
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Road (2009) in Movies
Aug 8, 2019
The echoed use of color takes the viewer directly into the unnamed devastation that riddles the world of our two heroes. Moreover, the small sounds from the creeks of not quite abandoned buildings to the harrowing screams of cannibal victims make the world of “the Road” wholly engrossing. Maybe that is the problem.
Riddled with themes of devastation, survival, faith, and family, “The Road” is a piece of cinema significantly different from anything else. With all that said I am not sure this was a horrific and arduous journey one needs to go through.
After I first saw it I didn’t like “The Road”, and I couldn’t figure out who would want to watch this film. Too mature for many audiences and appearing to lack the complication to appeal to intellectual film crowd, it took a few days for me to develop the merit of the film. Now, I can’t stop thinking about the string of moments presented as powerful small scenes that compose “The Road” even though I wish I could.
If you have read the book, then “The Road” delivers a vivid understanding of the story, but before paying to see the film I ask you, is that a story you really want to experience on screen?

Russell Evans (179 KP) rated Gaslands Refuelled in Tabletop Games
Feb 23, 2020
It’s tons of fun and easy to play the basics straight away. After that, there is more depth to the rules to explore and building teams to keep things interesting and have long term playability. To get started, you can use templates copied and printed from the book and normal dice, or like I have done, you can get plenty of third-party companies selling templates, scenery and ‘skid’ dice.
One of the main reasons I picked this game up, apart from the raving reviews I’d seen online, was the DIY modelling aspect of the game. As a long time mini-gamer of things like Warhammer and Star Wars FFG, I’m used to my miniatures burning a big hole in my pocket. Re-modelling and repainting HotWheels cars (Super cheap – a couple of quid vs about £30 for a Star Wars ship) is the best part of this game for me, you can use standard cars if you want to, but there are no official pre-made pre-painted ‘cars’ which may be a negative, if you’re not into modelling.
Fun is the main priority and my favourite rule is that if a rule is unclear, you choose whichever option results in the most carnage for all concerned … This is ‘The Rule of Carnage’.
Highly recommended – if you want a different mini game that’s fun and won’t break the bank, check this out!

Warzone: Clash of Generals
Games and Stickers
App
When city states fight each other over precious resources, they need war heroes to lead their armies...

Third-Generation Holocaust Narratives: Memory in Memoir and Fiction
Book
This collection of new essays examines third-generation Holocaust narratives and the...

Markswoman: Asiana Book 1
Book
An order of magical-knife wielding female assassins brings both peace and chaos to their...
science fiction

The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook and Culinary Survival Guide
Lauren Wilson and Kristian Bauthus
Book
Just because the undead's taste buds are atrophying doesn't mean yours have to! You duck into the...

Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated A Quiet Place: Part II (2021) in Movies
May 29, 2021
The film soon jumps ahead and picks up almost directly where the first one left off, Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) and family look for other survivors and try to find a way to use what they found out at the end of Part 1.
Like the first film Part 2 uses sound, or the lack of, to help build the suspense and switches between tense, atmospheric scenes, some action and jump scares. It can be slow in parts but this is all in scene setting and tension building.
One of the good thing about 'A Quiet Place: Part 2' is that it doesn't fall into the typical post apocalyptic trap that all survivor groups are sinister (Walking dead, I'm looking at you). In fact the film does make you think that that is the way it's going to go.
A Quiet Place: Part 2 is a sequel in the truest sense, as I said, after the first few scenes it picks up directly after the first film in a way that, if you haven't seen part one (or haven't seen it for a while) then you will be missing some quite important information so a re watch of part 1 may be a good idea.

Vampire Hunter Survival Game: Post Apocalypse
Games and Entertainment
App
Sheriff jack survive the first wave of the zombies horde and managed to reach city hospital in...

ClareR (5789 KP) rated My Name is Monster in Books
Jul 30, 2020 (Updated Jul 30, 2020)
After a series of wars, both sides have unleashed a sickness that has wiped out the population, and the survivors of that have died of starvation. Monster is a survivor. She had sheltered in the Arctic Seed Vault where she had been working. When she emerges, she is alone. She takes a boat and makes for the Scottish coast. When she washes up on a beach, shipwrecked, she walks towards the only place she really wants to see - home.
She starts to build a solitary life, resigned to living alone. And then one day she finds a child. She names her Monster, and renames herself Mother.
This is a story that made me think about the role of society, and what happens to an individual when there IS no society. It also showed what it means to be a mother: that it isn’t always the ones who give birth who are the mothers. Often it can be the things that a person DOES that makes them a mother. It also shows that one doesn’t have to have lots of possessions to be content. Contentment can be achieved through work or relationships.
There was a point quite early on, where I wondered whether this was the book for me, but I’m glad that I kept on reading. It’s the little things in this book that are actually the big things: the actions of an individual and love.
This was a really enjoyable, satisfying read. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this book.

Ollie SB (2279 KP) rated A Bat out of Hell: The Musical in Dominion Theatre (London, United Kingdom) in Shows
Aug 14, 2020
Written by Jim Steinman, who also wrote the original album 'Bat Out of Hell' (one of the greatest albums ever btw) this show tells the story of... well it's kinda confusing... basically, two 18 year olds that fall in love, even though the parents forbid it... but the characters are all stuck at age 18 and never age... and it's set in some post-apocalyptic, dystopian future... yeah like I said, confusing. But as I said, I didn't really see this show for the story, it was the music that carried me through this show.
The story is... okay, but the music is brilliant. It offers a slightly different take on classics such as 'Bat Out of Hell', 'Paradise by the Dashboard Lights' and 'Heaven Can Wait' amongst others. The songs really help you to understand the story a bit better, and are performed brilliantly by the cast.
Overall I would say this show is probably perfect for fans of Meat Loaf, but perhaps lacking in story for avid theatre goers. For someone like me who isn't that invested in theatre culture, but appreciates the music, this show was perfect.