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Cumberland (1142 KP) rated Stranger Things in TV
Dec 15, 2018
Great Show
I really enjoyed this show. Its a lot different from the things I normally watch, but thats part of its charm.
I liked how the show has a lot going on, but not in a way that feels to overwhelming. Each new piece flows nicely into the others without it being confusing.
The characters were great. A group of misfit kids taking on a monster and the government at the same time is pretty impressive. They added a fun side to the show that kept it from being to serious.
The only complaint I have is how slow the show starts of. The first 2 episodes are a little boring. Its great when things pick up, but I think a lot of viewers will drop the show before it gets to that point. If you are watching it for the first time you really need to watch at least 3 episodes before you make a judgment. Otherwise you will be missing out.
I liked how the show has a lot going on, but not in a way that feels to overwhelming. Each new piece flows nicely into the others without it being confusing.
The characters were great. A group of misfit kids taking on a monster and the government at the same time is pretty impressive. They added a fun side to the show that kept it from being to serious.
The only complaint I have is how slow the show starts of. The first 2 episodes are a little boring. Its great when things pick up, but I think a lot of viewers will drop the show before it gets to that point. If you are watching it for the first time you really need to watch at least 3 episodes before you make a judgment. Otherwise you will be missing out.
Erika (17789 KP) rated From a Certain Point of View: Star Wars in Books
Jul 27, 2019
This was really a mixed bag of stories. Some were great, some were meh, and some were boring AF. This book is a collection of stories from other, very minor characters during A New Hope.
By far, the beginning of the book is the strongest. One of my favorites was the story of the guy that didn't shoot down the 'empty' pod. It reminded me of Spaced.
The meh and boring stories were really unnecessary. Have you ever wanted to know about an illicit affair occurring between a Stormtrooper and an Officer, passing messages between each other via a mouse droid? That's going to be a no from me, dawg. Have you ever wanted to know the story behind the trash monster? ME NEITHER.
It ended strong, I liked the rebel alliance stories. One of my other favorites was told from Biggs' perspective, and I've always loved Biggs.
Overall, an ok mix of stories.
By far, the beginning of the book is the strongest. One of my favorites was the story of the guy that didn't shoot down the 'empty' pod. It reminded me of Spaced.
The meh and boring stories were really unnecessary. Have you ever wanted to know about an illicit affair occurring between a Stormtrooper and an Officer, passing messages between each other via a mouse droid? That's going to be a no from me, dawg. Have you ever wanted to know the story behind the trash monster? ME NEITHER.
It ended strong, I liked the rebel alliance stories. One of my other favorites was told from Biggs' perspective, and I've always loved Biggs.
Overall, an ok mix of stories.
Leigh J (71 KP) rated The Deadly Spawn (1983) in Movies
Nov 10, 2019
Creatures from the Black... Meteor!
Contains spoilers, click to show
A meteor comes crashing down to Earth one night... and it's inhabitants are a little bitey! Two campers witness the crash and soon enough fall victim to the sharp-toothed monsters, who then set their sights on a small town. After 2 grizzly murders, the monsters move onto another House. But these residents (one being a kid obsessed with Horror and Monster Movies) are willing to put up more of a fight against these creatures.
I really like The Deadly Spawn. It gets a lot of negative reviews and I have no idea why; it's actually very good... I've definitely seen a lot worse! It is quite tongue in cheek (which honestly makes it fun and terrifying at the same time) but comes with some very decent gore and the creatures look really good as well... pretty realistic! I enjoy it every single time I dig it out and give it a watch... one for the Creature Feature fans!
I really like The Deadly Spawn. It gets a lot of negative reviews and I have no idea why; it's actually very good... I've definitely seen a lot worse! It is quite tongue in cheek (which honestly makes it fun and terrifying at the same time) but comes with some very decent gore and the creatures look really good as well... pretty realistic! I enjoy it every single time I dig it out and give it a watch... one for the Creature Feature fans!
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Monster House (2006) in Movies
Dec 19, 2019 (Updated Jan 14, 2020)
A horror film for children - is what Monster House is marketed as, and it's pretty much just that.
The animation style is different, looks a little ropey by todays standard but is still pretty charming.
The narrative really drags to begin with, with characters who are hard to get on board with (accept the grumpy old man, that guys speaks to me...)
The halfway mark is a turning point. When it becomes clearly obvious that the kids are being terrorized by a living house intent on eating them, it feels like a crazy episode of Scooby Doo.
The final 15 minutes or so are great, and where the animation is at its best. It also packs in a genuinely sad plot point that lends the movie an emotional edge, and it's the exact kind of thing that makes these kind of films good.
There are certainly better animated films out there, but it's not the worst way to spend an hour and a half.
The animation style is different, looks a little ropey by todays standard but is still pretty charming.
The narrative really drags to begin with, with characters who are hard to get on board with (accept the grumpy old man, that guys speaks to me...)
The halfway mark is a turning point. When it becomes clearly obvious that the kids are being terrorized by a living house intent on eating them, it feels like a crazy episode of Scooby Doo.
The final 15 minutes or so are great, and where the animation is at its best. It also packs in a genuinely sad plot point that lends the movie an emotional edge, and it's the exact kind of thing that makes these kind of films good.
There are certainly better animated films out there, but it's not the worst way to spend an hour and a half.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated The Abyss Surrounds Us in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
For the last few months, every time the question, "What is your latest favorite read?" popped up on Twitter, I always answered the question with The Abyss Surrounds Us. All anyone needs to know about Skrutskie's lovely debut novel is the combination of sea monsters and pirates. (I personally didn't mind the LBGT element in the book, because it doesn't play a huge part in the story and most certainly doesn't overshadow the main plot.)
Also, cutest sea monster ever – I can't even imagine such cuteness being monstrous. I want one of my own. (So long as I'm not getting eaten. Everyone else is um… fair game.)
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/mini-reviews-part-1-emily-skrutskie-marie-lu-and-others/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
For the last few months, every time the question, "What is your latest favorite read?" popped up on Twitter, I always answered the question with The Abyss Surrounds Us. All anyone needs to know about Skrutskie's lovely debut novel is the combination of sea monsters and pirates. (I personally didn't mind the LBGT element in the book, because it doesn't play a huge part in the story and most certainly doesn't overshadow the main plot.)
Also, cutest sea monster ever – I can't even imagine such cuteness being monstrous. I want one of my own. (So long as I'm not getting eaten. Everyone else is um… fair game.)
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/mini-reviews-part-1-emily-skrutskie-marie-lu-and-others/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Awix (3310 KP) rated Cat People (1942) in Movies
Jan 6, 2020 (Updated Jan 6, 2020)
Moody and suggestive noir-ish horror melodrama perhaps shows that you can leave too much to the imagination. Serbian immigrant falls for preppy boat designer and marries him; the trouble is that she believes she will turn into a panther and rip him apart if he even kisses her. (No marriage will prosper in these circumstances.)
Very much of its period, especially in its gender politics - both of the main male characters are eminently punchable, to say the least - with a slightly awkward subtext about feminine emotions and desire. The plot is perhaps a bit too linear as well. However, it is very well directed, with a couple of sequences that invariably turn up in 'history of horror' documentaries as establishing genre tropes. It's still a slightly eggy melodrama where you don't really see the monster, so unlikely to be satisfying for many modern fans of the genre. It has still worn better than many other horror films from the 30s and 40s.
Very much of its period, especially in its gender politics - both of the main male characters are eminently punchable, to say the least - with a slightly awkward subtext about feminine emotions and desire. The plot is perhaps a bit too linear as well. However, it is very well directed, with a couple of sequences that invariably turn up in 'history of horror' documentaries as establishing genre tropes. It's still a slightly eggy melodrama where you don't really see the monster, so unlikely to be satisfying for many modern fans of the genre. It has still worn better than many other horror films from the 30s and 40s.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) in Movies
Feb 28, 2020
Shame about the humans
This film felt like it slipped in and out of cinemas here with very little attention drawn to it. Blink and you'll miss it, and I barely even remember the trailer either. Having now seen the film, I can see why it's pretty forgettable.
The main enjoyment in this film comes from the monster battles. Whenever the monsters are fighting each other on screen, it's hugely entertaining and these fights are impressively done. It's just a shame that Godzilla seems fairly lacking on screen until the finale, and that some of the CGI is patchy in parts. The humans are the biggest annoyance in this film. There's a great cast in this but they're let down by a cheesy script and a rather silly plot with a few gaps in the science & logic. And the ending is an obvious set up to yet another sequel.
Overly it was vaguely entertaining but dragged whenever the monsters weren't on screen, and ultimately a little forgettable.
The main enjoyment in this film comes from the monster battles. Whenever the monsters are fighting each other on screen, it's hugely entertaining and these fights are impressively done. It's just a shame that Godzilla seems fairly lacking on screen until the finale, and that some of the CGI is patchy in parts. The humans are the biggest annoyance in this film. There's a great cast in this but they're let down by a cheesy script and a rather silly plot with a few gaps in the science & logic. And the ending is an obvious set up to yet another sequel.
Overly it was vaguely entertaining but dragged whenever the monsters weren't on screen, and ultimately a little forgettable.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) in Movies
Mar 6, 2020
The House of Horrors
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein- is such a classic horror movie mixed with humor, comedy, sci-fi and is in the universal monster universe. Plus this has Lon Chaney Jr. as The Wolfman, Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Glenn Strange as Frankenstein and Vincent Price as the voice of the Invisible Man. OMG so many horror icons/legends within one movie. Love it.
The Plot: In the first of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's horror vehicles for Universal Pictures, the inimitable comic duo star as railway baggage handlers in northern Florida. When a pair of crates belonging to a house of horrors museum are mishandled by Wilbur (Lou Costello), the museum's director, Mr. MacDougal (Frank Ferguson), demands that they deliver them personally so that they can be inspected for insurance purposes, but Lou's friend Chick (Bud Abbott) has grave suspicions.
Its funny, entertaining, thrilling, and overall excellent. If you havent seen it, than go and watch it.
The Plot: In the first of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's horror vehicles for Universal Pictures, the inimitable comic duo star as railway baggage handlers in northern Florida. When a pair of crates belonging to a house of horrors museum are mishandled by Wilbur (Lou Costello), the museum's director, Mr. MacDougal (Frank Ferguson), demands that they deliver them personally so that they can be inspected for insurance purposes, but Lou's friend Chick (Bud Abbott) has grave suspicions.
Its funny, entertaining, thrilling, and overall excellent. If you havent seen it, than go and watch it.
The Man Who Was Jekyll and Hyde: The Lives and Crimes of Deacon Brodie
Book
He was a respected cabinetmaker and councillor by day - but Deacon William Brodie changed into a...
National Service: Diary of a Decade at the National Theatre
Book
During the ten years from 1987 to 1997 that he was Director of the Royal National Theatre, Richard...