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Awix (3310 KP) rated Quatermass and the Pit (1967) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018
The best of the Quatermass films keeps all the unsettling ideas of Nigel Kneale's original TV scripts and adds Hammer's talent for coming up with smart casting and polished production values. Weird projectile turns up buried under London; the authorities initially assume it's an unexploded bomb from the Second World War, but the presence of fossil ape skeletons in and around the object indicates otherwise, as does a history of hauntings in the area going back hundreds of years. Professor Quatermass begins to suspect that this is a relic of a highly unusual alien invasion that happened before man had even evolved...
Pretty much a perfect fusion of horror and science fiction, giving a convincing extraterrestrial rationale for various paranormal and demonic phenomena; thoughtful and disturbing rather than actually scary. Andrew Keir rocks the joint as Professor Q but is well-supported by everyone else. The sequence in which London is transformed in the final reel is also very well done. Sets the standard for intelligent British SF movies; rather influential in its own way, too.
Pretty much a perfect fusion of horror and science fiction, giving a convincing extraterrestrial rationale for various paranormal and demonic phenomena; thoughtful and disturbing rather than actually scary. Andrew Keir rocks the joint as Professor Q but is well-supported by everyone else. The sequence in which London is transformed in the final reel is also very well done. Sets the standard for intelligent British SF movies; rather influential in its own way, too.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Dark Tower (2017) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018
Should've Dreamed a Little Bigger
If brevity is the soul of wit, then at only 95 minutes The Dark Tower should have a few clever things to say for itself; not many of them seem to reach the screen, though. Very reminiscent of many other movies in which troubled young boys tumble into fantasy world which it proves to be their destiny to save.
Given it sets out to adapt a 4000+ page novel series with a devoted following, The Dark Tower was probably always on a hiding to nothing as a single movie aimed at a standalone audience. The disappointing thing is, really, that given it's about a vast multiversal setting filled with elementals and psychics and wizards and gunslingers and suchlike, it feels so timidly safe and familiar. The actual story is competently told, but at the end you really wonder what all the fuss was in aid of. Probably too weird for most newcomers and too short for fans of the books; good soundtrack, though.
Given it sets out to adapt a 4000+ page novel series with a devoted following, The Dark Tower was probably always on a hiding to nothing as a single movie aimed at a standalone audience. The disappointing thing is, really, that given it's about a vast multiversal setting filled with elementals and psychics and wizards and gunslingers and suchlike, it feels so timidly safe and familiar. The actual story is competently told, but at the end you really wonder what all the fuss was in aid of. Probably too weird for most newcomers and too short for fans of the books; good soundtrack, though.
Lee Ann (116 KP) rated Opposition (Lux, #5) in Books
Mar 13, 2018
It's always weird when you finish a series of books. When it's a standalone novel, it's easier to let go of a set of characters, but with a series - especially when they go past the typical three - you spend so much time with the characters, they become a fixture for a while.
When I started the Lux series, I wasn't sold on it. I'm not a huge fan of YA novels at the best of times. Daemon amused me enough to keep me interested, though, so I slogged through the first and second books and hit the third... and that's when it captured me. Something clicked and the story became more than just a "yeah, it's not bad," to "holy shit, gimme more!"
Opposition has its issues. There are a couple of things I think could have been done better, but overall, a fantastic book which ties up the series nicely.
... and I've been informed today (and pre-ordered) that Luc is getting his own book in October this year (2018) so there's that!
When I started the Lux series, I wasn't sold on it. I'm not a huge fan of YA novels at the best of times. Daemon amused me enough to keep me interested, though, so I slogged through the first and second books and hit the third... and that's when it captured me. Something clicked and the story became more than just a "yeah, it's not bad," to "holy shit, gimme more!"
Opposition has its issues. There are a couple of things I think could have been done better, but overall, a fantastic book which ties up the series nicely.
... and I've been informed today (and pre-ordered) that Luc is getting his own book in October this year (2018) so there's that!
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August in Books
Mar 15, 2018
What an amazing book! I was intrigued by the rather minimal plot synopsis on the jacket and so had to check this book out, and I am very glad I did. I found the principal character of Harry August to be engaging and interesting and quite enjoyed all the ancillary characters as well, but it was the plot that really hooked me on this one. Without giving anything away I'll just say that it involves reincarnation, time travel, quantum physics, espionage, world history, revenge, and in its own weird way, love. It is somewhat unfair to pigeonhole the book into the science fiction category, as it is really somewhat more of a cat-and-mouse suspense story, although seeing as the plot spans several decades, repeatedly, it does seem as though sci-fi could be the best fit. No matter where you would categorize though, this is easily my favorite read of the year so far, and quite possibly one of my favorite books of all time. Absolutely brilliant.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla Vs Gigan (1972) in Movies
Jun 13, 2018
Scraping-the-barrel Godzilla movie would be unbelievably silly and weird by the standards of any other franchise, but following Godzilla vs Hedorah it feels relatively restrained. Aliens invade again, monsters show up, blah blah blah. All the stuff that makes it distinctive is mad and inappropriate: Godzilla and Anguirus get dialogue together, for crying out loud, gory fight scenes show an unexpected Sam Peckinpah influence, villains are defeated when hippies carry large boxes clearly labelled TNT into their secret base, 'Everything was going so well!' cries a dying giant cockroach as its plans come undone.
But this is a Godzilla movie, and if you're watching this movie you'd probably expect no less. What is less forgivable than the unbridled strangeness is the cheap-ass nature of the fight scenes - one suspects Anguirus and Ghidorah are only in this film to allow lengthy clips from Destroy All Monsters to be included to pad things out. Probably a bit of a low point when it comes to giant radioactive dinosaurs on film.
But this is a Godzilla movie, and if you're watching this movie you'd probably expect no less. What is less forgivable than the unbridled strangeness is the cheap-ass nature of the fight scenes - one suspects Anguirus and Ghidorah are only in this film to allow lengthy clips from Destroy All Monsters to be included to pad things out. Probably a bit of a low point when it comes to giant radioactive dinosaurs on film.
This book was definitely unique in it’s plot line and characters. It gave you a little bit of everything. From biblical stories to fairytale magic you wont be disappointed with this read.
Sophia thought she was a normal 20 year old. What she wasn’t expecting was to be attacked by weird creatures. To have her family and friends threatened and hurt. I loved her hair. If I could I would rock that style.
This book was pure magic with the plot. The way the author weaved her own world around things we learn in bible school. The growth of her characters was perfect. Sophia went from following everyone’s word to standing her ground and voicing her opinions.
The plot twist at the end had me like WTF!!! I dislike cliffhangers but I am excited that the story isn’t over. I just hope this is just two books and not four. I don’t think I can take the wait. One thing I dislike was the long winded paragraphs and scenes that could've been shortened or cut out.
Sophia thought she was a normal 20 year old. What she wasn’t expecting was to be attacked by weird creatures. To have her family and friends threatened and hurt. I loved her hair. If I could I would rock that style.
This book was pure magic with the plot. The way the author weaved her own world around things we learn in bible school. The growth of her characters was perfect. Sophia went from following everyone’s word to standing her ground and voicing her opinions.
The plot twist at the end had me like WTF!!! I dislike cliffhangers but I am excited that the story isn’t over. I just hope this is just two books and not four. I don’t think I can take the wait. One thing I dislike was the long winded paragraphs and scenes that could've been shortened or cut out.
Louise (64 KP) rated Fever Dream in Books
Jul 2, 2018
*I received a copy of this from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
The title of this book is very apt – this book is like a feverish dream one that is bizaare and just doesn’t make sense where anything can happen. I was instantly pulled in by the synopsis and the fact that this book has been short listed for the Man Booker Prize 2017. I wanted to see what level of writing and concepts it took to be nominated for the Man Booker.
This book was a little confusing for me, eerie and peculiar is what I felt but after finishing I sat back questioning what I had read and was not sure how to rate it. This is definitely a weird and crazy book and would be best to read in one sitting which could be done as it is only 192 pages. I think if you read this in one go uninterrupted you would feel the unease and crazyness of this short story.
The title of this book is very apt – this book is like a feverish dream one that is bizaare and just doesn’t make sense where anything can happen. I was instantly pulled in by the synopsis and the fact that this book has been short listed for the Man Booker Prize 2017. I wanted to see what level of writing and concepts it took to be nominated for the Man Booker.
This book was a little confusing for me, eerie and peculiar is what I felt but after finishing I sat back questioning what I had read and was not sure how to rate it. This is definitely a weird and crazy book and would be best to read in one sitting which could be done as it is only 192 pages. I think if you read this in one go uninterrupted you would feel the unease and crazyness of this short story.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) in Movies
Sep 17, 2018
The trailer and title do the film no justice - better than expected
On the surface, the storyline to this film is nothing new - child loses parents, child moves in with creepy distant relative in creepier house, weird things happen (Miss Peregrine, Series of Unfortunate Events etc etc)
However, I think this variation on that story is carried out in a much scarier way - should the word "necromancy" ever really be used in a kids film?
The film is definitely a case of style over substance as the plot is quite thin, but the film is enjoyable. There are pretty much no laughs to be had.
I'm not actually sure who the target market for this film is - the film in general is too scary for under 7s, over 10s won't like it because the main character is too young/childish. Seems like a very narrow market being aimed at.
Overall, an enjoyable film but nothing stands out about it and Jack Black's comedy talents are wasted (he actually made it feel like a sequel to Goosebumps).
However, I think this variation on that story is carried out in a much scarier way - should the word "necromancy" ever really be used in a kids film?
The film is definitely a case of style over substance as the plot is quite thin, but the film is enjoyable. There are pretty much no laughs to be had.
I'm not actually sure who the target market for this film is - the film in general is too scary for under 7s, over 10s won't like it because the main character is too young/childish. Seems like a very narrow market being aimed at.
Overall, an enjoyable film but nothing stands out about it and Jack Black's comedy talents are wasted (he actually made it feel like a sequel to Goosebumps).
Charlotte (0 KP) rated The Mortal Instruments 1: City of Bones in Books
Nov 2, 2018
Sets up the rest of the series (2 more)
The brother-sister plot line (spoilers as for why in review)
The fantasy world Clare creates
Contains spoilers, click to show
I love this book (currently reading book 5 of the series) because of the world that Clare relates. Whilst it contains the fantasy ideas expressed in different novels; it brings them all together in a unique and interesting way. Controversially, I enjoy the brother-sister plot line the novel introduces to the budding romance of Clary and Jace; it means that we are not reading the same cliche teen romance. People think it is weird but SPOILER ALERT they are not actually brother and sister but allows character progression and other storylines to happen. This allows the romance to occur naturally and when we can see that the feelings are genuine and true. Overall, Clare has produced a great novel to begin her series and leaves reader wanting to know more and delve deeper into the Shadowhunter world.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Three Identical Strangers (2018) in Movies
Dec 6, 2018 (Updated Dec 6, 2018)
Typically arresting so-weird-it-must-be-true documentary from the distributors of Blackfish, Dinosaur 13 and Life Animated. In 1980 a young man from New York arrives at college to be told he is the spitting image of someone who was there the year before: it turns out they were both adopted and share the same birthday - long lost brothers! The publicity turns up a third identical brother. The triplets instantly become minor celebrities on the NYC scene, but darker questions about their story soon surface...
A remarkable story, told by the surviving participants - lighter moments of uplifting human interest are soon subsumed by the stuff of an X-Files episode (well, close enough). You could very well argue that the film's narrative is rather selectively framed for maximum impact, and its attempts to address wider issues such as the question of nature vs nurture aren't really as effective as the story of the triplets. But still a gripping, thought-provoking, rather unsettling story that deserves to be better known.
A remarkable story, told by the surviving participants - lighter moments of uplifting human interest are soon subsumed by the stuff of an X-Files episode (well, close enough). You could very well argue that the film's narrative is rather selectively framed for maximum impact, and its attempts to address wider issues such as the question of nature vs nurture aren't really as effective as the story of the triplets. But still a gripping, thought-provoking, rather unsettling story that deserves to be better known.