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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The City Changes Its Face in Books
Oct 14, 2025
I felt that I was carried along on the voice of Eimear McBride as she narrated The City Changes It’s Face. I actually had to check if this was written as some sort of prose-poem because of the cadence, but no. I was hearing it the way it should be read (and here is the number one reason why I love audiobooks).
This is the sequel to The Lesser Bohemians - which I haven’t read. I didn’t feel that I needed to have read it to understand this book, but I will go back and read it, based on how much I enjoyed this.
The style of writing feels experimental, especially when we experience a lengthy description of a film that Stephen makes from the perspective of Eily watching it (I wished I could watch it too).
Obviously, it could be argued that I’ve started my Eimear McBride reading experience in the wrong place, but at least I have somewhere to go next! This novel really made me want to catch up with her previous work.
This is the sequel to The Lesser Bohemians - which I haven’t read. I didn’t feel that I needed to have read it to understand this book, but I will go back and read it, based on how much I enjoyed this.
The style of writing feels experimental, especially when we experience a lengthy description of a film that Stephen makes from the perspective of Eily watching it (I wished I could watch it too).
Obviously, it could be argued that I’ve started my Eimear McBride reading experience in the wrong place, but at least I have somewhere to go next! This novel really made me want to catch up with her previous work.
Big F@!king Deal
8.0
Rate It
Book
Hotter than ever, everyone wants a piece of Jimmy, from Hollywood producers thirsting to take...
David McK (3918 KP) rated Captain America: Brave New World (2025) in Movies
Feb 22, 2025
Previously subtitled New World Order until it was renamed as Brave New World, this is - in many ways - more of a sequel to the oft-forgotten Edward Norton starring "The Incredible Hulk" than it is to any of the previous Captain America films.
It may help to have seen Disney Plus's "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" beforehand, or even have a quick recap of the same - whilst I had watched that series when it was released, I had forgotten some (but not all) of what proved to be salient plot points for this.
Anyway, here Anthony Mackie is now the new Captain America whereas Harrison Ford is now-president Thaddeus Ross, consumed with guilt over his estrangement from his daughter Betty after the events of The Incredible Hulk, and still convinced he did the right thing in creating the Sokovia Accords that tore the Avengers apart (see: Captain America: Civil War).
This movie also - finally! - acknowledges the events of The Eternals, in particular with the body of a half-born Celestial in the ocean providing the impetus for the plot.
It may help to have seen Disney Plus's "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" beforehand, or even have a quick recap of the same - whilst I had watched that series when it was released, I had forgotten some (but not all) of what proved to be salient plot points for this.
Anyway, here Anthony Mackie is now the new Captain America whereas Harrison Ford is now-president Thaddeus Ross, consumed with guilt over his estrangement from his daughter Betty after the events of The Incredible Hulk, and still convinced he did the right thing in creating the Sokovia Accords that tore the Avengers apart (see: Captain America: Civil War).
This movie also - finally! - acknowledges the events of The Eternals, in particular with the body of a half-born Celestial in the ocean providing the impetus for the plot.
David McK (3918 KP) rated Robin Hood and the Heretic Prince (Outlaw Chronicles #11) in Books
Aug 10, 2025
I believe this is something like book #11 in Angus Donald's 'Outlaw Chronicles' series about Robin Hood and his companions, all told from the point of view of Alan a Dale.
And, for those not in the know, this version of Robin is not so much the 'goody two shoes' that may be familiar from the movies and TV series', but is instead a ruthless mercenary who would not hesitate to kill for his own ends, but who is also very loyal to to those he sees as his own.
In this instalment, Robin and several of his companions are forced to abandon their lands following a robbery gone wrong, travelling to the French Languedoc region just in time to get caught up in the Cathar heresy, and (in particular) the ruthless response to the same from the ruling Roman Catholic church who viewed their beliefs as a threat to themselves.
As before, what follows is a very enjoyable tale, full of action, with plenty of plot threads left dangling for the inevitable sequel which I am sure I will pick up!
And, for those not in the know, this version of Robin is not so much the 'goody two shoes' that may be familiar from the movies and TV series', but is instead a ruthless mercenary who would not hesitate to kill for his own ends, but who is also very loyal to to those he sees as his own.
In this instalment, Robin and several of his companions are forced to abandon their lands following a robbery gone wrong, travelling to the French Languedoc region just in time to get caught up in the Cathar heresy, and (in particular) the ruthless response to the same from the ruling Roman Catholic church who viewed their beliefs as a threat to themselves.
As before, what follows is a very enjoyable tale, full of action, with plenty of plot threads left dangling for the inevitable sequel which I am sure I will pick up!
David McK (3918 KP) rated Shadow of the Sith in Books
Apr 22, 2023
Disney-era Star Wars extended universe novel, set in the period between the end of 'Return of the Jedi' and the start of 'The Force Awakens'.
So same period as covered in TVs 'The Mandalorian', of which this makes no mention.
The novel also double-downs on the big (and not-at-all-well-received due to some extreme clunkiness) twist introduced in 'The Rise of Skywalker', with Luke Skywalker - here, before his hermit days - and Lando Calrissian both being drawn into the protection of a family (who they never meet in person) that is being hunted by the Sith: a family that includes a very young Rey.
I actually found this to be not that bad a read that at least attempted to fix some of the problems in The Rise of Skywalker, although I do have to say that it started from an almost impossible position and chose probably one of the least-liked aspects of that film (and character from the sequel trilogy) to concentrate on/be built around!
So same period as covered in TVs 'The Mandalorian', of which this makes no mention.
The novel also double-downs on the big (and not-at-all-well-received due to some extreme clunkiness) twist introduced in 'The Rise of Skywalker', with Luke Skywalker - here, before his hermit days - and Lando Calrissian both being drawn into the protection of a family (who they never meet in person) that is being hunted by the Sith: a family that includes a very young Rey.
I actually found this to be not that bad a read that at least attempted to fix some of the problems in The Rise of Skywalker, although I do have to say that it started from an almost impossible position and chose probably one of the least-liked aspects of that film (and character from the sequel trilogy) to concentrate on/be built around!
Kevin Phillipson (10072 KP) rated Uncharted (2022) in Movies
Feb 17, 2022
Tom Holland (2 more)
Mark walberg
Sophia Ali
Watched today as I’ve played the games in the last two years especially during lockdowns and finishing them so I knew enough about Nathan drake and sully it’s not perfect movie version of the games but it’s almost not sure about mark walberg as victor Sullivan but if there’s sequel then I would be convinced. then there’s Tom Holland as drake there are times where if he was Nathan drake or Peter Parker but I was more convinced with Chloe frasier played by Sophia Ali who was more like her character. And there’s parts of the movie that remind me of the games namely the opening scene which comes out of uncharted 3 which is my favourite of the uncharted games plus there’s a cameo later in the movie which is a wink to the games. Could have done with more Antonio banderas who spends most of the movie as the villain and then he’s basically gone. Overall good movie definitely would again
All the Broken Places
10.0
Rate It
Book
From the author of the globally bestselling, multi-million-copy classic, The Boy in the Striped...
WW2 Post WW2
Otway93 (580 KP) rated The Blue Lagoon (1980) in Movies
Sep 25, 2022
Charming (1 more)
Enjoyable
Acting (3 more)
Aged Badly
Story
Clichés
Absolutely terrible, but somehow good!
This is probably one of the most difficult reviews I've written. I mainly bought this film because I wanted to watch the sequel, Return to the Blue Lagoon (I'm a big fan of Milla Jovovich).
I'm going to start with the negatives, as somehow this film has very few redeeming features.
Brook Shields (to be fair, only 14 at the time), and Christopher Atkins are absolutely awful actors at this early stage in their careers.
The story is highly predictable for the most part, it's very much the typical "stranded on a desert island" film, with somehow every single cliché included, apart from the ending (which remains somewhat ambiguous), and the scenes featuring the two learning about their bodies as they hit puberty.
Despite all this, the film is really enjoyable! It's not a good film by any stretch of the imagination, but somehow it has a certain charm and innocence that will keep you watching, and want to watch it again.
Overall, definitely worth a watch :)
Enjoy everyone!
I'm going to start with the negatives, as somehow this film has very few redeeming features.
Brook Shields (to be fair, only 14 at the time), and Christopher Atkins are absolutely awful actors at this early stage in their careers.
The story is highly predictable for the most part, it's very much the typical "stranded on a desert island" film, with somehow every single cliché included, apart from the ending (which remains somewhat ambiguous), and the scenes featuring the two learning about their bodies as they hit puberty.
Despite all this, the film is really enjoyable! It's not a good film by any stretch of the imagination, but somehow it has a certain charm and innocence that will keep you watching, and want to watch it again.
Overall, definitely worth a watch :)
Enjoy everyone!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2660 KP) rated The Pie & Mash Detective Agency in Books
Sep 11, 2026 (Updated Sep 11, 2026)
Even Fledging Detectives Need More Focus
Jane Pye and Simon Mash are taking an introduction to private investigation class. Simon might not be taking it seriously, but Jane is determined to solve the practice case their instructor gives them. It involves a woman named Nellie Thorne who has recently vanished from an area in England. Over the last few decades, several women with that name have all disappeared without a trace. Can Jane and Simon solve this urban legend?
The premise sounded fun, so I decided to give it a try. Overall, I did like Jane and Simon, although they can be a bit immature at times. Fortunately, they did grow over the course of the book. Likewise, we met some interesting characters along the way. But the mystery has too many fits and starts, and I got frustrated. Having said that, the book does lead to a logical, exciting, and satisfying climax. While this wasn’t as strong as I would have liked, I am glad I picked it up. Still, I probably won’t be back for the sequel.
The premise sounded fun, so I decided to give it a try. Overall, I did like Jane and Simon, although they can be a bit immature at times. Fortunately, they did grow over the course of the book. Likewise, we met some interesting characters along the way. But the mystery has too many fits and starts, and I got frustrated. Having said that, the book does lead to a logical, exciting, and satisfying climax. While this wasn’t as strong as I would have liked, I am glad I picked it up. Still, I probably won’t be back for the sequel.
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
Good sci-fi, but a poor sequel
Independence Day: Resurgence has a lot in common with last year’s Jurassic World. They both are long-awaited sequels to fan-favourite blockbusters, bringing a new generation the same thrills and spills of their forbearers.
Unfortunately, it just so happens that they share the same pitfalls too. But is Independence Day: Resurgence a match for its 1996 predecessor? Or does it crash and burn?
Roland Emmerich returns to the director’s chair, bringing the same breadth of destruction he’s brought to all of his films. The Day After Tomorrow, 2012 and White House Down all prove he’s the master of the apocalypse and Resurgence is no exception.
As the Fourth of July nears, satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) investigates a 3,000-mile-wide mother ship that’s approaching Earth. Fortunately, 20 years earlier, nations across the world started to use recovered extra-terrestrial technology to develop an immense defence program. When the alien invaders attack with unprecedented force, the U.S. president, teams of scientists and brave fighter pilots spring into action to save the planet from a seemingly invincible enemy.
Emmerich throws everything he can at the screen in a film just shy of two hours. The pace rarely lets up and it’s a rollercoaster ride to watch. Dozens of global landmarks are destroyed as our characters race to stop the new alien invasion.
Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Sela Ward (Gone Girl) and Jessie Usher make up the majority of the new cast with Bill Pullman and Judd Hirsch providing a warm sense of nostalgia from the first film. There’s no return for Will Smith, with Jessie Usher playing his step-son and his character is conveniently written out.
Unfortunately, despite the talents of the new cast, the script doesn’t really give them anything to sink their teeth into and the overabundance of, admittedly breath-taking CGI, means there’s nothing there for them to react to – and it shows. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see Jeff Goldblum front and centre after nearly a decade of small film roles.
It’s just a shame that the script is wholly unoriginal. We saw most of it done in 1996, and frankly done better. Since then, there have been countless generic sci-fi flicks that have pushed the same simple premise on their audience and Resurgence suffers due to its timing more than anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s all good fun IF you’re a fan of the genre, and there are some nice references to the first film. The aliens themselves look fantastic and the cinematography is generally very impressive, especially during the aerial bound action sequences.
However, things unravel at the finale. With what is undoubtedly one of the most stupid endings ever put to film, it’s hard not to laugh in amazement as you ponder just what was said around the production table to end up with a final act as ill-advised as this.
Overall, Independence Day: Resurgence has a lot going for it. A likeable new and returning cast is bolstered by brilliant, if overused, CGI and a frantic pace. Unfortunately, it’s a victim of its timing and as such is a decent sci-fi flick, but a poor sequel to its fantastic predecessor.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2016/06/24/good-sci-fi-but-a-poor-sequel-independence-day-resurgence-review/
Unfortunately, it just so happens that they share the same pitfalls too. But is Independence Day: Resurgence a match for its 1996 predecessor? Or does it crash and burn?
Roland Emmerich returns to the director’s chair, bringing the same breadth of destruction he’s brought to all of his films. The Day After Tomorrow, 2012 and White House Down all prove he’s the master of the apocalypse and Resurgence is no exception.
As the Fourth of July nears, satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) investigates a 3,000-mile-wide mother ship that’s approaching Earth. Fortunately, 20 years earlier, nations across the world started to use recovered extra-terrestrial technology to develop an immense defence program. When the alien invaders attack with unprecedented force, the U.S. president, teams of scientists and brave fighter pilots spring into action to save the planet from a seemingly invincible enemy.
Emmerich throws everything he can at the screen in a film just shy of two hours. The pace rarely lets up and it’s a rollercoaster ride to watch. Dozens of global landmarks are destroyed as our characters race to stop the new alien invasion.
Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Sela Ward (Gone Girl) and Jessie Usher make up the majority of the new cast with Bill Pullman and Judd Hirsch providing a warm sense of nostalgia from the first film. There’s no return for Will Smith, with Jessie Usher playing his step-son and his character is conveniently written out.
Unfortunately, despite the talents of the new cast, the script doesn’t really give them anything to sink their teeth into and the overabundance of, admittedly breath-taking CGI, means there’s nothing there for them to react to – and it shows. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see Jeff Goldblum front and centre after nearly a decade of small film roles.
It’s just a shame that the script is wholly unoriginal. We saw most of it done in 1996, and frankly done better. Since then, there have been countless generic sci-fi flicks that have pushed the same simple premise on their audience and Resurgence suffers due to its timing more than anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s all good fun IF you’re a fan of the genre, and there are some nice references to the first film. The aliens themselves look fantastic and the cinematography is generally very impressive, especially during the aerial bound action sequences.
However, things unravel at the finale. With what is undoubtedly one of the most stupid endings ever put to film, it’s hard not to laugh in amazement as you ponder just what was said around the production table to end up with a final act as ill-advised as this.
Overall, Independence Day: Resurgence has a lot going for it. A likeable new and returning cast is bolstered by brilliant, if overused, CGI and a frantic pace. Unfortunately, it’s a victim of its timing and as such is a decent sci-fi flick, but a poor sequel to its fantastic predecessor.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2016/06/24/good-sci-fi-but-a-poor-sequel-independence-day-resurgence-review/