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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Girl on the Train in Books
Mar 15, 2018
A gripping thriller by an excellent author. Girl on the Train doesn't fail to excite you the whole way through, with twists and turns around every corner!
Rachel is a troubled, and somewhat annoying and nosey, character who leads us through her bland existence which begins unravelling due to events she would have been better keeping her nose out of, but you'll be glad she did! This story comes at you thick and fast, entertaining anybody who reads it.
Though I predicted most of the end of the book by about halfway in, that didn't take any of the excitement away from the story and it actually made want to keep turning the pages to see how things were going to turn out.
A book I've recommended highly to many family and friends, be sure not to miss this off your reading list!
Rachel is a troubled, and somewhat annoying and nosey, character who leads us through her bland existence which begins unravelling due to events she would have been better keeping her nose out of, but you'll be glad she did! This story comes at you thick and fast, entertaining anybody who reads it.
Though I predicted most of the end of the book by about halfway in, that didn't take any of the excitement away from the story and it actually made want to keep turning the pages to see how things were going to turn out.
A book I've recommended highly to many family and friends, be sure not to miss this off your reading list!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018
1977's other great fantasy movie is somewhat forgotten, relatively speaking, probably because it wasn't franchised to death. Scientist Francois Truffaut and everyman Richard Dreyfuss both become aware of the impending visitation of alien beings, must decide how to react.
Not really much of an SF movie, strictly speaking, but it works brilliantly as a both a thriller-drama and a fantasy film. Always seems to me to be a film about what it means to find faith and surrender yourself to it: ordinary guy Roy finds the transcendental and unknown inserting itself into his life, finds himself becoming devoted to it, willing to sacrifice everything to it. Great performances from the leads, but it's really Spielberg's film, containing some of his neatest moments of directorial legerdemain. Still one of Spielberg's most iconic movies, 40+ years on.
Not really much of an SF movie, strictly speaking, but it works brilliantly as a both a thriller-drama and a fantasy film. Always seems to me to be a film about what it means to find faith and surrender yourself to it: ordinary guy Roy finds the transcendental and unknown inserting itself into his life, finds himself becoming devoted to it, willing to sacrifice everything to it. Great performances from the leads, but it's really Spielberg's film, containing some of his neatest moments of directorial legerdemain. Still one of Spielberg's most iconic movies, 40+ years on.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Unravelling Oliver in Books
Mar 9, 2018
An incredibly creepy look at sociopaths
This psychological thriller is unlike most others because there isn't a big reveal as such but it is based on the behaviour of the criminal mind.
In this case, we look at Oliver, who is a sociopath, and feels very little remorse for the terrible crimes he has committed but instead feels aggrieved at his lack of entitlement.
While half of the book is written from his perspective looking back at his past, the rest is written by people around him who believe they could sense his immoral behaviour. Hence it is a case of whether it is nature of nurture that has forced him to behave in such way, and if society truly did think that he was a monster. Interesting concept, but as expected, you'll hate the main character.
In this case, we look at Oliver, who is a sociopath, and feels very little remorse for the terrible crimes he has committed but instead feels aggrieved at his lack of entitlement.
While half of the book is written from his perspective looking back at his past, the rest is written by people around him who believe they could sense his immoral behaviour. Hence it is a case of whether it is nature of nurture that has forced him to behave in such way, and if society truly did think that he was a monster. Interesting concept, but as expected, you'll hate the main character.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Atomic Blonde (2017) in Movies
Feb 11, 2018 (Updated Feb 11, 2018)
Blondes Have More Gratuitous Nudity (Apparently)
Self-consciously stylish action thriller in which Charlize Theron swanks around 1980s Berlin for two hours in a series of thigh-flashing outfits, pausing only to beat the living daylights out of groups of grown men, engage in a little modish girl-on-girl hot action, and interrupt revivals of Andrei Tarkovsky movies (for shame!).
Quite good fun if you like this kind of movie: the plot is rather secondary to the look of the thing, but it has a good cast and the action is very well-staged. Can't help thinking it's just a little bit exploitative - don't imagine the studio would have been quite as keen on the main character being gay, or indeed so frequently naked, were they male - but it doesn't come across as offensively so.
Quite good fun if you like this kind of movie: the plot is rather secondary to the look of the thing, but it has a good cast and the action is very well-staged. Can't help thinking it's just a little bit exploitative - don't imagine the studio would have been quite as keen on the main character being gay, or indeed so frequently naked, were they male - but it doesn't come across as offensively so.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Snowman (2017) in Movies
Feb 11, 2018 (Updated Feb 11, 2018)
Where was Aled Jones?!
Misfiring Scandi crime thriller which was part of Michael Fassbender's attempt to appear in as many dud movies as possible in 2017. There's a serial killer on the loose and a brilliant detective with a troubled personal life (gee, where do they think of these new ideas?) gets on the case.
The film's plot is really lacking in focus and it engages in the usual casual misogyny that seems to be perfectly acceptable on-screen; a baffling subplot featuring flashbacks with Val Kilmer is arguably a mistake (then again, this film is not exactly short of mis-steps). The film's pretensions to be a serious drama are not much helped by the extent to which the Magic Wand of Improbable Coincidences has been waved over the script. It is all a bit grim and muddled.
The film's plot is really lacking in focus and it engages in the usual casual misogyny that seems to be perfectly acceptable on-screen; a baffling subplot featuring flashbacks with Val Kilmer is arguably a mistake (then again, this film is not exactly short of mis-steps). The film's pretensions to be a serious drama are not much helped by the extent to which the Magic Wand of Improbable Coincidences has been waved over the script. It is all a bit grim and muddled.
Beatriz (138 KP) rated Coraline (2009) in Movies
Nov 25, 2018
Coraline
Coraline is a fantasy thriller made in 2009 by Henry Selick
It’s a story about this blue haired girl that just moved to a new house called The Pink Palace. She finds a secret door that takes her to a pararelle universe where she has her Othet Mother and Other Father and everything is better. Her Other Mother promises her everything she wants but in return she has to stitch buttons in her eyes. Coraline refuses and the Other Mother traps her a steals her from her parents.
Coraline needs to be brave and find a way to go back to the real world and save her family.
The director thought about every single detail of the film. The film took 4 years to be made. And it became a classic and one of the best films I ever watched
It’s a story about this blue haired girl that just moved to a new house called The Pink Palace. She finds a secret door that takes her to a pararelle universe where she has her Othet Mother and Other Father and everything is better. Her Other Mother promises her everything she wants but in return she has to stitch buttons in her eyes. Coraline refuses and the Other Mother traps her a steals her from her parents.
Coraline needs to be brave and find a way to go back to the real world and save her family.
The director thought about every single detail of the film. The film took 4 years to be made. And it became a classic and one of the best films I ever watched
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Perfect Wife in Books
Aug 8, 2019
Abbie wakes up confused about who she is and how she got there. The man next to her claims to be her husband, Tim, who runs a famous technology startup. Abbie learns she's an artist, wife, and mom. Tim tells her she had an accident several years ago and now Tim has used technology to help her recover.
I won't go into a lot of detail about this one, but it totally took me by surprise! I don't want to spoil it, but it's riveting!! I was hooked from the beginning! It's so fascinating and makes you really think about technology and humanity. Abbie's character is really interesting, and there's a great mystery that keeps you clued to the pages. Plus, there's some wonderful insight and thoughts about autism, sexism in the technology sector, and so much more.
Definitely recommend this fascinating thriller!
I won't go into a lot of detail about this one, but it totally took me by surprise! I don't want to spoil it, but it's riveting!! I was hooked from the beginning! It's so fascinating and makes you really think about technology and humanity. Abbie's character is really interesting, and there's a great mystery that keeps you clued to the pages. Plus, there's some wonderful insight and thoughts about autism, sexism in the technology sector, and so much more.
Definitely recommend this fascinating thriller!
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Killing (1956) in Movies
Jul 28, 2019 (Updated Jul 28, 2019)
It's easy to look at Kubrick's first major film with the benefit of hindsight and declare it a work of genius - well, it's certainly a very good, extremely effective thriller. Professional crook puts together a team to steal $2 million from a racetrack, but has to contend with loose lips amongst his men and various other unexpected problems. Always read the luggage regulations when booking your flight, folks...
Clearly a hugely influential film - you can tell it's a major donor amongst the many movies contributing elements to Reservoir Dogs, along with lots of others. The acting is effective and the storytelling completely involving, even if you can't help suspecting that a more mature Kubrick would have employed a slightly lighter touch with some elements of the narrative. An excellent genre movie, whatever else you think about it.
Clearly a hugely influential film - you can tell it's a major donor amongst the many movies contributing elements to Reservoir Dogs, along with lots of others. The acting is effective and the storytelling completely involving, even if you can't help suspecting that a more mature Kubrick would have employed a slightly lighter touch with some elements of the narrative. An excellent genre movie, whatever else you think about it.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Holiday for Skins (Bongo Fury #2) in Books
Nov 11, 2019
Following on from the events in the first Bongo Fury book, this novella once again follows the music shop owner Jimmy Black as he unwillingly gets mired in the underworld of Northern Ireland. After the events of the first book, a silent struggle for power among the criminal elements is escalating and people are dying. All Jimmy wants to do is make sure he isn't one of them.
As with the first book the charm of this sequel is in the leading character. Wry, witty, foul mouthed with an eye for the darkly humorous observation, having Jimmy once again show us his world is very welcome. Together with the twists and turns of the plot (a little less straightforward than the first novel) this makes a cracking quick read that combines noir thriller and laugh out loud humour.
As with the first book the charm of this sequel is in the leading character. Wry, witty, foul mouthed with an eye for the darkly humorous observation, having Jimmy once again show us his world is very welcome. Together with the twists and turns of the plot (a little less straightforward than the first novel) this makes a cracking quick read that combines noir thriller and laugh out loud humour.
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) in Movies
Feb 1, 2020
The original and by far the best of the Nightmare series. Wes Craven’s film is like most 80’s movies looking a little dated in 2019 particularly in its special effects but to me still holds up very well as an original and unsettling horror thriller that puts a unique supernatural spin on the well established slasher formula. The film’s ace is in it’s boogeyman Freddy Krueger, coming after the silent killers of ‘Halloween’ and ‘Friday the 13th’ Robert Englund’s iconic Freddy actually had a personality and the sequels realising his popularity put him front and centre with much more screen time and subsequently making him considerably less scary . Craven conjures up some memorable kill scenes here and the concept of being vulnerable somewhere seemingly as safe as in your dreams makes for a great horror movie.