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Awix (3310 KP) rated Game Night (2018) in Movies
Mar 5, 2018 (Updated Mar 22, 2019)
Knowingly absurd black comedy thriller is powered along by engaging performances and some good gags. A group of affluent friends think they're participating in a kind of murder mystery role-playing game; in fact the situation is in deadly earnest.
The script goes into overdrive to sustain this fairly preposterous premise for 100 minutes - it just about manages it but the first half inevitably feels a bit less forced than the conclusion. Still very funny indeed in places; there's a bit of tonal uncertainty - the thriller element is quite dark, with some graphic violence - but not enough to make the film uncomfortable to watch. Bateman and McAdams are particularly good, but lots of good turns here, both comic and straight. I laughed a lot, which is pretty unusual when it comes to me and modern comedies.
The script goes into overdrive to sustain this fairly preposterous premise for 100 minutes - it just about manages it but the first half inevitably feels a bit less forced than the conclusion. Still very funny indeed in places; there's a bit of tonal uncertainty - the thriller element is quite dark, with some graphic violence - but not enough to make the film uncomfortable to watch. Bateman and McAdams are particularly good, but lots of good turns here, both comic and straight. I laughed a lot, which is pretty unusual when it comes to me and modern comedies.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Cloche and Dagger (Hat Shop Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Scarlett Parker's life is falling apart between loosing her job and a breakup gone viral, so she moves to London to help run the hat shop she and her cousin inherited from their grandmother. However, when she arrives, her cousin is missing. Her bad feeling about everything only grows with one of their customers is murdered.
The book is very engaging with delightful characters who feel fully formed from the moment they step on to the page. In fact, it took me a little while to realize the plot was moving rather slowly. That's my only complaint with the book, however, and I'm certainly looking forward to the next book when it comes out in May.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-cloche-and-dagger-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book is very engaging with delightful characters who feel fully formed from the moment they step on to the page. In fact, it took me a little while to realize the plot was moving rather slowly. That's my only complaint with the book, however, and I'm certainly looking forward to the next book when it comes out in May.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-cloche-and-dagger-by-jenn.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Bloom and Doom (Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Audrey Bloom and her cousin Liz are co-owners of a flower shop that specializes in bridal bouquets. Their latest client is Jenny, a childhood friend of Audrey's, who is marring the most eligible bachelor in the county. However, the morning after Jenny breaks off her engagement to Derek, Derek is found dead in his car with Jenny as the only suspect. Did she do it?
I loved the characters. They were charming and engaging right from the start, and I couldn't wait to read more. The plot did slow down a bit in the middle, but it picked up again for the ending. Tidbits on the meaning of flowers and some humor just added to the fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-bloom-and-doom-by-beverly.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I loved the characters. They were charming and engaging right from the start, and I couldn't wait to read more. The plot did slow down a bit in the middle, but it picked up again for the ending. Tidbits on the meaning of flowers and some humor just added to the fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/08/book-review-bloom-and-doom-by-beverly.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Thor: The Dark World (2013) in Movies
Jun 9, 2018 (Updated Jun 9, 2018)
Marvel's second Thor movie is a not especially well-judged mixture of somewhat leaden epic fantasy and cutesy, kooky rom-com. Looks spiffy throughout, but it doesn't half drag in places: you can see why they decided to shake things up so thoroughly in the third one.
The thing about the Marvel Studios films is that they are routinely so good that when one is merely a fairly competent blockbuster, as is the case here, it does feel unreasonably disappointing. Apart from the sluggish pace and mishandled humour, the main problem here is that the script doesn't feel particularly well-focused or engaging, with the new villains eclipsed by Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and a reliance on lavish spectacle over characters you actually care about. Still not much worse than many a successful blockbuster, but one of the more dispensable Marvel movies nevertheless.
The thing about the Marvel Studios films is that they are routinely so good that when one is merely a fairly competent blockbuster, as is the case here, it does feel unreasonably disappointing. Apart from the sluggish pace and mishandled humour, the main problem here is that the script doesn't feel particularly well-focused or engaging, with the new villains eclipsed by Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and a reliance on lavish spectacle over characters you actually care about. Still not much worse than many a successful blockbuster, but one of the more dispensable Marvel movies nevertheless.
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made in Books
Sep 3, 2018
I cannot believe how boring this book is. I've always been fascinated by the Black Plague and the time period so I was rather excited to find this book. I wish I had looked through it before purchasing it as it has been a complete waste of time. It is the least engaging book I've ever read. Even Where's Waldo has more intrigue and adventure. I am halfway through it and I simply cannot remember anything that was written. None of the author's stories makes any sense. It's just pretentious drivel and as much as I hate to do it, I am going to throw the book away instead of finishing it and will NEVER buy anything from this author again. It's a sad state of affairs when an author cannot make one of the most interesting subjects come to life.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Sword of the Archon (Shader, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The first in D.P. Prior's 'Shader' series, this is a self-published fantasy that is set upon a future Earth following a post-apocalyptic event in which magic has returned.
While I'm not usually averse to a bit of fantasy every now and then, I have to say: I found this one to be hard going. Despite a promising start, I found it to become somewhat overblown and drawn out and just not that engaging: I never really connected with any of the characters or the situations they faced.
There were times, even, when I was tempted to abandon it altogether / skip chapters, but stuck at it out of sheer bloody-mindedness rather than due to any interest in the story
I'm sorry to say so, but I doubt I'll pick up the second in the series. :(
While I'm not usually averse to a bit of fantasy every now and then, I have to say: I found this one to be hard going. Despite a promising start, I found it to become somewhat overblown and drawn out and just not that engaging: I never really connected with any of the characters or the situations they faced.
There were times, even, when I was tempted to abandon it altogether / skip chapters, but stuck at it out of sheer bloody-mindedness rather than due to any interest in the story
I'm sorry to say so, but I doubt I'll pick up the second in the series. :(
David McK (3562 KP) rated Sword of Honour in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Back in 2013 (or thereabouts) I picked up a book in my local Tesco's; a book of which (at the time) I knew nothing about but which IO ended up quite enjoying. That books (Child of Vengeance) was the immediate precursor to this, and turned out to be one that I quite enjoyed.
Fast forward roughly 5 years, and I picked up the sequel, hoping to receive the same enjoyment from it.
Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed: I found this (which is, effectively, a Japanese revenge tale) to be plodding, pedestrian, heavy going and really just not that engaging, populated with unlikeable characters with murky motivations and with a verbose style of writing that just did not flow, even in the action sequences. As such, I actually found this a struggle to make it to the end!
Sorry Mr Kirk!
Fast forward roughly 5 years, and I picked up the sequel, hoping to receive the same enjoyment from it.
Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed: I found this (which is, effectively, a Japanese revenge tale) to be plodding, pedestrian, heavy going and really just not that engaging, populated with unlikeable characters with murky motivations and with a verbose style of writing that just did not flow, even in the action sequences. As such, I actually found this a struggle to make it to the end!
Sorry Mr Kirk!
lurkykitty (3 KP) rated The Fowl Twins in Books
Mar 26, 2020
Fun, fast-paced and funny
have never read the original Artemis Fowl books but now I absolutely intend to. The Fowl Twins is highly enjoyable, even if, like me, you have never read the Artemis books. The action is fast-paced and grabs the reader right away. The personalities of the twins are very different and highly engaging. There is a constant funny banter between them. There are a lot of moving parts: a villainous nobleman, a nasty nun, a fairy who is called a pixel (pixie/elf hybrid) and a small but highly destructive troll. Artemis also plays an advisor role from outer space. I really liked Lazuli, the Pixel. The action, pacing and clever gadgets remind me of the James Bond stories, but this book is age appropriate, of course. It seems that Mr. Colfer is a very imaginative fellow.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Dance with the Enemy (The Enemy #1) in Books
Apr 5, 2020
Yet another of the books from my "to be read" pile and, once again, why oh why did I leave it so late to read this ... what an absolute scintillating read this is!
From start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat ... it's engaging, exciting, thrilling, fast-paced and totally entertaining. Logan is a brilliant character; flawed and damaged but brave and loyal; I was completely drawn into his story and can't wait to read the second instalment, Rise of the Enemy.
If you like Jason Bourne, you will love this and with plenty of action, violence and scenes of peril with a little bit of love interest thrown in, this is a book that won't disappoint.
Belated thanks go to Clink Street Publishing and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
From start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat ... it's engaging, exciting, thrilling, fast-paced and totally entertaining. Logan is a brilliant character; flawed and damaged but brave and loyal; I was completely drawn into his story and can't wait to read the second instalment, Rise of the Enemy.
If you like Jason Bourne, you will love this and with plenty of action, violence and scenes of peril with a little bit of love interest thrown in, this is a book that won't disappoint.
Belated thanks go to Clink Street Publishing and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) in Movies
Apr 12, 2020
Movie telling the life story of Bruce Lee can be a little bland and hagiographical but has energy, sincerity, and a big fight sequence every fifteen minutes or so, which is all you really want where Lee is concerned. Bruce Lee is kicked out of Hong Kong (for fighting), loses his job in San Francisco (for fighting), starts his own successful business (teaching fighting) and starts a new career (fighting in the movies). Did I mention there are a lot of fights in the movie?
You would be forgiven for taking much of this film with a pinch of salt, but Jason Scott Lee is very engaging, as is Lauren Holly, and its heart is certainly in the right place. Really good fight choreography too. Best not taken too seriously, but very watchable if kung fu movies are your thing.
You would be forgiven for taking much of this film with a pinch of salt, but Jason Scott Lee is very engaging, as is Lauren Holly, and its heart is certainly in the right place. Really good fight choreography too. Best not taken too seriously, but very watchable if kung fu movies are your thing.