Search

Search only in certain items:

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season 5
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season 5
2018 | Comedy, Crime
Good stories, great characters, good laughs (0 more)
Somewhat limited character development (0 more)
So far, so very good!
So far, we (my wife and i) are about to finish Season 3. We have been semi-binge-watching for about a month, but with the episodes only being 20 minutes, its refreshingly easy to get a few episodes in each night, which really helps to keep the laughs!

The characters are great, if (slightly) lacking development - although Peralta is still the wisecracking clown in S3, he has matured just a tiny bit. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but some slightly bigger changes would be good - yes Diaz is able to express some emotions, briefly; Holt is more human etc and they feel organic, but sometimes it is a bit forced.

I have really enjoyed the show, so far, and I look forward to seeing any further development - or not! - for the remaining episodes.

Well worth a watch, as a bit of lightweight humour
  
Chocolat (Chocolat #1)
Chocolat (Chocolat #1)
Joanne Harris | 1999 | Fiction & Poetry
Sweet and satisfying
I need to be honest; I’ve never seen the film that is based on this book and never really been particularly interested in watching it either. However having now read the book, I could be tempted as the book is rather wonderful.

This is a rather strange novel - a character based drama set in a mysterious small French village with some very small magical undertones. It sounds weird, but it actually really works. All of the characters, from Vianne herself to the rest of the villagers are likeable or at the very least relatable with all of their various personalities. The fact that this is based around a chocolate shop makes it a charming and rather tempting setting and the story has a fair number of outcomes that you wouldn’t expect although there are still some that are rather predictable. Overall this is just a rather charming and sweet character driven story.
  
40x40

ClareR (5603 KP) Jun 17, 2019

I want to reread this so that I can read the others! I read it years ago when it first came out, and I have no chance of remembering enough of what happened to read the other 3 books sat on my kindle! Trip to the library for me, I think!!

40x40

Ross (3282 KP) created a post

Jan 30, 2018  
Two short notice NetGalley approvals, so having to re-shuffle my reading plan (humblebrag).
I'm going to blitz the novella "Of Gods and Men" by Stephen Aryan, published next week, over the next day or so and then rattle through "Age of Assassins" by RJ Barker (which I have heard very good things about and have been wanting to read for some time) so I can review "Blood of Assassins" before its release on the 15th. Luckily the concluding book in that trilogy, "King of Assassins", is released in August so I won't have too long to wait for the finish (I hate reading a series that isn't yet finished, hence why I have never started "A Song of Ice and Fire" and why I'm reluctant to read the Mister Men books to the kids - still too many loose ends).
Then back to some hot dwarf action. Erm ... you know what I mean.
     
Gentlemen Broncos (2009)
Gentlemen Broncos (2009)
2009 | Adventure, Comedy
This movie will definitely not be for everyone. It's along the same lines as Napoleon Dynamite (same director), so it's incredibly awkward at some points. Benjamin is an aspiring writer, whose mother tries to get him to make friends with Dusty (Mike White), and let's him go to a writing seminar. At this writing seminar, he meets his favorite author, Chevalier (Jemaine Clement), and turns in his story about Bronco to be judged to win a competition. Chevalier needs a story, so he takes Benjamin's story, changes some things (Bronco to Brutus), and publishes it as his own.
Benjamin, of course, isn't aware of this, and he let's his friend, Lonnie, make a completely awful movie based on the story. After the premiere of this awful movie, Benjamin picks up Chevalier's new book, and realizes he stole his story.
Bronco/Brutus is played by Sam Rockwell. Rockwell does an amazing job in both the roles of Bronco and Brutus.
The whole movie is hilariously awkward.
  
40x40

Tamsin Clark (15 KP) rated Netflix in Apps

Jan 20, 2018  
Netflix
Netflix
Entertainment, Lifestyle
8
8.7 (589 Ratings)
App Rating
Wide range of films and series (4 more)
Well priced and reasonable package options
Good at creating own content
App and site are easy to navigate
Subtitles and captions available
Some genres lack in content (3 more)
Slow to release newer films
Not everything has subtitles
App sometimes malfunctions on Amazon Fire Stick
Good for series lovers
I have used Netflix for a number of years now and the one thing I've noticed is that they aren't the best for being up to date with the latest movies and releases, especially in the horror field. However, over the years Netflix has excelled in producing their own material and have turned out some very stellar series that have truly been worth the watch. They're also very good for kids programs, with the ability to create a child's profile that limits them ONLY to programs rated for under 12s, which is great for my 5-year-old who can always find her favourite cartoons on her tablet using her profile.
  
Z(
Zodiac (Zodiac, #1)
8
7.0 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Every time you think you have something figured out in this book, the author throws you a curveball. I never knew what to expect when reading this book but enjoyed it overall. The world building was good, but I hope it is developed more in subsequent books. It could be so rich and immersive if that happens. Some of the scenes were weak and made the pacing drag. The main character is relatable despite her unexpected change in station and dramatic odyssey. As seems typical in recent YA fiction there is an element of a love triangle. I don't find it entirely believable, so it pulls me out of the narrative at times. Some of the scenes were weak and made the pacing drag. Overall, it's an enjoyable read and I will be reading the subsequent books in the series. Definitely recommend reading this book if you like YA fiction about space, technology, bad guys, adventure or romance.
  
War on Everyone (2017)
War on Everyone (2017)
2017 | International, Comedy
6
5.3 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Slightly baffling deadpan black comedy parody of American cop thrillers (probably - it's hard to be sure). A pair of incredibly corrupt New Mexico detectives discover previously unsuspected reserves of decency and honesty as they encounter a ruthless gang of thieves.

One of those movies which seems to be trying ridiculously hard to go over the top, but with an absolutely straight face: the main characters aren't just corrupt, they're absurdly corrupt, and the plot at times seems to be intentionally provocative and also absurd (the story relocates all the way to Iceland at one point, but only for about five minutes). It's so in-your-face extreme in some of its attitudes and jokes that it's quite hard to engage with as a story for much of the time. But McDonagh is too good a director to make an entirely bad movie and there are some impressive moments and sequences along the way. But still a strange and difficult-to-figure-out movie.
  
The Logo Board Game
The Logo Board Game
2009 | Quiz / Trivia
A very fun game
The name itself, "The Logo Game", is a little bit misleading and actually does itself a disservice, as it's so much more than just logos.

It's a fun, fairly quick trivia game testing your knowledge on not just logos but also brands, products and ingredients. It's a great game either to play with just 2 players or to play with multiple teams and fortunately isn't anywhere near as long to play as something like Trivial Pursuit. My main criticism though is some of the questions are very age limited. I'm not particularly young and living in a television age, I feel I know quite a few brands and products. However some of the questions and brands mentioned I am completely clueless on and only seem suitable for someone around my mum's age. It's a lot difficult to know brands from before your time than it is to know general knowledge trivia.
  
It’s sugaring season, which means Dani Greene is super busy with the sap running, the annual Maple Festival, and the annual visit from her difficult great-aunt. The last things she needs is the body in the town hall basement. The remains are identified as a drifter who came through town 30 years ago and stole cash before he left. Now, Dani is asked to figure out who really took the money. Can she do that without getting in a killer’s crosshairs?

This series has some great characters, and it was a treat to get to visit them again. The new characters are just as strong. The main mystery and some sub-plots weave in and out of each other, and the result is a book I didn’t want to put down.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/04/book-review-sticky-situation-by-jessie.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Bunny Birdsong is the newest employee at TenHuis Chocolade, and she brings with her some baggage in the form of an almost ex-husband and an aunt-in-law that would like to get the two back together. When Bunny’s aunt is found in the construction zone next door, Bunny becomes the prime suspect. Can Lee Woodyard figure out what is really happening?

Like always, this book is a delight from start to finish. It’s on the short size, which is usual for the series, but the book still packs in plenty of twists and turns. We even get to see a bit more of some series regulars who usual have cameos, which I really enjoyed. This series continues to be as addicting as always, and I can’t wait for the next books.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-chocolate-bunny-brouhaha-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.