Search

Search only in certain items:

Final Cut
Final Cut
Marjorie McCown | 2023 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Deadly First Day on Set
Costumer Joey Jessop is happy to be working on the latest big budget superhero movie. However, the first day gets off to a rocky start with the director showing how horrible he can be, an electrical accident, and then a murder. Joey is the person to find the victim, the second assistant director, who just happens to be dating Joey’s ex. With Joey a person of interest, can she figure out what really happened?

Since I love the entertainment industry, this book immediately caught my attention. We get behind the scenes information, sometimes a bit too much, but I did love the Southern California and entertainment settings overall. The plot needed more focus, with the story being driven more by events than Joey’s investigation, which lead us to a climax that was weak on one hand and suspenseful on the other. Several aspects of the plot don’t really get resolved. There is a strong Me Too storyline, and I appreciated that it focused on Joey and her response to it all. Joey and several of main characters came to life for me, and I did like spending time with them. In the end, this one was a mixed bag for me.
  
47 Meters Down (2017)
47 Meters Down (2017)
2017 | Horror
47 Meters Down is a good enough, popcorn movie, that has a lot of things going for it, and is unfortunately hampered by incredibly bland characters.
The set up is mercifully short. The time spent with a bunch of people dating and speaking to eachother like Instagram influencers is limited and its not long before they're stuck at the bottom of the ocean. The minimalist execution of the bulk of the narrative is well done. The predicament the leads find themselves in provides plenty of tension and some well earned jump scares. Personally, I find the idea of the deep ocean utterly terrifying, and 47 Meters Down did a good job of making me feel uncomfortable for the most part.
The main draw back as mentioned, is the characters. Neither of the sisters are that likable, and it's hard to care whether they make it through to the end, which is an issue considering they're the only two on screen for 90% of the runtime. The narrative packs in a relatively clever twist before an underwhelming ending which left me feeling a bit empty.
Overall though, it's a solid shark horror/thriller that delivers on its entertainment value, and there are certainly worse shark films out there.
  
Twice Seduced (Sanctuary Coven #1)
Twice Seduced (Sanctuary Coven #1)
Hazel Hunter | 2016 | Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Heather is a non-practising Wiccan who uses her ability to see auras to help her in her career as a school counsellor. She is dating Lucas Carré, who she feels safe with as he has a green aura. What she doesn't realise is that he is a Magus Corps officer, and can change the colour of his aura at will. When she receives a summons to her sister's coven in Aspen, Lucas goes with her and then the fun begins.

This is a typical steamy novella, the type that Hazel Hunter excels in. The reason I have only given 3-stars is because there is a whole lot of stuff going on - so far there are at least three separate stories that have yet to intertwine and become a cohesive story. HOWEVER, knowing Hazel Hunter's various coven series, I have the utmost faith that this will become an intricate and fascinating story.

A good start to a new series that shows definite promise.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 28, 2016
  
A Guide To Second Date Sex (2020)
A Guide To Second Date Sex (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Drama
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Talk about burying the lead. Marie Claire offered its readers the chance to see A Guide To Second Date Sex free online for Valentine's Day, after seeing the cute little into from the lead actors I knew I had to give it a try.

Laura and Ryan have a chance meeting in a club after their friends abandon them, their awkward meeting turns into flirty banter and the two agree to a second date.

Both fresh off break-ups and clueless about how to go about dating they turn to their friends for help, but do too many cooks spoil the broth?

What a film. It's so awkward, but you just can't look away. I envy you if there isn't a moment in this that you can identify with. [Mum, if you're reading this I am of course playing it up for effect, I've never done any of this.] [Everyone else, 😬]

The keyword that kept popping up throughout my notes was "awkward", I truly hate awkward viewing. It's one of the reasons I don't like reality TV for the most part [when I do watch it I record it so I can fast forward through those bits]. I have actively walked out of the room because I couldn't cope watching things. How I managed to sit through this film I do not know. I was laughing out loud, I was burying my head in my hands, and yet I sat through it.

I can well and truly say at this point that I love George MacKay, put him in everything please. He plays Ryan, Ryan is somewhat unsuccessfully trying to get over his ex and his little experience with dating is being helped along by his flatmate Dan... but he's all for the conquest rather than the romance. Laura, played by Alexandra Roach has the backup of the internet, her mother and a friend, but she seems a little more sceptical about all the suggestions she's offered.

The setup gives you a very quick insight into our two main characters including some of the advice that's offered above. I've moaned in the past about short intros not setting up enough of the film that follows but with the way this film is laid out and the fact that the main action happens in the space of one evening means that everything unfolds very quickly and you don't need anything more.

When the present day story happens I really love the internal monologue that cuts in, the underlying insecurities and anxiety gets to bubble up. It absolutely needed it too, there's no way the film would have worked without this extra layer of humour. Without the audio the actors still do a great job, they mastered the art of the awkward silence, add the voiceover in and you get that chance to identify and match it to your own experience and internal commentary. I could write several stories in this vein based on my own experience. [Mum, again, I've never done any of this.] [Everyone else, 😬]

The film is based on the director's play that was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I would love to have seen how that was done, I'm visualising something crossed between a play and Fleabag.

A Guide To Second Date Sex expresses those hideous memories that you really wish had been erased with the evening full of alcohol that accompanied them. It reflects so many girls' nights in and morning after phones calls I've been part of that it had that nostalgic feel which I think is how I stayed engaged despite my awkward reaction. It's an amusing and charming tale of dating that develops into a hilarious romp through young love and its perils.

This was an immensely entertaining watch but I really wish it ended one clip earlier than it did, and that's the only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars.

[Note to friends when you see it... Yes, that scene... I know, right?!]

Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/02/a-guide-to-second-date-sex-movie-review.html