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Rachael Moyes (404 KP) rated Sweetener by Ariana Grande in Music
Sep 1, 2018
Giveaway Review
I received a copy of this album via Smashbomb Giveaways to listen to and review.
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Ariana Grande. Some of her music I absolutely love, and some I'm not too keen on. Because of this I knew this album would be a bit hit and miss. Fortunately it was more hit than miss!
I'm obsessed with the song 'God is a Woman'. It was the only track I knew going into this album, and I absolutely love it. My other favourite tracks were 'Raindrops', 'R.E.M' and 'No Tears Left to Cry'.
The cover art is beautiful (how can it not be? Ariana is stunning!) and I really love the quirky way the the images and text are facing different ways.
Overall, not one of my favourite albums, but it was very fun and I'm looking forward to listening to it again :)
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Ariana Grande. Some of her music I absolutely love, and some I'm not too keen on. Because of this I knew this album would be a bit hit and miss. Fortunately it was more hit than miss!
I'm obsessed with the song 'God is a Woman'. It was the only track I knew going into this album, and I absolutely love it. My other favourite tracks were 'Raindrops', 'R.E.M' and 'No Tears Left to Cry'.
The cover art is beautiful (how can it not be? Ariana is stunning!) and I really love the quirky way the the images and text are facing different ways.
Overall, not one of my favourite albums, but it was very fun and I'm looking forward to listening to it again :)
I enjoyed this novel, it is set from the vantage point of Jack, a five year old boy who is being kept prisoner with his mum in a garden shed which her kidnapper has converted into a special soundproof 'room'. Jack was born there, so his mother's frustrations on their situation goes over his innocent little head until around halfway through the book when he realises that Old Nick is a bad person. Still, he doesn't understand why. He has a very cute way of anthropomorphising his surroundings, his Rug, and Meltedy Spoon take on characteristics of their own. The only thing that let this book down is that it is sometimes hard for the reader to imagine it is actually a little boy speaking, as some complex feelings and emotions are expressed which are hard to imagine would be understood by a child. I guess though, that an adult writing as a child must be hard so the author must be given some leeway.
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated St. Osmunds (2013) in Movies
Sep 12, 2018
Strong ideas, but misses the mark
St Osmunds is a mixture of found footage and traditional shooting, following two guys that are making a documentary about an Insane Asylum that closed under mysterious circumstances.
There is some nicely placed humour at times, and a great red-herring/meta humour joke quite early on that really surprised me, and the dialogue is actually not the worst, considering how badly low budget horror treats scripts normally.
The plot is ambitious, at times quite interesting but all too often it falls a little short of its goal, leaving the viewer confused as to what is happening.
This may just be due to inexperience on behalf of those involved, or a deliberate attempt to at making a mysterious film, but either way its a slightly chaotic ride.
This is a film for people interested in interesting concepts and twists, but not one if you are expecting a high budget affair.
There is some nicely placed humour at times, and a great red-herring/meta humour joke quite early on that really surprised me, and the dialogue is actually not the worst, considering how badly low budget horror treats scripts normally.
The plot is ambitious, at times quite interesting but all too often it falls a little short of its goal, leaving the viewer confused as to what is happening.
This may just be due to inexperience on behalf of those involved, or a deliberate attempt to at making a mysterious film, but either way its a slightly chaotic ride.
This is a film for people interested in interesting concepts and twists, but not one if you are expecting a high budget affair.
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Clown (2016) in Movies
Sep 12, 2018
This guy ain't clowning around...
Clown is like a classic twilight-zone style curse movie, where a dad puts on an antique clown suit, which turns out to have dire consequences that essentially turn him into a child eating killer clown.
There are some great comedic moments, as you would expect, some gross body horror, gruesome kills and actually pretty good performances.
Despite the b-movie plot, the acting is very solid, and the whole feel is of a well-made, well budgeted horror film, that would not have been out of place on a decent cinema release.
There are plenty of plot holes, bad decisions and parts that drag on a little, but overall this is a pretty entertaining movie, which provides a throwback experience to an 80's style slasher but with modern production values, so what is not to like?
There are some great comedic moments, as you would expect, some gross body horror, gruesome kills and actually pretty good performances.
Despite the b-movie plot, the acting is very solid, and the whole feel is of a well-made, well budgeted horror film, that would not have been out of place on a decent cinema release.
There are plenty of plot holes, bad decisions and parts that drag on a little, but overall this is a pretty entertaining movie, which provides a throwback experience to an 80's style slasher but with modern production values, so what is not to like?
Cumberland (1142 KP) rated The Wanderer in Books
Oct 7, 2018
Not A Lot Going On
This book is intended for middle grade readers, so I was expecting a simple story. It ended up being to simple. The author underestimates what the reader will follow and comprehen, and the story greatly suffers because of this. The characters were interesting, but I would have liked the writer to spend more time explaining the characters past and showing them develop new relationships. Cody and his dad particularly had a relationship that I would have liked to know more about.
I did enjoy the story style of change back and forth between Cody's and Sophie's journals. They both had unique views on the events happening around them, and Cody's point of view gave the reader some much needed insight on Sophie.
Overall this was a quick read, and it did have some strong points; however the story feels as if its missing something that keeps it from being anything special.
I did enjoy the story style of change back and forth between Cody's and Sophie's journals. They both had unique views on the events happening around them, and Cody's point of view gave the reader some much needed insight on Sophie.
Overall this was a quick read, and it did have some strong points; however the story feels as if its missing something that keeps it from being anything special.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Train to Busan (2016) in Movies
Oct 8, 2018
A zombie movie with a heart?
After reading some great reviews for this film (some on Smashbomb) I thought I would give this modern Korean zombie film a try.
Boy was I glad I did.
Nothing too complicated with the plot here. Just a straight escape the zombie hoard before they bite you and make you part of the global onslaught type thing.
The characters are not well explained for the most part, but you care about them anyways when bad things start to happen. Blood and guts are amped down in favor of tension instead which I liked. The chase scenes were great and keep me watching and on the edge of my seat.
For those who don't like foreign films no worries here. The action and story keep you going almost immediately and you forget you are watching and reading at the same time.
Highly recommended. (Find on Netflix currently).
Boy was I glad I did.
Nothing too complicated with the plot here. Just a straight escape the zombie hoard before they bite you and make you part of the global onslaught type thing.
The characters are not well explained for the most part, but you care about them anyways when bad things start to happen. Blood and guts are amped down in favor of tension instead which I liked. The chase scenes were great and keep me watching and on the edge of my seat.
For those who don't like foreign films no worries here. The action and story keep you going almost immediately and you forget you are watching and reading at the same time.
Highly recommended. (Find on Netflix currently).
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Deadpool 2 (2018) in Movies
Oct 13, 2018
Best cameo ever!
So glad Ryan Reynolds finally found a character he could really live in. Had always thought he was a cool, funny actor but had never really connected with a role before this one.
More of the same from the last film here, so if you liked that you will like this.
This time he teams up with Cable and his self created band of amateur heroes the "X-Force" to fight more bad guys and try and save a young mutant from killing someone and going to far.
Great soundtrack, random movie references which is one of the things I love most, but thought it dragged in some parts where it was sort of dull and not much happening. Some of the jokes fell flat and the characters talked too fast so you couldn't understand them.
Great action and car chase scenes make this a very entertaining film to experience.
More of the same from the last film here, so if you liked that you will like this.
This time he teams up with Cable and his self created band of amateur heroes the "X-Force" to fight more bad guys and try and save a young mutant from killing someone and going to far.
Great soundtrack, random movie references which is one of the things I love most, but thought it dragged in some parts where it was sort of dull and not much happening. Some of the jokes fell flat and the characters talked too fast so you couldn't understand them.
Great action and car chase scenes make this a very entertaining film to experience.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Pet Sematary (1989) in Movies
Oct 19, 2018
A good adaptation
Whilst this isn’t one of the best Stephen King adaptations, it’s a lot better than expected.
This stays very true to the original book. It’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but there was nothing in this that stood out as being different, which is always good news. This is a typical late 80s film, with some very weak performances and feels very much like a made for TV movie. That said, a lot of the physical effects and make up were very impressively done and the film is a lot bloodier than i ever would’ve expected. There are also some very bad special effects, but fortunately these are few and far between. Watching this has made me intrigued to see how the new adaptation turns out - if they manage to stay faithfully to the story but with a 21st century update on the effects, it should really be one to watch.
This stays very true to the original book. It’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but there was nothing in this that stood out as being different, which is always good news. This is a typical late 80s film, with some very weak performances and feels very much like a made for TV movie. That said, a lot of the physical effects and make up were very impressively done and the film is a lot bloodier than i ever would’ve expected. There are also some very bad special effects, but fortunately these are few and far between. Watching this has made me intrigued to see how the new adaptation turns out - if they manage to stay faithfully to the story but with a 21st century update on the effects, it should really be one to watch.
Becs (244 KP) rated Select Few in Books
Oct 24, 2018
An all right contemporary read
I received a read and review copy of Select Few by Marit Wiesenberg from NetGalley for my full honest opinion.
I have not read book one of The Select series but I was a bit confused during the first half of the novel. I'm not sure if it was because I haven't read book 1 or if it was because it seemed like the author didn't really give a great background on the characters or the stories. Whatever it may have been, it really affected the overall story.
The second half of the novel was really good and really has me intrigued in the rest of the series but also at the same time I'm not quite sure whether I'll pick it up or not. There were some overall great scenes and some scenes that I had to push through because I was bored with them.
You can read the full review on my blog at bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
I have not read book one of The Select series but I was a bit confused during the first half of the novel. I'm not sure if it was because I haven't read book 1 or if it was because it seemed like the author didn't really give a great background on the characters or the stories. Whatever it may have been, it really affected the overall story.
The second half of the novel was really good and really has me intrigued in the rest of the series but also at the same time I'm not quite sure whether I'll pick it up or not. There were some overall great scenes and some scenes that I had to push through because I was bored with them.
You can read the full review on my blog at bookingwayreads.wordpress.com
ClareR (5885 KP) rated Melmoth: A Novel in Books
Nov 2, 2018
A gothic, spellbinding novel.
A dark, gothic story, of a woman living an austere life in Prague, set in winter - which makes it all the more foreboding!
Melmoth is omnipresent throughout the novel. Helen, the main character, seems to have something in her past that she is punishing herself for. She makes sure that she has no enjoyment in her life: from food to clothes, to friendships. She does have some friends, though: Thea and Karel.
Karel finds some documents about Melmoth the Wanderer, and so an obsession begins.
For a dark, depressing novel, there is a lot of hope in it too. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It got to the stage where I was sure I could see a dark shadow in my peripheral vision - could it be Melmoth looking for company in her lonely wanderings?
This is a compelling read - once started, I really didn't want to stop. I enjoyed the historical detail in Karel's documents too.
Another great story from Sarah Perry.
Melmoth is omnipresent throughout the novel. Helen, the main character, seems to have something in her past that she is punishing herself for. She makes sure that she has no enjoyment in her life: from food to clothes, to friendships. She does have some friends, though: Thea and Karel.
Karel finds some documents about Melmoth the Wanderer, and so an obsession begins.
For a dark, depressing novel, there is a lot of hope in it too. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It got to the stage where I was sure I could see a dark shadow in my peripheral vision - could it be Melmoth looking for company in her lonely wanderings?
This is a compelling read - once started, I really didn't want to stop. I enjoyed the historical detail in Karel's documents too.
Another great story from Sarah Perry.