Now That You Mention It
Book
"The kind of book I enjoy the most--sparkling characters, fast-moving plot and laugh-out-loud...
romance
The Astronomer and the Witch: Johannes Kepler's Fight for His Mother
Book
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was one of the most admired astronomers who ever lived and a key figure...
The Book of Numbers
Book
A monumental, uproarious, and exuberant novel about the search-for love, truth, and the meaning of...
Don Alvaro, or the Force of Fate (1835): A Play by Angel De Saavedra, Duke of Rivas
Angel De Saavedra, Robert M. Fedorchek and Joyce Tolliver
Book
Don Alvaro, or the Force of Fate by Angel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas (1791-1865), premiered in 1835...
Benin Bronze
Book
In 1953 English infantry officer Johnny Callin is with The Royal West African Frontier Force in...
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Inside Out (2015) in Movies
Sep 25, 2020
Inside Out ticks all these boxes without a shadow of a doubt.
The animation is wonderful as usual and is arguably Pixar's most colourful film to date. The concept of emotions can be complex at the best of times. It's a concept that most people will struggle with for their whole lives and is something that will truly never be understood. Inside Out tackles this with aplomb, using colour coding to make it accessible to kids, and exploring just how complicated feelings can become especially as puberty begins to hit. It's very clever in its execution as well.
The majority of the story takes place in Riley's head, as her emotions Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust all struggle to keep everything balanced as she starts to hit roadblocks in her life. One thing leads to another before Joy and Sadness are ejected out of the "control centre" and desperately try to find their way back, leaving the other emotions to handle the pains of growing up.
It's one part emotional family drama, and one part bonkers sci-fi adventure, and it works really well with the help of a great voice cast.
Inside Out doesn't quite hit the lofty heights of the best Pixar efforts for me, but it's still damn good and surely will appeal to everyone in some way, no matter what age your are.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Chappie (2015) in Movies
Sep 19, 2020 (Updated Sep 19, 2020)
Much better than ๐๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ต 9 even though it's essentially the same movie for the chief purpose that this is cleaner, more fun, and ditches the sloppy gimmick and failed heavy-handed metaphor. Those last 30 minutes are godly, just totally bananas trashy cyberpunk action glory - not only the best thing Blomkamp has ever done but some of the most fun a sci-fi movie has had in the 2010s. But otherwise a movie about robot cop Sharlto Copley hanging around Die Antwood who teach him how to be gangsta but he accidentally discovers consciousness while a deranged Hugh Jackman desperately wants to let his monster mech loose on the city should be a lot more entertaining than this was. Still sports impeccable graphics and design as always with Neill, and you know what this isn't deep on any level nor does it have a single talking point about the militarization of the police department or A.I. or big tech corporations - fine, whatever. But there's almost zero violence for the hour + twenty-five minute stretch in the middle of this where it becomes this trite, sickly sweet family drama? I mean you're practically poised to fashion this nuanced, ultraviolent story dissecting how A.I. reacts to trauma but instead they're reading bedtime stories to the thing? Still vibrant and ridiculous though, enjoyed the hell out of it - I ain't picky. Plus points for letting all these actors use their natural accents.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Rise to Me ( Psychic surveys book 2) in Books
Aug 2, 2022
Kindle
Rise to Me ( Psychic surveys book 2)
By Shani Struthers
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
"This isn't a ghost we're dealing with. If only it were that simple..."
Eighteen years ago, when psychic Ruby Davis was a child, her mother - also a psychic - suffered a nervous breakdown. Ruby was never told why. "It won't help you to know," the only answer ever given. Fast forward to the present and Ruby is earning a living from her gift, running a high street consultancy - Psychic Surveys - specialising in domestic spiritual clearance.
Boasting a strong track record, business is booming. Dealing with spirits has become routine but there is more to the paranormal than even Ruby can imagine. Someone - something - stalks her, terrifying but also strangely familiar. Hiding in the shadows, it is fast becoming bolder and the only way to fight it is for the past to be revealed - no matter what the danger.
When you can see the light, you can see the darkness too.
And sometimes the darkness stares straight back at you.
This was better than the 1st book and much creepier especially read in the dark. For someone who has mental health issues the creepy dark figures of the mind were just skin crawling. There were some cringe bits but still I really enjoyed it! The whole love beats all was a bit of a small cringe but other than that it was a much creepier book. I always didnโt mind the whole family drama it added a base to the story.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Clouds in My Coffee in Books
Jun 1, 2022
It has been far too long since I read the first two books in the series, but that wasnโt an issue when I picked this book up. I was quickly back in Ellisonโs world and enjoying every second of it. Between the conversations between the characters and a few incidents, I laughed quite a few times. The plot was a bit more focused on the family drama, which made the mystery weaker than I would normally like, but I was still hooked the entire time, so I didnโt really mind. The characters are strong, and I enjoyed reuniting with them and watching their relationships develop, although I did get annoyed with Ellisonโs insistence that she didnโt need protection when she clearly did. The story wanders into some more mature topics โ Iโd rate this book as PG-13 as a result. The 70โs setting comes to life and adds to the fun. If you are looking for a pleasant trip back to the 70โs, this is the book and series for you.