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Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
2008 | Drama, Romance
A once again astounding Dev Patel sells otherwise sulking, superficial melodrama. Don't you hate when the framing device is more interesting than the actual story? If not for the calamitous ๐˜ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜บ then the stuff when they were kids here would be some of the worst moments of Boyle's entire career - overedited to smithereens, fetishistic of plight, and vaguely offensive. Even when this gets good I'm convinced this movie is much more concerned with dragging these characters through the mud and inflicting pain to wring synthetic sympathy rather than fleshing them out beyond one-note characterizations and abrupt turnarounds. Still pressed this brilliant premise didn't get the justice it truly deserved but the last hour of this is executed about as engagingly as it could have been, for what it ended up being (which only makes the transition from the older stuff to the newer stuff more jarring) and randomly gets super entertaining, if not much less simplistic. Score is pretty decent, too. It's alright but not sure why this shook everyone's world back in the day, you guys do know Indian cinema exists too, no? Way better than ๐˜‰๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜š๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ž๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ but way shittier than ๐˜“๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ. The "Jai Ho" segment is as cringey as it is memorable.
  
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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Godfather (1972) in Movies

Sep 21, 2020 (Updated Sep 21, 2020)  
The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather (1972)
1972 | Crime, Drama
"๐˜ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ขรฏ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ... ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ'๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฌ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ."

"๐˜–๐˜ฉ -- ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ'๐˜ด ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ขรฏ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ, ๐˜’๐˜ข๐˜บ?"

Well I guess it's confirmed that this movie predicted Jefferey Epstein.

Have absolutely nothing constructive left to add that hasn't already been rightfully said by everybody else at this point, it's ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Ž๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ๐˜ง๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ - yes it's still a masterpiece. Brando gives the second greatest performance cinema has ever seen in this emotionally rich, lived-in, unstoppable portrait of a vaguely incomprehensible mob boss who is both insatiably bound to and undone by tradition - acting of this caliber is topped only by, you guessed it... James Franco in ๐˜š๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜‰๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด! This isn't really all that secretly deep or anything either - it's just really good at what it does. Does the seemingly unachievable task of making a bunch of mob guys sitting around discussing business so fucking riveting. Pacino sits firmly in one of the quintessential starmaking performances, not a single less than exemplary performance can even be found here. The front half of the last hour is rather sloppy, jumping around uncomfortably between times - but remains nonetheless mesmerizing and spotlessly written. And how about that location cinematography? A sprawling, hypnotic dirge - you could write a novel about how amazing this is, and I'm sure people already have.
  
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Dog Soldiers (2002)
2002 | Action, Horror
8
8.2 (26 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Dog Soldiers might be showing its age by now, but damn it's still a ride.

The cast absolutely make it - I've never been one of those "wheeey lads, football" kind of guys, but the group of soldiers that the film follows have great chemistry, and just feel real. I always enjoy Sean Pertwee, and here is no different. I would argue that it's one of his best performances to date, from the fantastic monologue about his mate in Iraq near the start, to his increasingly mad and out of it schtick near the films climax.
Its an incredibly well paced movie as well. It doesn't take long for shit to hit the fan, and the rest of the narrative feels frantic, despite being set in one building for the most part.
There's a good amount of gore, and Neil Marshall is never afraid to show us his werewolves, and they look great! Its all practically done as well, giving us the cherry on top.

Dog Soldiers and The Descent are the two films that truly cemented Neil Marshall as a director to watch. Its nearly 20 years later and it's still a great watch and in my opinion, is one of the better werewolf films out there!
  
Triple Threat (2019)
Triple Threat (2019)
2019 | Action, Thriller
Triple Threat, from prolific action specialist Jesse V. Johnson and currently streaming on Netflix, is exactly as promised โ€“ 95 minutes of complete ass-kicking from a ridiculous cast of ass-kickers who defy gravitational and physical logic with their supreme martial arts and combat skills. Unpretentious, unrelenting, and wildly entertaining, this is a throwback to old-school, non-CGI, action-programmers where the body count is absurdly high, the squibs are going off like crazy, and dynamic second unit work pumps up the aesthetic thrills โ€“ itโ€™s the best pure-action film of the year and the best of its type that Iโ€™ve seen since The Night Comes For Us (also on Netflix streaming).

Starring an action fanโ€™s dream team of Iko Uwais, Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Tony Jaa, and Tiger Chen. The various beat-downs that these guys dish out look beyond lethal. I loved the real-deal explosions and Jonathan Hallโ€™s slick and steady cinematography which highlighted the insane choreography. Matthew Lorentzโ€™s crisp editing wastes not a moment of the basic but hard-charging script by Joey Oโ€™Bryan, Fangjin Song, and Paul Staheli. But letโ€™s be honest, weโ€™re not here to experience Shakespearean-level swaths of dialogue. Triple Threat exists as an outlet for extreme thrills and near-constant mayhem.
  
Human by Grace Gaustad
Human by Grace Gaustad
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Grace Gaustad is a rising singer-songwriter from New York City. Not too long ago, she released an honest pop tune, entitled, โ€œF.L.Yโ€.

โ€œโ€˜F.L.Y (Feel Like You)โ€™ is the story of a realization. Often the people we idolize and fantasize about being are shallow individuals. In a society where money, power, and fame dictate who is validated, it is easy to lose sight of who you are deep down and even harder to admit that heroes can sometimes be the villain. So ask yourself, Is it worth it?โ€ โ€“ Grace Gaustad

โ€˜F.L.Yโ€™ tells an interesting tale about a young woman who doesnโ€™t want to have anything to do with a certain individual in her life.

Apparently, she doesnโ€™t want to fall back in time. Therefore, she avoids interacting with what sheโ€™s trying to stay away from.


โ€˜F.L.Yโ€™ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and stripped instrumentation scented with an alternative-pop aroma.

The likable tune is featured on Grace Gaustadโ€™s latest EP, entitled, โ€œHumanโ€.

โ€œFeeling grateful for a lot of happy positive changes that are slowly coming together around me. Been working on the EP for you guys and itโ€™s incredible. I canโ€™t wait to share a full body of work that holds some of my favorite songs Iโ€™ve ever written.โ€ โ€“ Grace Gaustad
  
In His Command (Don't Tell, #1)
In His Command (Don't Tell, #1)
Rie Warren | 2013
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I read books for the romance and I'll tell you now, this was full of it, which is why I liked it so much. Normally when I read a MM book, it's more concentrating on the sex, whereas this one concentrated on the relationship and how it grew from mistrust into love. It was so sweet in places and I was bawling for a while near the end.

I liked both of the main characters and how they acted around each other. They were both great guys who'd had to put up with a lot of crap in the past and when they finally got it together I was almost cheering.

Liz, Caspar's best friend and one of his Lieutenants, was also a cool character and though I thought we'd never see her again after they left Alpha, she makes another appearance near the end, which also had me smiling.

I should probably point out that it does concentrate more on the romance and it's progression that the dystopian world but it's still a good tale if you don't mind that minor detail.

If you like MM Romances that actually focus on the romance, then this shouldn't be missed. I recommend it.
  
Running Into Love (Fluke my Life, #1)
Running Into Love (Fluke my Life, #1)
Aurora Rose Reynolds | 2017 | Contemporary, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So I read my first book by this author back in July, Catching Him--a Netgalley read. I liked it but wasn't blown away. So I decided to give this a go, too.

Fawn is running down the street, listening to her music--strangely with her eyes closed?--and bumps literally into Levi sending them sprawling onto the floor. There's an instant attraction but both ignore it and trade a few insults before heading in opposite directions. Only it turns out Levi is moving in across the hall from Fawn.

Before Fawn realises it, she's in a relationship with Levi and they are a cute couple, though Fawn is a little dumb at times. Well, I thought she was a little dumb, Levi thought she was cute in her cluelessness.

I do think the author is very good at writing Alpha males, but they're guys who care about their women and make it obvious they want them. I did like that about Levi.

Fawn's mum and dad made me laugh, mainly her mum with some of her crazy comments like "get yourself knocked up so you don't lose him" and "when's the wedding?"

One again, I liked it but I wasn't in love with the storyline or the characters.
  
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
My Favorite Half-Night Stand
Christina Lauren | 2018 | Romance
7
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Millie has always been one of the guys. She has four best guy friendsโ€”fellow professors. With an upcoming social function planned at the university, the group makes a pact that they will join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. But Millie and Reid have recently (secretly) shared a sexy night together. Hence the online dating plan offers some issues. So Millie comes up with โ€œCatherineโ€โ€”a pretend persona who lets her be more vulnerable than her more closed off self. Then Millie matches with the unaware Reid. Oh yeah, here comes trouble...

Oh, beach reads I love thee! Iโ€™m so enjoying catching up on Christina Lauren's back catalog! Although very much based on lying, which is a plot point that often stresses me out, I enjoyed My Favorite Half-Night Stand.

This was such an easy-to-read book. Millie is likable, and I could definitely relate to a slightly reticent, closed off soul. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Yes, I did stress out a bit with all the lies and machinations! But, the book was very funny, sexy, and sweet! Millieโ€™s group of friends was wonderfulโ€”just a humorous and fun cast. The chemistry between Millie and Reid was great, too! Definitely a good read! 3.5 stars.