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Imprisoned Heir (Atlantis Institute For Dangerous Criminals #1)
Imprisoned Heir (Atlantis Institute For Dangerous Criminals #1)
River Starr | 2020 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Imprisoned Heir is the first book in the Atlantis Institute for Dangerous Criminals series and we meet Nyx. She is a very rare twin-soul which means whenever she sleeps or is unconscious, Eos comes out to play. That's okay except for when Eos kills two brothers and leaves Nyx too injured to escape. Nyx ends up in prison, tormented by her guard whose brothers Eos killed, and surrounded by her new 'friends', Frost, Dax, and Titus.

This was a well-written story with excellent characters. I enjoyed seeing Flavian struggle against the fated mate bond as he hated Nyx for what 'she' had done. The prison itself was well described as well as the Deep One's effect on people but Nyx in particular.

This does have an overall story arc so you don't get everything neatly tied up. Instead, it ends on a cliff-hanger, leaving you wanting the next book straight away.

A great story I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated 47 Ronin (2013) in Movies

Jan 12, 2021 (Updated Jul 4, 2021)  
47 Ronin (2013)
47 Ronin (2013)
2013 | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
As expected this is a lot of eye-popping visual work in service of a story void of even a single drop of weight. Too much gorgeous design fetish on display to truly dislike in spite of it being executed as plainly as can be otherwise - for every mechanical, generic expository beat there's a splashpad of stunning locales, vibrant costumes, luscious CGI, sweeping sets, excellent props, and fully realized art backing it up. It's super atmospheric and the money is *definitely* on the screen but everything underneath the hood is not only lackluster but genuinely problematic. The idea to take one of the most legendary events in Japanese history and not only turn it into another passive whitewashed popcorn flick is gross all on its own, but to frame the entire thing around a bunch of wronged Japanese men + women having to constantly praise and apologize to a white man for bullying him or whatever is - quite frankly - beyond insulting. As much as I won't soon be forgetting the pop aesthetic experience this delivered upon, I'm also glad it bombed. A screenplay this goofy has no right being so tame. And see the skull guy on the poster? He's only in the movie for like 30 seconds so fuck you.
  
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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Swallow (2019) in Movies

Jan 13, 2021 (Updated Jan 13, 2021)  
Swallow (2019)
Swallow (2019)
2019 | Drama
To be fair, I'd rather swallow a screwdriver than hang out with rich white people too. Gorgeous, nasty, and mean - but never disrespectful. Medically accurate? Perhaps not, but these seldom ever are anyhow so what can you do? In fact I found this to be much more compelling and satisfying as a depiction of obnoxious old-money business whities having their perfect little synthetic image destroyed by people who refuse to shape themselves around it than a portrait of pica. As everyone has already pointed out, Austin Stowell and in particular Haley Bennett are just astounding - easily not only her best performance to date, but the type of galvanizing role that should propel her star-power vastly beyond just Jennifer Lawrence comparisons considering that this is way better work than anything J-Law has done in years anyhow (excluding 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳! [I'm a simp for stupid, manic arthouse cinema I know you don't have to tell me]). Deeply, deeply, *deeply* unsettling - can pleasantly report that its reputation is as airtight as claimed. Super messy but I think that gives it more character tbh, and what an excellent use of music. A bit too on-the-nose at times but also the type of movie that's destined to be misinterpreted by morons everywhere.
  
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Darren Fisher (2465 KP) rated Siege (1982) in Movies

Dec 13, 2020 (Updated Dec 13, 2020)  
Siege (1982)
Siege (1982)
1982 | Action, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Overlooked excellent grindhouse thriller.
I rented this out a lot back in the 80s. This film needs an official re-release desperately (remains only available on VHS and Laserdisc).
Siege motors along at a fast pace, no lulls, just scene upon scene of intense cat and mouse between a gang of murderous thugs and a group of people (in what looks like the most rundown and scuzziest building ever) who take in a survivor from the gangs previous assault. Shades of John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 and a cheeky wink towards Escape From New York, the gang take on more than they bargain for when the ever resourceful victims strike back. Solid acting all round and a sucker punch of a twist at the end. This is a must see! Essential grindhouse viewing!

Trivia:
1# It contains the only existing news footage of the actual 1981 Halifax Police strike.
2# Aka Self Defense (USA), Night Warriors (Europe), New York 1991 (Various countries). Seige was the UK title.
3# The Japanese release has a further 7 minutes of extra 'day-time' footage. Although this is interesting it doesn't really add anything to the final cut. Personally I prefer the 'night-time' version as it evokes more menace and gets straight to the point.
  
Girls Trip (2017)
Girls Trip (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Drama
I love films like this next one. Girls Trip looked like so much fun every time I saw I clip that it was definitely going to be on the list. So here's the Red Band trailer for you...

The Flossy Posse haven't seen each other for five years, somewhere along the way, life happened. But that's about to change. Ryan Pierce is the keynote speaker at this year's Essence Music Festival, and she's getting the gang back together for a long overdue reunion.

While Ryan has great things to look forward to in her career, everything isn't all smooth sailing, and the same goes for the others, although no one wants to admit it. Can they find their old spark again and set themselves on the right path before the partying ends?..

This film made me sad... oh, it wasn't a sad movie, it made me sad that I've never had a group of girls to dance off with. These four lovely ladies really worked well off each other. And hey, if you fancy setting the internet trolls off... I think they would make an excellent front line for the next Ghostbusters movie. Just saying.

Seriously though, this film was really funny. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll do it along to some fantastic music.
  
Hotel Artemis (2018)
Hotel Artemis (2018)
2018 | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
Hmm... I don't know. I really enjoyed this film...

The cast was brilliant. Sterling K. Brown and Jodie Foster were excellent. Dave Bautista always with the lovable tough guy. And who doesn't like watching Sofia Boutella beat the hell out of people?! I even loved Goldblum's short appearance in it, his slightly eccentric style wasn't too overpowering on everything that was going on and he worked really well as the big bad.

My main objection, and I think the reason I didn't give this the last half star, is Zachary Quinto. I wouldn't actively avoid anything with him in it... It's not like I have a choice when he's in Star Trek. But he just didn't sit right in this character for me. Yes I understand that he's supposed to be having a bit of a power trip and isn't in any way like his father, but it felt like he was in a completely different film to everyone else.

I found it genuinely enjoyable to watch, and I'll certainly see it again. Although yet again as I've been writing this I'm wavering on my score. In any case, it would still be at least four stars. I'm definitely not in enough doubt that I'm going to go and change it.