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The Cultural Revolution: A People's History, 1962-1976
Book
Acclaimed by the Daily Mail as 'definitive and harrowing' , this is the final volume of 'The...
All This I Do for Glory by Colin Stetson
Album Watch
"All this I do for glory" is a reasoning and exploration of the machinations of ambition and legacy,...
alternative rock
Ross (3284 KP) rated How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) in Movies
Feb 25, 2019
Fitting conclusion
The conclusion to the trilogy sees the dragon population under threat from poachers, and their use of a female "light fury" to lure toothless and all the dragons who follow him to their capture.
The plot sees Hiccup struggling to accept his inevitable marriage to Astrid, at the same time as Toothless seems besotted with his new female acquaintance. Toothless's reluctance to leave Hiccup behind is won over by his desire to get to know the female; whereas with Hiccup his head wins out and he doesn't seem ready to focus on anything other than leading the clan.
The visuals are excellent, with some scenes that rival Coco for beautiful other-worldly colours.
The story is enough to keep all entertained, and this might have been my 4 year old son's first real emotional film (at the end he turned to me with wet eyes and said "its ok sometimes to cry when a happy thing happens instead of a sad one").
The plot sees Hiccup struggling to accept his inevitable marriage to Astrid, at the same time as Toothless seems besotted with his new female acquaintance. Toothless's reluctance to leave Hiccup behind is won over by his desire to get to know the female; whereas with Hiccup his head wins out and he doesn't seem ready to focus on anything other than leading the clan.
The visuals are excellent, with some scenes that rival Coco for beautiful other-worldly colours.
The story is enough to keep all entertained, and this might have been my 4 year old son's first real emotional film (at the end he turned to me with wet eyes and said "its ok sometimes to cry when a happy thing happens instead of a sad one").
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Next to the iconic light saber battles, nothing excites a Star Wars fan more than the epic space battles. The original Star Wars trilogy had some of the most unique and beautifully designed space ships in all of science fiction. For its time, the X-Wing was a truly iconic piece of special effects. With the introduction of Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures game from Fantasy Flight Games, players can now have their own space battles with these memorable ships. Does Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures have what it takes to score a victory on you table top or should it be encased in carbonite? Read on to find out!
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures is a miniatures game of space combat for 2 players. The game players in about 30-60 minutes and can be expanded to accommodate more players.
Reviewer: Tony MastrangeliRead the full review here: https://www.boardgamequest.com/x-wing-miniatures-board-game-review/
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures is a miniatures game of space combat for 2 players. The game players in about 30-60 minutes and can be expanded to accommodate more players.
Reviewer: Tony MastrangeliRead the full review here: https://www.boardgamequest.com/x-wing-miniatures-board-game-review/
Awix (3310 KP) rated 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) in Movies
Feb 20, 2018 (Updated Feb 20, 2018)
Kubrick and Clarke's proverbial good SF movie encompasses the entire history of the human race in 142 minutes (it takes the Fifty Shades trilogy 343 minutes to say considerably less about slightly more trivial matters). Much of the plot is left for the viewer to infer: where do we come from? Where are we going? What is our essential nature? What does it all mean? Probably appears to concern uplift of human race from primitive apes to transcendent star-beings by extraterrestrial forces, with the odd problem along the way.
Not the warmest or paciest of films, but still fabulous to look at and displaying a consummate mastery of image and sound. Probably says something about the film that the only performance most people can remember is that of Hal the computer. Not so much a film with a story as a series of unforgettable linked audio-visual experiences; one of those movies that everyone should see at least once, preferably on the big screen.
Not the warmest or paciest of films, but still fabulous to look at and displaying a consummate mastery of image and sound. Probably says something about the film that the only performance most people can remember is that of Hal the computer. Not so much a film with a story as a series of unforgettable linked audio-visual experiences; one of those movies that everyone should see at least once, preferably on the big screen.
☽LUNA☾ RAMBLING (2 KP) rated Twilight's Dawn (The Black Jewels, #9) in Books
Sep 24, 2018
I am so disappointed with this ending. I recently came across this series and absolutely devoured the beginning trilogy. I was in love. Bought the rest of the books in the series and was slowly poisoned. The other books did not produce the same feelings I got with the first three. The Shalador novellas finally gave me some feels and felt well thought out. But this ending for WITCH!?! I think not. Why build such an intense, strong and facetted character to give her such a weak ending. I really don't feel it jibed with this character that was the reason in this world. And poor Surreal, she was such a great character as well, she deserved a better ending. I feel like this was an ending that would arise if an author had a knife against their throat being threatened to get an ending wrapped up in an afternoon lol. Okay rant over....
Lee (2222 KP) rated Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018) in Movies
Nov 2, 2018 (Updated Nov 2, 2018)
Absolutely awful
A fracking site close to a private school deep in the countryside causes a sinkhole to appear. From which, a bunch of subterranean creatures emerge and begin munching on the teachers and pupils. It's then up to a group of them to band together and do whatever it takes in order to save the school.
Slaughterhouse Rulez boasts an impressive cast, including Michael Sheen, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Pegg and Frost are even credited as executive producers, so you'd be forgiven for expecting something along the lines of the brilliant three flavours Cornetto trilogy. Unfortunately, it comes nothing close, and I cannot believe those 3 had anything to do with this. The characters are mostly lazily written stereotypes and it's not at all funny. The creatures themselves have good potential, but due to poor editing they don't even come across as scary. It's just not very good at all. Such a disappointment.
Slaughterhouse Rulez boasts an impressive cast, including Michael Sheen, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Pegg and Frost are even credited as executive producers, so you'd be forgiven for expecting something along the lines of the brilliant three flavours Cornetto trilogy. Unfortunately, it comes nothing close, and I cannot believe those 3 had anything to do with this. The characters are mostly lazily written stereotypes and it's not at all funny. The creatures themselves have good potential, but due to poor editing they don't even come across as scary. It's just not very good at all. Such a disappointment.
Merissa (11950 KP) rated The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
The first thing I would say about this book is that it is a slow burner. For probably the first third of the book, you are wondering about whether to carry on or not (the first time you read it at least!) but if you can stick with it, it does become worth your while.
The history and mythology that GGK has put into the Fionavar Tapestry are things that dreams are made of - certainly for every Fantasy fan.
One of the common complaints about this book seems to be that the five friends adjust too well to their 'new' world. My reply is that it's amazing how normal things can seem to be when you're with friends :o)
This book is an excellent introduction to the series and also sets the second book up very nicely.
This trilogy, along with Tigana by the same author, firmly remains on my Favourites shelf!
The history and mythology that GGK has put into the Fionavar Tapestry are things that dreams are made of - certainly for every Fantasy fan.
One of the common complaints about this book seems to be that the five friends adjust too well to their 'new' world. My reply is that it's amazing how normal things can seem to be when you're with friends :o)
This book is an excellent introduction to the series and also sets the second book up very nicely.
This trilogy, along with Tigana by the same author, firmly remains on my Favourites shelf!
David McK (3369 KP) rated The Gunslinger in Books
Jan 28, 2019
This is almost heresy, I know (at least, to certain sections of the internet) but I've never actually really been all that big a fan of Stephen King.
Never-the-less - and prompted, somewhat, by the upcoming movie - I thought I would still give what King himself considers to be his magnum opus a go.
And, I have to say - much like the central character of Roland Deschain is described - I found this to be somewhat slow, somewhat plodding, lacking any real sense of urgency or adventure. That's not to say there's no real striking imagery associated with it: for me, the best bit is the shoot-out in the town, but this just (as a whole) did not do it for me and has somewhat dooused my interest in going to see mthat ovie
For my post-apocayptic(ish) cowboy reading, I think I'll stick with David Gemmell's Jon Shannow trilogy.
Never-the-less - and prompted, somewhat, by the upcoming movie - I thought I would still give what King himself considers to be his magnum opus a go.
And, I have to say - much like the central character of Roland Deschain is described - I found this to be somewhat slow, somewhat plodding, lacking any real sense of urgency or adventure. That's not to say there's no real striking imagery associated with it: for me, the best bit is the shoot-out in the town, but this just (as a whole) did not do it for me and has somewhat dooused my interest in going to see mthat ovie
For my post-apocayptic(ish) cowboy reading, I think I'll stick with David Gemmell's Jon Shannow trilogy.