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ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography in Books

May 26, 2018

Lyricist. Writer. Activist.

What a life this man has had! He had a hard start, living in one of the least affluent areas of Birmingham (UK), and running away with his mother to escape a violent father. The 1980s saw race riots, miners strikes and demonstrations against police brutality. Zephaniah and his dub poetry were at the forefront. By the 1990s he was a household name, and not just at home in the UK - he travelled and performed around the world.
I really admire this man. He hasn't had an easy life: he was in borstal as a teen, lived a life of crime for a while and decided for himself that he didn't want to live his life as a criminal where he would most certainly end up dead. HE turned his life around. He stands by his beliefs as well. A brilliant, self taught man, who sets a sterling example for all.

Kudos

Lee (2222 KP) rated I Kill Giants (2017) in Movies

Oct 28, 2018

I Kill Giants (2017)

2017 | Drama, Fantasy, Thriller

7.8

(23 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

I KILL GIANTS is a movie I'd never heard of before until I stumbled across it on Netflix. Based on a graphic novel, I Kill Giants tells the story of Barbara, a young teen who lives with her older sister and brother. Barbara doesn't really have any friends, is bullied at school, is thought of as weird by everyone and is currently seeing the school psychologist (when she can be bothered). She also sets traps and bait in order to catch and kill giants, researching the different types of giants and preparing herself for when the time comes that she must protect the town from a really big one. If you've seen A MONSTER CALLS then this movie treads very similar ground to that and is also similar in style. I wasn't quite as emotional at the end of this movie as I was at the end of that one, but I did find it just as enjoyable

Kudos

Cumberland (1142 KP) rated The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1) in Books

Oct 29, 2018

Sweet Summer Love Story

I was a little bit unsure of this book, because of the name. I was afraid it was going to be one of those stereotypical books where the girl gets skinny/ discovers make up/ something happens that suddenly makes her pretty, and all the boys notice her. I was pleasantly suprised that it was a lot more than that. Yes it is stated that Belly was prettier than in the past, but all the boys in the story had reasons to like her that went beyond looks. At 16 Belly is starting to act more like an adult, and that plays a large role in drawing the boys attention.
This book also did a great job showing that the characters had more going on than just a teen romance. I read this in a day, and would highly suggest it to anyone looking for a fun new read.

Kudos

Andrew Kennedy (199 KP) rated Deadly Detention (2017) in Movies

Jul 16, 2019

Yes this seems to have a Breakfast Club does horror vibe to it but it's more Dawson's Creek, if Dawson's Creeks writing went downhill and they did murder.

The acting is questionable for a movie but be perfect for a TV teen drama, the plot is paper thin but it's the ridiculous set up I have the biggest problem with.
So a bunch of stereotypes, I'm sorry I mean kids turn up on Saturday for detention but due to, I kid you not, a rabid possum incident at the school they are having detention in a former prison. WTF?!? Are rabid possums a big problem in America? Why are they using a prison? Surely there must be other schools.
So teacher is killed, kids are left with a psycho who wants something.
Murders occur off screen, very little blood and very little scare factor.
Yet somehow I started to enjoy the characters interactions with each other.
More Dawson's Creek then Wolf Creek

Kudos

Ross (3284 KP) rated Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre in Books

Nov 19, 2019

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre

Darwyn Cooke | 2013 | Comics & Graphic Novels

7.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Like a more realistic Scooby Doo story

This part of the non-Moore-approved pre-Watchmen story revolves around Laurie Jupiter, daughter of the original Silk Spectre. In a burst of teen angst she pushes against her mum's vigilante training regime (and the news of some of the saucier aspects of her past) and runs away from home with her new boyfriend.
She meets a camper van full of hippies and heads off to San Francisco with them. She soon uncovers a nefarious plot to poison the LCD supply in the city (zoinks!) and sets out to uncover them.
There is a certain Scooby Doo feel about this book, and while it is entertaining enough, and the artwork is enjoyable, it doesn't really seem to add much to the pre-Watchmen series as a whole. One exception is the Nite Owl and the Comedian's brief involvement in Laurie's decision to head home to Mom, their two different approaches showing their personalities.