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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The One in Books

Feb 28, 2018  
The One
The One
John Marrs | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.6 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Very Black Mirror-esque
This is such a great idea for a story, you can almost imagine a slightly darker version of it featuring on Black Mirror. The idea of there being a genetic match out there for everyone found through a dating website is so plausible and in keeping with today’s society that it wouldn’t surprise me if something like this was to happen in my lifetime. It’s an intriguing take on modern dating too and for someone who sadly has experience in dating websites, it’s very relatable.

It’s well written and it does well to hold your attention by breaking into 5 separate stories with different characters all related by the same matching experience, in small bite sized chapters. The characters themselves are all likeable in their own way and you get very invested in their stories. There are a number of twists and my only criticism would be that some parts of this story get a little bit far fetched. It’s fiction, but I did find myself questioning the plausibility in parts. That said, I really couldn’t put it down.
  
DT
Destined to Kill (Destined Novels, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anala is a Hunter, the child of the Leaders of their society, and she's one of the best. Too bad her parents never let her go out and actually hunt any Cursed Ones. One night, she and her friend Thomas are out, and his sister scares them. When Thomas leaves Anala behind to take his sister home, she lets her guard down for one minute; however, that's all it takes. She's bitten, and her life will change forever.

This story pulled me in from the very first sentence. Everybody loves a good vampire story, but this was more than that. It was a coming-of-age story, of sorts, mixed with a little romance, some intrigue, and some good old-fashioned butt kicking. I'm fond of all the characters, even Jenna (the proverbial sour grape), and I would definitely love to read more about this group. I really hope there's a sequel already in the works!!

5 stars =)
  
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Sharpie0499 (114 KP) rated Bandslam (2009) in Movies

Jul 9, 2018 (Updated Jul 9, 2018)  
Bandslam (2009)
Bandslam (2009)
2009 | Comedy, Drama, Musical
5
4.3 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Good hidden truths (1 more)
Good coming-of-age film
Everything else (0 more)
High School Musical Level
Contains spoilers, click to show
Bandslam is a decent coming-of-age film for ages 7-13, but it is your typical American high school story where the guy gets the girl and everything works out in the end. The only good thing that comes from this film is the hidden truth that is revealed about society: when rumours are passed around about you and you move school, but the students at the new school always find out about your background and use it as a weapon. This brutal truth is shown throughout the film as Will tries, unsuccessfully, to hide the fact his father killed a kid whilst drinking under the influence and is now in prison with a DUI. What is most shocking is, not only do the students at his new school use his father's DUI against him, but so does Charlotte, who was supposedly Will's friend. Overall, Bandslam is more suited to younger audiences with an open mind.
  
GT
Gork, the Teenage Dragon
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hilarious, cute (at least to me) adventure in finding love with the young Gork. The authors take on dragons is wholly original. These aren't your typical dragons, either as destructive creatures hording treasure and demanding maidens and being slain by knights or as respected creatures of magic and wisdom. Gork and his dragons are a very interesting alien species that have the characteristics of typical dragons with their wings and tails and scales and claws and breathing fire and just plain fierceness but with an intelligence similar to humans, a more militarized society, and a huge love of poetry. Have I mentioned it's hilarious? yes? well that's cause it is lol. My only problem, and it's not much of one, was the repetition of things like "scaly green ass," the first few times it added to the humor but after that it got a little annoying. Gabe Hudson has clearly shown his talent and I'm interested to see what he does in his (hopefully very long) career.
**Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to review the ARC!**
  
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
2018 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Mystery
To fall victim to one dark lord may be considered a misfortune. For it to happen on a cyclical basis suggests a fundamental structural flaw in your society. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2018) #Review
There’s a touch of vanity to the new Wizarding World logo which follows the Warner Bros shield at the start of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Gindelwald”, equal in hubris if not in ironic overconfidence to the unveiling (and shuttering) of Universal’s Dark Universe at the star of “The Mummy”. The mission is clear: expand the brand, diminish ‘Harry Potter’. The trouble is, the charm of Harry Potter was in its lead characters and their coming of age journey against the backdrop of a secret wizarding world falling back into a war which had not yet been won. You take those appealing characters away and all you’re left with is a wizarding world which doesn’t hold up to even the most cursory scrutiny in a movie that, for a family-friendly blockbuster, sure has a lot of baby murders in it....
FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusGrindelwald
  
American Horror Story  - Season 2
American Horror Story - Season 2
2012 | Horror
Gripping tension (2 more)
Flashback to insanity in the 60s
Psychological twists and turns
Lanabananafofana
Welcome to Briarcliff Sanitarium, ran by the Catholic church this Asylum is the last stop for the damaged souls society has decided it doesn't want to save. Lana, our sapphic heroine, wants the scoop of the century, the man behind the mask. Bloodyface. Sentenced to be held in Briarcliff to await trial for the serial killings of Bostonian women. To get to him however, Lana must get through the fearless sister Jude and the devil herself wants to play.
     By far one of the top seasons of American Horror Story, Sarah Paulson portrays each character she plays with grace and dignity and Lana is no exception. The cast are incredible, Jessica Lange as Sister Jude cracking the whip, Lily Rabe proving what a talented actress she is playing the split Sister Mary Eunice, Evan Peters as Kit Walker, the misguided fool who really isn't all he seems.
    Thrilling from end to end and really worth a watch.
  
XD
X-Men: Days of Future Past
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The inspiration behind the X-Men film of the same name, in which a member of the team (or rather, therir consciousness) is sent back in time from the dystiopian future of 2013(!) to the early 198os to stop the assissination of a US Senator: an assiassination that directly leads to fear and mistrust of mutant-kind, and the creation of the robotic Sentinels who police their society.

What is interesting is just how much of this is similar to the events of the movie - often times, the movie bears the barest resemblance to the source material - even if the particulars are different.

For instance, in the movie it's Wolverine who is sent back in time; here it's Kitty Pryde (is she even in any of the movies?). Magneto plays a much larger role in the movie than here; where he's in the future but not so much in the past. Finally, Mystique's role is much enlarged in the movie - perhaps as a direct result of Jennifer Lawrence's star power?

But in either case, the main beats are the same.
  
Boy 2 Girl
Boy 2 Girl
Terence Blacker | 2017 | Children, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It is funny and educational (0 more)
Nothing (0 more)
Full marks for making me laugh out loud
Contains spoilers, click to show
This book deserved a five star rating because it made me laugh out loud so often. It was a brilliant book and I loved Blacker's use of narrative voice. It is a multiple first person narrative which allows the reader a close and personal account of the characters feelings and emotions, this is particular interesting as there is a mixture of both adult and child characters. The book gives the reader a wonderful insight into gender and demonstrates the way in which gender is socially constructed. It also shows how children can be attracted to other children regardless of gender. As a whole, children are influenced by other children, by characteristics, by confidence and by personality. Children are often put into boxes and treated differently because of gender, this book breaks the rules and it genius. I would highly recommend this book to both adults and children as it may just demonstrate how alike we all are and how society is often too eager to put us into groups.
  
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Nickg24 (492 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies

Dec 20, 2019  
Joker (2019)
Joker (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama
Phoenix for best actor oscar
Contains spoilers, click to show
Wow,what a film.I will admit I was very sceptical when this announced and though for me heath ledger will always be the greatest joker ever,phoenix has given us a much different one but one that is still incredibly brilliant and should win him the best actor oscar.

The film focuses on arthur flecks descent into madness as society slowly crumbles around him and he finds out his mother is not what he thought she was.As he begins to become the clown prince of crime be sees that his actions are inspiring the people of gotham to go out dressed as clowns and riot in the city.

A mention must go to robert de niro as well,following on from his immense performance in the Irishman he gives us yet another as talk show host murray franklin.That grisly ending that sees joker shoot and kill franklin live on his talk show has to be seen to be believed.

An incredible piece of film making.