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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Asymmetry in Books

Jan 17, 2018

Asymmetry

Lisa Halliday | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry

7.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Asymmetrical stories

Lisa Halliday's novel of three parts charts the relationship between an eccentric older writer Ezra Blazer, his young lover Alice, and then moves quickly to the story of an American Iraqi attempting to find his roots.

Individually, each story is captivating, Halliday's ability to bring humour with subtle behaviour is remarkable. Similarly, her research into Iraq is interesting - though at one point I did get confused as she mentions the Clinton administration's foreign policy role during the second Gulf War when it should be under George Bush. I'm unsure whether this is a typo or a genuine mistake or I'm wrong altogether.

While each part is well-written, and the first story is completed in the third part when Ezra's character becomes a guest on BBC's Desert Island Discs, it all feels rather disjointed. Perhaps this is why the novel is named Asymmetry as a result? We may never know.

Kudos

Awix (3310 KP) rated One Million Years B.C. (1967) in Movies

Feb 12, 2018

One Million Years B.C. (1967)

1967 | Adventure, Fantasy

6.8

(18 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Not-bad Hammer dinosaur movie probably best-known for its special effects (by which I mean Ray Harryhausen's animation and Raquel Welch's costume). Bit-thick hero is kicked out of his own tribe, crosses a desert mostly populated by photo-blow-up monsters, meets another tribe who are so advanced they have discovered peroxide hair-dye and leg-waxing. Meanwhile Raquel Welch watches her dreams of being taken seriously as an actress go up in smoke.

Takes itself impressively seriously, all things considered; the decision to do the whole thing in made-up caveman language (sample dialogue: 'Tumak! Akita Loana!') makes it difficult to even have a coherent plot, let alone subtext, but I doubt that was the first concern. Harryhausen's dinosaurs are obviously rather wonderful; the decision to include photographically-enlarged lizards at certain points is questionable. It is what it is; the poster's claim that 'This is the way it was!' should probably not be taken too seriously.

Kudos

Sammie Hilton (3 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of No Man's Sky in Video Games

Jul 10, 2019

No Man's Sky

2016 | Action/Adventure

6.9

(15 Ratings)

Video Game Rating

On first play No Mans Sky was terrifying and there was a distinct lack of an intro to the controls which for this game is definitely needed. Upon landing on an acrid desert planet (assuming very likely to be a common first style of planet for most players) you have to harvest resources to fix your ship and get the hell outta there.
Been playing it a few months now and more comfortable, you can either explore the galaxy on your own time after completing some home story missions, or follow the main storyline if you feel you need more to do. You can trade at space stations, buy a new space ship, talk to the local aliens etc. Upon entering one galaxy you get the chance to win a freighter. Both my husband and I play No Mans Sky and our game play couldn't be more different so we have both seen various aspects of the game.