Wicked: A Musical Biography
Book
In 2004, the original Broadway production of Wicked earned 10 Tony nominations, including best...
Ross (3284 KP) rated Cats (2019) in Movies
Jun 9, 2020
5 minutes in we are bombarded with use of the word "jellicle" without any context, repeated over and over again by haunting cat-people. To amuse myself, I replaced "jellicle" with "genital" and it brightened my mood somewhat.
But by that point the damage was done, I was annoyed by the film and the whole concept. I realised I was in for nearly 2 hours of different cats being introduced through the medium of forgettable arrhythmic song.
Luckily my wife had seen the stage show once (her words - "I saw it to say I'd seen it, never want to see it again") so had a little idea of the storyline (something to do with an annual competition to win an undefined prize which turned out to be a hot air balloon ride).
The visuals are not perfect and in order to detract from how hideous the idea was, they had to be.
So many decent actors (ok just Dame Judy and Sir Ian) wasted.
I have realised what sums this film up succinctly and appropriately:
If this film was a person, it would be Louis Spence.
Elia Kazan: A Biography
Book
Few figures in film and theater history tower like Elia Kazan. Born in 1909 to Greek parents in...
Pompeii - A day in the past
Travel and Education
App
The most comprehensive and innovative interactive OFFLINE guide for the most important...
Ticketmaster
Entertainment and Music
App
The Ticketmaster app is the best way to discover, buy, transfer and sell tickets to thousands of...
Dracula: The Un-Dead
Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt
7.0
Rate It
Book
The official sequel to Bram Stoker's classic novel Dracula, written by his direct descendent and...
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Favian's Law (The Truth Teller Series #3) in Books
Nov 13, 2019
But Charlotte is not the only one who travels to the other world; Favian, a theatre performer, also makes the trip and Charlotte soon discovers that things are very different as a result. With big changes both in the fantasy world and when she returns to ours Charlotte must face her fears to put everything right.
The first two books were fairly straighforward fantasy; this takes on a darker tone as Favian's meddling has caused a lot of changes none of which are for the better. Here we see a very different world from the first two books. Despite being reunited with Elderfield there seems to be nothing they can do to avoid a terrible fate.
This change in tone works well with our heroes in real peril. But where the book really shines is when Charlotte returns to our world. Things have changed here too and everything really does seem hopeless.
Chambers handles the narrative with verve, putting Charlotte through the wringer but always with an eye on the sympathies of the reader. As before the reader is encouraged to care about all of the characters. Unusually there is no ultimate villain here and that makes for a interesting read as the various plot threads work their way to their conclusion.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Unknown Reality in Books
Nov 28, 2019
Following on from the young adult fantasy stories of Truth Teller and The Wrath of Siren, Chambers once again sets out to encourage an interest in fiction in young adults, in this case science fiction. Once again he produces an interesting and engaging work, choc full of characters and ideas. Just the first few chapters contain enough material for the average science fiction work but Chambers goes further, layering further nuanced plots and subplots together and managing to spin them together into a terrific ending.
Chloe is a strong protagonist, intelligent and thoughtful while always remaining an 11 year old in outlook and the reader will really root for her and want her to succeed. The world Chambers creates is very well described and imagined, relying on science fiction standards for some parts but carefully avoiding cliche and doing what science fiction does best - highlight some of the folly of the real world.
Yet another terrific book from Chambers, one of those authors who is a 'must read' for my teenage sons.
Beryl
Book
I had a constant battle to get where I am today. Scrimping and scraping, people telling me not to do...
Biggins: My Story
Book
There's only one Christopher Biggins. The man who was crowned the King of the Jungle on TV's I'm a...
Sarah (7800 KP) Jun 10, 2020