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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies
Oct 7, 2019 (Updated Oct 13, 2019)
Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a broken and troubled man. Arthur toils in as demeaning and berated Clown for Hire, and lives with his troubled mother in a dilapidated apartment.
Arthur meets with a Social Worker in an attempt as the seven medications he takes simply are not cutting it and he struggles to cope in a world that has ignored and discarded him.
Arthur dreams of being a comedian but sadly lacks the confidence and ability to pull off his material which is iffy at best. Undaunted he keeps toiling away even when life continues to beat him down mentally and physically.
This all changes when Arthur stops being the victim during and assault and fights back.
Arthur stops taking his medication and becomes more determined and is no longer afraid to confront those who antagonize him.
This leads Arthur to some renewed opportunities such as an appearance on a talk show which he has long idolized.
All of this happens against a smoldering Gotham City where tensions are high and rising even higher due to a Garbage strike and a perception that the elite of the city have abandoned those in need such as eliminating Arthur’s Social Worker due to budget cuts.
With nowhere to go but up; Arthur transforms from a disturbed individual to a violent and deeply disturbed and dangerous individual who is angry and ready for revenge.
Phoenix is fantastic and he is not afraid to let unglamorous scenes of his very thin body or lingering close ups at unflattering angels undermine him. He uses them to illustrate just how disposable Arthur is too many in the film and to also show how little he cares about such matters. The role is deeply dark and disturbing and will no doubt spark much controversy and debate ranging from making a dangerous person a sympathetic figure as well as commentary about class structure and the danger of unstable people inspiring others via a Cult of Personality.
There is a connection to the larger Batman universe even though the film is light on action and FX. This is a character study of a decent into madness and it is deeply disturbing as it is compelling.
4.5 stars out of 5
http://sknr.net/2019/10/02/joker/
Arthur meets with a Social Worker in an attempt as the seven medications he takes simply are not cutting it and he struggles to cope in a world that has ignored and discarded him.
Arthur dreams of being a comedian but sadly lacks the confidence and ability to pull off his material which is iffy at best. Undaunted he keeps toiling away even when life continues to beat him down mentally and physically.
This all changes when Arthur stops being the victim during and assault and fights back.
Arthur stops taking his medication and becomes more determined and is no longer afraid to confront those who antagonize him.
This leads Arthur to some renewed opportunities such as an appearance on a talk show which he has long idolized.
All of this happens against a smoldering Gotham City where tensions are high and rising even higher due to a Garbage strike and a perception that the elite of the city have abandoned those in need such as eliminating Arthur’s Social Worker due to budget cuts.
With nowhere to go but up; Arthur transforms from a disturbed individual to a violent and deeply disturbed and dangerous individual who is angry and ready for revenge.
Phoenix is fantastic and he is not afraid to let unglamorous scenes of his very thin body or lingering close ups at unflattering angels undermine him. He uses them to illustrate just how disposable Arthur is too many in the film and to also show how little he cares about such matters. The role is deeply dark and disturbing and will no doubt spark much controversy and debate ranging from making a dangerous person a sympathetic figure as well as commentary about class structure and the danger of unstable people inspiring others via a Cult of Personality.
There is a connection to the larger Batman universe even though the film is light on action and FX. This is a character study of a decent into madness and it is deeply disturbing as it is compelling.
4.5 stars out of 5
http://sknr.net/2019/10/02/joker/
Road To Ruin
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Gloria (27 KP) rated Prison Break - Season 2 in TV
Jul 18, 2017
A Continuation of Greatness
Ditches the prison setting and places our characters on the run. The scope of the plot has been wildly increased. New characters round out the cast each with their own motivations. We get a very grand game of cat and mouse.
The show continues to keep you on the edge of your seat. Shocking character deaths and big moments that change the pace for the rest of the season pop up regularly. The big risks it takes, make for a more tense and enjoyable season.
While the tense, tight, and dangerous corridors of the prison are missed, the writers show that they can keep viewers interested and fearing for their favorite characters even with a bigger playground. This immediately creates more interest and intrigue.
It's an expansion and improvement on what was an already excellent show.
The concepts and characterizations are greater than ever, and the complex nature of a prison escape comes flowing with liquid tension, and at all times it grips you with a curious state of empathy.
The show continues to keep you on the edge of your seat. Shocking character deaths and big moments that change the pace for the rest of the season pop up regularly. The big risks it takes, make for a more tense and enjoyable season.
While the tense, tight, and dangerous corridors of the prison are missed, the writers show that they can keep viewers interested and fearing for their favorite characters even with a bigger playground. This immediately creates more interest and intrigue.
It's an expansion and improvement on what was an already excellent show.
The concepts and characterizations are greater than ever, and the complex nature of a prison escape comes flowing with liquid tension, and at all times it grips you with a curious state of empathy.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Blemished (Blemished, #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
I received this book as a give away as part of a compilation [Shattered Worlds]. I have decided to give each book it's own review as I finish them to give the authors their due.
The Ministry had genetically created the perfect person. The are called GEMs and the rule society. Those who were not created perfect are called "Blemished" and are used as slaves for the upper class. Not all blemished are happy with this situation. Mina has a special gift that could help her but also be very dangerous to herself and those she loves. She will do anything to protect them and herself, as well as avoid the "operation" that all blemished girls get so they can not have children but often drives them mad as well. Secrets are kept, laws broken, lives risked and saved all fro freedom.
This was a well written novel. I could have done without the love triangle aspect because I thing that has been over done especially in YA literature and the characters were a little predictable. Overall the story flowed well and the action kept the plot moving along.
The Ministry had genetically created the perfect person. The are called GEMs and the rule society. Those who were not created perfect are called "Blemished" and are used as slaves for the upper class. Not all blemished are happy with this situation. Mina has a special gift that could help her but also be very dangerous to herself and those she loves. She will do anything to protect them and herself, as well as avoid the "operation" that all blemished girls get so they can not have children but often drives them mad as well. Secrets are kept, laws broken, lives risked and saved all fro freedom.
This was a well written novel. I could have done without the love triangle aspect because I thing that has been over done especially in YA literature and the characters were a little predictable. Overall the story flowed well and the action kept the plot moving along.
Lindsay (1807 KP) rated Secrets of Cavendon in Books
Apr 8, 2019
If you enjoy History or Historical fiction. Secret of Cavendon may be one of the books to pick up. It is book #4 in the series, I think you read it as a standalone if you want to. The plot bring out quite a few romances. One may be dangerous.
We see who the woman of Cavendon are and work together. We seem to learn more about history of the Swanns and Ingram's life. Well as we know we have Alicia, Cecily and Miles and their children. Get action and adventures. We also meet Cecily friends and or business partners.
There change coming and will they be able to stick together though it all? There a murder, heartbreak, drama. Bradford does it all in one book. There seems to be several story lines going on though out he book. They all seem to be teeming from Cavendon. What are secrets of Cavendon that seem to be everyone is worried about. It seems that is in record books.
If you are into British history or want learn a little bit about Britain and London this book is set in that area. You got Earls and Countess in this book.
We see who the woman of Cavendon are and work together. We seem to learn more about history of the Swanns and Ingram's life. Well as we know we have Alicia, Cecily and Miles and their children. Get action and adventures. We also meet Cecily friends and or business partners.
There change coming and will they be able to stick together though it all? There a murder, heartbreak, drama. Bradford does it all in one book. There seems to be several story lines going on though out he book. They all seem to be teeming from Cavendon. What are secrets of Cavendon that seem to be everyone is worried about. It seems that is in record books.
If you are into British history or want learn a little bit about Britain and London this book is set in that area. You got Earls and Countess in this book.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Kind Worth Killing in Books
Mar 15, 2018
It would be hard to describe this book without giving too many of its surprises away, so I am just going to summarize the very beginning. A man meets a woman in an airport lounge in England, on the flight home, the 2 wind up discussing the possibility of killing his unfaithful wife and her lover. By the time the plane lands, they have the beginnings of an actual plan worked out. Where things go from there I cannot say, but do be prepared for a chain of events that are a lot less straightforward than that description might suggest. Twists and surprises are scattered liberally throughout this tale of revenge, which pulls the reader in pretty much from the first page. The characters, while understandably a bit hard to like, are never less than interesting, which only helps to add to the suspense when they find themselves in potentially dangerous situations. My only real complaint would be that the ending felt a bit flat. It's not to say that it's bad, rather that it didn't feel climactic enough considering all that had transpired before it. Still, that shouldn't stop you from reading this otherwise excellent and suspenseful novel.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Fast and the Furious (2001) in Movies
Mar 30, 2018 (Updated Mar 30, 2018)
Original Fast & Furious movie is a very different kettle of fish, a modest little genre movie rather than a swaggering juggernaut of a blockbuster. Undercover cop on a mission finds himself falling in love with a suspect (I refer to the manly bromance between Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, but Walker has a thing with Jordana Brewster too, of course). Which way will he jump when the chips hit the fan?
Much grittier and more credible than the films made after the series entered its blockbuster incarnation; even the laws of physics are mostly respected. All the chasing about and scenes with people dismantling carburettors are the backdrop to a man confronting the dangerous glamour of a life of crime and having an existential crisis as a result. When all the stunts and action kick off the film becomes rather less interesting, even if it is more recognisable as what we now know as F&F. Smartly written, nicely performed; it's clear that no-one involved envisaged this as the Launchpad for a multi-billion dollar franchise, but it's the elements and themes established here that give the series much of its warmth and charm.
Much grittier and more credible than the films made after the series entered its blockbuster incarnation; even the laws of physics are mostly respected. All the chasing about and scenes with people dismantling carburettors are the backdrop to a man confronting the dangerous glamour of a life of crime and having an existential crisis as a result. When all the stunts and action kick off the film becomes rather less interesting, even if it is more recognisable as what we now know as F&F. Smartly written, nicely performed; it's clear that no-one involved envisaged this as the Launchpad for a multi-billion dollar franchise, but it's the elements and themes established here that give the series much of its warmth and charm.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2530 KP) rated Crowned and Dangerous (Her Royal Spyness, #10) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Lady Georgie and Darcy’s elopement is put on hold when Darcy gets the news that his father has been arrested for murder. He races off to Ireland to see how he can help, and it isn’t long before Georgie follows him to help clear her future father-in-law. The evidence all seems to point to Darcy’s father. Can Georgie figure out anything that will help clear him?
The book gets off to a slow start as Georgie once again has to figure out where she will live. The time is put to good use since it gives us updates on many of the series regulars. Once Georgie arrives in Ireland, things really pick up, and we are treated to a fantastic puzzle with plenty of twists and surprises. Several of the series regulars get some much needed development here, and I hope it lasts. Meanwhile, there is a fantastic new character I hope we see pop up again in future books.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-crownded-and-dangerous-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book gets off to a slow start as Georgie once again has to figure out where she will live. The time is put to good use since it gives us updates on many of the series regulars. Once Georgie arrives in Ireland, things really pick up, and we are treated to a fantastic puzzle with plenty of twists and surprises. Several of the series regulars get some much needed development here, and I hope it lasts. Meanwhile, there is a fantastic new character I hope we see pop up again in future books.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-crownded-and-dangerous-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.