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Sarah (7799 KP) rated Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) in Movies
Mar 9, 2019
Stays true to the book
This is by far the best adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel and aside from the hilarious Dracula: Dead and Loving It, there has never been a decent Dracula film since. The fact that it stays true to the novel is the best thing about this, there’s very little difference between this and the book and I’m so grateful about this. The effects are very old school and in parts a little bit cheesy and very dated watching it back now, but I think that’s part of the charm. It was made in the early 90s after all.
Gary Oldman does a fantastic performance and Anthony Hopkins too is wonderful as Van Helsing, and it’s these two that really make this film as good as it is. The rest of the cast range from good (Richard E Grant), unremarkable (Cary Elwes), to downright awful. And yes, I am talking about Keanu Reeves. I know he was a big star when this was made, but he really is a terrible actor. And he’s even worse when he’s trying to put on a horrendous English accent. I wish they’d have found a decent actor to play Harker, if they had I would’ve scored this a little higher!
Gary Oldman does a fantastic performance and Anthony Hopkins too is wonderful as Van Helsing, and it’s these two that really make this film as good as it is. The rest of the cast range from good (Richard E Grant), unremarkable (Cary Elwes), to downright awful. And yes, I am talking about Keanu Reeves. I know he was a big star when this was made, but he really is a terrible actor. And he’s even worse when he’s trying to put on a horrendous English accent. I wish they’d have found a decent actor to play Harker, if they had I would’ve scored this a little higher!
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Weird Sisters in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Rosalind, Bianca, and Cordelia are the Andreas sisters. Rosalind(Rosie) is a professor at the local college, Bianca(Bean) is off in New York, working and enjoying the nightlife, Cordelia(Cordy)is riding the wind wherever it takes her. One summer, they all show up back at home. Although Rosie has never left the town they grew up with, she is staying with her parents a lot more now. Cordy & Bean show up, just when they are needed most. Their mother is sick and is going to need their help. Each sister has been drawn home for a different reason, but being home will change them all.
The Weird Sisters is a weird book. It was written in the third person, but I didn't know which sister was speaking at the time. Maybe this is because I listened to the audio instead of reading the actual book, but I found it strange that it seemed like they were talking about each other, but you never knew who was speaking at that time. Maybe there was a fourth sister.
This book was just okay for me. It was an interesting story, but there wasn't anything that really stood out for me to make this a great book.
The Weird Sisters is a weird book. It was written in the third person, but I didn't know which sister was speaking at the time. Maybe this is because I listened to the audio instead of reading the actual book, but I found it strange that it seemed like they were talking about each other, but you never knew who was speaking at that time. Maybe there was a fourth sister.
This book was just okay for me. It was an interesting story, but there wasn't anything that really stood out for me to make this a great book.
Hayden Hansen (5 KP) rated 28 Days Later (2002) in Movies
Apr 27, 2019
Unique (4 more)
Zombies aren't zombies
The acting
The violence is creative
Scary
Very disorienting (4 more)
Can't settle on a mood
The ending kinda falls apart
Doesn't develop the characters enough
Not always scary
Okay zombie movie but disappointing Danny Boyle movie
Okay so I saw 28 Days Later when I was 14 and had no idea what the hell I was watching. It was way too different from other zombie movies out, in fact it never really says zombie at all. The film works with it's settings, actors, and violence but it doesn't when it's telling the overall story. The ending kinda gets distracted and uninteresting fast at that point as I kinda stopped caring. Danny Boyle has directed alot of movies that are great like Steve Jobs, Slumdog Millionaire (yes it's a great movie), and Trainspotting but this reminded me of Sunshine so much. I mean there's a great premise that takes new twists and turns that the kind of story doesn't do. It works well for most of the movie till the very end that doesn't stick the landing cleanly. I still say this is worth a watch considering how stupid 28 weeks later is... And believe when you get done with the beginning of that one, you'll k know what I'm talking about...
Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated Gwendy's Button Box in Books
Jan 31, 2018
An interesting plot bunny, but a bland book.
So, one of the things that makes a lot of horror book lovers give me the stink-eye is the fact that I freely admit to the fact that I don't really like to read Stephen King's books. I'm a huge fan of his plots, but I have an attention span the length of a gnat, so when he goes off on his 'wanders', I go glaze-eyed and generally move on to something else.
But, I saw everyone talking about Gwendy's Button Box, and took note of the fact that it had been 'co-written' by Richard Chizmar. Given the fact that it was a novella, I decided to give it a try. (I got the audio version from the library.) And.. it was... okay? Yeah, okay is the right word.
The narrator did a fantastic job as Gwendy, and the concept of the Button Box was a great one. The character development of Gwendy is excellent. However, the actual story itself just left me scratching my head and wondering if I missed something. It was a good thought experiment, but coming from two horror writers, I was a little taken aback at the lack of actual, you know, horror.
But, I saw everyone talking about Gwendy's Button Box, and took note of the fact that it had been 'co-written' by Richard Chizmar. Given the fact that it was a novella, I decided to give it a try. (I got the audio version from the library.) And.. it was... okay? Yeah, okay is the right word.
The narrator did a fantastic job as Gwendy, and the concept of the Button Box was a great one. The character development of Gwendy is excellent. However, the actual story itself just left me scratching my head and wondering if I missed something. It was a good thought experiment, but coming from two horror writers, I was a little taken aback at the lack of actual, you know, horror.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated The Handy Men in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I love erotica and ménage a trois is my current drug of choice. However, a lot can go wrong with said topic. And I am not just talking story line. Many authors are prone to write threesomes that are just flat out unrealistic and laughable to say that least.
That being said, I quite enjoyed Schmidts The Handy Men. It not only brought the delicious sex scenes and love that comes with a mutual ménage, but it also brought the ugly and the awkward. Humans are unapologetically complicated, awkward, and over dramatic. We as readers may think well they are ridiculous and this is overdramatic. But lets be honest, we dont always act/respond the way we think we would especially since we are disconnected from what we are reading about (a.k.a. its not happening to us.)
While I have to agree that The Handy Men does seem a bit dramatic at times, I appreciate that it brought more to table than just try to get the female to be onboard with a threesome. The characters had depth and personality not always seen in erotica much the ménages. And to say their relationship is anything less that sexy would be a lie.
That being said, I quite enjoyed Schmidts The Handy Men. It not only brought the delicious sex scenes and love that comes with a mutual ménage, but it also brought the ugly and the awkward. Humans are unapologetically complicated, awkward, and over dramatic. We as readers may think well they are ridiculous and this is overdramatic. But lets be honest, we dont always act/respond the way we think we would especially since we are disconnected from what we are reading about (a.k.a. its not happening to us.)
While I have to agree that The Handy Men does seem a bit dramatic at times, I appreciate that it brought more to table than just try to get the female to be onboard with a threesome. The characters had depth and personality not always seen in erotica much the ménages. And to say their relationship is anything less that sexy would be a lie.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Bound to Please in Books
Jan 18, 2018
While I love Lilli Feisty and everything she writes, I am glad that I read Dare to Surrender before Bound to Please. While there is nothing wrong with Bound to Please, it didn't floor me like Dare to Surrender did.
I thought I was going to have a problem with the age difference, but it was drawn attention to so little that I completely forgot about it. What did get to me was what Mark makes her do with a strawberry. I can't imagine anyone getting pleasure from it.
Moving on. I love Lilli Feisty's erotic scenes. She obviously knows what she is talking about when it comes to BDSM and the like. It makes it that much more believable. However, nothing kills an erotic scene quicker than someone calling the other baby. I hate it more than I hate cheesy pick up lines. I don't know what it is about that endearment, but I feel like it is tainted and trashy.
What really got me about this story, was Mark's love for Ruby. Feisty made him seem so human that it was hard to not feel bad for him while he struggled with keeping his distance. It made him that much more endearing.
I thought I was going to have a problem with the age difference, but it was drawn attention to so little that I completely forgot about it. What did get to me was what Mark makes her do with a strawberry. I can't imagine anyone getting pleasure from it.
Moving on. I love Lilli Feisty's erotic scenes. She obviously knows what she is talking about when it comes to BDSM and the like. It makes it that much more believable. However, nothing kills an erotic scene quicker than someone calling the other baby. I hate it more than I hate cheesy pick up lines. I don't know what it is about that endearment, but I feel like it is tainted and trashy.
What really got me about this story, was Mark's love for Ruby. Feisty made him seem so human that it was hard to not feel bad for him while he struggled with keeping his distance. It made him that much more endearing.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2275 KP) rated Dark Chocolate Demise (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Fairy Tale Cupcakes are selling cupcakes at the end of the first annual Zombie walk in town, and Mel, Angie, and the rest of their staff are getting into the spirit of things. But the fun takes a dark turn when Mel finds a body stuffed into the coffin outside their cupcake truck – a body that hits very close to home. Who was the target and why?
This book is a little darker than others in the series based on the plot alone, but we are talking a shade darker – cozy fans will still love it. The mystery takes a back seat at times to the characters reactions to the murder, but that was the appropriate response to the plot and I was never board while reading it. The book reaches a logical and page turning climax, and it also features some of the funniest scenes in the series. I think this is best for people already fans of the series, but they will love it.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of the book in hopes that I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-dark-chocolate-demise-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This book is a little darker than others in the series based on the plot alone, but we are talking a shade darker – cozy fans will still love it. The mystery takes a back seat at times to the characters reactions to the murder, but that was the appropriate response to the plot and I was never board while reading it. The book reaches a logical and page turning climax, and it also features some of the funniest scenes in the series. I think this is best for people already fans of the series, but they will love it.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of the book in hopes that I would review it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/02/book-review-dark-chocolate-demise-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Consolation of Philosophy in Books
Mar 23, 2018
This is more of a 3.5 than just a 3.
This was a very insightful book about how people of this time period worked through their thinking processes as well as how they dealt with the concepts of God.
While reading this in tandem with Dante's Inferno, I was able to understand Inferno a lot more than if I had read it on its own.
Boethius explains many difficult concepts relatively clearly. (These concepts were made even more clear by my professor of Italian 150 [The Divine Comedy] rooting the concepts in examples from today)
Many of the concepts are repeated often, so they are driven home, but this also means that they get a bit boring. I found myself wanting to skim more as the book went along because it was saying the same thing for what seemed the millionth time.
I enjoyed how each Prose section has a brief blurb about the main concepts it was going to talk about. This made it easier to prepare myself for the upcoming reading.
The characters, Boethius and Lady Philosophy, felt a little too preachy for me at times, but they were talking about religion, so I guess it worked.
Overall, it was very insightful and interesting to read.
This was a very insightful book about how people of this time period worked through their thinking processes as well as how they dealt with the concepts of God.
While reading this in tandem with Dante's Inferno, I was able to understand Inferno a lot more than if I had read it on its own.
Boethius explains many difficult concepts relatively clearly. (These concepts were made even more clear by my professor of Italian 150 [The Divine Comedy] rooting the concepts in examples from today)
Many of the concepts are repeated often, so they are driven home, but this also means that they get a bit boring. I found myself wanting to skim more as the book went along because it was saying the same thing for what seemed the millionth time.
I enjoyed how each Prose section has a brief blurb about the main concepts it was going to talk about. This made it easier to prepare myself for the upcoming reading.
The characters, Boethius and Lady Philosophy, felt a little too preachy for me at times, but they were talking about religion, so I guess it worked.
Overall, it was very insightful and interesting to read.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Miniaturist in Books
Mar 15, 2018
This book was everything and nothing I was expecting it to be!
It fell short when it came to the Miniaturist story line. It feels like Burton began the book with this story in mind and as she continued to write forgot what it was she was supposed to be talking about and so began a new story and then was reminded right at the end of her original plot and lazily bought it all together.
I'm not normally a fan of books set from years ago, but the plot of this mysterious miniaturist intrigued me. As I went through I began to realise this story line was being forgotten and thought that maybe I would begin to grow bored of the story however I was extremely mistaken. I was so involved in the characters lives that I almost forgot about the miniaturist myself!
Burton pulls at heart strings with her characters and I can admit I did have a little cry to myself over this book. I fell in love Johannes, he was a good man who was trying his best to keep his unconventional family going and he did not deserve the fate that was brought to him.
I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy a long and fufilling read.
It fell short when it came to the Miniaturist story line. It feels like Burton began the book with this story in mind and as she continued to write forgot what it was she was supposed to be talking about and so began a new story and then was reminded right at the end of her original plot and lazily bought it all together.
I'm not normally a fan of books set from years ago, but the plot of this mysterious miniaturist intrigued me. As I went through I began to realise this story line was being forgotten and thought that maybe I would begin to grow bored of the story however I was extremely mistaken. I was so involved in the characters lives that I almost forgot about the miniaturist myself!
Burton pulls at heart strings with her characters and I can admit I did have a little cry to myself over this book. I fell in love Johannes, he was a good man who was trying his best to keep his unconventional family going and he did not deserve the fate that was brought to him.
I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy a long and fufilling read.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2275 KP) rated Spy School Secret Service (Spy School, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The evil organization SPYDER is back, and they are planning to assassinate the President. Because of Ben Ripley’s success fighting them in the past, he is sent under cover into the White House to try to find the sleeper agent. However, with the large number of people in the White House each day, Ben soon realizes just how mammoth the task is. Can he figure out what is going on in time to save the President?
This premise sets us off on another wonderful wild ride into the world of espionage. Oh, the fact that Ben is only twelve-years-old might be unrealistic, but it is so much fun and author Stuart Gibbs makes it work here. There are lots of twists leading up to the wonderful climax. The characters are good, although they could be a little stronger. That’s probably just the adult in me talking, however because it certainly wasn’t on my mind when I was busy turning pages. The book also packs a fair number of laughs that caught me off guard and truly made me laugh out loud. Kids of all ages will love this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-spy-school-secret-service.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This premise sets us off on another wonderful wild ride into the world of espionage. Oh, the fact that Ben is only twelve-years-old might be unrealistic, but it is so much fun and author Stuart Gibbs makes it work here. There are lots of twists leading up to the wonderful climax. The characters are good, although they could be a little stronger. That’s probably just the adult in me talking, however because it certainly wasn’t on my mind when I was busy turning pages. The book also packs a fair number of laughs that caught me off guard and truly made me laugh out loud. Kids of all ages will love this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-spy-school-secret-service.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.