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Collins English Dictionary Complete and Unabridged
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Collins English Dictionary Complete and Unabridged is the most comprehensive and authoritative...
Talk for Writing Across the Curriculum: How to Teach Non-Fiction Writing 5-12 Years
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"This is a vibrantly practical and engaging book with a solid foundation in research. This book will...
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African American Children in American Political Life: The Literature and Politics of the Impossible
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This book explores the ways that figures of Black children and writing for them articulate complex...
SmartUp - Knowledge Sharing For Teams
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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Plane (2023) in Movies
Jan 12, 2023
Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler), is a recently widowed dad who looks
forward to completing his nearly empty run from Singapore to Tokyo so he
can take advantage of the time difference and meet up with his daughter in
Hawaii in time to celebrate the new year.
In the new film “Plane” things do not go as planned as the nearly empty
the flight also hosts a prisoner transfer as a dangerous fugitive named Louis
(Mike Colter), is brought onto the flight late.
Forced by a corporate officer to fly through a storm they were told would
be clear by the time they reached it to save time and fuel, the flight
encounters severe issues and soon find themselves without avionics and
forced to make an emergency landing on an island.
Unable to send for help and unsure of their exact location, Brodie learns
that they are on an outer island of the Philippines and that there is only
insurrectionists and militia on the island and that the military or police
are not options.
While attempting to find a way to contact help, Brodie enlists Louis to
help and soon finds that the passengers and crew have been taking hostage
by a brutal local militia. Forced to improvise rescue and wait for
help, the tense and violent situation quickly becomes a living nightmare
as they fight to survive.
The tension level of the film is great as the early segments in the plane
did a great job of showing the routine of a pilot and also ramped up the
tension. I can be a nervous passenger when a plane gets into bad weather
and I found my palms getting sweaty and anxiety creeping in during the
detailed sequences of the flight in peril.
The action of the film was engaging as were the characters as they were
easy to pull for despite not having much in the way of backstory or
character development. The film has plenty of action as was engaging from
start to finish which makes “Plane” a pleasant diversion and one fan of
Butler will not want to miss.
4 stars out of 5
forward to completing his nearly empty run from Singapore to Tokyo so he
can take advantage of the time difference and meet up with his daughter in
Hawaii in time to celebrate the new year.
In the new film “Plane” things do not go as planned as the nearly empty
the flight also hosts a prisoner transfer as a dangerous fugitive named Louis
(Mike Colter), is brought onto the flight late.
Forced by a corporate officer to fly through a storm they were told would
be clear by the time they reached it to save time and fuel, the flight
encounters severe issues and soon find themselves without avionics and
forced to make an emergency landing on an island.
Unable to send for help and unsure of their exact location, Brodie learns
that they are on an outer island of the Philippines and that there is only
insurrectionists and militia on the island and that the military or police
are not options.
While attempting to find a way to contact help, Brodie enlists Louis to
help and soon finds that the passengers and crew have been taking hostage
by a brutal local militia. Forced to improvise rescue and wait for
help, the tense and violent situation quickly becomes a living nightmare
as they fight to survive.
The tension level of the film is great as the early segments in the plane
did a great job of showing the routine of a pilot and also ramped up the
tension. I can be a nervous passenger when a plane gets into bad weather
and I found my palms getting sweaty and anxiety creeping in during the
detailed sequences of the flight in peril.
The action of the film was engaging as were the characters as they were
easy to pull for despite not having much in the way of backstory or
character development. The film has plenty of action as was engaging from
start to finish which makes “Plane” a pleasant diversion and one fan of
Butler will not want to miss.
4 stars out of 5
Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Shape of Water (2017) in Movies
Dec 28, 2017
Visual splendor (1 more)
Great acting
Contains spoilers, click to show
When you see a Guillermo del Toro film, you usually know you will be met with striking visuals, intense characters and ride an adventure you have never been on before. Such is the case with The Shape of Water.
The mute heroine protagonist is played with such brilliance by Sally Hawkins, she is sure to win an Academy Award for this film. The love story between her and her unusual companion is clever, unique and so engaging you cannot look away for even a moment.
Michael Shannon is also diabolical as the military officer determined to have his own way with the fate of the reptilian creature.
I wouldn't have minded some more backstory on the creature. It was said he was found in South America and was worshiped like a god, but that's all that was said. Some may argue the film lacks a significant point; however, I disagree.
Sometimes the journey is good enough and the emotional payoff after the climactic events was more than sufficient for me.
The mute heroine protagonist is played with such brilliance by Sally Hawkins, she is sure to win an Academy Award for this film. The love story between her and her unusual companion is clever, unique and so engaging you cannot look away for even a moment.
Michael Shannon is also diabolical as the military officer determined to have his own way with the fate of the reptilian creature.
I wouldn't have minded some more backstory on the creature. It was said he was found in South America and was worshiped like a god, but that's all that was said. Some may argue the film lacks a significant point; however, I disagree.
Sometimes the journey is good enough and the emotional payoff after the climactic events was more than sufficient for me.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Matched (Matched #1) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I loved, LOVED this book! I've had it sitting in my "to read" pile for quite awhile now & decided it was time to read it. Now I'm pissed off at myself that I waited so long!!!
The book was engaging. I didn't want to put it down. It was an easy, quick read. Kind of a mixture between the Twilight books & the Hunger Games series...but don't take that as being it is the same. Some of elements of those great series show up in this one, but it is by NO means a copy.
Cassia, Ky, & Xander are all very well developed, easy to like characters. They add a great depth to the story which is, in some ways a typical teenage love triangle story, but different from the usual too.
I am very much looking forward to jumping into the 2nd book in the series to find out what happens to all 3 of them. It left me feeling the need to say, "Do not go gentle into that good night." ;)
The book was engaging. I didn't want to put it down. It was an easy, quick read. Kind of a mixture between the Twilight books & the Hunger Games series...but don't take that as being it is the same. Some of elements of those great series show up in this one, but it is by NO means a copy.
Cassia, Ky, & Xander are all very well developed, easy to like characters. They add a great depth to the story which is, in some ways a typical teenage love triangle story, but different from the usual too.
I am very much looking forward to jumping into the 2nd book in the series to find out what happens to all 3 of them. It left me feeling the need to say, "Do not go gentle into that good night." ;)
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Orange is the New Black - Season 1 in TV
Aug 3, 2017
The range of different characters (2 more)
The cast are all great
The writing is sharp and witty
Life on the inside is different
My girlfriend was actually the one to talk me into trying this show and I am so glad she did. This first season is great. The storyline is engaging, the characters are instantly memorable and the writing is fast and razor sharp. This is another high quality show produced by Netflix and at this point their track record shows more hits than misses. The strange thing though, and the only thing that stops me from scoring this show a 10, is the main character, Piper Chapman.
She is obnoxious, self absorbed and consistently dislikeable and I don't get why. The show is based on a book written by real life prison inmate Piper Kerman. Why would she show herself to be an insensitive, irritating idiot? This isn't the actors fault though, Taylor Schilling does a good job with what she is given, but Piper as a character is genuinely the worst thing about the show.
She is obnoxious, self absorbed and consistently dislikeable and I don't get why. The show is based on a book written by real life prison inmate Piper Kerman. Why would she show herself to be an insensitive, irritating idiot? This isn't the actors fault though, Taylor Schilling does a good job with what she is given, but Piper as a character is genuinely the worst thing about the show.
Kira (36 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) in Movies
Sep 4, 2017
Special effects (2 more)
The creatures
Main casting
Johnny Depp (1 more)
Tina's character
I love the Harry Potter universe, but Fantastic Beasts failed to get my attention or fill with me with excitement. I'm not entirely sure why, but I didn't think I was going to enjoy it and unlike the other films in this universe, didn't go to the cinema upon it's release.
Boy was I wrong and gave myself a kick for not going to see it on the big screen!
I very quickly found myself not only falling in love with Newt, Queenie and Jacob, but the animals brought to life on screen. The story was engaging and I appreciated that it seemed to be more so for adults, the abuse being somewhat darker and my heart broke for Credence.
On the other side of things, I disliked Tina's character and wasn't impressed by the casting of Johnny Depp.
Despite my personal issues with the above, however, I still love this magical film and am greatly looking forward to the future installments.
Boy was I wrong and gave myself a kick for not going to see it on the big screen!
I very quickly found myself not only falling in love with Newt, Queenie and Jacob, but the animals brought to life on screen. The story was engaging and I appreciated that it seemed to be more so for adults, the abuse being somewhat darker and my heart broke for Credence.
On the other side of things, I disliked Tina's character and wasn't impressed by the casting of Johnny Depp.
Despite my personal issues with the above, however, I still love this magical film and am greatly looking forward to the future installments.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Thor: Ragnarok (2017) in Movies
Apr 22, 2018
Probably as good as a Marvel film can get
Finally got around to seeing this. (I am always late to the party since I don't visit the theatre often.)
You will never see me mention stunning visuals (although I just did) as a plus in any movie any more. Gone are the days of being blown away by Jurassic Park, Total Recall and The Matrix. It should go without saying the "visuals were amazing", and filmmakers should be striving higher to making an engaging story with interesting characters and trying to give audiences something they were not expecting.
Having said all that, I did find this film more interesting and entertaining than its predecessor, and Cate Blanchett made a great Marvel vileness. Although I had heard this was a funny film, I wasn't really that impressed (maybe my expectations were too high).
The film suffered from Avenger-itis I thought by wanting to cram too much into one movie. The action scenes and Jeff Goldblum are enough for me to recommend.
You will never see me mention stunning visuals (although I just did) as a plus in any movie any more. Gone are the days of being blown away by Jurassic Park, Total Recall and The Matrix. It should go without saying the "visuals were amazing", and filmmakers should be striving higher to making an engaging story with interesting characters and trying to give audiences something they were not expecting.
Having said all that, I did find this film more interesting and entertaining than its predecessor, and Cate Blanchett made a great Marvel vileness. Although I had heard this was a funny film, I wasn't really that impressed (maybe my expectations were too high).
The film suffered from Avenger-itis I thought by wanting to cram too much into one movie. The action scenes and Jeff Goldblum are enough for me to recommend.