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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Kid Who Would Be King (2019) in Movies

Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)  
The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Let's start by saying that this film is a wonderfully entertaining adventure, I don't remember the last time this sort of story graced our screens. I've always been a fan of myths and legends and this didn't disappoint.

I'm not really sure how well myths and legends are known these days, they were one of my favourite things as a child but the topic seems to go in and out of favour. I thought it was a nice start to the whole film to show a summary of the King Arthur legend, and the graphic novel style made a nice link throughout.

There are lots of great things about the film but I think my favourite is how they managed to align the fantasy and reality. The transitions between night and day, the depths of Morgana's prison and her army of the undead are all top notch. There's only one brief moment where I grumbled and that was during Morgana's transformation, she briefly resembles a poor quality Voldemort.

Louis Ashbourne Serkis gives a great performance as Alex our reluctant hero and he's supported by some solid acting, young and old(er). The little comedy duo of Alex and Bedders is so cute comparing themselves to Frodo and Sam *squee*. The adult cast was on form too, although we don't get to see much of Denise Gough, Noma Dumezweni and Mark Bonnar, which made me a little sad. Rebecca Ferguson fairs better with screen time and managed to get the evil thing down, she was particularly menacing as Morgana. Lastly cast-wise is obviously Patrick Stewart, I love him but this film made me a little glum. Firstly because young Merlin got more screen time and secondly because he looks old... that's not supposed to happen!!

At two hours it's quite long for a family film but it actually feels like it should have been longer. The ending of the film just sort of happens, the school montage and fight scenes feel relatively short when considered as part of the whole. I honestly think that the film could have taken an extra twenty minutes or so to properly complete that ending.

What you should do

You should definitely see this film, it's good old fashioned fun for all ages

Movie thing you wish you could take home

I could do with a personal Lady of the Lake who can bring me my things when they go missing.
  
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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
2017 | Action, Adventure
tony stark's presence (5 more)
peter's friend, ned, & his lines
zendaya's character
pepperony is back together
no uncle ben dying
miles morales mention
not enough donald glover (0 more)
it did what it set out to do.
Contains spoilers, click to show
this isn't the most amazing movie i've seen marvel produce. but it's pretty good. i think what marvel wanted to do is to create a movie that just screams TEENHOOD, and they did just that. i've read other reviews that said the movie was rather john hughes-esque, and i agree.

the best part about this movie is unlike in the previous franchises (the original trilogy & the amazing spider-man), the actors playing these teens aren't in their mid-20s, going on 30s. while it is true that peter's aged up in those versions, a 27 year old still shouldn't be playing a high school student.

the other great things about this movie are the "oh shit" factor of peter finding out who his crush's dad is, his conversations with the suit's AI, and the "asset manager" constantly ignoring peter

i would have loved more of donald glover. i would love to see his character alongside peter, & as miles morales is mentioned, i reckon he's going to make an appearance soon! YES!
  
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ClareR (5681 KP) rated Hold in Books

May 9, 2018  
Hold
Hold
Michael Donkor | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A coming of age story
A coming of age story, set between Ghana and London, this is the story of Belinda, a housegirl, who moves to London to help the daughter of her employers friends. Amma (the friends daughter) has become withdrawn and is struggling with something in her life - not her studies though, she's a straight A student. She won't talk to her parents about it, and to begin with, it doesn't look as though she'll talk to Belinda either. Their friendship builds over a period of weeks and months. In this time, Belinda goes back to school in order to gain some qualifications. She seems to feel guilty of having left her fellow housegirl, who she refers to as sister (even though the 12 year old Mary is not her sister by blood, they have bonded over being in the same circumstances of separation from their families at young ages).
This novel explores African attitudes towards sexuality, family and responsibility. It's funny at times, but also incredibly moving. I really enjoyed it. We can see the contrast between life in a Ghanaian city and village, and the difference again between those places and London. A fascinating novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this fantastic book.
  
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
1992 | Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi
Stays true to the book
This is by far the best adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel and aside from the hilarious Dracula: Dead and Loving It, there has never been a decent Dracula film since. The fact that it stays true to the novel is the best thing about this, there’s very little difference between this and the book and I’m so grateful about this. The effects are very old school and in parts a little bit cheesy and very dated watching it back now, but I think that’s part of the charm. It was made in the early 90s after all.

Gary Oldman does a fantastic performance and Anthony Hopkins too is wonderful as Van Helsing, and it’s these two that really make this film as good as it is. The rest of the cast range from good (Richard E Grant), unremarkable (Cary Elwes), to downright awful. And yes, I am talking about Keanu Reeves. I know he was a big star when this was made, but he really is a terrible actor. And he’s even worse when he’s trying to put on a horrendous English accent. I wish they’d have found a decent actor to play Harker, if they had I would’ve scored this a little higher!
  
A Life of the Twentieth Century
A Life of the Twentieth Century
Irene Even | 2014 | Biography, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What a wonderful book this is. I have learned a bit more about Israel and it ever lasting world to survive. The book is about a girl named Aya who by all means was stuggling to fit into her family from the day she was born. Her family really did not know what was going on with her. She came out on top in the end, to me at least.

Aya was traveling with her young group for return to hope and freedom. Though once she reached the Jewish Brigade, she runs a solider that is supposed to be her hero. She does not know that she was to going to be control by this man when she was only 15 year's old. What happen next is a surprise as to anyone.

Late in life and raising two children. Things go from bad to worse. Aya try to protect her two children from their father. When she clasped and is ask to see phys doctor. She decides to go to school. Things get harder for her and she decides to do the one thing that get her to travel and get a career in something she loves. There are many different twist and surprises to be learn the read in this book
  
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MasterSolace (19 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Mortal Kombat 11 in Video Games

May 12, 2019  
Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat 11
2019 | Action, Fighting
Fighting Mechanics (5 more)
Gruesome Finshers
Seemingly unlimited kustomization
Varied Kast of old school sprinkled with new
Story mode of story modes
The Vastness of the Krypt
Maybe TOO much Kustomization (2 more)
Some Tower Objectives are still too difficult.
The Vagueness of the Krypt
As BOON Intended
The king of gory fighters is back with this timeline bending story. Diverse cast? Check. Over the top Fatalities? You bet. Balanced gameplay? Yes it does.

The Story Mode is much improved on the "Family Reunion" feel of MKX. The Krypt is pretty cool. With less Jumpscares. But with some issues. But nothing too bad.

Kustomization... there is a lot of stuff, but it doesn't serve the same purpose as Injustice 2.

Towers of Time is a great touch. But there are some objectives behind modifiers that are just TOO impossible (so far Gauntlet Stage 2 and Stage 8 or 9, can't remember which one). I threw my controller.

Overall, it isn't a perfect game. But given that it released less than 6 months after announced, it is AMAZING. I touted the Gameplay of MKX, MK11 makes improvements over it.

No... I haven't played online yet. And I don't really intend to. So this review is only for Single Player content.
  
The One That Got Away
The One That Got Away
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The One That Got Away by Annabel Kantaria takes a terrifying peek into how you should always be cautious about meeting ex-partners at school reunions, especially that ‘one that got away’ (after a bad breakup) should you be wanting to rekindle that old flame. haha!

I’d say it is also a cautionary tale and that should make anyone considering even contemplating adultery to think twice about the consequences of playing with fire! Take George for example, who gets his fingers truly burnt when he goes after Stella despite being a married man. I loved it how he was just too conceited to see what was happening right under his very nose! But who is manipulating who? George has his own agenda.

Childhood sweethearts Stella and George have a history and they’re about to continue where it left off.

This cleverly written dark and twisted story that is probably one of the first books I have read in which I didn’t like either of the main characters, (and I think that is the point) yet I still found the story thrilling! Who to emphasise with? It’s a light read with short chapters which helped increase the speed I read this.
  
DF
Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
At first the new playground Dr Fell builds in the neighborhood seems innocuous enough. As more and more kids come to play, however, Jerry, Nancy, and Gail realize that it is anything but, and it’s up to the 3 of them to figure out what is going on, and to stop whatever it is that their new neighbor is up to. Ahh, such a nice man is Dr. Fell.

What a smart, macabre story! The protagonists are a group of clever grade school kids, but not so clever as to seem unrealistic. Dr. Fell himself felt to me like a character from an Edward Gorey illustration inserted into a Goosebumps book. Evil or not, I loved him and his old-fashioned, over-the-top form of speech. While the book is aimed at kids around my daughters’ ages, I really enjoyed it myself! I hope we’ll be seeing lots more from David Neilsen.

If you'd like to read my interview with the author, visit <a href="https://booksthething.com/2016/08/05/interview-with-david-neilsen-author-of-dr-fell-and-the-playground-of-doom/">my blog.

<i>NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All comments and opinions are my own.</i>