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Andy K (10821 KP) rated Fright Night (1985) in Movies

Jun 8, 2018 (Updated Oct 7, 2019)  
Fright Night (1985)
Fright Night (1985)
1985 | Comedy, Horror
What would you do if a vampire moved in next door?
Young Charlie Brewster loves his horror movies, especially those shown by his hero and former B horror star, Peter Vincent. Imagine his surprise when he sees a strange man move in next door, coffin and all. Then, young girls in the neighborhood start disappearing. What is Charlie to do?

I couldn't get enough of this film when I was a teen, partially because I love campy horror movies and I also love Roddy McDowall so it was an amazing combination. The plotline, characters and special effects were great and there was never a dull moment.

Those campy horror fans should check it out.
                    


  
Halloween II (1981)
Halloween II (1981)
1981 | Horror
8
7.4 (23 Ratings)
Movie Rating
From suspense to slasher, but still delivers
After the original Halloween film paying ground with a lot of modern horror elements, the 2nd film really felt like a continuation since it begins simultaneously when the first film ends.

This one is more gruesome with more elaborate and bloody death kills, but those who are watching are expecting this to happen.

The film moves from the neighborhood from film one to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital where Laurie Strode is transported to tend to her injuries. Michael of course follows her there leaving a trail of bodies behind him.

Just as entertaining as the film film without some of the suspense in favor of gore instead.

  
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William Finnegan recommended My Brilliant Friend in Books (curated)

 
My Brilliant Friend
My Brilliant Friend
Elena Ferrante | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
3.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"The first volume in the Neapolitan quartet, this one changes in the mind’s eye if you’re pulled, as I am, helplessly through the subsequent books, with its primal scenes from early childhood deepening throughout. Is there a better portrait of friendship in literature than the story of Elena Greco, the narrator, and her brilliant friend, Lila Cerullo? Elena escapes the old neighborhood, and the poverty of postwar Naples, through education, but Lila remains the incandescent figure. The tormented power of their relationship never flags, through “The Story of a New Name,” “Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay,” and the devastating “The Story of a Lost Child.” I hear the TV series is good. The books are a universe."

Source
  
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
2019 | Drama
Based on a magazine article written by an Esquire investigative reporter assigned a profile on Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is the Tuesdays With Morrie adaptation of the man who guided generations of children through the perils of childhood. Opening in the style of the famed PBS series Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, we begin by learning the story of journalist Lloyd Vogel, a man very much in need of a change in attitude. He harbors a lot of father issues. The editor of Esquire wants him to write one of the articles for an issue on Heroes, but everyone has read his work and is afraid to talk to him. That is,except for the one man in the world who never judges others until he has walked in his shoes. In other words, you need to know a person in order to really be able to know someone. Tom Hanks is a national treasure and perfectly captures the heart and soul of a man who exuberates compassion and willing teaches everyone the most important lesson of life. Matthew Rhys capably plays Lloyd as he comes to grips with all the buried feelings of the childhood he had which turned him into the man he is. Chris Cooper stands out as Jerry, the father who abandoned his family when life became too rough. Overall, the movie is good, and the movie achieves its goal: telling the story of how one person can make a huge difference in the lives of others just by listening.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Those People in Books

Sep 13, 2019  
Those People
Those People
Louise Candlish | 2019 | Thriller
5
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
So I was really excited to read my first Louise Candlish novel and while I found this one interesting enough, it wasn't as intriguing as I'd hoped after all the hype over OUR HOUSE. I'm all for neighborhood tensions and drama, but my goodness, it feels like this book took forever. And while I get that this was probably the overall point, these people were mostly all so insufferable that I really didn't care if they all just killed each other!

The book makes some good points about social class, but it does it all so slowly. There are a few twists, yes, but they don't come often enough, and I had a decent idea about a few of them. Maybe the drawn out element was meant to mimic the neighbor's "agony," but good grief. The book is told via police reports and narratives. We learn early on there was an incident in the neighborhood, but don't know what happened or who was involved. I was definitely interested in knowing what went on, which is why I kept plugging away. It's pretty clear early on that nearly everyone has a reason to harm everyone else; kind of makes me glad for my eight acres.

So, overall, while curiosity kept me reading on this one, and I enjoyed a few of the twists, it was definitely a slow read filled with a lot of annoying characters. Maybe if I'm brave enough to pick up OUR HOUSE, it will be more my jam. 2.5+ stars.
  
Our Souls at Night (2017)
Our Souls at Night (2017)
2017 | Drama
Heartwarming... but kind of pointless
Of course always love seeing screen legends together again; however, they really didn't have much to do in this film.

When an aging woman decides to spice up her life by asking her neighborhood infamous fellow senior to come spend the night at her house, they become the talk of the small town. Both reveal intimate details of their lives to each other as their friendship grows. Soon, her grandson comes to live with her and the three of them enjoy each other's company.

I was never bored while watching this film, but afterwards I kind of felt it was missing a point. If you enjoy slice of life films you will love this one.

  
The Sims 4
The Sims 4
2017 | Simulation
Refreshing style (1 more)
Standered Sims game
Feels too cartoonie. (1 more)
Feels too much like a step back
The Sims 4 offers the usual family simulation experience. However the game is much different to it's predecessor. Sims 3, Sims 4 is not an open world and to move to different sections of the neighborhood you have to endure a loading screen which can feel tedious after a while and really takes away from the whole experience..

The jobs also feel harder to progress in and for me the could be a decent thing to have as it stops the game from becomeing boring to easily..

All in all its not the worst game ever but in the sims franchise it's probably a bottom 3.. norrowly beating bust'em up and urban hights..
  
Black and Blue (2019)
Black and Blue (2019)
2019 | Action, Crime, Drama
Good cast (0 more)
The plot has been done better before (0 more)
Decent crime thriller
One of the films I missed as it didn't get a long release at the cinema in the UK. Naomie Harris plays a rookie cop in a rundown area of New Orleans. With corrupt cops and gangs working together in the supply of drugs. Soon she is hunted by both through the neighborhood after capturing a murder by the corrupt cops on her bodycam.
Overall it was an enjoyable watch, a little slow at the start and middle section. It had quite a low budget feel to it despite some big cast names. Worth a watch but far from the better films with a similar plotline. @21 Bridges (2019) is one example that had more action.
  
The Coloring Crook
The Coloring Crook
Krista Davis | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Coloring Can Be Profitable…and Deadly
The Georgetown bookstore Florrie Fox manages has added a weekly coloring group, and Florrie has enjoyed getting to know the regulars. One of them, Dolly Cavanaugh, also enjoys bargain hunting at estate sales, and one week she comes in excited about her latest find, a copy of The Florist, a rare adult coloring book from the 1700's. However, later that night, Florrie finds Dolly dead with a corner of a piece of paper in her hand. That's all that can be found of book Dolly just bought. As secrets begin to come to light, Florrie is left to wonder how well she really knew Dolly. Was the book the motive for Dolly's murder? Or did a secret from her past catch up with her?

I was charmed by the first in the series, and I enjoyed this one just as much. The setting may be a neighborhood in the Washington DC area, but by sticking to the neighborhood, it still feels like a traditional cozy setting. And what a setting! I'd love to spend hours browsing in this bookstore. Florrie is a great lead character, and she heads up a cast of equally fun characters. It's hard to picture most of them as killers, in fact. The plot is filled with twists and complications. I began to suspect a few things, but I still had huge gaps I hadn’t figured out before I got to the end. I do feel the ending was a bit rushed, and a few things got glossed over as a result, but that's my only issue with the book. As with the first, the cover can be colored, and there are five recipes at the end.
  
The Berenstain Bears Love One Another
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Review: The Berenstain Bears Love One Another In “The Berenstain Bears Love One Another” the plot is good. This book teaches you how to love one another. Mike get it done nicely. It the picture tell the story. The concept is to show love and help out and show the love to your family and others in your neighborhood.
 
Bother and Sister are taught what Love One another means by Mama bear. They Brother and Sister Bear bother show it though performs it throughout the book. Find out what they do and how they help by reading the book.
 
It great for children and young readers. Parents can use this book as a teaching tool if they choose. It great for young children as and good book to learn how to read.