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Barry Newman (204 KP) rated WarGames (1983) in Movies

Feb 29, 2020

WarGames (1983)

1983 | Sci-Fi

7.2

(16 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Contains spoilers, click to show

A film that had passed me by up until now I found to be a bit of a mixed bag. The central plot is very interesting and the theme of a fear of the power of technology and being only a few button clicks away from starting a war is still relevant and timely today. What I did struggle with it being a 1980’s film about computer technology it is of course now incredibly outdated. I laughed at the WOPR , the enormous war games simulator with its sinister blinking lights. The storytelling is strong though and a fresh faced Matthew Broderick makes for a likeable lead but I think it might actually be a rare film that I would prefer to see a contemporary remake of than watch again.

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Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Lucky Number Slevin (2006) in Movies

Feb 29, 2020

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

2006 | Crime, Drama, Thriller

7.2

(24 Ratings)

Movie Rating

I had avoided this film up until now being put off by the awful title and hearing about Ben Kingsley's insistence of being called Sir on the poster and the credits. Stylistically it's a bit of a poor mans 'Lock Stock' but its not actually a bad film at all. A tale of mistaken identity , revenge and multiple double crossings it's quite compelling storytelling (if a tad convoluted at times) and I liked how it all came together and even explained the awful title. The cast all put in good performances but barring Lucy Liu's bubbly character are a thoroughly unlikable group of assorted villains and scum bags. All in all not sure if I would come back and re watch it but its certainly worth a couple of hours of your time.

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Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale #2) in Books

Apr 1, 2020

I enjoyed this and although maybe controversial to admit to but preferred it to the Handmaids Tale (gasp.) It was no doubt helped by a decent cast on the audiobook (Ann Dowd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Derek Jacobi, Mae Whitman, Margaret Atwood, Tantoo Cardinal.)

Although set in the world of the Handmaid's tale we are in the POVs of different characters this time and three of them at that. With accounts from Gilead, a view from a Commander's daughter and also from an Aunts, and a look into the nation's relationship with Canada it's a very different experience from the Handmaids Tale. I found it a more satisfying storytelling experience than its predecessor.

It may not be the direct follow on from the previous novel some hoped for but it worked for me.