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Kira (36 KP) rated 13 Reasons Why - Season 1 in TV
Sep 1, 2017
The acting (1 more)
Engaging
Potentially triggering (1 more)
Extremely controversial
While I found the show interesting and binge watched it over a few days, I agree that it is highly controversial and definitely not for everyone. There are some scenes that are extremely difficult to watch and if you're in a dark place yourself, I would not recommend watching this.
I personally admire how Thirteen Reasons Why was willing to tackle such a sensitive topic that needs more light shed upon it. Depression, bullying and generally feeling hopeless is something that cannot be ignored. Teens and others in these situations need to know that it's okay to talk to someone about these feelings before they get too much; before they end up in the place Hannah did.
Personally, I did enjoy Thirteen Reasons Why and look forward to seeing what season 2 brings, however, I do believe the direction in which this show goes could, perhaps, be fairly damaging some.
I personally admire how Thirteen Reasons Why was willing to tackle such a sensitive topic that needs more light shed upon it. Depression, bullying and generally feeling hopeless is something that cannot be ignored. Teens and others in these situations need to know that it's okay to talk to someone about these feelings before they get too much; before they end up in the place Hannah did.
Personally, I did enjoy Thirteen Reasons Why and look forward to seeing what season 2 brings, however, I do believe the direction in which this show goes could, perhaps, be fairly damaging some.
Sofianosheen (0 KP) rated Deep Blue Sea (1999) in Movies
Apr 22, 2018
Graphics (3 more)
Audio
Acting
Plot
You mess with the sharks, the sharks mess with you.
Contains spoilers, click to show
If you like shark attack movies, you're going to love this one. The graphics are great for its time. The plot is quite engaging, as you understand why they did what they did and agree that you would have done the same thing if you were looking for a cure for degenerative brain disease. L.L. Cool J adds a hot simmer to the character exchanges and the ending is poetic justice for the head scientist, getting eaten by her own creation. My single and only let down from this movie was that I wish there had been more incidences of the sharks using their new intelligence together as a team. Long story short: this movie isn't going to win any emmys/oscars/etc., but it will satisfy your hunger for a bloody shark movie with a legitimate plot.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Meridian (Fenestra, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
Well-written, evenly paced, with a likable and realistic protagonist in the title character, Meridian came alive in my mind quite easily. The writing is engaging, the dialogue well-done, and overall, the author did a great job creating the concept of angels who usher the dead into heaven, nirvana, enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it. Meridian does falter with the character of a typical cookie-cutter villain and at the end where there's a bit of confusion in what's happening, but it's understandable, yet slightly vague.
Amber Kizer has some interesting ideas about death and how it works. However, I do believe that the book is more suited to those who are open-minded, no matter their religion or beliefs. Meridian does well as a stand-alone, but if this does turn into a series, it will be interesting to see where Ms. Kizer takes us next. I'd recommend this for an easy, interesting and fairly fast read.
Amber Kizer has some interesting ideas about death and how it works. However, I do believe that the book is more suited to those who are open-minded, no matter their religion or beliefs. Meridian does well as a stand-alone, but if this does turn into a series, it will be interesting to see where Ms. Kizer takes us next. I'd recommend this for an easy, interesting and fairly fast read.
Heathski (173 KP) rated The Closer We Are To Dying in Books
Feb 15, 2019
Well written and easy to read (2 more)
Full of wonderful stories
Family
Poignant beautiful memoir that I will always remember.
I read this a long time ago. I'm not that into reading biographies but I will always remember this book. It's about the memoirs of the father of the author and their family. His father is dying and Joe recounts the story of their reconciliation while he stays by his beside. Stories are told about the past, both happy and sad, humorous and at times violent. I grew up listening to stories from my older generation, which might be why I enjoyed this so much. It also reminded me a little bit of my uncle's, they always looked Italian and were mischievous. The way it is written is beautiful and engaging, and the stories are emotional, captivating and sometimes shocking. If its still available, it is a book I highly recommend you pick up and read.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Occupied (Okkupert)- Season 1 in TV
Mar 2, 2019 (Updated Mar 2, 2019)
When I read that Jo Nesbo had created a television series, I was all in. Nesbo is one of my favorite authors.
When Norway is the first country to move to using all green energy, the rest of the world, specifically countries that rely heavily on oil, try to convince the government to stop the move. When the PM of Norway refuses, Russia invades Norway. This series covers a month at a time, and features several characters in the government, as well as a journalist.
At first, this invasion is seen as temporary and friendly, but when everything starts to turn more sinister, the more interesting the show becomes. The show is mostly in Norwegian, with some portions in English, but the translation seems to be spot on.
Overall, an engaging series, and I can't wait to watch season 2. It is a little creepy that this invasion completely seems like it could happen in real life.
When Norway is the first country to move to using all green energy, the rest of the world, specifically countries that rely heavily on oil, try to convince the government to stop the move. When the PM of Norway refuses, Russia invades Norway. This series covers a month at a time, and features several characters in the government, as well as a journalist.
At first, this invasion is seen as temporary and friendly, but when everything starts to turn more sinister, the more interesting the show becomes. The show is mostly in Norwegian, with some portions in English, but the translation seems to be spot on.
Overall, an engaging series, and I can't wait to watch season 2. It is a little creepy that this invasion completely seems like it could happen in real life.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Mile 22 (2018) in Movies
Mar 11, 2019 (Updated Mar 11, 2019)
Depressing, pointless action movie that doesn't seem to know how to make use of its assets. Sociopathic American black-ops officer Marky Mark must take double-agent Iko Uwais 35.4 kilometres in order that he will spill the beans on some terrorist McGuffin or other; lots of people shoot at them on the way.
The premise is decent high-concept stuff, but the director clearly felt it was a bit too straightforward and so a potentially engaging thriller is smothered by too many dead-wood subplots and over-wrought plot twists and character bits. Iko Uwais is a brilliant martial artist, but you'd never know that from the frenetic way this film has been directed and edited (his acting performance is a bit of a revelation though). Much too low-key and down-beat for what's ultimately a thick slab of jingoistic nonsense; a surprisingly bad film considering all the talent involved.
The premise is decent high-concept stuff, but the director clearly felt it was a bit too straightforward and so a potentially engaging thriller is smothered by too many dead-wood subplots and over-wrought plot twists and character bits. Iko Uwais is a brilliant martial artist, but you'd never know that from the frenetic way this film has been directed and edited (his acting performance is a bit of a revelation though). Much too low-key and down-beat for what's ultimately a thick slab of jingoistic nonsense; a surprisingly bad film considering all the talent involved.
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated The Stonekeeper (Amulet, #1) in Books
Apr 17, 2019
Beautiful graphics & engaging plot
I have been waiting forever for the library copy of this book to finally be available! I am so glad I waited. I first learned of the Amulet series when I worked in a bookstore. I just started to get into graphic novels and it was always a book I passed by and thought "I should read that." When my niece came to my house toating the book around like precious cargo, I knew it was time to finally read it!
The Stonekeeper is the first book in the series and it really does a great job of setting up the story. The graphics were breathtakingly good & I loved how it was just the perfect amount of dark. I will say, it surprised me how dark it was but that isn't a bad thing. I tend to like grittier things so it was a pleasant surprise. The plot kept my interest and I will definitely need to keep reading the series!
The Stonekeeper is the first book in the series and it really does a great job of setting up the story. The graphics were breathtakingly good & I loved how it was just the perfect amount of dark. I will say, it surprised me how dark it was but that isn't a bad thing. I tend to like grittier things so it was a pleasant surprise. The plot kept my interest and I will definitely need to keep reading the series!
TacoDave (4039 KP) rated Lord of the Flies in Books
May 23, 2019
Engaging (2 more)
Good pace
Believable characters and plot
A brutal classic
"Lord of the Flies" is a classic for a reason. It is the story of a bunch of boys who survive a plane crash and are stranded on an island together. They get along well at first, but soon the pressures of their situation cause cracks in their 'society' and they form into two groups that clash with each other, sometimes violently.
The idea that human civilization is fragile is examined, but not through exposition, rather through the actions of the characters in the story. Are humans inherently violent? Is peaceful society an illusion, one tragedy away from breakdown?
If you've never read this book - or seen one of the movie versions - be aware that it gets brutal at times. There is violence and bloodshed and not everyone escapes unharmed. But it is a fascinating story of civility and civilization and what it means to be a human in a stable society.
The idea that human civilization is fragile is examined, but not through exposition, rather through the actions of the characters in the story. Are humans inherently violent? Is peaceful society an illusion, one tragedy away from breakdown?
If you've never read this book - or seen one of the movie versions - be aware that it gets brutal at times. There is violence and bloodshed and not everyone escapes unharmed. But it is a fascinating story of civility and civilization and what it means to be a human in a stable society.
Mayhawke (97 KP) rated Murder In Steeple Martin in Books
Feb 7, 2018
Slow starter but soon pulls you in
This book starts a little slowly but very soon rewards those who stick with it and becomes one of the most engaging books I have read in a long time. Vaguely reminiscent of Agatha Raisin, in that the heroine is a dumpy middle-aged, neurotic woman who lives in deeply rural England with a cat. Yet this is by no means a rip-off.
Somewhat less manic than A.R., both series carry on an old and well-established style of British Mystery writing. That said, it is clear that Lesley Cookman has gone out of her way to break some of the rules. For example there is only -shock, horror!- *one* murder in her book;her characters have no access to the Police enquiry, so are working completly in the dark; and as much as she can she has avoided having characters do obviously stupid things.
This is not an earth-shattering book, but it is a thoroughly good read.
Somewhat less manic than A.R., both series carry on an old and well-established style of British Mystery writing. That said, it is clear that Lesley Cookman has gone out of her way to break some of the rules. For example there is only -shock, horror!- *one* murder in her book;her characters have no access to the Police enquiry, so are working completly in the dark; and as much as she can she has avoided having characters do obviously stupid things.
This is not an earth-shattering book, but it is a thoroughly good read.
In the two months since the end of My Fair Lady, Eliza Doolittle has gone to work for Emil Nepommuck, Henry Higgins’s chief rival. This is just one of the many reasons that Higgins decides the take Nepommuck down. However, when the man turns up murdered, Higgins becomes Scotland Yard’s chief suspect and Eliza and Higgins must team up to figure out what really happened to the man.
This is a delightful continuation of the characters from the famous musical (or more accurately George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion which inspired the musical). The returning characters are perfect, and the new characters are just as engaging. The plot twists and turns on the way to a thoroughly entertaining climax, and the humor mixed in is a delight. I can’t wait to see what happens to this duo next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-wouldnt-it-be-deadly-by-d-e.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a delightful continuation of the characters from the famous musical (or more accurately George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion which inspired the musical). The returning characters are perfect, and the new characters are just as engaging. The plot twists and turns on the way to a thoroughly entertaining climax, and the humor mixed in is a delight. I can’t wait to see what happens to this duo next.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-review-wouldnt-it-be-deadly-by-d-e.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.