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Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Star Wars: Imperial Assault in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Star Wars: Imperial Assault: The Kotaku Review
Imperial Assault is a board game that was released in late 2014. I only got around to playing it over the weekend, and I already count those months between as wasted.
Having made a ton of money off their excellent X-Wing game before moving onto capital ship battles, Imperial Assault is Fantasy Flight’s shot at moving Star Wars into more traditional tabletop territory.
If you’ve ever played HeroQuest, Space Crusade or even XCOM, you’ll be familiar with the basics here: players take control of a character and take turns to move about a grid-based battlefield, using terrain as cover as they battle enemies and complete objectives.
It’s designed for 2-5 players, but shines brighter the closer you get to the latter. A single player—basically the dungeon master—takes control of all Imperial forces, while everyone else selects a single Rebel character, choosing from a stable of RPG class stalwarts (support, sniper, etc).
Reviewer: Luke Plunkett
Read the full review here: https://kotaku.com/star-wars-imperial-assault-the-kotaku-review-1734772222
Having made a ton of money off their excellent X-Wing game before moving onto capital ship battles, Imperial Assault is Fantasy Flight’s shot at moving Star Wars into more traditional tabletop territory.
If you’ve ever played HeroQuest, Space Crusade or even XCOM, you’ll be familiar with the basics here: players take control of a character and take turns to move about a grid-based battlefield, using terrain as cover as they battle enemies and complete objectives.
It’s designed for 2-5 players, but shines brighter the closer you get to the latter. A single player—basically the dungeon master—takes control of all Imperial forces, while everyone else selects a single Rebel character, choosing from a stable of RPG class stalwarts (support, sniper, etc).
Reviewer: Luke Plunkett
Read the full review here: https://kotaku.com/star-wars-imperial-assault-the-kotaku-review-1734772222
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated The Corpse with the Silver Tongue (Cait Morgan #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Cait Morgan has traveled to Nice to present a paper for a sick colleague when she runs into her former boss, Alistair Townsend. Unable to say no, she finds herself at a birthday party for Alistair’s wife that night. Dinner is ruined when Alistair drops dead at the table and the other guests start feeling sick. With the police looking at Cait, she needs to figure out what is really happening.
Cait is an interesting character because she has an excellent memory but a habit of judging others quickly. I did find myself annoyed by her at times, but that never lasted for long. The suspects make a strong cast as they have layers to them that Cait has to peal back before she can solve the crime. And the plot heads into some areas I wasn’t expecting that I found interesting. I had a couple of niggles with the climax, but they were minor.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-corpse-with-silver-tongue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Cait is an interesting character because she has an excellent memory but a habit of judging others quickly. I did find myself annoyed by her at times, but that never lasted for long. The suspects make a strong cast as they have layers to them that Cait has to peal back before she can solve the crime. And the plot heads into some areas I wasn’t expecting that I found interesting. I had a couple of niggles with the climax, but they were minor.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-corpse-with-silver-tongue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Gunslinger in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I feel like this book is gearing up for the others in the series. It is a lot of setting up the world and the characters' motivations and desires. Roland doesn't feel overly "there" in the world. It is kind of like he is in an in between place waiting for the other shoe to drop. Perhaps that is what is meant to be happening, if so, excellent writing.
I am excited to pick up the other books, I think there are seven? I think there is going to be a lot of epicness to come, but I am not quite sure where it is going to be. I am, however, excited to take that journey with Roland, the Man in Black, and everyone else.
I think the characters are well done, but I think I need to read more to really get to know them. but I can say I am excited to do so.
So, yeah. Overall, it was an okay book, but I am planning on reading more of them.
I am excited to pick up the other books, I think there are seven? I think there is going to be a lot of epicness to come, but I am not quite sure where it is going to be. I am, however, excited to take that journey with Roland, the Man in Black, and everyone else.
I think the characters are well done, but I think I need to read more to really get to know them. but I can say I am excited to do so.
So, yeah. Overall, it was an okay book, but I am planning on reading more of them.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated A Clash of Kings (Reissue) in Books
Mar 15, 2018
An excellent continuation to the saga. So far it is proving to be quite an experience to follow the lives of all these characters as they journey through Westeros, both shaping the country's history and having their histories shaped by the events raging around them. Despite containing an increasingly large amount of fantasy elements it's hard not to find the story anything but believable and one can't help but be pulled into the tales of even the most contemptible characters, and believe me there are quite a few that are very worthy of contempt. Perhaps most important of all though, is the very real feeling that at no point does one ever really know exactly where any one of these paths is leading the person or people involved. Thanks to Martin's deft plotting and smart twists, no one's fate ever feels secure, which only adds to the story's momentum. This is completely worthy of all the praise that has been heaped upon the series and serves to leave one very hungry for the next installment.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Unsane (2018) in Movies
Mar 26, 2018 (Updated Mar 26, 2018)
I use my phone for making phone calls and as an alarm clock, but Steven Soderbergh has started using his to make feature films, which if you ask me is just showing off. Unsane is just such a movie, a typically polished piece of genre entertainment. Slightly damaged young woman seeks psychiatric support, finds herself incarcerated in a mental institution against her will. Is she hallucinating the presence of her former stalker, or are things even worse than they seem...?
Apart from Soderbergh's usual breezy skill as a film-maker, the best reason to see Unsane is Claire Foy's excellent performance, which really carries the whole movie (though she is well-supported by Amy Irving, Juno Temple and others, and there's a great cameo from Matt Damon too). The opening sequence of the film is also impressive in its finely-judged ambiguity. However, the film tips its hand much too soon and quickly becomes monumentally implausible (to the point of absolute absurdity). Worth watching, but you really, really have to cut the film some slack in the plotting department.
Apart from Soderbergh's usual breezy skill as a film-maker, the best reason to see Unsane is Claire Foy's excellent performance, which really carries the whole movie (though she is well-supported by Amy Irving, Juno Temple and others, and there's a great cameo from Matt Damon too). The opening sequence of the film is also impressive in its finely-judged ambiguity. However, the film tips its hand much too soon and quickly becomes monumentally implausible (to the point of absolute absurdity). Worth watching, but you really, really have to cut the film some slack in the plotting department.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla Vs Mothra (1992) in Movies
Mar 1, 2018 (Updated Mar 1, 2018)
Barnstorming monster movie delivers everything you want from this kind of film, as well as reintroducing Mothra for a new generation. Meteorite manages to stir up Godzilla, Battra, and Mothra simultaneously (crikey, that's unlucky); explorer Takuya must help the benevolent Mothra and its fairy spokespersons protect humanity (while also sorting out his family problems: it's that kind of a movie).
Essentially a remake of both Mothra (1961) and Mothra Vs Godzilla (1964); as such Godzilla doesn't turn up properly until quite near the end. The storyline with Mothra and Battra is still very engaging, though, and the various call-backs to the 60s movies are fun. Excellent special effects, banging soundtrack, and the tone is pitch-perfect for this kind of film - dramatic without being absurdly serious. You could possibly argue that Battra is a fairly dull monster and superfluous to proceedings; apart from that, in every area that matters this is as good a Godzilla (or Mothra) movie as you can find. A highlight of the franchise.
Essentially a remake of both Mothra (1961) and Mothra Vs Godzilla (1964); as such Godzilla doesn't turn up properly until quite near the end. The storyline with Mothra and Battra is still very engaging, though, and the various call-backs to the 60s movies are fun. Excellent special effects, banging soundtrack, and the tone is pitch-perfect for this kind of film - dramatic without being absurdly serious. You could possibly argue that Battra is a fairly dull monster and superfluous to proceedings; apart from that, in every area that matters this is as good a Godzilla (or Mothra) movie as you can find. A highlight of the franchise.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Skin Deep (Laura Blackstone, #1) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
This is an intriguing beginning to a series. I've played a character with similar abilities in a long-running roleplaying game, so I was particularly interested in this book. I think the author did an excellent job of exploring just how much could be done with "essence" (glamour), while setting believable limits to the character's abilities. She has an exceptionally well-trained memory, but even she slips on a few details here and there when juggling too many personas or with someone very close to her for a long time.
The plot was less interesting to me, frankly, than the character. In fact, the details are a little fuzzy and I just finished the book earlier today. (Of course, I've read most of the next book since then, too). Even while reading it, though, some details strained believability. That detail took the rating down a point.
Still, I was interested enough to go right on to the next book in the series, and I intend to read more of del Franco's work. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy urban fantasy.
The plot was less interesting to me, frankly, than the character. In fact, the details are a little fuzzy and I just finished the book earlier today. (Of course, I've read most of the next book since then, too). Even while reading it, though, some details strained believability. That detail took the rating down a point.
Still, I was interested enough to go right on to the next book in the series, and I intend to read more of del Franco's work. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy urban fantasy.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Please Stand By (2017) in Movies
Jun 18, 2018
Cute and touching
Maybe a cross between Rain Man and Lady Bird or Nebraska, this cute amusing film is about a girl with autism who is devoted to Star Trek (who isn't?) and has the opportunity to write a script for a contest where she could win $100,000.
The script turns out great, but now she has a problem: how to get it to Los Angeles within 3 days to beat the deadline.
I have always been a great fan of Dakota Fanning going back to I Am Sam, War of the Worlds and Man on Fire, and she is excellent and the star of the show here as well. Her portrayal of a young woman on the spectrum is truly believable, touching and sweet.
Some of the situations and people she encounters are a little too strange, unusual and/or only would happen in a movie, but overall her journey to LA is fun and you are really rooting for her to succeed.
The script turns out great, but now she has a problem: how to get it to Los Angeles within 3 days to beat the deadline.
I have always been a great fan of Dakota Fanning going back to I Am Sam, War of the Worlds and Man on Fire, and she is excellent and the star of the show here as well. Her portrayal of a young woman on the spectrum is truly believable, touching and sweet.
Some of the situations and people she encounters are a little too strange, unusual and/or only would happen in a movie, but overall her journey to LA is fun and you are really rooting for her to succeed.
Louise (64 KP) rated The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories in Books
Jul 2, 2018
Marina Keegan could definitely write! I loved loved loved this book, whatsmore it is a non-fiction. Marina was obviously a well loved member of the Yale community and always took pride and wanted to be the best at everything she did. Her writing is truly amazing and this book contains a few short stories that Marina wrote and they're excellent. My favourite story from the fiction part of the book has to be 'reading out loud'. The stories were all very different and realistic. The non-fiction part was equally as good and I think this is the part in which she excelled. My favourite was 'why we care about whales' I am a sucker for animals, however this story was very thought provoking and makes you think of things that you probably wouldn't have thought about before.
I definitely recommend this book if you want to start out with a non-fiction book.
It's so sad, this young girl had such a promising career and life ahead of her and then taken so quickly.
I definitely recommend this book if you want to start out with a non-fiction book.
It's so sad, this young girl had such a promising career and life ahead of her and then taken so quickly.
Maddie (0 KP) rated The Limehouse Golem (2016) in Movies
Sep 1, 2018
I was watching the Limehouse Golem the other day with my aunt, and we both absolutely loved it. I thought Douglas Booth stood out incredibly throughout the whole film, but Olivia Cooke really stole the show as Lizzie. The last few scenes with her in she was magnificent and both my aunt and I thought they did a fantastic job. The only criticism was that we both thought there was too much gore, in that it distracted from the plot as a whole. Now, I love gory shows like Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders etc. but when it fits the plot and adds something extra, like in Sweeney Todd, we know the gore is there because it's showing the story. It felt like the gore in this film was overkill and didn't add anything to the stories of the murders or underlying plots. However, I would 100% recommend this film. All the cast did an amazing job and the cinematography and soundtrack are excellent.