Smashbomb

"Things get complicated when a local mob boss wants my help, a warlock decides I'm next on the menu, and my six-foot-tall fairy friend can't find his way home."

Demon Kissed (The Summoner’s Mark #1) by J.D. Blackrose - @Archaeolibrary, @PromotionsPsst, @JDBlackrose, #Paranormal, #Romance,

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/demon-kissed-the-summoner-s-mark-1-by-j-d-blackrose

Kudos Comment

Lenard (726 KP) rated The Kitchen (2019) in Movies

Sep 2, 2019

The Kitchen (2019)

2019 | Action, Crime, Drama

6.1

(18 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Hell's Kitchen 1977... the Irish mob takes care of the neighborhood, but times are tough these days. The economy created a new term: stagflation where prices rise, unemployment increases, and the economic growth slows. The supply of gas was cut off. There was a serial killer on the loose. The Irish mob had just experience a change in leadership that changed the dynamic of the neighborhood. The old leader was arrested doing a job as well as his associates. The mob could not afford to take care of the "widows." Using the education of one, the street sense of another, and the killer instinct of the third, they begin to operate their own gang in the neighborhood. A gang that will actually protect the neighborhood from street thugs. But going against the Irish mob is never a good idea no matter how weak they are, so a couple of pacts are sealed and Fate is tempted.

"The Kitchen" is based on a graphic novel series. Multiple story threads and divergent schemes are explored. The whole thing is much better suited for a miniseries or limited series than a feature film. Nowadays there is a cinematic quality to certain shows on pay channels so it wouldn't even lose the visual quality Andrea Berloff wants. This is the only problem with the film. The acting is top-notch, especially character actor Bill Camp. The writing is good. The story just needed a lot more space to grow. Ruby is an extremely complex character that would have benefited from character development inherent in a long-form series. A girl from Harlem who had the softness beaten out of her who has a long game which could have been explored in more depth especially considering the co-conspirators she acquires.

Kudos

Dean (6927 KP) rated Halloween Kills (2021) in Movies

Nov 1, 2021

Nice ties to the original films (1 more)

Brutal

Mob plot (0 more)

The Boogeyman is back

Carrying on from the same night as the 2018 film, much as Halloween 2 did. There are a lot of ties to the first two original Halloween films. This features characters, and some of the same actors who were kids in the first two films. Along with some flashback scenes set in '78. It's a nice touch.
There isn't a great deal of depth to the story as such but Michael is one lethal killing machine. The scene when faced with a whole fire crew is pure carnage. A little sub plot of the town coming together as a mob to tackle Michael was a bit silly. By the end you know Michael is pure evil and sets up for Halloween Ends next year.

Kudos

Suswatibasu (1702 KP) rated We Have Always Lived in the Castle in Books

Aug 3, 2017

A cautionary tale of mob mentality

This is absolutely tragic. The last few scenes remind me of Frankenstein. This mystery novel surrounds a quirky young woman, her older agoraphobic sister Constance, their disabled uncle and an enigmatic cousin. They have a rather hideous family secret that is revealed midway but the reasoning behind it remains unknown. It is a fascinating story, engaging, and straightforward.