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The World's Favourite: And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
8.0
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A boxed set of the three books that have been confirmed in a popular vote as the World's Favourite...
Lamentation
Book
Matthew Shardlake is back in Lamentation, from the number one bestselling author C. J. Sansom....
Metro 2033
9.0
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The year is 2033. The world has been reduced to rubble. Humanity is nearly extinct. The...
Barker: Plays Seven
Book
"Und, a play for one woman and six trays, is a moving study of dignity and self-delusion. When a...
Charlie Cobra Reviews (1840 KP) rated The Silence (2019) in Movies
Jul 7, 2020
Good But Not Great, Hints of Tension & Terror
The Silence is a 2019 horror film directed by John R. Leonetti and based on a screenplay by Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke. It is an adaptation of a novel by the same name by author Tim Lebbon. The movie was produced by Constantin Film and EMJAG Productions and distributed by Netflix. It stars Kiernan Shipka, Stanley Tucci, and Miranda Otto.
A team of researchers accidentally unleash an unknown species of blind winged creatures deep in a cavern underground. The creatures, called "vesps", violently attack the researchers, killing them before flying out of the cave seeking the noisiest areas next. Ally (Kiernan Shipka), who lost her hearing in a car accident, lives with her brother Jude (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf), parents, Hugh (Stanley Tucci) and Kelly (Miranda Otto), grandmother Lynn (Kate Trotter) and dog Otis. As the outbreak spreads, a state of emergency is declared and people are urged to stay quiet and indoors. However Ally suggests the countryside is likelier to be more quiet so they set out in two cars, accompanied by Glenn (John Corbett), Hugh's best friend.
This movie was alright, but i felt it could have been better. It wasnt terrible though and even had some really good scenes. It was a pretty cool idea/concept. I feel that the film A Quiet Place, did a better job in almost every way in comparison. I think that this movie wasn't able to sell the tension in a convincing way and was unrealistic in some parts. I liked Stanley Tucci's acting but the daughter's was hit or miss for me the entire film. And I'm sure there were plenty of plot holes in this film too, I could feel them as the movie went on. As critic Chris Agar of Screen Rant put it, "...a fairly bland thriller that struggles to leave much of an impact - despite some fleeting moments of pure tension and terror." I give it a 6/10.
A team of researchers accidentally unleash an unknown species of blind winged creatures deep in a cavern underground. The creatures, called "vesps", violently attack the researchers, killing them before flying out of the cave seeking the noisiest areas next. Ally (Kiernan Shipka), who lost her hearing in a car accident, lives with her brother Jude (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf), parents, Hugh (Stanley Tucci) and Kelly (Miranda Otto), grandmother Lynn (Kate Trotter) and dog Otis. As the outbreak spreads, a state of emergency is declared and people are urged to stay quiet and indoors. However Ally suggests the countryside is likelier to be more quiet so they set out in two cars, accompanied by Glenn (John Corbett), Hugh's best friend.
This movie was alright, but i felt it could have been better. It wasnt terrible though and even had some really good scenes. It was a pretty cool idea/concept. I feel that the film A Quiet Place, did a better job in almost every way in comparison. I think that this movie wasn't able to sell the tension in a convincing way and was unrealistic in some parts. I liked Stanley Tucci's acting but the daughter's was hit or miss for me the entire film. And I'm sure there were plenty of plot holes in this film too, I could feel them as the movie went on. As critic Chris Agar of Screen Rant put it, "...a fairly bland thriller that struggles to leave much of an impact - despite some fleeting moments of pure tension and terror." I give it a 6/10.
ClareR (5841 KP) rated The Silent Wife in Books
Jul 8, 2020
I have read three books now by Karin Slaughter and enjoyed every single one. After I read the first, I promised myself that I would catch up with the Grant County and Will Trent books, but here we are. I will do it, but when, I have no idea. Just so that it’s clear: if like me, you haven’t read the rest of the series, it won’t ruin your reading enjoyment. These books are so well written, that I didn’t feel as though I didn’t know what was going on.
This story based around Will Trent (a GBI agent) and medical examiner Dr Sara Linton, is as dark and unsettling as the other books I’ve read. When the GBI is called in to investigate the death of an inmate during a penitentiary riot, another inmate, Daryl Nesbitt, offers them information about a series of terrible attacks, sexual assaults and murders of women in Grant County. Murders and attacks which almost exactly mirror the murders that he was convicted of and that he claims that he didn’t commit. He claims that Sara’s dead husband, Chief of Police Jeffrey Tolliver, and his fellow officer, Lena Adams, framed him.
There is enough in what he says for them to start looking in to past cases and to follow up on a more recent death.
No matter how gore-filled these books are, it’s never done in bad taste. The characters have respect for the dead women (I don’t think I’m giving too much away when I say it’s ‘women’, as in ‘more than one’), and they, to some extent, treat suspects with restraint. I really liked the extended flashbacks to Jeffrey Tolliver. They’ve certainly made me want to read more of the Grant County books.
I’m really glad that The Pigeonhole have serialised the last couple of Karin Slaughter books, and selfishly, I really hope they continue to do so! If you’re already a fan of Karin Slaughter books, you’ll understand. If you haven’t read any yet, what are you waiting for?
This story based around Will Trent (a GBI agent) and medical examiner Dr Sara Linton, is as dark and unsettling as the other books I’ve read. When the GBI is called in to investigate the death of an inmate during a penitentiary riot, another inmate, Daryl Nesbitt, offers them information about a series of terrible attacks, sexual assaults and murders of women in Grant County. Murders and attacks which almost exactly mirror the murders that he was convicted of and that he claims that he didn’t commit. He claims that Sara’s dead husband, Chief of Police Jeffrey Tolliver, and his fellow officer, Lena Adams, framed him.
There is enough in what he says for them to start looking in to past cases and to follow up on a more recent death.
No matter how gore-filled these books are, it’s never done in bad taste. The characters have respect for the dead women (I don’t think I’m giving too much away when I say it’s ‘women’, as in ‘more than one’), and they, to some extent, treat suspects with restraint. I really liked the extended flashbacks to Jeffrey Tolliver. They’ve certainly made me want to read more of the Grant County books.
I’m really glad that The Pigeonhole have serialised the last couple of Karin Slaughter books, and selfishly, I really hope they continue to do so! If you’re already a fan of Karin Slaughter books, you’ll understand. If you haven’t read any yet, what are you waiting for?
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated AVP - Alien Vs. Predator (2004) in Movies
Jul 24, 2020
A missed opportunity
More than anything, AVP just pisses me off, usually when thinking about what could have been.
Why on earth is it PG-13, and why oh why was this historic meeting of two of cinemas most iconic aliens entrusted to Paul WS Anderson!?
I mean, in all honesty, both series had run out of gas at this point, so by the time AVP finally rolled around (14 years after the conflict had been teased at the end of Predator 2), it was never going to be much more than a gimmick, a shameless cash grab to get people in the cinema, hence the family friendly blockbuster nature of the film.
In terms of a big blockbuster, it's not terrible. There are some relatively entertaining moments here and there. The first clash between the titular monsters about 30 minutes in is undeniably surrounded by a sense of child like glee.
In terms of cast, it was a great touch to have Lance Henrikson involved, and Sanaa Lathan is a likeable enough badass-female lead, but everyone else is typical forgettable mercenary cannon fodder.
The effects work is pretty decent for the most part as well.
I can't help but feel that AVP is indeed a missed opportunity. The lack of tension, scares, or viscera just doesn't cut it when it comes to these franchises (although the piss poor sequel proved that more violence doesn't always improve a films quality), but I would have gladly accepted just one of the above mentioned features, but it lacks all of it.
There's a brief flashback which shows a handful of Predators fighting waves upon waves of xenomorphs, and whilst it's a great visual, it serves to remind you that there could have been a much better film produced.
I know that I sound like a miserable bastard and that's a fair enough assumption, and for what it's worth, AVP is watchable - easy Hollywood trash to digest, which is the exact opposite of what I feel an Alien film should be.
Why on earth is it PG-13, and why oh why was this historic meeting of two of cinemas most iconic aliens entrusted to Paul WS Anderson!?
I mean, in all honesty, both series had run out of gas at this point, so by the time AVP finally rolled around (14 years after the conflict had been teased at the end of Predator 2), it was never going to be much more than a gimmick, a shameless cash grab to get people in the cinema, hence the family friendly blockbuster nature of the film.
In terms of a big blockbuster, it's not terrible. There are some relatively entertaining moments here and there. The first clash between the titular monsters about 30 minutes in is undeniably surrounded by a sense of child like glee.
In terms of cast, it was a great touch to have Lance Henrikson involved, and Sanaa Lathan is a likeable enough badass-female lead, but everyone else is typical forgettable mercenary cannon fodder.
The effects work is pretty decent for the most part as well.
I can't help but feel that AVP is indeed a missed opportunity. The lack of tension, scares, or viscera just doesn't cut it when it comes to these franchises (although the piss poor sequel proved that more violence doesn't always improve a films quality), but I would have gladly accepted just one of the above mentioned features, but it lacks all of it.
There's a brief flashback which shows a handful of Predators fighting waves upon waves of xenomorphs, and whilst it's a great visual, it serves to remind you that there could have been a much better film produced.
I know that I sound like a miserable bastard and that's a fair enough assumption, and for what it's worth, AVP is watchable - easy Hollywood trash to digest, which is the exact opposite of what I feel an Alien film should be.
6G
6529: German Soldier on the Western Front 1914-1918
Book
WWI came to be known as the 'War to End All Wars', though alas this didn't turn out to be true....
ClareR (5841 KP) rated Unsettled Ground in Books
Feb 21, 2021
I make no secret of the fact that I’m a huge Claire Fuller fan, and Unsettled Ground gave me no reason at all to think otherwise - it’s a beautiful book.
The characters Jeanie and Julius are vulnerable people who just need someone to guide them when their mother dies, even though they are fiercely independent. This is a family that has always lived on the edge of their community - both their actual geographical location and socially. They live hand to mouth, and when Doris their mother dies, the twins have to go without food at times, when it transpires that Doris has left them with no money and debts. The cost of her funeral is the least of their problems (and they overcome that problem reasonably easily anyway).
There is a feeling that the twins are trapped by circumstance and by each other. Jeanie has never recovered from a childhood illness and is illiterate, and Julius is not only expected to look after her, but is trapped in their local area because he has severe travel sickness linked to their fathers terrible death. Their one comfort is their joint love of folk music (I wish I could have actually listened to these songs - I shall have to google them, and I hope they really exist!).
Claire Fullers use of language makes the everyday seem more lifelike in her books. I read most, if not all, of this with my heart in my mouth. How could I not? Jeanie and Julius are people who are shunned by society, taken advantage of and treated terribly. I feel I can’t leave this quite like this though: there are the good people, the ones that help.
I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’ll stop here, but what I will say is that this is another gorgeously written novel by Claire Fuller, and you should most definitely read it!
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-copy of this book through NetGalley to read and review.
The characters Jeanie and Julius are vulnerable people who just need someone to guide them when their mother dies, even though they are fiercely independent. This is a family that has always lived on the edge of their community - both their actual geographical location and socially. They live hand to mouth, and when Doris their mother dies, the twins have to go without food at times, when it transpires that Doris has left them with no money and debts. The cost of her funeral is the least of their problems (and they overcome that problem reasonably easily anyway).
There is a feeling that the twins are trapped by circumstance and by each other. Jeanie has never recovered from a childhood illness and is illiterate, and Julius is not only expected to look after her, but is trapped in their local area because he has severe travel sickness linked to their fathers terrible death. Their one comfort is their joint love of folk music (I wish I could have actually listened to these songs - I shall have to google them, and I hope they really exist!).
Claire Fullers use of language makes the everyday seem more lifelike in her books. I read most, if not all, of this with my heart in my mouth. How could I not? Jeanie and Julius are people who are shunned by society, taken advantage of and treated terribly. I feel I can’t leave this quite like this though: there are the good people, the ones that help.
I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’ll stop here, but what I will say is that this is another gorgeously written novel by Claire Fuller, and you should most definitely read it!
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-copy of this book through NetGalley to read and review.
