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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Geostorm (2017) in Movies
Jul 9, 2018 (Updated Jul 9, 2018)
Ruined by awful dialogue
Let's face it, you never begin any film with Gerard Butler in with high expectations, but this one was surprisingly better than I'd expected.
This is probably the best I've ever seen Butler act. His American accent was impressively good by his standards and only once did I hear him slip into his native Scottish. The rest of the cast are alright, but they've got little to work with what with poor character motivations and the even poorer script. The effects are very good, although the plot itself is potentially a little too farfetched and has The Day After Tomorrow meets Armageddon written all over it. Indeed I was very surprised to see that this wasn't actually made by Roland Emmerich.
A few plot nuances aside, the main issue with this is the dialogue. It's absolutely atrocious, to the point where I was visibly cringing throughout the film. Its not good when a film makes you embarrassed for the script writer. If it hadn't been for this, i probably would've rated this a lot higher as it was surprisingly enjoyable, even if it did raise a few unintentional laughs.
This is probably the best I've ever seen Butler act. His American accent was impressively good by his standards and only once did I hear him slip into his native Scottish. The rest of the cast are alright, but they've got little to work with what with poor character motivations and the even poorer script. The effects are very good, although the plot itself is potentially a little too farfetched and has The Day After Tomorrow meets Armageddon written all over it. Indeed I was very surprised to see that this wasn't actually made by Roland Emmerich.
A few plot nuances aside, the main issue with this is the dialogue. It's absolutely atrocious, to the point where I was visibly cringing throughout the film. Its not good when a film makes you embarrassed for the script writer. If it hadn't been for this, i probably would've rated this a lot higher as it was surprisingly enjoyable, even if it did raise a few unintentional laughs.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Thing (2011) in Movies
Jul 28, 2018
An unnecessary prequel
The problem with most prequels is they feel the need to overexplain things that aren't necessary. A certain amount of ambiguity is good for a film, and often allows the watcher to come up with their own theories. And this is the main problem with this prequel - did we need to know exactly what happened to the Norwegian team? No not really, as we saw enough in the original to use our imagination. So this prequel for me was entirely unnecessary.
It also didn't help that the plot was for the most part very similar to the original, which begs the question why make something so similar? The creature designs etc were very good, creepy and pretty scary and very in keeping with the original, but they completely ruined it with the horrendous cgi. Why they didn't stick with physical effects I'll never know, as it made the creature just look shoddy. The ending is potentially also a bit of a plot hole as it then doesn't tie in to the original.
There are a few things in this that could've been improved, but even with that, it'd still be an unnecessary prequel.
It also didn't help that the plot was for the most part very similar to the original, which begs the question why make something so similar? The creature designs etc were very good, creepy and pretty scary and very in keeping with the original, but they completely ruined it with the horrendous cgi. Why they didn't stick with physical effects I'll never know, as it made the creature just look shoddy. The ending is potentially also a bit of a plot hole as it then doesn't tie in to the original.
There are a few things in this that could've been improved, but even with that, it'd still be an unnecessary prequel.
Leah (: (569 KP) rated Wolves and Roses (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum book 1) in Books
Sep 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It follows the story of Bryar Rose a human girl who should be following a Sleeping Beauty life template, however Bryar has different ideas.
This book is not a re telling of Sleeping Beauty it has lots of different elements that make the story unique. The story has quite a few secrets and mysteries which was good as the reveals were often a surprise. The story was quite fast paced which kept it engaging and the ending was not rushed.
I liked Bryar’s character as I found her a realistic teenage girl. She gets a bit boy crazy but not to the point that she loses her character. She likes to ignore/ put off some of her problems and pretend she is normal when things get a bit too crazy. I enjoyed seeing her friendship with Elle as it did show her more mature side.
This book is part of a series so most of Bryar’s story is resolved there is a novella and another book left of Bryar before we move onto Elle’s story. So I imagine the big storyline which effects other characters will still take a while to finish.
This book is not a re telling of Sleeping Beauty it has lots of different elements that make the story unique. The story has quite a few secrets and mysteries which was good as the reveals were often a surprise. The story was quite fast paced which kept it engaging and the ending was not rushed.
I liked Bryar’s character as I found her a realistic teenage girl. She gets a bit boy crazy but not to the point that she loses her character. She likes to ignore/ put off some of her problems and pretend she is normal when things get a bit too crazy. I enjoyed seeing her friendship with Elle as it did show her more mature side.
This book is part of a series so most of Bryar’s story is resolved there is a novella and another book left of Bryar before we move onto Elle’s story. So I imagine the big storyline which effects other characters will still take a while to finish.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Exorcist (1973) in Movies
Oct 30, 2018
Shocking for its time
The Exorcist is one of those classics that for me is perhaps slightly overrated. Don't get me wrong, for something made in the 70s it's very impressive, it's just very difficult to judge an older film when you live in more modern times.
The film itself is a very slow burner, which isn't a bad thing as it at least relies more on subtlety rather than being in your face like a lot of more modern horrors are. For me it was a little too slow in parts and I wouldn't say this was scary in the slightest. The physical effects are very good for its time, and some of the scenes are still fairly shocking even now. There are some brilliant classic lines in this too, and Linda Blair is very good as Regan. What I like the most about this film is the ending, as it isn't quite your bog standard predictable Hollywood ending and the first time I saw this I was hugely surprised (but pleased) at how this played out.
This is definitely a classic and one worth watching, just try not to judge on today's standards!
The film itself is a very slow burner, which isn't a bad thing as it at least relies more on subtlety rather than being in your face like a lot of more modern horrors are. For me it was a little too slow in parts and I wouldn't say this was scary in the slightest. The physical effects are very good for its time, and some of the scenes are still fairly shocking even now. There are some brilliant classic lines in this too, and Linda Blair is very good as Regan. What I like the most about this film is the ending, as it isn't quite your bog standard predictable Hollywood ending and the first time I saw this I was hugely surprised (but pleased) at how this played out.
This is definitely a classic and one worth watching, just try not to judge on today's standards!
David McK (3562 KP) rated Star Wars, Vol. 7: The Ashes of Jedha in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The newest (at the time of writing) entry in Marvel's on-going Star Wars series, that sees Luke, Han, Leia et al travel to the planet of Jedha between the events of 'A New Hope' and 'The Empire Strikes Back': the planet, that is, that first appeared in the relatively-recent movie 'Rogue One' and on which the might of the Death Star was first practiced.
As such, Jedha is now a ruined planet under Imperial Occupation, with this collection (of issues number 38-43) also covering the effects of Saw Garrera's partisan group: another relatively recent addition to the whole Star Wars canon!
While Luke tries to learn more about being a Jedi as Leia seeks to form an alliance with the remaining members of that partisan group and as Han grows into a leadership role, the Empire tightens their grip on the planet.
I must admit to being a bit lost at first: although this is vol 7 in the series, the 'read in order' on the inside jacket actually places this after 'The Screaming Citadel': maybe if I'd read that, this might flow better?
As such, Jedha is now a ruined planet under Imperial Occupation, with this collection (of issues number 38-43) also covering the effects of Saw Garrera's partisan group: another relatively recent addition to the whole Star Wars canon!
While Luke tries to learn more about being a Jedi as Leia seeks to form an alliance with the remaining members of that partisan group and as Han grows into a leadership role, the Empire tightens their grip on the planet.
I must admit to being a bit lost at first: although this is vol 7 in the series, the 'read in order' on the inside jacket actually places this after 'The Screaming Citadel': maybe if I'd read that, this might flow better?
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Teeth Marks in Books
Jan 31, 2019
Teeth Marks is a chilling collection of southern gothic horror. In fact, it’s because of its setting in the south that I read it–I’m rather partial to my home. With several stories ranging from normal, every day people to monsters and ghosts, there’s a story in Teeth Marks for just about every horror fan.
There are twelve stories total in this collection, each one with a different theme. My favorites were “Suburban Facebreaker”, “Cookies”, “The Red Card”, and “Waist Deep”–which is particularly gory. “Suburban Facebreaker” deals with badly behaving parent figures. “Cookies” reminds readers in the reality of karmic justice. “The Red Card” has a decidedly Twilight Zone feel to it, and “Waist Deep” deals with the effects of gossip. All of these are really great tales.
My only complaint with this collection is that it was surprisingly void of colloquialism. There were places where popular Southern phrases would have fit better. Alas, this is not enough for me to take a star away from the collection, as it was amazing.
I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.
There are twelve stories total in this collection, each one with a different theme. My favorites were “Suburban Facebreaker”, “Cookies”, “The Red Card”, and “Waist Deep”–which is particularly gory. “Suburban Facebreaker” deals with badly behaving parent figures. “Cookies” reminds readers in the reality of karmic justice. “The Red Card” has a decidedly Twilight Zone feel to it, and “Waist Deep” deals with the effects of gossip. All of these are really great tales.
My only complaint with this collection is that it was surprisingly void of colloquialism. There were places where popular Southern phrases would have fit better. Alas, this is not enough for me to take a star away from the collection, as it was amazing.
I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.
A beautiful documentary series
Let's face it, you really can't go wrong with a David Attenborough documentary series. He's never made anything less than brilliant, and this Dynasties series is no exception.
Focusing each episode on a different species, the crew have really gone all out on the cinematography to make a truly stunning series. They've spent years filming each set of animals to give you an insight into their lives, which is fairly heartbreaking at times as they don't leave anything out, not even the sadder realities of animal life. My favourites out of the series were definitely the tigers and penguins, shining an informative look into how they bring up their young.
I loved as well how they include a brief behind the scenes segment at the end of each episode, getting to see a little more truth behind the documentary. And it's nice to see how dedicated the crew are to their work and that sometimes human intervention isn't actually a bad thing.
The series also highlights important points about the environment and conservation, and I really hope more people would watch this and get an understanding of the effects we're having on wildlife.
Focusing each episode on a different species, the crew have really gone all out on the cinematography to make a truly stunning series. They've spent years filming each set of animals to give you an insight into their lives, which is fairly heartbreaking at times as they don't leave anything out, not even the sadder realities of animal life. My favourites out of the series were definitely the tigers and penguins, shining an informative look into how they bring up their young.
I loved as well how they include a brief behind the scenes segment at the end of each episode, getting to see a little more truth behind the documentary. And it's nice to see how dedicated the crew are to their work and that sometimes human intervention isn't actually a bad thing.
The series also highlights important points about the environment and conservation, and I really hope more people would watch this and get an understanding of the effects we're having on wildlife.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) in Movies
Dec 22, 2019
A worthy sequel
The Gremlins films huge favourites of mine as a child (worrying as I probably wasn't old enough to watch them), but I always preferred the sequel. Watching it back now, I'm so pleased to say it's still a worthy and rather entertaining sequel.
The plot has been scaled up since the first film, and whilst it's missing the christmas and horror style setting, it more than makes up with the sheer daftness of the entire story. It's ridiculous but so funny, with some great physical effects with the Gremlins, especially as they get themselves into new and interesting situations. Seen as this was released in 1990 the CGI is a little dated but fortunately this is used sparingly. The original cast are back, with some wonderful additions in the marvellous Christopher Lee and Robert Picardo. I remember parts of this terrifying me as a child and whilst it doesn't have quite the same effect now, this definitely isn't a kids film! This entire film is just wonderfully smart, silly and just a riot from start to finish. Definitely underrated and overlooked when it comes to the Gremlins films, but for me a worthy sequel.
The plot has been scaled up since the first film, and whilst it's missing the christmas and horror style setting, it more than makes up with the sheer daftness of the entire story. It's ridiculous but so funny, with some great physical effects with the Gremlins, especially as they get themselves into new and interesting situations. Seen as this was released in 1990 the CGI is a little dated but fortunately this is used sparingly. The original cast are back, with some wonderful additions in the marvellous Christopher Lee and Robert Picardo. I remember parts of this terrifying me as a child and whilst it doesn't have quite the same effect now, this definitely isn't a kids film! This entire film is just wonderfully smart, silly and just a riot from start to finish. Definitely underrated and overlooked when it comes to the Gremlins films, but for me a worthy sequel.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Small Soldiers (1998) in Movies
Dec 24, 2019
Lots of fun
I remember watching this as a child at the cinema when it was first released (I was 11), and absolutely loved it. And to be honest watching it again now, i still think it's a huge amount of fun.
This is like the antidote to Toy Story. Yes there are good toys in this, but the stars of this film are the rather nasty Commando Elite led by Chip Hazard, voiced perfectly by the wonderful Tommy Lee Jones. The idea of toys playing out real life war games against other toys (and humans) makes for such a fun and entertaining film. It's not scary but not entirely child friendly either, and is really quite funny at times. And unusually for a kids film made in the 90s, the script isn't completely terrible or cheesy. The special effects are for the most part fairly decent and the cast too (both voice and real life) are all very good. Considering this is made by Joe Dante who brought us both Gremlins films, it's no surprise really it's such a fun film and yet strangely underrated.
This is like the antidote to Toy Story. Yes there are good toys in this, but the stars of this film are the rather nasty Commando Elite led by Chip Hazard, voiced perfectly by the wonderful Tommy Lee Jones. The idea of toys playing out real life war games against other toys (and humans) makes for such a fun and entertaining film. It's not scary but not entirely child friendly either, and is really quite funny at times. And unusually for a kids film made in the 90s, the script isn't completely terrible or cheesy. The special effects are for the most part fairly decent and the cast too (both voice and real life) are all very good. Considering this is made by Joe Dante who brought us both Gremlins films, it's no surprise really it's such a fun film and yet strangely underrated.
Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated It (2017) in Movies
Jul 18, 2019
I'm floating right now. Not in the sewers, but on cloud nine kazillion after experiencing all of the awesomeness that is the new IT movie. They didn't clown around with this new one. Okay, puns out of the way(for now), it was a fantastic film. Not only was justice served to the original adaptation, but I truly feel it surpassed it and rose above all of the excitement and expectations surrounding it. The kids couldn't have been casted any better I don't think, direction that resulted in a look and feel that was amazing, huge thumbs up on costuming, make-up, and effects, and very well written with that perfect balance of horror and humor; I laughed a lot. The new Pennywise is to die for. What Tim Curry's version did for my generation and taking fear of clowns to a whole new level, Bill Skarsgard's will do the same for the current generation. To this day I feel uneasy when I see sewer drains and do my damnedest to avoid them. In summary, IT was well made(pun intended) and is a must see.