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Inside Out (2015)
Inside Out (2015)
2015 | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Standard Pixar affair - easy to look at, appealing to a younger audience whilst simultaneously bludgeoning adults with relatable emotional moments that make you want to curl up in a corner somewhere and weep.
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.
  
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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Chappie (2015) in Movies

Sep 19, 2020 (Updated Sep 19, 2020)  
Chappie (2015)
Chappie (2015)
2015 | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
"๐˜ ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜บ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฌ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ˆ.๐˜. ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜จ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜Œ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜จ๐˜บ ๐˜ข ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜บ." - Trevor Moore, ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜–๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜›๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด

Much better than ๐˜‹๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ต 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.
  
Stag Weekend: Island Confidential Novella
Stag Weekend: Island Confidential Novella
TA Moore | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Tate really SAW Simon!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Simon wanted to keep his head down, and out of the family gossip, since his engagement was called off. It's his sister's turn, given as no one likes Wyatt, the groom. But then Simon wakes up in Tate's bed, Wyatt's stepbrother. The ame stepbrother who Angie warned Wyatt to tell his brother to keep away from.

This book, right, is a catalogue of errors on Wyatt's part, saved by Tate and Simon, with a backdrop of gate-crashing cousins (who I really REALLY wanted to punch in the face!) missing rings, stolen wine, and some special moments between Simon and Tate that really were the best!

It's a lot, though. I found myself just waiting for the next drama, and it did get a weeny bit too much.

I loved Simon and Tate, both together and apart. Simon clearly hadn't met the right man to really SEE him like Tate does and I loved that Tate wouldn't let Simon talk himself out of whatever Tate had in mind at any given moment.

It's steamy in places and flipping hilarious in others. Not too much emotion, but there are moments that let you into Simon's mind. He has a lot more to say than Tate I think.

I really enjoyed all these books, they have been a lot of fun to read and sometimes, just sometimes, you really do need to laugh out while reading!

4 very VERY good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Divided Road (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)
Divided Road (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)
Anne Barwell | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This book is part of the Road to Rockoberfest 2024, but can be read as a stand alone to the other books in the series.

Owen is the fiddler in Flightless, an up and coming rock band. Jared joins as a stand in when the keyboard player takes some family time. But time is short for Owen and Jared.

For the most part, I liked this book.

Both Jared and Owen have a say, and they say a great deal. I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal.

It's not overly explicit but there are smexy times. No real angst or drama, I didn't think.

I did like the way it all played out.

It's an easy read, a Nice book.

*insert sigh*

I just felt I was missing MUCH information. About both men, and their history. Case in point: these guys met before, The Beer Guy incident. I needed that explained. I don't fully get that and I wanted it. I also found it was a little . . . flat . . .on the romance. They meet, they kiss, and they are in love. I wanted more build up.

BUT like I said, I did enjoy it, I'm just saying what I wanted that I didn't get.

3.5 stars, but rounded UP for the blog.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
RT
Rise to Me ( Psychic surveys book 2)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
137 of 230
Kindle
Rise to Me ( Psychic surveys book 2)
By Shani Struthers
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏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 didnโ€™t mind the whole family drama it added a base to the story.
  
Clouds in My Coffee
Clouds in My Coffee
Julie Mulhern | 2016 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who Wants to Kill Ellison?
The benefit that Ellison Russellโ€™s mother has been working on for months is about to happen, and Ellison finds herself as a last-minute host for her aunt and sister, both of whom are in town to show their support. However, it is Ellison who might in danger when someone tries to drop a statue on her. Then they firebomb her house. Ellison doesnโ€™t think anyone is after her, but can she figure out what is going on before she is killed?

It has been far too long since I read the first two books in the series, but that wasnโ€™t an issue when I picked this book up. I was quickly back in Ellisonโ€™s 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 didnโ€™t really mind. The characters are strong, and I enjoyed reuniting with them and watching their relationships develop, although I did get annoyed with Ellisonโ€™s insistence that she didnโ€™t need protection when she clearly did. The story wanders into some more mature topics โ€“ Iโ€™d rate this book as PG-13 as a result. The 70โ€™s setting comes to life and adds to the fun. If you are looking for a pleasant trip back to the 70โ€™s, this is the book and series for you.
  
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KittyMiku (138 KP) rated Playing Games in Books

May 23, 2019  
Playing Games
Playing Games
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Playing Games by Liliana Rhodes is a romance novel that is short and quick to read. Cassie Monroe needs a job and when her roommate helps get her into her dream job, she finds herself falling for her boss. Torn between her dream and her heart, Cassie has to find a happy medium to get all that she wants, but will it be as easy as that? Especially since there is another woman already in his life, will Cassie be able to overcome that or will she have to back down? Cassie will have to realize that love is unpredictable and sometimes has a few strings attached.



Rhodes is able to give the reader a great romance story that wonโ€™t take forever to read. However, I found it very anticlimactic and would have loved the extra drama that could be introduced but never was. Though the book was short and only a couple hours if that of reading and lacked the drama most good romance novels have, it does introduce characters that seem to be a part of Rhodes Billionaire novels that she has created and released as a series. If this book is any foreshadowing, I feel that the other books will be a bit disappointing.



I believe I found the part revolving around the other woman and the situation the Cassieโ€™s lover is in to be extremely relatable. After all not, not everyone can enter a relationship without something for the past being there. To see how hard it is to trust someone else with something that means the world to you, made the book feel like it was speaking from the heart. Then you get to see how something that could seem so major to others would not be a huge deal to the person who loves you. I would have loved to read more about the family Cassie adopts as her own instead of it ending only to move onto the next couple in the series. I believe that there could be more added onto this book by adding some additional details and maybe adding a little more conflict to the characters instead of having that love at first sight situation.



The details in the book were well enough that it was able to be easily followed, however with lack of a major conflict and drama that could have kept it completely entertaining; I would not recommend this book to many people. In fact, I believe the book only made 2 stars on my 4 star rating lists. Yes it satisfied my weird need of romance, but it also left something to be desired. I really would have loved more in the book and feel that maybe it was rushed or not well thought about. The idea was great, but the execution wasnโ€™t all that it could have been. I am even now finding it difficult to write this review as the review itself isnโ€™t as long as I would like it to be.



However, even with these flaws, that make it low in my own tastes, I believe Playing Games could be a good book to those who donโ€™t like to read for long session. If you are looking for a quick book to read that has that romantic air to it, the Playing Games is right up your alley. It doesnโ€™t take more than a couple hours to read, has the romantic gestures and the idea of love being unpredictable, and pretty straightforward without the drama. If this sounds like the perfect book to you, please feel free to go grab it. I got my copy on Amazon for my kindle.