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House of Names
House of Names
Colm Toibin | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Lyrically beautiful, humanist version of Greek mythology
For fans of Greek mythology, this is an absolute dream. Focusing on the stories of the wife of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and children, Electra and Orestes, Colm Toibin brings to life very human characters in which all are victim and perpetrator.

Hearing perspectives of all three following the sacrifice of daughter Iphigenia, then the murder of Agamemnon as well as the banishment of Orestes, we hear how each feel betrayed and in turn seek vengeance or what they deem is justice.

While most of it is faithful to the original story, a few characters have been added to flesh out the main roles including best friend and lover of Orestes, Leander. A great read for mythology fans.
  
The Bear and the Nightingale
The Bear and the Nightingale
Katherine Arden | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.4 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
A dark epic fairytale
This captivating fantasy is set in the frozen north of Russia in the 13th century, and used Russian myths and fairy tales as inspiration.

At the centre of the novel is the family of a local Lord, in particular the headstrong youngest daughter Vasya who is gifted with 'second sight'. The existence of the community is threatened when a dark power in the forests begins to wake up, just as the villagers start to turn away from the household spirits who've protected them, in favour of a charismatic new priest.

The Russian setting adds interest and mystique and the protagonist Vasya is fantastically outspoken and scrappy. The plot is easy to follow despite the odd Russian word. It truly is a compelling read.
  
Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Bird (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Drama
Laurie Metcalfe (0 more)
The ending (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
I am a huge fan of dry humor and coming of age stories. This movie was a nice surprise, and without too many spoiler trailers out there, I was really not expecting anything. The movie had a great flow, and the interaction between mother and daughter was so real and emotional. The only complaint I have is that the movie was so abruptly ended. I enjoy leaving it open-ended for the imagination, but I feel like the last 15 minutes completely changed the flow of the movie and lead us to believe there was going to be one more reveal that never happens. I didn't need a complete summary, but I did want to know just a little bit more.
  
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
1994 | Comedy
Want hear the most annoying sound in the world.
Ok. This the Jim Carey we kind of grew up with. Crazy,zany,funny, no limits in this character for him. Jeff Daniels reaches in and pulls out his inner Carey in this wacky film about two idiots who take a cross country trip to return a briefcase to woman they both don't know. I don't believe I have laughed so hard in a theater in my life and I still crack up every time I watch it. I can't wait til one day my daughter is old enough to see it and understand the comedy. Danger lurks around each corner but, being the idiots they are they slip right around it.
  
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
2017 | Comedy
Not a bad sequel
Same movie revolving aorund the same three moms (Kunis,Khan and Bell) but this time it's Christmas time and there has to be a twist and what better than there moms coming of the big holiday. Needless to say the moms show up early and they need a let loose scene which this time takes place in the mall at the height of Christmas shopping. Each daughter has certain types of problems with their mother in their own way and that is the basis of this movie. The first one was fun and original while this copies that same frame but, adds in enough fun and excitement that makes it at least a one time watch.
  
<strong>3.5 stars</strong>

Bound by honor introduces us to Aria, daughter of a member in the Mafia. When the head of 2 rival mafia gangs come together to join forces, they agree that the only way would be marriage. Aria is to marry the next in line for Capo.

This book takes you on an roller coaster of emotions and I kept wanting to turn the page to find out more.

The only flaw, (and this is just my personal opinion because I don't like frail and petty lead women ) was in the beginning Aria frustrated me to no end with how weak she was. But the book progressed well and actually made sense to why they had her like that as her character developed more .
  
The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
2019 | Crime, Documentary
Repetitive (1 more)
Nothing New
I've seen specials on this kidnapping case before, and most of them were slanting towards the parents doing something to their daughter. I watched the first two episodes and noticed it was going at a snails pace. Netflix seriously took 8 episodes to tell us absolutely nothing new. They could have cut it to 4 eps and it would have been much better. I did like that it showed more aspects and theories, but again, they amounted to nothing. It was also interesting to see that there were repercussions for the media reporting all of those crazy headlines. Some of the episodes used the same sections of interviews 2x, and I thought that I was having deja vu.
  
The Silence (2019)
The Silence (2019)
2019 | Horror
Stanley Tucci & Kiernan Shipka (0 more)
The ending (0 more)
A quiet place part 2
Contains spoilers, click to show
So this film is exactly like A quiet place. So much so its bordering on plagiarism! It follows a family and the teenage daughter is deaf. Cue weird monsters that kill people and the only way to stay safe is to be quiet - sound familiar? The only difference is the inclusion of a weird religious cult. In general its really well put together and the acting is top notch especially Stanley Tucci & the very good Kiernan Shipka. The biggest problem with this is that it builds up ok towards a climax that is over before it starts. Seriously the most rushed ending ever. So an ok film with a crappy ending.
  
Train to Busan (2016)
Train to Busan (2016)
2016 | Action, Drama, Horror
Incredible Action Sequences Emotion and Heart to the Story (0 more)
All on board for a train full of Zombies
Wow! What a film!.A zombie film that actually delivers thrilling action scenes..characters you can care about and doesn't rely on CGI special effects.

The story is simple with an outbreak of a virus that infects people and turns them into raging zombies.The main character is on the aforementioned train taking his daughter to her mother for her birthday when all hell starts breaking loose.

I dare anyone not to get a lump in their throat when it comes to the ending.

An awesome movie that deserves to be seen by all before the inevitable piss poor american remake comes along.
  
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Andy K (10823 KP) May 19, 2019

Really great film!

40x40

Madbatdan82 (341 KP) May 20, 2019

Loved it