Search

Search only in certain items:

Doctor Sleep (2019)
Doctor Sleep (2019)
2019 | Horror
I really wish that I had re-watched 'The Shining' before catching Doctor Sleep, as it's been far too long, and I kind of feel it would have helped my enjoyment of this movie a lot more. However, despite all of that, I thought that Doctor Sleep was an incredible movie.

Ewan McGregor gives a subdued, but brilliant performance as the troubled Danny Torrance and Rebecca Ferguson is captivating as the psychic vampire Rose the Hat. Great score, amazing visuals, plenty of nods to The Shining, but still enough to stand out on its own. At 2h 31m, I never felt that the movie was dragging at any point either.

Full review to follow, but for now let's just say that I loved it!
  
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
2019 | Action, Comedy, Horror
I have mixed feelings at the unnecessary Zombieland sequel. I loved the original Zombieland. It was smart to take a lot from the original for this sequel, so, it was very much the same. I can't decide if that was a good or a bad thing.

Zoey Deutch's character was super annoying, and reminded me of all the basic b*s in 2009. I also found the doppleganger thing, and relentless repeating of the rules similarly annoying.
The zombie kills were cool, and I did like the way they were explaining the different sorts of zombies.

Overall, I liked it, but it was much of the same. I guess if it ain't* broke, don't fix it.
* I do not use ain't IRL, but it's the saying.
  
40x40

Ducklady (1174 KP) rated Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) in Movies

Oct 18, 2019 (Updated Oct 18, 2019)  
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Wished it was made for more mature audiences
I actually really loved this movie, but I'm glad i watched it before taking my kids to see it, way too much death for a PG.
I loved all the little creatures and the dark fae, so beautiful and well done.
Exciting watch so now want to rewatch the first :)
I think the film would have had a harder impact had it been made for 12/15 audiences. There was a lot of war and death and no blood, which seemed really off-putting and took away from the intensity. But saying that, the themes running through it were way too mature and scary for it to be a PG, didn't make a great deal of sense to me.
  
Unbroken (2014)
Unbroken (2014)
2014 | Biography, Drama, War
Cast, story (0 more)
A look at the inhumanity of war
This is a harrowing tale based on the story of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini (excellently played by Jack O'Connel) and his time in a pow camp in Japan during World War 2.
This film has a lot of hard scenes of soldiers captive being abused and having no rights at all, the camp director Watanabe especially seems to have an issue with young Louis.
A powerful film of a man reaching the heights of human accomplishment and ultimately being pushed further down than most will ever know.
A true take on the power of the human spirit and proof that no matter how bad it gets there's always a way to redemption.
  
Uncommon Type: Some Stories
Uncommon Type: Some Stories
Tom Hanks | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.6 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a collection of short stories that have been crafted by the Oscar winning Mr Hanks over the past twenty years. Each story has a connection to one of those nostalgic machines, a typewriter. The style of prose is very Hanks, you can hear his voice in the expression of his characters. There is warmth, gentleness and an essence of reality that leads you to believe that, despite all his worldly success, Hanks remains grounded and likeable. Whilst this isn’t the best example of prose, it has a lot to offer, if you are a fan of Hanks then this is an insightful, pleasant read. I listened to some of the stories on audio and thoroughly enjoyed hearing them told by the man himself.
  
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
1999 | Drama
Angelina Jolie (0 more)
Great performance form Angelina Jolie in a not so great film.
Following her committal to a mental institute, we follow the experiences of Susanna (Winona Ryder) in the late 1960s. Based on the book by the same name, which I've heard a lot of good things about, I failed to really be engaged by Susanna's story. I never felt for her struggle or journey, in fact, I was bored by it. I'm normally a huge Ryder fan but this just didn't work for me.

Without the strong showing by Angelina Jolie as the full-on wackjob with a personality, I might not of made it to the end.

A fairly uninspiring film for a story that should of been emotionally engaging.
  
Show all 3 comments.
40x40

Eleanor (1463 KP) Nov 13, 2019

I think the book may be better for me as I engage with them more than movies, I'm pretty harsh in movies as a result. But so many books to read and so little time.....

40x40

Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) Nov 14, 2019

Ha! I know the feeling. I feel like I'm not going to live long enough to read all the books I have. Even if I lived to be 100, I'd still need about a million years more!

Duck the Halls (Meg Langslow, #16)
Duck the Halls (Meg Langslow, #16)
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
So, I started this book around Christmas and am just now finishing it. I think that was a result not so much of the book itself - it wasn't poorly written or anything, I just kept picking up other books instead. Overall, it was a nice, fluffy, cozy mystery that I probably would have enjoyed more if I had read the whole thing at Christmastime. Yes, there were a lot of religious undertones, but I sort of expected that with a Christmas book. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a book to get into the Chistmas mood.


*Although I did receive this book for free through Goodreads First Reads, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.
  
ttyl (Internet Girls #1)
ttyl (Internet Girls #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a fun,text-messenging style that took me back to high school. I wish I had known about it when it came out in 2004 and I do wonder how much of it was updated in this latest 2014 edition with technology's ever-changing trends. Yes, it was a bit melodramatic, but I expected nothing less than a book written about three teenage girls. I think a lot of the themes of this book - friendship, loyalty, forgiveness, etc. are important for young people out there. Also, I'm not going to lie, I am curious to read YOLO when it comes out.



*Although I did receive this book for free Goodreads First Reads, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own
  
About Time (2013)
About Time (2013)
2013 | Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
8
7.8 (17 Ratings)
Movie Rating
I have gone on quite a bit about this one recently. I just think it is wonderful, and by far the best and least mawkishly sentimental work from Richard Curtis, of Love, Actually infamy. It makes me laugh so hard; the perfect awkwardness of Domhnal Gleason against the cute intelligence of Rachel McAdams; the exquisite turn by Bill Nighy as the time travelling father; and every small character and very British nuance in-between – it is such a pleasure. It also makes me cry… a lot! What I like about it is that it feels exactly like being in love. Exactly! There will be regret and pain, but in the end there is that one person that gets you and always will. And that idea… feels good!
  
Fantasy Island (2020)
Fantasy Island (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Horror, Mystery
Nice location (0 more)
Nothing fantastic about this (0 more)
Average Island
Well I don't really know anything about the old TV series apart from the actors. There are a few little nods to it but this is very different. The location looks nice and the start of the various fantasies coming to life is fun to see. Once things turn more sinister though the film becomes quite slow and rather dull than amazing. A few twists as to what is really going on with the island, but by then you really won't care about the characters that much. A shame as there was a lot of potential here to be creative but it ends in typical, predictable fashion. I had low expectations and they were met.