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Rachel King (13 KP) rated Specials (Uglies, #3) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
I loved this book and thought it was the best of the trilogy. The excitement of Tally and Shay's destruction of the Armory, Tally helping to defend Diego from attack, and other scenes - written so well that I could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through my own veins. The feel and speed of the book had a cinematic quality. I imagine Westerfeld wrote in this style on purpose to capture the style of the Specials, just as the second book had an "airhead" style of writing. The vocabulary also reflects the subculture of the Specials with words such as icy, which indicates the state of being clear-headed. I was saddened by Zane's death and disappointed that Tally could not have had more of a good-bye with him before he died, but I did like that she was reunited with David. I'm rather split as to which boyfriend of hers I prefered, since Zane and David are both very different and compliment Tally in different ways. Fortunately, Westerfeld made that decision for me.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated The Devouring (The Devouring, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
For a book classified as young adult horror, THE DEVOURING defies the usual so-called teen horror and actually does feel horrific. I wouldn't say it's in the same league as some of the best adult horror books out there, but it holds its own and the author does a terrific job creating a tense and creepy atmosphere. I've never been one who has ever scared easily, but if I had read this at a younger age I just might have become a little paranoid. The narrative is swift, engaging and simply told (I simply 'devoured' it. Oh har har har. Okay I'll shut-up now. ;P). Reggie is relatable and strong, while Vour Henry if effectively disturbing, and Eben is enigmatic. The other characters are fine for their purpose, although I do wonder at the twins, and I have a feeling they might feature more in the sequel, which I look forward to reading. A warning for the queasy: disturbing and violent imagery is used quite a bit, so some people might want to pass on this book.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Passenger (Professione: reporter) (1975) in Movies
Apr 14, 2019 (Updated Apr 14, 2019)
Existential meditation on identity and purpose from Michelangelo Antonionioni. Jaded journalist (Nicholson) finds the man in the next hotel room has died and decides to switch identities with him and make a fresh start (they are in a remote part of Africa and he is a close lookalike, which makes this somewhat plausible). He soon discovers the man whose life he has stolen had secrets of his own, and finds himself hunted by people in search of both his identities.
A film about the desire to be reborn and also to destroy oneself. Or, possibly, just about Jack Nicholson having a somewhat premature mid-life crisis, walking out on his old life and acquiring a rather younger girlfriend (Schneider). Either way, Nicholson is on startlingly restrained and effective form (this was made back when he was a serious leading man), and there are some technically brilliant moments scattered throughout the film. It is always enjoyable to watch, even if it does seem sometimes that it is rather less profound and meaningful than the director thinks it is.
A film about the desire to be reborn and also to destroy oneself. Or, possibly, just about Jack Nicholson having a somewhat premature mid-life crisis, walking out on his old life and acquiring a rather younger girlfriend (Schneider). Either way, Nicholson is on startlingly restrained and effective form (this was made back when he was a serious leading man), and there are some technically brilliant moments scattered throughout the film. It is always enjoyable to watch, even if it does seem sometimes that it is rather less profound and meaningful than the director thinks it is.
Peter_mark84 (59 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands in Video Games
May 19, 2019
Ghosting the bad guys
Had this game for years. Love the whole structure (even tho play off line). Still not the done the DLC as love the updates to the maun game that Ubisoft have released.
Missions vary from tactical steath ops (stealth or fail) to all out Gung Ho action. Even the collectables have purpose. Whether it is giving a deeper background to the story or region. Or upgrades for your gear.
The characters are your standard Tom Clancy fare. The spook, the soldiers etc. However you can't help to been drawn in.
As with all Ubi games on release and even today there are bugs. But these are not the bugs of infamy (Assassin's Creed Unity).
At some point I may actually finish this game completely. Hopefully before Breakpoint comes out. Even then I would come back to Wildlands and start over.
Missions vary from tactical steath ops (stealth or fail) to all out Gung Ho action. Even the collectables have purpose. Whether it is giving a deeper background to the story or region. Or upgrades for your gear.
The characters are your standard Tom Clancy fare. The spook, the soldiers etc. However you can't help to been drawn in.
As with all Ubi games on release and even today there are bugs. But these are not the bugs of infamy (Assassin's Creed Unity).
At some point I may actually finish this game completely. Hopefully before Breakpoint comes out. Even then I would come back to Wildlands and start over.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2510 KP) rated 15th Affair in Books
Mar 9, 2018
SFPD detective Lindsay Boxer is called to a hotel where three people have been murdered in two rooms while the security cameras malfunctioned. It’s seeming like a fairly normal case until she begins to learn who the victims were. And until her husband Joe crosses the radar as a person of interest in the case. Only Joe has vanished. What is going on?
I’ve been wanting the women in this series to work on a big case again, which they do here. Unfortunately, Yuki is lucky to get a cameo, and Clair and Cindy provide a clue each and are sidelined for the rest of the book. To make matters worse, Lindsay blows everything with Joe out of proportion and comes off looking very immature and childish as a result. The cliffhanger from the previous book is ignored while this book stops with another cliffhanger. And I do use the word stop on purpose. At least the mystery was decent.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-15th-affair-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I’ve been wanting the women in this series to work on a big case again, which they do here. Unfortunately, Yuki is lucky to get a cameo, and Clair and Cindy provide a clue each and are sidelined for the rest of the book. To make matters worse, Lindsay blows everything with Joe out of proportion and comes off looking very immature and childish as a result. The cliffhanger from the previous book is ignored while this book stops with another cliffhanger. And I do use the word stop on purpose. At least the mystery was decent.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-15th-affair-by-james.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated A Star Is Born (2018) in Movies
Oct 8, 2018
Give Bradley Cooper ALL the awards.
Let me start off by saying I've never seen the 1937 or 1954 versions of A Star Is Born, and I only very vaguely remember the 1976 Streisand version. That said, this movie was everything I wanted it to be, and I was enthralled from the very beginning.
While Lady Gaga's performance was amazing, Bradley Cooper's performance was a level above, and the fact that he directed as well just adds to that for me. The supporting cast was wonderful - notably Andrew Dice Clay as Ally's father, and Dave Chappelle as Jack's childhood friend.
The music was great, and I've already downloaded the soundtrack for the express purpose of listening to "Black Eyes" on repeat.
I went through all the emotions while watching this movie, and I'd definitely watch it again. It didn't feel too long, which is the case with so many movies these days, and the pace was steady but not slow.
Plus, as I overheard from one moviegoer: "I've never seen Bradley Cooper so hot." Amen, sister.
While Lady Gaga's performance was amazing, Bradley Cooper's performance was a level above, and the fact that he directed as well just adds to that for me. The supporting cast was wonderful - notably Andrew Dice Clay as Ally's father, and Dave Chappelle as Jack's childhood friend.
The music was great, and I've already downloaded the soundtrack for the express purpose of listening to "Black Eyes" on repeat.
I went through all the emotions while watching this movie, and I'd definitely watch it again. It didn't feel too long, which is the case with so many movies these days, and the pace was steady but not slow.
Plus, as I overheard from one moviegoer: "I've never seen Bradley Cooper so hot." Amen, sister.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated The Satanic Bible in Books
Nov 9, 2018
✪✪✪✪ 4 Stars
One look at the title and front cover of this book and one might be like 'ooooh shock horror'...but it's really not like that. This book isn't about worshipping Satan, or any deity, it is about worshipping yourself. It actually makes a really good self help book when it comes to accepting and believing in yourself. Instead of being spiritual based it focusing more on the physical being, the enjoyment of the flesh and the enjoyment of the here and now.
The only reason I dropped a star was because it contradicted itself about half way through. It was made clear that this wasn't about Satan worship but then it went on to give us pages of rituals, spells and numerous hail satans. Although I found these very interesting it lead the whole book into a different direction away from the self which I thought was the whole purpose.
I am not a religious person and I picked this one up due to curiousity, I'm glad I did.
One look at the title and front cover of this book and one might be like 'ooooh shock horror'...but it's really not like that. This book isn't about worshipping Satan, or any deity, it is about worshipping yourself. It actually makes a really good self help book when it comes to accepting and believing in yourself. Instead of being spiritual based it focusing more on the physical being, the enjoyment of the flesh and the enjoyment of the here and now.
The only reason I dropped a star was because it contradicted itself about half way through. It was made clear that this wasn't about Satan worship but then it went on to give us pages of rituals, spells and numerous hail satans. Although I found these very interesting it lead the whole book into a different direction away from the self which I thought was the whole purpose.
I am not a religious person and I picked this one up due to curiousity, I'm glad I did.
Carma (21 KP) rated Avengers: Infinity War (2018) in Movies
Jun 18, 2019
A great big cast of heroes take on the big bad Mad Titan
Infinity War was promised to be the big hero movie of the year. Reading from the comics it was looking like a bloodbath, I was curious to see how it would translate to the movies. It didn't slack on fight scenes, just about every represented Avenger was involved in at least 1 fight. Seeing Cap in his Nomad suit and facial hair was enough to get this girl's heart pumping. I preferred IW to Endgame with this being more action filled overall. While IW is darker than a normal avengers movie, it is with a purpose. This isn't a movie where the normal quips and jokes would fit in. While I didn't like the fact that the heroes were spread out over the world, I understand in the bigger scheme of things that it was needed. A great lead in movie to Endgame's payoff.
Yet another of [author:Michael Crichton|5194]'s science-thriller turned-into-a-movie novel, in which the movie bears only the slightest resemblance to the source material.
While the basic outline of the plot is the same in both - discovery of the lost city of Zinj in the Congo, expedition to said city that includes a Gorilla taught American Sign Langauge - the particulars of both are different, with the movie (form what I remember - it's been a decade or so since I last saw it) making far more of the exploration of Zinj and the fact that it is guarded by a new breed of vicious gorillas specially bred for the purpose by the original inhabitants than the novel does.
The characters in the novel are also less sympathetic than those in the movie - it's hard to take Tim Curry seriously as a hardened mercenary - while it has, also, aged somewhat due to the reliance on (then) state of the art electronics explained therein - a computer has a whole 256k of memory! Wow!!
While the basic outline of the plot is the same in both - discovery of the lost city of Zinj in the Congo, expedition to said city that includes a Gorilla taught American Sign Langauge - the particulars of both are different, with the movie (form what I remember - it's been a decade or so since I last saw it) making far more of the exploration of Zinj and the fact that it is guarded by a new breed of vicious gorillas specially bred for the purpose by the original inhabitants than the novel does.
The characters in the novel are also less sympathetic than those in the movie - it's hard to take Tim Curry seriously as a hardened mercenary - while it has, also, aged somewhat due to the reliance on (then) state of the art electronics explained therein - a computer has a whole 256k of memory! Wow!!
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Trollenberg Terror (1958) in Movies
Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Jun 22, 2019)
Independent sci-fi movie has the inevitable hokeyness of films of its period but shows flashes of intelligence, until the climax at least. Vaguely Lovecraftian alien creatures take up residence atop a Swiss mountain, rip the heads off passing mountaineers, turn other people into zombies to eliminate nosey psychics, and so on. Fearing the world supply of cuckoo clocks, cheese with holes in it, and multi-purpose knives may be in peril, a group of assorted boffins attempt to sort things out.
Well, at least it's original, if not always in the best of ways. Things proceed in a relatively effective way until the aliens decide to come down the mountain and attack in person, at which point they are revealed to be tentacled monocular blobs entirely beyond the budget of the film to convincingly realise. The same could be said of many alien invasion and monster movies of the 50s and 60s and this is neither the best nor the worst example of the genre from that period.
Well, at least it's original, if not always in the best of ways. Things proceed in a relatively effective way until the aliens decide to come down the mountain and attack in person, at which point they are revealed to be tentacled monocular blobs entirely beyond the budget of the film to convincingly realise. The same could be said of many alien invasion and monster movies of the 50s and 60s and this is neither the best nor the worst example of the genre from that period.