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Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
“Marvel has gone mad.” This was the kind of reaction that many film-fans greeted the news of a film adaptation of Guardians of the Galaxy, one of the comic-book company’s lesser known band of heroes.
Thankfully, the film is an absolute masterclass. With the best ensemble cast of the entire MCU, some crazy set design and a great soundtrack, James Gunn’s MCU directorial-debut is practically perfect in every single way. We even get a decent villain in Lee Pace’s Ronan the Accuser. Plus, it’s got Glenn Close spouting absolute nonsense and Vin Diesel getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to say three words over and over again. What could be better?
https://moviemetropolis.net/2018/04/21/the-entire-marvel-cinematic-universe-ranked/
Thankfully, the film is an absolute masterclass. With the best ensemble cast of the entire MCU, some crazy set design and a great soundtrack, James Gunn’s MCU directorial-debut is practically perfect in every single way. We even get a decent villain in Lee Pace’s Ronan the Accuser. Plus, it’s got Glenn Close spouting absolute nonsense and Vin Diesel getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to say three words over and over again. What could be better?
https://moviemetropolis.net/2018/04/21/the-entire-marvel-cinematic-universe-ranked/
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2518 KP) rated Foul Play at the Fair (Celebration Bay, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Liz Montgomery has moved to the town of Celebration Bay to help run the many events and festivals that are a key to the local economy. However, when a juggler is murdered at the harvest festival, her first event, might her career stop before it truly gets going?
The characters were so well developed I was pulled into this book, feeling the weight of each new revelation that Liz uncovered. The result was a rich mystery that I savored while still being pulled to discover who the ultimate villain was. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-foul-play-at-fair-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The characters were so well developed I was pulled into this book, feeling the weight of each new revelation that Liz uncovered. The result was a rich mystery that I savored while still being pulled to discover who the ultimate villain was. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-foul-play-at-fair-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
David McK (3752 KP) rated Halloween Rain / Bad Bargain / Afterimage in Books
Jan 30, 2019
An omnibus collection of 3 Buffy stories, set at different times during the course of the TV series. Having said that, in all 3 of these stories, Buffy is still at Sunnydale High ...
The first of these has by far the earliest setting, with mention of The Master (the villain in the very first series): I think this was written sometime during series 2. The second novel includes Spike and Drusilla and Jenny Calendar, while the third has mention of The Magic Box but is before that had a larger role in the series.
None of the three stories were that great or were that well written, unfortunatley: I got the distinct impression they were aimed at American teenagers more than anything else!
The first of these has by far the earliest setting, with mention of The Master (the villain in the very first series): I think this was written sometime during series 2. The second novel includes Spike and Drusilla and Jenny Calendar, while the third has mention of The Magic Box but is before that had a larger role in the series.
None of the three stories were that great or were that well written, unfortunatley: I got the distinct impression they were aimed at American teenagers more than anything else!
David McK (3752 KP) rated Star Wars Omnibus: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 3 in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The third and final of the X-Wing omnibus editions, which contains the following 5 stories:
In the Empire's Service
The Making of Baron Fel
Family Ties
Masquerade
Mandatory Retirement
Well, when I say stories it's really one story arc told over all 5, with most of that arc concerning Baron Soontir Fel who (according to one panel) Vader had his TIE prototype made in order to avoid being beaten in sims by Fel. Set before the novels, the arc also takes in Ysanne Isard's - the main villain in the X-Wing novels - rise to power, but also leaves some plot elements hanging.
This, I felt, was the best of the three omnibuses: pity it was just in time for the series to end.
In the Empire's Service
The Making of Baron Fel
Family Ties
Masquerade
Mandatory Retirement
Well, when I say stories it's really one story arc told over all 5, with most of that arc concerning Baron Soontir Fel who (according to one panel) Vader had his TIE prototype made in order to avoid being beaten in sims by Fel. Set before the novels, the arc also takes in Ysanne Isard's - the main villain in the X-Wing novels - rise to power, but also leaves some plot elements hanging.
This, I felt, was the best of the three omnibuses: pity it was just in time for the series to end.
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated A Cup of Holiday Fear (A Bakeshop Mystery, #10) in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
STABBED IN THE HEART
AND YOU'RE TO BLAME
YOU GIVE CHRISTMAS A BAD NAME
Thank you, i just had to get that out of my system!
This is a really fun, easy read with likable characters.
The villain pretty much jumped out at me but i didn't feel condescended to so that's always lovely!
I really like Jules' friendship with Christmas-Hating Lance.
She's so determined to have him enjoy the holiday that she invites him to a fancy dinner where an awful woman is stabbed.
Things move at a pretty brisk pace from there and the ending is a Christmas treat!
STABBED IN THE HEART
AND YOU'RE TO BLAME
YOU GIVE CHRISTMAS A BAD NAME
Thank you, i just had to get that out of my system!
This is a really fun, easy read with likable characters.
The villain pretty much jumped out at me but i didn't feel condescended to so that's always lovely!
I really like Jules' friendship with Christmas-Hating Lance.
She's so determined to have him enjoy the holiday that she invites him to a fancy dinner where an awful woman is stabbed.
Things move at a pretty brisk pace from there and the ending is a Christmas treat!
Legion Lost: Volume 2: The Culling
Pete Woods, Andres Guinaldo and Tom DeFalco
Book
* Seven heroes from the 31st Century have traveled back to the present day. Their mission: Save...
The Great Winglebury Duel
Charles Dickens and William Hazlitt
6.0
Rate It
Book
'Desperate-minded villain!' Two of Dickens' hilarious early stories from Sketches by Boz: 'The Great...
David McK (3752 KP) rated Hercules (1997) in Movies
Nov 13, 2020
Zero to Hero. Or Hero to Zero?
Mid-to-late 90's (1997) Disney's take on the tale of the Greek demigod Heracles (aka Hercules), that takes more than a few liberties with those tales to put their own spin on it: here Hercules himself, for instance, does not suffer from the enmity of Hera, nor does he have the 12 labours to complete (although those are referenced).
The main 'big draw voice' in this is Danny DeVito as Hercules tutor Philoctetes, with Yate Donavan as Hercules himself and James Woods as the villain of the piece, Hades.
It also has very 'angular' and vibrant animation (to represent strength) which I find somewhat offputting, while none of the songs are really that memorable IMO.
The main 'big draw voice' in this is Danny DeVito as Hercules tutor Philoctetes, with Yate Donavan as Hercules himself and James Woods as the villain of the piece, Hades.
It also has very 'angular' and vibrant animation (to represent strength) which I find somewhat offputting, while none of the songs are really that memorable IMO.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated The Fate of the Furious (2017) in Movies
Jun 22, 2021
This 8th entry in the Fast & Furious series is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's half a boring movie with a annoyingly cringey villain (not bashing Charlize Theron, but her character writing and direction is just awful), but on the other hand, it's more of the same stupid action that is laughably far away from the original at this point (not a bad thing). The entire last hour is ridiculous and so horrifically entertaining. Jason Statham taking out waves of thugs on an aeroplane with a gun in one hand, and a baby in the other, is definitely a series highlight. This franchise has essentially turned into that Tugg Speedman trailer from Tropic Thunder, and I'm ok with that.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Phantasm (1979) in Movies
Jun 25, 2021
Did I fully understand what happened during this wonderful fever dream nightmare? Absolutely not, but what I do know, is that Phantasm is so unique, brimming with wonderful cinematography, creepy as all hell, and has one of the best damn music scores I've ever heard in a horror film.
It's distinguishable aesthetic is complimented by its striking and mysterious villain, The Tall Man, played terrifyingly by Angus Scrimm. Throw in an army of hooded demonic minions, sentient severed fingers, a baseball-sized murderous fly, airborne death spheres that drill through the brain, and a portal to another planet, and the result is a beautifully crafted, if confusing, horror classic that deserves every ounce of it cult status.
Phantasm fucking slaps.
It's distinguishable aesthetic is complimented by its striking and mysterious villain, The Tall Man, played terrifyingly by Angus Scrimm. Throw in an army of hooded demonic minions, sentient severed fingers, a baseball-sized murderous fly, airborne death spheres that drill through the brain, and a portal to another planet, and the result is a beautifully crafted, if confusing, horror classic that deserves every ounce of it cult status.
Phantasm fucking slaps.