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Ross (3284 KP) rated Jigsaw (2017) in Movies
Sep 3, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
A sad, desperate attempt to wring one last film (we hope) out of what was once a great movie premise. I admit I didn't quite see the twist coming, but knew there would be one, and found that aspect reasonably clever.
But overall this film was full of plot-holes, the acting was atrocious, the ending made no sense and the games have lost the character of those in the original films.
A number of things just kept annoying me and took me right out of the film (one minute Logan is apologising to his daughter and her babysitter for another late night, the next he is heading to the pub?!, Logan takes the bullet out of Edgar's body - but Edgar had been in a coma for days, why was the bullet not taken out of his body while he was in hospital?!, along with the usual horror movie illogical actions trope).
This film added nothing to the Saw series, if anything it urinates over its corpse, and added nothing to my life.
But overall this film was full of plot-holes, the acting was atrocious, the ending made no sense and the games have lost the character of those in the original films.
A number of things just kept annoying me and took me right out of the film (one minute Logan is apologising to his daughter and her babysitter for another late night, the next he is heading to the pub?!, Logan takes the bullet out of Edgar's body - but Edgar had been in a coma for days, why was the bullet not taken out of his body while he was in hospital?!, along with the usual horror movie illogical actions trope).
This film added nothing to the Saw series, if anything it urinates over its corpse, and added nothing to my life.
Roxanne (13 KP) rated Sick Summer Camp (Something Horrific) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
<b>3 Star Rating</b>
This was a gore-fest! 100% gore-fest! And for that...it was fab!
People bleeding here, people bleeding there, blood for fun, blood for no reason...here have some blood! (And maybe an eyeball...I'm feeling generous).
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/julius1213/blood.gif"; width="300" height="300"/>
I mean seriously, how great was that gore? (Gore-whore right here *waves*)
Then why the 3 stars you ask? Why not 5?
It was too short...waaaaaay too short for any kind of story or character development, too short for any real explanations and it just left me with lots of unanswered questions. Personally, I would love to see this as a full length novel as I want to know what happens next.
That twist was kick-ass by the way!
More character development was definitely needed as there were too many people being introduced and I lost track...sooo who is that person? Oh...but I thought that was her...wait that was him? *confused*
But that gore though...<b>WIN!</b>
This was a gore-fest! 100% gore-fest! And for that...it was fab!
People bleeding here, people bleeding there, blood for fun, blood for no reason...here have some blood! (And maybe an eyeball...I'm feeling generous).
<img src="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a46/julius1213/blood.gif"; width="300" height="300"/>
I mean seriously, how great was that gore? (Gore-whore right here *waves*)
Then why the 3 stars you ask? Why not 5?
It was too short...waaaaaay too short for any kind of story or character development, too short for any real explanations and it just left me with lots of unanswered questions. Personally, I would love to see this as a full length novel as I want to know what happens next.
That twist was kick-ass by the way!
More character development was definitely needed as there were too many people being introduced and I lost track...sooo who is that person? Oh...but I thought that was her...wait that was him? *confused*
But that gore though...<b>WIN!</b>
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Blacklist - Season 1 in TV
Jun 17, 2019
FBI action series with a twist
This American crime thriller series focuses on criminal mastermind Raymond Reddington (James Spader) who turns FBI informant; as long as he can work with a particular agent: Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone.)
Initially the series follows a very episodic nature with Reddington providing info on particular bad guy and the FBI team chasing them down, it’s good fun and nice to the more recent trend of series long arcs. However as the series progresses you get a more ongoing underlying story hinting at why he insists on working with relative FBI rookie Keen and it’s engaging enough to keep coming back for the full 22 episodes of this first season. Some of the CGI especially early on is laughable but I've never let that stop me having a good time.
James Spader at times is amazing and others a tad cringe worthy, while Boone is unremarkable I did like Parminder Naga as agent Malik a lot. Overall entertaining diversion, I will be carrying on with the next season.
Initially the series follows a very episodic nature with Reddington providing info on particular bad guy and the FBI team chasing them down, it’s good fun and nice to the more recent trend of series long arcs. However as the series progresses you get a more ongoing underlying story hinting at why he insists on working with relative FBI rookie Keen and it’s engaging enough to keep coming back for the full 22 episodes of this first season. Some of the CGI especially early on is laughable but I've never let that stop me having a good time.
James Spader at times is amazing and others a tad cringe worthy, while Boone is unremarkable I did like Parminder Naga as agent Malik a lot. Overall entertaining diversion, I will be carrying on with the next season.
Charley (64 KP) rated Alice (The Chronicles of Alice, #1) in Books
Jan 27, 2019
Chilling twist on what is a classic tale
This story is set just after the classic Alice in Wonderland book that most will know and love.
It starts of in a mental institution where Alice is resident. Her parents putting her in there after her "adventures" in Wonderland. She has a relationship with the man in the next cell called Hatcher, three guesses who he is supposed to represent.
This whirlwind adventure takes you through a Victorian esq London with all the characters of the classic story.
It is a very dark adaptation of Alice in Wonderland and I have to say kept me guessing throughout.
The characters seem familiar but in a dark and twisted way and ultimately it's about Alice's journey after escaping the mental home with her companion Hatcher.
I will not say anymore as it will spoil the storyline but it is definitely worth a look.
Christina Henry has definitely made an amazing book and since I read this I went out and bought all her books.
It starts of in a mental institution where Alice is resident. Her parents putting her in there after her "adventures" in Wonderland. She has a relationship with the man in the next cell called Hatcher, three guesses who he is supposed to represent.
This whirlwind adventure takes you through a Victorian esq London with all the characters of the classic story.
It is a very dark adaptation of Alice in Wonderland and I have to say kept me guessing throughout.
The characters seem familiar but in a dark and twisted way and ultimately it's about Alice's journey after escaping the mental home with her companion Hatcher.
I will not say anymore as it will spoil the storyline but it is definitely worth a look.
Christina Henry has definitely made an amazing book and since I read this I went out and bought all her books.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Saw: The Final Chapter (2010) in Movies
Dec 22, 2018
They just get worse
I’ve always hated what they did to the Saw films. The first one was fantastic, the second one quite good and then the rest have gone downhill at an alarming rate.
This ‘final chapter’, which actually isn’t as they’ve started making Jigsaw films now, is the worst of the bunch. Not only are the traps actually quite dull and boring (they obviously outdid themselves with the traps in the first film), the special effects and gore look really bad too. Did nobody notice that the blood didn’t look even slightly real? In some scenes it was verging on fuschia. The plot itself is just convoluted as always and they’ve been trying to tie up loose ends with little success. They should’ve just left the original as a stand alone film instead of messing it up with all of Jigsaw’s accomplices in these 6 sequels. And the final twist reveal at the end? Come on, I predicted that from the second film onwards, and I’m sure many other people did too. Such a lame ending.
This ‘final chapter’, which actually isn’t as they’ve started making Jigsaw films now, is the worst of the bunch. Not only are the traps actually quite dull and boring (they obviously outdid themselves with the traps in the first film), the special effects and gore look really bad too. Did nobody notice that the blood didn’t look even slightly real? In some scenes it was verging on fuschia. The plot itself is just convoluted as always and they’ve been trying to tie up loose ends with little success. They should’ve just left the original as a stand alone film instead of messing it up with all of Jigsaw’s accomplices in these 6 sequels. And the final twist reveal at the end? Come on, I predicted that from the second film onwards, and I’m sure many other people did too. Such a lame ending.
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Redshirts in Books
Dec 23, 2018
Some books are surreal suspensions of disbelief. Some books just make you go "WHAT the FUCK" every couple of chapters when a new twist is revealed, and this is one of the latter. Just - what the FUCK.
Imagine your average sci-fi space opera TV show on cable television with hand-wavey science and half-assed special effects - take those characters and make them realize they're IN A TV SHOW. Let them realize all of their woes are due to shitty writing, and see what they do with that knowledge. THAT is this book, and it is crazy and hilarious and weird and eye-roll-inducing.
Between the time travel, the Box that does magic science behind the scenes so things work out on-screen, the Narrative taking control and making people say and do things they wouldn't otherwise do - this book is wacky and just full of what-the-fuckery. It's fun, though, and if you can keep yourself from groaning out loud every few pages, it's a pretty good read.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Imagine your average sci-fi space opera TV show on cable television with hand-wavey science and half-assed special effects - take those characters and make them realize they're IN A TV SHOW. Let them realize all of their woes are due to shitty writing, and see what they do with that knowledge. THAT is this book, and it is crazy and hilarious and weird and eye-roll-inducing.
Between the time travel, the Box that does magic science behind the scenes so things work out on-screen, the Narrative taking control and making people say and do things they wouldn't otherwise do - this book is wacky and just full of what-the-fuckery. It's fun, though, and if you can keep yourself from groaning out loud every few pages, it's a pretty good read.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Ghost Ship (2002) in Movies
Oct 26, 2019
Better than expected
I feel like Ghost Ship is a rather underrated horror film. It may be a little dated now and it definitely shows it in the special effects, but it’s a lot more enjoyable than current modern horrors. It starts off with a bang, and continues with a lot of gore throughout the film. It isn’t the scariest of films which is a shame, but at least it doesn’t rely on cheesy jump scares. It’s got a great cast, and I hadn’t realised Karl Urban was in this which was a nice surprised. The characters may be slightly underdeveloped and there are some characters that come to rather unsatisfying ends, but I found that the twist ending more than makes up for some of these short comings. Whatever you think this film might be, I’d be surprised if you could predict how it turns out. It reminds me a little of Event Horizon at sea, and if it had been a little creepier and satisfying, it’d actually be a very good film.
Merissa (13419 KP) rated Sinking (Sinking Trilogy #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
This is a Historical Young Adult Fantasy that starts off in Ireland, but travels to China and India. Jocelyn is washed up on the beach with no memories of her own. She is completely naked and clutching a locket. She is found by a lady, who decides that she will take the locket for herself as she orders her servants to take care of the girl.
As the story progresses, you learn more about Jocelyn at the same time as she learns about herself. She has two human men who show interest in her, but the ocean also speaks to her and she feels an amazing pull to return - to what or to whom, she doesn't know.
This story moves smoothly throughout, building to the cliffhanger ending that will leave you wanting to know more. This is a wonderful story of mermaids and magic with a historical twist. Recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
As the story progresses, you learn more about Jocelyn at the same time as she learns about herself. She has two human men who show interest in her, but the ocean also speaks to her and she feels an amazing pull to return - to what or to whom, she doesn't know.
This story moves smoothly throughout, building to the cliffhanger ending that will leave you wanting to know more. This is a wonderful story of mermaids and magic with a historical twist. Recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Coal House in Books
Nov 11, 2019
Set just after the Second World War this follows the story of Finn Harper who decides to turn to property development with his wife. When they are on holiday in Wales they see a house for auction which seems to be a bargain. When the locals won't bid on it they decide to buy the remote and long-deserted house.
So begins Coal House, a suspenseful ghost story that slowly builds to a shattering ending with a chilling twist. Any ghost story turns on the ability of the author to conjure up locations and events that seem both ordinary and strange at the same time and Barton does this with ease, able to raise goosebumps with a few simple words.
The story is clever and interesting with several layers and with characters to match. Finn is initially a skeptic but as strange events happen in and around the house he must consider if they are real or just his imagination.
This is not a long book but does pack a lot into its pages. An excellent read
So begins Coal House, a suspenseful ghost story that slowly builds to a shattering ending with a chilling twist. Any ghost story turns on the ability of the author to conjure up locations and events that seem both ordinary and strange at the same time and Barton does this with ease, able to raise goosebumps with a few simple words.
The story is clever and interesting with several layers and with characters to match. Finn is initially a skeptic but as strange events happen in and around the house he must consider if they are real or just his imagination.
This is not a long book but does pack a lot into its pages. An excellent read
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated My Lovely Wife in Books
Nov 23, 2019
A crazy premise delivers a memorable dark thriller.
Written from the husband’s perspective (it seems like ages since I read a book with only one POV and I found it very refreshing) we get the view into the protagonist’s family life with his wife, estate agent Millicent and two teenage kids. From the outside, they look like a supernormal family, but he and Millicent are hiding some pretty dark stuff and when it starts to look like it may all come out the level of crazy to protect their way of life jumps to a whole other level. With a narrator who is by no means a boy scout, we get a front-row seat into how to justify the unjustifiable to yourself.
I loved the writing in this book and was fully engaged in what wasn’t a super fast-paced book. I think I’ve been reading way too many thrillers as once again I guessed the main twist way too early for my liking but it was still an enjoyable ride. I can see this being a great thriller movie.
I loved the writing in this book and was fully engaged in what wasn’t a super fast-paced book. I think I’ve been reading way too many thrillers as once again I guessed the main twist way too early for my liking but it was still an enjoyable ride. I can see this being a great thriller movie.