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Restricted Fantasies
Restricted Fantasies
Kevin Kneupper | 2018 | Contemporary
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Makes you think (0 more)
A Black Mirror-style sci-fi short story collection
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

As I read the description, "A Black Mirror-style sci-fi short story collection about the perils of our virtual reality future - and whether we're already living in it.", I was intrigued. For those that don't know "Black Mirror" is a British TV show that is available on Netflix. "Black Mirror" is a contemporary reworking of "The Twilight Zone" and is described by Netflix as a "sci-fi anthology series explores a twisted, high-tech near-future where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide."

Describing "Restricted Fantasies" by Kevin Kneupper as being written in Black Mirror-style is an actuate description. Each stand-alone story in both features its own cast of unique characters. As with "Black Mirror", this is not a collection to sit and read straight through. The stories make you think and mess with your mind. They need to be digested, thought through, and processed.

I do not want to discuss any of the individual stories as I do not want to mention any spoilers. With many of the stories I needed a few hours, if not days, to process. I highly recommend "Restricted Fantasies" to anyone who can read it and process it. I would not recommend reading it in one sitting.
  
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Jenny Han | 2014 | Children
9
8.8 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
I picked this up mostly because the trailer for the Netflix adaptation looked AMAZING. It's the first book in a trilogy, and I really want to read the other two now! Lara Jean is the middle daughter in a house of three daughters, being raised by their widower father. The relationships between the four of them play a large part in the book, as they are all adjusting to the eldest daughter being away at college. Everyone's roles are changing, and in the middle of that, Lara Jean's private love letters get mailed to the boys she wrote them to, throwing her love life into chaos as well.

I loved almost every character in this book - even Lara's troublemaking best friend has a good heart. I definitely need to watch the Netflix show now, because I really want to see how Chris - aforementioned best friend - is represented!

The family scenes around Christmas really tugged at my heart - Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, and the author absolutely NAILED the nostalgic, slightly dreamy, loving holiday atmosphere.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before was a cute, sweet read, and really my only negative thing to say about it is the ending left me hanging! Which is part of why I really need to read the other two books, so I suppose it was a good strategy. But man I hate cliffhangers!

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
  
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Dan Lacey (7 KP) rated The Stranger in TV

Feb 26, 2020  
The Stranger
The Stranger
2020 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Acting (2 more)
Storyline
Bingeworthy
Bingeworthy (0 more)
A genuine masterpiece.
I want to start with the trailer to this Netflix original. Whilst flicking through the vast abyss that is the Netflix catalogue I stumbled upon this and allowed the trailer to play in full. It painted a picture of a bit of a mystery caper and I found it quite captivating.

Now I wont lie to you, my wife and I watched all 8 episodes over 2 nights not through choice but through what we deemed at the time (1am to be exact) a necessity. Every episode ended on a perfect cliffhanger.

Now I'm going to keep this spoiler free but I do want to talk about the story in general. I like to think of myself as someone who can normally guess early on 'who dunnit' why they 'dunnit' and any general twists and turns along the way, but the whole series I sat second guessing myself coming up with general theories that would feel at home with someone wearing a tin foil hat. And the moment I thought I'd worked it all out was the moment it was revealed to me some 5 seconds later.

This is the series you will recommend to your family, your friends and maybe even.... a stranger ( yep I just said that).

I emplore you to take a few hours grab the popcorn and give this a watch I promise you will not regret it.
  
American Made (2017)
American Made (2017)
2017 | Mystery
Watching this movie is had a good time, it was easy to watch, the acting was good, the story was good, unbelievably at time but the wierd thing is it's based on a true story

the only problem is for some reason it felt like it was on for 3hours, but it's only got a run time of 1hr 55mins, but it felt a lot longer, don't get me wrong i enjoyed it, it isn't felt like it was on too long, it might have been because I had already seen the funny parts in the trailers


But still a good movie




I would probably Wait till it's on Netflix or something
  
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Dean (6927 KP) Sep 21, 2017

Yes for a 1hr 47min film it does feel a lot longer as so much is going on.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
2018 | Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Contains spoilers, click to show
I enjoyed Bandersnatch, it was was a great concept and worked well on Netflix. It won't be my favourite Black Mirror episode, however.


The cast was alright, Will Poulter was brilliant.
The concept was interesting and after the immense popularity of video games like Until Dawn and Detroit: Become Human, it was time for a more cinematic adaption.
But some choices felt unnecessary - the cereal one, for example - where it had no impact on the story whatsoever. It was also very repetitive and cycled you back to watch the same scenes over and over again without the ability to skip much.
All in all, I enjoyed it, but it could have been improved a little bit.
  
Fyre Fraud (2019)
Fyre Fraud (2019)
2019 | Documentary
I watched this documentary second, in my makeshift Fyre-Festival-Flu watch. This documentary actually interviewed the skeezy dude that thought up the whole mess, and tried to maybe humanize him. Dude is straight up skeezy and not remorseful.
This approached it from more of a financial-fraud aspect, which is what I deal with every day, so I find it interested. It also had some of these ridiculous 'influencers' interviewed as well, and sorry, I still find it hard to have sympathy.
I did like this documentary a little better than the Netflix one, but they both ended up pretty good. Again, I hope the d-bag wasn't paid at all.
  
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KittyMiku (138 KP) rated Netflix in Apps

Apr 12, 2019  
Netflix
Netflix
Entertainment, Lifestyle
7
8.7 (589 Ratings)
App Rating
Binge watching made easy (1 more)
Has a child friendly mode
Not enough good shows to stream (0 more)
I love Netflix since I love to binge watch my shows. However, it seems that once I finished a show, there is rarely anything else I want to watch. Its easy to blow through so many episodes and be left with next to nothing that interests you. I wish they had a ton my shows streaming. I do love the kids only section and profile you can make. This has helped keep my 1 year old entertained and when she does change the show, I don't have to worry about it being a show with inappropriate behaviors or words.
  
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)
2019 | Biography, Crime, Thriller
Surprisingly good. Thank you Netflix and Zac Efron.
This wasn't something that was on my list to watch, but my wife is a fan of anything Ted Bundy, so I obliged. From the moment the film begins, you are immediately engulfed in the amazingly twisted love story of Bundy and Liz. The movie is incredibly paced and enthralling. Efron is his normal charismatic self, but surprisingly gripping and believable in the serial killer role. He beautifully parallels the real life man he portrays. The film also does a great job of splicing in actual police photos and TV footage, leading to the gripping final act. To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised.
  
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Animation, Comedy
Three shorts taped together
When an animated film does well, there is usually a follow-on of some short films, or a TV series. I mean like the Shrek Halloween shorts, or the Boss Baby series on Netflix.
I think this is what was planned here - three short films for distribution some how, but they weren't sure what to do with them. So they seem to have decided to stitch them together and pad them out into a film.
The film as a whole is enjoyable but jumps around all over the place. Each of the stories in isolation are very enjoyable, with enough humour and charm to keep the audience entertained.
  
Murder Mystery (2019)
Murder Mystery (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Cast chemistry (0 more)
Best bits are in the trailer (0 more)
Ok whodunit comedy
I love a whodunit murder mystery film, serious or comedy. So I was excited when I heard about this Netflix film just a couple of days before it was released. I'm not a big Sandler fan but he has done some funny films. He had good chemistry with Aniston in @Just Go with It (2011) and they work together well in this as well. It was OK especially if you are a fan of the genre. The only down side really most of the best bits are in the trailer. Overall a fun lighthearted comedy with a fair share of funny moments.