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Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated Homescapes in Apps
Feb 3, 2018
The storyline gives it a slight edge on other matching games.
I've been playing Homescapes for a few months at this point. (I'm somewhere in the 200s level-wise, but can't recall exactly which one offhand.) The storyline is really what sets Homescapes apart from the other match-gem games. I've played the original game, Gardenscapes, and it just couldn't hold my attention. However, with this one they seem to have hit upon the perfect mix of silly and interesting to keep me playing along.
I especially like (and simultaneously hate) how every so often you have a chance to get an hour or so of unlimited lives while playing. Because, naturally, this happens at the worst possible time for me! This game is responsible for me staying up until 1 or 2 am on several occasions because of this.
Better than some of the other matching games out there. Worth giving it a shot.
I especially like (and simultaneously hate) how every so often you have a chance to get an hour or so of unlimited lives while playing. Because, naturally, this happens at the worst possible time for me! This game is responsible for me staying up until 1 or 2 am on several occasions because of this.
Better than some of the other matching games out there. Worth giving it a shot.
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Ora et Labora in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Ora et Labora
Who woulda thought? In 2007 (way before I was gaming) amongst the many new games released at Spiel, one stuck out especially. A game where you try to build a well-balanced farm consisting of crops, pastures and growing your family. No, I am not talking about Farmville! (I get that question over and over from newbies….ugh), I’m talking about Agricola. A game that has now conjured up a slew of awards from “Best complex game” by the Spiel des Jahres to even dethroning Puerto Rico’s 5 year running of highest rated game on the Geek. Uwe Rosenberg, the designer of the now much loved Agricola, has recently released “Ora et Labora” – A hot-off-the-press / sold-out almost everywhere game that I have very quickly formed an extreme love/hate relationship with.
So the good is the game rocks!
Reviewer: Admin
See the full review here: http://boardofplaying.com/archives/1597
So the good is the game rocks!
Reviewer: Admin
See the full review here: http://boardofplaying.com/archives/1597
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2400 KP) rated No Cats Allowed (Cat in the Stacks, #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The Athena College Library has a new director, and Oscar Reilly seems determined to drive all the staff away. The heads of the library’s departments hate him and Charlie’s friend Melba is ready to quit. In fact, Charlie’s issue, that Oscar is claiming allergies as a reason that Charlie can’t bring his cat Diesel to work anymore, seems minor. It’s not terribly surprising when Oscar turns up dead, but who actually killed him?
Those who like this series will love this installment. The characters are as delightful as ever, and we get some advancement on series plot threads. The murder is set up well with good suspects and motives that Charlie has to work his way through until we reach the logical solution. This is my favorite to date in the series.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-no-cats-allowed-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Those who like this series will love this installment. The characters are as delightful as ever, and we get some advancement on series plot threads. The murder is set up well with good suspects and motives that Charlie has to work his way through until we reach the logical solution. This is my favorite to date in the series.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in hopes I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-no-cats-allowed-by-miranda.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Clare Parrott (294 KP) rated Hard to Hold (Black Ops Heros #1) in Books
Feb 13, 2018
The action starts from the very first page when Anna nearly comes to a sticky end with a lorry, laying in the hospital her next of kin (according to her passport, that she hadn't changed) Nick, her ex husband comes strolling back into her life, it's a love hate relationship and Anna hasn't seen him in 5 years.
This book made me want to bang their heads together, they're always bitching and snipping at each other. Always trying to get one over on the other and whatever Anna seems to do trouble always follows.
"I'm not exactly predisposed to granting you any favours right now, Anna. I can't believe some of the situations you get yourself into. Jesus, what are you? A gravitational force for trouble!"
It's infuriating, and I just wished they'd shut up and get on with it. Saying that, I did enjoy it, I thought it was well written and I would read other titles by this author.
This book made me want to bang their heads together, they're always bitching and snipping at each other. Always trying to get one over on the other and whatever Anna seems to do trouble always follows.
"I'm not exactly predisposed to granting you any favours right now, Anna. I can't believe some of the situations you get yourself into. Jesus, what are you? A gravitational force for trouble!"
It's infuriating, and I just wished they'd shut up and get on with it. Saying that, I did enjoy it, I thought it was well written and I would read other titles by this author.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Fistful of Dollars (1964) in Movies
Jun 12, 2018 (Updated Oct 22, 2018)
Genre-defining spaghetti western is an Italian-made interpretation of a quintessentially American genre, filmed in Spain and based on a Japanese movie (so stop going on about how much you hate globalisation). Taciturn stranger moseys into a divided town south of the border, decides to make some quick money by playing the two ruling gangs off against one another. Cue many trumpet solos and Clint Eastwood gunning folk down like it's going out of fashion.
Not quite up to the same standards as the film that inspired it, Yojimbo, but still a really impressive film in the way it combines Leone's visual style, Eastwood's inscrutable charisma and Morricone's operatic score. The focus is so visual that the film ends up coming across as slightly superficial and overly interested in violence and sadism, but it is still a classic of its kind and really a landmark in both US and European cinema.
Not quite up to the same standards as the film that inspired it, Yojimbo, but still a really impressive film in the way it combines Leone's visual style, Eastwood's inscrutable charisma and Morricone's operatic score. The focus is so visual that the film ends up coming across as slightly superficial and overly interested in violence and sadism, but it is still a classic of its kind and really a landmark in both US and European cinema.
Akward (448 KP) rated Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization in Tabletop Games
Jun 15, 2018
The most Civilization board game (2 more)
There is a ton of complexity that will keep it interesting for a long time
Variation of gameplay style (war, culture, technology, wonders)
The mechanics will likely be too much for most people (1 more)
A handful of the cards are not balanced well
Civilization in Boardgame Form
Do you like the video game Civilization? Then you will absolutely love this board game. Do you not love intense Euro strategy games? Then you will probably hate this game.
This game is very intense. There are a lot of mechanics, and a lot to learn. It follows the basic mechanics of the Civilization video game fairly closely, but even veteran Civ players took a while to learn it.
You also have to be comfortable with the game taking all day. The time estimate on the box is very wrong. Our first game took us three hours, and we only made it through the first age (there are three).
This game is very intense. There are a lot of mechanics, and a lot to learn. It follows the basic mechanics of the Civilization video game fairly closely, but even veteran Civ players took a while to learn it.
You also have to be comfortable with the game taking all day. The time estimate on the box is very wrong. Our first game took us three hours, and we only made it through the first age (there are three).
Sarah (126 KP) rated IMDb Movies & TV in Apps
Jul 12, 2018
An Absolute Must-Have
This has to be one of my most-used apps, one I go to on an almost daily basis. We use it for settling arguments over what else an actor has been in, the names of people we can't quite recognise, who the familiar voice in an animation belongs to, if a TV channel has missed out episodes of a series that is being shown and even the dates when a new series is due to be broadcast. One of my favourite things is that it also tells you the filming locations for TV shows and films. I really is a one-stop app for almost all the information you could possibly want to know about movies and shows. I have it installed on my phone, my Kindle and my tablet, and frequently use the website. I would hate to be without it now!
Sarah (126 KP) rated Memoirs of a Geisha in Books
Jul 12, 2018
A Disappointing Read
When I bought this book, it was because I had seen so much excitement around it - how it was thrilling and unlike anything else.
I really should have saved my money.
When I read a book, or watch a film for that matter, I want to care about the characters and to have something vested in the outcome - be it good or bad. I want to hate the bad guys, to be rooting for the hero/ine. Here, I just didn't. The characters were unsympathetic; whether it was the point of view or the style of writing, I read with a feeling of detachment and no great sense of "what will happen next". Even worse, the ending was a huge disappointment, feeling as if it had been tacked on quickly in order to meet a deadline.
In all honesty, a book I wish I hadn't bothered to persevere with to the end.
I really should have saved my money.
When I read a book, or watch a film for that matter, I want to care about the characters and to have something vested in the outcome - be it good or bad. I want to hate the bad guys, to be rooting for the hero/ine. Here, I just didn't. The characters were unsympathetic; whether it was the point of view or the style of writing, I read with a feeling of detachment and no great sense of "what will happen next". Even worse, the ending was a huge disappointment, feeling as if it had been tacked on quickly in order to meet a deadline.
In all honesty, a book I wish I hadn't bothered to persevere with to the end.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Tideland (2006) in Movies
Aug 2, 2018
A must for Terry Gilliam fans
It's funny how the DVD for this film contains an introduction by the director, Terry Gilliam, basically saying he forgives you if you hate his film because the subject matter is not for everyone. I don't know if I've ever seen that before.
This film definitely does not shy away from controversial subjects like awkward relationships between grown ups and children and the death of a parent with a girl being raised mostly on her own.
After a sudden death, a young girl and her loser father go to live in an abandoned house house in the country. The girl begins to explore her new world, makes some new friends and creates an imaginary world all her own.
I was fascinated by the film, the look, the cinematography, the acting and the story. Certainly not mainstream but well worth a look.
This film definitely does not shy away from controversial subjects like awkward relationships between grown ups and children and the death of a parent with a girl being raised mostly on her own.
After a sudden death, a young girl and her loser father go to live in an abandoned house house in the country. The girl begins to explore her new world, makes some new friends and creates an imaginary world all her own.
I was fascinated by the film, the look, the cinematography, the acting and the story. Certainly not mainstream but well worth a look.
Rachael Moyes (404 KP) rated Sweetener by Ariana Grande in Music
Sep 1, 2018
Giveaway Review
I received a copy of this album via Smashbomb Giveaways to listen to and review.
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Ariana Grande. Some of her music I absolutely love, and some I'm not too keen on. Because of this I knew this album would be a bit hit and miss. Fortunately it was more hit than miss!
I'm obsessed with the song 'God is a Woman'. It was the only track I knew going into this album, and I absolutely love it. My other favourite tracks were 'Raindrops', 'R.E.M' and 'No Tears Left to Cry'.
The cover art is beautiful (how can it not be? Ariana is stunning!) and I really love the quirky way the the images and text are facing different ways.
Overall, not one of my favourite albums, but it was very fun and I'm looking forward to listening to it again :)
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Ariana Grande. Some of her music I absolutely love, and some I'm not too keen on. Because of this I knew this album would be a bit hit and miss. Fortunately it was more hit than miss!
I'm obsessed with the song 'God is a Woman'. It was the only track I knew going into this album, and I absolutely love it. My other favourite tracks were 'Raindrops', 'R.E.M' and 'No Tears Left to Cry'.
The cover art is beautiful (how can it not be? Ariana is stunning!) and I really love the quirky way the the images and text are facing different ways.
Overall, not one of my favourite albums, but it was very fun and I'm looking forward to listening to it again :)