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Dana (24 KP) rated Burned (Burned, #1) in Books

Mar 23, 2018  
Burned (Burned, #1)
Burned (Burned, #1)
Ellen Hopkins | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.3 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
I honestly didn't know how I would feel about this book. I haven't been having the best week or so, so I didn't necessarily want to read something too heavy. While this book did have a lot of heavy themes, it wasn't too dark for me, which I was glad about.

The rest of this review will have some spoilers, so read at your own peril.

I didn't really know much about this book as I was going into it. My roommate gave it to me on a recommendation, so I read it the next day and I really enjoyed it. I know it came out ages ago, but I don't think I was really emotionally mature enough to really appreciate the story. Overall, I am glad I waited until I was a bit older.

Even though it is close to 550 pages, it doesn't feel that long because of the way it is set up. The poetry gives it a fresh perspective and a very interesting storytelling perspective. I absolutely loved the formatting, especially the shapes of the poems.

This book talks a lot about religion, abuse (specially religious and familial abuse), independence, sex, and relationships in a very mature, yet approachable way.

This book supports the idea that you should get help from someone when you need it-even if it is not the authorities.

It was interesting to see Pattyn's development throughout the book, as heartbreaking as it was. She starts off as such a timid, rule-abiding girl, and then turns into someone with her own thoughts and morals. I feel like that as she was able to experience more, she grew into her own person to an extent.

I love Aunt Jeanette-she just wants what is best for Pattyn.

The ending crushed me. I just wanted Pattyn to be happy with Ethan, but no. It just had to come to a horrible end, didn't it?

Sorry this review is pretty short. I can't really find all the right ways to say what I'm thinking about this book.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think I will check out more of Ellen Hopkins's books.
  
Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human
2018 | Action/Adventure
Leaves Heavy Rain in the dust
The only other Quantic Dream game I have played is 2010s 'Heavy Rain' - a game that I kind of enjoyed, but to me always felt like it was in the cusp of being so much more.

Detroit: Become Human is that 'so much more'.

Detroit follows the narrative of three playable characters - Kara, Markus, and Connor - all androids living in a not too distant future. Androids exist purely to make life easier for humans. They are treated like slaves in a lot of cases and generally mistreated, causing some models to deviate from their programming, and develop free thinking.
These characters stories follow different parts as an Android revolution for equal rights picks up pace.

With all the issues our real world faces at present, a lot of the storyline seems apt, as a subtle social commentary is weaved throughout, without ever slapping you over the face with it.
The different narratives flow perfectly alongside one another, and it becomes clear very quickly, that even the smallest choice you make can drastically effect the route your story takes. It makes for some thrilling an intense moments, where someone you've grown to care about could be snatched away from you without warning.

The graphics and motion capture are breathtaking. It's a gorgeous looking game that emits pure quality, showing off just how much effort has gone into it.
The gameplay ranges from slower detective work, to furious chases, to combat wrapped in QTE. It stands apart in that respect as the moments where the often dreaded QTE sections are deployed, the situation is usually so tense that it feels more urgent - the stakes are always high, as one slip up could cost you dearly.
(The mission aboard Jericho in the latter stages of the game had me legit stressed!)

And to top it all off, Detroit has a wonderful musical score, that compliments the well written script perfectly.

I can't recommend Detroit enough - I can't fault it in any way. I'm already excited to dive back in to pursue more of the many endings the game has to offer!
  
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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Sleepy Hollow (1999) in Movies

Apr 20, 2020 (Updated Apr 20, 2020)  
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
1999 | Horror, Mystery, Romance
Sleepy Hollow is one of those films that I will always love. I first saw it when I was 13, when DVDs were still pretty new, and I would watch it over and over again.
It's just about creepy enough to offer itself to horror fans, and has the right amount of Tim Burton campiness to still appeal to younger audiences (not too young mind, plenty of blood flying about).

Johnny Depp plays Ichabod Crane, a constable sent from New York to the small town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of bizarre murders, at the tail end of the 1700s.
The townsfolk are gripped with fear, convinced that the murders are the work of the fabled Headless Horseman, but Ichabod is certain that there's a less supernatural involvement behind the scenes.

The 18th Century setting is perfect for Burton's gothic style. The whole film is draped in a misty asthethic, lending it a cold and dreary atmosphere.
This is further complimented by Danny Elfman's incredible church-organ-heavy score.
The Horseman himself looks ghostly and makes for some unforgettable shots as he chases down and decapitates his way through the cast.
Said cast is a heavy duty one as well. Johnny Depp is front and centre, pretty much just being typical Johnny Depp, but it works wonders with Ichabod's almost mad-scientist character.
The rest of the cast boasts the likes of Christina Ricci, Michael Gambon, Christopher Walken, Miranda Richardson, Ian McDiarmid, Michael Gough, Richard Griffiths, Christopher Lee, Jeffrey Jones... It's an impressive list.
Some of the acting is a bit overboard at times (looking at you Christopher Walken) but it kind of adds a bit of surrealism to the whole affair.

The effects are pretty solid as well. Burton's approach to using a large amount of practical effects is admirable, and what CGI is used is subtle enough to not show the films age.

Despite it cheesyness, Sleepy Hollow manages to be both a dark and fun horror adventure, that I always enjoy watching and remains a highlight in Tim Burton's resume.
  
    Overkill 2

    Overkill 2

    Games and Entertainment

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    Do you like guns? Then you will love Overkill 2! Over 50 realistic 3D guns are waiting for you in...

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Rob Halford recommended Paranoid by Black Sabbath in Music (curated)

 
Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Paranoid by Black Sabbath
1970 | Metal, Rock
9.0 (7 Ratings)
Album Favorite

""I chose this one because it has 'War Pigs'. It's quintessentially Sabbath even now. They have to play those songs because they are the ones that say everything about that band. Tony [Iommi, guitarist] has said that they were in and out in a few hours when they were making those first records, and this was a pretty quick follow-up. He's a riff master. It's just riffs. It's the essence and the purity of Sabbath that I love, and on this record they really nail it. If somebody were to ask me about Sabbath, what they represent and what they've done, I'd tell them to just go and listen to this record because it encapsulates them so well. They were a Birmingham band too and I think it just shows that a lot of bands from that Midlands region were very prolific. There was a lot of activity going on in and around the Birmingham area. I've always said that the Beatles were responsible for breaking the wall around London down, because before them there was this idea that you had to be from London to be successful. But them being from Liverpool and then later bands like Sabbath from Birmingham sent a message that it wasn't the case and I think that's great. The way that the scene was in Birmingham at that time, we had a fabulous club called Mothers where everybody played. I saw everyone play there: Cream, Sabbath, Pink Floyd. It made Birmingham a real hotbed outside of London for that style of music. We were friends with Sabbath, and I've always considered them to be the inventors of the heavy metal sound. We knew each other and for them to suddenly have this massive impact with this record and be on the radio and in the NME was thrilling. It was before the internet so it took time to get the word out but that made it more exciting to watch for me. When they went to America we were in awe of them because everyone wanted to go to America. Of course we did a few years later, but that was only because of this heavy metal sound that they were responsible for."

Source
  
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Becs (244 KP) rated As Night Falls in Books

Oct 2, 2019  
As Night Falls
As Night Falls
Jenny Milchman | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Highlights: I love the cover, it gives off that thriller vibe. Great read, couldn’t put it down. Had me hanging onto every word from the beginning even though there were a few slower moments in the book.

Style: Medium read, not too heavy and also not too light of a read.

Point of View: Third-person

Difficulty Reading: As Night Falls was a pretty easy read for me, but I tend to find Thrillers a little easier to read. I wouldn’t say this was a light read but it’s also not a heavy read, lying somewhere in the middle. There were a few parts that had me taking a bit more time trying to read and understand what was going on but these moments were far and few in between all the good parts!

Promise: As Night Falls promises a psychological suspense thriller that will keep you on your toes while you gain a love for the characters, it delivers.

Quality: All-around great read. Defiantly recommend to everyone who likes Thriller reads, even if it’s just a little bit.

Insights: You will either love this book or you will hate it, there’s no in between. For me, this was a love relationship that deserves many other rereads.

Ah-Ha Moment: When Nick reveals that he is the brother of Sandy, I had to stop reading for a moment to ponder the thought and what all was revealed already throughout the book that gave it away.

Favorite quote: “These days, her daughter could make obedience sound like defiance.” – Pretty much sums up the way of children haha.

What will you gain: A love relationship for Sandy and her family, this includes Harlan (as he’s like Hodor from Game of Thrones – innocent and being controlled by Nick). And an ‘I want to kill you, you scum’ relationship with psycho Nick. Plus a great thriller read that deserves so much more love than what it currently is getting!

Aesthetics: Cover was what pulled me in at first. Then the switching from past and present was hard to get into the first couple of chapters, but I feel like it helped shape the book.

“Timing was going to be key.”