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Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Dark City (1998) in Movies
Jun 25, 2019
A underrated horror jem
Contains spoilers, click to show
Dark city- has myserty, science, horror, twist and turns throughout the plot.
John Murdoch awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he is wanted for a series of brutal murders. The problem is that he can't remember whether he committed the murders or not. For one brief moment, he is convinced that he has gone completely mad. Murdoch seeks to unravel the twisted riddle of his identity. As he edges closer to solving the mystery, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of ominous beings collectively known as the Strangers.
Its a really intresting movie and will make you keep guesting until the end. With its suspense, thrills and a great cast.
Dark city is a great sci-fi horror movie, that more people should watch because it is very underrated.
John Murdoch awakens alone in a strange hotel to find that he is wanted for a series of brutal murders. The problem is that he can't remember whether he committed the murders or not. For one brief moment, he is convinced that he has gone completely mad. Murdoch seeks to unravel the twisted riddle of his identity. As he edges closer to solving the mystery, he stumbles upon a fiendish underworld controlled by a group of ominous beings collectively known as the Strangers.
Its a really intresting movie and will make you keep guesting until the end. With its suspense, thrills and a great cast.
Dark city is a great sci-fi horror movie, that more people should watch because it is very underrated.
Ross (3282 KP) rated Ozark Season 1 in TV
Sep 4, 2017
Compulsive viewing
I think this has been somewhat unfairly compared to Breaking Bad. While there is a similar mix of family/day job vs criminal underworld, the lines are much more blurred and the criminality much closer to the surface.
Jason Bateman's character is nowhere near as likeable/flawed as Walter White and at times you struggle to root for him in the same way.
The true star of the show has to be Ruth Langmore - the redneck/evil genius mix that you cannot take your eyes off.
The appearance of fellow Scot Peter Mullan was somewhat unexpected, however his attempt at a Missouri accent was just atrocious. I am pretty sure he was completely over-dubbed in the pilot episode, I am guessing in favour of a better accent (God alone knows what his first attempt must have been like!).
Jason Bateman's character is nowhere near as likeable/flawed as Walter White and at times you struggle to root for him in the same way.
The true star of the show has to be Ruth Langmore - the redneck/evil genius mix that you cannot take your eyes off.
The appearance of fellow Scot Peter Mullan was somewhat unexpected, however his attempt at a Missouri accent was just atrocious. I am pretty sure he was completely over-dubbed in the pilot episode, I am guessing in favour of a better accent (God alone knows what his first attempt must have been like!).
Awix (3310 KP) rated John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) in Movies
May 15, 2019 (Updated May 16, 2019)
Astoundingly violent, wholly absurd thriller sequel. Short-fused hitman Wick (Reeves) goes on the run from the authorities of the underworld, demonstrating his mastery of gun-fu, knife-fu, horse-fu and library-book-fu along the way. The plot is almost entirely secondary to Reeves committing bloody slaughter on a mind-boggling scale.
Essentially a fantasy film in every way that matters, and the middle section flags noticeably, but once again it gets the tricky balance between taking itself too seriously and just being silly about right, although the film has a hard, sadistic edge that feels new. Helped by terrific action choreography and some outrageous overacting from most of the cast. The decision to keep the door flapping open for Chapter 4 may test the goodwill of some viewers, but this is another good bad movie, up to the standards of the last one.
Essentially a fantasy film in every way that matters, and the middle section flags noticeably, but once again it gets the tricky balance between taking itself too seriously and just being silly about right, although the film has a hard, sadistic edge that feels new. Helped by terrific action choreography and some outrageous overacting from most of the cast. The decision to keep the door flapping open for Chapter 4 may test the goodwill of some viewers, but this is another good bad movie, up to the standards of the last one.
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Extraction (2020) in Movies
Apr 27, 2020 (Updated Apr 27, 2020)
Action man
A hard hitting action packed gritty and violent movie that goes full adrenaline junkie in a very short time, that even when the plot slows, it isn't for long and doesn't feel any slower.
The movie is very 'John Wick' with its melee combat which is a bonus & Hemsworth has nicely shrugged off the thor status and adjusted to action star nicely.
Although an excellent movie it isn't without its downside, in this case it's the lack of dialogue/communication between the "hero team" during an extraction which felt a little odd in my opinion.
Plot:Chris hemsworth stars as A black-market mercenary who is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned powerful crime lord. But in the chaotic underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, another brush with death is just around the corner.
The movie is very 'John Wick' with its melee combat which is a bonus & Hemsworth has nicely shrugged off the thor status and adjusted to action star nicely.
Although an excellent movie it isn't without its downside, in this case it's the lack of dialogue/communication between the "hero team" during an extraction which felt a little odd in my opinion.
Plot:Chris hemsworth stars as A black-market mercenary who is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned powerful crime lord. But in the chaotic underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, another brush with death is just around the corner.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Digging Up the Dead (The Gravedigger #3) in Books
Dec 1, 2020
200 of 200
Kindle
Digging up the Dead ( The Gravedigger book 2)
By Willie E. Dalton
Reapers, vampires, and… zombies?”
I wasn’t sure just how much more emotional upheaval I was capable of handling. I never knew this would still be an issue after death. I was still coping with the latest trauma, when my best friend, Grace came to me with startling news. Boude, her boyfriend, was missing.
Vampire affairs is something I try to avoid, after all, the vampire Rasputin had tried to kill me more than once, and had been the one to take Grace’s eye and disfigure the side of her lovely face. I had a sneaking suspicion he was also the one behind our missing friend.
Not one to sit idly by while my friend suffered, I started investigating the inner workings of the Vampire Quarter; a breathtaking and sinister area of the underworld.
In the fields of the dead, bodies were disappearing as fast as the other reapers and I could dig them up, and things at the Assignment Hall were profoundly more strange as all of the employees suddenly had fangs.
The deeper we kept digging into the bizarre events, a terrifying plot unfolded that could bring down the underworld as we knew it. And when the bodies in the field started clawing their way out of the graves, I realized we were up against something more powerful than we could ever have imagined.
Been a while since I read book 2 but was able to pick it up and remember exactly where it left off! I enjoy this series it’s a totally different take on how life in the afterlife is. I kinda wished they made more of the big bars death though. Also separating Hell and Soren hoping they find a way back to each other! I like the idea of Hell covering for Persephone as queen too!
Kindle
Digging up the Dead ( The Gravedigger book 2)
By Willie E. Dalton
Reapers, vampires, and… zombies?”
I wasn’t sure just how much more emotional upheaval I was capable of handling. I never knew this would still be an issue after death. I was still coping with the latest trauma, when my best friend, Grace came to me with startling news. Boude, her boyfriend, was missing.
Vampire affairs is something I try to avoid, after all, the vampire Rasputin had tried to kill me more than once, and had been the one to take Grace’s eye and disfigure the side of her lovely face. I had a sneaking suspicion he was also the one behind our missing friend.
Not one to sit idly by while my friend suffered, I started investigating the inner workings of the Vampire Quarter; a breathtaking and sinister area of the underworld.
In the fields of the dead, bodies were disappearing as fast as the other reapers and I could dig them up, and things at the Assignment Hall were profoundly more strange as all of the employees suddenly had fangs.
The deeper we kept digging into the bizarre events, a terrifying plot unfolded that could bring down the underworld as we knew it. And when the bodies in the field started clawing their way out of the graves, I realized we were up against something more powerful than we could ever have imagined.
Been a while since I read book 2 but was able to pick it up and remember exactly where it left off! I enjoy this series it’s a totally different take on how life in the afterlife is. I kinda wished they made more of the big bars death though. Also separating Hell and Soren hoping they find a way back to each other! I like the idea of Hell covering for Persephone as queen too!
Lenard (726 KP) rated Hellboy (2019) in Movies
Aug 26, 2019
Here we go again. Yet another reboot of a popular movie series surgically removing the charm of the original actors and director. Guillermo Del Toro is a truly visionary director who turns monsters into romantically tragic figures, like a underworld Heathcliff or a mutated Rochester. To review, Hellboy was raised from the bowels of Hell toward the end of World War II by Nazi supporter Grigor Rasputin to turn the tide for the Axis. A squandron of Allied forces closed the portal before more "monsters" could come through, but Professor Broom, a paranormal investigator, adopted the baby Hellboy and raised him to protect the world from other forces of evil. Humans do not trust Hellboy since he was created by Evil and the supernatural beasts cannot trust him because fights for Good. Cast aside, Hellboy must prove himself as a immortal sorceress rebuilds her empire on Earth with Hellboy as the key.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated The Phantom Forest in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<b><i>The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review.</i></b>
So when I sat down to write my review for <em>The Phantom Forest</em>, all I wanted to write is this:
<ul>
<li>Protect this character</li>
<li>Seriously, protect this character</li>
<li>Take them away from Liz Kerin; it's the only way to protect them</li>
</ul>
But uh, that doesn't work as a review (maybe one day). Anyways.
<em style="background-color: initial; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><strong>The Phantom</strong></em><strong style="background-color: initial; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><em> Forest</em> is haunting.</strong>
Kerin's debut is <em>creepy</em>, everyone. The world here is atmospheric and brings a chill or two, even when the story isn't in the Underworld. In a world ruled by the Coalition where one practicing their belief in gods or superstition results in death, General Simeon overlooks a village with tight control. He keeps the people under his authority by taking a religious ritual where only criminals are sacrifices to one where anyone can be chosen.
I wanted General Simeon to choke on sharp pineapples while reading.
Since her father died, Seycia lives in hiding with her younger brother Miko in the village. It's not long before General Simeon makes her a target and she becomes the next village sacrifice, sending her to the Underworld where she joins forces with Haben.
<h2><strong>Interesting Characters Arcs</strong></h2>
I find myself most invested in Haben's story and wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to Seycia and him as they journey across the Underworld. While <em>The Phantom Forest</em> has a multitude of POVs, most are from Seycia, Haben and Miko.
The story seems to focus on one character with the others sitting in the backseat, undergoing the most development. However, I do feel this is only the beginning, and there is more to come for both Seycia and Miko. Their story seems to stand in the back of the room, but they'll likely develop in future books. I want to see what Kerin has in store even if I only want to protect Haben.
<h2><strong>There are slow moments in <em>The Phantom Forest</em></strong></h2>
Kerin builds a world and plot that captures my attention from early in the novel. However, there are moments where I felt the scenes were maybe irrelevant and unnecessary. While it was a rough patch to go through, it was well worth it. I wanted to see to the end of the story, and I had a lot of questions that won my curiosity. By the end of <em>The Phantom Forest</em>, I still have plenty of questions, but I'm sure there will be answers eventually.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/the-phantom-forest-by-liz-kerin/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
So when I sat down to write my review for <em>The Phantom Forest</em>, all I wanted to write is this:
<ul>
<li>Protect this character</li>
<li>Seriously, protect this character</li>
<li>Take them away from Liz Kerin; it's the only way to protect them</li>
</ul>
But uh, that doesn't work as a review (maybe one day). Anyways.
<em style="background-color: initial; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><strong>The Phantom</strong></em><strong style="background-color: initial; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 1px;"><em> Forest</em> is haunting.</strong>
Kerin's debut is <em>creepy</em>, everyone. The world here is atmospheric and brings a chill or two, even when the story isn't in the Underworld. In a world ruled by the Coalition where one practicing their belief in gods or superstition results in death, General Simeon overlooks a village with tight control. He keeps the people under his authority by taking a religious ritual where only criminals are sacrifices to one where anyone can be chosen.
I wanted General Simeon to choke on sharp pineapples while reading.
Since her father died, Seycia lives in hiding with her younger brother Miko in the village. It's not long before General Simeon makes her a target and she becomes the next village sacrifice, sending her to the Underworld where she joins forces with Haben.
<h2><strong>Interesting Characters Arcs</strong></h2>
I find myself most invested in Haben's story and wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to Seycia and him as they journey across the Underworld. While <em>The Phantom Forest</em> has a multitude of POVs, most are from Seycia, Haben and Miko.
The story seems to focus on one character with the others sitting in the backseat, undergoing the most development. However, I do feel this is only the beginning, and there is more to come for both Seycia and Miko. Their story seems to stand in the back of the room, but they'll likely develop in future books. I want to see what Kerin has in store even if I only want to protect Haben.
<h2><strong>There are slow moments in <em>The Phantom Forest</em></strong></h2>
Kerin builds a world and plot that captures my attention from early in the novel. However, there are moments where I felt the scenes were maybe irrelevant and unnecessary. While it was a rough patch to go through, it was well worth it. I wanted to see to the end of the story, and I had a lot of questions that won my curiosity. By the end of <em>The Phantom Forest</em>, I still have plenty of questions, but I'm sure there will be answers eventually.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/the-phantom-forest-by-liz-kerin/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Hellbound Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance #8) in Books
Nov 13, 2021
188 of 250
Kindle
Hellbound Warrior ( Dark Warrior Alliance book 8 )
By Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Rhys O'Morda finds himself at the mouth of Hell after swearing he would never go back. When the archdemon, Kadir, steals the Goddess' powerful Triskele Amulet, Rhys is left with the fate of the world resting on his shoulders. Cursing his birthright, he sets out to tackle the nine circles of the Underworld. Facing rivers of fire, freezing rains, soul-sucking creatures and his inner weaknesses is nothing compared to coming face to face with his Fated Mate. His biggest challenge isn't passing the tests of each circle in Hell, but trying to win his mate's heart. In a cruel twist of fate, his other half isn't bound by the same force and has to consciously choose him. Problem is she loathes demons. Will he be able to win his angel over or be forced to let her go and live for eternity without her? Illianna has every reason to despise everything related to demons and the Underworld. Once an angel of happiness, she has been a prisoner in Hell for a hundred years, forced to perform vile acts that leave a dark stain on her soul. Her prayers fall on deaf ears day after day and she is on the cusp of giving up when the sexy, impossible and arrogant cambion, Rhys, rescues her from his father's clutches. She will do anything to get back to heaven and her wings, even partner with Rhys and his fellow warriors. Yet, her attraction to the exquisite Dark Warrior challenges every barrier she has set. Having the passion she craves comes with a high price tag, including complete and unconditional surrender.
I really enjoyed the boys trip to Hell and I think Illianna is my favourite mate yet! I love her and can just picture those beautiful wings!
This series is great if you like Dark Hunters crossed with the Black Dagger brothers.
We are on book 8 and can’t wait to see what book 9 brings.
Kindle
Hellbound Warrior ( Dark Warrior Alliance book 8 )
By Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Rhys O'Morda finds himself at the mouth of Hell after swearing he would never go back. When the archdemon, Kadir, steals the Goddess' powerful Triskele Amulet, Rhys is left with the fate of the world resting on his shoulders. Cursing his birthright, he sets out to tackle the nine circles of the Underworld. Facing rivers of fire, freezing rains, soul-sucking creatures and his inner weaknesses is nothing compared to coming face to face with his Fated Mate. His biggest challenge isn't passing the tests of each circle in Hell, but trying to win his mate's heart. In a cruel twist of fate, his other half isn't bound by the same force and has to consciously choose him. Problem is she loathes demons. Will he be able to win his angel over or be forced to let her go and live for eternity without her? Illianna has every reason to despise everything related to demons and the Underworld. Once an angel of happiness, she has been a prisoner in Hell for a hundred years, forced to perform vile acts that leave a dark stain on her soul. Her prayers fall on deaf ears day after day and she is on the cusp of giving up when the sexy, impossible and arrogant cambion, Rhys, rescues her from his father's clutches. She will do anything to get back to heaven and her wings, even partner with Rhys and his fellow warriors. Yet, her attraction to the exquisite Dark Warrior challenges every barrier she has set. Having the passion she craves comes with a high price tag, including complete and unconditional surrender.
I really enjoyed the boys trip to Hell and I think Illianna is my favourite mate yet! I love her and can just picture those beautiful wings!
This series is great if you like Dark Hunters crossed with the Black Dagger brothers.
We are on book 8 and can’t wait to see what book 9 brings.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Raid 2 (2014) in Movies
Feb 19, 2019 (Updated Jul 29, 2019)
Astoundingly violent sequel to The Raid (hope that doesn't constitute a spoiler). Hapless but extremely handy cop Rama is obliged to go undercover in the Malaysian underworld and infiltrate one of the major crime families. The plot is complex and coherent, surprisingly so for a martial arts action movie, but it's all really just a pretext for jaw-droppingly lavish, inventive and brutal fight sequences. Film doesn't shy away from the consequences of violence - at one point the first time I watched this, someone pulled a claw hammer out of their bag and I found myself instinctively cringing down in my seat in anticipation of the crunching gore to come.
Nevertheless, the film is lifted not just by the director's grasp of pacing and camerawork, but by some surprisingly strong performances. I imagine many people will not be able to take the intensity and violence of this film, but that doesn't lessen its achievement. Not the greatest gangster movie ever, nor the greatest martial arts film, but almost certainly the most accomplished fusion of the two genres.
Nevertheless, the film is lifted not just by the director's grasp of pacing and camerawork, but by some surprisingly strong performances. I imagine many people will not be able to take the intensity and violence of this film, but that doesn't lessen its achievement. Not the greatest gangster movie ever, nor the greatest martial arts film, but almost certainly the most accomplished fusion of the two genres.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Die of Death (The Great Devil War #2) in Books
May 22, 2019
Philip's adventures as the Devil's apprentice have changed himin a good way. Although he misses his friends in Hell, he has made new friends in life. But when the future of the underworld is threatened once again, Philips help is needed. Death's Die has been stolen and immortality is spreading across the globe. Philip throws himself into the searchand discovers a horrible truth about his own life along the way.
The Die of Death is volume 2 in The Great Devil War-series.
Picking up a few months after the conclusion of the first book, Philip has never done better in his life!
I really liked how the world in the story is expanded.
A fantastic and unpredictable book where anything can happen. We meet all the beloved characters again
Surprising ending that leaves one speculating what will happen next.
Really great book and I can't wait to read the next one.
I received a free copy via the author and this is my own voluntary honest review.
The Die of Death is volume 2 in The Great Devil War-series.
Picking up a few months after the conclusion of the first book, Philip has never done better in his life!
I really liked how the world in the story is expanded.
A fantastic and unpredictable book where anything can happen. We meet all the beloved characters again
Surprising ending that leaves one speculating what will happen next.
Really great book and I can't wait to read the next one.
I received a free copy via the author and this is my own voluntary honest review.