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Michael Packner (32 KP) rated The 'Burbs (1989) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Rather tense at times for a horror comedy. (4 more)
The three main characters.
Corey Feldman gives one of his better performances.
The villains are surprisingly creepy.
The ending.
Pretty crazy 80s comedy/horror about neighbor paranoia with a young Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, and Corey Feldman. That sounds like a recipe for success to me. This typical film usually involves kids or teens investigating due to paranoia, but here we have adults which adds a level of comedy to it in itself. Love how the ending pulls a twist and then twists back. As a first time viewer you have no fucking clue until the credits roll. And all he wanted to do was enjoy his vacation by relaxing at home. I can relate.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Booksmart (2019) in Movies
Nov 10, 2019
Almost
One if those frustrating movies that us almost very special but doesn't quite get there. Does it want to be a gross out comedy, a teen coming of age or an indie Anericana deep thinking poignant drama. It tries to be all three and loses some of it's identity.
I think although it was trying to be mature it's audience is the late teens. I should have loved this film, I normally love this genre but my attention kept wandering. Everytime it tried to be poignant or sentimental it suddenly had to good out not allowing it's true meaning to come through. It could have been so much better but just failed to hit the mark.
I think although it was trying to be mature it's audience is the late teens. I should have loved this film, I normally love this genre but my attention kept wandering. Everytime it tried to be poignant or sentimental it suddenly had to good out not allowing it's true meaning to come through. It could have been so much better but just failed to hit the mark.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Sleepover (2004) in Movies
Apr 2, 2020
I really loved this movie. It is the perfect coming-of-age romantic comedy. The cast was great - Jane Lynch, Alexa PenaVega, Evan Peters, Sean Faris, Steve Carell. It was a great cast. It didn't feel like the girls were trying too hard or the boys, for that matter. I think that the culture in adolescents and teens has changed so much since 2004, with social media, iPhones, and the pressure that feels way heavier than it was then. I think this is the movie to watch when you just want to watch kids being kids if that makes sense.
Overall, I really liked this film. I definitely think I'll be coming back to it and I definitely recommend it.
Overall, I really liked this film. I definitely think I'll be coming back to it and I definitely recommend it.
Charlotte (184 KP) rated Stardust Destinies I: Variate Facing in Books
Apr 11, 2021
One word.....Epic!
I'm reminded of medieval times right from the start. Courage, valiance, swordsmen, magic and so much more.
Niome is about to embark on an awe-inspiring mission accompanied by four friends and family......not just any mission but one that had long been foretold. The personal journeys are no less important, not only on an individual level but as a group.
This is an epic journey that leads to new friendships, strong alliances and surprises. The only thing I've struggled with is when the characters speak in their native tongue.....I'll be honest I didn't even attempt to pronounce any of it ha ha!
That aside this is a brilliant read that is ideal for teens onwards to enjoy.
I'm reminded of medieval times right from the start. Courage, valiance, swordsmen, magic and so much more.
Niome is about to embark on an awe-inspiring mission accompanied by four friends and family......not just any mission but one that had long been foretold. The personal journeys are no less important, not only on an individual level but as a group.
This is an epic journey that leads to new friendships, strong alliances and surprises. The only thing I've struggled with is when the characters speak in their native tongue.....I'll be honest I didn't even attempt to pronounce any of it ha ha!
That aside this is a brilliant read that is ideal for teens onwards to enjoy.
Neneh Cherry recommended Sassfrass, Cypress & Indigo in Books (curated)
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Y is for Yesterday (Kinsey Millhone, #25) in Books
Feb 13, 2018
The 25th book in Sue Grafton's formidable Kinsey Millhone series actually kicks us back to 1979, where a group of male teens at a private school in Santa Teresa are found responsible for killing a female classmate. Several went to prison and now the one deemed responsible for the murder, Fritz McCabe, has been released. His parents hire Kinsey to assist them with a blackmail case--apparently these juvenile delinquents also made a sex tape before the murder, and it's turned up with Fritz's release. Kinsey quickly finds herself drawn up in their twisted world, but she's also watching her back, as Ned Lowe from [b:X|24940998|X (Kinsey Millhone, #24)|Sue Grafton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1429811123s/24940998.jpg|44598633] still has his sights set on Kinsey.
The result is two pronged story--a focus on Kinsey as she tackles the McCabes and their blackmail/extortion plot, delving deeper into the 1979 murder and sexual assault, but also a continuation of the Ned Lowe story and its associated players. <i>There's a lot going on in this book,</i> as Grafton also throws in a plotline involving romantic shenanigans with Kinsey's cousin, Anna, plus Henry's hosting of the homeless Pearl and her pals in his backyard. Grafton is pretty deft at juggling multiple threads, but whew. The one thing I can say, is that both the Ned situation and the teens' videotape allow for some very timely and nuanced thoughts and ruminations on rape, and you sadly realize we haven't made any progress in society on this front since in the 1980s.
Alas, though, for me, <i>this novel gets off to a slow start and never fully recovers.</i> It took a while to keep track of all the teen players from '79 (and present), and the jumps in time in the storytelling don't really help. Even worse, our heroine, Kinsey, is off her game after the attack from Ned. Yes, she is still the Kinsey we know and love, but she's hurting, more cautious, and changed, and well, it's hard to read about sometimes.
The novel just seemed more tedious than usual and bogged down in some unnecessary details. There were definitely moments with Kinsey that made me smile and laugh, but otherwise, we don't have many characters to root for. The entire group originating in 1979 is pretty despicable. Their story picks up a bit at the end, and I was definitely interested in the outcome, but it didn't have the same flair as previous Kinsey novels. Of note, though, despite how different technology was in the late '70s, Grafton did a good job in denoting how teens remain teens, regardless the decade.
Overall, I will always love Kinsey, but the last two in this series have been a bit disappointing. Here's hoping that <i>Z</i> ends on a high note fitting our beloved heroine.
You can read my review of X <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1268956692?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">here</a>;.
<center><a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristyHamiltonbooks">Google+</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justacatandabook/">Instagram</a>; </center>
The result is two pronged story--a focus on Kinsey as she tackles the McCabes and their blackmail/extortion plot, delving deeper into the 1979 murder and sexual assault, but also a continuation of the Ned Lowe story and its associated players. <i>There's a lot going on in this book,</i> as Grafton also throws in a plotline involving romantic shenanigans with Kinsey's cousin, Anna, plus Henry's hosting of the homeless Pearl and her pals in his backyard. Grafton is pretty deft at juggling multiple threads, but whew. The one thing I can say, is that both the Ned situation and the teens' videotape allow for some very timely and nuanced thoughts and ruminations on rape, and you sadly realize we haven't made any progress in society on this front since in the 1980s.
Alas, though, for me, <i>this novel gets off to a slow start and never fully recovers.</i> It took a while to keep track of all the teen players from '79 (and present), and the jumps in time in the storytelling don't really help. Even worse, our heroine, Kinsey, is off her game after the attack from Ned. Yes, she is still the Kinsey we know and love, but she's hurting, more cautious, and changed, and well, it's hard to read about sometimes.
The novel just seemed more tedious than usual and bogged down in some unnecessary details. There were definitely moments with Kinsey that made me smile and laugh, but otherwise, we don't have many characters to root for. The entire group originating in 1979 is pretty despicable. Their story picks up a bit at the end, and I was definitely interested in the outcome, but it didn't have the same flair as previous Kinsey novels. Of note, though, despite how different technology was in the late '70s, Grafton did a good job in denoting how teens remain teens, regardless the decade.
Overall, I will always love Kinsey, but the last two in this series have been a bit disappointing. Here's hoping that <i>Z</i> ends on a high note fitting our beloved heroine.
You can read my review of X <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1268956692?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">here</a>;.
<center><a href="http://justacatandabookatherside.blogspot.com/">Blog</a>; ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/mwcmoto">Twitter</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justacatandabook/">Facebook</a>; ~ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KristyHamiltonbooks">Google+</a>; ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justacatandabook/">Instagram</a>; </center>
Kim Pook (101 KP) rated There's Someone Inside Your House (2021) in Movies
Jun 2, 2022
Movie starts with a young teen coming home, the house is empty but the egg timer is ticking away, he calls out to see if anybody is home but there is no answer and he thinks nothing of it, finishes his phone conversation and goes to sleep. He is woken up in the middle of the night by the egg timer which is now in his room, this freaks him out and he calls the police, but is interrupted by random photos placed around the house of a secret he has been keeping and we soon have our first kill. A video of his secret is then sent to everyone and as this video also contains another jock, that jock is shunned at school and ends up sitting with a different group of teens, which is who the movie follows.
After the second kill, everyone becomes aware that the killer is going after those with a secret, meaning bad news for one of the teens.
This movie has many cliches used in teen Slashers, such as running anywhere but outside when trying to escape the killer, going to parties despite a killer being on the loose, the killer wearing a mask, people blaming each other and of course the killer having a plan to frame someone. Despite this (and the look a like masks which bared no resemblance to the victims) I did enjoy this movie. The acting wasn't spot on all the time but good enough for me. I also felt that the music wasn't right for the movie as it had more of a strangers things vibe than horror.
After the second kill, everyone becomes aware that the killer is going after those with a secret, meaning bad news for one of the teens.
This movie has many cliches used in teen Slashers, such as running anywhere but outside when trying to escape the killer, going to parties despite a killer being on the loose, the killer wearing a mask, people blaming each other and of course the killer having a plan to frame someone. Despite this (and the look a like masks which bared no resemblance to the victims) I did enjoy this movie. The acting wasn't spot on all the time but good enough for me. I also felt that the music wasn't right for the movie as it had more of a strangers things vibe than horror.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[Jenny Pox]by [J.L. Bryan] is a different twist on teen paranormal. No stupid sparkly vampires here! Instead teens with special powers all in the same small town.
Jenny can kill with a touch but does her best to protect everyone even though it brings her ridicule and bullying.
Seth can heal people with his touch.
Ashley can control people with hers and she does for her own benefit.
No one knows about these powers except the person with them until an accidental encounter between Jenny and Seth. All the pieces begin to fit.
This was a really enjoyable story and the fact that the teenagers had normal teenage personalities and issues made it all the better. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Jenny can kill with a touch but does her best to protect everyone even though it brings her ridicule and bullying.
Seth can heal people with his touch.
Ashley can control people with hers and she does for her own benefit.
No one knows about these powers except the person with them until an accidental encounter between Jenny and Seth. All the pieces begin to fit.
This was a really enjoyable story and the fact that the teenagers had normal teenage personalities and issues made it all the better. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Elski (281 KP) rated Love, Simon (2018) in Movies
Nov 12, 2018
A teen angst rom-com for the modern age. It follows formula plot points well trodden except that Simon (played charmingly by Nick Robinson) is gay. This was a big step forward for a major studio such as 20th Century Fox to give it the mainstream film treatment it deserves.
There's some great music and a likeable cast, and plenty of humour.
On first watch you're kept guessing on who the mystery love interest Blue is and end up just as relieved/pleased as Simon when the truth is revealed.
Jennifer Garner as Simon's Mum gives a perfect speech at one point that makes me well up each time I see it. It stands up well to repeat viewings. A recommendation for anyone to watch, not just for teens.
Thanks to Smashbomb for the dvd!
There's some great music and a likeable cast, and plenty of humour.
On first watch you're kept guessing on who the mystery love interest Blue is and end up just as relieved/pleased as Simon when the truth is revealed.
Jennifer Garner as Simon's Mum gives a perfect speech at one point that makes me well up each time I see it. It stands up well to repeat viewings. A recommendation for anyone to watch, not just for teens.
Thanks to Smashbomb for the dvd!
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Tempests and Slaughter: the Numair Chronicles Book 1 in Books
Nov 30, 2018
If you are a fan of the Tortall world you should live this book. Set before the Immortals Sonnet, we get to see what Numair's childhood was like as he grows up in Carthak and meets Ozorne and Valice. Unlike most of her books this is completely set in Numair' s aka Arran Draper' s p.o.v.
I would recommend to pre-teens and older however, suggest that parent's read first because male puberty is discussed. Also discussed is Bullying, slavery, death, learning mage craft, political intrigue, friendship, love, gods, war. and has a few graphic fighting and healing scenes. A fast-paced read that has world building to reacquaint people to known characters. it does have an abrupt ending but I'm also selfish in I didn't want the book to end.
I would recommend to pre-teens and older however, suggest that parent's read first because male puberty is discussed. Also discussed is Bullying, slavery, death, learning mage craft, political intrigue, friendship, love, gods, war. and has a few graphic fighting and healing scenes. A fast-paced read that has world building to reacquaint people to known characters. it does have an abrupt ending but I'm also selfish in I didn't want the book to end.