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MusicCritics (472 KP) rated Wonderful Wonderful by The Killers in Music
Oct 3, 2017
An album without an obvious theme or concept it may be, but somehow, it’s still quintessentially The Killers. It may not be the all-out stadium epic we’ve come to expect from the band but it’s still wonderful
Critic- Sarah Jamieson
Original Score: 4 out of 5
Read Review: http://diymag.com/2017/09/22/the-killers-wonderful-wonderful
Original Score: 4 out of 5
Read Review: http://diymag.com/2017/09/22/the-killers-wonderful-wonderful
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) in Movies
Oct 3, 2017
Plot Holes Galore (1 more)
Lack of Character Motivations
A Disappointing Sequel
Contains spoilers, click to show
You can look at this movie from two different perspectives. If you choose to see it as a dumb, switch-your-brain-off spy movie and are only going for the batshit insane action scenes, then you will have a good time. If you are looking for a decent comic book movie that serves as a sequel to the first movie and sets up a potential future franchise, then you will probably leave feeling similar to how I did, pretty disappointed.
The first movie was released with no hype behind it and for most people was a pleasant surprise. This film has a lot more to live up to and unfortunately it doesn't quite get there. Although the movie does feel like a sequel, it's not the worst sequel I've ever seen and it's not the worst sequel released this year.
Julianne Moore plays the antagonist in the movie and whilst her motivations for what she was doing were questionable, you could tell she was having fun with the character and it was a fun performance to watch. The action scenes were as fast paced and as fun as you would want them to be and although they do feel cartoony, there are a few crazy set pieces that you can’t help but grin at.
This movie also introduces the Statesman, an American version of the Kingsman who work out of a whisky factory rather than a tailor’s shop. Jeff Bridges and Halle Berry don’t get much screen time, which is fine, but Channing Tatum is hardly in the movie at all, despite appearing on a lot of the marketing for the film. I think he is onscreen in Hateful Eight for longer than he is in this.
Ok, spoiler time. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, don’t read on past this point. I mean if you have seen any of the trailers for the movie then you already know that they have brought Colin Firth back from the dead.
The explanation for this is sort of anti-climactic. Essentially, The Statesman have came up with a cure to gunshot wounds to the head and any other fatal wound that you may sustain, the process involves wrapping the wound in a gel strip and then inflating it with two syringes. Sure, you can argue this is a heightened reality where crazy stuff like this is entirely possible, but my problem with it, is that it immediately lowers all of the stakes. If anyone can be brought back from the dead, then how is there any peril left for the characters in the franchise?
After this whole revelation, they kill off Merlin, the character played by Mark Strong. His death is really pathetic and something that could have easily been avoided. Eggsy accidentally steps on a landmine, (even though they specifically point out that they are using a minesweeper,) then Merlin sprays the mine with a freeze gel so that Eggsy can step off of the mine and Merlin takes his place, then he distracts some guards and gets blown up. What I’m left wondering is the limit of what can be fixed with the regeneration strip. Surely if a bullet to the head can be walked off, then getting blown up by a landmine is fair game? Could they not have tried piecing him together like a jigsaw a wrapping him in the magic gel strips? I guess they could bring him back in the next movie and I’m sure if they do, we will know when the first trailer for Kingsman 3 is released.
Overall this isn’t a bad movie, it’s just disappointing. There are some entertaining action scenes, but rubbish dialogue and ridiculous plot elements make this inferior to the first Kingsman movie and pretty mediocre overall.
The first movie was released with no hype behind it and for most people was a pleasant surprise. This film has a lot more to live up to and unfortunately it doesn't quite get there. Although the movie does feel like a sequel, it's not the worst sequel I've ever seen and it's not the worst sequel released this year.
Julianne Moore plays the antagonist in the movie and whilst her motivations for what she was doing were questionable, you could tell she was having fun with the character and it was a fun performance to watch. The action scenes were as fast paced and as fun as you would want them to be and although they do feel cartoony, there are a few crazy set pieces that you can’t help but grin at.
This movie also introduces the Statesman, an American version of the Kingsman who work out of a whisky factory rather than a tailor’s shop. Jeff Bridges and Halle Berry don’t get much screen time, which is fine, but Channing Tatum is hardly in the movie at all, despite appearing on a lot of the marketing for the film. I think he is onscreen in Hateful Eight for longer than he is in this.
Ok, spoiler time. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, don’t read on past this point. I mean if you have seen any of the trailers for the movie then you already know that they have brought Colin Firth back from the dead.
The explanation for this is sort of anti-climactic. Essentially, The Statesman have came up with a cure to gunshot wounds to the head and any other fatal wound that you may sustain, the process involves wrapping the wound in a gel strip and then inflating it with two syringes. Sure, you can argue this is a heightened reality where crazy stuff like this is entirely possible, but my problem with it, is that it immediately lowers all of the stakes. If anyone can be brought back from the dead, then how is there any peril left for the characters in the franchise?
After this whole revelation, they kill off Merlin, the character played by Mark Strong. His death is really pathetic and something that could have easily been avoided. Eggsy accidentally steps on a landmine, (even though they specifically point out that they are using a minesweeper,) then Merlin sprays the mine with a freeze gel so that Eggsy can step off of the mine and Merlin takes his place, then he distracts some guards and gets blown up. What I’m left wondering is the limit of what can be fixed with the regeneration strip. Surely if a bullet to the head can be walked off, then getting blown up by a landmine is fair game? Could they not have tried piecing him together like a jigsaw a wrapping him in the magic gel strips? I guess they could bring him back in the next movie and I’m sure if they do, we will know when the first trailer for Kingsman 3 is released.
Overall this isn’t a bad movie, it’s just disappointing. There are some entertaining action scenes, but rubbish dialogue and ridiculous plot elements make this inferior to the first Kingsman movie and pretty mediocre overall.
MusicCritics (472 KP) rated GEMINI by Macklemore in Music
Oct 3, 2017
"Gemini" is assisted by some excellent performances from its featured artists. Xperience's gospel-ready vocals on the chorus steal the show on an otherwise forgettable song in "Church."
Critic- Zach 'Goose' Gase
Original Score: 7 out of 10
Read Review: http://www.rapreviews.com/feature.html
Original Score: 7 out of 10
Read Review: http://www.rapreviews.com/feature.html
MusicCritics (472 KP) rated By Any Means 2 by Kevin Gates in Music
Oct 3, 2017
Gates continues to hold down the fort on his own for the most part. Aside from the previously released PnB Rock assisted "Beautiful Scars" that he dropped a couple weeks ago, By Any Means 2 features no other guest appearances.
Critic- Kevin Goddard
Original Score: 4.5 out of 9
Read Review: https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kevin-gates-drops-off-sequel-to-by-any-means-new-mixtape.117492.html
Original Score: 4.5 out of 9
Read Review: https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kevin-gates-drops-off-sequel-to-by-any-means-new-mixtape.117492.html
MusicCritics (472 KP) rated Concrete And Gold by Foo Fighters in Music
Oct 3, 2017
Concrete and Gold is an apt title. The hard rock is still there but finally there’s a bit of a shimmer and glow, something the band absolutely needed lest they continue treading water. It’s a career-capper as unexpected as it is welcome.
Critic- Chris Gerard
Original Score: 8 out of 10
Read Review: http://www.popmatters.com/review/foo-fighters-concrete-and-gold/
Original Score: 8 out of 10
Read Review: http://www.popmatters.com/review/foo-fighters-concrete-and-gold/
GameCritics (290 KP) rated Mary Skelter: Nightmares in Video Games
Oct 3, 2017
Mary Skelter is sublime. By turns darkly sensual and horrific, it's also beautiful, ravishing, and backed by truly expert level design and a clean, clever combat system.
Critic- Matt S.
Original Score: 4.5 out of 5
Read Review: http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2017/09/review-mary-skelter-nightmares-sony.html
Original Score: 4.5 out of 5
Read Review: http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2017/09/review-mary-skelter-nightmares-sony.html
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated American War in Books
Oct 3, 2017
Epic novel about the Second American Civil War
Throughout the entire time reading this, all I could think of is the fact that this would look amazing as a TV series. This dystopian novel explores how the north and south of the United States are divided in the latter half of the 21st century after fossil fuels are banned due to extreme flooding in Florida.
It is written in the perspective of a dying historian in the 22nd century, attempting to recollect the role of his aunt, who essentially was leading the insurgency against the north. She was as much a victim as aggressor in this novel, being groomed as a child soldier and being tortured in prison as a young adult. In the background, a rising Pan-Arab empire helps stoke the fires in the US.
It is slow but relentless, and rather fitting for what is currently happening all over the world. A fascinating read indeed.
It is written in the perspective of a dying historian in the 22nd century, attempting to recollect the role of his aunt, who essentially was leading the insurgency against the north. She was as much a victim as aggressor in this novel, being groomed as a child soldier and being tortured in prison as a young adult. In the background, a rising Pan-Arab empire helps stoke the fires in the US.
It is slow but relentless, and rather fitting for what is currently happening all over the world. A fascinating read indeed.
GameCritics (290 KP) rated Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition in Video Games
Oct 3, 2017
Pillars of Eternity is worth looking into for any RPG fan. The game has a great plot and world to explore, and Obsidian has given players enough options to ensure that anyone can see the end of the story, regardless of skill level.
Critic- Elizabeth Henges
Original Score: 9 out of 10
Read Review: https://www.rpgsite.net/review/5982-pillars-of-eternity-complete-edition-review
Original Score: 9 out of 10
Read Review: https://www.rpgsite.net/review/5982-pillars-of-eternity-complete-edition-review
Books Editor (673 KP) shared own list
Oct 3, 2017
These are some of the most popular choices in the annual survey of book recommendations compiled by Bloomberg:
Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing
Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and columnist comes a "fiercely funny, powerfully...
Long Road to Hard Truth: The 100 Year Mission to Create the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Book
In Long Road to Hard Truth: The 100 Year Mission to Create the National Museum of African American...
History social sciences
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between
10.0
Rate It
Book
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography, 2017 Hisham Matar was 19 when his...
Libya Politics Biography
The Sympathizer
8.3
Rate It
Book
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2016 It is April 1975, and Saigon is in chaos. At his...
The Mothers: A Novel
6.8
Rate It
Book
The Mothers is a surprising story about young love, a big secret in a small community - and the...