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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Monsters (2010) in Movies
May 4, 2018
Whack
When a probe crash lands in Central America, large creatures form and begin to take over. Journalist Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy) is hired by his boss to find his daughter, who is stranded in Central America, and bring her home.
Acting: 8
Very strong performances from the two stars of the film. The acting was far from the problem here. It was everything else. Whitney Able plays Sam Wynden, the woman Andrew was hired to rescue. Her display of emotions are well-ranged and believable. You can feel her dismay, her fear as she moves from one scene to the next. Truly a talent that I enjoyed watching work in her craft.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 1
Cinematography/Visuals: 3
Conflict: 3
Genre: 0
Memorability: 2
Pace: 1
Plot: 7
Resolution: 5
Overall: 40
Nothing eventful really happens for the majority of the film. Like nothing. Not even exaggerating. I could rip this film apart, but you see the numbers. I don't need to waste my time. Don't waste yours either. Stay away from Monsters. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Acting: 8
Very strong performances from the two stars of the film. The acting was far from the problem here. It was everything else. Whitney Able plays Sam Wynden, the woman Andrew was hired to rescue. Her display of emotions are well-ranged and believable. You can feel her dismay, her fear as she moves from one scene to the next. Truly a talent that I enjoyed watching work in her craft.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 1
Cinematography/Visuals: 3
Conflict: 3
Genre: 0
Memorability: 2
Pace: 1
Plot: 7
Resolution: 5
Overall: 40
Nothing eventful really happens for the majority of the film. Like nothing. Not even exaggerating. I could rip this film apart, but you see the numbers. I don't need to waste my time. Don't waste yours either. Stay away from Monsters. Don't say I didn't warn you.
ClareR (5906 KP) rated Ghost Wall in Books
Feb 11, 2019
A disturbing look at family dynamics.
This novella really packs a punch. Its uncomfortable subject matter is presented in an uncomfortable setting. Slivie, her checkout assistant mum and bus driver dad, spend their summer holidays recreating life in Iron Age Britain, along with an archaeology professor and some of his students. Silvie's dad is a very keen, knowledgable amateur archaeologist, and is well respected by the professor. However, he is an unhappy man. He seems to hate the way he lives, and takes his frustrations (physically) out on his wife and daughter. I actually thought Silvie was far younger than it transpired that she was, purely because of the way her father spoke to and treated her.
The book becomes darker as it goes on, as we see more of Silvie's dads' outdated ideas of masculinity and a woman's station in life, and the conclusion is simply stunning.
This is well worth a read in my opinion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and fairly review.
The book becomes darker as it goes on, as we see more of Silvie's dads' outdated ideas of masculinity and a woman's station in life, and the conclusion is simply stunning.
This is well worth a read in my opinion.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and fairly review.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Doom Asylum (1987) in Movies
Apr 18, 2019
Watching this may send you mad
This horror spoof tells the story of a couple who get into a car crash. She dies and he is presumed dead and sent to the local asylum (not a hospital for some reason!) for autopsy which he wakes up during and kills the 2 coroners. 10 years later the daughter of the woman who died in the crash and her friends visit the now abandoned asylum to see if the legend about a psychotic killer dressed as a coroner - the man from the crash. Whilst at the asylum they run into a weird all female punk band and they are all picked off one at time by the coroner...the gore is actually really good including a particularly nasty drill to the head and a toe snipping scene. The acting is awful as is the script but it's difficult to tell if that's by design as this is a send up of the slasher genre. Worth a watch for the gore but don't expect too much!!!
Elli H Burton (1288 KP) rated Listening to the Animals - becoming the Supervet in Books
Jun 15, 2019
This man is amazing
Many of you will have seen The Supervet on TV. Perhaps not a full episode maybe just a clip on youtube or social media. If you are a lover of animals then this is the man for you. I'm not just recommending his book, I'm recommending watching his show also. I absolutely fell in love with this book and couldn't put it down, I felt as though Dr. Fitzpatrick himself was reading it to me. One of the few books that has actually made me laugh out loud and cry uncontrollably. I'm not a big biography fan however when I had my daughter my husband asked me what I wanted for a 'Mummy' present - I asked for this. We preordered it which I haven't actually done before with a book and I genuinely couldn't wait for it to come.
This is something I would whole heartedly recommend to anyone, it shows just how remarkable Noel Fitzpatrick is and how lucky the world is to have him.
This is something I would whole heartedly recommend to anyone, it shows just how remarkable Noel Fitzpatrick is and how lucky the world is to have him.
Apocalyptic Social Media!
A book set slightly in the future, this tells the story of how social media has developed to such an extent that everyone is now directly linked to the internet. Everything is fed to them, so that they no longer have to learn to do anything for themselves. Something goes wrong however: something of apocalyptic proportions. People are Taken, and their feed is invaded. This can happen when they sleep, so no one sleeps alone. This follows Tom, Kate, their daughter Bea, and the people that they try to start a new life with on a small holding after the Collapse.
I really, really enjoyed the last third of this, which is when everything started to happen. This is the only reason why I’ve scored it a 7/10. That last third was really very good, however the first two thirds did drag a little for me. I’m glad I persevered though!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy to read and review!
I really, really enjoyed the last third of this, which is when everything started to happen. This is the only reason why I’ve scored it a 7/10. That last third was really very good, however the first two thirds did drag a little for me. I’m glad I persevered though!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy to read and review!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2367 KP) rated The Sound of Murder (Ivy Meadows Mysteries, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ivy’s latest gig is in The Sound of Cabaret, a mash up of The Sound of Music and Cabaret. She’s also housesitting, and one of her new neighbors dies in his garage. While it looks like a suicide, the man’s daughter hires Ivy and her uncle to find proof he was murdered. Can Ivy balance her first investigation with her new show? Is there even a killer to find?
I enjoyed the first book in this series a few months ago, and I enjoyed this one just as much. There are several sub-plots, and they do take the spotlight from the murder in the first half, but as the book progressed the murder was more center stage. Some of those sub-plots even wound up tying in to the main plot. The characters are a delightfully fun bunch, and they kept me engaged the entire way through. Sprinkle in a good dose of humor and you’ve got another great book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-sound-of-murder-by-cindy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I enjoyed the first book in this series a few months ago, and I enjoyed this one just as much. There are several sub-plots, and they do take the spotlight from the murder in the first half, but as the book progressed the murder was more center stage. Some of those sub-plots even wound up tying in to the main plot. The characters are a delightfully fun bunch, and they kept me engaged the entire way through. Sprinkle in a good dose of humor and you’ve got another great book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-review-sound-of-murder-by-cindy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2367 KP) rated Murder Most Fowl in Books
Mar 9, 2018
One morning in March, Cam’s neighbor dies at his breakfast table, just hours after his chicken farm his hit by animal rights activists. Wayne was a very nice man, often offering Cam advice on her own heard of chickens. When the man’s daughter turns to Cam for help understanding what happened to him, Cam starts investigating. But can she find the killer?
I always enjoy my time on Cam’s farm, and this book was no exception. The pacing was a tad uneven, but that was only a minor issue. The mystery is still strong, with good clues, red herrings, and a great climax. While a couple of supporting characters sat this one out, the rest of the cast is back and as strong as ever. This will leave you turning pages until you read the end.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-murder-most-fowl-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I always enjoy my time on Cam’s farm, and this book was no exception. The pacing was a tad uneven, but that was only a minor issue. The mystery is still strong, with good clues, red herrings, and a great climax. While a couple of supporting characters sat this one out, the rest of the cast is back and as strong as ever. This will leave you turning pages until you read the end.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-murder-most-fowl-by-edith.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Destination wedding planner Kelsey McKenna thinks she’s seen everything at a wedding. That’s why, when one of the bridesmaids collapses at the end of the ceremony she thinks the woman is just hung over. Imagine her surprise when she realizes that Dana is dead. When the police arrest the bride’s sister for the crime, the mother of the bride insists that Kelsey has a duty to free her younger daughter. Can Kelsey figure out who the killer is?
I feel in love with this book in the very first chapter, and I was not at all disappointed as I kept reading. The plot is fast paced with plenty of twists along the way to a surprising yet logical conclusion. The characters are sharp. A few are a tad over the top, but that adds to the fun and humor of the mystery. I will definitely be attending Kelsey’s future weddings.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-terror-in-taffeta-by-marla.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I feel in love with this book in the very first chapter, and I was not at all disappointed as I kept reading. The plot is fast paced with plenty of twists along the way to a surprising yet logical conclusion. The characters are sharp. A few are a tad over the top, but that adds to the fun and humor of the mystery. I will definitely be attending Kelsey’s future weddings.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-terror-in-taffeta-by-marla.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Nineteen Minutes in Books
Feb 13, 2018
I know a lot of people call Picoult formulaic, but I can't help it -- call me a fan of the formula. This book is reminiscent of such Picoult classics as <i>The Pact</i> and <i>Salem Falls</i> in that it features a classic courtroom drama with a big surprise at the end.
And sure, maybe you can guess the surprise, maybe you know what's coming, but, to me, it doesn't stop the joy of reading along to find out whether you're right or not. I couldn't put this one down.
Story centers around a small town high school -- a student regularly bullied and victimized by his peers brings a gun to school and kills and injures a number of his classmates. The story is told from a variety of perspectives, including the shooter, his mother, the town judge, the judge's daughter (a high school student), and the detective on the case. Picoult does a find job of weaving all their stories together as the book comes to its inevitable shocking conclusion.
And sure, maybe you can guess the surprise, maybe you know what's coming, but, to me, it doesn't stop the joy of reading along to find out whether you're right or not. I couldn't put this one down.
Story centers around a small town high school -- a student regularly bullied and victimized by his peers brings a gun to school and kills and injures a number of his classmates. The story is told from a variety of perspectives, including the shooter, his mother, the town judge, the judge's daughter (a high school student), and the detective on the case. Picoult does a find job of weaving all their stories together as the book comes to its inevitable shocking conclusion.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The One Plus One in Books
Feb 13, 2018
One of my favorite books that I read in 2014. Its sort of silly and outlandish in plot, but you dont care, because youre just riveted, wanting to read it as quickly as possible. Jess is a down-on-her-luck mom of two (her daughter, Tanzie, plus stepson Nicky), whose husband has abandoned her so she has to work two jobs to make ends meet. She meets Ed, a millionaire who is also a bit down-on-his-luck (oh just some investment fraud charges and such) while cleaning his vacation home. Eventually Ed comes to their rescue (literally, as the family is sitting on the side of the road) and helps drive them to a math competition for young Tanzie, who is a maths expert. Along the way, a lot happens. Youd think the novel would be pat and predictable, but its really just
lovely. And one of the few books Ive really loved that I actually think would make a good movie, provided I can approve all casting choices, of course.