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Trauma Centre (2019)
Trauma Centre (2019)
2019 | Action
3
4.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Many moons ago I said to myself that I shouldn't watch films with big stars in if I'd never heard of them before they become available to buy, Steven Seagal was the reason for this rule in the beginning... when and why did I ever forsake that idea?

After witnessing a crime Madison ends up in hospital recovering from injuries she sustained in the incident. What she doesn't realise is that she's hiding evidence that will lead straight to her attackers. Her only chance is a cop assigned to watch her and her own wits.

I picked this up on Prime as the rental for members was only £1.99, that seems like a bargain... I can't say I was convinced after I finished it.

Trauma Centre is a very basic crime thriller, it doesn't ever stray into anything out of the ordinary. If it wasn't for the fact this was a new release I'd have said I'd seen it before and just forgotten all about it.

Nicky Whelan is probably the best of the bunch when it comes to the acting, but I think that's mainly because she gets to act manic and terrorised for most of it and that gave her the ability to act her way out of poor scripting.

We've also got Steve Guttenberg playing the doctor and it was nice to see him in something new. I loved so many of his films when I was growing up so this felt almost nostalgic... but it's an odd character and thankfully he doesn't pop up in a lot of scenes.

And then there's Brucey. I've watched a lot of Bruce Willis films and while some of them aren't great they've never really been bad. Dubious, yes. Bad, no. Saying Willis' performance was lazy may be being generous. There's no energy in the role at all and every scene looks like he's just woken up from a nap and isn't really sure where he is. This should have been an easily doable role for "classic" Willis with minimal effort.


Everything in the film left me kind of blanks. As I mentioned at the beginning, this film could have been any of several you've already seen. With just a small amount of effort (mainly with the script and the acting) this could have been a watchable 3.5 starred action film, but as it is there's little enjoyment to be had.

Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/06/trauma-centre-movie-review.html
  
Scoring Position (Hockey Ever After #2)
Scoring Position (Hockey Ever After #2)
Morgan James, Ashlyn Kane | 2022 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
loved this much more than book 1!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in the Hockey Ever After series. I don't think its fully necessary to read book one, Winging It, before this but it might give you a better picture of the world these players live in. And I really enjoyed that book. Dante and Gabe do pop up, but knowing their story isn't essential, just helpful, especially with Tom and Kitty (side characters) playing a large part here.

Ryan is traded out and his new team is a mess. Their star player, Nico, even more so. But Ryan can see that Nico is hurting, in more ways than one. Finding his sense of humour was a great start. The Ryan messed it all up. And just what is going on with the coach?

I really enjoyed book one, gave it 4 stars, but I found this a much more engaging read, a deeper emotion read. I loved it.

Neither man is in the closet, so there was none of the coming out issue. What there was, though, was a lot of anger on Nico's part and much was misplaced. Ryan needed him to focus that anger, on the ice, rather than punishing himself. Falling for the other gay teamn member was in neither man's plans but fate has a way, huh?

I loved that it really did creep up on them both. Yes there was attraction from the start but the feelings came later and they both fought it hard. Ryan messing up, though? THAT came out of nowhere and I did NOT see that coming! I was reading, and then I was "OH MY GOD, RYAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!" out loud and my partner was somewhat shocked at me! Oh he does redeem himself, but I loved that Nico makes him work hard for that redemption. There is not a quick fix, either, and it does take time for them to be really together.

I loved that we caught up with Dante and Gabe from book one. And Tom and Kitty. I think this is a couple of years after Winging It, since Tom is captain of Ryan's new team, and has a couple of kids. Kitty surprised me though!

Are there any more planned?? I'm loving this series, but these authors are growing on me, as a duo.

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
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ClareR (6054 KP) rated Little Fires Everywhere in Books

Jan 14, 2018 (Updated Jan 14, 2018)  
Little Fires Everywhere
Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.3 (43 Ratings)
Book Rating
The 'human' characters (0 more)
A slow burner
Slow to start, this book drew me in and made it very difficult to put down. It seems to be a story of opposites: the wealthy and the poor, people who live their lives as they have been 'taught' and expected to and those who live a freer life without pandering to the expectations of others. It's about growing up as a teenager, about being a parent. It's hard to judge the characters in the book, they act as they feel they should to benefit themselves, their friends or their family. This book shows you what it is to be human, to make mistakes and to live with the repercussions. I loved it. There were times where I thought I should dislike a character for their actions/ opinions, but the situation was portrayed in such a way that you could understand what they did and why they did it. This is what I really like about the two Celeste Ng books that I've read. She shows the real human side of her characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy of the book to read and review.
  
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
2016 | Action, Animation, Sci-Fi
Not quite in the same league as other Japanese animations
Just like those crazy Studio Ghibli films of fantastic tales and amazing creatures, Laika productions (famous for Coraline) has created a stop motion animation using Japanese folklore. Now as a fan of Ghibli, I can say that this is no way near that league although the animation is always amazing to behold.

The story is rather tragic of a boy from a magical powerful family, who has escaped with his mother as a baby, losing an eye in the process, and growing up to play an instrument that has the power to control paper. Both he and his mother are poor, livingin a cave, hiding away from this family - his father has also perished in this initial battle. However, they are found and his mother gives him her powers to escape and try and find a way of defeating her sisters and father.


It's a quest-based film, filled with perilous obstacles and while it was sad at times - I just don't think it was as heartfelt as other Japanese animations. The voices of Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron is always fantastic to hear though.
  
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Trevor Noah | 2017 | Biography
10
9.2 (16 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was really good. I have been a Trevor Noah fan since my sister told me about him a few years ago and I watched one of his specials on Netflix. Then for my 1 year anniversary with my now husband, we saw him live and he was even better than on TV. When I found out he had written a book, I couldn't wait to read it and I am so glad that I did. It was enlightening, insightful, funny and very honest. I loved hearing about his relationship with his mother, how he came to know his father, learning more about apartheid and how that affected him as a mixed child growing up in South Africa and how he came to be where he is today. I actually listened to it as an audiobook, which I really enjoyed because he has such a soothing voice and he is great at doing variations and inflections on his voice to make it sound younger, older or pretty much anything. Bottom line, it was a great read and it makes me respect and love Trevor Noah even more.
  
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
2018 | Action, Sci-Fi
Epic fight scenes (2 more)
Heart wrenching moments
Thrill of seeing a plan come together
2 hours 20 minutes... is that really long enough? (1 more)
Possibly too many characters to squeeze in and give screen time too
10 years in the making... what a ride
Contains spoilers, click to show
What a film!! From start to finish this film takes you on an emotional journey like no other marvel film before it. You feel so invested in the characters after 10 years of growing up with them that to imagine any of them failing in any way. The film has moments of fast paced action in which it’s hard to breathe followed by moments which allow you to catch that missing air into your lungs.
Death is very much the theme of this movie and it delivers death in massive helpings.
If you want a movie that doesn’t deliver that happy ending feel we have all become used too over the years then this is for you... if you don’t deal with grief and loss I would wait until Avengers 4 arrives in 2019 and would watch Infinity war right before seeing Avengers 4.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Taken Girls in Books

Mar 24, 2019  
The Taken Girls
The Taken Girls
G.D. Sanders | 2018 | Crime, Mystery
6
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A good debut
The Taken Girls is a unique take on the usual abduction stories in that girls are being taken but returned seemingly unharmed a short while later. It is down to DI Edina Ogborne (Ed) to find out just what the heck is going on.

Ed is a complex character and I have to admit that I found her frustrating and quite difficult to like particularly because of some of the decisions she makes in her personal life but she did end up growing on me by the end however, I'm not going to lie ... it was hard going. Having said that, this makes her all the more believable and if this is a start of a series, I am really interested to see how she develops and grows.

Written at a pretty good pace, although a little slow at times, with a few twists along the way, this book is a decent debut and G D Sanders is yet another author to put on my radar.

My thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review of which this is.
  
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Lenard (726 KP) rated Shazam! (2019) in Movies

May 8, 2019 (Updated Jun 15, 2019)  
Shazam! (2019)
Shazam! (2019)
2019 | Action, Sci-Fi
Did you ever dream of becoming a superhero? Thaddeus Sivana does. Bullied by his father and older brother because they think he is weak, Thaddeus dreams of becoming the most powerful being in the world. However, Wizard, the last remaining guardian of the secrets of the universe, doesn't think he is pure of heart and worthy of being a superhero. Thaddeus decides to become a supervillain and waits for a champion of the downtrodden, Captain Marvel (I refuse to call him Shazam since he IS Captain Marvel unlike Carol Danvers who got a promotion to Captain after being Ms Marvel for decades). A couple decades later, Billy Batson who was abandoned by his mother at a state fair spends his day researching and looking for the woman who abandoned him while running away from various foster homes. That is, until he is placed in a foster home full of damaged children. He learns the value of family while learning how to be a hero. I watched the TV series every Saturday growing up and while the movie is good, the show remains a pivotal time in my life.
  
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
1977 | Fantasy, Sci-Fi
A Film to Define a Generation
Contains spoilers, click to show
Back in 1977, a little movie came out. One that would define a generation and change the industry forever. That movie is Star Wars. Growing up in the 90s and 2000s, I had the Star Wars exposure to watch when I pleased. I've seen this movie countless times. Everytime I watch it, I get really happy. I feel like a kid again. This movie has grabbed the attentions of millions and has touched many. From its opening crawl and opening shot. To the cantinas scene that puts you in unfamiliar waters. To a beautiful score by John Williams. Special effects that hold well today. And a group of freedom fighters that many identify with. It's no surprise this movie is nothing short of great. The only complaint that really comes to mind without taking alterations into account, is the acting at times, especially from the newcomers can be a little bad in comparison to greats like James Earl Jones, Peter Cushing and of course, Sir Alec Guinness. If you haven't checked out this film, it's one that is highly recommended for anyone wishing to study film.
  
TB
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love scary stories, ones that keep you on your toes, trying to figure out what's going on, and this one definitely has the creepy factor. Christy has said the house used to be her husband's home growing up, and some of the experiences described in the book happened to him and his family. Whoa!!!

I couldn't help but get engrossed in the story, especially the developing relationship between Ephraim and Brylee, as well as her friendship with Lynley. Then there would be parts that made me just want to scream at the book, throw it across the room, something, because that's how drawn into it I was. Oh, and I read it in one day, because I just couldn't put it down, THAT'S how great it is. Although, because of the ending, I'm on pins and needles waiting for more. I'm so glad my book club read this one this month, so awesome!! I'd highly recommend to anyone who likes supernatural stories, ghost stories, haunted houses, and the like. Fantastic!!

5 stars =)