Search
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Vox in Books
Sep 19, 2018
This book made me so ANGRY.
Contains spoilers, click to show
** spoiler alert ** Somewhere along the line, what was known as the Bible Belt, that swath of Southern states where religion ruled, started expanding. It morphed from belt to corset, covering all but the country’s limbs—the democratic utopias of California, New England, the Pacific Northwest, DC, the southern jurisdictions of Texas and Florida—places so far on the blue end of the spectrum they seemed untouchable. But the corset turned into a full bodysuit, eventually reaching all the way to Hawaii. And we never saw it coming.
This book made me so ANGRY. I read it in a flurry of outrage in less than 24 hours because I just.could.not.stop.
It's the very near future, and the religious right has (seemingly) won in the United States. Women no longer hold jobs, are no longer allowed to read or write, and are limited to speaking 100 words per day, enforced by an electric-shock "bracelet" counter, their voices effectively silenced, their rights taken away. A religious zealot is pulling the strings of the puppet-President. School textbooks are replaced with religious tomes. The LGBTQ community is forced into prison/work camps for "conversion" to the "normal" way (read: man/woman). Engage in premarital or extramarital sex? Work camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the rest of your life, with a counter on your wrist set to ZERO. You may think "none of this would ever happen!" .....wouldn't it, though? Consider the current political climate and treatment of women, folks. Maybe it's not that far off the mark.
“Whose fault do you think it was?” he said. I stood in my kitchen, wanting to explain, careful not to, while he told me we’d marched one too many times, written one too many letters, screamed one too many words. “You women. You need to be taught a lesson.”
There will be the inevitable comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, of course. I personally could not slog my way through The Handmaid's Tale,, so I can't speak to those comparisons. I can only tell you that if you aren't outraged by the very IDEA that this could happen, there may be something wrong with you.
I did feel like the ending was slightly rushed, but not to the point that it took away from the rest of the story. It was a satisfying, hopeful ending.
What would you do to be free?
This book made me so ANGRY. I read it in a flurry of outrage in less than 24 hours because I just.could.not.stop.
It's the very near future, and the religious right has (seemingly) won in the United States. Women no longer hold jobs, are no longer allowed to read or write, and are limited to speaking 100 words per day, enforced by an electric-shock "bracelet" counter, their voices effectively silenced, their rights taken away. A religious zealot is pulling the strings of the puppet-President. School textbooks are replaced with religious tomes. The LGBTQ community is forced into prison/work camps for "conversion" to the "normal" way (read: man/woman). Engage in premarital or extramarital sex? Work camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the rest of your life, with a counter on your wrist set to ZERO. You may think "none of this would ever happen!" .....wouldn't it, though? Consider the current political climate and treatment of women, folks. Maybe it's not that far off the mark.
“Whose fault do you think it was?” he said. I stood in my kitchen, wanting to explain, careful not to, while he told me we’d marched one too many times, written one too many letters, screamed one too many words. “You women. You need to be taught a lesson.”
There will be the inevitable comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, of course. I personally could not slog my way through The Handmaid's Tale,, so I can't speak to those comparisons. I can only tell you that if you aren't outraged by the very IDEA that this could happen, there may be something wrong with you.
I did feel like the ending was slightly rushed, but not to the point that it took away from the rest of the story. It was a satisfying, hopeful ending.
What would you do to be free?
JT (287 KP) rated Escape Room (2019) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Escape rooms are all the rage at the moment. The premise is simple, a group of people are trapped inside a confined space full of clues and puzzles in order to find a way out – so it was only a matter of time before the horror genre got hold of it.
There have been a few incantations of this new age idea already; Escape Room (2017) & No Escape Room, but this one is probably the best of a bad bunch.
Six strangers each receive a cryptic puzzle box, which once opened invites them to compete for a $10,000 prize – if they can get through a series of deviously constructed rooms. The group comes from all walks of life, a gifted maths student, an Iraq War vet a blue collar trucker to name a few, each with a seemingly interconnected past.
After a frantic flash-forward where we see someone coming unstuck in one of the rooms, we are introduced to each of the characters one by one. There isn’t enough time to go into massive details, so it feels like we only scratch the surface as to what makes them tick.
Meeting in a plush reception area the game begins – although none of them realise it at first. The room starts to get hot and they soon discover that they are about to get burnt alive – unless they can work out the clues to escape.
The group quickly realise that they will have to work together in order to survive.
Aside from getting burnt alive they also face a winter themed room where the ice cracks beneath them, an upside down bar where the floor drops away and a hallucinogenic trip fest which is extremely freaky to watch.
During proceedings, in which there is a lot of infighting and panic, you half expect Billy the Puppet to come peddling out on his tricycle and explain the next part of the game. There are definite similarities to Saw, people are in a race against time before they ultimately meet a grizzly end, but because many people have experienced this style of entertainment before the reality is unnerving.
While the gore doesn’t reach Saw levels it provides enough tension, but it then starts to tail off a little towards the end. The conclusion is far too predictable although there is just enough intrigue to see what they will conjure up next.
There have been a few incantations of this new age idea already; Escape Room (2017) & No Escape Room, but this one is probably the best of a bad bunch.
Six strangers each receive a cryptic puzzle box, which once opened invites them to compete for a $10,000 prize – if they can get through a series of deviously constructed rooms. The group comes from all walks of life, a gifted maths student, an Iraq War vet a blue collar trucker to name a few, each with a seemingly interconnected past.
After a frantic flash-forward where we see someone coming unstuck in one of the rooms, we are introduced to each of the characters one by one. There isn’t enough time to go into massive details, so it feels like we only scratch the surface as to what makes them tick.
Meeting in a plush reception area the game begins – although none of them realise it at first. The room starts to get hot and they soon discover that they are about to get burnt alive – unless they can work out the clues to escape.
The group quickly realise that they will have to work together in order to survive.
Aside from getting burnt alive they also face a winter themed room where the ice cracks beneath them, an upside down bar where the floor drops away and a hallucinogenic trip fest which is extremely freaky to watch.
During proceedings, in which there is a lot of infighting and panic, you half expect Billy the Puppet to come peddling out on his tricycle and explain the next part of the game. There are definite similarities to Saw, people are in a race against time before they ultimately meet a grizzly end, but because many people have experienced this style of entertainment before the reality is unnerving.
While the gore doesn’t reach Saw levels it provides enough tension, but it then starts to tail off a little towards the end. The conclusion is far too predictable although there is just enough intrigue to see what they will conjure up next.
Chris Miller recommended A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) in Movies (curated)
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Mortal Kombat (2021) in Movies
May 7, 2021
Contains spoilers, click to show
After all the hype I tried desperately hard not to buy into, Mortal Kombat turned out to be exactly what I expected...
The whole film suffers from an excruciatingly piss poor script (with the exception of Kano's anal bead comment at Lui Kang of course). Every character gets to announce their name unnecessarily at every opportunity, phrases from the game are shouted when the they don't really make sense in the moment, and the narrative is just about held together by bizarre edits and cuts. I can only assume that anyone not familiar with the source material may have a few issues following what the fuck is going on at certain points, even when the pacing takes a hard dip around the mid point.
Having Cole (a non-game character written for the movie) as the main lead is a shot in the foot - the character himself isn't unlikable by any stretch, but he's a little bland, and his inclusion means that a lot of familiar characters are sort of pushed to the side, and moulded around his story. Without naming names, unless they do some ret-conning in the inevitable sequels, I take issues with a few big characters being killed off so early in a proposed franchise. If these deaths stick, then there's some seriously wasted content being thrown away.
All of these negatives however are surrounded by a number of positives. For the most part, the fight scenes are entertaining enough, but the climactic duels are pretty damn awesome. The action is complimented with decent CG work (I kind of miss weird-puppet Goro but he did look pretty great in this one).
The gory moments are pretty full on as they should be and the cast are pretty solid. Some great turns from Hiroyuki Sanada, Max Huang, and Josh Lawson in particular. The film manages to pack in a tonne of references to the wider MK lore as well which is a nice touch for fans.
Overall, Mortal Kombat is dumb and trashy, but manages to be a whole heap of fun with some spectacular violence to boot. It might not be the best video game adaption out there, but it's a far cry from being a bad one.
Between this, Sonic, and Detective Pikachu, I truly, and possibly naively, hope that the era of shit video game films has passed - all eyes on Uncharted to carry on the trend.
The whole film suffers from an excruciatingly piss poor script (with the exception of Kano's anal bead comment at Lui Kang of course). Every character gets to announce their name unnecessarily at every opportunity, phrases from the game are shouted when the they don't really make sense in the moment, and the narrative is just about held together by bizarre edits and cuts. I can only assume that anyone not familiar with the source material may have a few issues following what the fuck is going on at certain points, even when the pacing takes a hard dip around the mid point.
Having Cole (a non-game character written for the movie) as the main lead is a shot in the foot - the character himself isn't unlikable by any stretch, but he's a little bland, and his inclusion means that a lot of familiar characters are sort of pushed to the side, and moulded around his story. Without naming names, unless they do some ret-conning in the inevitable sequels, I take issues with a few big characters being killed off so early in a proposed franchise. If these deaths stick, then there's some seriously wasted content being thrown away.
All of these negatives however are surrounded by a number of positives. For the most part, the fight scenes are entertaining enough, but the climactic duels are pretty damn awesome. The action is complimented with decent CG work (I kind of miss weird-puppet Goro but he did look pretty great in this one).
The gory moments are pretty full on as they should be and the cast are pretty solid. Some great turns from Hiroyuki Sanada, Max Huang, and Josh Lawson in particular. The film manages to pack in a tonne of references to the wider MK lore as well which is a nice touch for fans.
Overall, Mortal Kombat is dumb and trashy, but manages to be a whole heap of fun with some spectacular violence to boot. It might not be the best video game adaption out there, but it's a far cry from being a bad one.
Between this, Sonic, and Detective Pikachu, I truly, and possibly naively, hope that the era of shit video game films has passed - all eyes on Uncharted to carry on the trend.
colin... (64 KP) rated Little Women (2019) in Movies
Sep 30, 2020
Instead of giving a review for this film, which was great, I figured I'd give you all the message I wrote to my girlfriend after I finished the movie, to convey my emotional state and feelings.
I often wonder if they'll create a word in my lifetime that will be able to describe how wonderful you are. I feel like even an attempt would be fruitless, but that doesn't stop me from contemplating it. There are so many things that I need to tell you, so many sights that I need to see with you, so many mistakes that I need to make with you. Giving someone their all is proven to be one of the most difficult things for the human psyche to endure, yet everyday that is all that I wish to do. Whenever I see you, I feel as if I have burst through the surface of water and emerged to take a long exhale. You are my breath. When I see you, time slows and becomes my puppet. I treat it as I please and spin it in a way that maximizes the amount of living that I can achieve with you in the span we are given. I never labeled myself as a person of curiosity, yet you never fail to leave me on the edge of my seat during conversations. I am silent because I am anticipating every word that comes out of your mouth. I crave the tales you relay to me over dinner. I worry that at any moment someone will snap their fingers and it will break me from the allure of the trance you have entangled me in, or worse yet, I'll wake up in a cold sweat alone on a love seat somewhere i cannot remember. That's how delicate the beauty of your words are. Your eyes could pierce my heart in an instant and your smile could throw me into a catatonic state. It's not your attractiveness that does it, although you always look stunning, it's the stories behind your eyes and smile that do it for me. I know the wear and tear that constructs every one of those smiles and glances, which makes them even more vulnerable and valuable. Comparatively, I am but a meek and mere boy observing the greatness of one of the strongest and most determined women on Earth. And I couldn't be happier doing anything else but that.
I often wonder if they'll create a word in my lifetime that will be able to describe how wonderful you are. I feel like even an attempt would be fruitless, but that doesn't stop me from contemplating it. There are so many things that I need to tell you, so many sights that I need to see with you, so many mistakes that I need to make with you. Giving someone their all is proven to be one of the most difficult things for the human psyche to endure, yet everyday that is all that I wish to do. Whenever I see you, I feel as if I have burst through the surface of water and emerged to take a long exhale. You are my breath. When I see you, time slows and becomes my puppet. I treat it as I please and spin it in a way that maximizes the amount of living that I can achieve with you in the span we are given. I never labeled myself as a person of curiosity, yet you never fail to leave me on the edge of my seat during conversations. I am silent because I am anticipating every word that comes out of your mouth. I crave the tales you relay to me over dinner. I worry that at any moment someone will snap their fingers and it will break me from the allure of the trance you have entangled me in, or worse yet, I'll wake up in a cold sweat alone on a love seat somewhere i cannot remember. That's how delicate the beauty of your words are. Your eyes could pierce my heart in an instant and your smile could throw me into a catatonic state. It's not your attractiveness that does it, although you always look stunning, it's the stories behind your eyes and smile that do it for me. I know the wear and tear that constructs every one of those smiles and glances, which makes them even more vulnerable and valuable. Comparatively, I am but a meek and mere boy observing the greatness of one of the strongest and most determined women on Earth. And I couldn't be happier doing anything else but that.
The Life of Anna: The Complete Story
10.0
Rate It
Book
When tragedy shatters Anna’s life at a young age, she finds hope in two men who take her under...
Merissa (12699 KP) rated A Fate Forged in Fire (Bonded to Beasts #1) in Books
May 20, 2025
A FATE FORGED IN FIRE is the first book in the Bonded to Beasts series, featuring Aemyra as the young queen who wants to claim her throne.
This is a fast-paced story that does come with TWs, so please take note of them. There is a lot of information regarding the world-building at the beginning, which is a lot to take in, but nothing much really about Aemyra and her upbringing/relationship with her family. Basically, in a matriarchal society, she is the first female born in an arm of the family that doesn't hold the throne. So, of course, she's been trained from birth to takeover when the time is right. And that's what this instalment is about.
The two MCs - Aemyra and Fiorean - are married after she goes off to avenge her family and gets caught. I preferred their relationship when they were enemies as it seemed forced when they were 'together.' Aemyra is hard to like as a character. She shows very little empathy for anyone else, even other women in the same situation as she is. She is headstrong with a quick-fire temper and wonders why no one takes her seriously with the plans she made on the hop when full of emotion, which completely fall apart at the seams when it comes to the execution of said plans. Fiorean makes a comment that she has been raised as a puppet and I completely agree. Honestly? At this stage, I'm struggling to find any redeeming qualities in her. She is the most reactive character I've read in a while.
Terrea was the best character, especially with her fondness for Aemyra's twin brother, Adarien. Draeven was a d!ck, no two ways about it. And the others... had their moments.
There were parts of this story that I enjoyed and parts I didn't. I would definitely read the next book in this series as I am hopeful for character redemption and would love to see Aemyra mature. Plus, more Terrea! I think this book will be loved by some and not by others. For me, I'm on the fence and waiting for the next one.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 1, 2025
This is a fast-paced story that does come with TWs, so please take note of them. There is a lot of information regarding the world-building at the beginning, which is a lot to take in, but nothing much really about Aemyra and her upbringing/relationship with her family. Basically, in a matriarchal society, she is the first female born in an arm of the family that doesn't hold the throne. So, of course, she's been trained from birth to takeover when the time is right. And that's what this instalment is about.
The two MCs - Aemyra and Fiorean - are married after she goes off to avenge her family and gets caught. I preferred their relationship when they were enemies as it seemed forced when they were 'together.' Aemyra is hard to like as a character. She shows very little empathy for anyone else, even other women in the same situation as she is. She is headstrong with a quick-fire temper and wonders why no one takes her seriously with the plans she made on the hop when full of emotion, which completely fall apart at the seams when it comes to the execution of said plans. Fiorean makes a comment that she has been raised as a puppet and I completely agree. Honestly? At this stage, I'm struggling to find any redeeming qualities in her. She is the most reactive character I've read in a while.
Terrea was the best character, especially with her fondness for Aemyra's twin brother, Adarien. Draeven was a d!ck, no two ways about it. And the others... had their moments.
There were parts of this story that I enjoyed and parts I didn't. I would definitely read the next book in this series as I am hopeful for character redemption and would love to see Aemyra mature. Plus, more Terrea! I think this book will be loved by some and not by others. For me, I'm on the fence and waiting for the next one.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 1, 2025
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Judy (2019) in Movies
Oct 2, 2019
If I am a legend, then why am I so lonely?
Judy is a fabulous and dazzling look into the finally years of an all time greats life and while it maybe paint by numbers at times Judy takes the surprisingly darker and more depressing route that many other biopics dont dare to. I was gobsmacked to find after that renee zellweger played judy garland as at no stage of the movie could you tell at all. Never been a real fan of Zellweger but here she really has surpassed herself and you literally would be forgiven for believing she was the actual Judy Garland at times, an award wining performance for sure. Judy's pain/struggles are plain to see here and the way Renee manages to portray the sheer depression behind those eyes as well as the switching on of 'the act' when she steps out onto stage to perform are both saddening and admirable (the way the camera shows her eyes change really is impressive). Its clear as a person she just longs to be loved, to belong/find happiness and to live a happy life with her children who adore her and bring her joy and completeness. Seemingly forced into showbusiness at a young age she never had a real chance to discover who she really is and what she enjoys and everyone she gets close to uses her as a puppet adding to the weight on her mind. Yet somewhere in all the sadness I find it so inspirational that she still found the strength and drive to put on a confident happy face and deliver powerful performances. Maybe deep down in a way being loved by the audience was her only glimpse of feeling true real love from someone when away from her children. Cinematography really impressed me as well giving a warm glamorous look when on stage with colours and lights that simply boom off the screen and then a cold, isolated and lonely feel when off stage really giving the movie a unique and immersive atmosphere. Costumes and sets also stun and dazzle as does the music which is filmed so well you feel at times you are sat in the room. Some dialog annoyed me near the beginning and two characters ruined the tone/felt forced but other than that I really did enjoyed this movie dare I say it more than I did Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody. A tragic/sad story that is well worth seeing
Shadowmatic
Games
App
** Apple Design Award Winner ** ** App Store Best of 2015 ** Shadowmatic is an imagination-stirring...