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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Case Against Sugar in Books
Oct 5, 2017
Detailed look at how sugar is peddled to the masses
It's true, a lot of the arguments seem obvious in this day and age that sugar is bad for you. However, this book explains how for decades, giant corporations such as Coca Cola and well known confectioners, and academics with interests in the sugar foundation attempted to thwart all research surrounding this. For much of the time, sugar was seen as the better evil compared to saturated fat, but actually it has been the number one cause in the rise of diabetes, illnesess related to cancer and even dementia.
It is important to read why sugar has been ignored for so long, and no doubt it'll make you feel guilty for reaching for that chocolate bar, and possibly question if that spoonful in your tea is a good idea.
It is important to read why sugar has been ignored for so long, and no doubt it'll make you feel guilty for reaching for that chocolate bar, and possibly question if that spoonful in your tea is a good idea.
Book Divas (227 KP) rated Tongues in Books
Dec 12, 2017
Since I'm torn between four stars and five stars then I will give this crazy read four and 1/2 stars. I don't think that crazy is the correct term for what I need. This read had some sick and repulsive scenes .... definitely some of the best I've encountered in sometime and contains just the right amount of evil and chaos that pushes your mind into boundary lines that you never knew existed. I recommend you read this book when you have the time to do it all in one sitting because if it hadn't been for prior commitments, that's exactly what I would have done... read it all in one day. The author's writing style and descriptive prose make this a MUST read. However, if you have a weak stomach then read at your own peril.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Cabin in the Woods (2012) in Movies
Jan 6, 2018
Unique (1 more)
Funny yet horrible
When it comes to unique comedy/horror, Cabin in the Woods ranks right up there with The Evil Dead, Shaun of the Dead and the other classic comedy horror films.
It kind of a tale of two halves as the standard teenagers stranded in the woods tale starts to unravel with splashes of other scenes which seem unrelated when you first watch them. Then it slowly comes together.
The elevator ride midway through the film embarks the remaining characters on a descent to another world where all sorts of other unique creatures, ghouls and goblins reside.
The climax of the film has to be seen to be believed, but will not be forgotten once you see it. There is no formula here and is truly one-of-a=kind.
It kind of a tale of two halves as the standard teenagers stranded in the woods tale starts to unravel with splashes of other scenes which seem unrelated when you first watch them. Then it slowly comes together.
The elevator ride midway through the film embarks the remaining characters on a descent to another world where all sorts of other unique creatures, ghouls and goblins reside.
The climax of the film has to be seen to be believed, but will not be forgotten once you see it. There is no formula here and is truly one-of-a=kind.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Iron Hearted Violet in Books
Apr 27, 2018
I read a lot of fairy tails as a kid, but never have I read one this profound and unique: an ugly princess, a helpful dragon, a gifted farm-hand, a crazy story-teller, and an evil god trapped in the stones of an ever-changing castle. The language was beautiful and fluid and enchanting, the characters were all unique and special, and the plot itself had me sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. I never wanted it to end but I was so happy with the conclusion. On top of it all, the audio-book was wonderfully read, full of character and voice, and Simon Vance nailed the personalities of the characters. I have no doubt I will re-read this book eventually, and I am adding Barnhill to my Author Watch list.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Battlestar Galactica (1978) in Movies
Mar 17, 2019 (Updated Mar 17, 2019)
Theatrical version of the pilot episode of Glen A Larson's Mormons-in-space Star Wars knock-off (Lucas sued). Somewhere 'beyond the heavens' the Twelve Colonies of Man are betrayed to the evil Cylons; leader Adama (Lorne Greene) must get his Charlton Heston freak on and lead the survivors to the Promised Land (i.e., Earth).
Looks great for the first ten minutes, until it becomes apparent that they only have about three minutes of special effects which are going to be endlessly recycled. The actual story weaves between the tone of a cod-biblical epic and a fairly cheesy soap, but not unengagingly. The fact this is made up of about three different episodes stitched together is obvious, though. It's all kind of clumsy, but still oddly charismatic and enjoyable; more fun than the version with Bob Dylan.
Looks great for the first ten minutes, until it becomes apparent that they only have about three minutes of special effects which are going to be endlessly recycled. The actual story weaves between the tone of a cod-biblical epic and a fairly cheesy soap, but not unengagingly. The fact this is made up of about three different episodes stitched together is obvious, though. It's all kind of clumsy, but still oddly charismatic and enjoyable; more fun than the version with Bob Dylan.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Hellboy (2019) in Movies
Apr 11, 2019 (Updated Apr 11, 2019)
Headbanging new take on Mike Mignola's demonic superhero. Hellboy, summoned to end the world but raised to protect it, has to do battle with vampires, man-eating giants, murderous occultists, pig-headed fairies and an evil sorceress from Arthurian legend. Scores highly on the 'ugh' front with a lot of gore.
Directed by Neil Marshall, so taste and restraint are not much in evidence, while the script is extremely variable and most of the performances not much cop either. Were-beasts fight fairies, demons fight vampires, none of it makes a great deal of sense, and there's little sign of the wit and style of Guillermo del Toro's films about these characters. In the end the film has plenty of energy and a sense of humour about itself which keep it just about watchable, but it's still a bit of a disappointment.
Directed by Neil Marshall, so taste and restraint are not much in evidence, while the script is extremely variable and most of the performances not much cop either. Were-beasts fight fairies, demons fight vampires, none of it makes a great deal of sense, and there's little sign of the wit and style of Guillermo del Toro's films about these characters. In the end the film has plenty of energy and a sense of humour about itself which keep it just about watchable, but it's still a bit of a disappointment.
The Craggus (360 KP) rated Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) in Movies
May 4, 2019
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile (2019) is extremely well acted but shockingly superficial
...Zac Efron as Bundy is superb, radiating the charm, charisma and magnetism which goes some way to explaining Bundy’s horrific, prolific litany of murders. His eyes become the window to Bundy’s black-hearted soul as they flash from smouldering sensuality to steely malevolence and back when the mask occasionally slips. He brings an exquisite, subtle physicality to the role giving Bundy mannerisms and actions which creep around the peripheral edge of your perception – in the way he holds a kitchen knife or the way his hand rests on someone’s neck in a position and for a moment longer than seems comfortable or normal – to remind us of the dark truth of the man and what he’s capable of while he beams that megawatt smile...
FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusExtremelyWicked
FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusExtremelyWicked
Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Trek: Discovery - Season 1 in TV
Feb 16, 2018 (Updated Feb 16, 2018)
Not as we have known it
Knockabout SF action series that's strong on bonkers pulp fiction ideas - mushroom-powered star drives, evil duplicates, 'species reassignment surgery', and so on - but less impressive when it comes to narrative cohesion or actually resembling anything previously released under the Star Trek banner.
Theses could and probably have been written about the myriad ways in which Discovery cheerfully ignores or rewrites continuity from previous series and movies; a more serious problem is the generally dark tone, emphasis on military conflict, and absence of humanistic optimism. Effects are okay; Doug Jones is the best thing in it as peril-averse first officer, though pushed hard by Jason Isaacs as loose-cannon captain of the ship. Not actively bad on its own terms, I expect, but very disappointing as an actual piece of Star Trek.
Theses could and probably have been written about the myriad ways in which Discovery cheerfully ignores or rewrites continuity from previous series and movies; a more serious problem is the generally dark tone, emphasis on military conflict, and absence of humanistic optimism. Effects are okay; Doug Jones is the best thing in it as peril-averse first officer, though pushed hard by Jason Isaacs as loose-cannon captain of the ship. Not actively bad on its own terms, I expect, but very disappointing as an actual piece of Star Trek.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Tick - Season 1 in TV
Apr 3, 2018
Good silly fun, an antidote to the heavy duty Netflix Marvel shows
The Tick is good fun, and a good alternative to all the super serious or cheesy superhero shows on Netflix etc. Arthur is the reclusive geek whose father was killed accidentally by superheroes when he was a child and he is now trying to prove the evil superhero is still alive and active. he meets up with the Tick and ends up reluctantly as his sidekick (though is the bigger contributor of the two).
The whole series could probably have been boiled down to one feature rather than 12 half hour episodes but it doesn't feel drawn out or padded.
Peter Serafinowicz as the Tick is somewhat underused I would say, with the bulk of the focus being on Arthur, given his comedic abilities but I think that suited the story.
The whole series could probably have been boiled down to one feature rather than 12 half hour episodes but it doesn't feel drawn out or padded.
Peter Serafinowicz as the Tick is somewhat underused I would say, with the bulk of the focus being on Arthur, given his comedic abilities but I think that suited the story.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Three Musketeers (2011) in Movies
Feb 11, 2018 (Updated Feb 11, 2018)
Dumb and Dumas
Paul W.S. Anderson, the man behind the Resident Evil and Alien Vs Predator franchises, shows us what real creativity looks like as he gives us his take on a piece of classic literature, adding all those crucial things that Alexandre Dumas inexplicably forgot to include in the original version of The Three Musketeers: aqualungs, flamethrowers, airship battles, Orlando Bloom in a pompadour hairstyle, and Milla Jovovich doing somersaults in a basque.
Pretty much wholly ghastly from start to finish, almost to the point where banning Anderson from reading books seems like a reasonable precaution, just to be on the safe side. About as thrilling as watching your laptop install an update, with all the comic charm of an outbreak of venereal disease. The special effects are technically competent but that really is the best you can say about it.
Pretty much wholly ghastly from start to finish, almost to the point where banning Anderson from reading books seems like a reasonable precaution, just to be on the safe side. About as thrilling as watching your laptop install an update, with all the comic charm of an outbreak of venereal disease. The special effects are technically competent but that really is the best you can say about it.