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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Game Of Thrones - Season 5 in TV
Jul 3, 2019
For the Watch
Contains spoilers, click to show
Season 5 of Game of Thrones (or any following season) never quite hit the heights of seasons 2-4 for me, but it still continued it's run as the absolute prime show of recent television.
Season 5 has some extremely important moments - Danaerys meeting Tyrion and Varys for example - this meeting of characters made the Essos portion of Game of Thrones 100% more interesting for me, and I actually found myself completely involved in the Harpy storyline that runs throughout season 5. In King's Landing, the narrative focuses mainly on the High Sparrow, and his rise to power through religion, so much so, that not even the King has much sway over him.
This inevitably leads to one of the most infamous GoT scenes of all time - Cersei's walk of shame - truly hard to watch - even though she is a hateful character - much like Joffreys story in season 4, the writers manage to evoke sympathy for someone you've been lead to dislike.
And then of course - there's Hardhome - my personal favourite episode of GoT. A sense of dread lingers over the majority of the episode as Jon Snow journeys beyond The Wall, and we're set up for yet another brief tease of the White Walkers - but what we get instead is an insane 20 minutes of absolute Carnage, as the full force of the Night King is realised for the first time - it's an incredible episode within another decent season, which will have you hooked constantly.
Season 5 has some extremely important moments - Danaerys meeting Tyrion and Varys for example - this meeting of characters made the Essos portion of Game of Thrones 100% more interesting for me, and I actually found myself completely involved in the Harpy storyline that runs throughout season 5. In King's Landing, the narrative focuses mainly on the High Sparrow, and his rise to power through religion, so much so, that not even the King has much sway over him.
This inevitably leads to one of the most infamous GoT scenes of all time - Cersei's walk of shame - truly hard to watch - even though she is a hateful character - much like Joffreys story in season 4, the writers manage to evoke sympathy for someone you've been lead to dislike.
And then of course - there's Hardhome - my personal favourite episode of GoT. A sense of dread lingers over the majority of the episode as Jon Snow journeys beyond The Wall, and we're set up for yet another brief tease of the White Walkers - but what we get instead is an insane 20 minutes of absolute Carnage, as the full force of the Night King is realised for the first time - it's an incredible episode within another decent season, which will have you hooked constantly.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated A Stolen Life: A Memoir in Books
Feb 5, 2020
I don't remember the first time I read this book. I think it was some point after Jaycee Lee Dugard had been found, but I was probably in late middle school, early high school - though I could be entirely wrong. I remember reading it the first time and having to stop every once in a while because it was so much. What she went through was so grueling and heartbreaking and to read her words, unfiltered, with all of her raw emotions, it's hard. That doesn't even feel like a good enough word for it.
More than anything, this memoir gives you hope. It gives you strength. It pulls your heart out to be reminded that there are these people in this world - the kind that could do this to people, let alone an 11-year-old girl. But despite all that, Jaycee remains somewhat positive. She knows that she has work to do on herself, on her relationships with her family, with the world, with life, but she also knows that she's going to be okay. I love that she never thinks that the recovery process is done and while this book was written several years ago, I can't imagine that mindset has changed much.
I think this book is phenomenal. Her story is insane, but her triumph is what wins you over in the end. I'm eager to read her other book and see where she is now and how she's doing. I would 1000% recommend this book.
More than anything, this memoir gives you hope. It gives you strength. It pulls your heart out to be reminded that there are these people in this world - the kind that could do this to people, let alone an 11-year-old girl. But despite all that, Jaycee remains somewhat positive. She knows that she has work to do on herself, on her relationships with her family, with the world, with life, but she also knows that she's going to be okay. I love that she never thinks that the recovery process is done and while this book was written several years ago, I can't imagine that mindset has changed much.
I think this book is phenomenal. Her story is insane, but her triumph is what wins you over in the end. I'm eager to read her other book and see where she is now and how she's doing. I would 1000% recommend this book.
Merissa (12055 KP) rated Midnight Redemption (Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles #6) in Books
Apr 21, 2020
Midnight Redemption is the finale of the Bonded by Blood series and you are in for an explosive, non-stop-action read!
Although you could read this as a standalone, I do believe you would get the most out of it if you do read it as a series. After all, characters and previous lives are mentioned (some in great detail) so I think it would help to know just what is going on and who is who!
Anyway, things have changed a lot since the last book. Broderick buried himself in a crypt, thinking he was doing the right thing. Anthony has been carrying on with the business. Davina thought her mum was insane and said mum ended up in a mental hospital. Phew! And into that numerous characters from other books including the Norse Wolves (yey!!!!) and there really is so much going on.
This is one helluva finale! One I have waited for and am NOT disappointed in the result. The only thing I would say is that because of the previous lives mentioned I sometimes got confused. All that means though is that I will be re-reading this as a complete series now it is complete - to get the full enjoyment, you understand!
Midnight Eclipse is still my favourite in the series but this one comes a close second. Absolutely recommended by me!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Although you could read this as a standalone, I do believe you would get the most out of it if you do read it as a series. After all, characters and previous lives are mentioned (some in great detail) so I think it would help to know just what is going on and who is who!
Anyway, things have changed a lot since the last book. Broderick buried himself in a crypt, thinking he was doing the right thing. Anthony has been carrying on with the business. Davina thought her mum was insane and said mum ended up in a mental hospital. Phew! And into that numerous characters from other books including the Norse Wolves (yey!!!!) and there really is so much going on.
This is one helluva finale! One I have waited for and am NOT disappointed in the result. The only thing I would say is that because of the previous lives mentioned I sometimes got confused. All that means though is that I will be re-reading this as a complete series now it is complete - to get the full enjoyment, you understand!
Midnight Eclipse is still my favourite in the series but this one comes a close second. Absolutely recommended by me!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
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Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness in TV
Apr 8, 2021
And so, this is the one you are probably most familiar with, even if you have never watched a True Crime Doc before. Essentially a 7 part mini series with a making of extra program tagged on at the end that definitely does not need to be watched. Does any of it? It certainly showcases the nuttier side of America and some of the more eccentric characters that exist, not Least the compelling car crash human that is Joe Exotic – at times likeable, often very unlikable and almost certainly criminally insane. But it isn’t really about murder. The title is misleading in that sense. Mayhem and madness, oh for sure, but the murder part is an almost incidental detail of the show, as if to give it more gravitas.
It focuses on rivalries that existed between exotic animal parks that seem to take pride in mistreating tigers and other wild animals that have no place being there at all. The “fun” of it is watching “crazy” people, mostly Joe rolling around as if they were tiny kittens, and holding your breathe waiting for the inevitable moment they rip him to shreds. As it turns out, there is so much filler and false promise in this show that I would have to put it at the bottom of the list. It may not even have got on there at all if it wasn’t for the fact Lockdown viewing made it a shared experience that became ubiquitous. Otherwise, it is a poor circus freak show, badly presented and entirely cheap.
It focuses on rivalries that existed between exotic animal parks that seem to take pride in mistreating tigers and other wild animals that have no place being there at all. The “fun” of it is watching “crazy” people, mostly Joe rolling around as if they were tiny kittens, and holding your breathe waiting for the inevitable moment they rip him to shreds. As it turns out, there is so much filler and false promise in this show that I would have to put it at the bottom of the list. It may not even have got on there at all if it wasn’t for the fact Lockdown viewing made it a shared experience that became ubiquitous. Otherwise, it is a poor circus freak show, badly presented and entirely cheap.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated For a Good Time, Call... (2012) in Movies
Sep 19, 2020 (Updated Nov 26, 2020)
Started out a little worrisome but thankfully this is every bit as funny, progressive, breezy, joyous, and woefully slept on as its cult supporters make it out to be. Miller and Graynor's chemistry is out of this world; and Nia Vardalos, Mark Webber, and of course the man Justin Long are smashing in their respective supporting roles. This was right around the start of that era where these raunchy sex comedies started to get not just really fucking obnoxious but also formulaic and near intolerable - so it's more than refreshing to see one that gives its characters an insane amount of both agency and dignity, setting up a commendable amount of their intricacies and quirks without ever pandering on the former nor judging them for the latter. The whole thing just has this infectiously delightful verve and bright personality about it, and it never seems like it's making any of the topics it finds humor in the actual butt of the joke. I admit that I'm sick of seeing just random montages of the city in opening credits sequences like this though, it adds nothing to the experience other than to remind you that this takes place in New York - and it does show its clumsiness in other areas too sometimes, but it's a damn good time as well as a reminder in how far some thoughtfulness and authentic care can go in elevating an experience like this. Ends a bit suddenly but otherwise the realization of that last scene is simply perfect.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken (2017) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
Absolutely hysterical, through sheer commitment and idiosyncrasy achieves the once impossible task of turning 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘐𝘯𝘤. into a comedy. I do have a few gripes, one of which being that - since this is objectively more 'professionally-made' than most of his other works, it sort of lacks some of that personal quality which made a lot of Spurlock's docs so distinctive. But overall that's such a minor quibble because this is still just as eccentric. Also gets a bit deceptive towards the end, though even then the base claims it sets out to make are still objectively correct so not a huge issue. Certainly not the first film to tackle this subject and won't be the last either, but it's definitely the most enjoyable - still ripe with enlightening information (if not nearly as much as the first) and insane charisma. I find it endlessly intriguing to see Spurlock create this morbid pitch-black comedy/doc hybrid that acts as this absurd birthing video showing him help raise the monster (faux-healthy fast food hysteria) that he helped create. Also the parody restaurant he makes at the end is hilarious. For anyone else I'd say this "imagine (company)... but honest!" filmmaking is an easy target that sort of has no meaning anymore but naturally Morgan delivers the goods with his ever-watchable personality and trademark filmmaking so here it seems admittedly different. Really good. Better than Where in the 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘖𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘉𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯? and 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦, not as good as 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘥 or the original 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘔𝘦.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Alice in Wonderland (2010) in Movies
Dec 3, 2020 (Updated Dec 3, 2020)
A greasy, molten CGI fever dream that bounces from random bullshit to random bullshit with the appeal of rabies mouth foam - I actually sort of dig it? Ten and a half years ago this was read as possibly one of the worst offenses to the Disney brand at the time; but now in lieu of the ever-growing gallery of visually sterile, grossly overbloated, laborious live action remakes we have now from the company the fact that this has any idiosyncrasy at all - insane as it is - makes this automatically better by comparison and you can't convince me otherwise. For better and for worse there's a reason people remember "Tim Burton's 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥" and not "Guy Ritchie's 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯", for instance. Not to say this is that good, it still sucks a shit ton where it counts - has most of the usual collection of issues these have including but not limited to trying to turn this purposefully senseless source material into another bland "find your destiny" snore and maybe the most nothing lead character to ever exist (doesn't help that Wasikowska dons one expression the entire movie). But it's also 100% cockamamie self-assured auteur work that occasionally finds home to some striking imagery like tiny Alice crossing the water over bloated decapitated heads or the gorgeous final battle on a chess board-esque field. As you've heard, angry bobblehead Helena Bonham Carter steals the show. I like this a lot more than its detractors but hate it a lot more than its supporters.