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Awix (3310 KP) rated Mars Attacks! (1996) in Movies
Jun 14, 2020
Lavishly camp black-comedy sci-fi extravaganza. Motivated largely by their innate gittishness, Martians attack the Earth (the clue is in the title), and various people naturally respond in their own personal ways. Much property damage and rather dated mid-90s CGI result.
One of those bizarre mutants that should never really have got past the script stage, let alone received a $70m budget: the release schedule inevitably resulted in it being hailed as a spoof of Independence Day (hard to spoof something that wasn't meant to be taken seriously in the first place), but this is much more a send-up of classic 50s sci-fi B-movies (various spot-on parodies), as well as being a startlingly subversive black comedy. You can also sense Burton trying to do his version of Dr Strangelove, with Nicholson in a multiple role, but it doesn't have anything like the same sharpness or impact. A bit patchy overall - some laugh-out-loud moments and game performances, but also a lot of dead wood and characters and jokes that just don't work. On the whole, though, the fact that films like this still get made suggests hope is not yet lost for the world.
One of those bizarre mutants that should never really have got past the script stage, let alone received a $70m budget: the release schedule inevitably resulted in it being hailed as a spoof of Independence Day (hard to spoof something that wasn't meant to be taken seriously in the first place), but this is much more a send-up of classic 50s sci-fi B-movies (various spot-on parodies), as well as being a startlingly subversive black comedy. You can also sense Burton trying to do his version of Dr Strangelove, with Nicholson in a multiple role, but it doesn't have anything like the same sharpness or impact. A bit patchy overall - some laugh-out-loud moments and game performances, but also a lot of dead wood and characters and jokes that just don't work. On the whole, though, the fact that films like this still get made suggests hope is not yet lost for the world.
Development and Gender Capital in India: Change, Continuity and Conflict in Kerala
Book
The Indian state of Kerala has invoked much attention within development and gender debates,...
Briannabrown1019 (799 KP) rated Love Letters to the Dead in Books
Nov 9, 2020
Great for fans of Perks of Being a Wallflower!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Trigger warning. This book deals with some deep stuff.
This was a super interesting idea. The story was deep, and it was the first book I've ever come across that told its story through letters to dead celebrities. So bonus points there for sure!
The overall story reminded me a lot of Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is one of my all time favorites.
I did not LOVE the POV/writing of the book but that wasn't because the author didn't do well. In fact I'd say that means she did amazing given the book is told from the POV of a teenage girl. She's young, and the writing reflects that. So while it wasn't my personal cup of tea, it made sense for the book. Bear that in mind when going into this one.
We follow Laurel venting to dead celebrities about her life and the loss of her sister. How did she die? Why does Laurel feel guilty? Why isn't her mom around anymore? Through letters to her idols she reminisces and vents, and we get to see her navigate life and relationships without her big sister.
*Potential trigger warnings for domestic abuse, rape, molestation, drug/alcohol use, and suicide.
This was a super interesting idea. The story was deep, and it was the first book I've ever come across that told its story through letters to dead celebrities. So bonus points there for sure!
The overall story reminded me a lot of Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is one of my all time favorites.
I did not LOVE the POV/writing of the book but that wasn't because the author didn't do well. In fact I'd say that means she did amazing given the book is told from the POV of a teenage girl. She's young, and the writing reflects that. So while it wasn't my personal cup of tea, it made sense for the book. Bear that in mind when going into this one.
We follow Laurel venting to dead celebrities about her life and the loss of her sister. How did she die? Why does Laurel feel guilty? Why isn't her mom around anymore? Through letters to her idols she reminisces and vents, and we get to see her navigate life and relationships without her big sister.
*Potential trigger warnings for domestic abuse, rape, molestation, drug/alcohol use, and suicide.
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Girl in the Walls in Books
Jul 19, 2021
Contains spoilers, click to show
Vernon has just moved to a quiet new little town, the type of town where different really stands out like a christmas tree in the desert! Vernon is used to standing out but not this much and its making him feel very uncomfortable especially with the skin hes in.
oh my this is one of the most gorgeous stories ive read! my heart well and truely went out to Vernon/Violet and the internal struggles their dealing with. with the self harming section i felt like somebody had stepped into my head and put my fellings on paper, when i was alot younger i used to cut because i felt like it released what i couldnt say. I felt every raw emotion going, the doubt the fear the hope the love and the warmth from finally being able to find her true being.
Its nice to be able to have a bit of an understanding of the internal struggle a transgender can go through and how much pain they can deal with and the importance of having a good support network.
i wish there were more understanding and willingness to learn in this world
An absolutly gorgeous story, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time 4/5
oh my this is one of the most gorgeous stories ive read! my heart well and truely went out to Vernon/Violet and the internal struggles their dealing with. with the self harming section i felt like somebody had stepped into my head and put my fellings on paper, when i was alot younger i used to cut because i felt like it released what i couldnt say. I felt every raw emotion going, the doubt the fear the hope the love and the warmth from finally being able to find her true being.
Its nice to be able to have a bit of an understanding of the internal struggle a transgender can go through and how much pain they can deal with and the importance of having a good support network.
i wish there were more understanding and willingness to learn in this world
An absolutly gorgeous story, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time 4/5
Erika (17789 KP) rated Yellow Rose (2019) in Movies
Oct 18, 2020 (Updated Oct 18, 2020)
Luckily, I had a free ticket for another theater chain, so I was able to see this in theaters (I was the only one there).
My initial interest in the film stemmed from it being filmed in Austin, where I live. The story is about a teenage, Filipino girl and her mother, both of whom are undocumented. When customs and immigration pick up Rose's mother, she escapes to Austin from Bastrop (EW). Rose dreams of being a country singer, and ends up making music with Dale Watson, who's a well known Texas Country artist.
That's basically the story, and yes, perfectible, it ends the exact way you imagine it to end. The music is good, and Eva Noblezada, the actress that plays Rose, has an amazing singing voice.
To answer the question as to what the title means - yes, it's racist, and a nickname Rose got when she initially sang at school. BTW, the myth of the 'Yellow Rose' is one from history, supposedly, a woman was sent in as a spy by the Texas army during the revolution, and she... distracted Santa Anna, the general of the Mexican army. There's no actual evidence, but it's incredibly believable.
Anyway, this was a great movie, with good music, and a tight running time.
My initial interest in the film stemmed from it being filmed in Austin, where I live. The story is about a teenage, Filipino girl and her mother, both of whom are undocumented. When customs and immigration pick up Rose's mother, she escapes to Austin from Bastrop (EW). Rose dreams of being a country singer, and ends up making music with Dale Watson, who's a well known Texas Country artist.
That's basically the story, and yes, perfectible, it ends the exact way you imagine it to end. The music is good, and Eva Noblezada, the actress that plays Rose, has an amazing singing voice.
To answer the question as to what the title means - yes, it's racist, and a nickname Rose got when she initially sang at school. BTW, the myth of the 'Yellow Rose' is one from history, supposedly, a woman was sent in as a spy by the Texas army during the revolution, and she... distracted Santa Anna, the general of the Mexican army. There's no actual evidence, but it's incredibly believable.
Anyway, this was a great movie, with good music, and a tight running time.
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David McK (3623 KP) rated Angel Has Fallen (2019) in Movies
Aug 15, 2020
In 2013, Olympus Fell ("Olympus Has Fallen").
Although I saw it, I don't remember much about it other than it was one of the 2 'Die Hard in the White House' movies that came out that year (the other being "White House Down") and that it starred Gerard Butler (wit "Olympus" being the code name of the White House).
In 2016, London Fell ("London Has Fallen")
I remember even less about it, other than it was a sequel, again starring Gerard Butler, and took place in, well, London.
Now, in 2019, "Angel Has Fallen".
The 'Angel' of that is the codename of Gerard Butler's Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, returning for a third time in the series, and here framed for an attempted assassination attempt on the US President (Morgan Freeman, taking over from the earlier Aaron Eckhart) and on the run from both his own government and from those who framed him (and want to finish the job, so to speak).
If you've seen any of the earlier entries, you'll know pretty much what to expect: gunfire, explosions, more gunfire, running, a ham-fisted "Russia bad! America good!" allegory thrown in, more gunfire ...
Not a bad way to while away a few hours, but not brilliant either,
Although I saw it, I don't remember much about it other than it was one of the 2 'Die Hard in the White House' movies that came out that year (the other being "White House Down") and that it starred Gerard Butler (wit "Olympus" being the code name of the White House).
In 2016, London Fell ("London Has Fallen")
I remember even less about it, other than it was a sequel, again starring Gerard Butler, and took place in, well, London.
Now, in 2019, "Angel Has Fallen".
The 'Angel' of that is the codename of Gerard Butler's Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, returning for a third time in the series, and here framed for an attempted assassination attempt on the US President (Morgan Freeman, taking over from the earlier Aaron Eckhart) and on the run from both his own government and from those who framed him (and want to finish the job, so to speak).
If you've seen any of the earlier entries, you'll know pretty much what to expect: gunfire, explosions, more gunfire, running, a ham-fisted "Russia bad! America good!" allegory thrown in, more gunfire ...
Not a bad way to while away a few hours, but not brilliant either,
Merissa (13398 KP) rated The Prince's Runaway Lover (Men of the Zodiac #7) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
Nicholas never planned on being king - he was more than happy being the 'spare to the heir' but fate had a different, tragic, story planned for him. One in which he would lose his brother and be forced to step up. However, once he does, he finds that things aren't exactly going his way. He has trouble with parliament, someone else wants his throne and to top it all, his mother wants him married. Life sucks about now for Nicholas. So when someone runs into his scene, not asking anything of him, but just enjoying the time they spend together, is it any wonder he becomes intrigued?
This book is delightful, a modern-day fairy tale. I love the references to Cinderella and midnight coming. If you want a book that is full of romance, enough to satisfy my sappy heart, then I can definitely recommend this one. It is well-written and has a smooth-flowing plot. You hope they will get their HEA but you're kept guessing right to the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 14, 2015
This book is delightful, a modern-day fairy tale. I love the references to Cinderella and midnight coming. If you want a book that is full of romance, enough to satisfy my sappy heart, then I can definitely recommend this one. It is well-written and has a smooth-flowing plot. You hope they will get their HEA but you're kept guessing right to the end. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 14, 2015
Shift (The Caelian Cycle #3)
8.0
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Chaos is what rules Sadie’s life. Separation, lies, and an overpowering Talent have pushed her...
Young Adult Dystopian Science Fiction Romance
The Rubicon Method: Overcome Procrastination
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Procrastination is one of the greatest problems of our times, where otherwise brilliant and capable...
self-help