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I wanted to read Bird Box after hearing so many rave reviews from BookTube and the blogosphere. From what everyone was saying, I was going to be scared shitless and that was what I was hoping for but it didn’t happen. This book for me has to be my most disappointing read of 2017 so far! The writing wasn’t bad but I feel like this has been overhyped and my expectations were set pretty high. I suppose the reason I was disappointed with this book was because you never really get any answers and the thing that is killing people you never get to picture what it is or why it’s happening. There was one small part of this book that had me scared and it was a paragraph and that was all. I thought the writing was great and I liked most of the characters but for me I needed more answers. I would also put this book as survival/post apocalyptic book rather than a horror.
Beth Ingham (28 KP) rated Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery in Apps
Jul 9, 2018
Meet characters (1 more)
New storyline
This game is a must if, like me you are a complete potterhead. Being able to ‘explore’ Hogwarts, and the Grounds, and advance through a brand new story set in the world of Harry Potter is exciting. The storyline is interesting, if a little slow, but once you get into the game, you can’t put it down!
This being said though, the graphics of the game leave something to be desired, but what do you expect when playing on a phone.
A negative of the game is that everything you need to advance through the storyline of the game requires energy, which you run out of super quick, so it’s more of a stop-start kind of game. They have added the option to watch a short video in exchange for 3 energy in the latest update, so I can imagine the developers have been reading similar reviews to this one.
Altogether a brilliant story-led game to tie in with the Harry Potter book, and movie franchise.
This being said though, the graphics of the game leave something to be desired, but what do you expect when playing on a phone.
A negative of the game is that everything you need to advance through the storyline of the game requires energy, which you run out of super quick, so it’s more of a stop-start kind of game. They have added the option to watch a short video in exchange for 3 energy in the latest update, so I can imagine the developers have been reading similar reviews to this one.
Altogether a brilliant story-led game to tie in with the Harry Potter book, and movie franchise.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) in Movies
Jul 4, 2018
Avengers meets John Wick
Having been completely unfamiliar with the source comic book material, I was unsure the tone or visuals I viewed in this film are consistent with that or not, so I just have to judge on their own merits.
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I am not the hugest fan of nonsense or robust excessive CGI in place of good acting story and screenplay, so I have to say this film suffered from a little bit of that. Some of the kill scenes bordered on a little silly, having been done much better and more realistic in John Wick.
Having said that, I was never bored while watching and thought the acting, especially that of Samuel L. Jackson, was pretty good for the most part.
It definitely feels like more style than substance in some parts, but maybe that was the point. I will always side with realism over hyper-realism unless done very well, and I feel this film falls a bit short.
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I am not the hugest fan of nonsense or robust excessive CGI in place of good acting story and screenplay, so I have to say this film suffered from a little bit of that. Some of the kill scenes bordered on a little silly, having been done much better and more realistic in John Wick.
Having said that, I was never bored while watching and thought the acting, especially that of Samuel L. Jackson, was pretty good for the most part.
It definitely feels like more style than substance in some parts, but maybe that was the point. I will always side with realism over hyper-realism unless done very well, and I feel this film falls a bit short.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Agatha Christie's Ordeal By Innocence- Season One in TV
Sep 3, 2018
I haven't read the novel this show was based upon, but according to a lot of other reviews I saw, apparently they changed a lot. So, if you loved the book, don't expect the show to be a carbon copy.
Since I didn't read the book, I absolutely loved this miniseries. I did sort of guess who the murderer of matriarch, Rachel Argyll, was, but it definitely left me guessing as to whether or not he/she actually murdered her.
This story involves a family of adopted children, and the parents. One of the sons, Jack, is accused of murdering his mother, and is sent to jail with supposed 'hard-evidence'. All the while, Jack, is claiming he got a ride from some guy, who never comes forward...until after Jack dies in jail. The arrival of the guy from the alibi, throws the family into an uproar, and the killer is revealed.
The first two episodes, you're wondering what actually happened that night, and the third episode is the pay off.
Since I didn't read the book, I absolutely loved this miniseries. I did sort of guess who the murderer of matriarch, Rachel Argyll, was, but it definitely left me guessing as to whether or not he/she actually murdered her.
This story involves a family of adopted children, and the parents. One of the sons, Jack, is accused of murdering his mother, and is sent to jail with supposed 'hard-evidence'. All the while, Jack, is claiming he got a ride from some guy, who never comes forward...until after Jack dies in jail. The arrival of the guy from the alibi, throws the family into an uproar, and the killer is revealed.
The first two episodes, you're wondering what actually happened that night, and the third episode is the pay off.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Isle of Dogs (2018) in Movies
Sep 20, 2018
Amazing animation (1 more)
Fantastic voice acting
Good Dog
In my opinion, Wes Anderson is pretty overrated. Other than Grand Budapest Hotel, I haven't been a big fan of anything else that he has done, yet critics and fans seem to adore everything he touches. This meant that I had hardly any hype going into Isle Of Dogs and only seen it because of some good reviews I had read online.
This film is great. It features an incredible cast, whose voices all work remarkably well for this story. The stop-motion animation is astonishing and beautiful at times and it tells an interesting, satisfying story.
There isn't much not to like here, the only thing that I will say is that although the animation style makes this sort of look like a kids movie, I would not recommend it for kids. There are some fairly adult themes present and a kid would probably get bored while watching too.
Overall, this film is definitely worth a watch, even if only to see the impressive stop-motion animation on show.
This film is great. It features an incredible cast, whose voices all work remarkably well for this story. The stop-motion animation is astonishing and beautiful at times and it tells an interesting, satisfying story.
There isn't much not to like here, the only thing that I will say is that although the animation style makes this sort of look like a kids movie, I would not recommend it for kids. There are some fairly adult themes present and a kid would probably get bored while watching too.
Overall, this film is definitely worth a watch, even if only to see the impressive stop-motion animation on show.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Redshirts in Books
Dec 23, 2018
Some books are surreal suspensions of disbelief. Some books just make you go "WHAT the FUCK" every couple of chapters when a new twist is revealed, and this is one of the latter. Just - what the FUCK.
Imagine your average sci-fi space opera TV show on cable television with hand-wavey science and half-assed special effects - take those characters and make them realize they're IN A TV SHOW. Let them realize all of their woes are due to shitty writing, and see what they do with that knowledge. THAT is this book, and it is crazy and hilarious and weird and eye-roll-inducing.
Between the time travel, the Box that does magic science behind the scenes so things work out on-screen, the Narrative taking control and making people say and do things they wouldn't otherwise do - this book is wacky and just full of what-the-fuckery. It's fun, though, and if you can keep yourself from groaning out loud every few pages, it's a pretty good read.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Imagine your average sci-fi space opera TV show on cable television with hand-wavey science and half-assed special effects - take those characters and make them realize they're IN A TV SHOW. Let them realize all of their woes are due to shitty writing, and see what they do with that knowledge. THAT is this book, and it is crazy and hilarious and weird and eye-roll-inducing.
Between the time travel, the Box that does magic science behind the scenes so things work out on-screen, the Narrative taking control and making people say and do things they wouldn't otherwise do - this book is wacky and just full of what-the-fuckery. It's fun, though, and if you can keep yourself from groaning out loud every few pages, it's a pretty good read.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Dan (19 KP) rated Dungeons and Dragons in Tabletop Games
Jul 20, 2019
Can create your own content (4 more)
Only need the core book, a pen/pencil, and paper to get started
Can always add scenery, figures, etc over time
Plenty of content online
Have as big a world or small a world as you want, you and the other players create it
Can be complex for beginners (1 more)
Can sometimes cause minor arguments
Easily adaptable for any age
Dungeons and Dragons is a massive table top game. You can stick to the core games all you want, or create your own content and game. For anyone with even a small amount of creativity, it's amazing.
This will probably be one of my poorer reviews, as D&D is so huge it's hard to describe it. You and your party can be a mix of fighters, rogues, magic users and all sorts, fighting off the dead, dragons, bandits, werewolves, goblins, and more. And while you do it, it's more than likely going to cause hilarity, and some exciting, tense moments.
It can be almost anything you want it to be.
This will probably be one of my poorer reviews, as D&D is so huge it's hard to describe it. You and your party can be a mix of fighters, rogues, magic users and all sorts, fighting off the dead, dragons, bandits, werewolves, goblins, and more. And while you do it, it's more than likely going to cause hilarity, and some exciting, tense moments.
It can be almost anything you want it to be.
Dean Jaggs (29 KP) rated The Shining (1980) in Movies
Nov 7, 2019
Didn't shine enough
Contains spoilers, click to show
Before writing this I did read some other reviews to gauge a different view from my own and clearly this film didn't sit as well with me as it did for others.
The scenes are good and the music score plays its part in letting you know that it's meant to be as sinister as possible but seriously was there actually a plot to it? Except of course for the one Nicholsons character starts losing progressively as the movie goes on, there are various parts that do their part in creeping you out but for me there wasn't much rhyme or reason to Nicholsons character eventually losing his marbles and then having an uncontrollable urge to kill people, particularly his wife and child, we know the various images/visions/hauntings/whatever that caused this mental breakdown but there wasn't enough of a story behind that, but that's my opinion, as horror movies/thrillers go, I don't dislike it but never going to love it either.
The scenes are good and the music score plays its part in letting you know that it's meant to be as sinister as possible but seriously was there actually a plot to it? Except of course for the one Nicholsons character starts losing progressively as the movie goes on, there are various parts that do their part in creeping you out but for me there wasn't much rhyme or reason to Nicholsons character eventually losing his marbles and then having an uncontrollable urge to kill people, particularly his wife and child, we know the various images/visions/hauntings/whatever that caused this mental breakdown but there wasn't enough of a story behind that, but that's my opinion, as horror movies/thrillers go, I don't dislike it but never going to love it either.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Stranger Inside in Books
Dec 20, 2019
"meh"
I really wanted to love this book as the premise drew me in and got me excited about reading a different type of thriller than my usual but, unfortunately, I really struggled and can only describe it as a "meh" read that I probably won't remember in a few days time which is regrettable.
The beginning of the book starts off promising but quickly becomes tedious and slow to get anywhere; there were twists however it took so long to get there that their impact was diluted.
Kimber is an extremely unpleasant, selfish and downright despicable character and I was unable to find anything redeeming about her at all which meant I couldn't care less what happened to her!
There are plenty of 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so clearly it hits the mark for a lot of people so please don't take my word for it and give it a go.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton/Mulholland Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
The beginning of the book starts off promising but quickly becomes tedious and slow to get anywhere; there were twists however it took so long to get there that their impact was diluted.
Kimber is an extremely unpleasant, selfish and downright despicable character and I was unable to find anything redeeming about her at all which meant I couldn't care less what happened to her!
There are plenty of 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so clearly it hits the mark for a lot of people so please don't take my word for it and give it a go.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton/Mulholland Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated The Battery (2014) in Movies
Jan 25, 2020
381. The Battery. A rather boring zombie tale. It has good reviews, but eh... We meet Ben and Mickey, two former baseball players, we know this because they frequently stop to have a quick game of catch, they are travelling the now deserted roads of New England. Mickey is the scared one, not quite grasping the situation and wants to settle down somewhere. Also Mickey wears headphones most of the time, is that really a wise decision walking the streets of a zombie infested land, and you disable your hearing?? And Ben wants to keep moving because that's the best thing to do. On occasion they run into a zombie, a person with some powder on their face and lipstick smeared on various parts of their faces. They also spend a large portion of time trapped in a car, and quite a funny part this is. First thing I noticed about the car they are trapped in, the windows are partially rolled down, however the zombies never reach in to grab at em. So yea, it's forgettable. Filmbufftim on FB