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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Abbey Road by The Beatles in Music
Aug 1, 2017
Abbey Road is one of the best Beatles albums ever produced
This is a classic record, with a slight moodier undertone than Revolver and a follow on from the White Album. "Come Together" and "I Want You" are some of the standout bluesy tracks, swinging their Stratocaster and Gibson guitars into a minor key. Not to mention "Here Comes The Sun" which changes the feel entirely. An absolute work of art.
Jcadden76 (64 KP) rated Waze - GPS, Maps, Traffic Alerts & Live Navigation in Apps
Jun 19, 2018
Cloud source your travels
Waze is such a cool idea. I love the fact that someone realized that crowd-sourcing your travels was a perfect solution. I am going to stay away from the fact that you can tag police officers (I do it and I love the fact that you can), I really appreciate that you can see traffic conditions as they happen and as they roll in. It is so reliable and you can remove road conditions that someone else left.
My wife and I treat it as a game on the road. She is in charge of tagging things as we pass them, while I drive. Passes the time.
My wife and I treat it as a game on the road. She is in charge of tagging things as we pass them, while I drive. Passes the time.
Ross (3282 KP) rated Aja by Steely Dan in Music
Jun 15, 2020
Rolling Stone's 145th greatest album of all time
The third consecutive album that would be in my dad's all time top 10 (sadly this streak is broken when we move on to NWA, which is in my mum's top 10). And reputedly *the* album that was used to test new hi-fi equipment back in the day. It is a really good consistent middle of the road rock album.
Robert Longo recommended Neuromancer in Books (curated)
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Silk Road (2021) in Movies
Mar 12, 2021
Squandered a promising story
Silk Road is a 2021 thriller from writer/director Tiller Russell focusing on the true story of Ross Ulbricht who created and operated the darknet marketplace of the same name, selling drugs and other illegal items across the globe. On paper, Silk Road sounds like it should be a fascinating, interesting story and even the trailer makes it appear exciting, but unfortunately it never quite manages to pull off what it promises.
Ross Ulbricht (Nick Robinson) is a mid 20s libertarian from Texas who has a number of failed business ideas behind him, when he becomes convinced that he can strike a blow against the system by creating an illegal underground marketplace to seek drugs. The man on his tail is DEA Agent Rick Bowden (Jason Clarke), a former narc who botched his last undercover mission due to drug and alcohol addiction and transferred to Cyber Crime, where he’s introduced to the Silk Road marketplace. The story focuses on both men as they become increasingly involved in the darknet - Ross’s desperation to keep his site running and his identity hidden at all costs, even to the detriment of his relationship with girlfriend Julia (Alexandra Shipp), and Rick’s obsession to be back pursuing a case, resulting in corruption, extortion and even torture.
Silk Road promised so much, but unfortunately unlike Ross Ulbricht, just didn’t deliver. The story is fascinating and watching this has at least made me want to go out and read more about the truth behind this, as somehow this completely passed me by back in 2013. However Tiller Russell has taken this fascinating tale and turned it into something dull and clichéd. From the opening flash forward scenes to the cat and mouse chase between Ross and Bowden, there’s little originality on offer here. The story is long, dull and drawn out over 2 hours, and what makes it worse is that it seems to be lacking in any real detail on the true story. How Ross actually setup Silk Road has been glossed over in a brief montage, and the entire operation including Bowden’s entrapment and extortion haven’t faired much better and trying to figure out the timeline here too is impossible. I don’t know if Russell’s intentions were to avoid confusing and over facing the watcher with too much technical jargon, but whatever his motives, he only left us wanting more. There are ways to explain complicated technical matters without alienating the watcher (think The Big Short), but Silk Road just doesn’t bother.
On the surface Silk Road looks stylish and sleek, but on watching the entire film even the cinematography is questionable. Parts of the film look cheap and poorly made, and there are a lot of shots (especially those with any form of light involved) that seem hazy and have a lot of glare that detracts from the action in the scene. There was even some camerawork that made this look like a shaky cam documentary rather than the glossy thriller the trailer made it out to be.
The cast don’t fare much better either. Nick Robinson is a talented actor which was shown with Love, Simon, but here he’s given virtually nothing to work with as his character spends almost all the entire film staring at his phone or laptop. Alexandra Shipp too is sidelined as the generic girlfriend, and Jimmi Simpson, who I think is a rather engaging yet entirely underrated actor, is given the generic FBI agent role who barely gets a word in. Only Jason Clarke comes out of this unscathed, playing the most developed and interesting character (who incidentally isn’t actually real and an amalgamation of 2 agents on the real life Ulbricht’s tail), but even he suffers thanks to the faults with the story.
With a fascinating story and decent cast, Silk Road could’ve been good. In fact it could’ve been better than good. Instead it’s execution is it’s downfall, turning an intriguing story into a rather dull affair.
Ross Ulbricht (Nick Robinson) is a mid 20s libertarian from Texas who has a number of failed business ideas behind him, when he becomes convinced that he can strike a blow against the system by creating an illegal underground marketplace to seek drugs. The man on his tail is DEA Agent Rick Bowden (Jason Clarke), a former narc who botched his last undercover mission due to drug and alcohol addiction and transferred to Cyber Crime, where he’s introduced to the Silk Road marketplace. The story focuses on both men as they become increasingly involved in the darknet - Ross’s desperation to keep his site running and his identity hidden at all costs, even to the detriment of his relationship with girlfriend Julia (Alexandra Shipp), and Rick’s obsession to be back pursuing a case, resulting in corruption, extortion and even torture.
Silk Road promised so much, but unfortunately unlike Ross Ulbricht, just didn’t deliver. The story is fascinating and watching this has at least made me want to go out and read more about the truth behind this, as somehow this completely passed me by back in 2013. However Tiller Russell has taken this fascinating tale and turned it into something dull and clichéd. From the opening flash forward scenes to the cat and mouse chase between Ross and Bowden, there’s little originality on offer here. The story is long, dull and drawn out over 2 hours, and what makes it worse is that it seems to be lacking in any real detail on the true story. How Ross actually setup Silk Road has been glossed over in a brief montage, and the entire operation including Bowden’s entrapment and extortion haven’t faired much better and trying to figure out the timeline here too is impossible. I don’t know if Russell’s intentions were to avoid confusing and over facing the watcher with too much technical jargon, but whatever his motives, he only left us wanting more. There are ways to explain complicated technical matters without alienating the watcher (think The Big Short), but Silk Road just doesn’t bother.
On the surface Silk Road looks stylish and sleek, but on watching the entire film even the cinematography is questionable. Parts of the film look cheap and poorly made, and there are a lot of shots (especially those with any form of light involved) that seem hazy and have a lot of glare that detracts from the action in the scene. There was even some camerawork that made this look like a shaky cam documentary rather than the glossy thriller the trailer made it out to be.
The cast don’t fare much better either. Nick Robinson is a talented actor which was shown with Love, Simon, but here he’s given virtually nothing to work with as his character spends almost all the entire film staring at his phone or laptop. Alexandra Shipp too is sidelined as the generic girlfriend, and Jimmi Simpson, who I think is a rather engaging yet entirely underrated actor, is given the generic FBI agent role who barely gets a word in. Only Jason Clarke comes out of this unscathed, playing the most developed and interesting character (who incidentally isn’t actually real and an amalgamation of 2 agents on the real life Ulbricht’s tail), but even he suffers thanks to the faults with the story.
With a fascinating story and decent cast, Silk Road could’ve been good. In fact it could’ve been better than good. Instead it’s execution is it’s downfall, turning an intriguing story into a rather dull affair.
CHILLFILTR (46 KP) rated Believe by Mitch King in Music
Jul 11, 2019
Of course there are first impressions that speak to Dave Matthews, but I also hear the influence of Bon Iver, certainly on how the vocals are mixed and with that classic heartbeat pulse. Mitch King achieves a real clarity of purpose with his song Believe:
“You will taste it if you can be patient
The more you believe, the more you create it”
— Mitch King
Mitch King lives his life on the road, and has created an impressive career on the back of relentless touring and an irrepressible love for life. We think that comes through loud and clear with this ode to achieving personal spirituality through shared experience.
Namaste.
“You will taste it if you can be patient
The more you believe, the more you create it”
— Mitch King
Mitch King lives his life on the road, and has created an impressive career on the back of relentless touring and an irrepressible love for life. We think that comes through loud and clear with this ode to achieving personal spirituality through shared experience.
Namaste.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2097 KP) rated The Mystery Off Glen Road (Trixie Belden, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When the Bob-Whites need some quick cash to repair their clubhouse, they take on the job of the Wheeler's gamekeeper. But then Trixie thinks there is a poacher in the preserve. This mystery makes no real sense and is fairly slow. The fun character moments just aren't enough to save this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-mystery-off-glen-road-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-mystery-off-glen-road-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Peter G. (247 KP) rated The Blues Brothers (1980) in Movies
Jun 5, 2019
Ackroyd and Belushi are on a mission from God in this road movie musical with great heart.
It's so original and a little eccentric but definitely a cult classic that is deserved of anyone's time.
The high quality cameos come thick and fast in this high concept one of a kind toe tapping gem.
It's so original and a little eccentric but definitely a cult classic that is deserved of anyone's time.
The high quality cameos come thick and fast in this high concept one of a kind toe tapping gem.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Deep Down Dead in Books
Jan 3, 2018
Fast-paced page turner, but a bit predictable
From the opening scene, this book hits the road running. Lori, a straight-talking bounty hunter, formerly a stripper, is focused solely on her daughter and keeping her safe. Her job is to bring in her former bounty hunter mentor JT, who slowly reveals the truth behind his arrest and the reason for him becoming a fugitive. It definitely depicts the darker side of the Sunshine State.
It's exciting to read but not a literary masterpiece as such and definitely predictable. The plot is light on surprises and depth, but it's an enjoyable page-turner.
It's exciting to read but not a literary masterpiece as such and definitely predictable. The plot is light on surprises and depth, but it's an enjoyable page-turner.
David McK (3233 KP) rated Road House (2024) (2024) in Movies
Jun 9, 2024 (Updated Jun 9, 2024)
Straight-to-streaming remake of the Patrick Swayze film of the same name (haven't seen it), with Jake Gylenhall taking on the lead role as the ex-UFC fighter Dalton who is hired to be a bouncer at a bar called the 'Road House' in the Florida keys.
I knew beforehand there was a bit of controversy over whether this was intended to be straight to streaming or not: director says "no"; star says "yes" (I think it's that way about), but I could see this doing well on the big screen.
It's trash, yes, but it knows it.
I knew beforehand there was a bit of controversy over whether this was intended to be straight to streaming or not: director says "no"; star says "yes" (I think it's that way about), but I could see this doing well on the big screen.
It's trash, yes, but it knows it.