Search

Search only in certain items:

Star Wars: Force Collector (Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)
Star Wars: Force Collector (Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)
Kevin Shinick | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
6
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
So, this was the last novel of the 'Journey to Rise of Skywalker' series... At least the writing was a little better than the other novels in the series.
The novel featured two forgettable teen characters, one of whom had some force powers, and the other was the daughter of a First Order dude. Pretty unremarkable, because I don't even remember their names. They go on some rando adventures to find some Jedi artefacts, because the kid can touch things and see the past. A different sort of force power, which I believe was the entire point. At one point, they do visit Bantuu, which connects it to Galaxy's Edge.
I think this novel was written to illustrate different sorts of force powers that will come into play in the film.
  
Traffic (2001)
Traffic (2001)
2001 | Drama
A complex and ambitious movie documenting several interconnected stories about the drug trade. Steven Soderbergh’s style is almost documentary like (plenty of shaky cam) and I liked his use of blue and yellow filters illustrating the different stories . Personally I found the film a bit overlong and some of the cartel storyline a bit draggy and convoluted. The film is more successful when showing the human side of drug addiction and I particularly enjoyed the storyline documenting the daughter of a senior politician tasked with tackling drug trafficking descending into addiction. Michael Douglas performance here was excellent and quite moving and definitely the standout amongst the ensemble cast. So a very impressive movie for its scope and scale, not all of it works but what does works very well.
  
The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale #2)
The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale #2)
Margaret Atwood | 2019 | Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.5 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
I enjoyed this and although maybe controversial to admit to but preferred it to the Handmaids Tale (gasp.) It was no doubt helped by a decent cast on the audiobook (Ann Dowd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Derek Jacobi, Mae Whitman, Margaret Atwood, Tantoo Cardinal.)

Although set in the world of the Handmaid's tale we are in the POVs of different characters this time and three of them at that. With accounts from Gilead, a view from a Commander's daughter and also from an Aunts, and a look into the nation's relationship with Canada it's a very different experience from the Handmaids Tale. I found it a more satisfying storytelling experience than its predecessor.

It may not be the direct follow on from the previous novel some hoped for but it worked for me.
  
40x40

Barry Newman (204 KP) rated San Andreas (2015) in Movies

Apr 12, 2020 (Updated Apr 12, 2020)  
San Andreas (2015)
San Andreas (2015)
2015 | Action
The plot can be written on the back of a postage stamp (massive earthquake destroys most of California) but I found this to be surprisingly enjoyable addition to the crowded disaster movie field. The action is very satisfying and the special effects impressive, not as obviously cgi as some of these films can be. Where this film succeeds is in it’s casting. Dwayne Johnson makes for a likeable and charismatic lead and there’s solid support from Paul Giamatti’s quake studying scientist and Alexandra Daddario as Dwayne’s resourceful (and absolutely gorgeous) daughter. Of course it does fall victim to a few familiar cliches and I rolled my eyes at the final shot of a battered Stars and Stripes flying in the wind when the carnage ends but overall I did have allot of fun watching this.
  
    My Little Note for iPad

    My Little Note for iPad

    Education and Music

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    "My Little Note for iPad" is an simple application to learn reading staff notations. First I created...