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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Taylor's Plight (The Sanctum Series #3) in Books

Nov 26, 2019  
Taylor's Plight (The Sanctum Series #3)
Taylor's Plight (The Sanctum Series #3)
Katrina Cope | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Taylor's Plight is the third book in The Sanctum series of pre-teen adventure novels by Katrina Cope. Once again Jayden, Eva, Robert and Aaron are attempting to stop terrorism by using 'surrogates' - robots they can control remotely that appear to be human.

This installment starts with a bang (quite literally) and just keeps going. The previous two books took a little while to lay the groundwork for both characters and plot but there is no need to do that here, especially as the story continues essentially from the end of the second book, Scarlet's Escape.

Once again someone is moving against the Sanctum, trying to stop their fight against terrorism, attacking their infrastructure in an attempt to bring down Scarlet, the computer intelligence that controls much of the Santum's functions.

Liam and the other pupils at Ernest College are also involved, and seemingly on a course to uncover the Sanctum's meddling at their school. But are they working towards the same cause, or against? As the two groups of students converge on the truth, the stakes have never been higher and the danger never more real.

This really is a fantastic read. From start to finish it grips the reader, drawing them along. The threads of Ernest and the Sanctum play off of each other, each giving a slightly different view of what is really going on. Most of the second half of the book is a breathless rush towards the final climax as the children on both sides uncover the truth. The phrase 'I couldn't put it down' is overused but is totally justified in this case.

Not everything in their world is safe and cosy and this is one of the great things about Cope's books. She is not afraid to put her characters through the mill, but they are always shown to be able to overcome adversity through quick wits and to come out stronger the other side. As usual the strong role models are well in evidence.

This is a book I would unhesitatingly recommend to any reader from about 9 upwards, although reading the first two books will be necessary to introduce the characters involved and the world of the Sanctum.
  
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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Patriots Day (2016) in Movies

Jul 12, 2019  
Patriots Day (2016)
Patriots Day (2016)
2016 | Crime, Drama, Thriller
8
7.9 (28 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
There are events in history that are burned into our memories. The attack on Pearl Harbor, JFK assassination, Challenger explosion, Oklahoma City bombing, and 9/11 stand out as moments when their respective generations ask “where were you when?” The same can be said with the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. In Patriot’s Day we bear witness to the various people involved with the events that unfolded during that week. We are reminded of the tension and fear that the nation experienced as law enforcement tried to find those responsible. The film reopens a wound that has just begun to heal so that we are reminded of the vulnerability that everyone, from every walk of life has to terrorism and acts of violence.

Patriot’s Day stars Mark Wahlberg as a police officer and native Bostonian who is placed on duty for the Boston Marathon. The film is not about him or his personal experience. Rather, the film is more about the myriad of individuals who witness or fall victim to the attack that day. Unlike similar films that deal with the topic of terrorism, the film does not focus on the effect the events have on one or two people. The film is complex and demonstrates the circumstances of the attack, the investigation, the apprehension, and the personal experiences through a variety of voices and faces. The film makes the experience personal and does not depend on sensationalism to sell the story.

The film will captivate those that see it in being able to learn more about the individuals involved or who fell victim. It is also remarkable in its ability to weave the storytelling so that each player has a strong development before their portion of the tale is fully realized. It allows for an appreciation of the individuals involved and demonstrates that they are more than just names in a report. Patriot’s Day is a film that will open wounds for those who witnessed and experienced the events first-hand, but allows for those who have little to no memory of that week to delve deeper into the way that the events played out and truly understand the manner in which the city of Boston went from hurting, to healing, to being strong.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Day Shall Come (2019) in Movies

Oct 15, 2019  
The Day Shall Come (2019)
The Day Shall Come (2019)
2019 | Comedy
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Offbeat comedy-thriller from Chris Morris never quite coheres when it comes to raising a laugh or making a serious point. It feels like the story would have been more topical ten years ago: essentially it's a critique of the FBI for entrapping relatively harmless individuals on spurious terrorism charges, simply for the kudos and publicity involved - offering to give people guns and then arresting them for possession of firearms, for instance. In this case an unhinged Miami cult leader's need for cash results in him getting mixed up with the police and FBI.

Well, there is potential here, I suppose, but on this occasion Morris never quite shakes off the lingering traces of his background in TV comedy to make something that feels like an extended cinematic narrative, and too often the story is silly rather than funny. The story feels contrived and a bit manipulative, too. Anna Kendrick works incredibly hard to lift the material she's given, but in the end the film is wildly uneven and seldom more than mildly amusing.