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Katie (868 KP) rated The Haunting of Hill House in TV
Oct 13, 2018
I tried giving this show the benefit of the doubt. The first episode wasn't terrible, but unfortunately, the subsequent episodes displayed a real lack of creativity and understanding of the novel. It basically became a checklist of modern horror cliches.
The original novel and the 1963 film, The Haunting, were wonderful because of the subtlety. There weren't any jump scares or visible monsters. It was all a question of one's sanity rather than an unambiguous haunting. This all lent to the eeriness of the story. The eeriness was the question, the not knowing.
If you've seen any run of the mill horror films in the last 10 years you know what this series is going to throw at you and it will not surprise you one bit. Despite all that I'm still watching it so it must have something that's keeping my interest. Because of that, I'm giving it a 3/10 rather than 1/10.
The original novel and the 1963 film, The Haunting, were wonderful because of the subtlety. There weren't any jump scares or visible monsters. It was all a question of one's sanity rather than an unambiguous haunting. This all lent to the eeriness of the story. The eeriness was the question, the not knowing.
If you've seen any run of the mill horror films in the last 10 years you know what this series is going to throw at you and it will not surprise you one bit. Despite all that I'm still watching it so it must have something that's keeping my interest. Because of that, I'm giving it a 3/10 rather than 1/10.
Andrea D (21 KP) rated A Simple Favor in Books
Jan 10, 2019
Awful
Hello my name is Stephanie I'll be your protagonist tonight my best friend has disappeared and I've decided I'm going to wank over her husband while he's in the next room, also did I mention I had a sexual affair with my half brother that only ended when he and my husband died in a car crash?
No its not game of thrones its yet another shitty thriller I've put myself through the misery of reading because I can't remember what 90% of the books on my kindle are about. If the opening lines aren't enough of a warning about how terrible this book is then perhaps this accurate description might help - Gone Girl without the writing, without the character development, with incest and clearly written after the author had drunk a bath full of prosecco and found a over used thriller story line generator somewhere in the dark places of the internet. or probably tumblr.
No its not game of thrones its yet another shitty thriller I've put myself through the misery of reading because I can't remember what 90% of the books on my kindle are about. If the opening lines aren't enough of a warning about how terrible this book is then perhaps this accurate description might help - Gone Girl without the writing, without the character development, with incest and clearly written after the author had drunk a bath full of prosecco and found a over used thriller story line generator somewhere in the dark places of the internet. or probably tumblr.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Freddy vs. Jason (2003) in Movies
Jul 16, 2019
The guiltiest of pleasures
It's always fun and when we get something like this.- two horror icons going toe to toe, but was Freddy vs. Jason ever destined to be a good film?
No. No it was not. Freddy vs. Jason is pretty damn terrible.
The human cast are hugely unlikable - but I imagine that's the point, as when the slaughter begins, it's easy to find yourself rooting for the killers.
The effects have aged pretty badly, but for all it's shortcomings, it's definitely the kind of movie I will always watch when it's on. Its fun enough to be enjoyable.
It's hard to imagine anyone but Robert Englund in the role of Freddy, so it's nice to see him once again in a more modern film before he was recast.
In terms of horror - it's not a particularly scary film, but its pretty gory - and the kills are pretty ludicrous.
Worth a watch just for what it is.
No. No it was not. Freddy vs. Jason is pretty damn terrible.
The human cast are hugely unlikable - but I imagine that's the point, as when the slaughter begins, it's easy to find yourself rooting for the killers.
The effects have aged pretty badly, but for all it's shortcomings, it's definitely the kind of movie I will always watch when it's on. Its fun enough to be enjoyable.
It's hard to imagine anyone but Robert Englund in the role of Freddy, so it's nice to see him once again in a more modern film before he was recast.
In terms of horror - it's not a particularly scary film, but its pretty gory - and the kills are pretty ludicrous.
Worth a watch just for what it is.
ClareR (5748 KP) rated The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August in Books
Jul 1, 2019
It’s a Claire North book, isn’t it?!
I love Claire North books, and this is no exception. It really is a case of buying the book based purely on her name being on the cover, and I haven’t been disappointed yet (thankfully!). This is the book that started it all for me.
Harry has lived his life many times. He’s an Ourabouros, and one of a few. On his deathbed, a young girl comes to see him and asks him to help find someone who is doing something that they shouldn’t be doing with their ability to live their lives repeatedly, and they’re changing the potential future of the world for the worst.
Her writing really is sublime. It’s a ‘don’t skip a word’ type of writing. I’m terrible for skim-reading, but I don’t do that with Claire North books: it’s all about the journey of the story, and the way in which it’s told.
So yes, I do recommend this book! I loved it.
Harry has lived his life many times. He’s an Ourabouros, and one of a few. On his deathbed, a young girl comes to see him and asks him to help find someone who is doing something that they shouldn’t be doing with their ability to live their lives repeatedly, and they’re changing the potential future of the world for the worst.
Her writing really is sublime. It’s a ‘don’t skip a word’ type of writing. I’m terrible for skim-reading, but I don’t do that with Claire North books: it’s all about the journey of the story, and the way in which it’s told.
So yes, I do recommend this book! I loved it.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Fandom of the Operator in Books
Nov 13, 2019
I like Rankin's work a lot. Some of his works are just amazingly inventive, incredibly humorous and reliably off-the-wall.
Unfortunately this really isn't quite up to his normal standards, although the plot has all his usual hallmarks - essentially someone discovers it is possible to phone the dead, which ends up with potentially terrible consequences for the living.
This sounds like quite a slight premise to hang a whole book of of, and I think that is the heart of the problem here. Some of the writing and twists are amongst the very best. We follow the main character through his life and although we know he's pretty unpleasant, the shock when he is asked how many people he has murdered, and is response, is pure Rankin cleverness.
Unfortunately such moments are too few and the plot too slow moving for this to be counted as a good Rankin novel. One for the completists but certainly not one that demonstrates his true ability.
Unfortunately this really isn't quite up to his normal standards, although the plot has all his usual hallmarks - essentially someone discovers it is possible to phone the dead, which ends up with potentially terrible consequences for the living.
This sounds like quite a slight premise to hang a whole book of of, and I think that is the heart of the problem here. Some of the writing and twists are amongst the very best. We follow the main character through his life and although we know he's pretty unpleasant, the shock when he is asked how many people he has murdered, and is response, is pure Rankin cleverness.
Unfortunately such moments are too few and the plot too slow moving for this to be counted as a good Rankin novel. One for the completists but certainly not one that demonstrates his true ability.
Sarah (7799 KP) rated Little Monsters (2019) in Movies
Nov 16, 2019
Hilarious
I didn’t really know what to expect with this film, I always watch a direct to Sky film with reservations but for a change this one was pleasantly enjoyable.
The majority of the entertainment in this film comes from the highly inappropriate actions, language and conversation of the adult characters around the young children. Alexander England is a riot as the terrible uncle Dave, and Josh Gad’s Teddy McGiggle was delightfully funny as the crude children’s tv personality, although I think his character could’ve been used a lot better in parts. The physical effects in this are good and nice to see, especially in what is most likely a very low budget film. The ending (apart from a few choice zombie moments) is maybe a little bit OTT and cheesy, but overall this is just a fun, entertaining and different take on the zombie film. Maybe we haven’t seen everything zombie films have to offer just yet!
The majority of the entertainment in this film comes from the highly inappropriate actions, language and conversation of the adult characters around the young children. Alexander England is a riot as the terrible uncle Dave, and Josh Gad’s Teddy McGiggle was delightfully funny as the crude children’s tv personality, although I think his character could’ve been used a lot better in parts. The physical effects in this are good and nice to see, especially in what is most likely a very low budget film. The ending (apart from a few choice zombie moments) is maybe a little bit OTT and cheesy, but overall this is just a fun, entertaining and different take on the zombie film. Maybe we haven’t seen everything zombie films have to offer just yet!
MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated Batwoman in TV
Dec 3, 2019 (Updated Dec 3, 2019)
This is ok, and fingers crossed 🤞 it'll get better the longer it's part of the Arrowverse. It's definitely entertaining....but some of the acting is downright terrible. I suppose it's the writing as well. Ruby Rose - I adore her face, but she has literally one facial expression and that's it. In the most recent episode, she learns something that's supposed to make her cry, and it's honestly painful watching her try to show the emotion. The best acting so far has come from Rachel Skarsten as I-know-I-should-hate-her-but-I-can't villain Alice.
Also: why does everyone know who Batwoman is? I swear every time I turn around someone else is having an "ah ha!" moment.
Kate Kane's very much in the closet former lover Sophie is probably the most annoying character on the show. Loving the next gen characters of Luke Fox and and Julia Pennyworth, and the actual Batwoman costume is pretty badass.
Also: why does everyone know who Batwoman is? I swear every time I turn around someone else is having an "ah ha!" moment.
Kate Kane's very much in the closet former lover Sophie is probably the most annoying character on the show. Loving the next gen characters of Luke Fox and and Julia Pennyworth, and the actual Batwoman costume is pretty badass.
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Cloud Atlas (2012) in Movies
Jan 28, 2020
I made it through 1 hour of this films 3 hour running time before I completely lost the will to live and just had to turn it off and I consider even that an achievement! . The film consists of 6 separate stories set at various different points in time that it jumps between consisting of the same cast in various different dodgy make up and wigs, none of the stories make much sense or hold any interest for the viewer. The basic gist is these are reincarnated souls at different points in time and the influence they have had on each others lives. Yes it sounds like an interesting and ambitious idea but the execution of it was just terrible, the film is pretentious and baffling , there’s a good cast who are wasted (even Tom Hanks was bad!) and the film holds no entertainment value whatsoever. Nearly as bad(at least this looks pretty) as ‘Cosmopolis’ and that is really saying something!.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Lighthouse (2019) in Movies
Jan 31, 2020
Distinctively weird period horror movie. Two men are posted to operate a remote lighthouse off the New England coast. One of them is young and inexperienced; the other is old and annoying. Isolation, terrible weather, and perhaps something else all take their toll; there is madness in the air.
Another one of those really peculiar art-house takes on a genre movie that Robert Pattinson seems to enjoy doing: God knows what his take on Batman is going to end up like. I imagine that not many stranger films than this will get a major release this year, but it is still an impressive piece of film-making: well-played, very atmospheric, with strong performances. In the end it's kind of up to the viewer to work out what's really going on in this movie, but the challenge is worth the effort. In the end this resembles Steptoe and Son as written by H. P. Lovecraft; not quite as awesome as that sounds, but still very watchable.
Another one of those really peculiar art-house takes on a genre movie that Robert Pattinson seems to enjoy doing: God knows what his take on Batman is going to end up like. I imagine that not many stranger films than this will get a major release this year, but it is still an impressive piece of film-making: well-played, very atmospheric, with strong performances. In the end it's kind of up to the viewer to work out what's really going on in this movie, but the challenge is worth the effort. In the end this resembles Steptoe and Son as written by H. P. Lovecraft; not quite as awesome as that sounds, but still very watchable.
saheffernan (157 KP) rated All Your Twisted Secrets in Books
Apr 2, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
TW: Drug use, suicide, bullying, toxic friends: Overall I enjoyed most of this book. There was a few writing issues that took me out of the story like certain descriptions of sounds characters would make would be used multiple times. In the beginning it was also hard to keep track of which character was which. This story took a turn for the bad towards the end. It reminded me heavily of one of us is lying; someone in the room knew what was happening. In Amber's quest to make Sasha see the error of her ways (after Sasha accuses her of being like her) Amber becomes just as terrible if not more so than the toxic Sasha. In the end Amber ends up messing up 6 people's lives trying to prove a point instead of trying to properly get her friend back and get Sasha some much needed help. I really disliked the ending but the book keep me reading so it gets points there.