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Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
Jude Law, The Beasts, Newt (0 more)
Johnny Depp, (0 more)
Mixed bag
Both me and my son looked forward to this film. As avid Pottermore followers and wizarding world fanatics this film was hit and miss. To start with it showed dark promise but chugged on with odd plotlines and unnecessary charachter additions. I also felt sorry for Eddie as his acting he was overshadowed by Judes Dumbledore somewhat. The other main characters in the first film were either background filler or dilluted down which was unfortunate.
Now to Johnny Depp......... Grindlewald was an opportunity missed in so many ways. My son asked at one point why he talked like Jack Sparrow which killed it for me even more.
Where were the beasts? We got a few newbies but to call a film fantastic beasts when there was very little of them is misleading and it should have been called the Origins of Dumbledore.
The best bit- baby nifflers and my favourite Pickett.
For a casual Potter fan and film goer its confusing but decent. For hardcore fans its a no no, it doesn't tell you anything you don't already know or suspected.
I hope the next few are given more care and attention and Depp gets acting classes in how to be a bad guy.
  
Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
2019 | Crime, Documentary
An interesting look into the mind of a killer
This Netflix original details the killing spree enacted by Ted Bundy and his downward spiral. Very interesting for those curious about the actions of serial killers. Some of the details are pretty hard to swallow, as would be expected of any story where murders are committed. I think one of the most interesting parts to the show was being able to see his mannerisms, arrogance, and even his voice as he denied his guilt despite tantamount evidence against him. Ted Bundy was a killer who completely flipped profiling on its head; before him there were common misconceptions that a serial killer was an unattractive, uneducated, and socially inept person but after his atrocities were exposed, it forced members of law enforcement to look deeper into the kinds of people who committed such crimes against humanity. It was also very interesting to see the effect the trials had on his mother and her tearful pleas to avoid the death penalty. I didn't feel that it incited any sympathy for Bundy but it kind of opens your eyes to the destruction of a family, regardless. A testament to a mother's love, even to those we don't feel deserve it.
  
The Blade Itself
The Blade Itself
Joe Abercrombie | 2007 | Fiction & Poetry
8
9.0 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
So, 'The Blade Itself'.

Like some other of these sprawling epic fantasies, this was a novel that, while I'd heard of it and had heard good things, I'd never actually got round to reading: put off, perhaps, by the sheer size of it?

That is, I'd never read it until now.

Following a group of disparate characters who eventually, by the end of the novel, more-or-less come together (in the same geographical location) or, at least, very obviously heading towards doing so, I have to say that I did quite enjoy it.

While I was initially concerned that the book may drag a bit (again, due to the sheer size ...), thankfully this did not prove to be the case. OK, there may have been certain sections that (IMO) it would have been better where they pruned somewhat, overall the story did move along well enough, and did hold my attention.

Like a heavy dinner, however, I think I may need a break before moving onto the next ([b: Before They Are Hanged|902715|Before They Are Hanged (The First Law, #2)|Joe Abercrombie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1179318094s/902715.jpg|2116927]): two back-to-back is one too many!
  
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Bubba Gee (147 KP) rated Breaking Bad in TV

Jun 23, 2019  
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
2008 | Drama
Characters, Writing, Casting (0 more)
The best ever
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is an epic journey of a nice guy gone bad as he simply has had enough of being shat on.
We start with a nice mild mannered high school chemistry teacher Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston) who pays his taxes has an average life and finds out he has cancer.
Through his brother in law, a DEA agent and all around asshole, Walter White discovers how with his knowledge of chemistry he can make the purest crystal meth on the street.
Enter Jesse Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul)
an ex student of Mr White and low level weed dealer.
Walter uses Jesse to connect himself to the local alberquerque criminal underworld and begins production.
Over the next few series Walter White evolves into his alter ego Heisenberg, a badass, producer, seller, murderer, and generally all around kingpin of New Mexico.
From dealings with other criminals to Mexican drug cartels and beyond,this is an epic tale of a good man gone bad with murder, revenge, international trafficking, twists and turns all along the way.
It really is an absolute credit to the writers and cast.
It also enforces that you shouldn't underestimate anyone no matter how insignificant they may seem.
  
A Vigilante (2018)
A Vigilante (2018)
2018 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
and the trucks won't stop coming...
Olivia Wilde is the main reason to watch this female empowerment/revenge film as her performance is visceral, raw, emotional and intense for sure.

Sadie is a young woman tormented by her family's history. She tried to cope with her uncontrollable emotions by attending a support group and by studying self defense. She has decided her course in life has become to defend the innocent women and children of domestic violence by being an Equalizer?Death Wish type "vigilante" on the batterers.

When her own past comes back to haunt her, she has to use all her newly acquired skills to escape and possible prevail.

While I don't obviously condone taking the law into your own hands, the audience is definitely with her as she exacts her raw justice on the domestic assailants.

I was disappointed in the 2nd half of the film which falls into a formula eroding the interesting character study which had been developing up to that point. Once the 3rd acts starts, it turns into a different film. I wish it would've stayed the plot line which showed her tortured soul more and showed her as the flawed heroine she is.

  
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Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) in Movies

Nov 11, 2019 (Updated Nov 11, 2019)  
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
A Family Picture
Contains spoilers, click to show
Maleficent: Mistress of evil- is a good sequel to the oringal movie. Its a better story, a better tale, better acting, a better villian and a more darker movie. Especially the third act which i will go into. So lets begin the review with the plot:


Maleficent travels to a grand old castle to celebrate young Aurora's upcoming wedding to Prince Phillip. While there, she meets Aurora's future mother-in-law -- a conniving queen who hatches a devious plot to destroy the land's fairies. Hoping to stop her, Maleficent joins forces with a seasoned warrior and a group of outcasts to battle the queen and her powerful army.

This movie like i said adds more to the oringal source, its more twisted and dark and for a PG disney film that is true. The third act has so many deaths, so many. You lose count on how many deaths their are. Michele Preiffer is soo great as the villian and her plot is so dark and twisted. Angelina Jolie is good again as Maleficent and Elle Fanning is good again as Aurora.

If you have liked and seen the first one, than you will like this one.
  
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Dean (6927 KP) rated The Invisible Man (2020) in Movies

Mar 5, 2020 (Updated Mar 5, 2020)  
The Invisible Man (2020)
The Invisible Man (2020)
2020 | Horror, Sci-Fi
Great acting (1 more)
Fresh twist on a classic
Defies the law of physics (0 more)
The invisible enemy
The first thing I thought of when I saw the trailer for this was it reminded me of @Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) To be honest it has more in common with that classic thriller than other invisible man films. The opening sequence is very similar and I assume inspired by it. The acting is very good as our victim of domestic violence goes through an entire range of emotions with many thinking she is crazy. The SFX scenes are pretty good and look believable. I only noticed after this is billed as a Horror. There are a couple of jump scares and some bloody scenes but it definitely fits a Thriller more closely.
The only down side is some of the science in some scenes just wouldn't make sense in real life, rain hitting a solid object etc.
Must add the score really added to the intensity of many scenes and created a sense of being on a knife edge.
Overall a good enjoyable film. If you like a mix of thriller, with a Sci-fi angle and especially a fan of sleeping with the Enemy, you'll find this a nice surprise.
  
    Philosophy

    Philosophy

    Book and Education

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    All philosophy through the ages and philosophers. The roots of ancient philosophy with the...