment, however some of the slang and gang type language grates after a while. It’s difficult to understand and a little bit irritating after a while. Aside from this it’s a very enjoyable low budget horror that’s worth a watch.
It’s a very B-movie esque horror film, with very low budget, lots of blood and a fairly unknown cast. Of course a lot of the cast have now gone on to bigger things (John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker and Luke Treadaway mainly), but they’re still very good and great to watch in this. The plot is fun and a little bit silly, and the aliens themselves are very well done. They’re creepy and pretty terrifying, without being overly complicated and there’s a lot of good physical effects thrown in here in addition to cgi. The most annoying thing about this film is the language. I completely understand why it has been set on a council estate in London, that’s part of the entertainment, however some of the slang and gang type language grates after a while. It’s difficult to understand and a little bit irritating after a while. Aside from this it’s a very enjoyable low budget horror that’s worth a watch.
Josh Burns (166 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of The Bellows in Video Games
Jun 21, 2019
Decent scares (1 more)
Accessable to nongamers
Can you handle this VR haunted house simulator?
The Bellows was an early psvr horror experience that had a mixed to negative reception. It wasn't as "gamey" as most people expected, and it's also quite short. That being said, going into knowing what it is, I liked it. It's basically a VR haunted house that you walk through. It has a creepy atmosphere and some good jump scares (which are way more fun in VR). It's not something you'll play over and over, maybe when Halloween rolls around each year, but there is another big positive to this game. Something that makes it a must have if you like horror that even my beloved Here They Lie, or the acclaimed Resident Evil 7 (aside from the demos) doesn't have. Given it's short length, simple mechanics of... pretty much just walking, anyone can play it, making it a fantastic pass the headset game with friends. You can shut off the tv so no one sees what the player sees so everyone has the same surprises. I cannot say enough how fun it is to watch others get scared in VR. And finally, it has a very cheap price tag.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Silent Companions in Books
Oct 16, 2019
A gripping gothic horror
I decided to give this a go purely because I enjoyed Laura Purcell's second novel The Corset, and I'm so glad I did because I could not put this down. I stayed up far too late last might purely to get this finished as I couldn't bear the thought of waiting until tonight to read the ending. It's that good.
This is the first horror book I've ever read that has truly scared me and given me the creeps. The plot and idea behind the companions is a wonderfully creepy idea and the gothic setting works so well. The story is told in a great way too, flitting between the different times and viewpoints, to really build up the tension and intrigue to where you can't stop reading as you need to find out what happens next. The only real criticism I have is that Elsie is not the most amenable and endearing of protagonists, so even after the ending you don't necessarily feel sorry for her, but I personally was so gripped by the rest of the plot that whether I loved Elsie or not was irrelevant. The kind of book I'd love to see made into a film (done properly of course!).
This is the first horror book I've ever read that has truly scared me and given me the creeps. The plot and idea behind the companions is a wonderfully creepy idea and the gothic setting works so well. The story is told in a great way too, flitting between the different times and viewpoints, to really build up the tension and intrigue to where you can't stop reading as you need to find out what happens next. The only real criticism I have is that Elsie is not the most amenable and endearing of protagonists, so even after the ending you don't necessarily feel sorry for her, but I personally was so gripped by the rest of the plot that whether I loved Elsie or not was irrelevant. The kind of book I'd love to see made into a film (done properly of course!).