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The Assassination Bureau (1969)
7.3
Rate It
Movie
The Assassination Bureau is loosely based on a turn-of-the-century yarn written by Jack London....
Fact and Fiction in Global Energy Policy: Fifteen Contentious Questions
Benjamin K. Sovacool, Marilyn A. Brown and Scott V. Valentine
Book
Energy sustainability and climate change are two of the greatest challenges facing humankind....
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Leprechaun 3 (1995) in Movies
Nov 11, 2020
The third entry into the Leprechaun series is more of the same. Silly nonsense with questionable performances, bad jokes, and a plot that disregards anything that happened in previous films, and as per usual, it's still kind of enjoyable. At least there's some consistency!
Warwick Davies has just about perfected his little shit of a villain at this point, and I actually think he's a bit funnier this time around. The rest of the cast is what you would usually expect from a Leprechaun film, but it's always a treat to see scream queen Caroline Williams, and she's a welcome presence throughout this movie.
There's some decent effects work on display, some suitably gory and unique kills, and the Las Vegas setting is as fitting as it is inevitable for this franchise.
I would say that Leprechaun 3 is probably my favourite entry so far. Still trashy as fuck though, but to it's credit, it's fun and doesn't get boring.
Warwick Davies has just about perfected his little shit of a villain at this point, and I actually think he's a bit funnier this time around. The rest of the cast is what you would usually expect from a Leprechaun film, but it's always a treat to see scream queen Caroline Williams, and she's a welcome presence throughout this movie.
There's some decent effects work on display, some suitably gory and unique kills, and the Las Vegas setting is as fitting as it is inevitable for this franchise.
I would say that Leprechaun 3 is probably my favourite entry so far. Still trashy as fuck though, but to it's credit, it's fun and doesn't get boring.
Liberty Boston (93 KP) rated A Werewolf in Riverdale (Archie Horror #1) in Books
Mar 15, 2021
Wow.
Just, wow!
A Werewolf In Riverdale did not disappoint.
The book is split into three parts:
In Sheep's Clothing.
The Beast Must Die!
New Moon.
For me, this book was outside my normal fare of sweet YA and fairy Tale retellings but genre-hopping is okay now and then. Truthfully the only reason I wanted to read this one so badly is the fact that I'm a rabid Riverdale fan and with the book's darker, broody atmosphere I said “Why Not?”
Like I said before, I wasn't disappointed! Despite its monstrous villain, this book wasn't all blood and gore.
Though, it did have its moments I won't lie.
It was more like, “I know I should do this but it could be someone I know and I don't want to do it”. That was Betty and Archie's constant struggle while Jughead had to fight his instincts.
In all I totally would recommend it!
Just, wow!
A Werewolf In Riverdale did not disappoint.
The book is split into three parts:
In Sheep's Clothing.
The Beast Must Die!
New Moon.
For me, this book was outside my normal fare of sweet YA and fairy Tale retellings but genre-hopping is okay now and then. Truthfully the only reason I wanted to read this one so badly is the fact that I'm a rabid Riverdale fan and with the book's darker, broody atmosphere I said “Why Not?”
Like I said before, I wasn't disappointed! Despite its monstrous villain, this book wasn't all blood and gore.
Though, it did have its moments I won't lie.
It was more like, “I know I should do this but it could be someone I know and I don't want to do it”. That was Betty and Archie's constant struggle while Jughead had to fight his instincts.
In all I totally would recommend it!
David McK (3562 KP) rated Mission: Impossible III (2006) in Movies
Apr 4, 2021
"Your mission, should you choose to accept it ..."
Three films in to the Tom Cruise starring 'Mission: Impossible' series, and we're on to our third director: Here, JJ Abrams taking over from John Woo who himself took over from Brian de Palma.
And, so far, each of those directors has stamped their own identity on their respective films.
This is the one where Ethan Hunt is, as the movie starts, retired from active duty and spends his time training new recruits to the IMF while also just about to settle down with his fiancee.
When one of those recruits goes missing on an routine operation, however, Hunt soon finds himself drawn back into active service ...
This is also the one where the late Philip Seymour Hoffin is the main villain of the piece; the one that first introduces Simon Pegg's character of Benji (who, like Ving Rhames, so far appears in all the later instalments) and that has the whole 'bomb-in-your-head' shtick.
Three films in to the Tom Cruise starring 'Mission: Impossible' series, and we're on to our third director: Here, JJ Abrams taking over from John Woo who himself took over from Brian de Palma.
And, so far, each of those directors has stamped their own identity on their respective films.
This is the one where Ethan Hunt is, as the movie starts, retired from active duty and spends his time training new recruits to the IMF while also just about to settle down with his fiancee.
When one of those recruits goes missing on an routine operation, however, Hunt soon finds himself drawn back into active service ...
This is also the one where the late Philip Seymour Hoffin is the main villain of the piece; the one that first introduces Simon Pegg's character of Benji (who, like Ving Rhames, so far appears in all the later instalments) and that has the whole 'bomb-in-your-head' shtick.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Manchurian Candidate (1962) in Movies
May 8, 2021
Conspiracy thriller. In the early 1960s, war hero Raymond Shaw is feted across America for saving his comrades during the war in Korea - but those comrades are troubled by strange nightmares suggesting something completely different may have happened. Shaw has been conditioned by the Communists to become the perfect assassin, something not even he is aware of, and his new operators are about to send him into action...
Sounds a bit like a Red Scare movie, but surprisingly apolitical: the main villain seems to be more fascist than communist, and even the Russian characters appear to have corrupted by American consumerism. Instead, the focus is more on character, and the damage done to people by their experiences in wartime. An intelligent and cynical movie, well-played for the most part, and with an astonishingly good turn from Angela Lansbury. Inevitably linked in the culture to the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers in the 1960s, but still feels remarkably un-dated.
Sounds a bit like a Red Scare movie, but surprisingly apolitical: the main villain seems to be more fascist than communist, and even the Russian characters appear to have corrupted by American consumerism. Instead, the focus is more on character, and the damage done to people by their experiences in wartime. An intelligent and cynical movie, well-played for the most part, and with an astonishingly good turn from Angela Lansbury. Inevitably linked in the culture to the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers in the 1960s, but still feels remarkably un-dated.
Kristina (502 KP) rated Catwoman: Soulstealer - DC Icons Book 3 in Books
Dec 7, 2020
Sarah J Maas knows how to create a badass! Selina is definitely a strong, capable, gritty, independent woman with no need for a man (or Batwing). I thoroughly enjoyed Catwoman through Maas' eyes - I probably should have read the other DC books (and I still might), but I couldn't wait to delve into SJM's mind once again. Reading about the "villain", making her into a relatable person with a sympathetic history, was especially interesting. I have never personally read any hero comics and, though I've watched several Batman movies, I certainly wouldn't call myself a fanatic - but this was a new experience in which I have no regrets! The story had action (lots of girl power, good versus evil, butt-whipping action), it had a hint of romance (which kept my romantic heart aflutter) and definitely had some feels to go along with it. Glad I chose something so different from my normal read!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Scanners (1981) in Movies
Oct 12, 2020
Horror-SF from David Cronenberg. A man with psychic powers is sent to infiltrate a dangerous network of others with similar abilities: they have many subtle telepathic and telekinetic powers, such as being able to make people's heads explode.
Actually rather less graphic and icky than the film's reputation (and advertising) might suggest; the really spectacularly gory bits bookend the movie, and much of the rest of it looks like a relatively conventional thriller. The film is arguably ahead of its time in its suspicion of the military-industrial complex and big pharma; there is perhaps a subtext about the souring of 60s idealism as free-thinkers are persecuted or exploited by vested interests. Pretty good performances from the hero and the villain, but (not really surprisingly) Patrick McGoohan steals the film as the protagonist's father-figure. A thoughtful and intelligent film that isn't afraid to really go for the splatter now and then.
Actually rather less graphic and icky than the film's reputation (and advertising) might suggest; the really spectacularly gory bits bookend the movie, and much of the rest of it looks like a relatively conventional thriller. The film is arguably ahead of its time in its suspicion of the military-industrial complex and big pharma; there is perhaps a subtext about the souring of 60s idealism as free-thinkers are persecuted or exploited by vested interests. Pretty good performances from the hero and the villain, but (not really surprisingly) Patrick McGoohan steals the film as the protagonist's father-figure. A thoughtful and intelligent film that isn't afraid to really go for the splatter now and then.
David McK (3562 KP) rated The Karate Kid, Part III (1989) in Movies
Jan 17, 2021
Recently, Netflix has released series 3 of The Karate Kid spin-off/continuation (as it stars a now grown-up Ralph Macchio and William Zabka) 'Cobra Kai'.
A couple of the episodes in said series have linked back to The Karate Kid Part 2, which I'd watched prior to starting that particular series after it was teased towards the end of series 2. I suppose I should have known, therefore, that there would have been a couple of teases/callbacks/references made to The Karate Kid Part 3 (which I'd never seen), particularly in the storyline in which Daniel LaRusso's daughter Samantha is traumatised.
I have to say, I found this to be slower and less enjoyable than either Part 1 or Part 2, with a lame romantic subplot, and with Terry Silver in particular a one-note villain, whose brutal karate technique and training drives a wedge between Daniel and Mr Miyagi.
A couple of the episodes in said series have linked back to The Karate Kid Part 2, which I'd watched prior to starting that particular series after it was teased towards the end of series 2. I suppose I should have known, therefore, that there would have been a couple of teases/callbacks/references made to The Karate Kid Part 3 (which I'd never seen), particularly in the storyline in which Daniel LaRusso's daughter Samantha is traumatised.
I have to say, I found this to be slower and less enjoyable than either Part 1 or Part 2, with a lame romantic subplot, and with Terry Silver in particular a one-note villain, whose brutal karate technique and training drives a wedge between Daniel and Mr Miyagi.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Ant-Man (2015) in Movies
Dec 17, 2020
Ant-Man is so much damn fun...
It has a great cast, who all share great chemistry, it has some decent and different action scenes, it's frequently funny (the Thomas the Tank Engine crash is iconic by this point), it deals with the Scott Lang Ant-Man whilst providing a satisfactory backstory for Hank Pym, it's a damn good heist movie, and above all, it's its own thing, even if it does have a scene connecting it to the larger MCU.
It's not perfect - once again another MCU film suffers from an expendable villain, a lot of the plot is just Iron Man (genius scientist gets ousted from his company by an angry bald white man who then tries to kill him whilst wearing a variant of his own super suit), but if you can manage to mute that nagging part of your brain, you'll find an intelligent and hugely entertaining heist adventure, all wrapped up in an MCU filter. It's great.
It has a great cast, who all share great chemistry, it has some decent and different action scenes, it's frequently funny (the Thomas the Tank Engine crash is iconic by this point), it deals with the Scott Lang Ant-Man whilst providing a satisfactory backstory for Hank Pym, it's a damn good heist movie, and above all, it's its own thing, even if it does have a scene connecting it to the larger MCU.
It's not perfect - once again another MCU film suffers from an expendable villain, a lot of the plot is just Iron Man (genius scientist gets ousted from his company by an angry bald white man who then tries to kill him whilst wearing a variant of his own super suit), but if you can manage to mute that nagging part of your brain, you'll find an intelligent and hugely entertaining heist adventure, all wrapped up in an MCU filter. It's great.