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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Lighthouse (2019) in Movies
Nov 7, 2019
Just when you thought it wasn't possible for Willem Dafoe's expressions to haunt you in your dreams they go and cast him as a crazed lighthouse keeper in a moody black and white film.
This won't be like any of my other reviews because honestly I'm mainly done with this film.
There's no denying that the look of the film was amazing and it captured an "authentic" oldie feel. The film was shot in 1.19:1 ratio which left you with an almost square frame. I have no problem with that as an idea but it's not like the rest of the screen disappears, if it was shown on that sized screen then fine but it's not, it's shown on modern wise screen and it's distracting.
Dafoe gave nothing less than you'd expect, though I don't know if I was sad or relieved to learn that they added his farts in post. Pattinson, despite that accent, gave a good performance and I honestly never thought I'd say that out loud.
Despite these great performnces I couldn't have cared less about the story and anything that happened. I'd say it felt pretentious but I really feel like this was a short that somehow got away with itself.
Two final things:
A24 have not managed to change my love/hate relationship with their movies.
Pattingson as Winslow does something that I think everyone in Bristol has thought about doing at least once with a seagull.
What you should do
I imagine you're all going to watch it regardless of what I say.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
You can take anything you want about this film, I don't want it.
This won't be like any of my other reviews because honestly I'm mainly done with this film.
There's no denying that the look of the film was amazing and it captured an "authentic" oldie feel. The film was shot in 1.19:1 ratio which left you with an almost square frame. I have no problem with that as an idea but it's not like the rest of the screen disappears, if it was shown on that sized screen then fine but it's not, it's shown on modern wise screen and it's distracting.
Dafoe gave nothing less than you'd expect, though I don't know if I was sad or relieved to learn that they added his farts in post. Pattinson, despite that accent, gave a good performance and I honestly never thought I'd say that out loud.
Despite these great performnces I couldn't have cared less about the story and anything that happened. I'd say it felt pretentious but I really feel like this was a short that somehow got away with itself.
Two final things:
A24 have not managed to change my love/hate relationship with their movies.
Pattingson as Winslow does something that I think everyone in Bristol has thought about doing at least once with a seagull.
What you should do
I imagine you're all going to watch it regardless of what I say.
Movie thing you wish you could take home
You can take anything you want about this film, I don't want it.
ClareR (5885 KP) rated Tuesday Mooney Wore Black in Books
Dec 3, 2019
I loved this book, which is packed with genuinely likeable characters and a mystery to solve. Tuesday Mooney is a bit of an enigma - at least to her gay best friend, Dex. She gives little away about herself, and tries to live apart from other people when she isn’t at work researching rich people who can make charitable donations to the hospital she works at. She loves all things gothic and horror. At a fundraising event, she meets Archie, a rich, possible-contributor to the hospital, and witnesses the death of the eccentric billionaire Vincent Pryce (not to be confused with Vincent Price!). Mr Pryce then sets in motion a treasure hunt across Boston, for anyone to take part in and potentially win a fortune. The clues are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe - something that Tuesday very much appreciates. She starts up a team with Archie (who is not at all who he seems to be), Dex and her teenaged Tuesday-wannabe next door neighbour, Dorry.
Tuesday’s backstory is fascinating and sad in equal measure, and it’s fortunate that she meets Dorry, a girl who misses her dead mother terribly. Tuesday misses her best friend Abby, who went missing without a trace as a 16/17 year old.
On the front cover, this looks as though it will be a YA paranormal/ horror novel. It’s not. There’s a smattering of the paranormal perhaps, but it’s certainly not a main theme. This is a mystery, where we also learn that to be yourself is the most important thing in life - as is friendship. I loved this book, and practically inhaled it on a long train journey. It’s a bit quirky, but it has a lot of heart (and hey, I like quirky!). Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my copy of this book to read and review!
Tuesday’s backstory is fascinating and sad in equal measure, and it’s fortunate that she meets Dorry, a girl who misses her dead mother terribly. Tuesday misses her best friend Abby, who went missing without a trace as a 16/17 year old.
On the front cover, this looks as though it will be a YA paranormal/ horror novel. It’s not. There’s a smattering of the paranormal perhaps, but it’s certainly not a main theme. This is a mystery, where we also learn that to be yourself is the most important thing in life - as is friendship. I loved this book, and practically inhaled it on a long train journey. It’s a bit quirky, but it has a lot of heart (and hey, I like quirky!). Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my copy of this book to read and review!
CarlaM (53 KP) rated Devil's Cry : Shade of Devil Book 2 in Books
Dec 6, 2019
I'd Follow This Devil Anywhere!
What a great Continuation of Sorin's story.
Gosh! I loved every minute of this book. Shayne has a true talent for making us fall In love with his main characters. Sorin Is no different! He is powerful, charismatic and Sexy with a very human side that makes him extremely endearing for a Vamp. You either want to bed him or be his best mate and frankly, when you see who he hangs out with you will be biting at the bit ... or the neck ...to join the gang!
The story continues with Sorin's quest to take Down Dracula, but straight of the bat several new threats make themselves known, the least of them the Witches who complicate matters For Sorin and add some great action scenes to this story.
The emotional and sexual build up in this book creates a lovely tension that sits nicely in between the action and all the story driven sequences and I found that I flitted from emotion to emotion. From feeling sad for his losses, Angry that he was wronged, Affection for his love Interests.... and a couple of spicy scenes that made me sit up a little straighter in my seat.
All In all I really enjoyed this book. It had a feeling of familiarity as it very much reminds me of a classic vampire tale.... but then it surprises you with some lovely new mysteries.
I really can't recommend this book enough!
And Can't wait to see were the next book takes me!
Gosh! I loved every minute of this book. Shayne has a true talent for making us fall In love with his main characters. Sorin Is no different! He is powerful, charismatic and Sexy with a very human side that makes him extremely endearing for a Vamp. You either want to bed him or be his best mate and frankly, when you see who he hangs out with you will be biting at the bit ... or the neck ...to join the gang!
The story continues with Sorin's quest to take Down Dracula, but straight of the bat several new threats make themselves known, the least of them the Witches who complicate matters For Sorin and add some great action scenes to this story.
The emotional and sexual build up in this book creates a lovely tension that sits nicely in between the action and all the story driven sequences and I found that I flitted from emotion to emotion. From feeling sad for his losses, Angry that he was wronged, Affection for his love Interests.... and a couple of spicy scenes that made me sit up a little straighter in my seat.
All In all I really enjoyed this book. It had a feeling of familiarity as it very much reminds me of a classic vampire tale.... but then it surprises you with some lovely new mysteries.
I really can't recommend this book enough!
And Can't wait to see were the next book takes me!
Debbiereadsbook (1454 KP) rated Heart Bandit (Gargoyle Night Guardians #1) in Books
Feb 7, 2020
wonderful new series!
*purchased copy Jan 2020*
I have a *thing* for the more obscure paranormal creatures, and gargoyles are at the top of that list, since so few are written. Add in an author who is a firm favourite, and really, you can't go wrong!
And I LOVED this gargoyle book!
It has twists and turns, new additions to the folklore of gargoyles. It has a feisty young lady, with an old head on her shoulders. It has an old solider, with a hardened heart. It has a scorned witch, and some bad as sin fae folk who want nothing more than to destroy all the gargoyles!
Beaumont (not ever shortened to Beau, so many Brownie points!) is old, and actually has had enough. Faced with his little pickpocket stealing his most precious stone, he knows that he will die if he doesn't get it back. But since meeting the feisty little thief, his attitude is changing, and maybe, just maybe, he can find it, and be happy with Sadie.
I loved that Beaumont only calls Sadie her given name but once in the whole book. She's his little thief, his pickpocket, all those sorts of names. Why? He doesn't like that Sadie contains the word SAD! I was like, "oh thats so sweet!"
I liked that Sadie's sister will play a huge part in another gargoyle's life, in book 2. And I wonder if the scorned witch will be making another appearence in a later book to redeem herself.
Ms Redd has started a new series with a bang, and I hope to get to read them all!
5 full and shiny stars!
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
I have a *thing* for the more obscure paranormal creatures, and gargoyles are at the top of that list, since so few are written. Add in an author who is a firm favourite, and really, you can't go wrong!
And I LOVED this gargoyle book!
It has twists and turns, new additions to the folklore of gargoyles. It has a feisty young lady, with an old head on her shoulders. It has an old solider, with a hardened heart. It has a scorned witch, and some bad as sin fae folk who want nothing more than to destroy all the gargoyles!
Beaumont (not ever shortened to Beau, so many Brownie points!) is old, and actually has had enough. Faced with his little pickpocket stealing his most precious stone, he knows that he will die if he doesn't get it back. But since meeting the feisty little thief, his attitude is changing, and maybe, just maybe, he can find it, and be happy with Sadie.
I loved that Beaumont only calls Sadie her given name but once in the whole book. She's his little thief, his pickpocket, all those sorts of names. Why? He doesn't like that Sadie contains the word SAD! I was like, "oh thats so sweet!"
I liked that Sadie's sister will play a huge part in another gargoyle's life, in book 2. And I wonder if the scorned witch will be making another appearence in a later book to redeem herself.
Ms Redd has started a new series with a bang, and I hope to get to read them all!
5 full and shiny stars!
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Wink in Books
Apr 6, 2020
Surprisingly light hearted read
The conversation went like this: "Whats that book? it really like the cover".
"Its called Wink, a new young adult book"
"what is it about?"
"A kid who has cancer of the eye"
"Why would anyone want to read that? It sounds miserable"
"Actually it is meant to be funny".
And actually it is quite a hard sell at first, but, dear reader, this is neither tragically sad not over sentimental. It does get emotional and it does tug at your heart strings except that isn't what sells the book. Its the ease of reading, the loveable character and the huge amount of empathy the book is packed with, in places you wouldn't expect it.
Author Rob Harrell had this exceptionally rare cancer of the tear gland but, instead of writing about his experience, he used his experience and created a teenage boy called Ross and his friends and family and told his story instead. The result is a wonderful book, difficult to put down and very easy to read.
What make this so special, other than the brilliant orange cover, is how real and likeable the characters are. I grew attached to all of them and wanted to stay with them. It is an incredibly human book which is light hearted, honest and (strangely for cancer) fun journey filled with the power of music, friendship and hope.
Now can we have a separate story for Jimmy as well? I loved Jimmy. You will too. Oh and the book made me cry loads of times, in a nice way and isn't that what anyone wants? Art to resonate with you?
"Its called Wink, a new young adult book"
"what is it about?"
"A kid who has cancer of the eye"
"Why would anyone want to read that? It sounds miserable"
"Actually it is meant to be funny".
And actually it is quite a hard sell at first, but, dear reader, this is neither tragically sad not over sentimental. It does get emotional and it does tug at your heart strings except that isn't what sells the book. Its the ease of reading, the loveable character and the huge amount of empathy the book is packed with, in places you wouldn't expect it.
Author Rob Harrell had this exceptionally rare cancer of the tear gland but, instead of writing about his experience, he used his experience and created a teenage boy called Ross and his friends and family and told his story instead. The result is a wonderful book, difficult to put down and very easy to read.
What make this so special, other than the brilliant orange cover, is how real and likeable the characters are. I grew attached to all of them and wanted to stay with them. It is an incredibly human book which is light hearted, honest and (strangely for cancer) fun journey filled with the power of music, friendship and hope.
Now can we have a separate story for Jimmy as well? I loved Jimmy. You will too. Oh and the book made me cry loads of times, in a nice way and isn't that what anyone wants? Art to resonate with you?
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Bates Motel in TV
Aug 6, 2019
Acting (1 more)
Storylines
Hated psycho but enjoyed this
Contains spoilers, click to show
I never saw the original psycho but i did watch the 90s remake which i found very boring, so i went into this not expecting much at all. However, after the first episode i was hooked and bingewatched all 5 seasons in about 3 weeks.
Incase you have never seen or heard of psycho, it's about the teenage life of a boy called Norman Bates, who suffers with blackouts where he becomes violent. Norman helps run a motel with his mother Norma (yes, that's right - Norman and Norma haha!!) Who is very protective of her son. Seasons 1-3 we get to know about the bates and why they are unlike any normal family, there's a few murders but we wonder was it Norman or not? Season 4 and 5 is where it gets very good and Normans shy side of his personality starts to completely diminish and his 'mother' personality takes over more frequently.
Throughout the seasons there wasn't really any main character i disliked, each one had a gripping story attached to them and I even started to like chick - the strange trailer guy who had beef with Dylans dad (and normas brother). The only part of the show i wasn't interested in was Dylans job in the weed selling business but that didn't last long thankfully.
Funny enough I even felt sorry for Norman but at the same time i wanted to smack some sense into Norma for protecting him right up until he killed her.
The final episode was very sad but at the same time you feel happy because Norman got his wish and no longer had to fight 'Mother'. I know many people think a season 6 was needed but i think season 5 ended perfectly. I feel lost now I'm finished though.
Incase you have never seen or heard of psycho, it's about the teenage life of a boy called Norman Bates, who suffers with blackouts where he becomes violent. Norman helps run a motel with his mother Norma (yes, that's right - Norman and Norma haha!!) Who is very protective of her son. Seasons 1-3 we get to know about the bates and why they are unlike any normal family, there's a few murders but we wonder was it Norman or not? Season 4 and 5 is where it gets very good and Normans shy side of his personality starts to completely diminish and his 'mother' personality takes over more frequently.
Throughout the seasons there wasn't really any main character i disliked, each one had a gripping story attached to them and I even started to like chick - the strange trailer guy who had beef with Dylans dad (and normas brother). The only part of the show i wasn't interested in was Dylans job in the weed selling business but that didn't last long thankfully.
Funny enough I even felt sorry for Norman but at the same time i wanted to smack some sense into Norma for protecting him right up until he killed her.
The final episode was very sad but at the same time you feel happy because Norman got his wish and no longer had to fight 'Mother'. I know many people think a season 6 was needed but i think season 5 ended perfectly. I feel lost now I'm finished though.
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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) Nov 7, 2019
Erika (17789 KP) Nov 7, 2019