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David McK (3425 KP) rated Relic (Pendergast, #1) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
I think I first read this back in the early to mid 90's, after the success of <i>Jurassic Park</i> (novel and film), but before <i>The Lost World</i>.
I remember thinking at the time how it would make a good movie due to the way it is written (very 'Michael Crichton'ish); it was later converted into such. Unfortunately, that film completely veered off the track from the novel, sharing only the title and a few key characters and settings - it would have worked so much better had they stayed truer to the source.
The novel is set primarily in and around New York's Museum of Natural History, leading up to (and in) the grand opening of a major new exhibition on superstition. There are rumors of a 'museum beast' in the museum, and I think I'm giving nothing away when I say that these prove to be more than rumors ...
As already stated, this is very like Michael Crichton's blend of techno-thriller so, if you like that, you should also like this.
I remember thinking at the time how it would make a good movie due to the way it is written (very 'Michael Crichton'ish); it was later converted into such. Unfortunately, that film completely veered off the track from the novel, sharing only the title and a few key characters and settings - it would have worked so much better had they stayed truer to the source.
The novel is set primarily in and around New York's Museum of Natural History, leading up to (and in) the grand opening of a major new exhibition on superstition. There are rumors of a 'museum beast' in the museum, and I think I'm giving nothing away when I say that these prove to be more than rumors ...
As already stated, this is very like Michael Crichton's blend of techno-thriller so, if you like that, you should also like this.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Moonraker (James Bond, #3) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I know I've seen it, but I don't really remember all the much about the 1979 Moonraker film (incidentally, the year I was born), other than that it starred Roger Moore (in his fourth role as James Bond), and that James Bond went into space.
James Bond does not go into space.
At least, not in the novel on which that film is (very loosely) based - or, more accurately, from which they took the title.
Instead, we have a Cold-War era spy thriller, with the Moonraker of the title really more of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (an IBM) rather than the Space Shuttle of the movie. Nor is there CIA involvement, nor a battle-in-space, nor a madman setting out to wipe out all life on Earth ... you get the picture.
There are, however, elements of the novel that make it into future Bond movies, in particular the facial reconstructive surgery of 'Die Another Day' clearly picking up it's cue from the background given to the central antagonist of Drax, and just what happened to him during the war.
James Bond does not go into space.
At least, not in the novel on which that film is (very loosely) based - or, more accurately, from which they took the title.
Instead, we have a Cold-War era spy thriller, with the Moonraker of the title really more of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (an IBM) rather than the Space Shuttle of the movie. Nor is there CIA involvement, nor a battle-in-space, nor a madman setting out to wipe out all life on Earth ... you get the picture.
There are, however, elements of the novel that make it into future Bond movies, in particular the facial reconstructive surgery of 'Die Another Day' clearly picking up it's cue from the background given to the central antagonist of Drax, and just what happened to him during the war.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated From the Shadows in Books
Oct 25, 2019
From The Shadows
I'm not an avid reader of crime thrillers as I often find them unbelievable, predictable or rediculous. This is neither. I was gripped from the beginning and found it hard to put down. Just one more chapter was my continuous mantra. Like Jane Harper's brilliant novels, as well as the character, the setting itself shines like the main character. Here the cold Highlands of Scotland paint the bleak setting for the dark crimes unfolding.
Bravely, Halliday doesn't feel the need to add romance or standard go to characters to make it work. He relies on his storytelling and strong individuals and how refreshing to see a book featuring a social worker that isn't female or a do gooder.
I'm gobsmacked this is a debut, it reads like a hardened crime writer who is a master at their trade. I can imagine this becoming an ITV drama in the future and look forward to the next installment. An absolutely cracking read for any crime or thriller fan.
Bravely, Halliday doesn't feel the need to add romance or standard go to characters to make it work. He relies on his storytelling and strong individuals and how refreshing to see a book featuring a social worker that isn't female or a do gooder.
I'm gobsmacked this is a debut, it reads like a hardened crime writer who is a master at their trade. I can imagine this becoming an ITV drama in the future and look forward to the next installment. An absolutely cracking read for any crime or thriller fan.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Day Shall Come (2019) in Movies
Oct 15, 2019
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.
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.
Shelda (363 KP) rated After You’re Gone in Books
Dec 18, 2018
Suspense Thriller
Gigi missed dancing with her. Tara wanted to borrow that designer dress. Dimitri wanted to know when he’d see her again.
And she knew none of this because Nori was receiving all her messages.
Nori’s new phone number once belonged to a woman with a life much more exciting than her own. Almost immediately, she finds herself obsessed with the glamorous way in which Talia lived. But when Nori begins receiving her more urgent messages regarding missed prescriptions and late rent, it becomes clear that Talia abandoned her life without warning a soul. Driven by curiosity she can’t shake, Nori finds herself using Talia’s text messages like a map as she goes out in search for clues of where she may have gone. But as Nori becomes increasingly immersed in Talia’s job, friends, and romances, she finds their once separate lives too intertwined to untangle.
And Nori begins to see Talia may not have left of her own volition, she realizes her own life may now be in danger.
And she knew none of this because Nori was receiving all her messages.
Nori’s new phone number once belonged to a woman with a life much more exciting than her own. Almost immediately, she finds herself obsessed with the glamorous way in which Talia lived. But when Nori begins receiving her more urgent messages regarding missed prescriptions and late rent, it becomes clear that Talia abandoned her life without warning a soul. Driven by curiosity she can’t shake, Nori finds herself using Talia’s text messages like a map as she goes out in search for clues of where she may have gone. But as Nori becomes increasingly immersed in Talia’s job, friends, and romances, she finds their once separate lives too intertwined to untangle.
And Nori begins to see Talia may not have left of her own volition, she realizes her own life may now be in danger.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Cold Pursuit (2019) in Movies
Nov 8, 2019
Confused
Let's face it, any film released nowadays with Liam Neeson as the main character is likely to be very similar to everything else he's done recently and also pretty poor. And sadly Cold Pursuit is no different.
The plot isn't anything new. It's Liam Neeson getting revenge on people again. Admittedly the setting and scenery are beautiful, it's just a shame the rest of the film can't live up to it I found the entire film very confused and wasn't entirely sure if it was meant to be a thriller, an action or a black comedy - it had aspects of all three and sadly not all of them worked, especially the humour. It was all a bit weird. And I adore Tom Bateman but his American accent in this is far too odd and I cringed every time he was on screen. And then there's the wasted Laura Dern and the pointless cops.
This is vaguely entertaining, but it dips in the middle and sadly suffers from a few acting faults and confusion on what genre it seems to lie in.
The plot isn't anything new. It's Liam Neeson getting revenge on people again. Admittedly the setting and scenery are beautiful, it's just a shame the rest of the film can't live up to it I found the entire film very confused and wasn't entirely sure if it was meant to be a thriller, an action or a black comedy - it had aspects of all three and sadly not all of them worked, especially the humour. It was all a bit weird. And I adore Tom Bateman but his American accent in this is far too odd and I cringed every time he was on screen. And then there's the wasted Laura Dern and the pointless cops.
This is vaguely entertaining, but it dips in the middle and sadly suffers from a few acting faults and confusion on what genre it seems to lie in.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Blade Runner (1982) in Movies
Nov 25, 2019 (Updated Nov 26, 2019)
Cult thriller from Ridley Scott. In present-day Los Angeles, investigator Harrison Ford finds himself obliged to hunt down and destroy four androids who have illegally returned to Earth from colonies in outer space. Yes, yes: I know it's a timeless classic and a visionary piece of science fiction (if not a particularly accurate piece of prognostication), but it's not a film I've ever found myself able to particularly warm to.
One of the prettiest and most visually dense films you will ever see, of course, but Ridley Scott seems much more interested in the film's visual impact than the actual story (even so, much of the imagery is rather clunky). Harrison Ford doesn't get much to do in his drab and perfunctory section of the plot - the film only really comes to life when it concerns Rutger Hauer's oddly sympathetic homicidal android, who ends up dominating the movie. Most of the book's quirky sense of melancholy disappears, though. For all its strengths it just feels rather superficial and hollow to me.
One of the prettiest and most visually dense films you will ever see, of course, but Ridley Scott seems much more interested in the film's visual impact than the actual story (even so, much of the imagery is rather clunky). Harrison Ford doesn't get much to do in his drab and perfunctory section of the plot - the film only really comes to life when it concerns Rutger Hauer's oddly sympathetic homicidal android, who ends up dominating the movie. Most of the book's quirky sense of melancholy disappears, though. For all its strengths it just feels rather superficial and hollow to me.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Stranger Inside in Books
Dec 20, 2019
"meh"
I really wanted to love this book as the premise drew me in and got me excited about reading a different type of thriller than my usual but, unfortunately, I really struggled and can only describe it as a "meh" read that I probably won't remember in a few days time which is regrettable.
The beginning of the book starts off promising but quickly becomes tedious and slow to get anywhere; there were twists however it took so long to get there that their impact was diluted.
Kimber is an extremely unpleasant, selfish and downright despicable character and I was unable to find anything redeeming about her at all which meant I couldn't care less what happened to her!
There are plenty of 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so clearly it hits the mark for a lot of people so please don't take my word for it and give it a go.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton/Mulholland Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
The beginning of the book starts off promising but quickly becomes tedious and slow to get anywhere; there were twists however it took so long to get there that their impact was diluted.
Kimber is an extremely unpleasant, selfish and downright despicable character and I was unable to find anything redeeming about her at all which meant I couldn't care less what happened to her!
There are plenty of 4 and 5 star reviews for this book so clearly it hits the mark for a lot of people so please don't take my word for it and give it a go.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton/Mulholland Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated Underwater (2020) in Movies
Jan 21, 2020
379. Underwater. A straight to the action, claustrophobic thriller. Story begins with scantily clad Norah getting ready to start her shift at the laboratory at the bottom of the ocean. And by the sudden alarms going off and the entire structure rocking back and forth, something went wrong. it's an earthquake, and its tearing the place apart. And so it's on to find others and to get to escape pods. Oh the earthquake also woke something up down there, and it's big. Who knows maybe its there just to say hi to the new neighbors, but it doesn't really look that way. Because the movie mainly focuses on action, we never really get to see Kristen Stewart make that awkward face, you know what I mean, so that was a plus. TJ Miller was in it, as some kind of odd man-baby scientist, so I thought that was pretty stupid. Overall it was a decent action sci fi flick. Just remember like a famous Jedi once said: "There's always a bigger fish." Filmbufftim on FB.
_RainAllTheTime (17 KP) rated A Quiet Place (2018) in Movies
Jan 9, 2020
So I am very late into the game of watching this film and honestly, I'm so glad I did!
This film was not at all what I expecting.
Firstly, the whole film has only two short scenes of actual dialogue.
The film centres around a couple and their kids trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world with creatures that will eat you if you make a sound.
The creatures are blind but have supersonic hearing so will hear the littlest of sounds, even from very far away, and will devour anything in their path.
Even with the lack of dialogue, the film hits a very emotional punch, but honestly, the film doesn't need any dialogue as it already portrays the perfect atmosphere without them.
The family communicate through sign language, something I assume they knew post apocalypse, as their daughter is deaf.
Everyone in the film plays such great parts and conveys such raw emotions.
If you are a horror or even a thriller fan, I HIGHLY recommend this film.
This film was not at all what I expecting.
Firstly, the whole film has only two short scenes of actual dialogue.
The film centres around a couple and their kids trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world with creatures that will eat you if you make a sound.
The creatures are blind but have supersonic hearing so will hear the littlest of sounds, even from very far away, and will devour anything in their path.
Even with the lack of dialogue, the film hits a very emotional punch, but honestly, the film doesn't need any dialogue as it already portrays the perfect atmosphere without them.
The family communicate through sign language, something I assume they knew post apocalypse, as their daughter is deaf.
Everyone in the film plays such great parts and conveys such raw emotions.
If you are a horror or even a thriller fan, I HIGHLY recommend this film.