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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Cats (2019) in Movies
Jan 15, 2020
Stuff of nightmares
From the moment I saw the trailer, I knew I wasn't going to like this film. Having never seen the stage show, I went into this completely blind and to be honest, after 100 minutes of this nonsense I wish I was blind.
Usually I'll try to find something good to say about a film, but I'm really struggling with this. I feel like giving it a 2 is rather generous. Other than appreciating the amount of effort on the CGI and the song Memory, I really cannot identify any other good points whatsoever.
Now where do I start on the bad? The cats themselves are beyond disturbing. People dressed as cats in the stage show I can understand. Human features on cat bodies is just crazy and looks ridiculous. The fact that they alternate between 2 and 4 legged with human features, it beggars belief. I hoped I might get used to it, but i really didnt especially when they start hissing, preening and acting like real cats - it's terrifying and laughable all at once. The scaling of the cats against the scenery also looks a little misjudged, especially when they stand up.
The story and rest of the film doesn't fare much better. The songs (except for Memory) are surprisingly poor for an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and no others are particularly memorable. The plot itself is also very thin and has barely any substance, the fact that they've managed to drag this out to 100 minutes is impressive. I also couldn't stand the words "Jellicle" and "Heaviside" - they sound like something from a kids cartoon and they began to grate on me very quickly. And the cast: James Corden, Rebel Wilson and Ray Winstone - just no. They are all so cringingly bad I could barely watch. And even acting royalty like Ian McKellen and Judi Dench don't survive this car crash intact. The final song and scenes with the direct address to camera is possibly the most embarrassingly cringeworthy thing I've seen in a long time.
It may only be January, but I doubt anything else I see in 2020 will be worse than this. I would have happily walked out of this 15 minutes in and never thought twice. The fact that I've sat through the entire thing made me want to claw my eyes out. I cannot unsee this.
If you want to watch a film musical about cats, watch The Aristocats. Do not waste your time on this!
Usually I'll try to find something good to say about a film, but I'm really struggling with this. I feel like giving it a 2 is rather generous. Other than appreciating the amount of effort on the CGI and the song Memory, I really cannot identify any other good points whatsoever.
Now where do I start on the bad? The cats themselves are beyond disturbing. People dressed as cats in the stage show I can understand. Human features on cat bodies is just crazy and looks ridiculous. The fact that they alternate between 2 and 4 legged with human features, it beggars belief. I hoped I might get used to it, but i really didnt especially when they start hissing, preening and acting like real cats - it's terrifying and laughable all at once. The scaling of the cats against the scenery also looks a little misjudged, especially when they stand up.
The story and rest of the film doesn't fare much better. The songs (except for Memory) are surprisingly poor for an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and no others are particularly memorable. The plot itself is also very thin and has barely any substance, the fact that they've managed to drag this out to 100 minutes is impressive. I also couldn't stand the words "Jellicle" and "Heaviside" - they sound like something from a kids cartoon and they began to grate on me very quickly. And the cast: James Corden, Rebel Wilson and Ray Winstone - just no. They are all so cringingly bad I could barely watch. And even acting royalty like Ian McKellen and Judi Dench don't survive this car crash intact. The final song and scenes with the direct address to camera is possibly the most embarrassingly cringeworthy thing I've seen in a long time.
It may only be January, but I doubt anything else I see in 2020 will be worse than this. I would have happily walked out of this 15 minutes in and never thought twice. The fact that I've sat through the entire thing made me want to claw my eyes out. I cannot unsee this.
If you want to watch a film musical about cats, watch The Aristocats. Do not waste your time on this!
The Codes Guidebook for Interiors
Sharon Koomen Harmon and Katherine E. Kennon
Book
The Interactive Resource Center is an online learning environment where instructors and students can...
Weed Farmer
Games and Entertainment
App
Weed Farmer Homegrown The Top Virtual Growing Game Comes to IOS Have fun while learning to grow...
MEGA MAN 2 MOBILE
Games and Entertainment
App
The Second Chapter in the Mega Man saga, Dr. Wily returns! Mega Man's fight has only just begun... ...
Plwriter (2 KP) rated Meddling Kids: A Novel in Books
Oct 9, 2017
I fell in love with the cover of this book and immediately downloaded it. The amazon page showcases a review from the USA Today that says ââŚit scratches a nostalgic itch for those who grew up on Saturday morning Scooby-Doo cartoons and sugar-bombed breakfast cereal.â I started reading and then opened good reads and noticed that it suggested a bunch of Steven King books as similar reads.
I panicked. I donât read horror. I was sure this book was going to leave me terrified. I wouldnât let my husband leave while I was reading it.
I shouldnât have worried.
This book was great. It was about as scary as a Scooby-Doo movie (think Scooby-Doo! and the Witchâs Ghost). It was funny and fun with a great nostalgia factor.
I loved the representation in this book. It was nice to see minorities represented and normalized.
The way the book is written could turn people off. Itâs either going to be something you love or something you hate. Itâs prose mixed with stage directions and random author(?) interjections which makes it feel a little haphazard and messy.
Over all, I loved it and though it hearkens back to mythical horror themes itâs not too scary just like old time Scooby-Doo.
I panicked. I donât read horror. I was sure this book was going to leave me terrified. I wouldnât let my husband leave while I was reading it.
I shouldnât have worried.
This book was great. It was about as scary as a Scooby-Doo movie (think Scooby-Doo! and the Witchâs Ghost). It was funny and fun with a great nostalgia factor.
I loved the representation in this book. It was nice to see minorities represented and normalized.
The way the book is written could turn people off. Itâs either going to be something you love or something you hate. Itâs prose mixed with stage directions and random author(?) interjections which makes it feel a little haphazard and messy.
Over all, I loved it and though it hearkens back to mythical horror themes itâs not too scary just like old time Scooby-Doo.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Dracula in Books
Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)
A true horror classic
Ever since its publication Bram Stoker's Dracula has always stayed in the public imagination. Dracula caused vampire scares throughout Europe into the early 20th Century. With it being filmed so many times, both for the cinema as well as the TV, and stage adaptations that are still being made this century, as well as a plethora of publishers having it in their catalogues this story is set to remain with us well into the foreseeable future, indeed until the end of time.
The beautiful Mina has been scarred by vampires and is at risk of being sucked into their Undead world. But she is a plucky gal. Although the whole story is very OTT, there are many vivid passages as the little troop pursue Dracula across Europe and finally kill him in the nick of time before sun sets over the Carpathian Mountains. Although mightily baroque, the tale is worth reading for these descriptions...howling wolves and all. Of course it has been deconstructed as an allegory of the Good overcoming the External Threat at a time when Europe was in turmoil. So, all in all, a heavy-duty read, but probably worthwhile if you're a true horror fan.
The beautiful Mina has been scarred by vampires and is at risk of being sucked into their Undead world. But she is a plucky gal. Although the whole story is very OTT, there are many vivid passages as the little troop pursue Dracula across Europe and finally kill him in the nick of time before sun sets over the Carpathian Mountains. Although mightily baroque, the tale is worth reading for these descriptions...howling wolves and all. Of course it has been deconstructed as an allegory of the Good overcoming the External Threat at a time when Europe was in turmoil. So, all in all, a heavy-duty read, but probably worthwhile if you're a true horror fan.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Empire in Black & Gold in Books
Sep 13, 2017
This 10 book series deals with a future state of the human race where humans have evolved into different types of insect, each race taking on the traits of those insects (eg Beetles are hard-working but slow, Spiders are cunning and conniving, Moths are dark and mysterious, Wasps are evil and annoying etc).
This, the first in the series sees Stenwold Maker start to rediscover old fears of the Wasp Empire attempting to invade the peaceful, lowland city states. With nobody in his home city believing him he gathers together a crew of his students and old friend to find out what is happening on the borders of the empire.
This is one of the best books of the series, and a lot of action to come is set up here. I don't know if Tchaikovsky has intended to make this a whopping 10 books at this stage but it certainly felt like the start of something.
The action and fight scenes are well described but not laboured, and enough background to the world is given to understand it, though not in detail (just accept it and move on).
A large number of characters are introduced throughout the series, so it is worth getting to know them from the off.
This, the first in the series sees Stenwold Maker start to rediscover old fears of the Wasp Empire attempting to invade the peaceful, lowland city states. With nobody in his home city believing him he gathers together a crew of his students and old friend to find out what is happening on the borders of the empire.
This is one of the best books of the series, and a lot of action to come is set up here. I don't know if Tchaikovsky has intended to make this a whopping 10 books at this stage but it certainly felt like the start of something.
The action and fight scenes are well described but not laboured, and enough background to the world is given to understand it, though not in detail (just accept it and move on).
A large number of characters are introduced throughout the series, so it is worth getting to know them from the off.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Poster Boy in Books
May 22, 2019
Broadcast live, Rosa Lincoln takes to the stage at her brotherÂs memorial service with a bomb concealed beneath her clothes. Being in JimmyÂs shadow was never easy, even when he was alive, but in death he has become a national hero.
When she crosses paths with the enigmatic Teresa, she discovers that those she has been taught to view as enemies may not be the real villains after all.
The lies need to be stopped, and Rosa intends on doing just that.
Wow! This book started with a bang - well a potential bang - and didn't let up until the very end with all its twists and turns along the way.
Although this is fiction it very much reflects what is going on around the world right now, sadly. It has its basis in fact and recent happenings which makes it hard-hitting, emotive, topical and timely.
The main issues it explores are terrorism, extremism, propaganda, xenophobia, nationalism, racism, good vs evil and the current political climate; it does so with considerable tact while questioning each of them making this a thought-provoking read.
Very good work of dystopian fiction.
Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
When she crosses paths with the enigmatic Teresa, she discovers that those she has been taught to view as enemies may not be the real villains after all.
The lies need to be stopped, and Rosa intends on doing just that.
Wow! This book started with a bang - well a potential bang - and didn't let up until the very end with all its twists and turns along the way.
Although this is fiction it very much reflects what is going on around the world right now, sadly. It has its basis in fact and recent happenings which makes it hard-hitting, emotive, topical and timely.
The main issues it explores are terrorism, extremism, propaganda, xenophobia, nationalism, racism, good vs evil and the current political climate; it does so with considerable tact while questioning each of them making this a thought-provoking read.
Very good work of dystopian fiction.
Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Split (2016) in Movies
Feb 4, 2018
2/3 of a good movie
Contains spoilers, click to show
Normally I don't do spoilers, but I don't think it avoidable with this film.
The career of M. Night Shyamalan has produced one classic, a few pretty good, a few just all right and a few pieces of garbage. I guess I feel this film is in the pretty good category.
As with a lot of thrillers, the set up and character introduction is the easy part and this film does that well setting the stage of the kidnappings, the unknown, interesting world in which the girls now live and the unusual kidnapper the ladies are presented with. His relationship with them is mostly curiosity as with the psychiatrist.
Where the film kind of loses it for me was in the third act. Two of the women are completely tossed aside with no remorse after you are given to care about them. The "beast" is borderline unbelievable and sticks out as somewhat contrite.
I had read or been told the film had ties to "Unbreakable", but that vision didn't slap you in the face and i liked that. The appearance of Bruce Willis at the end was a bunch of fun.
Still enjoyed the film enough to recommend
.
The career of M. Night Shyamalan has produced one classic, a few pretty good, a few just all right and a few pieces of garbage. I guess I feel this film is in the pretty good category.
As with a lot of thrillers, the set up and character introduction is the easy part and this film does that well setting the stage of the kidnappings, the unknown, interesting world in which the girls now live and the unusual kidnapper the ladies are presented with. His relationship with them is mostly curiosity as with the psychiatrist.
Where the film kind of loses it for me was in the third act. Two of the women are completely tossed aside with no remorse after you are given to care about them. The "beast" is borderline unbelievable and sticks out as somewhat contrite.
I had read or been told the film had ties to "Unbreakable", but that vision didn't slap you in the face and i liked that. The appearance of Bruce Willis at the end was a bunch of fun.
Still enjoyed the film enough to recommend
.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Custom Baked Murder in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Stanâs mother is engaged to Frog Ledgeâs new mayor, and the pair are throwing a big engagement party. However, the groom to be isnât there. Instead, Stan is running into several people she is less than happy to see again from her days in the corporate world, including her ex-boyfriend. The night gets worse when a body is found upstairs. The police quickly make an arrest, but something seems off. Are they trying to cover something up?
Since the last book took place out of town, it was wonderful to be back in Frog Ledge and spending time with our favorite characters. The author has really built a sense of community, and I love how she is growing Stan, the others characters, and their relationships. The downside of that is the murder moves slowly in the beginning as the sub-plots that help with the community building are front and center. But the mystery takes center stage in the second half, offering us several viable suspects and some great twists and surprises.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-custom-baked-murder-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Since the last book took place out of town, it was wonderful to be back in Frog Ledge and spending time with our favorite characters. The author has really built a sense of community, and I love how she is growing Stan, the others characters, and their relationships. The downside of that is the murder moves slowly in the beginning as the sub-plots that help with the community building are front and center. But the mystery takes center stage in the second half, offering us several viable suspects and some great twists and surprises.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-custom-baked-murder-by-liz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Nick Beaty (70 KP) Jan 15, 2020