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Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Land (Stranded #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[Theresa Shaver] tells a story of survival and how when the world collapses people can either rise up and do the right thing or become evil. [The Land] starts with teenager at Disneyland when an EMP hits and disables all technology. Luckily the students have a teacher who encourages them to get home although she must stay with those who won't leave. Home is Canada. The small group divides to those who choose to go by sea and those by land. This follow the trek aver the mountains and through an increasing panicking population to get home.
The plot was fast paced and well written and the characters were a mix of those you liked and those you wish would be eaten by a bear. In other words it was well balanced.
The plot was fast paced and well written and the characters were a mix of those you liked and those you wish would be eaten by a bear. In other words it was well balanced.
Glen Banyard (13 KP) rated Aladdin (2019) in Movies
Jun 9, 2019
The pacing in songs (1 more)
Jafar, just not malevolent
Not great, not terrible
So Aladdin came in for some possibly unjustified criticism when the trailers dropped and Will Smith was introduced as Genie, that though seriously is not the worst of the film.
The animated movie Jafar is evil, cunning and has the air of malevolence with every word he utters, in the live action, he's well, not, throughout the film he comes across weak, so that air just isn't there.
That though sad to say is not the worst, Jasmine and Aladdin, just no chemistry making the more romantic scenes more than a little painful to watch.
While kids will watch it and love the colorful genie, the parents will be fondly remembering the animated movie.
The animated movie Jafar is evil, cunning and has the air of malevolence with every word he utters, in the live action, he's well, not, throughout the film he comes across weak, so that air just isn't there.
That though sad to say is not the worst, Jasmine and Aladdin, just no chemistry making the more romantic scenes more than a little painful to watch.
While kids will watch it and love the colorful genie, the parents will be fondly remembering the animated movie.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Black Panther (2018) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018 (Updated Feb 14, 2018)
Top-tier Marvel superhero movie is essentially diversity wish-fulfilment, revealing the existence of a secret sci-fi African kingdom with technology from Star Wars and soundtrack from The Lion King, but disguises this supremely well with solid script, first class action, and charismatic performances.
New king (and part-time superhero) must come to the throne, cope with parental issues, deal with old enemy and malevolent would-be usurper. Contains some very interesting and subversive ideas about culture and colonialism; doesn't overdo this, of course. Chadwick Boseman radiates nobility and cool as BP, Andy Serkis has too much fun as ridiculously evil villain Klaw, nice support from Martin Freeman as token white sidekick/comic relief (nice to see a bit of diversity in the casting, guys). Marvel continue to do very little wrong.
New king (and part-time superhero) must come to the throne, cope with parental issues, deal with old enemy and malevolent would-be usurper. Contains some very interesting and subversive ideas about culture and colonialism; doesn't overdo this, of course. Chadwick Boseman radiates nobility and cool as BP, Andy Serkis has too much fun as ridiculously evil villain Klaw, nice support from Martin Freeman as token white sidekick/comic relief (nice to see a bit of diversity in the casting, guys). Marvel continue to do very little wrong.
Goldenarrow74 (10 KP) rated Nudist Colony of the Dead (1991) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018
Ridiculous. Ridiculously silly. Ridiculously fun.
Ridiculous. Ridiculously funny, silly and blasphemous.
“Your children can’t praise the lord if they’ve got genitals in their mouths!” - Reverend Ritz
So much to snigger at here - notably the slightly-more-mature nudist Mrs Druple and her hazardous wrinkly swinging boobs.
There’s things to learn as well - whoever knew that devilled eggs came from possessed chickens?! Beware folks- evil lurks in the most unlikely of places.
“There’s a history of fornication in my family.” Fanny Wype
Actually, there are some deep theological questions raised here, such as, Why does this god guy get lost so much? Everyone is always trying to find him.
“Your children can’t praise the lord if they’ve got genitals in their mouths!” - Reverend Ritz
So much to snigger at here - notably the slightly-more-mature nudist Mrs Druple and her hazardous wrinkly swinging boobs.
There’s things to learn as well - whoever knew that devilled eggs came from possessed chickens?! Beware folks- evil lurks in the most unlikely of places.
“There’s a history of fornication in my family.” Fanny Wype
Actually, there are some deep theological questions raised here, such as, Why does this god guy get lost so much? Everyone is always trying to find him.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dog Soldiers (2002) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018
Raucous and highly derivative low-budget werewolf movie. Director Neil Marshall went on to bigger and somewhat better movies, but this is a decent calling card.
A group of British squaddies on a training exercise run into a pack of werewolves in the Scottish highlands (as happens all the time, I expect); they take refuge in a remote farmhouse. What follows is largely composed of bits lifted from Evil Dead and Assault on Precinct 13, done with a great deal of enthusiasm by all concerned. Part of the fun of this kind of movie is being able to guess what's going to happen next; you may well be able to do so even if you haven't seen the same films that Marshall has. Well-staged gory action; rather impressive werewolf suits considering the low budget.
A group of British squaddies on a training exercise run into a pack of werewolves in the Scottish highlands (as happens all the time, I expect); they take refuge in a remote farmhouse. What follows is largely composed of bits lifted from Evil Dead and Assault on Precinct 13, done with a great deal of enthusiasm by all concerned. Part of the fun of this kind of movie is being able to guess what's going to happen next; you may well be able to do so even if you haven't seen the same films that Marshall has. Well-staged gory action; rather impressive werewolf suits considering the low budget.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Skyscraper (2018) in Movies
Jul 18, 2018
Utterly derivative and calculated mash-up of the thriller and disaster movie genres as Dwayne Johnson has to rescue his lovely family from a really tall building which is on fire, and some evil criminals who are not.
Not what you could honestly call bad in any department, but any soul or originality seems to have been ground out of the script, which may well have been written by software. The only exception to this is - it's not even a proper subplot - the fact that Johnson's character has a prosthetic leg, which keeps turning out to be relevant to the action in all kinds of odd ways. But this just serves to make the film odd rather than actually interesting. In the end it's okay, just really bland.
Not what you could honestly call bad in any department, but any soul or originality seems to have been ground out of the script, which may well have been written by software. The only exception to this is - it's not even a proper subplot - the fact that Johnson's character has a prosthetic leg, which keeps turning out to be relevant to the action in all kinds of odd ways. But this just serves to make the film odd rather than actually interesting. In the end it's okay, just really bland.
Dalicat (20 KP) rated The Tin Roof Blowdown in Books
Sep 1, 2018
A novel one lives rather than reads
Each of the fifteen Dave Robicheaux novels which preceded this one are masterpieces and this is the Grand Finale. The plot and characters move within the devasted landscape of New Orleans following the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina. The scenes of environmental destruction are described with heartbreakingly beautiful poetic prose which serves as a counterpoint to a seering indictment of the socio-economic political landscape of the time. The extreme conditions under which the plot develops drive the characters to their limits of good and evil. The plot is as relentless as the driving force of the hurricane. Often difficult to read due to the sheer emotional weight of the work but too compelling to put down.
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4) in Books
Dec 30, 2019
All right, so the high school crap was taken care of. Kate was being a passive-aggressive douchecanoe and Curran was being the stereotypically boring alpha male and they called each other out on it, which is awesome.
I really don't want to give away the plot because it's a doozy. I loved this book and the only real complaint I have is Kate's internalized misogyny. I'm referring to the "slut" and "bimbo" comments. Come on, Kate! The only bimbo is Curran!
I also really enjoyed the Frienship between Andrea and Kate and hope it's explored more in the next book. It's really nice to see female leads in UF who like and respect their fellow women and don't think they're evil whores out to steal their man.
I really don't want to give away the plot because it's a doozy. I loved this book and the only real complaint I have is Kate's internalized misogyny. I'm referring to the "slut" and "bimbo" comments. Come on, Kate! The only bimbo is Curran!
I also really enjoyed the Frienship between Andrea and Kate and hope it's explored more in the next book. It's really nice to see female leads in UF who like and respect their fellow women and don't think they're evil whores out to steal their man.
Milleen (47 KP) rated The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle in Books
Jan 14, 2019
Mindblowing Murder Mystery
Any fan of a jolly good, old fashioned murder mystery may enjoy a new spin on the favourite format. Imagine an Agatha Christie style thriller from the point of view of several characters, a narrator who swaps bodies and arrives at different times in their week. He must solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, avoid the evil Footman and play time to his advantage if he is ever allowed to leave Blackheath. This was a complex, and yet highly enjoyable, work of fiction. Within three chapters you will begin to appreciate the work it must’ve taken Turton to create this tense thriller. It’s an exhilarating peek into the minds of other characters and their perspectives, the more their individual stories overlap, the more the narrative flows. Definitely a book for discussion.
Anne (15117 KP) rated The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1) in Books
Nov 4, 2019
I've always strongly disliked Snow White, but Shadow Queen I like a lot - it's so much better than Snow White!
Also I love C.J. Redwine’s books - they're awesome! I love The Traitor Prince - it might be my favorite of her books so far. I'm reading The Wish Granter now after this book.
I love Lorelai, she's so much more relatable and awesome and Irina is even more understandable even though she is detestable and disgusting with her evil wickedness.
And I love Kol and his little group of friends and Kol and Lorelai together complement each other.
I am gaining a new level of appreciation and interest in the fairy tales because of these great retellings.
If you haven't checked this book out or any of these by C.J. Red wine, you should.
Also I love C.J. Redwine’s books - they're awesome! I love The Traitor Prince - it might be my favorite of her books so far. I'm reading The Wish Granter now after this book.
I love Lorelai, she's so much more relatable and awesome and Irina is even more understandable even though she is detestable and disgusting with her evil wickedness.
And I love Kol and his little group of friends and Kol and Lorelai together complement each other.
I am gaining a new level of appreciation and interest in the fairy tales because of these great retellings.
If you haven't checked this book out or any of these by C.J. Red wine, you should.