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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Greatest Showman (2017) in Movies
Feb 7, 2018 (Updated Feb 7, 2018)
Cheese with a side order of sugar
I suppose Hugh Jackman has to do something now he's retired from being Wolverine, and as his skill-set basically consists of eviscerating people with his implanted claws and being able to sing and dance a bit, it's not surprising that his first big post-rodent movie is a musical.
Despite being (theoretically) a historical bio-pic, The Greatest Showman is very much of our time in that it has a powerful message about diversity and inclusivity. That there is anything odd about a film about diversity and inclusivity a) being fronted by two straight white dudes and b) concerning a conman who made a huge fortune by running a freak show, does not appear to have occurred to the film-makers.
The plot is ridiculous sugary cheese, but what keep the film (I'm tempted to say annoyingly) watchable are the songs and choreography, which are really, really good and deserve to be in a much better-written movie. Pretty much the definition of an undemanding guilty pleasure, although I have to note that this is one of those movies that everyone seems to hate apart from the mass audience.
Despite being (theoretically) a historical bio-pic, The Greatest Showman is very much of our time in that it has a powerful message about diversity and inclusivity. That there is anything odd about a film about diversity and inclusivity a) being fronted by two straight white dudes and b) concerning a conman who made a huge fortune by running a freak show, does not appear to have occurred to the film-makers.
The plot is ridiculous sugary cheese, but what keep the film (I'm tempted to say annoyingly) watchable are the songs and choreography, which are really, really good and deserve to be in a much better-written movie. Pretty much the definition of an undemanding guilty pleasure, although I have to note that this is one of those movies that everyone seems to hate apart from the mass audience.
Mayhawke (97 KP) rated The Last Templar in Books
Feb 7, 2018
It's an O.K. Read, But...
...but. It's not riveting. I had no problems putting it down and going to do other things. In fact I stopped for a day half-way through and read an entire other book. That said, I had no problems picking it up again.
The writing style is a bit unsophisticated. It seems to swing between slightly out-of-synch passages of 'Historical Travelogue' and 'Something That Was Written With The Movie in Mind' - screaming Hollywood-esq car chases, murderous priests etc.
In it's favour the theory it puts forward is intriguing and over-all the story is well-paced and well presented. Unfortunatly parts of the plot only stand up if you read them with one eye shut, from behind a pillow, and some of the arguments are highly dubious to say the least (e.g: people can only be good, kind and charitable if inspired to be by religion; Christianity was the first religion to preach love not hate)
All in all, it's not a bad read but if you have to budget your 'book allowance' I'd suggest getting it from a library or borrowing it from a friend.
The writing style is a bit unsophisticated. It seems to swing between slightly out-of-synch passages of 'Historical Travelogue' and 'Something That Was Written With The Movie in Mind' - screaming Hollywood-esq car chases, murderous priests etc.
In it's favour the theory it puts forward is intriguing and over-all the story is well-paced and well presented. Unfortunatly parts of the plot only stand up if you read them with one eye shut, from behind a pillow, and some of the arguments are highly dubious to say the least (e.g: people can only be good, kind and charitable if inspired to be by religion; Christianity was the first religion to preach love not hate)
All in all, it's not a bad read but if you have to budget your 'book allowance' I'd suggest getting it from a library or borrowing it from a friend.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Brawl In Cell Block 99 (2017) in Movies
Mar 3, 2018
This ain't no Wedding Crashers
Having just watched Bone Tomahawk (you must watch it) and learning writer/director S. Craig Zahler also helmed this film, I was even more anxious to see.
After Vince Vaughn loses his job, he is forced into a life as a drug runner. His big score goes wrong, he makes some tough decisions and ends up in prison. He is then manipulated and has to make even more intense decisions in order to make events happen in his favor.
Vaughn is believable as a tough, abrasive husband trying to save his family. His morality is questionable and you can't decide whether to root for him pr hate him. Don Johnson is also a standout as the warden.
I found it fascinating and exhilarating at the same time. Some of the fight scenes are maybe a little excessively violent, but that is the nature of prison life I imagine.
Zahler is slowly making a name for himself with these two films. He also has Dragged Across Concrete coming out later this year.
He hasn't reached Tarantino status quite yet, but he is off to a good start.
After Vince Vaughn loses his job, he is forced into a life as a drug runner. His big score goes wrong, he makes some tough decisions and ends up in prison. He is then manipulated and has to make even more intense decisions in order to make events happen in his favor.
Vaughn is believable as a tough, abrasive husband trying to save his family. His morality is questionable and you can't decide whether to root for him pr hate him. Don Johnson is also a standout as the warden.
I found it fascinating and exhilarating at the same time. Some of the fight scenes are maybe a little excessively violent, but that is the nature of prison life I imagine.
Zahler is slowly making a name for himself with these two films. He also has Dragged Across Concrete coming out later this year.
He hasn't reached Tarantino status quite yet, but he is off to a good start.
Tami (7 KP) rated Out of the Shadows in Books
Jul 15, 2018
I was very pleased with this book. The characters were likable and brought me great joy when things worked out for them in the end.
The storyline kept me wanting more from page one.
I appreciated that the love scene was further into the book (steamy too) because it gave you something to process their love interets before totally turning it into a sex fest (not that this book is a sex fest, I just hate books that do that.)
I wish the story would have had a little bit more meat on it, it is a short read. I would have liked to have had more backstory on the characters and more of the ex-boyfriend storyline.
I know that the Aztec gods were depicted based on the actual gods, but I, personally, wished that they were a little more pronouceable. I spend a lot of time skimming over the names which left me a little confused as to which god was doing what.
3 1/2 stars leaning toward 4. I plan on reading book 2, so it couldn’t have been that bad.
The storyline kept me wanting more from page one.
I appreciated that the love scene was further into the book (steamy too) because it gave you something to process their love interets before totally turning it into a sex fest (not that this book is a sex fest, I just hate books that do that.)
I wish the story would have had a little bit more meat on it, it is a short read. I would have liked to have had more backstory on the characters and more of the ex-boyfriend storyline.
I know that the Aztec gods were depicted based on the actual gods, but I, personally, wished that they were a little more pronouceable. I spend a lot of time skimming over the names which left me a little confused as to which god was doing what.
3 1/2 stars leaning toward 4. I plan on reading book 2, so it couldn’t have been that bad.
Eve (9 KP) rated One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) in Movies
Aug 26, 2018
Top notch filmery!
Ok, so where do I start? This is my favourite film and i could write about it all day! This film has every single emotion you can think about, i laughed, cried, felt angry, laughed again and cried and pretty much just fell in love with the film.
Mcmurphy is moved from prison to a psychiatric hospital as they think he is showing signs of being mad! When he gets there he starts to reveal that he is quite obviously not mad and is just a rebel!
He starts to bring life into the hospital doing some crazy things and also trying to drive the head nurse Mrs ratched crazy! They seem to have a love hate relationship. The patients who have never had any chaos in the hospital are all taking a real shine to mcmurphy and are becoming more and more chaotic which causes miss ratched to become extremely angry and nervous, she has a tightly run ship!
The actors in this film are top and do an amazing job of acting out the story, especially jack nicholson, he is just amazing and really gets you believing he is mcmurphy.
Mcmurphy is moved from prison to a psychiatric hospital as they think he is showing signs of being mad! When he gets there he starts to reveal that he is quite obviously not mad and is just a rebel!
He starts to bring life into the hospital doing some crazy things and also trying to drive the head nurse Mrs ratched crazy! They seem to have a love hate relationship. The patients who have never had any chaos in the hospital are all taking a real shine to mcmurphy and are becoming more and more chaotic which causes miss ratched to become extremely angry and nervous, she has a tightly run ship!
The actors in this film are top and do an amazing job of acting out the story, especially jack nicholson, he is just amazing and really gets you believing he is mcmurphy.
Fred (860 KP) rated Snowpiercer (2013) in Movies
Sep 15, 2018
Great characters (3 more)
Tense action
Tilda Swinton
Great directing & story telling
A chiller thriller!
So, everyone left alive on Earth is on a big train. They can't can't get off the train because the world is frozen. There are classes in society & of course, the higher ups abuse their power. So, the oppressed fight back. As the lower class moves up, we see how the train is laid out. We learn the secrets of the train. And then, well watch the movie. I don't want to give any more of the story away.
Let me say that Tilda Swinton is fantastic in her role. Her character is one of the greatest I've seen on film. You hate her, you laugh at her, she's nice, she's a bitch. She is so great, I just want to watch the movie again to enjoy her.
There are some great scenes as well, that use lighting to a great effect. The action scenes are great, but the characters are better. You really get to know them & you want to know them.
If you're into sci-fi thrillers, don't miss this one!
Let me say that Tilda Swinton is fantastic in her role. Her character is one of the greatest I've seen on film. You hate her, you laugh at her, she's nice, she's a bitch. She is so great, I just want to watch the movie again to enjoy her.
There are some great scenes as well, that use lighting to a great effect. The action scenes are great, but the characters are better. You really get to know them & you want to know them.
If you're into sci-fi thrillers, don't miss this one!
Cumberland (1142 KP) rated Struck By Lightning in Books
Sep 24, 2018
A good quick read
Carson Phillips is a high school senior with big dreams. He is an outcast who is disliked by most of his peers. This becomes a problem when he decides to create a literary magazine in hopes of getting accepted into the college of his dreams. To get the submissions he needs from other students he blackmails those around him.
Carson is a main character that you will either love or hate. The book is wrote as his diary entries, so the reader gets an inside look at his life. This makes it hard to dislike him despite his questionable moral choices. He is a sarcastic and funny character who often times critical about high school life. He does experience some personal growth throughout the book, and the reader can't help but cheer for his success.
The other characters make for an entertaining cast. Many of them depict stereotypes, but they all prove to be more complicated than they first appear. This book isn't super long so it's a good weekend read. If you like stories about high school under dogs chasing there dreams then you should definitely pick this up.
Carson is a main character that you will either love or hate. The book is wrote as his diary entries, so the reader gets an inside look at his life. This makes it hard to dislike him despite his questionable moral choices. He is a sarcastic and funny character who often times critical about high school life. He does experience some personal growth throughout the book, and the reader can't help but cheer for his success.
The other characters make for an entertaining cast. Many of them depict stereotypes, but they all prove to be more complicated than they first appear. This book isn't super long so it's a good weekend read. If you like stories about high school under dogs chasing there dreams then you should definitely pick this up.
Justin Taylor (59 KP) rated Power Rangers (2017) in Movies
Oct 29, 2018
Everything is better than the show because they got a better budget and better actors. (1 more)
References to the shows universe and legacy are littered throughout this movie see if u can spot them all
Basically the very first episode of power rangers but updated and expanded upon which isn't necessarily a bad thing but letting u know that it's not a new team just a reimagining (1 more)
Only the last half is power Rangers stuff which is understandable because it's an origin story so be warned in case ur expecting ranger stuff throughout
How a power rangers movie should be!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Overall this movie was mixed for me I didn't hate it but I didn't like it either...best way I can describe it is if DC got ahold of it.
The movies fine but don't expect too much from it also be aware this is a reimagining of the mighty Morphin Power rangers first episode so it's not a new team or a sequel to a season just it's own thing.
The cast owns it in this movie especially the blue ranger billy. Also the suits look awesome and the megazord is pretty awesome too.
The movies fine but don't expect too much from it also be aware this is a reimagining of the mighty Morphin Power rangers first episode so it's not a new team or a sequel to a season just it's own thing.
The cast owns it in this movie especially the blue ranger billy. Also the suits look awesome and the megazord is pretty awesome too.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated The Daughter's Secret in Books
Nov 14, 2018
__ <b>2 Snail Paced Stars</b>
After reading some really positive reviews I must admit that I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this book more. The blurb sounded interesting and different to what I would usually go for but I'm very open minded when it comes to books.
What got to me the most about this book was that it was so very slow, my eyes would start to glaze over after every couple of pages, it would repeat itself and the jumping forwards and backwards in time got a bit confusing. The main characters were unique but others got swept under the rug and many questions were left unanswered. I would of liked to know more about Stephie's dad and why he was...well...the way he was.
If the mother wasn't so anxious and didn't question everything in life then I feel that we may not have had much of a story.
The prejudice towards tattooed people and the gothic subculture left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth...because they're just as bad as paedophiles right? <I>*Grumble*</I>
I didn't hate it but I didn't love it.
After reading some really positive reviews I must admit that I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this book more. The blurb sounded interesting and different to what I would usually go for but I'm very open minded when it comes to books.
What got to me the most about this book was that it was so very slow, my eyes would start to glaze over after every couple of pages, it would repeat itself and the jumping forwards and backwards in time got a bit confusing. The main characters were unique but others got swept under the rug and many questions were left unanswered. I would of liked to know more about Stephie's dad and why he was...well...the way he was.
If the mother wasn't so anxious and didn't question everything in life then I feel that we may not have had much of a story.
The prejudice towards tattooed people and the gothic subculture left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth...because they're just as bad as paedophiles right? <I>*Grumble*</I>
I didn't hate it but I didn't love it.
Merissa (13169 KP) rated Vampires Prefer Blondes (Psy-Vamp #3) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
So this is the third of the Psy-Vamp series and Lydia and Roman's story. It starts with Lydia in a hospital bed and Damon making an appearance. Luckily for Lydia, so does Roman and it's not long before he whisks her away. The repartee between Roman and Lydia is very easy on the eyes and will bring a smile to your mouth, although I found myself laughing out loud on more than on occasion. This is definitely a case of opposites attract as Lydia loosens up the straitlaced Roman. There is some major intensity going on between the two of them.
There are other stories mixed up with this one, the heat is building between Justin and Caitlin. The relationship that is between Lydia and Drew and Sofia is perfect. Lydia is not a doormat and won't be treated as such. The reaction of Sofia upon first speaking with Lydia is absolutely brilliant.
There is a bit of something in here for everyone - everything from love and laughter to hate, tears and torture. A brilliant book in a series that just keeps on getting better. Highly recommended to all vamp fans.
There are other stories mixed up with this one, the heat is building between Justin and Caitlin. The relationship that is between Lydia and Drew and Sofia is perfect. Lydia is not a doormat and won't be treated as such. The reaction of Sofia upon first speaking with Lydia is absolutely brilliant.
There is a bit of something in here for everyone - everything from love and laughter to hate, tears and torture. A brilliant book in a series that just keeps on getting better. Highly recommended to all vamp fans.