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Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
2019 | Action, Sci-Fi
The best Spider-Man so far?
Let's face it, Spider-Man has been through it over the years in his various incarnations, and Marvel had a tough job ahead of them to bring him into the Marvel universe. Whilst they managed this pretty well in Captain America and Homecoming, it's only in Far From Home that Spidey truly shines in his own right.

For starters, this is a very fun and entertaining film and makes for a refreshing antidote to the rather heavy and sad Endgame. It of course has references to the events of Endgame, but fortunately doesn't go too heavy on the weepy bits. I wouldn't have been able to cope if they had! Instead this has a lot of fun humour and a fairly adorable romantic plot with two very awkward teenagers, which is still entertaining even if we do all know how it'll turn out. Tom Holland is by far the best Spider-Man we've ever had and he suits this role perfectly. Finally a Spider-Man that looks and sounds like a teenager (even if Tom Holland technically isn't...)! Jake Gyllenhaal isnt someone you'd expect to see in a superhero film, but I actually think he was marvellous as Mysterio, especially towards the second half of the film- no spoilers! I'm also so glad that Happy is back, I know Jon Favreau has been off directing etc but I do wish Happy was around more in some of the Marvel films as he's great for the comedy and I loved him in this.

My only criticism is it felt like it dragged a little in parts. That's actually the only bad thing I have to say about it. Even the end credit scenes were a bit more exciting than some have been in the past, especially the mid credits which has a very welcome cameo.

This is by far the best Spider-Man film we've seen, and I can't wait to see what they do next.
  
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Rick Astley recommended Highway to Hell by AC/DC in Music (curated)

 
Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Highway to Hell by AC/DC
1979 | Rock
8.4 (5 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I was about fifteen-years-old and I had just started playing drums and somebody played this album in its entirety on the radio. My Dad had a garden centre at the time and I used to sit in the pickup truck listening to the radio – you know, in its own bizarre way [at that age], you just want to be on your own. So I remember being in that van and the radio DJ saying something about AC/DC and they put it on – I was nailed to my seat. And I'm a drummer, I've always liked rock bands and I've got a mid-life crisis band with some friends – we're called The Luddites. We just play three-piece punk or rock. We murder some of the classics for charity – that's how we get away with it. We go from Sex Pistols to Clash to Foo Fighters to Kings of Leon and so on. Really anthemic songs! Those last two bands have got an odd place in a lot of people's music world – certainly that very guitar heavy rock sound of the Foo Fighters – you would be shocked at some of the people who are into this heavy rock sound. Certain people – a mom with three kids for example – are really into this music! But it's all melodically very strong. Where were we? Oh yes, AC/DC. I made a cassette of this album. I used to drum to this album. Phil Rudd was a monster on the drums. He doesn't do anything – he's the rock Ringo. Whatever he's done needs to be done. People take the piss out of Ringo but everything he did was where it should be. How did I change from being a drummer to a singer? I borrowed a guitar from a guy in the band and fumbled through a few chords and tried to write songs and I became the singer because of that."

Source
  
The Dig (2021)
The Dig (2021)
2021 | Drama, History
8
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Acting from Fiennes and Mulligan - top notch (1 more)
Cinematography is gorgeous
Why make it so "man heavy" when history was otherwise? (1 more)
Found the asynchronous editing irritating
Archaeology with no fedora required
It’s 1939, and as World War 2 approaches, widower Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) hires rough and ready excavator Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) to dig into one of the ancient earth mounds on her property at the site that will become famous as Sutton Hoo in Suffolk. Requesting the help of her cousin Rory Lomax (Johnny Flynn) to photograph the effort, the site slowly gives up its Anglo-Saxon treasures attracting the attention of first the Ipswich museum and then the pompous Charles Phillips (Ken Stott) of the British Museum. A battle is on for both the control of the site and the resting place for the treasures found.

Against this backdrop there is a critical illness emerging, a son (Archie Barnes) and his attachment to the father figure of Brown and a potential romance between Rory and archaeologist Peggy Piggott, trapped in a loveless marriage.

Talent:
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Johnny Flynn, Lily James, Archie Barnes, Ken Stott, Monica Donlan.

Directed by: Simon Stone.

Written by: Moira Buffini (from the novel by John Preston).

Bullet points of my thoughts:

+ Superb acting by Mulligan and Fiennes – Oscar noms for both?
+ Young Archie Barnes impresses as the son Robert
+ Cinematography by Mike Eley shows the open Suffolk skies at their best
+ Based on fact, a fascinating historical record of the real excitement of uncovering the past
o The script deftly melds the archeology with the love story subplot: but was the latter really necessary?
– Curious “man heavy” script, replacing some of the historical female characters with men and making Peggy Piggott (Lily James) a bit of a klutz
– Asynchronous editing decision I found to be distracting and unnecessary.


For my full review, please see the video at https://youtu.be/m8Ad8B8dkSY .
  
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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) in Movies

Aug 28, 2019 (Updated Oct 25, 2019)  
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Another fantastic entry into Tarantino's legacy
If there's one thing that springs to mind after watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is that's it's not particularly user friendly, it's not easily consumed.
It's a loooong film (perhaps a little too long), and I feel that even some proper Tarantino fans may struggle to get along with it.

The film feels like a full on love letter to Hollywood during the late 60s, and Tarantino's passion for this period is obvious.
The audience are spoiled with gorgeous shots throughout, set to a backdrop of great music (as per usual).

The cast are fantastic - I've mentioned before on here that I'm an unashamed Brad Pitt fanboy, and nothing here changes that. Leonardo DiCaprio is also great (just as he was in Django Unchained) as the two of them stick by each other as Rick Dalton's (DiCaprio) acting career starts to waver.
Living just up the road from Rick are Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate (played by a hugely charming Margot Robbie).
As the film progresses, I found myself wondering what story was trying to be told, but it does all tie up in a very Tarantino way. It's pretty glorious (no spoilers here).
The plot certainly benefits from the viewer having prior knowledge to the horrific Manson family/Tate murder.
The final 20 minutes is where things ramp up, after a very slow burning 2 hours... and after Tarantino's last 3 movies, which I found more action heavy than some of his early work, it's a different approach, and a reason why I think some people may struggle with it.
The pacing is, weirdly, most akin to Death Proof - an extremely dialogue heavy movie with a crazy final act.
But the huge amount of dialogue we're subjected to is pretty much perfect. It's a real treat if you have the patience.

Once Upon a Time... can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of Tarantino's portfolio.
  
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Andy K (10823 KP) Aug 28, 2019

Thanks! Someone else who has good taste! 😊

Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found
Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found
Cheryl Strayed | 2013 | Biography
6
8.2 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
After losing her mother, ending her marriage and changing her name,Cheryl Strayed decided she was going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. The idea came to her after seeing a guidebook in the checkout line. She had planned on reading the book prior to her hike, but that didn't work out so well. She started reading the night before she started hiking. She did it alone and it took her 3-4 months to do it.
Well, I know that I could never take on a task like that. At least not in the way she did it. Backpacking 1100 miles from California to the Oregon/Washington border. Sleeping outside, meeting strangers, crossing paths with rattlesnakes, watching black bears walk by. But she went into the wilderness totally unprepared. Her shoes were too small, her pack was too heavy and financially(who needs money when they're backpacking?)
All of these and more obstacles she overcame in order to accomplish the task at hand. Hiking the PCT.
  
ON
One Night for Love (Bedwyn Prequels, #1)
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>One Night for Love</i> was a lovely book, with a touching love story. Yes, I'll admit the story is a little heavy-handed, but Ms. Balogh did a nice job of anchoring it with believable, and likable, characters. I especially liked how she let the heroine be her own person, had her find herself, and had the hero accept her the way she was before any of it! That in itself is unique in the romance genre, in particular in historical (Regency) romances. I felt for everyone - Lily and Lauren, mostly. I'm not sure how I feel going into <i>A Summer to Remember</i> right after this, but hope Mary Balogh can work her magic and I'll grow to love Lauren as I do Lily...just in a different way. :) I know how Lily felt, never feeling like she was home, so I'm glad she was able to become a whole person with a new and extended family.
  
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Rigormortus (15 KP) rated Gloomhaven in Tabletop Games

Mar 13, 2019 (Updated Apr 25, 2019)  
Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven
2017 | Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures
Hours of gameplay better pack a lunch (0 more)
Nothing really (0 more)
The more the merrier
When i first recieved this game it was heavier than expected, it blew my mind how much could be packed in such a massive box. The setup was alittle overwhelming and punching out everything took some time, but well worth it I had to invest in some card protectors for regular card sizes and euro style card sizes, but trust me it is well worth it as much as this thing costs. Once we went through the heavy rulebook and some gameplay on youtube we gained a easier understanding and couldn't wait for our start. Trying this game it gets you sucked in as it makes you feel you are in this fanasty world fighting the baddies. I tell you what if you what this is well worth the money just make sure you pack a lunch and have time as it takes at least 2hrs for a scenerio.