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Awix (3310 KP) rated Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971) in Movies

Feb 9, 2018 (Updated Feb 9, 2018)

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.

Kudos

Doped: The Real Life Story of the 1960s Racehorse Doping Gang

Jamie Reid

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Doped is the gripping true-story racing thriller set in Britain in the 1950s and early 1960s....

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2603 KP) rated Secrets of a Scottish Isle in Books

Mar 28, 2024 (Updated Mar 28, 2024)

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.

Kudos

Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Wrongful Death (David Sloane, #2) in Books

Jan 15, 2018

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!

Kudos

Gail (4 KP) rated Going Places in Books

Jun 4, 2018

Going Places by Kathryn Beria

Four Stars

This story is about a teenage boy trying to find himself. Hudson was going places according to his teacher. When life throws off Hudson balance he seems to stop wanting to go places. School became unnecessary and helping others a priority. I’m not a boy so I don’t completely understand what he was going through. But I did understand not knowing what your future would hold and not finding confidence within yourself. His relationship with Fritzy was hilarious and true. She did give him sweet words or half truths. I didn’t like Love all that much. Overall the author did good and I was excited to be in the mind of a more realistic teenage boy on the journey of maturity.

Kudos

Russ Troutt (291 KP) rated White Boy Rick (2018) in Movies

Jul 2, 2019

White Boy Rick (2018)

2018 | Crime, Drama

6.8

(6 Ratings)

Movie Rating

I pushed some major weight tonight, when I got up out of my recliner to go see White Boy Rick. I ain't no snitch, but let me tell you, this movie is dope. One thing that is great about this movie is it's not so much about the drugs and that life, I mean it's a big part of the storyline, but rather it focuses on something even more influential and valuable on the streets; family. Now, this can't be found at your local mom and pop video store, you're gonna have to get your fix at your local cinema house. Like a teenager at a skating rink I gotta roll, and if someone asks who said this was a good movie, you can tell 'em White Boy Russ told ya so.