Search
Search results
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Game Of Thrones - Season 4 in TV
Jun 18, 2019
Another A-class season
Contains spoilers, click to show
For me, seasons 3-4 of Game of Thrones were the best without question. By this point it had truly found its stride, balancing epic avlction set pieces alongside a plot that was still pretty slow, but never failed to be intriguing. I would be watching this weekly and not get bored, still clinging on to every word.
Season 4 has some truly important, stand out moments, perhaps none more important that the Purple Wedding, where we see Joffrey finally get his comeuppance.
An event that everyone had been waiting for, it's initially a fist in the air moment, but then the camera lingers on his purple, choked face, and it's suddenly harder to watch - a fine example of GoT giving us what we want before making us question it all moments later.
In a similar fashion, were also introduced to Oberyn Martell, a great, suave character that everyone loved, only for him to be brutally torn from us, in one of the goriest moments in the shows history. Godammit.
This season also boasts the first episode length battle, where the wildlings attack the wall. It's quite a spectacle, showing that the production values are pretty damn impressive considering it's not a big budget movie.
We are also treated to Tyrions trial, which is another fantastic piece of television - no action needed in this episode, all dialogue, and it's marvellous. For me, GoT never quite hit the peak of season 4 going forward.
The set pieces, the script, the casting, the musical score - it's all perfect.
Season 4 has some truly important, stand out moments, perhaps none more important that the Purple Wedding, where we see Joffrey finally get his comeuppance.
An event that everyone had been waiting for, it's initially a fist in the air moment, but then the camera lingers on his purple, choked face, and it's suddenly harder to watch - a fine example of GoT giving us what we want before making us question it all moments later.
In a similar fashion, were also introduced to Oberyn Martell, a great, suave character that everyone loved, only for him to be brutally torn from us, in one of the goriest moments in the shows history. Godammit.
This season also boasts the first episode length battle, where the wildlings attack the wall. It's quite a spectacle, showing that the production values are pretty damn impressive considering it's not a big budget movie.
We are also treated to Tyrions trial, which is another fantastic piece of television - no action needed in this episode, all dialogue, and it's marvellous. For me, GoT never quite hit the peak of season 4 going forward.
The set pieces, the script, the casting, the musical score - it's all perfect.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Eragon (2006) in Movies
Nov 11, 2019
Pile of Dragon Dropings
Where do I start? I read the Inheretance series and fell madly in love. When they announced a film I was so excited. Realy have I been more disappointing.
The design is apauling, did anyone read the descriptions in the book? Sapphire "Brightscales" with feathers, the Urgls. Nuff said.
The script, apauling.
Why do they hate montages? I mean, Saphera needs to grow, okay, great, I get you don't have time to show all the months this took, but what the hell!? She flies into the air, and when she lands she is massive??? No explanation. You know what would have worked... her flying up, the when she comes back down, there is snow, showing the passage of time!!! Even a dam "3 months later" would have been better!
Sorry, moving on.
I know adapting a story from one medium to another is not easy, but this was a shocking way of doing things.
It was like no one read the actual book. One of the main themes running through the books is the power of language, how knowing something's true name gives followed over it. So when you give a dragon called "brightscales" feathers, and have the Gedwe Insignia ( meaning "shiny plam) as a crappy scar, you are missing the dam point!
Even if it had been popular enough for a sequel, it would not realy have worked, given all the changes they made.
To sum up... READ. THE. DAM BOOK!
The design is apauling, did anyone read the descriptions in the book? Sapphire "Brightscales" with feathers, the Urgls. Nuff said.
The script, apauling.
Why do they hate montages? I mean, Saphera needs to grow, okay, great, I get you don't have time to show all the months this took, but what the hell!? She flies into the air, and when she lands she is massive??? No explanation. You know what would have worked... her flying up, the when she comes back down, there is snow, showing the passage of time!!! Even a dam "3 months later" would have been better!
Sorry, moving on.
I know adapting a story from one medium to another is not easy, but this was a shocking way of doing things.
It was like no one read the actual book. One of the main themes running through the books is the power of language, how knowing something's true name gives followed over it. So when you give a dragon called "brightscales" feathers, and have the Gedwe Insignia ( meaning "shiny plam) as a crappy scar, you are missing the dam point!
Even if it had been popular enough for a sequel, it would not realy have worked, given all the changes they made.
To sum up... READ. THE. DAM BOOK!
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) in Movies
Nov 20, 2019 (Updated Dec 19, 2019)
Attack of the Clones is easily my least favourite Star Wars movie, but still, I can't bring myself to completely hate it. It's still Star Wars. It's still a big part of my childhood.
The main issues for me lie within the story, and perhaps most infamously, the romance plot between Anakin and Padme. It's an integral part of the story for sure, but the dialogue is horrible, Hayden Christensen is oddly wooden, and unfortunately, it takes up a big part of Episode II's runtime.
I also find the action set pieces in AOTC a very mixed bag. Nothing particularly stands out, except maybe the arena fight scene with hundreds of Jedis, and the potentially great chase scene near the start is soiled by the needlessly quippy script work.
It's not all bad though. There are some great actors involved - Ewan McGregor is still awesome as Obi Wan, and of course, we're introduced to Count Dooku, played by the ever incredible Christopher Lee (although is character is ultimately pointless).
Locations such as Kamino are something new and different and great to look at, and then of course, the single most important thing about AOTC - it paved the way for the Clone Wars TV show, so it definitely deserves credit for that.
Unfortunately, Episode II feels overstuffed with a while lot of nothing, and is no where the same quality as Star Wars at it's very best, but like I said, I can't hate on it too much. For better or worse, it's part of the Star Wars experience.
The main issues for me lie within the story, and perhaps most infamously, the romance plot between Anakin and Padme. It's an integral part of the story for sure, but the dialogue is horrible, Hayden Christensen is oddly wooden, and unfortunately, it takes up a big part of Episode II's runtime.
I also find the action set pieces in AOTC a very mixed bag. Nothing particularly stands out, except maybe the arena fight scene with hundreds of Jedis, and the potentially great chase scene near the start is soiled by the needlessly quippy script work.
It's not all bad though. There are some great actors involved - Ewan McGregor is still awesome as Obi Wan, and of course, we're introduced to Count Dooku, played by the ever incredible Christopher Lee (although is character is ultimately pointless).
Locations such as Kamino are something new and different and great to look at, and then of course, the single most important thing about AOTC - it paved the way for the Clone Wars TV show, so it definitely deserves credit for that.
Unfortunately, Episode II feels overstuffed with a while lot of nothing, and is no where the same quality as Star Wars at it's very best, but like I said, I can't hate on it too much. For better or worse, it's part of the Star Wars experience.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Jurassic Park (1993) in Movies
Dec 4, 2019
Dino-mite Film!
Rearley does a film age well, particularly in tge 90s, but the quality of the anamatronics, CGI and practicàl effects let's this one stand the test of time (to an extent anyway).
Wealthy zoo lover John Hammond has invested his cash in the extraction of DNA from fossalised amber, lesing to the creation of dinosaurs!
As you can imagine, this is no walk in the park, and after a "incident" resulting in the death of a park worker, the insurance company want an investigation, and outside approval to declare the park safe to open.
Enter Drs Allan Grant ("Alan!") And Ellie Sattler, renowned paeleogolotists (the latter being a paeliobotpnist, no idea if that is spelt right...) As well as Dr Ian Malcolm.
They, along with the lawyer and John's grand kids take the tour of the park, but things do not go according to plan.
Filled with suspense, memorable moments, and more fake science than you can shake a fossle at, it is an epic tale of survival as "nature finds a way" to break it's bonds and sick a big middle claw up at OSHA.
I loved this film when I first saw it, and now, decades later, I still do. Even though I know the script by heart, I still find myself on the edge if my seat, holding my breath.
Parodied in thousands of other forms of media, I know I am not the only one.
I give this film 10 severed Samulal L. Jackson arms out if 10.
Wealthy zoo lover John Hammond has invested his cash in the extraction of DNA from fossalised amber, lesing to the creation of dinosaurs!
As you can imagine, this is no walk in the park, and after a "incident" resulting in the death of a park worker, the insurance company want an investigation, and outside approval to declare the park safe to open.
Enter Drs Allan Grant ("Alan!") And Ellie Sattler, renowned paeleogolotists (the latter being a paeliobotpnist, no idea if that is spelt right...) As well as Dr Ian Malcolm.
They, along with the lawyer and John's grand kids take the tour of the park, but things do not go according to plan.
Filled with suspense, memorable moments, and more fake science than you can shake a fossle at, it is an epic tale of survival as "nature finds a way" to break it's bonds and sick a big middle claw up at OSHA.
I loved this film when I first saw it, and now, decades later, I still do. Even though I know the script by heart, I still find myself on the edge if my seat, holding my breath.
Parodied in thousands of other forms of media, I know I am not the only one.
I give this film 10 severed Samulal L. Jackson arms out if 10.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Book of Monsters (2018) in Movies
Jan 21, 2020
At its best, Book of Monsters is really silly, and it knows it. It's not trying to be anymore than it is, and it has a sort of low budget charm to it.
At its worst, it feels like a tiny step up from a run of the mill student film, cringey acting and all.
It's not fair to shit on BoM too much. It's important to remember that it started life as a Kickstarter project, from Stewart Sparke, the director of the similarly low rent The Creature Below.
It was made on a micro-budget, and as such has a cheap look to it. But the movies tongue-in-cheek approach and semi-inspired creature designs make it more enjoyable than expected! Everyone involved seems to be having a great time, the (intentionally?) awful script still managed to make me laugh here and there, and there's enough silly gore to satisfy fans of the genre.
That being said, the acting isn't great from anybody, even if it is a bit of fun. The pacing is questionable, and there are several awkward silences littered throughout which are quite cringey. There's nothing wrong with going for silly campy horror-schlock, but its been done before and much better (although admittedly, on higher budgets!)
I won't be watching it again anytime soon, but I'd say it's worth checking out the once just to experience the sheer silliness of it all. It would be nice to see what this team could do with proper funding.
At its worst, it feels like a tiny step up from a run of the mill student film, cringey acting and all.
It's not fair to shit on BoM too much. It's important to remember that it started life as a Kickstarter project, from Stewart Sparke, the director of the similarly low rent The Creature Below.
It was made on a micro-budget, and as such has a cheap look to it. But the movies tongue-in-cheek approach and semi-inspired creature designs make it more enjoyable than expected! Everyone involved seems to be having a great time, the (intentionally?) awful script still managed to make me laugh here and there, and there's enough silly gore to satisfy fans of the genre.
That being said, the acting isn't great from anybody, even if it is a bit of fun. The pacing is questionable, and there are several awkward silences littered throughout which are quite cringey. There's nothing wrong with going for silly campy horror-schlock, but its been done before and much better (although admittedly, on higher budgets!)
I won't be watching it again anytime soon, but I'd say it's worth checking out the once just to experience the sheer silliness of it all. It would be nice to see what this team could do with proper funding.
JT (287 KP) rated The Possession of Hannah Grace (2018) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
If there was ever somewhere befitting of a horror film it’s in a morgue. But unlike the terrifying Autopsy of Jane Doe which, uses the location in a dark and gothic manner, The Possession of Hannah Grace feels overworked and desperate to please.
When an exorcism goes horribly wrong the body ends up within the confines of a Boston hospital morgue three months later. There, ex-cop Megan (Shay Mitchell) who is recovering from her own personal trauma, takes a job working the graveyard shift. The setting had so much potential it’s annoying that the film just saunters along, relying on cheap jump scares to capture audience attention.
As Megan walks about with not much to do until the eventual arrival of Hannah Grace’s disfigured corpse, she spends the time familiarising herself with the creepy surroundings. Megan’s backstory is far more interesting. Suffering from PTSD after watching her partner get gunned down, she battles an addiction to pills and now has the thankless task of having to battle a demon – hardly job satisfaction.
The setting had so much potential it’s annoying that the film just saunters along, relying on cheap jump scares to capture audience attention.
In fairness to director Diederik Van Rooijen, he has chosen a tried and tested subgenre. And he isn’t helped by Brian Sieve‘s poor script. There is the odd positive moment, mainly when Hannah’s twisted body offers a glimpse at something more sinister lurking inside her. But that’s about it.
“When you die, you die. End of story,” says Megan – and after 85 minutes we’re pleased it did.
When an exorcism goes horribly wrong the body ends up within the confines of a Boston hospital morgue three months later. There, ex-cop Megan (Shay Mitchell) who is recovering from her own personal trauma, takes a job working the graveyard shift. The setting had so much potential it’s annoying that the film just saunters along, relying on cheap jump scares to capture audience attention.
As Megan walks about with not much to do until the eventual arrival of Hannah Grace’s disfigured corpse, she spends the time familiarising herself with the creepy surroundings. Megan’s backstory is far more interesting. Suffering from PTSD after watching her partner get gunned down, she battles an addiction to pills and now has the thankless task of having to battle a demon – hardly job satisfaction.
The setting had so much potential it’s annoying that the film just saunters along, relying on cheap jump scares to capture audience attention.
In fairness to director Diederik Van Rooijen, he has chosen a tried and tested subgenre. And he isn’t helped by Brian Sieve‘s poor script. There is the odd positive moment, mainly when Hannah’s twisted body offers a glimpse at something more sinister lurking inside her. But that’s about it.
“When you die, you die. End of story,” says Megan – and after 85 minutes we’re pleased it did.
JT (287 KP) rated The Oxford Murders (2010) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
From the first couple of scenes you’d half expect to see Inspector Morse and Lewis step out from behind one of the great pillars that surround Oxford University – sadly that is not going to be the case here. The story itself could have been taken right out of an Agatha Christie novel but the subsequent plot gets mixed up like the mathematical equation it is trying to lay out.
John Hurt plays Arthur Seldom a university professor whose life revolves around mathematical equations and whether or not we can prove truth and probability. Martin (Elijah Wood) is a graduate over from America looking at using Seldom to help him with his thesis.
The pair get mixed up in an altogether different set of circumstances when they must work together to solve a series of murders based around mathematical symbols. The Oxford Murders falls some way short of delivering on any tension or drama, which is a real shame. The script is over complicated and there is no real time to develop the characters before we are thrown head first into the first murder.
All in all it seemed rushed together. More strangely was the choice of director; Spanish born Álex de la Iglesia who also wrote the screenplay. A background largely based around foreign film I find it odd that he should have any idea about the true reflections of historic Oxford. Maybe that is where amongst other things The Oxford Murders falls down. In the hands of a more traditional English director we may have had a better outcome.
John Hurt plays Arthur Seldom a university professor whose life revolves around mathematical equations and whether or not we can prove truth and probability. Martin (Elijah Wood) is a graduate over from America looking at using Seldom to help him with his thesis.
The pair get mixed up in an altogether different set of circumstances when they must work together to solve a series of murders based around mathematical symbols. The Oxford Murders falls some way short of delivering on any tension or drama, which is a real shame. The script is over complicated and there is no real time to develop the characters before we are thrown head first into the first murder.
All in all it seemed rushed together. More strangely was the choice of director; Spanish born Álex de la Iglesia who also wrote the screenplay. A background largely based around foreign film I find it odd that he should have any idea about the true reflections of historic Oxford. Maybe that is where amongst other things The Oxford Murders falls down. In the hands of a more traditional English director we may have had a better outcome.
Twinkl Phonics Phase 1 - (British Phonics)
Education and Games
App
Whether you are a teacher who wants to use this App to enhance children’s learning alongside your...
Creating Online Tutorials: A Practical Guide for Librarians
Hannah Gascho Rempel and Maribeth Slebodnik
Book
Today's students rely heavily on using electronic resources; they expect to be able to access...
The Peace Revolution Podcast
Podcast
Peace is the way. The Revolution is in between Your Ears. Re-Contextualizing History... One Episode...