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Awix (3310 KP) rated Men in Black International (2019) in Movies
Jun 18, 2019 (Updated Jun 18, 2019)
Actors move back and forth in front of a camera, occasionally saying words; armies of people sit before computers adding special effects to digital footage; lucrative deals are struck advertising cars, watches and sunglasses. But none of it really seems to mean anything to anyone - there is a vague, superficial resemblance to a franchise that was very popular 15-20 years ago, but everything that made it distinctive and entertaining has been scraped out of the carcass and what remains is almost wholly affectless.
Chris Hemsworth gives his usual performance (he will have to come up with another if he wants a viable career beyond playing Thor), Tessa Thompson has arguably been promoted too far in being given co-lead of a film aiming to be a blockbuster. Not much chemistry between the leads, though, and the plot is wholly transactional. This film is rarely full-on dull, but it doesn't engage the brain, emotions, or sense of humour either.
Chris Hemsworth gives his usual performance (he will have to come up with another if he wants a viable career beyond playing Thor), Tessa Thompson has arguably been promoted too far in being given co-lead of a film aiming to be a blockbuster. Not much chemistry between the leads, though, and the plot is wholly transactional. This film is rarely full-on dull, but it doesn't engage the brain, emotions, or sense of humour either.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Jan 4, 2019
By far and away, this is the best of the recent DC movies (though I haven't seen Wonder Woman). There is much more humour injected into it, that it finally feels like they've got something to rival Marvel films. It really feels like a normal, decent superhero film.
However, I didn't much like Jason Momoa and thought he lacked the personality to carry the role off and really needed Amber Heard to inject some life into scenes.
A fun enjoyable film but I'm not sure the final battle scene was necessary - why does every superhero film have to lead up to an epic battle these days? While the CGI made this visually stunning, I felt it was totally unnecessary.
And finally, I was so glad when Aquaman's mum's "trident" is broken in the initial challenge for the throne - it had 5 prongs so every time someone referred to it as a trident I wanted to scream.
However, I didn't much like Jason Momoa and thought he lacked the personality to carry the role off and really needed Amber Heard to inject some life into scenes.
A fun enjoyable film but I'm not sure the final battle scene was necessary - why does every superhero film have to lead up to an epic battle these days? While the CGI made this visually stunning, I felt it was totally unnecessary.
And finally, I was so glad when Aquaman's mum's "trident" is broken in the initial challenge for the throne - it had 5 prongs so every time someone referred to it as a trident I wanted to scream.
Joe (2 more)
Twists
Dark humour
Sympathetic stalker.
Joe is an intelligent book store worker and he's not bad looking either. Problem is he might just be a psychopath. He becomes obsessed with women he believes are the one and from there on out he sets out to make them his and protect them no matter what that takes.
It has an underlying theme of dark humor with many finding the character of Joe to be incredibly sympathetic despite his actions and I did quite often find myself laughing at the series. I devoured it in 2 days and just couldn't stop watching despite the fact that I didn't feel at all sympathetic towards his victim Beck and even at times found her quite annoying and pathetic.
You looks set to be one of Netflixs biggest TV hits for this year and with a sequel already in development it's certainly worth a good binge.
It has an underlying theme of dark humor with many finding the character of Joe to be incredibly sympathetic despite his actions and I did quite often find myself laughing at the series. I devoured it in 2 days and just couldn't stop watching despite the fact that I didn't feel at all sympathetic towards his victim Beck and even at times found her quite annoying and pathetic.
You looks set to be one of Netflixs biggest TV hits for this year and with a sequel already in development it's certainly worth a good binge.
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated The Babysitter (2017) in Movies
Aug 13, 2019
Proper cheesefest
I put this movie off for ages as it didn't look that great from trailers, but i kept getting drawn back to it so thought I may as well give it a go.
Basically the movie is about a young teen called Cole - i use the word teen loosely as i swear he only looks about 12!- who has a hot babysitter. She's kind, sweet and Cole enjoys her being around. However, one night he decides to stay up and see what she gets upto when he's asleep, turns out she's part of a satanic cult. When she finds out that he knows, her and her cult friends set out to try and kill Cole and it turns into a cross between scream, scary movie and home alone.
It has a lot of tongue in cheek humour and not to be taken seriously, if you want an easy watch with still plenty of gore give it a go.
Basically the movie is about a young teen called Cole - i use the word teen loosely as i swear he only looks about 12!- who has a hot babysitter. She's kind, sweet and Cole enjoys her being around. However, one night he decides to stay up and see what she gets upto when he's asleep, turns out she's part of a satanic cult. When she finds out that he knows, her and her cult friends set out to try and kill Cole and it turns into a cross between scream, scary movie and home alone.
It has a lot of tongue in cheek humour and not to be taken seriously, if you want an easy watch with still plenty of gore give it a go.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Killing Eve - Season 2 in TV
Aug 11, 2019
Not as good as first series
The first series of Killing Eve was really quite a nice surprise, wonderfully violent and humorous. The problem is that this second series is it’s more of the same and a poorer version at that. Yes its still rather violent and funny, but it just didn’t feel like anything new. If it wasn’t for Jodie Comer as the wonderful Villanelle, I don’t think I could’ve stuck with this series. She at least brings all of the humour and wicked violence which makes this series watchable. My main problem was Eve. I wasn’t her biggest fan to begin with, but I found her downright irritating and annoying in this series. Her indecision about what or who she wanted was getting rather stale by the final episode and the ending was just a bit meh, especially as anyone with a brain can figure out how it’ll pan out if they make a new series.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) in Movies
Jan 14, 2019
Outstanding cast and dialogue
I won't belabour this review, I have nothing new to say that isn't already in these reviews.
The dialogue in this film from start to finish is top notch. The jokes, the put-downs, the nastiness, the crass-ness is all on-point and perfect.
While I hate a film not having an ending, it seemed to fit this film. It really was some people trying to get by and work out how they deal with the hand life deals them and not really moving on. The film tells of the journey of those people, and not where they end up.
The subject matter is very grim, as are some of the events in the film, but it is told with enough realism and so wonderfully acted as to give it all the gravitas it needs, but also to cut through that at times with dark humour.
A brilliant film.
The dialogue in this film from start to finish is top notch. The jokes, the put-downs, the nastiness, the crass-ness is all on-point and perfect.
While I hate a film not having an ending, it seemed to fit this film. It really was some people trying to get by and work out how they deal with the hand life deals them and not really moving on. The film tells of the journey of those people, and not where they end up.
The subject matter is very grim, as are some of the events in the film, but it is told with enough realism and so wonderfully acted as to give it all the gravitas it needs, but also to cut through that at times with dark humour.
A brilliant film.
Merissa (13614 KP) rated Ruby in the Dust in Books
Dec 17, 2018
What a wonderful, heart-warming and realistic (in the best way) book! It takes place in Maidenhead, UK and some of the descriptions just of that had me sniggering to myself.
This is a romance book, a self-help book, full of humour, situations, trials and tribulations and friendship. And don't forget tea or coffee with cake! This book will make you laugh and will also make you cry. There was one bit (that I won't ruin) that came as a shock to me and what followed had me snuffling into my tissues. The very human characters in this book face their inner (and sometimes outer) demons and do it with the love and friendship of others and their own strengths that they don't even realise that they have.
Wonderful writing, with a twist, that completely drew me in. Made me laugh, made me cry and gave me more than a few good self-help quotes.
This is a romance book, a self-help book, full of humour, situations, trials and tribulations and friendship. And don't forget tea or coffee with cake! This book will make you laugh and will also make you cry. There was one bit (that I won't ruin) that came as a shock to me and what followed had me snuffling into my tissues. The very human characters in this book face their inner (and sometimes outer) demons and do it with the love and friendship of others and their own strengths that they don't even realise that they have.
Wonderful writing, with a twist, that completely drew me in. Made me laugh, made me cry and gave me more than a few good self-help quotes.
Versusyours (757 KP) rated The Goldbergs - Season 1 in TV
Nov 5, 2019
Quoteable lines (2 more)
Nostalgia galore
Likeable characters
The Goldbergs looks and feels like the American family based sitcoms I grew up with in the UK, this is the big appeal from this show, the familiarity and soundtrack of simpler days. The characters are clearly defined from the start and you can identify each of their strengths and vulnerabiltes and how these are used as the season progresses.
When watching this with my daughter aged 11 she gets the humour and she has a sense of wonder at how technology used to be and how the fashions have changed. It gives us more to talk about and shows the universal appeal of the Goldbergs.
Sometimes there is no need to reinvent what works and with the clever writing in this show makes it enjoyable and each episode can be viewed repeatedly. This is the benchmark I use for sitcoms and this works for me. Long live the 80s and all who use mind deloreans to travel back there.
When watching this with my daughter aged 11 she gets the humour and she has a sense of wonder at how technology used to be and how the fashions have changed. It gives us more to talk about and shows the universal appeal of the Goldbergs.
Sometimes there is no need to reinvent what works and with the clever writing in this show makes it enjoyable and each episode can be viewed repeatedly. This is the benchmark I use for sitcoms and this works for me. Long live the 80s and all who use mind deloreans to travel back there.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Bongo Fury (Bongy Fury #1) in Books
Nov 8, 2019
Do you want to read a humorous thriller novella set in Northern Ireland? Of course you would, who wouldn't?
Bongo fury introduces Jimmy, a man who just wants to run his music shop in peace. But when a friend asks for his help he ends up plunged into a world of gangsters, organised crime and drug deals. He has to use all of his considerable wits to escape from this unscathed.
This story turns on the character of Jimmy, and fortunately he's a terrific narrator, regarding events with a world-weary black humour even when they turn very much against him. The plot is fairly slight but runs at a fast pace so that really doesn't matter very much. What matters is how much fun this book is to read, and it's a lot of fun. Even better is that there is a Bongo Fury 2 which carries the story on.
Note: Lots of bad language and some violence
Bongo fury introduces Jimmy, a man who just wants to run his music shop in peace. But when a friend asks for his help he ends up plunged into a world of gangsters, organised crime and drug deals. He has to use all of his considerable wits to escape from this unscathed.
This story turns on the character of Jimmy, and fortunately he's a terrific narrator, regarding events with a world-weary black humour even when they turn very much against him. The plot is fairly slight but runs at a fast pace so that really doesn't matter very much. What matters is how much fun this book is to read, and it's a lot of fun. Even better is that there is a Bongo Fury 2 which carries the story on.
Note: Lots of bad language and some violence
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Sacred Art of Stealing in Books
Nov 25, 2019
A daring bank robbery in broad daylight puts detective Angelique De Xavier on the trail of a highly intelligent, highly motivated and highly unusual thief. The closer she gets the more she both admires him and wonders at his real motives.
This is classic Brookmyre; plenty of Scottish patois and references, clever and imaginative situations and well drawn characters. Nobody in a Brookmyre novel is black or white, everyone has shades of grey, sometimes more than one shade and this book is no exception.
As would be expected this is a thriller with a wry twist of humour running through it; the bank robbery itself is both tense and a hoot to read as the police are completely outmaneouvred. As the real pursuit by De Xavier continues through the rest of the book the reader is drawn in and exposed to every twist as she experiences it.
A thoroughly good read and highly recommended.
This is classic Brookmyre; plenty of Scottish patois and references, clever and imaginative situations and well drawn characters. Nobody in a Brookmyre novel is black or white, everyone has shades of grey, sometimes more than one shade and this book is no exception.
As would be expected this is a thriller with a wry twist of humour running through it; the bank robbery itself is both tense and a hoot to read as the police are completely outmaneouvred. As the real pursuit by De Xavier continues through the rest of the book the reader is drawn in and exposed to every twist as she experiences it.
A thoroughly good read and highly recommended.