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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Haunted Mansion (2003) in Movies
Jul 28, 2023
Welcome Foolish Mortals to the latest adaptation of the popular Disney attraction as Haunted Mansion has materialized for audiences to enjoy.
This time around the film follows a single mother named Gabbie (RosarioDawson), and her son Travis (Chase W. Dillon).
The family has moved into an abandoned mansion near New Orleans as they look to start over but find that their new abode is haunted.
Despite their best efforts to flee, the ghosts force them to return to the
mansion and they seek help in the form of a Priest named Father Kent (Owen Wilson), and Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield) who has been reduced to doing Ghost Tours following a personal tragedy that saw his lofty skills and career vanish in the aftermath.
When the help finds themselves able to leave the mansion without an
otherworldly escort, they bring in a Medium named Harriet (Tiffany
Haddish) and in time the mysterious Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis).
It is learned that a dangerous ghost is striking fear into the other 999
haunts that inhabit the locale and should he collect his 1000th soul, he
will unleash a new level of terror on the world.
Things become even more complicated with a local professor named Bruce (Danny DeVito) arrives and creates a new Wild Card to the situation.
The movie does a great job of capturing the look and tone of the
attraction as one of the great joys was seeing things ranging from the
pictures to stretching room and other factors big and small from the
attraction portrayed on the big screen.
The cast is great and works well with one another but the movie does take
some time getting ramped up and I did find it dragging in various places.
The audience laughed frequently but for me many of the jokes did not work which I attributed to the focus being on a a younger audience as I found them more amusing than funny.
The FX in the film are solid and Jared Leto’s character is so well done
you cannot recognize him as he has disappeared so deeply into the
character aided by some great visual work.
As a big fan of the attraction it was nice to see a much better take on
the source material than previous efforts.
In the end despite the flaws, there is enough happy nostalgia to keep fans
entertained and hopefully the audience will want to visit the mansion enough that a new franchise is on the way.
3 stars out of 5
This time around the film follows a single mother named Gabbie (RosarioDawson), and her son Travis (Chase W. Dillon).
The family has moved into an abandoned mansion near New Orleans as they look to start over but find that their new abode is haunted.
Despite their best efforts to flee, the ghosts force them to return to the
mansion and they seek help in the form of a Priest named Father Kent (Owen Wilson), and Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield) who has been reduced to doing Ghost Tours following a personal tragedy that saw his lofty skills and career vanish in the aftermath.
When the help finds themselves able to leave the mansion without an
otherworldly escort, they bring in a Medium named Harriet (Tiffany
Haddish) and in time the mysterious Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis).
It is learned that a dangerous ghost is striking fear into the other 999
haunts that inhabit the locale and should he collect his 1000th soul, he
will unleash a new level of terror on the world.
Things become even more complicated with a local professor named Bruce (Danny DeVito) arrives and creates a new Wild Card to the situation.
The movie does a great job of capturing the look and tone of the
attraction as one of the great joys was seeing things ranging from the
pictures to stretching room and other factors big and small from the
attraction portrayed on the big screen.
The cast is great and works well with one another but the movie does take
some time getting ramped up and I did find it dragging in various places.
The audience laughed frequently but for me many of the jokes did not work which I attributed to the focus being on a a younger audience as I found them more amusing than funny.
The FX in the film are solid and Jared Leto’s character is so well done
you cannot recognize him as he has disappeared so deeply into the
character aided by some great visual work.
As a big fan of the attraction it was nice to see a much better take on
the source material than previous efforts.
In the end despite the flaws, there is enough happy nostalgia to keep fans
entertained and hopefully the audience will want to visit the mansion enough that a new franchise is on the way.
3 stars out of 5
Merissa (12934 KP) rated Through Her Eyes (Mind's Eye #4) in Books
Jun 28, 2017
Through Her Eyes (Mind's Eye #4) by Deborah Camp
I LOVE the Mind's Eye series, and Through Her Eyes is no different. The story is fast-paced, with plenty going on. There are not too many characters so that you lose track of who did what or said what and when, but enough that you get varieties of view points. Our two main characters, Levi and Trudy, both still have personal demons to battle, although I loved seeing the progress that both of them made. As a woman, and not having gone through what Levi did, it was easier to empathise with Trudy's demons, as I think most women will be able to. Still, Levi's character has changed as the books have progressed, and it was nice to see it commented on in this book by various people. He has made progress, still has a way to go, but definitely made some!
The story itself was once again a gruesome read - enough detail given that you felt the horror of it, without it being too much and putting you off your cornflakes! You also get a personal insight into just how much doing this 'job' can impact both Levi and Trudy. Trudy's strengths are coming on in leaps and bounds, and with Levi by her side, soon her self-confidence will follow.
This was exceptionally well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. A nice twist to the ending, before you get your HFN with Levi and Trudy, leaving you once again wanting more from this psychic duo. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The story itself was once again a gruesome read - enough detail given that you felt the horror of it, without it being too much and putting you off your cornflakes! You also get a personal insight into just how much doing this 'job' can impact both Levi and Trudy. Trudy's strengths are coming on in leaps and bounds, and with Levi by her side, soon her self-confidence will follow.
This was exceptionally well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. A nice twist to the ending, before you get your HFN with Levi and Trudy, leaving you once again wanting more from this psychic duo. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (12934 KP) rated Second Drafts (Matchmakers #2) in Books
Sep 1, 2017
Second Drafts (Matchmakers #2) by G.R. Lyons
Second Drafts is the second book in the Matchmakers series - set in a world similar yet different to our own. This book is about Chance's brother, Shain, and his demons, plus Ellidan, and his monster. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! Okay, so I might have said that about book one too, but seriously, this one got to me. I loved the relationship between Shain and Ellidan, although I was all for kicking Shain during most of the story! Ellidan thinks he is so broken, and yet he is so strong. Shain thinks he has everything under control, and yet really doesn't.
You also get the opportunity to catch up with Chance and Remy, which I loved. I didn't love Shain and Chance's father turning up to the wedding, or what happened with Ellidan, but I'll leave that there. You also see Bryan acting out at Matchmakers, and yet still don't know why. Danny is trying to deal with him, and that is such a delightful teaser for the next book.
Still, I'm getting ahead of myself. This book was extremely well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that spoiled my reading flow. I adore how Chance is an editor, and Shain is a writer. Books/writing/editing, set in a fantasy m/m scene? I can't ask for anything else! Ticks all my boxes, that's for sure.
Second Drafts certainly doesn't suffer from being a 'gap' book. I was caught up in every scene, every word, and loved it from beginning to end. Highly recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comment here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
You also get the opportunity to catch up with Chance and Remy, which I loved. I didn't love Shain and Chance's father turning up to the wedding, or what happened with Ellidan, but I'll leave that there. You also see Bryan acting out at Matchmakers, and yet still don't know why. Danny is trying to deal with him, and that is such a delightful teaser for the next book.
Still, I'm getting ahead of myself. This book was extremely well written, with no editing or grammatical errors that spoiled my reading flow. I adore how Chance is an editor, and Shain is a writer. Books/writing/editing, set in a fantasy m/m scene? I can't ask for anything else! Ticks all my boxes, that's for sure.
Second Drafts certainly doesn't suffer from being a 'gap' book. I was caught up in every scene, every word, and loved it from beginning to end. Highly recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comment here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated The Crown's Fate in Books
Sep 7, 2017
Amazing worldbuilding (3 more)
Well-rounded characters
Gorgeous descriptions
Good use of Russian mythology
An excellent sequel to The Crown's Game
The Crown’s Fate is a sequel to the amazing debut novel, The Crown’s Game. The first book left me crying and a little traumatized, it was so elegant and heart-breaking. The second has proven to be a worthy successor, and healed most of the hurts caused by the first.
The two books tell the story of two enchanters in Tsarist Russia competing to become Imperial Enchanter. The competition, unfortunately, must end in the death of one of them, so Russia’s magic can be solely controlled by the Imperial Enchanter, and therefore be stronger for defending the realm. It only complicates things that one of the competitors is the heir to the throne’s best friend. And what happens when the two competitors fall in love?
Along the way, we see creative enchantments, volcano nymphs, elegant masquerade balls, battles for succession, and a quick glimpse of Baba Yaga’s house. (Oh, how I want to learn more about that!)
These two books are really amazing, but make sure you have the second on hand before you finish the first! I read the first when it was published, last year, and had to wait a year before being able to read the second! I don’t know if Vika and Nikolai’s story will be continued past these two books, but there is room in the world Skye has created for more stories, even if it doesn’t focus on the two enchanters. Especially now that magic beyond the control of the Imperial Enchanter is stirring in the land once again…
You can find all of my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
The two books tell the story of two enchanters in Tsarist Russia competing to become Imperial Enchanter. The competition, unfortunately, must end in the death of one of them, so Russia’s magic can be solely controlled by the Imperial Enchanter, and therefore be stronger for defending the realm. It only complicates things that one of the competitors is the heir to the throne’s best friend. And what happens when the two competitors fall in love?
Along the way, we see creative enchantments, volcano nymphs, elegant masquerade balls, battles for succession, and a quick glimpse of Baba Yaga’s house. (Oh, how I want to learn more about that!)
These two books are really amazing, but make sure you have the second on hand before you finish the first! I read the first when it was published, last year, and had to wait a year before being able to read the second! I don’t know if Vika and Nikolai’s story will be continued past these two books, but there is room in the world Skye has created for more stories, even if it doesn’t focus on the two enchanters. Especially now that magic beyond the control of the Imperial Enchanter is stirring in the land once again…
You can find all of my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
Steven Sklansky (231 KP) rated A Monster Calls (2016) in Movies
Sep 17, 2017
The acting (2 more)
The CGI
The tree was like a giant Groot
Imaginative, fun and emotional
This was a fantastic film. I did not know much going into this movie other then there being a giant tree monster. This movie took my breath away. From the acting to the CGI. The animation sequences made to look like water colors was just brilliant.
You just never new what to expect out of the movie which is always a good thing. You don't know if the tree is good or if it is evil. Something you think the tree is just a big jerk trying to pull one over on Conner. I like how they made it seem that the monster was growing inside of Conner, showing that Conner was the monster, even though I never thought that during the movie. I thought he was just a kid in trouble. Bully's at school, dad not there, mom sick and a Grandma that treated him like a baby. Eventually you new he was just going to act out. When he did there was no punishment. They just told him why bother. I thought this was either because he could learn from his mistakes or that everyone felt sorry that his mom was dying. I think he just wanted to be punished for acting out. But no punishment did seem like his punishment.
The water color stories in the movie were done really well, it felt like you were falling into the story. It showed there is many ways to take life or how to interpret life experiences. What you do is what matters most. In the end Conner just had to learn the truth.
There is a monster tree lurking in all of us, we just have to listen for it. See the movie and you will know why.
You just never new what to expect out of the movie which is always a good thing. You don't know if the tree is good or if it is evil. Something you think the tree is just a big jerk trying to pull one over on Conner. I like how they made it seem that the monster was growing inside of Conner, showing that Conner was the monster, even though I never thought that during the movie. I thought he was just a kid in trouble. Bully's at school, dad not there, mom sick and a Grandma that treated him like a baby. Eventually you new he was just going to act out. When he did there was no punishment. They just told him why bother. I thought this was either because he could learn from his mistakes or that everyone felt sorry that his mom was dying. I think he just wanted to be punished for acting out. But no punishment did seem like his punishment.
The water color stories in the movie were done really well, it felt like you were falling into the story. It showed there is many ways to take life or how to interpret life experiences. What you do is what matters most. In the end Conner just had to learn the truth.
There is a monster tree lurking in all of us, we just have to listen for it. See the movie and you will know why.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated A Courtesan's Scandal (The Scandalous Series, #3) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
A Courtesan’s Scandal by Julia London
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Summary: Kate is a courtesan who only lives the way she does to keep herself from being tossed into the streets. She is “sold” to the Prince of Whales, but as the price is married, he cannot afford a scandal. While the prince divorces his wife, he instructs the Duke of Darlington to be seen in public with Kate so that nobody suspects him. But Kate and Grayson, the Duke, aren’t expecting to fall in love.
Thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it was pretty entertaining at times, but on the other it was hard to sit down and read more than a few chapters at a time. I found the story rather trivial, really it was all silly politics and unfaithfulness in marriage.
I couldn’t finish this book. I got to the part where they fall in love (a little more than halfway) and just didn’t have the patience to finish it. There wasn’t much of a story line besides, again, politics and reputation and sex.
Characters: The characters were the strong point in this book. They were very real and well developed immediately, and I enjoyed their dialogue.
Writing: The writing was also very good. It’s very refreshing to read a novel that uses good sentence structure and a wide range of vocabulary. The prose flowed nicely.
Content: There was no language, but some sex in the book. The scenes were pretty outlined and there were a few pages I skipped. Occasionally a man is drunk and says something a bit odd, but other than that there are no major alcohol references.
Recommendation: Ages 16+ (18+ if you’re picky about content) to lovers of historical fiction and romance, and quick easy reads.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Summary: Kate is a courtesan who only lives the way she does to keep herself from being tossed into the streets. She is “sold” to the Prince of Whales, but as the price is married, he cannot afford a scandal. While the prince divorces his wife, he instructs the Duke of Darlington to be seen in public with Kate so that nobody suspects him. But Kate and Grayson, the Duke, aren’t expecting to fall in love.
Thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it was pretty entertaining at times, but on the other it was hard to sit down and read more than a few chapters at a time. I found the story rather trivial, really it was all silly politics and unfaithfulness in marriage.
I couldn’t finish this book. I got to the part where they fall in love (a little more than halfway) and just didn’t have the patience to finish it. There wasn’t much of a story line besides, again, politics and reputation and sex.
Characters: The characters were the strong point in this book. They were very real and well developed immediately, and I enjoyed their dialogue.
Writing: The writing was also very good. It’s very refreshing to read a novel that uses good sentence structure and a wide range of vocabulary. The prose flowed nicely.
Content: There was no language, but some sex in the book. The scenes were pretty outlined and there were a few pages I skipped. Occasionally a man is drunk and says something a bit odd, but other than that there are no major alcohol references.
Recommendation: Ages 16+ (18+ if you’re picky about content) to lovers of historical fiction and romance, and quick easy reads.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Demeter Code in Books
May 10, 2018
3.5 stars
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
Ridley Fox and Dr. Nita Parris are two of the CIAs best operatives. They travel the world eliminating the bad guys. When they are given an assignment that doesn't turn out as planned, their whole world is turned inside out and upside down. Then the mission gets changed and Fox and Parris are sent in different directions. This book has enough twists and turns to give you whiplash.
After reading the description of this book, I was very excited to read it. I love a good thriller and this one did not disappoint. The Demeter Code captured me from page one. The first scene is set in Washington DC and when books are set close to home, I always am intrigued. The book had a really great start and lots of action to keep my attention. A little over half way through it started to slow down a bit for me. It got more technical and I found myself reading the words without actually absorbing what it was I was reading. That happened a couple of times which made me drop my rating from 4 to 3.5 stars. This is the third book in the series, the first two being [b:Pandora's Succession|11435761|Pandora's Succession|Russell Brooks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347515371s/11435761.jpg|14368142] and [b:Unsavory Delicacies|10997415|Unsavory Delicacies|Russell Brooks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396737765s/10997415.jpg|40898431]. I will be going back to read these books as well as his standalone [b:Chill Run|13152361|Chill Run |Russell Brooks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328327623s/13152361.jpg|40898429] and I look forward to whatever he has coming in the future.
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
Ridley Fox and Dr. Nita Parris are two of the CIAs best operatives. They travel the world eliminating the bad guys. When they are given an assignment that doesn't turn out as planned, their whole world is turned inside out and upside down. Then the mission gets changed and Fox and Parris are sent in different directions. This book has enough twists and turns to give you whiplash.
After reading the description of this book, I was very excited to read it. I love a good thriller and this one did not disappoint. The Demeter Code captured me from page one. The first scene is set in Washington DC and when books are set close to home, I always am intrigued. The book had a really great start and lots of action to keep my attention. A little over half way through it started to slow down a bit for me. It got more technical and I found myself reading the words without actually absorbing what it was I was reading. That happened a couple of times which made me drop my rating from 4 to 3.5 stars. This is the third book in the series, the first two being [b:Pandora's Succession|11435761|Pandora's Succession|Russell Brooks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347515371s/11435761.jpg|14368142] and [b:Unsavory Delicacies|10997415|Unsavory Delicacies|Russell Brooks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396737765s/10997415.jpg|40898431]. I will be going back to read these books as well as his standalone [b:Chill Run|13152361|Chill Run |Russell Brooks|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328327623s/13152361.jpg|40898429] and I look forward to whatever he has coming in the future.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Truth or Die in Books
May 10, 2018
Trevor Mann is a professor at Columbia Law School in New York. Soon after his girlfriend leaves him to meet an important source for an article she is doing for the New York Times, he gets a call from her sister letting him know she is dead. Trevor is determined to find out who the source was she was going to see and why it got her killed. But will he be able to find out the truth or will he die as well?
Another gripping tale from James Patterson. Yes, I know he turns out books like an assembly line, but I can't seem to tear myself away from them. Most of his books really grip my attention and I have to find out what is happening next.
In Truth or Die, Trevor Mann is working with a genius from the CIA named Owen. Owen was helping to develop a serum that he thought would be used to help cure Alzheimer's, but the government was using it as a truth serum instead. The only problem is that everyone they used the serum on ended up dead. Claire, Trevor's girlfriend was about to bust this story wide open when she was killed. And now whoever killed Claire is after Trevor and Owen once they are able to find each other and figure out what is going on. From the President to the CIA, NSA and all of those other initials in Washington, the story unfolds and the more it unfolds, the more Trevor fears for his life. Using his legal skills and Owen's sharp mind, they are able to uncover a lot of secrets, secrets that even Trevor is surprised about.
All that being said, Truth or Die is a very interesting book, that I will recommend to others.
Another gripping tale from James Patterson. Yes, I know he turns out books like an assembly line, but I can't seem to tear myself away from them. Most of his books really grip my attention and I have to find out what is happening next.
In Truth or Die, Trevor Mann is working with a genius from the CIA named Owen. Owen was helping to develop a serum that he thought would be used to help cure Alzheimer's, but the government was using it as a truth serum instead. The only problem is that everyone they used the serum on ended up dead. Claire, Trevor's girlfriend was about to bust this story wide open when she was killed. And now whoever killed Claire is after Trevor and Owen once they are able to find each other and figure out what is going on. From the President to the CIA, NSA and all of those other initials in Washington, the story unfolds and the more it unfolds, the more Trevor fears for his life. Using his legal skills and Owen's sharp mind, they are able to uncover a lot of secrets, secrets that even Trevor is surprised about.
All that being said, Truth or Die is a very interesting book, that I will recommend to others.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Labor Day in Books
May 10, 2018
It's Labor Day weekend and Henry needs new clothes for school. His mother, Adele, rarely leaves the house anymore, since the divorce from Henry's father. They go to the local store and pick out a few things. There they meet Frank, a recently escaped convict. Frank has them take him to their home and stays with them through the long weekend until he can move on.
Henry and Adele aren't really sure what to do, but they do their best not to be too afraid so they can make it through. When Frank turns out to be more than they bargained for, they are in for a lot of surprises. This is a story about love. Love lost, love shared and new love. What happens when love is lost or gone forever.
Joyce Maynard has put together quite a great book. Filled with different kinds of love without being a romance novel. This book teaches you that you can never judge a book by its cover and that the world is full of surprises.
Henry is your typical teenage boy going through all of the strange changes that happens to a boy at 13. His mother has been so shut off from the world since losing her father and a baby, that Henry often has to play the role of husband as well as son. When Frank enters their lives, it's an interesting change for them both. Adele seems to have come out of her depression and Henry has a relationship with a man, that he has been unable to get with his own father.
Together these three bake, dance, and try not to get caught during the long holiday weekend. This is a must read for anyone who is in love with love.
Henry and Adele aren't really sure what to do, but they do their best not to be too afraid so they can make it through. When Frank turns out to be more than they bargained for, they are in for a lot of surprises. This is a story about love. Love lost, love shared and new love. What happens when love is lost or gone forever.
Joyce Maynard has put together quite a great book. Filled with different kinds of love without being a romance novel. This book teaches you that you can never judge a book by its cover and that the world is full of surprises.
Henry is your typical teenage boy going through all of the strange changes that happens to a boy at 13. His mother has been so shut off from the world since losing her father and a baby, that Henry often has to play the role of husband as well as son. When Frank enters their lives, it's an interesting change for them both. Adele seems to have come out of her depression and Henry has a relationship with a man, that he has been unable to get with his own father.
Together these three bake, dance, and try not to get caught during the long holiday weekend. This is a must read for anyone who is in love with love.
Merissa (12934 KP) rated Sea Dragon's Hunger (The Fada Shapeshifter #4.5) in Books
May 21, 2018
Sea Dragon's Hunger (The Fada Shapeshifter #4.5) by Rebecca Rivard
Sea Dragon's Hunger is the 4.5th book in The Fada Shapeshifter series. We meet Cassidy, a dolphin shifter mum who is doing her best to protect her sea dragon daughter from 'the bad men'. Fae are after her daughter because if they use a dragon's heart, their power grows times five. Cassidy will do anything to protect her daughter, including going to the father for help. Nic left Cassidy five years ago as he didn't want her to have the isolated life he knew he would have, and didn't know about Rianna. Unfortunately, Cassidy has ended up being hunted, despite Nic's best intentions. These two need to figure out what's going on between them now, before they can move forward - if they live long enough, that is.
This is a well written and fast paced book, full of sweet and steamy moments. Rianna is precious, and the men in Nic's den are instantly smitten with her. Cassidy is a sassy character, strong in her own right, and definitely not just some doormat ruled by her hormones. With a flowing style, the scenes change smoothly from one to the next, and there were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. Although this book is number 4.5, it is the first in this series I have read, and I had no difficulty in staying with the story. Of course, it has left me wanting to read the others, just because ;) Most definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is a well written and fast paced book, full of sweet and steamy moments. Rianna is precious, and the men in Nic's den are instantly smitten with her. Cassidy is a sassy character, strong in her own right, and definitely not just some doormat ruled by her hormones. With a flowing style, the scenes change smoothly from one to the next, and there were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow. Although this book is number 4.5, it is the first in this series I have read, and I had no difficulty in staying with the story. Of course, it has left me wanting to read the others, just because ;) Most definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Andrew Koltuniuk (767 KP) Aug 2, 2023