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Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Connor's Gambit in Books
Jun 5, 2019
Connor’s Gambit by Z. Gottlieb is the first book I’ve received to review that’s in audible format, so this is quite a new experience for me, just like it’s the lead character Brad Johnson’s first adventure with aliens. And what a trip this is!
After Brad sees an alien spaceship and it seems no one else did, he begins to doubt his sanity. But when his suspicions are confirmed and his wife, Shinny, reveals who and what she really is, his life not only changes forever, but so does everything he thought he knew about his life and the universe which surrounds him — aliens do exist — he should know, he’s married to one! And, boy, does the plot thicken after that.
In Z. Gottlieb’s fun world there were times that the space technology seemed so realistic I was wondering if the author had some sort of NASA experience. From alien creature descriptions, their lifestyles and their amazing high-tech technology, to Brad’s awakening and newfound belief in UFOs, and his acceptance to jump right in and help, whilst learning on the job; this book has a lot to offer any self-respecting science fiction fan and space cadet!
A few of my favourite things? There’s so many to choose from. I loved Brad (obviously!). Then there’s the scary Neslins, the Aneplè, the battle cruiser Zuonopy and all its features and Brad and Shinny’s son, Dane with his talking dragon Yeshawliq. I need a talking dragon, can you make one out of a 3D printer for me please?
The narrator’s voice was different to what I expected at first, however, Charlie Thurston pulled me into the action and kept me hooked right through to the satisfying end, which is slightly left open for more, whilst at the same time it’s also a fully completed standalone story with major plot threads all tied up nicely. I’m so pleased to have discovered Z. Gottleib’s space world and I cannot wait to read or even listen to the next instalment. I’m sure it will definitely be worth the wait!
Z. Gottlieb has captured the essence of space travel, alien life and the rules of their universe spectacularly. I really enjoy my time (all 13 hours of it) listening to this space opera, and the fact that I was listening (instead of reading) really made me feel like I was there, thrown in deep with the characters and their stories, part of their crew!
After Brad sees an alien spaceship and it seems no one else did, he begins to doubt his sanity. But when his suspicions are confirmed and his wife, Shinny, reveals who and what she really is, his life not only changes forever, but so does everything he thought he knew about his life and the universe which surrounds him — aliens do exist — he should know, he’s married to one! And, boy, does the plot thicken after that.
In Z. Gottlieb’s fun world there were times that the space technology seemed so realistic I was wondering if the author had some sort of NASA experience. From alien creature descriptions, their lifestyles and their amazing high-tech technology, to Brad’s awakening and newfound belief in UFOs, and his acceptance to jump right in and help, whilst learning on the job; this book has a lot to offer any self-respecting science fiction fan and space cadet!
A few of my favourite things? There’s so many to choose from. I loved Brad (obviously!). Then there’s the scary Neslins, the Aneplè, the battle cruiser Zuonopy and all its features and Brad and Shinny’s son, Dane with his talking dragon Yeshawliq. I need a talking dragon, can you make one out of a 3D printer for me please?
The narrator’s voice was different to what I expected at first, however, Charlie Thurston pulled me into the action and kept me hooked right through to the satisfying end, which is slightly left open for more, whilst at the same time it’s also a fully completed standalone story with major plot threads all tied up nicely. I’m so pleased to have discovered Z. Gottleib’s space world and I cannot wait to read or even listen to the next instalment. I’m sure it will definitely be worth the wait!
Z. Gottlieb has captured the essence of space travel, alien life and the rules of their universe spectacularly. I really enjoy my time (all 13 hours of it) listening to this space opera, and the fact that I was listening (instead of reading) really made me feel like I was there, thrown in deep with the characters and their stories, part of their crew!
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Every Note Played in Books
Mar 28, 2018
Touching, heartfelt novel
Richard is a renowned concert pianist preparing for another concert tour when he starts realizing his body is betraying him. Soon, he is diagnosed with ALS and loses the use of his right arm. He cannot play his beloved piano, and nothing about his life seems okay anymore. Even worse, he knows his left arm will come next. His ex-wife, Karina, hears whispers of Richard's diagnosis, but cannot believe it's true. Surely not her viral, oft-hated ex. Karina, after all, blames Richard for so many choices she didn't make in her own life. But when Richard's disease progresses, it becomes clear that the two may need reconcile, at least temporarily, for the sake of Richard's care and safety.
I really loved Lisa Genova's STILL ALICE and so decided to pick this one up from the library. It has a similar feel, of a successful adult slowly spiraling into disease. However, Genova really excels in taking a sad story of decline and turning it into a tale of discovery and hope, as well. There are definitely some depressing moments in this novel, but it's also lovely and touching, too.
I think most know by now that Genova is Ph.D., so she truly knows what she writes. The novel is filled with so many careful details that really allow you to see Richard's ALS--including its progressions and how it steals so much of what Richard held so dear. It's scary and heartbreaking to read. The realism makes the story so much more stark and also allows you to picture exactly what's happening to him, both physically and emotionally.
Because this is an emotional novel, as well. It is a study in relationships and a look at our two main individuals: Richard, a rather narcissistic pianist, and his ex-wife, Karina, who sacrificed so much in her life for her (now-ex) husband and daughter. Both have so many regrets about their life--and the lives they didn't lead. There is a lifetime of resentments between the two. They also have a daughter, Grace, who struggles with her father's illness. And each parent must deal with how they've treated Grace as she grew up.
In some ways, nothing really happens. In other ways, everything happens--a man slowly loses his body and everything he once held so dear about his life. Relationships change. It's a novel filled with real, beautiful, touching moments. It's not always an easy read, but it's a worthwhile one, for sure.
I really loved Lisa Genova's STILL ALICE and so decided to pick this one up from the library. It has a similar feel, of a successful adult slowly spiraling into disease. However, Genova really excels in taking a sad story of decline and turning it into a tale of discovery and hope, as well. There are definitely some depressing moments in this novel, but it's also lovely and touching, too.
I think most know by now that Genova is Ph.D., so she truly knows what she writes. The novel is filled with so many careful details that really allow you to see Richard's ALS--including its progressions and how it steals so much of what Richard held so dear. It's scary and heartbreaking to read. The realism makes the story so much more stark and also allows you to picture exactly what's happening to him, both physically and emotionally.
Because this is an emotional novel, as well. It is a study in relationships and a look at our two main individuals: Richard, a rather narcissistic pianist, and his ex-wife, Karina, who sacrificed so much in her life for her (now-ex) husband and daughter. Both have so many regrets about their life--and the lives they didn't lead. There is a lifetime of resentments between the two. They also have a daughter, Grace, who struggles with her father's illness. And each parent must deal with how they've treated Grace as she grew up.
In some ways, nothing really happens. In other ways, everything happens--a man slowly loses his body and everything he once held so dear about his life. Relationships change. It's a novel filled with real, beautiful, touching moments. It's not always an easy read, but it's a worthwhile one, for sure.
This book is a great debut novel for Kepnes, I haven’t read a stalker book before and was intrigued, however in parts it felt a bit repetitive, I didn’t like any of the characters in the book and I was starting to get a little bored with the story. The book is written in such a way that it feels like Joe is actually talking about you….ha ha ha see what I did there!*hangs head* So it can be a very creepy book depending on how you read it.
Joe is a total psychopath! I didn’t like him at all, he stalks Beck to no-end, he has Facebook, twitter, email accounts and watching her every move. He is obsessed with Beck and is determined to be her boyfriend and nothing will get in his way.The thing that shocked me the most was that he didn’t believe he had issues and that he was actually protecting her from her friends and other men that looked her way.
Beck is so annoying I really didn’t like her, she was an attention seeking little cow-bag, she had her own issues but would flaunt around with no bra on and get dressed in front of her window that had no blinds or curtains. Flirt with pretty much anyone. And I know this is probably awful to say but she brought a lot of this on herself. She is such a user as well, she was stringing Joe along at times just for odd job duties and I was starting to feel sorry for him, but I had to remind myself that he was the one in the wrong and I shouldnt be feeling like this.
I felt the story went on a little too long and I was getting bored in places, it was sometimes just him constantly checking email updates and tweets to see if beck was thinking about him. It was a bit predictable as well, even though I haven’t read a stalker book I figured it out pretty early on.
This is a book that will make you step back and have a reality check, there could be someone stalking you but you just don’t know it. With all the social media and how easy it is for people to access the information is very scary.
This is an adult book and does contain explicit language and sexual scenes so it will not be for everyone or a younger audience.
Overall I rated this 3.5 stars out of 5.
Joe is a total psychopath! I didn’t like him at all, he stalks Beck to no-end, he has Facebook, twitter, email accounts and watching her every move. He is obsessed with Beck and is determined to be her boyfriend and nothing will get in his way.The thing that shocked me the most was that he didn’t believe he had issues and that he was actually protecting her from her friends and other men that looked her way.
Beck is so annoying I really didn’t like her, she was an attention seeking little cow-bag, she had her own issues but would flaunt around with no bra on and get dressed in front of her window that had no blinds or curtains. Flirt with pretty much anyone. And I know this is probably awful to say but she brought a lot of this on herself. She is such a user as well, she was stringing Joe along at times just for odd job duties and I was starting to feel sorry for him, but I had to remind myself that he was the one in the wrong and I shouldnt be feeling like this.
I felt the story went on a little too long and I was getting bored in places, it was sometimes just him constantly checking email updates and tweets to see if beck was thinking about him. It was a bit predictable as well, even though I haven’t read a stalker book I figured it out pretty early on.
This is a book that will make you step back and have a reality check, there could be someone stalking you but you just don’t know it. With all the social media and how easy it is for people to access the information is very scary.
This is an adult book and does contain explicit language and sexual scenes so it will not be for everyone or a younger audience.
Overall I rated this 3.5 stars out of 5.
Alice (12 KP) rated Hanging Tree: The Sixth PC Grant Mystery in Books
Jul 3, 2018
What can I say about The Hanging Tree that isn’t good? It was a satisfying installment to the series but there was still something missing for me. It had the usual characters and the usual awkwardness with Peter Grant and the Met and the demi-monde which as always was written to the same standard.
However, there were a few parts of this book that bugged me which I’ll go through shortly.
The Hanging Tree is the sixth installment of the bestselling Peter Grant/Rivers of London series and finally there is some proper river action. This book centers around Tyburn or Lady Ty as she is affectionately known. Lady Ty for those of you who don’t know is an overwhelming bitch with a major Goddess complex – with good reason really.
This book follows Peter as he helps to investigate the murder of a teenager – don’t let this fool you, the principal suspect in the murder is one of the family Rivers. This kicks off simultaneous police investigations and Folly blow-ups abound.
First, the things I liked:
The reappearance of much loved characters such as Nightingale, Molly, Guleed, Stefanopaulos and even Seawoll.
The introduction of new characters
The familiar writing style
The monologuing of Peter Grant
The plot
The return of some characters I won’t name and
The revelations!!!
Now, I hate to do this really (and I despise using bullet points as a side note) but needs must.
Things I disliked:
The overuse of the term white to describe characters that had no context and almost no bearing on the story-line whatsoever – I’m almost positive I counted at least 15 uses of the word “white” in the first 30% of the book, sometimes more than once a page. The worst use of this – for me – was “a scary white waitress”, I don’t know about you, but the need to describe a character based solely on their skin tone is a big no no for me. It lacked context and bearing on the part of the story at hand.
The return of some characters I won’t name – what the actual fuck Ben? That’s wrong! They can’t be better than Peter!
Now despite my reservations and the things I disliked, I did enjoy this book. In the end. It took about 60% for this book to grab my attention with both hands which I suppose could be construed as a bad thing, however that first two thirds set up the ending in a great way. The culmination of multiple prolonged story arcs were a welcome wrap up to this installment and I look forward to the next.
However, there were a few parts of this book that bugged me which I’ll go through shortly.
The Hanging Tree is the sixth installment of the bestselling Peter Grant/Rivers of London series and finally there is some proper river action. This book centers around Tyburn or Lady Ty as she is affectionately known. Lady Ty for those of you who don’t know is an overwhelming bitch with a major Goddess complex – with good reason really.
This book follows Peter as he helps to investigate the murder of a teenager – don’t let this fool you, the principal suspect in the murder is one of the family Rivers. This kicks off simultaneous police investigations and Folly blow-ups abound.
First, the things I liked:
The reappearance of much loved characters such as Nightingale, Molly, Guleed, Stefanopaulos and even Seawoll.
The introduction of new characters
The familiar writing style
The monologuing of Peter Grant
The plot
The return of some characters I won’t name and
The revelations!!!
Now, I hate to do this really (and I despise using bullet points as a side note) but needs must.
Things I disliked:
The overuse of the term white to describe characters that had no context and almost no bearing on the story-line whatsoever – I’m almost positive I counted at least 15 uses of the word “white” in the first 30% of the book, sometimes more than once a page. The worst use of this – for me – was “a scary white waitress”, I don’t know about you, but the need to describe a character based solely on their skin tone is a big no no for me. It lacked context and bearing on the part of the story at hand.
The return of some characters I won’t name – what the actual fuck Ben? That’s wrong! They can’t be better than Peter!
Now despite my reservations and the things I disliked, I did enjoy this book. In the end. It took about 60% for this book to grab my attention with both hands which I suppose could be construed as a bad thing, however that first two thirds set up the ending in a great way. The culmination of multiple prolonged story arcs were a welcome wrap up to this installment and I look forward to the next.
Darren (1599 KP) rated ABCs of Death 2 (2014) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Favourite Letters – A – Amateur I liked this because it pokes fun at the slick nature people believe hitmen going through vents can be showing the truth about what you will find.
D – Deloused this is a delightfully twists animated tale that is everything from disturbing to disgusting.
L – Legacy, I liked this one because it is bold, bloody and entertaining.
N – Nexus, this is a well built up moment where we follow all the people involved before the final moment.
O – Ochlocracy, this short gives us a fresh look at the zombie genre.
S – Split, this is a story that could be run of the mill but clearly has the best twist of any of the short stories here.
T- Torture Porn, this is one that went in a direction you didn’t see coming which adds shock value to it.
U – Utopia, this sums up modern society nicely for shocking effect.
Y – Youth, this is plain weird but also feels heart breaking throughout the story.
Z – Zygote, well this is a short story that is seriously twisted and delightful ending to these horror tales.
Hardest to Watch – H – Head Games, I think this is because it is bigger than expected because you could read into it the most.
K – Knell, I have this one here because I didn’t understand the end it at all.
Worst Letters – G – Grandad, this one just didn’t click and felt like filler.
P – P-P-P-P – Scary, this just felt like it was part comedy to full weird and not the type I like.
Biggest Disappointments – B – Badger, most because this felt like there was still five minutes to go which could have been the blood bath we got teased for.
I – Invincible, this is here much like B as it is a film you would like to have seen more from.
Ones That I Would Like to See a Full Feature – F – Falling, this story feels like it could be a brilliant thriller that over a 90 minute could build characters up nicely for the climax.
Q – Questionnaire, this is an interesting one and could be turned into a very interesting horror film.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – V – Vacation, one because it is shot badly and two because the guys assholes.
Final Thoughts – In all fairness this has a lot of good chapters which are fun, bloody, gore and everything you like, if you like short horror stories go and enjoy.
Overall: Full fun horror chapter.
https://moviesreview101.com/2018/10/01/a-z-halloween-horror-a-abcs-of-death-2-2014/
D – Deloused this is a delightfully twists animated tale that is everything from disturbing to disgusting.
L – Legacy, I liked this one because it is bold, bloody and entertaining.
N – Nexus, this is a well built up moment where we follow all the people involved before the final moment.
O – Ochlocracy, this short gives us a fresh look at the zombie genre.
S – Split, this is a story that could be run of the mill but clearly has the best twist of any of the short stories here.
T- Torture Porn, this is one that went in a direction you didn’t see coming which adds shock value to it.
U – Utopia, this sums up modern society nicely for shocking effect.
Y – Youth, this is plain weird but also feels heart breaking throughout the story.
Z – Zygote, well this is a short story that is seriously twisted and delightful ending to these horror tales.
Hardest to Watch – H – Head Games, I think this is because it is bigger than expected because you could read into it the most.
K – Knell, I have this one here because I didn’t understand the end it at all.
Worst Letters – G – Grandad, this one just didn’t click and felt like filler.
P – P-P-P-P – Scary, this just felt like it was part comedy to full weird and not the type I like.
Biggest Disappointments – B – Badger, most because this felt like there was still five minutes to go which could have been the blood bath we got teased for.
I – Invincible, this is here much like B as it is a film you would like to have seen more from.
Ones That I Would Like to See a Full Feature – F – Falling, this story feels like it could be a brilliant thriller that over a 90 minute could build characters up nicely for the climax.
Q – Questionnaire, this is an interesting one and could be turned into a very interesting horror film.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – V – Vacation, one because it is shot badly and two because the guys assholes.
Final Thoughts – In all fairness this has a lot of good chapters which are fun, bloody, gore and everything you like, if you like short horror stories go and enjoy.
Overall: Full fun horror chapter.
https://moviesreview101.com/2018/10/01/a-z-halloween-horror-a-abcs-of-death-2-2014/
Little Ray Of Sunshine (41 KP) rated Broken Branches in Books
Jan 11, 2019 (Updated Feb 10, 2019)
Book Review | Broken Branches by M. Jonathan Lee
Blurb
'Family curses don't exist. Sure, some families seem to suffer more pain than others, but a curse? An actual curse? I don't think so.'
A family tragedy was the catalyst for Ian Perkins to return to the isolated cottage with his wife and young son. But now they are back, it seems yet more grief might befall the family.
There is still time to act, but that means Ian must face the uncomfortable truth about his past. And in doing so, he must uncover the trust behind the supposed family curse.
Review
Ian Perkins is the main character in this novel. Ian returns to the family cottage 'Cobweb Cottage' with hes wife Rachel and son Harry the cottage as been isolated for some time. Ian starts searching about hes family 'curse' he heard hes dad speak about when he was younger. Ian's Uncle Stephen dies in a tragic accident and hes brother took he's own life. He wants to know why this happened and if the 'curse' is true but he get's obsessed with searching hes family documents.
I do feel the beginning was slow to me but I understand the writer wanted to show you what happened from the present and the past to show where this family 'curse' suppose to start from the documents Ian found in the 'Cobweb Cottage'.
I do feel some parts confused me as it kept jumping from past to present without telling you, like one scene it got scary but then it jumped to the past. It did make me question what is happening but near to the end of the book I got glued to it to find out if the curse was real and what will happen.
I have questions like if the curse is real will it continue on Ian's family? Will the curse continue on? I felt the darkness from the book and was always thinking what was wrong with Ian's wife Rachel. Will they see the light at the end of the tunnel? As they need some good to happen as I feel their emotions especially Rachel she comes into scenes quietly and it's like you don't notice her and Harry aren't there before they leave for her parents.
I would like to read more of the authors books in the future.
I want to thank Hideaway Fall for sending me out Broken Branches by M Jonathan Lee. They sent me out a paperback to write a honest review. This is all my own opinion of the book.
'Family curses don't exist. Sure, some families seem to suffer more pain than others, but a curse? An actual curse? I don't think so.'
A family tragedy was the catalyst for Ian Perkins to return to the isolated cottage with his wife and young son. But now they are back, it seems yet more grief might befall the family.
There is still time to act, but that means Ian must face the uncomfortable truth about his past. And in doing so, he must uncover the trust behind the supposed family curse.
Review
Ian Perkins is the main character in this novel. Ian returns to the family cottage 'Cobweb Cottage' with hes wife Rachel and son Harry the cottage as been isolated for some time. Ian starts searching about hes family 'curse' he heard hes dad speak about when he was younger. Ian's Uncle Stephen dies in a tragic accident and hes brother took he's own life. He wants to know why this happened and if the 'curse' is true but he get's obsessed with searching hes family documents.
I do feel the beginning was slow to me but I understand the writer wanted to show you what happened from the present and the past to show where this family 'curse' suppose to start from the documents Ian found in the 'Cobweb Cottage'.
I do feel some parts confused me as it kept jumping from past to present without telling you, like one scene it got scary but then it jumped to the past. It did make me question what is happening but near to the end of the book I got glued to it to find out if the curse was real and what will happen.
I have questions like if the curse is real will it continue on Ian's family? Will the curse continue on? I felt the darkness from the book and was always thinking what was wrong with Ian's wife Rachel. Will they see the light at the end of the tunnel? As they need some good to happen as I feel their emotions especially Rachel she comes into scenes quietly and it's like you don't notice her and Harry aren't there before they leave for her parents.
I would like to read more of the authors books in the future.
I want to thank Hideaway Fall for sending me out Broken Branches by M Jonathan Lee. They sent me out a paperback to write a honest review. This is all my own opinion of the book.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Heart of the Oak in Books
Dec 30, 2018
Beautifully Written (2 more)
Likable Character
Beautiful illustrations
A Beautiful Story
When I heard about Heart of the Oak by J.L. Novinsky, it was a book that I wanted to read. I also wanted to read it to my 3 year old because it seemed like a really sweet book. My son and I loved Heart of the Oak!
The plot for Heart of the Oak is straightforward and easy for adults and children alike. It's about a tree and his feelings and memories. He remembers when a fat little squirrel, a little boy playing on him as well as other memories. I'd suggest parental guidance for children under 6 though as there's a part in the book where the tree catches fire and is in pain. This could be a little scary for younger children. My 3 year old was a little fearful, but I was able to explain it in terms he'd understand so he wouldn't be scared. However, this book does have a happily ever after ending which is heartwarming, and the oak tree is a very lovable character.
I loved the prose and how well Heart of the Oak flowed. J.L. Novinsky is a talented story teller, and this book definitely proves that. I loved how descriptive everything was in the story. The words she chose seemed to glide off the page and stick sweetly in my mind. The writing definitely drew me in and held my attention until the very end. For example, on the very first page of Heart of the Oak, Novinsky writes "The day is icy and gray. A fine mist shrouds the world around the massive oak tree. Winter's bitter gales rustle the last of the brittle leaves that cling to his spindly branches."
Another thing which makes Heart of the Oak so good are the illustrations. The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking and drawn very well. They are very colorful and vibrant. My son loved the illustrations especially the ones with the dogs and the squirrels. I loved every page.
All in all, Heart of the Oak is a fantastic read. It's a very short story that is beautifully written with fantastic illustrations. Children and adults will definitely fall in love with this heartwarming story about an old oak tree. I would definitely recommend Heart of the Oak by J.L. Novinsky to everyone. It is a lovely story that everyone needs to read at least once in their lives.
--
(A special thank you to the author for providing me with a paperback of Heart of the Oak in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
The plot for Heart of the Oak is straightforward and easy for adults and children alike. It's about a tree and his feelings and memories. He remembers when a fat little squirrel, a little boy playing on him as well as other memories. I'd suggest parental guidance for children under 6 though as there's a part in the book where the tree catches fire and is in pain. This could be a little scary for younger children. My 3 year old was a little fearful, but I was able to explain it in terms he'd understand so he wouldn't be scared. However, this book does have a happily ever after ending which is heartwarming, and the oak tree is a very lovable character.
I loved the prose and how well Heart of the Oak flowed. J.L. Novinsky is a talented story teller, and this book definitely proves that. I loved how descriptive everything was in the story. The words she chose seemed to glide off the page and stick sweetly in my mind. The writing definitely drew me in and held my attention until the very end. For example, on the very first page of Heart of the Oak, Novinsky writes "The day is icy and gray. A fine mist shrouds the world around the massive oak tree. Winter's bitter gales rustle the last of the brittle leaves that cling to his spindly branches."
Another thing which makes Heart of the Oak so good are the illustrations. The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking and drawn very well. They are very colorful and vibrant. My son loved the illustrations especially the ones with the dogs and the squirrels. I loved every page.
All in all, Heart of the Oak is a fantastic read. It's a very short story that is beautifully written with fantastic illustrations. Children and adults will definitely fall in love with this heartwarming story about an old oak tree. I would definitely recommend Heart of the Oak by J.L. Novinsky to everyone. It is a lovely story that everyone needs to read at least once in their lives.
--
(A special thank you to the author for providing me with a paperback of Heart of the Oak in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Miss Bala (2019) in Movies
Jul 2, 2019
Gloria (Gina Rodriguez), a makeup artist in Los Angeles, heads to Tijuana for a fun weekend with her best friend, Suzu (Cristina Rodlo). Gloria is going to help Suzu prepare for the Miss Baja California beauty pageant. They decide to head to a club to rub elbows with one of the more important judges, Chief Saucedo (Damian Alcazar). That is when a fun trip turns into a nightmare, several members of a local cartel, Estrella (Spanish for star), break in and start shooting up the club. The leader of Estrella, Leno (Ismael Cruz Cordova), believes that Chief Saucedo is trying to cut into his business and is there to assassinate him. Gloria escapes but gets separated from Suzu. She searches all night and calls the hospitals but can’t find her friend. She finds a police officer to have him help search and tells him he saw the attackers. Instead of taking her to the police station he delivers her to Estrella and Leno. He agrees to help her find her friend but there is a price. Now Gloria will have go to great lengths to find her friend and survive a deadly battle between a cartel and the police from right in the middle of the chaos.
Gina Rodriguez is really good in this film. I thought her performance was definitely the best part of this film. Otherwise the performances were a mix bag of good and bad. Cruz Cordova in particular failed to really come across as a scary, but sensitive, cartel leader. The cameo by Anthony Mackie was a surprise. The story is really interesting and there were times that were suspenseful. The action was decent with some good scenes. The issue was there were also some campy performances and scene set ups that felt rushed. The film was shot decently and the music fit well. The end, which I would not dare spoil, really fell short of all of the buildup.
Before looking for a trailer for this movie I did not know that this was a remake of a 2012 film of the same name. I would be interested to see this film to compare the two because I enjoyed the story. This film missed on some points but really did entertain me for the hour and forty-four minutes. I would say that you could save this for streaming or rental. I don’t think that it would be a movie I would watch again in the theater.
Gina Rodriguez is really good in this film. I thought her performance was definitely the best part of this film. Otherwise the performances were a mix bag of good and bad. Cruz Cordova in particular failed to really come across as a scary, but sensitive, cartel leader. The cameo by Anthony Mackie was a surprise. The story is really interesting and there were times that were suspenseful. The action was decent with some good scenes. The issue was there were also some campy performances and scene set ups that felt rushed. The film was shot decently and the music fit well. The end, which I would not dare spoil, really fell short of all of the buildup.
Before looking for a trailer for this movie I did not know that this was a remake of a 2012 film of the same name. I would be interested to see this film to compare the two because I enjoyed the story. This film missed on some points but really did entertain me for the hour and forty-four minutes. I would say that you could save this for streaming or rental. I don’t think that it would be a movie I would watch again in the theater.
365Flicks (235 KP) rated Dead Rising: Endgame (2016) in Movies
Nov 20, 2019
There are a plethora of really shitty movies based on Games being released each year. None of them holding a candle to the source material it is based on. However each and every time I get suckered in because I want to be impressed by these attempts, as a movie fan and a gamer I need to be impressed. Lets be honest the premise of the Dead Rising games is just about absurd enough to work as a movie and with this being the second outing well have they learnt.
Based on the worldwide smash-hit video game series, Dead Rising: Endgame is the sequel to Dead Rising: Watchtower. Directed by Pat Williams (Continuum), written by Michael Ferris (Terminator Salvation) and Tim Carter (Mortal Kombat: Legacy) and starring Jesse Metcalfe, Marie Avgeropoulos and Dennis Haysbert.
Journalist Chase Carter Heads back into a quarantine zone to find the truth as to what happened to his partner. He and a small group of Journalists want to expose the creators of the outbreak. What he is going to find is a huge cover up that is going to threaten everything. General Lyons (Dennis Haysbert, President Palmer in 24 “Yaaaay”), is a Military officer who will never let anyone get in his way. Racing against the clock, Chase and crew must slice, hack and use any weapon at there disposal to find there way through the zombie hordes and out of the quarantine zone.
I really couldn’t figure out where I stood with this movie at first. I felt like I maybe should of been on the side of thinking it was hot trash. However the Dialogue all though Cheesy at times suits the world its in. The acting although not exactly Andrew Lincoln levels is pretty damn good for this type of flick. Budget and effects wise I had no complaints you could see they hadn’t cheaped out on the practical or the FX on the Zombies they were genuinely scary and brought a certain amount of originality.
I would recommend you see this movie. Go into expecting a fun action packed romp of a movie. Brad Pitts World War Z this movie is not, Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead Remake this movie also is not, but the best thing is that it knows its not those movies, it knows its a Dead Rising tie-in and it brings all of that together in this glorious fun time at the movies. Who knew Jesse Metcalfe was a total Bad Ass????
Based on the worldwide smash-hit video game series, Dead Rising: Endgame is the sequel to Dead Rising: Watchtower. Directed by Pat Williams (Continuum), written by Michael Ferris (Terminator Salvation) and Tim Carter (Mortal Kombat: Legacy) and starring Jesse Metcalfe, Marie Avgeropoulos and Dennis Haysbert.
Journalist Chase Carter Heads back into a quarantine zone to find the truth as to what happened to his partner. He and a small group of Journalists want to expose the creators of the outbreak. What he is going to find is a huge cover up that is going to threaten everything. General Lyons (Dennis Haysbert, President Palmer in 24 “Yaaaay”), is a Military officer who will never let anyone get in his way. Racing against the clock, Chase and crew must slice, hack and use any weapon at there disposal to find there way through the zombie hordes and out of the quarantine zone.
I really couldn’t figure out where I stood with this movie at first. I felt like I maybe should of been on the side of thinking it was hot trash. However the Dialogue all though Cheesy at times suits the world its in. The acting although not exactly Andrew Lincoln levels is pretty damn good for this type of flick. Budget and effects wise I had no complaints you could see they hadn’t cheaped out on the practical or the FX on the Zombies they were genuinely scary and brought a certain amount of originality.
I would recommend you see this movie. Go into expecting a fun action packed romp of a movie. Brad Pitts World War Z this movie is not, Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead Remake this movie also is not, but the best thing is that it knows its not those movies, it knows its a Dead Rising tie-in and it brings all of that together in this glorious fun time at the movies. Who knew Jesse Metcalfe was a total Bad Ass????
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated The Rampart Guards (The Adventures of Jason Lex, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>I received this book for free from Roger Charlie in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i></b>
<p style="text-align: left;"><i>The Rampart Guards</i> basically made me realize that I'm definitely growing out of middle grade books and I should move on. This is an extremely scary thought, because what if I get tired of young adult books next?! That probably won't happen for a good while, and I've yet to actually read an adult novel that isn't from the cause of required reading.
<p style="text-align: left;">The first book in the <i>Chronicles of Jason Lex</i> starts out extremely slow, but picks up pace as the story progresses. Jason's mom suddenly goes missing, and Jason (along with his family) suddenly gets forced to move to a small town with their grandmother to get away from the painful memories of their mom. And to top it off, Jason sees weird blue electricity-like wisps coming out from his hands and eels in the sky later revealed as Skyfish. He's also a little whiny at the beginning of the novel, but eventually drops it as he realizes, "Oh, hey. Cryptids are real. Someone is hoping to expose these creatures and kill millions in the process, and if I don't get my act together, I might lose everything as well."
Wendy Terrien's debut novel is right up my alley in regards to concept <i>The Rampart Guards</i> is about cryptozoology, the study of creatures that may or may not exist. It's not everyday Big Foot, Loch Ness, and other creatures play a critical role in the plot of a novel, and it's the primary reason why <i>The Rampart Guards</i> caught my eye the moment the book was pitched to me.
I adored learning about all kinds of different creatures I've never heard of until I read this book, and if I do decide to continue on with the series, learning more about the cryptids and how this entire world works is going to be one thing I'll be extremely excited for.
Even though I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would, <i>The Rampart Guards</i> will be a fantastic read for younger audiences.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-the-rampart-guards-by-wendy-terrien/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<p style="text-align: left;"><i>The Rampart Guards</i> basically made me realize that I'm definitely growing out of middle grade books and I should move on. This is an extremely scary thought, because what if I get tired of young adult books next?! That probably won't happen for a good while, and I've yet to actually read an adult novel that isn't from the cause of required reading.
<p style="text-align: left;">The first book in the <i>Chronicles of Jason Lex</i> starts out extremely slow, but picks up pace as the story progresses. Jason's mom suddenly goes missing, and Jason (along with his family) suddenly gets forced to move to a small town with their grandmother to get away from the painful memories of their mom. And to top it off, Jason sees weird blue electricity-like wisps coming out from his hands and eels in the sky later revealed as Skyfish. He's also a little whiny at the beginning of the novel, but eventually drops it as he realizes, "Oh, hey. Cryptids are real. Someone is hoping to expose these creatures and kill millions in the process, and if I don't get my act together, I might lose everything as well."
Wendy Terrien's debut novel is right up my alley in regards to concept <i>The Rampart Guards</i> is about cryptozoology, the study of creatures that may or may not exist. It's not everyday Big Foot, Loch Ness, and other creatures play a critical role in the plot of a novel, and it's the primary reason why <i>The Rampart Guards</i> caught my eye the moment the book was pitched to me.
I adored learning about all kinds of different creatures I've never heard of until I read this book, and if I do decide to continue on with the series, learning more about the cryptids and how this entire world works is going to be one thing I'll be extremely excited for.
Even though I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would, <i>The Rampart Guards</i> will be a fantastic read for younger audiences.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-the-rampart-guards-by-wendy-terrien/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>