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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Gringo (2018) in Movies

Jun 29, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)  
Gringo (2018)
Gringo (2018)
2018 | Action, Comedy, Drama
Harold's hum-drum life take an unexpected turn when he finds himself in Mexico, recently single, possibly jobless, and on the wrong side of a cartel boss.



I have to say, the first few minutes of this film were quite possibly my favourite... Harold (David Oyelowo) singing in his car... yep. That's how I start every morning and it just made me smile.

I like the fact that the trailer didn't give away any of the twist for this one. It made for a nice surprise and amusement. It was a nice little film, but I'd put a vote in for more Harold and Mitch (Sharlto Copley) time and less of everyone else. The pair made a great little double act. And while there was at least a good ending for Harold, I'm surprised that they didn't give him a little more romance. When the film ended, while satisfied, I did wonder if they just gave it the ending they did just so they could say they didn't go with the cliché one.
  
Enter the Dragon (1973)
Enter the Dragon (1973)
1973 | Action
Irresistible slice of 70s schlock. Bruce Lee goes off to the island of the drug dealing white slaver who's a renegade from his temple and whose men killed his sister (he's certainly not short of motivation) to take part in a martial arts tournament and bring the bad guy to justice. The plot is as rudimentary as that: there's a good guy, a bad guy, and a hell of a lot of fighting.

You do sense the American producers didn't quite understand what they were dealing with in Lee, for it's obvious he had a range and charisma far beyond what's required here. He's also partnered with John Saxon, who's an able leading man but really supernumerary (Saxon may have been a black belt in real life but his fight scenes have a whiff of dressage about them). Sleazy to the point of tackiness in places, and not much more than a live-action comic book, but tremendous action and some iconic sequences (the fight in the mirror-maze, for instance). Terrific entertainment if you're in the right mood.
  
Goodness Gracious Golly Gee: I Forgot My Christmas Tree
Goodness Gracious Golly Gee: I Forgot My Christmas Tree
Carol Burcham, Cori Burcham | 2021 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Are you looking for a sweet rhyming story for your child or children? “Goodness Gracious Golly Gee: I Forgot My Christmas Tree” will be a good reminder. We do not always need presents and decorations to celebrate the holiday.

The way this book is done is quite cute. I enjoy the poem feel in this book; it is not complicated to read. The pictures did well. Children will enjoy this book and want you to read it repeatedly around the holiday season.

Their Goodness Gracious Golly Gee is hilarious and enjoyable throughout the book. Children will be laughing and enjoying saying these words Goodness Gracious Golly Gee, ever so often. Children can learn to read with this book with the help of a parent.

This book teaches us what is essential in life and that Santa will not be upset or mad because we do not have a tree or decorations or presidents. If you enjoy the love and kindness and are happy, Santa will be just as happy. The real meaning of Christmas lives shown through this whimsical story.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971) in Movies

Feb 9, 2018 (Updated Feb 9, 2018)  
Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971)
Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971)
1971 | Horror
6
6.3 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Gender on the Agenda
Hammer's second swing at a Jekyll and Hyde movie boasts a good cast, a capable director, and an inventive script that takes what sounds like a risible premise just seriously enough to keep it interesting. Dr Jekyll, intent on finding the universal cure for all diseases, realises he will die long before he completes the project, and so starts searching for an immortality serum - the recipe for which happens to include large quantities of female hormones. When he drinks it the inevitable happens.

Well, what ensues is a struggle between the moral but weak Jekyll and his ruthless, psychotic alter-ego, which somehow develops to include the real-life grave-robbers Burke and Hare and a somewhat unlikely solution to the mystery of Jack the Ripper's true identity. It's not exactly the subtlest or most refined piece of work, but neither is it completely sleazy or ridiculous.

The cast, director, and production values give the movie a touch of class (the punishingly low budget is concealed rather well) and the main weakness is that the script often seems to almost be treating the idea as a black joke, and doesn't explore some of the potential of the premise. Still, far from the travesty or spoof it sounds like.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2526 KP) rated Secrets of a Scottish Isle in Books

Mar 28, 2024 (Updated Mar 28, 2024)  
Secrets of a Scottish Isle
Secrets of a Scottish Isle
Erica Ruth Neubauer | 2024 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Undercover in the Occult
Jane Wunderly is on the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scottland. She’s joined the Golden Dawn, going under cover in an attempt to learn if their leader would be a good asset for the organization she and her fiancé, Redvers, works for. But Jane has just barely joined the group when she finds the body of another female member on the moors. Jane is driven to get justice for the victim. But what exactly happened to her? And what about Jane’s official investigation?

As a fan of the series, I was delighted to spend time with Jane and Redvers again. They are a great pair. We get plenty of new characters, and they are well developed, too. Sadly, the plot was uneven, with Jane spending lots of time contemplating what was happening in between the twists. This led to an abrupt but logical climax. The writing brought Iona in March to life, and it made me shiver as I read. It’s fun to see a poet from 1927 show up in the book, and be sure to read the author’s notes at the end to see where she got the inspiration for the tale. Fans of the series will enjoy Jane’s latest adventure.
  
WD
Wrongful Death (David Sloane, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a good read for sure! I think I've found a new author worthy of my reading time thanks to this Goodreads Giveaway win.
The reviews compare Dugoni to John Grisham. When I first saw that I wasn't too thrilled. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Grisham. He just isn't one of my favorite go-to authors, not 1 I always count on for an engrossing read. There are similarities in their styles...legal thrillers, lawyers as main characters, etc. But to me, Dugoni's action is more captivating. This book got me thinking, but it also wasn't too over my head with "legal speak." The characters are well written, believable with a mix of the incredible...just like real life.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Dugoni's work!