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Rise of the Tomb Raider - 20 Year Celebration Edition
Rise of the Tomb Raider - 20 Year Celebration Edition
Action/Adventure
Nostalgia (1 more)
Well made
Story (1 more)
Gameplay
Good, but not exactly original.
A well made but dull addition to the Tomb Raider franchise.

The game itself is well made, but it has lost the charm of the original games. The game, like the first in the prequel trilogy, boasts its "free-roam" option, which doesn't really add much to the game or the story.

There's also very little in the way of tomb raiding, with tombs being fun challenges reminiscent of the original puzzles, but feeling like little more than an afterthought as something they should probably put in.
  
White Stag (Permafrost, #1)
White Stag (Permafrost, #1)
Kara Barbieri | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was thrilling, exhilarating and fun. I was intrigued at once by the setting and situation. The characters were relatable (in their own way) in that we’ve all met people like them; with those qualities, desires and drives. At some point I was a bit confused by the “rules” but overall the author does a great job of explaining the new realm as well as telling an interesting and adventure-filled story. I can’t wait to read the sequel and a prequel or two if they come about. The Permafrost and characters have many more tales in them.
  
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
2005 | Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
The final chapter of the Star Wars prequel trilogy is definitely the high point (which isn't the highest praise...) throwing a large amount of sci-fi action at the audience, whilst bring the Star Wars narrative full circle and finally tying into the first film.

The action is over gratuitous at times, but it's still entertaining enough - the opening space battle, the climatic battle between Jedis, the harrowing Order 66 scene.
The special effects here are noticably improved from Episodes I and II, and once again, the various locations and landscapes that we're shown are stunning to look at (Kashyyyk is a good example).

The most important character arc here is of course Anakin's, as he completes his turn to the dark side and steps further towards the iconic Darth Vader. I much prefer Hayden Christensen this time around, although he's still wooden in parts - I get the feeling that he's trying his best, but George Lucas isn't giving a whole lot for him to work with.
Ewan McGregor is great once again as Obi Wan.
The biggest new character we're introduced to in ROTS is General Grievous, who's ok I guess - he's nothing more than a CGI model designed to sell merchandise, but then again, who doesn't want to see someone wield four lightsabers at once ey?

The dialogue is just about more bearable than in the other two prequel films, and the movie has a general sense of 'getting shit done' than before, and it's all the better for it and has some dark turns here and there.
There are some cringey bits of course - the unessecary Chewbacca line for one, and of course, the god awful 'NOOOOOOO' line near the end (literal sick in my mouth)

When looking back on the prequel trilogy of Star Wars, it's easy to cast them aside and say they're no good, when in reality, that's not wholly true. They have they're moments and will always be something that I'll (maybe) watch when they're on TV...
  
TA
The Arrival (The Eslite Chronicles, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
So... it's been roughly a year since I read The Arrival's prequel, well before the author actually made it into a series. I even mentioned that it had potential to be a good series, and here we are: it's actually a series!!! I signed up ASAP when I saw it available to be reviewed on David Estes Fans and YA Book Lover's R&R program, despite the fact I should probably be knocking out some books on a certain reading challenge. *coughs* 2014 TBR Pile Challenge *coughs*

Plus, I'm really surprised I actually read this really quickly, and I'm personally thinking it's probably because I must be getting tired of not going to school or something. Or maybe my mind is still in devouring mode after reading The Forever Song and The Body In the Woods (review in June).

Either way, it's a quick read, and the prequel is actually set after the prologue in The Arrival, but before Chapter 1. It's set about 3 years after the events in the prequel, and Miranda and the other girls in Nidus are ready to break free from the compound because they discover the Eslites are there for different reasons entirely.

This is no sappy romance you usually find in other alien stories where the alien falls in love with the human while trying to get away from an enemy species that's not by the name of human. This is pure "aliens are going to take over the world, and they're a dominant species with high-tech technology." It's not like Lux or the Lorien Legacies, where the aliens are trying to be inconspicuous. The Arrival is completely different from that, even though there are romantic elements mixed in. Miranda is a determined heroine wanting to break both her and the girls currently in the compound away from the Eslites true reasons. And she's preventing other girls meeting similar fates.

Then there are a few curve balls thrown at you, which is always the biggest plus in the bowl. And there's the ending, in which I'm extremely curious about because it probably does some more table turning. Actually, that ending did do a table flip, so all I'm doing is blinking rapidly and wondering if that really just happened and the book is over. o_o

Oh, and a random thought, but Dimas really isn't as bad as I thought he would be from the prequel.
------------------------
Review copy provided by author (R&R)
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This Review and more can be found at <a href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
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War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
2017 | Action, Sci-Fi
Story (3 more)
Mo-cap
Cgi
Woody Harrleson
Nothing (0 more)
Cesar's trillogy concludes in fitting style
Contains spoilers, click to show
The final instalment of mat Reeves planet of the apes prequel trilogy comes to a close in style with what I must say is a spectacular performance from Andy Serkis.

He once again portrays Cesar who is looking for a new home for the apes as the last remainig Human army are hunting them down and trying to wipe them out. After a cesars family is slane he takes the fight to the army.


This film doesn't take the easy route and zigs where it should day which makes it a compelling watch throughout.


The true stars in the film have to be the effects and animation crew. The scenery was breathtaking and the work on the apes was spectacular.
In fact all the apes were cgi and the "main ones" were all mo-capped using actors. The actors behind these guys really shone through which is an impressive feat on its own.



Woody Harrleson once plays a great foil for cesar, in the menacing yet relatable commander. Woody brings a real gravitas to a role which some actors could have turned into a cartoon villain.


All in all the final prequel or cesars story was a fitting end to a series of movies that have been compelling and full of excitement.
  
Orphan:First Kill (2022)
Orphan:First Kill (2022)
2022 | Crime, Drama, Horror
7
7.4 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The first Orphan is great for many reasons, chief amongst them being the truly infamous and batshit plot twist. Orphan: First Kill then, has some big footsteps to follow, or precede I guess. This prequel is a little worrisome at first. Although it's great to have Esther back on our screens, the first third of First Kill treads some extremely territory. It's entertaining for sure, and the violence may be a bit more savage, but the narrative threatens to be a little rinse-and-repeat. However, I found myself with egg on my face whilst thinking this, when a new, and arguably more batshit plot twist hits in the mid section, and suddenly First Kill commands more respect.
This sharp turn in proceedings ensures that we're being shown something new, an aspect that so many horror sequels seem to glaze over.
Isabelle Fuhrman returns as Esther, and honestly, she is noticeably older even though this is a prequel. However, I can't help but admire the decision to go down this route instead of using CGI. The use of make up and camera tricks do a good job of least ensuring that it doesn't look fake.

Although it doesn't quite hit the heights of the first film, First Kill is still a good time, with one of the most underrated villains of horror, and I for one want more dammit.