Search
Search results
Katie (868 KP) rated Mad Monster Party? (1967) in Movies
Jun 16, 2018
Excellent character design (3 more)
Overall look of the film
Francesca is a style icon
Little Tibia and the Fibias!!
Slow paced (1 more)
Very little substance
Tons of style, very little substance
I went into this one really expecting to love it and I did love aspects of it. The character design, sets, and cinematography were great and Rankin/Bass fans will not be disappointed by those things. The music was fine, especially the opening sequence, but also left much to be desired. There weren't really any catchy, unforgettable songs that one usually finds on a Rankin/Bass production.
While there were some funny moments and some parts of the story were interesting, it seems that the film was mostly a series of kooky gags. Don't get me wrong, I love that kind of humor, but it needed to be supported by more plot than was provided. Often it was easy to forget that there even was one. I think Mad Monster Party would have benefited from cutting some scenes to make it a 45 minute special rather than feature length.
I went into this movie wondering why I hadn't heard of it until recently and why it wasn't a Halloween staple of my youth like "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" were for Christmas. After finishing it I had my answer. It was a little too grown up for children (and maybe a bit too boring) and didn't have enough substance for adults.
While it's hard to recommend this one to anyone I probably will be watching it again. The good parts are good enough to bring me back and the bad isn't bad enough to scare me away (and now I know which scenes to avoid).
I also realize that this has a lot of jokes directed at the readers of Mad Magazine, which I am not. So feel free to prove me wrong about this movie. I really want to love it!
While there were some funny moments and some parts of the story were interesting, it seems that the film was mostly a series of kooky gags. Don't get me wrong, I love that kind of humor, but it needed to be supported by more plot than was provided. Often it was easy to forget that there even was one. I think Mad Monster Party would have benefited from cutting some scenes to make it a 45 minute special rather than feature length.
I went into this movie wondering why I hadn't heard of it until recently and why it wasn't a Halloween staple of my youth like "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" were for Christmas. After finishing it I had my answer. It was a little too grown up for children (and maybe a bit too boring) and didn't have enough substance for adults.
While it's hard to recommend this one to anyone I probably will be watching it again. The good parts are good enough to bring me back and the bad isn't bad enough to scare me away (and now I know which scenes to avoid).
I also realize that this has a lot of jokes directed at the readers of Mad Magazine, which I am not. So feel free to prove me wrong about this movie. I really want to love it!
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Witcher - Season 1 in TV
Jan 13, 2020
Good introduction, true to the feel of the books, despite Geralt
I have played a little of Witcher 3, and have read the three sets of Sapkowski's Witcher short stories which precede the main series of books. I found the series to be quite true to the feel of the books. Throughout the short stories you are reading what feels like a decent story of hunting a monster but longing to have something larger with more background to get your teeth into. Similarly, the series shows us certain of Geralt's exploits vanquishing monsters for various lords, which are ok but somewhat lacking.
Cavill as Geralt doesn't say much, which is true to his character in the game (but then as he is the PoV character, it would be odd if he was constantly chatting to you and there is rarely anyone else there!). He tends to grunt and swear and is generally a right brooding bore.
However, throughout the series we have the backstory to Ciri (the young girl destined to accompany Geralt) and Yenefer (the powerful mage Geralt is obsessed with), both of which give much more insight into the world, the politics and some of the magic.
Yenefer's story is especially gripping, going from a deformed kind-hearted girl to the strong, beautiful, powerful witch she becomes.
A few reviews complain that the story jumps around a lot, both in person/place and time and it is quite hard to stitch it together. All I would say is if you stick with it, it all becomes clear. Like with the books, some of Geralt's stories feature what seem like small details but which turn out to be very important for the future parts of the story.
My main gripe is as with the books the Witcher himself is a dreadfully boring, one-dimensional cliché of a character, but those around him, given more focus, make this quote a gripping and enjoyable series.
Cavill as Geralt doesn't say much, which is true to his character in the game (but then as he is the PoV character, it would be odd if he was constantly chatting to you and there is rarely anyone else there!). He tends to grunt and swear and is generally a right brooding bore.
However, throughout the series we have the backstory to Ciri (the young girl destined to accompany Geralt) and Yenefer (the powerful mage Geralt is obsessed with), both of which give much more insight into the world, the politics and some of the magic.
Yenefer's story is especially gripping, going from a deformed kind-hearted girl to the strong, beautiful, powerful witch she becomes.
A few reviews complain that the story jumps around a lot, both in person/place and time and it is quite hard to stitch it together. All I would say is if you stick with it, it all becomes clear. Like with the books, some of Geralt's stories feature what seem like small details but which turn out to be very important for the future parts of the story.
My main gripe is as with the books the Witcher himself is a dreadfully boring, one-dimensional cliché of a character, but those around him, given more focus, make this quote a gripping and enjoyable series.
Dillon Jacoby-Rankin (202 KP) rated Betrayal at House on the Hill in Tabletop Games
Jan 18, 2020
Great Components (3 more)
Expandable
Plays a decent group size
Replayability
If you punch out all the monster tokens the first time you play, it's hard to find the ones you need later in future games. (1 more)
Play Time can be long depending on the haunt you get.
You never know what to quite expect
Players: 3-6 This is a great group size. I always welcome games that support 5-6 because we always seem to have that 1 extra player we were not expecting to show up.
Expansions: This game already has one expansion called Widows Walk. It adds a roof floor to the game as well as new cards of all three types, and as you may imagine a whole new set of haunts to play.
Replayability: The game has 50 haunts or so in the base game and with widows Walk it adds a bunch more. The game can be played over and over and based on the tiles in the house and the haunt that is played, your experience is almost never going to be the same twice.
Components: The cards are all really nice as well as the tiles for the rooms. The trackers for the characters could be better but they actually already made an upgrade pack for that so problem solved. My only gripe is that the doorways are all highlighted in a specific color but the windows are not. There are several rules that require you to be in a room with a window but they are not highlighted like the rooms with doorways. This could have easily been fixed before launching the game. Also, the symbols for the cards are hard to read on the yellow artworked rooms. In blends right in the background on them and I always have to point out that there is in fact a symbol for a card on those rooms.
Expansions: This game already has one expansion called Widows Walk. It adds a roof floor to the game as well as new cards of all three types, and as you may imagine a whole new set of haunts to play.
Replayability: The game has 50 haunts or so in the base game and with widows Walk it adds a bunch more. The game can be played over and over and based on the tiles in the house and the haunt that is played, your experience is almost never going to be the same twice.
Components: The cards are all really nice as well as the tiles for the rooms. The trackers for the characters could be better but they actually already made an upgrade pack for that so problem solved. My only gripe is that the doorways are all highlighted in a specific color but the windows are not. There are several rules that require you to be in a room with a window but they are not highlighted like the rooms with doorways. This could have easily been fixed before launching the game. Also, the symbols for the cards are hard to read on the yellow artworked rooms. In blends right in the background on them and I always have to point out that there is in fact a symbol for a card on those rooms.
Dale Lawson (13 KP) rated Missing Link (2019) in Movies
Feb 29, 2020
Animation Style (3 more)
Character development
Voice Acting
Hilarity
An adventurous, family-friendly animation.
After winning the BAFTA for best animated feature, my interest in seeing this film rose. As it is conveniently found on Netflix, we watched it as a family for a ‘movie night’. I was prepared for a mediocre adventure in search of a missing link between man and ape. What you actually get is a heartfelt, quintessentially British, global adventure in search of a home for a lonely Sasquatch. The journey each character goes through is wonderful as they learn about family, friendships and individuality before conquering the villain.
With a high calibre cast, this film is full of seasoned voice actors. So much so that it is actually difficult to identify the owner of each voice until the credits roll. This, for the most part, makes the film even more enjoyable as you aren’t left guessing actors or imagining them in the role.
Beginning with two characters on a quest for the Loch Ness Monster, the story is full of mystery and myth. It then becomes a predictable one, when it gets into its flow. For an adult, this can make the film a little expected. However, for a child this film is filled with hilarity. When watching with my three kids, there was non-stop laughter. From the naming of the Sasquatch to him forgetting swimwear, the room was full of joy.
Animation has always been a passion of mine, since I was young: from hand drawn to computer generated. My favourite had always been stop motion. Missing Link is primarily filmed in stop motion, using new techniques that allow for smoother facial transitions. The film’s adventurous nature encourages for exciting sets and explosive additional CGI that makes the film feel incredibly polished.
Captivating the attention of adults and children, alike, Missing Link provides an animated, family friendly adventure that teaches morals and respect. I can see why it won so many awards and challenges Toy Story 4 for the top place.
With a high calibre cast, this film is full of seasoned voice actors. So much so that it is actually difficult to identify the owner of each voice until the credits roll. This, for the most part, makes the film even more enjoyable as you aren’t left guessing actors or imagining them in the role.
Beginning with two characters on a quest for the Loch Ness Monster, the story is full of mystery and myth. It then becomes a predictable one, when it gets into its flow. For an adult, this can make the film a little expected. However, for a child this film is filled with hilarity. When watching with my three kids, there was non-stop laughter. From the naming of the Sasquatch to him forgetting swimwear, the room was full of joy.
Animation has always been a passion of mine, since I was young: from hand drawn to computer generated. My favourite had always been stop motion. Missing Link is primarily filmed in stop motion, using new techniques that allow for smoother facial transitions. The film’s adventurous nature encourages for exciting sets and explosive additional CGI that makes the film feel incredibly polished.
Captivating the attention of adults and children, alike, Missing Link provides an animated, family friendly adventure that teaches morals and respect. I can see why it won so many awards and challenges Toy Story 4 for the top place.
JT (287 KP) rated The Wolfman (2010) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
As what we would describe as the classic monster horror, this remake of the 1941 black and white picture in some way does itself and the original some justice.
Back then horror was starting to carve itself out to a market of film goers who really didn’t have much of an idea as to how film could and would change their lives. The likes of Dracula and Frankenstein had also achieved great historic status.
The plot of the story stays true, man is bitten, man becomes werewolf, all hell breaks loose and it is the efforts of a love interest that tries in vein to break the curse. Something which not even the gypsies could achieve.
Special effects wise its impressive, Del Toro went through make up hell in order to gain the look, some three hours to apply and one to remove so his dedication must be applauded. As to whether he was the right choice for the part is another question, in some parts, in human form he loodke out of place with his foreign slightly merged American accent.
The original film ultimately was basic, a drama that based itself around a werewolf, there was no gore and hardly any blood. So of course it was only fitting that this film should contain both, and vast quantities of flying limbs and spouting red stuff. Did it need it? It surely must have only been there too satisfy an age where any lack of these effects would seem a disappointment.
The supporting cast ranging from Anthony Hopkins as Sir John Talbot, Hugo Weaving as Inspector Abberline and the beautiful Emily Blunt as Gwen all do a wonderful job adding their talents to the narrative. Hopkins especially was his usual dark, sinister and composed self.
There are some truly scary scenes, and some fantastic shots of a Gothic London but the film tends to drift off in places. Overall its a worthwhile watch but doesn’t do enough to really make it one of standouts of 2010.
Back then horror was starting to carve itself out to a market of film goers who really didn’t have much of an idea as to how film could and would change their lives. The likes of Dracula and Frankenstein had also achieved great historic status.
The plot of the story stays true, man is bitten, man becomes werewolf, all hell breaks loose and it is the efforts of a love interest that tries in vein to break the curse. Something which not even the gypsies could achieve.
Special effects wise its impressive, Del Toro went through make up hell in order to gain the look, some three hours to apply and one to remove so his dedication must be applauded. As to whether he was the right choice for the part is another question, in some parts, in human form he loodke out of place with his foreign slightly merged American accent.
The original film ultimately was basic, a drama that based itself around a werewolf, there was no gore and hardly any blood. So of course it was only fitting that this film should contain both, and vast quantities of flying limbs and spouting red stuff. Did it need it? It surely must have only been there too satisfy an age where any lack of these effects would seem a disappointment.
The supporting cast ranging from Anthony Hopkins as Sir John Talbot, Hugo Weaving as Inspector Abberline and the beautiful Emily Blunt as Gwen all do a wonderful job adding their talents to the narrative. Hopkins especially was his usual dark, sinister and composed self.
There are some truly scary scenes, and some fantastic shots of a Gothic London but the film tends to drift off in places. Overall its a worthwhile watch but doesn’t do enough to really make it one of standouts of 2010.
Artie's Magic Pencil
Education, Games and Stickers
7.0
Rate It
App
There’s a monster on the loose and it’s destroying everything in its way! Save the day and help...
King John: Treachery, Tyranny and the Road to Magna Carta
Book
The brilliantly compelling new biography of the treacherous and tyrannical King John, published to...
TW
The Whites, Jews, and Us
Cornel West and Rachel Valinsky
Book
Why am I writing this book? Because I share Gramsci's anxiety: "The old are dying and the new cannot...
Talking Metal
10.0
Rate It
Podcast
Hosts Mark Strigl and John Ostronomy, talk and play METAL with special guests, headbangers, and...
An Edo Anthology: Literature from Japan's Mega-City, 1750-1850
Sumie Jones and Kenji Watanabe
Book
During the eighteenth century, Edo (today's Tokyo) became the world's largest city, quickly...