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Lee (2222 KP) rated The Post (2017) in Movies
Jan 26, 2018
I saw The Post earlier this week and it's taken me quite a while to think about how to review it. To be honest, it didn't really do much for me at all. It's clearly a very important part of recent history, an interesting story with huge relevance in these current times, but the first half was just so dull!
Tom Hanks is obviously brilliant, playing Ben Bradlee, editor of The Washington Post. But it's Meryl Streep that really shines here as Katharine Graham, the country's first female newspaper publisher and Bens boss. Following her journey through the male led news industry as she gradually finds the strength and confidence she needs.
The second half ramps up the tension somewhat and is a great improvement over the first half. Unfortunately for me though it just wasn't enough to leave any kind of lasting impression.
Tom Hanks is obviously brilliant, playing Ben Bradlee, editor of The Washington Post. But it's Meryl Streep that really shines here as Katharine Graham, the country's first female newspaper publisher and Bens boss. Following her journey through the male led news industry as she gradually finds the strength and confidence she needs.
The second half ramps up the tension somewhat and is a great improvement over the first half. Unfortunately for me though it just wasn't enough to leave any kind of lasting impression.
Brilliant insight into Bram Stoker's life
*** Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review ***
This book stays true to the format of Stoker's Dracula, being written in the form of a compilation of diary entries, letters and newspaper reports. This allows some of the main characters to embed their own voice and to give their view of events, the narratives interweaved to give a good, suspenseful story.
Bram Stoker was not well as a child, pretty much bed-bound until the age of 7. Then he suddenly recovered and went on to become a successful athlete and University graduate. This book takes that life story and layers on a brilliant prequel to Dracula, suggesting that vampires very much impacted on Stoker's life and he himself did battle with Count Vlad.
Excellent, atmospheric story with plenty of suspense and action, and a few twists and turns along the way. A perfect read for this time of year.
This book stays true to the format of Stoker's Dracula, being written in the form of a compilation of diary entries, letters and newspaper reports. This allows some of the main characters to embed their own voice and to give their view of events, the narratives interweaved to give a good, suspenseful story.
Bram Stoker was not well as a child, pretty much bed-bound until the age of 7. Then he suddenly recovered and went on to become a successful athlete and University graduate. This book takes that life story and layers on a brilliant prequel to Dracula, suggesting that vampires very much impacted on Stoker's life and he himself did battle with Count Vlad.
Excellent, atmospheric story with plenty of suspense and action, and a few twists and turns along the way. A perfect read for this time of year.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Truth (Discworld, #25; Industrial Revolution, #2) in Books
Nov 27, 2019
For the 25th Discworld novel, Pratchett tackles investigative journalism, introducing a newspaper to Ankh Morpork run by William de Worde (much to the annoyance of his aristocratic family) with reporter Sacharissa Crisplock. They soon stumble on a plot to discredit Lord Vetinari, putting themselves and The Truth in danger.
This is all handled with Pratchett's typical humour with a great cast of characters. William and Sacharissa are pitted against the villainous duo of Mr Pin and Mr Tulip, who very much channel Mr Wint and Mr Kydd in Diamonds Are Forever.
Although a very enjoyable read (as are all Discworld novels), this one doesn't quite come together for me. There's just not enough to satirise in the subject and the underlying plot is perhaps a little flimsy. I had to look up the details of the plot, which is a bad sign for any book.
Still worth a read but by no means the best Discworld novel
This is all handled with Pratchett's typical humour with a great cast of characters. William and Sacharissa are pitted against the villainous duo of Mr Pin and Mr Tulip, who very much channel Mr Wint and Mr Kydd in Diamonds Are Forever.
Although a very enjoyable read (as are all Discworld novels), this one doesn't quite come together for me. There's just not enough to satirise in the subject and the underlying plot is perhaps a little flimsy. I had to look up the details of the plot, which is a bad sign for any book.
Still worth a read but by no means the best Discworld novel
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Devil Bat (1940) in Movies
Jun 17, 2020
Bela Lugosi (1 more)
Bats
Let The Bats Fly
The Devil Bat- a nice classic black and white horror film that starred Bela Lugosi as the villian. Which he is excellent and perfect as. Bela Lugosi perfects the villain role. I love him as a actor. Anways back to The Devil Bat.
The plot: Dr. Paul Carruthers (Bela Lugosi) is frustrated because he thinks his employers, Mary Heath (Suzanne Kaaren) and Henry Morton (Guy Usher), have cheated him out of the company's profits. He decides to get revenge by altering bats to grow twice their normal size and training them to attack when they smell a perfume of his own making. He mixes the perfume into a lotion, which he offers as a gift to Mary and Henry. When they turn up dead, a newspaper reporter (Dave O'Brien) decides to investigate.
Its a classic fun entertaining horror movie with bats attacking people and their master is Bela Lugosi so that is a plus.
The plot: Dr. Paul Carruthers (Bela Lugosi) is frustrated because he thinks his employers, Mary Heath (Suzanne Kaaren) and Henry Morton (Guy Usher), have cheated him out of the company's profits. He decides to get revenge by altering bats to grow twice their normal size and training them to attack when they smell a perfume of his own making. He mixes the perfume into a lotion, which he offers as a gift to Mary and Henry. When they turn up dead, a newspaper reporter (Dave O'Brien) decides to investigate.
Its a classic fun entertaining horror movie with bats attacking people and their master is Bela Lugosi so that is a plus.
Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated Meet John Doe (1941) in Movies
Aug 3, 2020
At the time that Meet John Doe was released the world was on the cusp of some very major changes that made the topic remarkably relevant. I would dare to say that our current world climate demands this movie to be watched.
An under the gun reporter penning her final article prior to her termination taking effect opens the eyes of seemingly the world when she manufactures a character (John Doe) who isn't afraid to express his true thoughts and put his life on the line (pun intended?) to hold them. The newspaper goes along, and even encourages, the deception once the article is widely recognized by the public and they see a gold mine in readership.
Many begin to relate to the thoughts displayed in the recurring articles to the point that the author begins to actually alter her own perception of reality.
Please do yourself a favor and watch this film. Commit to it.
An under the gun reporter penning her final article prior to her termination taking effect opens the eyes of seemingly the world when she manufactures a character (John Doe) who isn't afraid to express his true thoughts and put his life on the line (pun intended?) to hold them. The newspaper goes along, and even encourages, the deception once the article is widely recognized by the public and they see a gold mine in readership.
Many begin to relate to the thoughts displayed in the recurring articles to the point that the author begins to actually alter her own perception of reality.
Please do yourself a favor and watch this film. Commit to it.
ClareR (5589 KP) rated The Trial of Lotta Rae in Books
Jun 7, 2022
I read this beautifully written book on The Pigeonhole, and I’m so glad that I didn’t miss the opportunity.
The Trial of Lotta Ready Siobhan MacGowan is a story about the legal trial, and subsequent tribulations of a working class girl. Raped at 15 by a wealthy man, Lotta’s Mam and Pap support her in the battle to bring him to justice. But it all goes terribly wrong and before long, Lotta finds herself alone, on the street and trying to live under everyones radar. She is, however, often recognised from the newspaper articles, where they printed all of the lies from the trial.
This is a story of love and loss, betrayal and retribution, privilege and misogyny, with a background of the Suffragette movement and the First World War.
The narrator is, without wanting to give too much away, very interesting - and much more hard hitting because of that choice.
It’s a stunning book and highly recommended.
The Trial of Lotta Ready Siobhan MacGowan is a story about the legal trial, and subsequent tribulations of a working class girl. Raped at 15 by a wealthy man, Lotta’s Mam and Pap support her in the battle to bring him to justice. But it all goes terribly wrong and before long, Lotta finds herself alone, on the street and trying to live under everyones radar. She is, however, often recognised from the newspaper articles, where they printed all of the lies from the trial.
This is a story of love and loss, betrayal and retribution, privilege and misogyny, with a background of the Suffragette movement and the First World War.
The narrator is, without wanting to give too much away, very interesting - and much more hard hitting because of that choice.
It’s a stunning book and highly recommended.
ClareR (5589 KP) rated The Imposter in Books
Mar 7, 2023
Obsession, loneliness and lies. What a hand-rubbing trio of themes they are!
Newspaper archivist Chloe is the sole carer of her grandmother who has dementia. She’s trying to fend off social services to keep her Nan at home - she’s all she has, after all.
It’s no surprise to me that Chloe develops an obsession with a past case that she comes across whilst digitalising old articles. Angela Kyle went missing as a 4 year old in 1980. Chloe tracks down the child’s parents, discovers they need a lodger, and gets the room when Nan has been moved into a home.
This is a sad book. Chloe’s nan’s dementia; Angela’s parents living with their loss and not knowing what happened to their child; Chloe’s obsession and loneliness. These are all strong, well-thought out characters - and it’s so tense! I felt like I needed to come up regularly for air!
It’s emotional, and the ending is absolutely plausible - it’s a cracking story!!
Newspaper archivist Chloe is the sole carer of her grandmother who has dementia. She’s trying to fend off social services to keep her Nan at home - she’s all she has, after all.
It’s no surprise to me that Chloe develops an obsession with a past case that she comes across whilst digitalising old articles. Angela Kyle went missing as a 4 year old in 1980. Chloe tracks down the child’s parents, discovers they need a lodger, and gets the room when Nan has been moved into a home.
This is a sad book. Chloe’s nan’s dementia; Angela’s parents living with their loss and not knowing what happened to their child; Chloe’s obsession and loneliness. These are all strong, well-thought out characters - and it’s so tense! I felt like I needed to come up regularly for air!
It’s emotional, and the ending is absolutely plausible - it’s a cracking story!!
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) in Movies
Mar 3, 2018 (Updated Mar 3, 2018)
Weather Forecast says 'Sun Everywhere'
Apocalyptic British SF movie shows how this sort of thing should be done. Nuclear tests shift the Earth on its axis, send it closer to the sun: civilisation struggles to cope with the prospect of looming extinction. Story is told from the point of view of the journalists of the Daily Express (don't laugh, it was a newspaper back in the 60s).
Very similar in its downbeat tone to the Quatermass movies Val Guest had previously made for Hammer - no B-movie this, but a serious, hard-edged naturalistic drama. Personal story of romance between lead journo Edward Judd and met office secretary Janet Munro is woven into the main plot with considerable skill; scenes of devastated London are well-mounted. A bit dated in some of its attitudes, but its concerns with the disastrous effects of climate change and its political cynicism mean it still feels surprisingly relevant today. Much better than any of the Roland Emmerich movies which have arguably ripped it off.
Very similar in its downbeat tone to the Quatermass movies Val Guest had previously made for Hammer - no B-movie this, but a serious, hard-edged naturalistic drama. Personal story of romance between lead journo Edward Judd and met office secretary Janet Munro is woven into the main plot with considerable skill; scenes of devastated London are well-mounted. A bit dated in some of its attitudes, but its concerns with the disastrous effects of climate change and its political cynicism mean it still feels surprisingly relevant today. Much better than any of the Roland Emmerich movies which have arguably ripped it off.
Kate (482 KP) rated The House of Twelve in Books
Nov 26, 2019
I did enjoy this book. I like crime novels and was not aware this was paranormal as well but it did all make sense and tie in at the end.
Once I started reading I couldn't out the book down - I read it in a day.
The story flowed well and it was interesting to find out the back ground of each character. I did like the twist at the end when the newspaper cut outs and reports were found. It really tied everything together.
I couldn't connect with the characters but that could be because some of them weren't around long and others I just didn't feel anything for. I didn't care what happened to each character and/or when it happened.
The story reminded me of the Saw films. They were more about a game and torture which I don't like so the book was better.
The book was very well put together.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Once I started reading I couldn't out the book down - I read it in a day.
The story flowed well and it was interesting to find out the back ground of each character. I did like the twist at the end when the newspaper cut outs and reports were found. It really tied everything together.
I couldn't connect with the characters but that could be because some of them weren't around long and others I just didn't feel anything for. I didn't care what happened to each character and/or when it happened.
The story reminded me of the Saw films. They were more about a game and torture which I don't like so the book was better.
The book was very well put together.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Back to the Future (1985) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
OK, I’ve seen the film over and over again at home on Blu-ray, but nothing can match the feeling you get from seeing it on the big screen, even the opening sequence with the clocks ticking from all around you in the cinema, being able to read the newspaper clippings on the walls and so much more detail that you don’t really pick up on at home.
So by now, you all know the story of Back to the Future if you don’t where the heck have you been! But it all comes down to Doc Brown inventing the time machine from a DeLorean, even Marty is shocked by that one, “Wait a minute, Doc. Ah… Are you telling me you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?”, in a twist of fate Marty is sent back to 1955 where he has to find the Doc to get back to the future, but things go wrong when Marty changes the outcome of time by accidentally coming between his mother and fathers first meeting.
So by now, you all know the story of Back to the Future if you don’t where the heck have you been! But it all comes down to Doc Brown inventing the time machine from a DeLorean, even Marty is shocked by that one, “Wait a minute, Doc. Ah… Are you telling me you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?”, in a twist of fate Marty is sent back to 1955 where he has to find the Doc to get back to the future, but things go wrong when Marty changes the outcome of time by accidentally coming between his mother and fathers first meeting.