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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
What can I say about this one? I left the cinema pondering. I'm still pondering this morning trying to work out what to score it. I wasn't bored, yet I wasn't enthralled. It felt long, but not too long. I could follow the story lines, but some of them didn't quite make sense... It's definitely a contender for Goldilocks of the Year.
I was keen on watching this after seeing the trailer. A star studded cast and an intriguing idea really is all you need to hook people in. I can't decide (I know, it's happening a lot this review) if the trailer gave too much away. Could they have kept more elements back as a surprise? Possibly that wouldn't have left such a sense of anticipation about the film.
Being set in 1969 we're obviously given a lot of classic tunes through the jukebox and singing of Darlene Sweet. The latter is goosebump inducing at times and magical to listen to.
The way this movie is told is very reminiscent of a lot of things to me. I was getting flashes of Kill Bill and Lost, and as Drew Goddard was involved with Lost that's probably not a coincidence. The scenario also made me think of the 2003 film Identity and an episode of Criminal Minds called Paradise.
I enjoyed seeing each person's journey that led them up to the El Royale. You feel much more involved in the story because you switch allegiances between the characters every time you see a new perspective. It also gives you just enough of teaser to something that's going to happen to draw you further in.
The use of intertitle cards felt a little out of place, it's not really a sixties thing and the style of them didn't seem to fit with the film itself. They do their job which is to say "now for a bit of back story on this person" but looking a little less silent movie and a little more El Royale wouldn't have gone amiss.
A whole section of story line seemed to have no conclusion, for reasons that will be partly obvious to you when you see the film. What I can't work out is if I missed something about it that would have left me less confused. This movie could definitely do with a second watch.
What you should do
I'd probably recommend watching this one at home on DVD or streaming with a bunch of movie friends. It feels like it needs discussing more than watching.
You should also probably watch this gif a lot. I'm only sorry that I can't find a longer version without other distractions in it... like the rest of the film.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd quite like the El Royale to live in. Although I think I'd convert the spying corridor into a regular corridor and make the whole place a home rather than a playground for snooping and murder.
I was keen on watching this after seeing the trailer. A star studded cast and an intriguing idea really is all you need to hook people in. I can't decide (I know, it's happening a lot this review) if the trailer gave too much away. Could they have kept more elements back as a surprise? Possibly that wouldn't have left such a sense of anticipation about the film.
Being set in 1969 we're obviously given a lot of classic tunes through the jukebox and singing of Darlene Sweet. The latter is goosebump inducing at times and magical to listen to.
The way this movie is told is very reminiscent of a lot of things to me. I was getting flashes of Kill Bill and Lost, and as Drew Goddard was involved with Lost that's probably not a coincidence. The scenario also made me think of the 2003 film Identity and an episode of Criminal Minds called Paradise.
I enjoyed seeing each person's journey that led them up to the El Royale. You feel much more involved in the story because you switch allegiances between the characters every time you see a new perspective. It also gives you just enough of teaser to something that's going to happen to draw you further in.
The use of intertitle cards felt a little out of place, it's not really a sixties thing and the style of them didn't seem to fit with the film itself. They do their job which is to say "now for a bit of back story on this person" but looking a little less silent movie and a little more El Royale wouldn't have gone amiss.
A whole section of story line seemed to have no conclusion, for reasons that will be partly obvious to you when you see the film. What I can't work out is if I missed something about it that would have left me less confused. This movie could definitely do with a second watch.
What you should do
I'd probably recommend watching this one at home on DVD or streaming with a bunch of movie friends. It feels like it needs discussing more than watching.
You should also probably watch this gif a lot. I'm only sorry that I can't find a longer version without other distractions in it... like the rest of the film.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
I'd quite like the El Royale to live in. Although I think I'd convert the spying corridor into a regular corridor and make the whole place a home rather than a playground for snooping and murder.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The God of Small Things in Books
Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)
Brilliant way with words
This beautifully-written book tells the story of Estha and Rahel, a twin brother and sister who have been long separated due to a family tragedy about which we only learn the full truth near the end of the book, and who come back together at the age of 31 at the family home.
The book moves seamlessly between the summer that the twins were seven, when their lives changed for ever, and their present, as they strive to come to terms with the guilt of their past. Along with exploring the children's lives, Roy also develops in detail those family members and friends who have been most important to them - their frail violinist grandmother Mamachi (a battered wife turned domestic tyrant after her husband's death), their beautiful, frustrated mother Ammu, their overweight depressive uncle Chacko, and his English ex-wife Margaret and extrovert little daughter Sophie, the mysterious gardener Velutha, the local communist Mr Pillai and the twins' great aunt, 'Baby' (Navomi) Kochamma, the only one of the family to still be around when the twins reach the age of 31, and the most bitter and destructive in the entire doomed clan.
There is a great deal to admire in the book. Roy tells a lot about Indian customs without ever giving way to dry lectures, but there are a lot of unanswered questions left in the book. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful read by a superb author.
The book moves seamlessly between the summer that the twins were seven, when their lives changed for ever, and their present, as they strive to come to terms with the guilt of their past. Along with exploring the children's lives, Roy also develops in detail those family members and friends who have been most important to them - their frail violinist grandmother Mamachi (a battered wife turned domestic tyrant after her husband's death), their beautiful, frustrated mother Ammu, their overweight depressive uncle Chacko, and his English ex-wife Margaret and extrovert little daughter Sophie, the mysterious gardener Velutha, the local communist Mr Pillai and the twins' great aunt, 'Baby' (Navomi) Kochamma, the only one of the family to still be around when the twins reach the age of 31, and the most bitter and destructive in the entire doomed clan.
There is a great deal to admire in the book. Roy tells a lot about Indian customs without ever giving way to dry lectures, but there are a lot of unanswered questions left in the book. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful read by a superb author.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) in Movies
Dec 28, 2017
Beautiful to watch (1 more)
Good battle scenes
Contains spoilers, click to show
I know I am late to the party just seeing today, but I think this film has gotten a bad wrap. I went in to it listening to the negative Nancy's out there, but the film ultimately turned me around and I enjoyed a lot.
Yes it did borrow a lot from the other Star Wars films, but it also went in a few surprising directions also. I was a bit surprised they did not resolve Leia's character since the death of Carrie Fisher, I'm sure that will be explained in the next film.
Mark Hamill was on record as saying he disagreed with the direction of Luke, but I'm not sure what he wanted to happen. I suppose some grand death scene after saving the universe once again and going out in a blaze of glory, but who is to say that won't still happen.
I think what it boils down to is people are unwilling to be left in suspense. Those of us who are old enough to remember know how we felt when we had to wait three years to see if Han Solo would get free of the carbonite and how the Rebellion would prevail against the Empire the first time around, so I say just be patient and see how it all comes together in the end (it had Better)!
Yes it did borrow a lot from the other Star Wars films, but it also went in a few surprising directions also. I was a bit surprised they did not resolve Leia's character since the death of Carrie Fisher, I'm sure that will be explained in the next film.
Mark Hamill was on record as saying he disagreed with the direction of Luke, but I'm not sure what he wanted to happen. I suppose some grand death scene after saving the universe once again and going out in a blaze of glory, but who is to say that won't still happen.
I think what it boils down to is people are unwilling to be left in suspense. Those of us who are old enough to remember know how we felt when we had to wait three years to see if Han Solo would get free of the carbonite and how the Rebellion would prevail against the Empire the first time around, so I say just be patient and see how it all comes together in the end (it had Better)!
Lucy Ellis (1 KP) rated Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) in Movies
Jan 13, 2018 (Updated Jan 13, 2018)
Character Development (2 more)
Fight Scenes
It gave me the feels
Better than I expected
Contains spoilers, click to show
I heard a lot of bad things about this film before I saw it so I was apprehensive but it was so much better than I expected it to be.
Everyone was saying it’s nowhere near as good as the first one and to be honest I’d have to disagree. Yes it did pay homage to the first film a lot and it’s storyline relied slightly more on suspension of disbelief than the first one but as a film separate from its predecessor i genuinely thought it was good.
There was a clear story arc that felt like something that could be told as an extension to the first film without it seeming as though they were milking it dry for some dollar. There was a higher quality of characterisation in this film - particularly with secondary characters. And it didn’t have Samuel L Jackson playing a lisp twat so that was a bonus.
The only issue for me was Harry’s character. The fact that they brought him back from the dead so he could flail around as a useless butterfly enthusiast for half an hour before coming back to the film with some form of immature portrayal of PTSD flashbacks just made me frustrated. Don’t even get me started on Merlin. (Although his death was beautiful and a lovely addition to the film I still miss him and I cried so no)
Everyone was saying it’s nowhere near as good as the first one and to be honest I’d have to disagree. Yes it did pay homage to the first film a lot and it’s storyline relied slightly more on suspension of disbelief than the first one but as a film separate from its predecessor i genuinely thought it was good.
There was a clear story arc that felt like something that could be told as an extension to the first film without it seeming as though they were milking it dry for some dollar. There was a higher quality of characterisation in this film - particularly with secondary characters. And it didn’t have Samuel L Jackson playing a lisp twat so that was a bonus.
The only issue for me was Harry’s character. The fact that they brought him back from the dead so he could flail around as a useless butterfly enthusiast for half an hour before coming back to the film with some form of immature portrayal of PTSD flashbacks just made me frustrated. Don’t even get me started on Merlin. (Although his death was beautiful and a lovely addition to the film I still miss him and I cried so no)
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Playing Hurt: A Guy's Strategy for a Winning Marriage in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Playing hurt is basically a marriage manual for men. But it's not a book on how to "win" the game of marriage against your wife: it's how to win with your wife. It's not how to change your wife so you can be happier: It's on how to change yourself so you can better glorify God through beautifying your wife.
I am, obviously, not a man. So you may be thinking "Haley, why are you reading a men's marriage book?"
well I've got a few answers:
1. I'm a writer, and I like reading things from a man's perspective so I can better write from their perspectives.
2. I'm hoping to get married one day, and it would be nice to understand how my husband thinks.
3. If I understand the ways women usually hurt men and understand men's weaknesses, I can avoid hurting my husband and support him in his weaknesses.
So those are the reasons I personally read this book. I found a lot of good information, and I got to see the other side of the relationship.
Recommendation: I definitely recommend Playing Hurt to men, but their wives can get something out of it as well. Sometimes as women we don't understand that we've hurt our man. But our words cut deeper than we know. It reminds me a lot of For Men Only and For Women Only (very good books by the way!).
I am, obviously, not a man. So you may be thinking "Haley, why are you reading a men's marriage book?"
well I've got a few answers:
1. I'm a writer, and I like reading things from a man's perspective so I can better write from their perspectives.
2. I'm hoping to get married one day, and it would be nice to understand how my husband thinks.
3. If I understand the ways women usually hurt men and understand men's weaknesses, I can avoid hurting my husband and support him in his weaknesses.
So those are the reasons I personally read this book. I found a lot of good information, and I got to see the other side of the relationship.
Recommendation: I definitely recommend Playing Hurt to men, but their wives can get something out of it as well. Sometimes as women we don't understand that we've hurt our man. But our words cut deeper than we know. It reminds me a lot of For Men Only and For Women Only (very good books by the way!).
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Silver Orphan in Books
May 10, 2018
I was sent this book in exchange for a review. It took me a long time to read this book. A lot longer than I thought. It was very hard to get through the first half especially. While this book was a great idea, the execution of it was not very good.
Brooke Blake is a young beautiful drug-rep, whose only concern is herself. One day when stopped to avoid an elderly man from stepping into traffic, he steps into her car. Thus begins a very unusual relationship between Brooke and Frank Moretti. As Brooke becomes Frank's personal assistant, Frank becomes Brooke's history teacher. Trips to the grocery store and the bank are what most of their days entail. Talks of Frank's past and Brooke's present dominate the conversation.
When Frank passes away, Brooke is left with the task of claiming his body from the morgue and finding his next of kin.
I think this book may have been better written as a memoir. I did learn a lot from this book about WWII history so in that regard I liked it. Before I started reading this book I recommended it to my mom's senior center book club. After reading, I'm not so sure. The book didn't flow very smoothly, at times it was wordy and the word, extirpate was used too many times. These things may all be corrected in editing and I'd be interested to skim through the finished published product.
Brooke Blake is a young beautiful drug-rep, whose only concern is herself. One day when stopped to avoid an elderly man from stepping into traffic, he steps into her car. Thus begins a very unusual relationship between Brooke and Frank Moretti. As Brooke becomes Frank's personal assistant, Frank becomes Brooke's history teacher. Trips to the grocery store and the bank are what most of their days entail. Talks of Frank's past and Brooke's present dominate the conversation.
When Frank passes away, Brooke is left with the task of claiming his body from the morgue and finding his next of kin.
I think this book may have been better written as a memoir. I did learn a lot from this book about WWII history so in that regard I liked it. Before I started reading this book I recommended it to my mom's senior center book club. After reading, I'm not so sure. The book didn't flow very smoothly, at times it was wordy and the word, extirpate was used too many times. These things may all be corrected in editing and I'd be interested to skim through the finished published product.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Hate u Give in Books
Apr 7, 2019
Good but a little one sided
This is one of those books that has been lauded because it’s relevant and moving subject matter, and for this I’d have to agree with them. it features a very emotive subject and deals with it in a fairly appropriate manner. Starr and her family are well rounded characters all likeable and flawed in their own ways, and there are a lot of conversations and family interactions during the book that had me smile or laugh out loud. I do have an issue with Starr herself, as she can be an irritating petulant teenager at times. I also have a general issue with this book. It’s about racism and raises a lot of valid issues and points, however it sometimes come across as very one sided. There is no justification for any actions of the police in this, however racism is a wide ranging issue and this book only tackles one side. It doesn’t address or even acknowledge when any of the main characters are being racist towards white people, or people are being accused of racism even when that may not be the case. Police brutality and racism is a big problem and there’s no denying that, and this book does a good job in tackling and raising some of these issues. But I feel like the true solution to racism is equality for all, and it doesn’t really address any thing like this.
ClareR (5874 KP) rated The Confessions of Frannie Langton in Books
May 3, 2019 (Updated May 3, 2019)
Frannie has grown up on a Jamaican sugar plantation as a house girl. She is a mulatto slave, and when her master, Mr Langton, is forced to return to England, she accompanies him. Although she is considered free as soon as she enters England in the 1820s, Mr Langton ‘gives’ her to a colleague and friend, Mr Benham. She becomes Mrs Benham’s abigail (companion), friend and lover. However, we first meet Frannie as she sits in Newgate prison, writing the story of her life for her solicitor, and how she came to murder Mr and Mrs Benham. Something that she can’t at all remember doing. She has a lot going against her: she’s working class, a woman, and most importantly, she’s black.
This was a captivating story. I learnt a lot about how black Jamaicans were regarded by Londoners (it’s not good), how laudanum was the ‘mother’s little helper’ of its time (although I think it was pretty much taken by anyone, male or female, who could afford it), and how black people were regarded as little more than animals.
The whodunnit element was really puzzling for me, I honestly couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t think of Frannie as being a murderer and killing the woman she loved.
This is a really good read, and I would highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
This was a captivating story. I learnt a lot about how black Jamaicans were regarded by Londoners (it’s not good), how laudanum was the ‘mother’s little helper’ of its time (although I think it was pretty much taken by anyone, male or female, who could afford it), and how black people were regarded as little more than animals.
The whodunnit element was really puzzling for me, I honestly couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t think of Frannie as being a murderer and killing the woman she loved.
This is a really good read, and I would highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Before the Fall in Books
Jan 30, 2018 (Updated Jan 30, 2018)
An unexpectedly good read
There is a lot more to this book than it simply being the plane crash suspense thriller the description makes it out to be. Noah Hawley writes for tv, and reading Before the Fall you can really see this coming across - this would make a great tv show and much better than any other similar shows (Lost anyone?).
This is a simple premise - a plane crash with only 2 survivors - but it’s very well written and works brilliantly. It switches between the viewpoint of the survivors and the deceased prior to the crash, and this is a really good dynamic. The characters are all interesting and developed as well as they can be, all with their own flaws. There’s a lot more to this than just a basic thriller, and it delves into coincidence, the crash investigation and the media intrusion with such detail that all of this paired with the character stories really got me hooked.
My only criticism of this book would be the ending. Hundreds of pages build up to this massive ending but it winds up just being a bit of an anticlimax. It’s not a bad ending, not in the slightest, it just feels a little lacking and that it could’ve been so much more.
Despite that, this is still a fantastic and very well written book. Definitely the best I’ve read so far of Noah Hawley’s.
This is a simple premise - a plane crash with only 2 survivors - but it’s very well written and works brilliantly. It switches between the viewpoint of the survivors and the deceased prior to the crash, and this is a really good dynamic. The characters are all interesting and developed as well as they can be, all with their own flaws. There’s a lot more to this than just a basic thriller, and it delves into coincidence, the crash investigation and the media intrusion with such detail that all of this paired with the character stories really got me hooked.
My only criticism of this book would be the ending. Hundreds of pages build up to this massive ending but it winds up just being a bit of an anticlimax. It’s not a bad ending, not in the slightest, it just feels a little lacking and that it could’ve been so much more.
Despite that, this is still a fantastic and very well written book. Definitely the best I’ve read so far of Noah Hawley’s.
Serena Marie (7 KP) rated Turtles All The Way Down in Books
Jan 23, 2018
Mental Health Issues (3 more)
Plot
Characters
Quoteable
John Green Does It Again
I will start off by saying that I love John Green. His books have always been a favorite of mine. Looking For Alaska is a book I will gravitate towards over and over again. He has such a great writing style with the most beautiful quotes. I can't get over it if we're being honest.
Mental health is a big and important topic. With something so big comes a lot of responsibility when writing about it. John Green nails it. The way he talks about Aza's OCD and how he describes her thought processes is amazing. You really start to bond with the character and feel for her. BUT, not only do you feel for her, you get frustrated with her because you start to get invested. The way that she navigates her life, her thoughts, her relationships, her everything is so well thought out by John.
I think this book has started a lot of really important conversations. People are talking about OCD. How to cope with someone who has OCD. How to cope with having it yourself. How to seek help and know that there ARE great resources out there that people don't know about. Best of all, it's helping to take away the awful stigma that seems to be attached to mental illness and mental health.
Thank you, John Green. Your books bring me peace.
Mental health is a big and important topic. With something so big comes a lot of responsibility when writing about it. John Green nails it. The way he talks about Aza's OCD and how he describes her thought processes is amazing. You really start to bond with the character and feel for her. BUT, not only do you feel for her, you get frustrated with her because you start to get invested. The way that she navigates her life, her thoughts, her relationships, her everything is so well thought out by John.
I think this book has started a lot of really important conversations. People are talking about OCD. How to cope with someone who has OCD. How to cope with having it yourself. How to seek help and know that there ARE great resources out there that people don't know about. Best of all, it's helping to take away the awful stigma that seems to be attached to mental illness and mental health.
Thank you, John Green. Your books bring me peace.