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tapestry100 (306 KP) rated Extraordinary X-Men, Vol 1: X-Haven in Books
Aug 2, 2017
Originally reviewed on http://www.frommybookshelf.com
I won't lie, I miss the X-Men of my younger years (late 80s/early 90s). I've been trying to reconcile their fall from popularity and the direction their stories have been taking in light of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (don't get me started on the X-Men movie franchise **shudders**), but I've been sticking with it. This book, my first post-Secret Wars X-Men experience, has left me torn: even tho every aspect of this book has already been done before (mutants being hated for being different; mutants needing to go into hiding; mutants being on the edge of extinction for about the third time in a decade now; Sinister conducting his weird experiments and playing around with famous mutant's DNA), it did leave me wondering what was going to happen next, so that's at least somewhat good storytelling, right? Right?! Sigh.
There are things I don't understand in this post-Terrigen bomb/Secret Wars world: what exactly is the difference between being an Inhuman or mutant and why is one seen as seemly being acceptable by the populace at large? Other than needing to push the Inhuman as the new version of being a mutant in the MCU, I see no distinction. What does it matter if the Terrigen mists are making mutants sterile? Don't normal humans give birth to mutants, as well? Maybe it's changing the structure of the entire world's DNA? What if a human with dormant Inhuman genes gives birth to a mutant? What would the Terrigen mists do to the mutant? How long does the Terrigen mist linger in the atmosphere? I'm hoping some of this is addressed at some point.
I won't lie, I miss the X-Men of my younger years (late 80s/early 90s). I've been trying to reconcile their fall from popularity and the direction their stories have been taking in light of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (don't get me started on the X-Men movie franchise **shudders**), but I've been sticking with it. This book, my first post-Secret Wars X-Men experience, has left me torn: even tho every aspect of this book has already been done before (mutants being hated for being different; mutants needing to go into hiding; mutants being on the edge of extinction for about the third time in a decade now; Sinister conducting his weird experiments and playing around with famous mutant's DNA), it did leave me wondering what was going to happen next, so that's at least somewhat good storytelling, right? Right?! Sigh.
There are things I don't understand in this post-Terrigen bomb/Secret Wars world: what exactly is the difference between being an Inhuman or mutant and why is one seen as seemly being acceptable by the populace at large? Other than needing to push the Inhuman as the new version of being a mutant in the MCU, I see no distinction. What does it matter if the Terrigen mists are making mutants sterile? Don't normal humans give birth to mutants, as well? Maybe it's changing the structure of the entire world's DNA? What if a human with dormant Inhuman genes gives birth to a mutant? What would the Terrigen mists do to the mutant? How long does the Terrigen mist linger in the atmosphere? I'm hoping some of this is addressed at some point.
tonidavis (353 KP) rated Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) in Movies
Jul 6, 2017
Tom Holland (2 more)
comedy
Robert Downey Jnr
Call Me A Fangirl
Is this the greatest Marvel film of all time? Honestly no. that being said this is brilliant adaptation of spiderman. It's got back to it roots, of being a young kid who happeneds to develop superhuman powers there no long drawn out love story which takes over the whole film. Yes there is a love interest but it not the main thing. The comedy in this film was outstanding. Tom Holland prefoance was brilliant the side characters was entertaing and exciting. Obviously Robert Downey Jnr just adds that extra to an already brilliant film. To the critic that say marvel have had it day you obviously aren't watching what I am. To the creator of the final end credit scence well played.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Abducted (Lizzy Gardner, #1) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
<i>4.25 stars</i>
I was super impressed with this book: the construction, the fleshed out characters, the plotting, just about everything. Lizzy is a great protagonist who is strong, but has her weaknesses, she's disturbed but trying to be normal, she all around feels like a real human being. And she's not the only one, all the secondary characters are done just has well and serve a purpose. The only thing I didn't like was that the cat was a victim. I didn't really feel it was necessary, and I have cats, so I don't want to read about animals being hurt or killed in books. Most especially if it doesn't add anything. Otherwise I would totally recommend the book to those who enjoy mysteries and thrillers with realistic characters.
I was super impressed with this book: the construction, the fleshed out characters, the plotting, just about everything. Lizzy is a great protagonist who is strong, but has her weaknesses, she's disturbed but trying to be normal, she all around feels like a real human being. And she's not the only one, all the secondary characters are done just has well and serve a purpose. The only thing I didn't like was that the cat was a victim. I didn't really feel it was necessary, and I have cats, so I don't want to read about animals being hurt or killed in books. Most especially if it doesn't add anything. Otherwise I would totally recommend the book to those who enjoy mysteries and thrillers with realistic characters.
Kimmic (814 KP) rated Living with a Serial Killer in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Slow moving (2 more)
Not what you would expect at all
Found it difficult to like the main character
The title is the most exciting bit!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Well, I was very excited to read this book, and was quickly disappointed... I did finish it (with maybe scan reading towards the end). This book is about a weak woman being with a very controlling and dominating partner, there is no reference to him being a killer until the very end.
I am not sure I would even forward this book onto a Charity Shop for someone else to waste their time reading it. The title is very misleading and it was sure will for the book to get better that pushed me through to the end (p.s. it doesn't... get better that is!)
I am not sure I would even forward this book onto a Charity Shop for someone else to waste their time reading it. The title is very misleading and it was sure will for the book to get better that pushed me through to the end (p.s. it doesn't... get better that is!)
Briannabrown1019 (799 KP) rated Rhapsodic (The Bargainer #1) in Books
Nov 17, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
WOW I was surprised by this one. I read this for a book club, after being recommended to read it a few times because I loved ACOTAR so much. I ended up loving this as well!! It's such an interesting story and I'm definitely going to be continuing the series. With that being said, one of the pros listed as reasons to read this book was that it was super spicy, and with that I'll have to disagree. The sexual tension is there, sure. But the actual steamy scenes didn't start until the last 100 pages and even then they weren't as outrageous as I'd been told. So if you're purely here for spice, I urge you to stay for the plot. If that doesn't matter to you then I recommend this for sure!
The Well-Tempered City
Book
Cities are birthplaces of civilization; centers of culture, trade, and progress; cauldrons of...
Maddi Zoe (6 KP) rated Wonder (2017) in Movies
Feb 8, 2018
acting (2 more)
storyline
underlying message
Cute messages tugging at your heart strings
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Wonder, directed by Stephen Chbosky, is a wonderfully endearing and uplifting story about a boy, Auggie Pullman (Jacob Tremblay), who was born with Treacher Collins syndrome and has had several surgeries leaving him with facial deformities.
The movie starts as he is entering into fifth-grade, and actually going to school for the first time as he has previously been home schooled by his mother (Julia Roberts). He is understandably scared about not making friends, or being ridiculed by his classmates, but with the help of his Mum and Dad (Owen Wilson) he braves going to school and meets new people.
There are many moments of sadness, as you would expect, but there are also moments of great joy. I found myself crying from start to finish, riding on a rollercoaster of emotions.
There are a few mini storylines about other characters that get given the spotlight at different times as well, which is a nice change to when some films focus on just the one person, because we get to see other characters backgrounds, and why they act how they do.
The casting is brilliant, Tremblay plays Auggie excellently, bringing both emotion and sass to the character. He has been in a fair few things before, such as Before I Wake, but this role will definitely boost him into the spotlight.
Roberts and Wilson as the parents is also an excellent choice, Roberts gives an emotive performance, and it’s great to see Wilson in a serious role, whilst still bringing some light comic relief.
The cast has a lot of young actors, but there isn’t one that stands out as being stiff or unnatural, they are all brilliant and help to bring the feel of the movie together. The relationships between all the characters is brought to life really well by the actors.
The writing is brilliant, although it is based on a book so the story is there already, but the screenwriters, Chbosky, Steve Conrad and Jack Thorne, put it together for the screen really well.
There are some stand out quotes, that also come from the book, that make you stop and think, and the teacher, Mr Browne (Daveed Diggs), teaches the class about precepts such as ‘When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind’.
Overall, it’s a well-rounded family movie, that may change your outlook on some things in life. With such great casting, writing and direction, I’d be very surprised if it didn’t do well during awards season.
The movie starts as he is entering into fifth-grade, and actually going to school for the first time as he has previously been home schooled by his mother (Julia Roberts). He is understandably scared about not making friends, or being ridiculed by his classmates, but with the help of his Mum and Dad (Owen Wilson) he braves going to school and meets new people.
There are many moments of sadness, as you would expect, but there are also moments of great joy. I found myself crying from start to finish, riding on a rollercoaster of emotions.
There are a few mini storylines about other characters that get given the spotlight at different times as well, which is a nice change to when some films focus on just the one person, because we get to see other characters backgrounds, and why they act how they do.
The casting is brilliant, Tremblay plays Auggie excellently, bringing both emotion and sass to the character. He has been in a fair few things before, such as Before I Wake, but this role will definitely boost him into the spotlight.
Roberts and Wilson as the parents is also an excellent choice, Roberts gives an emotive performance, and it’s great to see Wilson in a serious role, whilst still bringing some light comic relief.
The cast has a lot of young actors, but there isn’t one that stands out as being stiff or unnatural, they are all brilliant and help to bring the feel of the movie together. The relationships between all the characters is brought to life really well by the actors.
The writing is brilliant, although it is based on a book so the story is there already, but the screenwriters, Chbosky, Steve Conrad and Jack Thorne, put it together for the screen really well.
There are some stand out quotes, that also come from the book, that make you stop and think, and the teacher, Mr Browne (Daveed Diggs), teaches the class about precepts such as ‘When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind’.
Overall, it’s a well-rounded family movie, that may change your outlook on some things in life. With such great casting, writing and direction, I’d be very surprised if it didn’t do well during awards season.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Mirror, Shoulder, Signal in Books
Jul 30, 2017
Slightly pointless story
I was intrigued to read this after it was nominated for a Man Booker Prize. The story hinges around a woman attempting to drive in Denmark and Sweden, and the various inadequacies that it conjured up. Being in the same position, I was empathetic with the protagonist but it seemed to lack a real plot and point to the entire novel. It is well written and the multiple sub-stories are intriguing but I failed to grasp what the author was trying to show.
Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated Crimson Peak (2015) in Movies
Mar 6, 2019
Entertaining
While searching through a list of "horror" movies to watch I came upon this interesting title. It turned out better than expected. Plenty of creepy imagery and characters it was quite entertaining. With the old school feel of it the cinematography and acting were very well done. The story- while a little predictable- proved to flow smoothly without being cumbersome or difficult to keep up with and entertained quite thoroughly. If you're into old style "ghostly" thrillers you will enjoy this one. Worth a watch!
Sara Becker (20 KP) rated The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in Video Games
Jan 16, 2018
Best Game of 2017
The world in this game is breathtaking. Gorgeous detail went into this game and it maintains the 'toonish' Zelda style while being a more refined work of art. There's so much to explore, the main storyline itself as well as different areas off the beaten path. The cooking system is fun to play with, and you can interact with almost everything in the world. Secrets are everywhere and discovering them all presents a challenge aside from the main questline.