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Tamsin Clark (15 KP) rated Netflix in Apps
Jan 20, 2018
Wide range of films and series (4 more)
Well priced and reasonable package options
Good at creating own content
App and site are easy to navigate
Subtitles and captions available
Some genres lack in content (3 more)
Slow to release newer films
Not everything has subtitles
App sometimes malfunctions on Amazon Fire Stick
Good for series lovers
I have used Netflix for a number of years now and the one thing I've noticed is that they aren't the best for being up to date with the latest movies and releases, especially in the horror field. However, over the years Netflix has excelled in producing their own material and have turned out some very stellar series that have truly been worth the watch. They're also very good for kids programs, with the ability to create a child's profile that limits them ONLY to programs rated for under 12s, which is great for my 5-year-old who can always find her favourite cartoons on her tablet using her profile.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Darkest Hour (2017) in Movies
Jan 23, 2018 (Updated Jan 23, 2018)
Fantastic turn from Gary Oldham
This is a very fascinating story about Churchill and a hugely interesting film. Gary Oldman's performance deserves all of the hype, he's almost unrecognisable and he really convinces both with the serious, vulnerable and numerous sides to Churchill. Indeed the film itself shows a different vulnerable side to Churchill that I never knew existed and it was nice to see. My knowledge on this part of history is lacking, so I found the wartime politics really interesting. The supporting cast do well and the dialogue is brilliant.
But the dialogue is the problem with this film too as it's far too dialogue heavy. They throw in a few bits of action and humour, but it doesn't quite break the dialogue heavy scenes. Which I found made the film drag a little and I think they could've cut parts out without being of a detriment to the story.
Worth seeing for Oldman's performance alone, although not one I'd necessarily rush to see again.
But the dialogue is the problem with this film too as it's far too dialogue heavy. They throw in a few bits of action and humour, but it doesn't quite break the dialogue heavy scenes. Which I found made the film drag a little and I think they could've cut parts out without being of a detriment to the story.
Worth seeing for Oldman's performance alone, although not one I'd necessarily rush to see again.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Hearse and Buggy (An Amish Mystery, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
After her divorce, Claire has settled into the town of Heavenly, Pennsylvania, thanks to her aunt. She’s begun to make friends among the Amish and even opened a store that sells the items her new friends make. However, the potential peace of her new life is shattered when a man is found murdered outside her store. He left town recently after being accused of stealing from the Amish. Even though murder is not in their beliefs, might one of Claire’s new friends killed him?
The characters in this book are already fully developed and alive. They drew me into the story and made me care about several sub-plots that do slow down the mystery early on. Still, once the mystery takes center stage, it is well plotted with clues and red herrings along the way.
Read my full review at <a href"http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-hearse-and-buggy-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The characters in this book are already fully developed and alive. They drew me into the story and made me care about several sub-plots that do slow down the mystery early on. Still, once the mystery takes center stage, it is well plotted with clues and red herrings along the way.
Read my full review at <a href"http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-hearse-and-buggy-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2340 KP) rated Assaulted Pretzel (An Amish Mystery, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Everyone, English and Amish alike, are talking about toy maker Rob Karble being in town to make a deal to distribute toys made by the local Amish. However, not too long after word leaks he intends to use his factory instead of the local Amish, he is found murdered. Once again, Claire Weatherly finds herself getting involved to clear her new Amish friends.
I still can’t get over how strong the characters in this series are. They pull you in and make you care about every page. The plot is good, and kept me guessing until the end. I did find the romantic triangle a bit too prominent, and yet with the way it ended, I can’t wait to find out what happens next there as well. The strong characters are to blame for that contradiction.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-assaulted-pretzel-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I still can’t get over how strong the characters in this series are. They pull you in and make you care about every page. The plot is good, and kept me guessing until the end. I did find the romantic triangle a bit too prominent, and yet with the way it ended, I can’t wait to find out what happens next there as well. The strong characters are to blame for that contradiction.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-assaulted-pretzel-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Predator (1987) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018
Testosterone-drizzled SF action movie. Elite team of mercenaries - 'veer wescuers, not assahseens!' declares Arnie at one point - are dropped into Latin American jungle on shady political mission, proceed to kill everyone in sight (maybe they need to reconsider how they think of themselves), discover formidable alien big game hunter has plans to turn them all into trophies.
The cast is charismatic, the action is exceedingly well-staged, and there's a very good monster (Jean Claude van Damme was originally supposed to play the Pred but was sacked for complaining about the suit and not being beefy enough). There's also a surprisingly understated subtext about the Vietnam War, for which fighting an invisible monster in the jungle is a not-unreasonable metaphor. Not far off the quality of the other big-name 80s SF movies; inability to produce an equally memorable follow-up suggests the Predator is a one-trick pony, however.
The cast is charismatic, the action is exceedingly well-staged, and there's a very good monster (Jean Claude van Damme was originally supposed to play the Pred but was sacked for complaining about the suit and not being beefy enough). There's also a surprisingly understated subtext about the Vietnam War, for which fighting an invisible monster in the jungle is a not-unreasonable metaphor. Not far off the quality of the other big-name 80s SF movies; inability to produce an equally memorable follow-up suggests the Predator is a one-trick pony, however.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Network (1976) in Movies
Feb 16, 2018 (Updated Feb 16, 2018)
Acclaimed satirical comedy-drama; impressively prescient look at American media. Long-serving newscaster is victim of falling ratings, has breakdown and threatens to commit suicide on live TV: network execs are appalled until it transpires this has caused a spike in viewing figures, so they give him a job as a ranting news gimp.
Smartly written and well-performed; slight tendency towards speechifying rather than actual dialogue in the closing stages, but at least the speeches are good. Movie predicts rise of reality TV and collapse in news values with eerie accuracy, also the potential power of rabble-rousing TV demagogues (chief rabble-rouser does not complain about fake news, but it's a near thing). On another level, film is basically just cinema being snotty about how television is a more juvenile and morally bankrupt medium - 1976 was one of the very last years they could do this without it seeming like massive hypocrisy.
Smartly written and well-performed; slight tendency towards speechifying rather than actual dialogue in the closing stages, but at least the speeches are good. Movie predicts rise of reality TV and collapse in news values with eerie accuracy, also the potential power of rabble-rousing TV demagogues (chief rabble-rouser does not complain about fake news, but it's a near thing). On another level, film is basically just cinema being snotty about how television is a more juvenile and morally bankrupt medium - 1976 was one of the very last years they could do this without it seeming like massive hypocrisy.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Annihilation (2018) in Movies
Mar 17, 2018
This is no Ex Machina
Ex Machina is a great film, and I'd expected lots from this new film from Alex Garland, but sadly it doesn't live up to expectations.
The basic plot starts off well and even when they first venture into the shimmer, it's intriguing and actually pretty bizarre and interesting. It's just a shame that it soon turns into just plain old bizarre and is far too slow paced, going so far as being boring in parts.
Oscar Isaac is vastly underused in this, and the rest of the cast too either have little to work with or just arent very good. And the ending is just ridiculously bonkers with a very odd soundtrack that really doesn't fit with the scene. There's a lot that isn't elaborated on either but apparently is in the book, and the endings are completely different too.
This had potential but sadly really missed the mark.
The basic plot starts off well and even when they first venture into the shimmer, it's intriguing and actually pretty bizarre and interesting. It's just a shame that it soon turns into just plain old bizarre and is far too slow paced, going so far as being boring in parts.
Oscar Isaac is vastly underused in this, and the rest of the cast too either have little to work with or just arent very good. And the ending is just ridiculously bonkers with a very odd soundtrack that really doesn't fit with the scene. There's a lot that isn't elaborated on either but apparently is in the book, and the endings are completely different too.
This had potential but sadly really missed the mark.
Dana (24 KP) rated Howl and Other Poems in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I don't overly enjoy poetry for the most part, but I have to say, I really enjoy Allen Ginsberg's writing.
I had previously read "Howl" and "A Supermarket in California" which I very much enjoyed. The other poems, being new to me, I thoroughly enjoyed.
Ginsberg has a very interesting writing style that is very vivid. I love how he speaks directly to his fellow poets in some of his poems. In writing them in, he is giving them an even greater form of immortality.
I enjoyed the poem "America." It's asking the citizens of America what the war is worth, but America is also asking things of him that he wouldn't be able to live up to. He questions his own writing in this as well.
Ginsberg has a very musical beat to his poems that makes you have to keep reading. It pulls you along, especially when you read it out loud.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this little book of poems.
I had previously read "Howl" and "A Supermarket in California" which I very much enjoyed. The other poems, being new to me, I thoroughly enjoyed.
Ginsberg has a very interesting writing style that is very vivid. I love how he speaks directly to his fellow poets in some of his poems. In writing them in, he is giving them an even greater form of immortality.
I enjoyed the poem "America." It's asking the citizens of America what the war is worth, but America is also asking things of him that he wouldn't be able to live up to. He questions his own writing in this as well.
Ginsberg has a very musical beat to his poems that makes you have to keep reading. It pulls you along, especially when you read it out loud.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this little book of poems.
Chelsee R Clawson (23 KP) rated American Horror Story - Season 1 in TV
Mar 16, 2018
Twistedly beautiful
This series is very refreshing. Weird and sometimes strange but like a guilty pleasure nonetheless leaving you wanting more! With storylines and characters so twisted and peculiar it leaves you totally mind boggled. And just so you know tate Langdon is sinfully delicious (just saying!) I have progressed to series 3 so far so I have a lot to catch up on (I know! Don't give me that judging look) ? but I will say from what I've seen, if you think the first series isnt enough to keep you up all night binge watching episodes like its going out of fashion. Just you wait! each following season gets better and awesomely shocking! your brain will start to wonder "wait... Did my eyeballs just see that!?" two thumbs up and two big toe wiggles from me thoroughly recommend to anyone who revels in not being normal, well because normal people scare me of course ?
Mothergamer (1568 KP) rated Sleeping Beauties in Books
Feb 25, 2018
Interesting Read
I have enjoyed Stephen King's books for a long time now so I was eager to read this book that he wrote with his son Owen who is also a talented writer. The premise for the book is quite interesting and the story being told from the perspective of the different characters in the book is well done. There are a lot of familiar Stephen King themes, but there is a lot of Owen King in here too.
I liked the book, but I felt the story ran a little longer than it should and the ending itself is rather disappointing. There are a few places where it didn't really feel like a Stephen King book, but I still liked the story. It is an interesting read which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is not as strong as previous King novels.
I liked the book, but I felt the story ran a little longer than it should and the ending itself is rather disappointing. There are a few places where it didn't really feel like a Stephen King book, but I still liked the story. It is an interesting read which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is not as strong as previous King novels.