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Lou Grande (148 KP) rated It Looks Like This in Books
Jun 22, 2018
Hoo boy. I went into this book expecting to hate it. It's teen fiction, which can be okay, and I knew from the blurbs on the front cover and back that it was probably not a happy ending. I hate books like that, especially LGBT-themed books aimed at that audience. BUT!
This is the first book to make me cry in ages. I'm not a crier by nature. There's something very effective and hard-hitting about Mittlefehldt's style. It's spare and haunting and leaves a lot of room to read between the lines. It reminded me a lot of books I had to read growing up like Bridge to Terebithia and Where the Red Fern Grows. You have the vague notion that something is going to go wrong, but it still takes your breath away when it does.
It Looks Like This is a story about small towns, religion, young love, and tragedy. In many ways, it has universal appeal: we all remember our first love and how gut-wrenching it is when it's over. But it also describes a story that many queer people know very well: what it feels like to know that this will always be harder for you than the people who "hate the sin but love the sinner."
This is the first book to make me cry in ages. I'm not a crier by nature. There's something very effective and hard-hitting about Mittlefehldt's style. It's spare and haunting and leaves a lot of room to read between the lines. It reminded me a lot of books I had to read growing up like Bridge to Terebithia and Where the Red Fern Grows. You have the vague notion that something is going to go wrong, but it still takes your breath away when it does.
It Looks Like This is a story about small towns, religion, young love, and tragedy. In many ways, it has universal appeal: we all remember our first love and how gut-wrenching it is when it's over. But it also describes a story that many queer people know very well: what it feels like to know that this will always be harder for you than the people who "hate the sin but love the sinner."
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated The Thorn Bearer (Penned in Time, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
The Thorn Bearer truly blew my expectations out of the water. Pepper shares deep and agonizing struggles with beautifully pure redemption. There were many points in which certain characters needed a good bashing over the head...But it was exciting to see God work in their lives and transform them into a new creation. Ashleigh's past follows her wherever she goes. Nothing she has tried, on her own, has worked to forget the nightmares haunting her. Be prepared for an emotional ride with some difficult subjects. But that is one thing that makes Pepper stand out...She doesn't sugar coat things, and she doesn't shortchange God's love and compassion. While specific trials of the characters are not ones I am familiar with, I do know how unforgiveness can drag your soul down. It is incredible to witness the freedom that forgiveness can offer. I am also familiar with the frustrations of God allowing certain things to happen in our lives. However, I do know in the depths of my heart, that God works all things together for good. As my daily life is witness to. I definitely recommend this book without reservations. I can't wait to start the next book!
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated Amityville: The Awakening (2017) in Movies
Jan 27, 2019
Not much (2 more)
Stays within the Amityville realm
Shows footage from DeFeo's crimes and mentions the Amityville history/"haunting"
Slow and drags on (8 more)
Boring
Tense in a teen angst way
Poor character relationships
One-dimensional characters
Vague plotlines
Visually too dark to see most action
Unoriginal
Flat acting
Drags on and on and on and blah.
If you expect a family to move into the Amityville house where DeFeo murdered his family in the 1970s and be haunted or possessed by a ghost, demon, poltergeist, etc., you are 100% correct. That premise could be interesting but unfortunately, this film falls short. It is tense because of the relationships between the characters and not from suspense. It's pretty boring and relies on a few jump scares and flashes of horror. The storyline is unoriginal and poorly done. The lighting is so dark that it's difficult to see the last 30 minutes of the action. You might as well be listening to an old-fashioned radio show or horror podcast instead. This movie is problematic from beginning to end. There are much better films out there with a similar premise so unless you're extremely bored and like to torture yourself, avoid this one.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated The Devil's Backbone (2001) in Movies
Jul 19, 2019
Who knew Pan's Labyrinth had a companion film?
Early film from Guillermo del Toro is similar to Pan's Labyrinth in a lot of ways. In watching an interview after viewing the film, del Toro actually says this is a companion film since they have a lot of the same themes and cinematic elements most notably a child being introduced to a foreign hostile environment and the element of the supernatural influencing the actions of other characters.
I can see how others might complain about the slow pacing of certain scenes or the noticeable subplots that don't all have conclusions, but I guess those didn't bother me as I was engaged in the story. The kids eventually learn of the existence of the "ghost" in the basement and try and figure out its motives and reason for existence.
I enjoyed the look of the film immensely and thought all the acting was solid. The film had a haunting soundtrack which supplemented the spooky scenes very well.
I could even see some scenes which could've been out of The Shape of Water as del Toro's films all seem to have the director's signature look which isn't a complaint; only an observation.
I enjoyed it a lot.
I can see how others might complain about the slow pacing of certain scenes or the noticeable subplots that don't all have conclusions, but I guess those didn't bother me as I was engaged in the story. The kids eventually learn of the existence of the "ghost" in the basement and try and figure out its motives and reason for existence.
I enjoyed the look of the film immensely and thought all the acting was solid. The film had a haunting soundtrack which supplemented the spooky scenes very well.
I could even see some scenes which could've been out of The Shape of Water as del Toro's films all seem to have the director's signature look which isn't a complaint; only an observation.
I enjoyed it a lot.
BookwormLea (3034 KP) rated The Invisible Man (2020) in Movies
Mar 4, 2020
Genuinely terrifying...
Contains spoilers, click to show
I've always thought thrillers were scarier than horrors. They can do anything in a horror movie, making it as fantastical as they want. Killer clowns from space? Check. Mirrors to the other side? Check. They've got it all... but thrillers are so intense and believable that it scares you to your core. For real. This movie was so well made that I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, well except that one bit with the needle but that's because I hate needles... This movie could have been made so badly based on other 'invisible' characters we have seen before. But the acting in this film was just. Perfect *finger kiss*. I can't remember the last time a movie made me jump out my seat, it had the whole cinema audience biting their nails and gripping their seats. I was in awe the whole time. Not once did I think that a part could have been changed. Everything was so well done, I could honestly say, I would be more afraid of an invisible stalker, than a ghost haunting me.
Side note: me and my stepdad who watched it with me both agree that the suit itself, whether Adrian, his brother or anyone else wears it, would make an amazing Super Villain movie!
Side note: me and my stepdad who watched it with me both agree that the suit itself, whether Adrian, his brother or anyone else wears it, would make an amazing Super Villain movie!
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