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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Midsommar (2019) in Movies
Apr 4, 2020
Divisive
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this film so I was quite happy to see it available on Prime and finally get a chance to watch it. However I’m afraid to say that this was a complete waste of my time.
Like Hereditary before it, this film is obviously very divisive. I can see why too - it’s well made with some great acting, and if you’re a fan of these cult type films then I can see it being enjoyable. But for me I really didn’t enjoy it. Aside from appreciating the cinematography and acting, the rest of this film just ranged from downright dull to completely bizarre. It also reminded me of every single cult type film that has come before it - the problem with cults is that they’re kind of predictable. The gore was refreshing but it’s a shame this took well over an hour to get to this, and even then it didn’t bring much excitement. The first half, whilst slow, is at least interesting and well acted, but the second half is just bonkers and not in a good way. The nearly 2.5 hour runtime on this makes it a chore to get through as well.
Like Hereditary before it, this film is obviously very divisive. I can see why too - it’s well made with some great acting, and if you’re a fan of these cult type films then I can see it being enjoyable. But for me I really didn’t enjoy it. Aside from appreciating the cinematography and acting, the rest of this film just ranged from downright dull to completely bizarre. It also reminded me of every single cult type film that has come before it - the problem with cults is that they’re kind of predictable. The gore was refreshing but it’s a shame this took well over an hour to get to this, and even then it didn’t bring much excitement. The first half, whilst slow, is at least interesting and well acted, but the second half is just bonkers and not in a good way. The nearly 2.5 hour runtime on this makes it a chore to get through as well.
_RainAllTheTime (17 KP) rated Ugly Betty - Season 1 in TV
Sep 4, 2019
Has Ugly Betty aged well?
Contains spoilers, click to show
Ugly Betty first came to screens in 2006 and as it was recently put on Amazon Prime I decided to re-watch it......watching it as an adult is a whole new experience.
The show does bring up important isses, such as Betty's fathers immigration issues, Christina's trouble with trying to raise funds for her husbands medical treatments, grief, feeling you don't fit in etc. Unfortunately some of the other important issues didn't age well......
For example the storyline of Alexis being transgender. The use of some of the words, the use of the wrong pronouns (at the beginning), the use of some of the phrases leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I understand that in 2006 people weren't in much light towards those kind of issues as we are today but still, that storyline hasn't aged well.
Another example is the body shaming, again another issue which wasn't as spoken about then as it is today but another storyline that didn't age well.
All that a side, the show is still enjoyable and Betty is a very loveable and sweet character who we get to see grow and become more confident as the seasons go on
The show does bring up important isses, such as Betty's fathers immigration issues, Christina's trouble with trying to raise funds for her husbands medical treatments, grief, feeling you don't fit in etc. Unfortunately some of the other important issues didn't age well......
For example the storyline of Alexis being transgender. The use of some of the words, the use of the wrong pronouns (at the beginning), the use of some of the phrases leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I understand that in 2006 people weren't in much light towards those kind of issues as we are today but still, that storyline hasn't aged well.
Another example is the body shaming, again another issue which wasn't as spoken about then as it is today but another storyline that didn't age well.
All that a side, the show is still enjoyable and Betty is a very loveable and sweet character who we get to see grow and become more confident as the seasons go on
Rachel (48 KP) rated The Bell Witch in Books
May 27, 2017
Too Predictable
This is an interesting, yet already done, version of the well known 'Bell Witch' story. The landscape and setting for the tale is well defined. You get a good feel of the land, of the house and the atmosphere.
The characters, at times, feel very thin. It would have been nice to know them more before the witch makes her, surprisingly early, appearance. It is the character of the witch that we get to see the most, despite her being cast as the most mysterious.
No time was really given to creating tension or mystery - in this tale the witch appears quickly and makes her intentions and the source of her creation obvious almost immediately.
The author's explanation for the witch is one that is the most bandied about. This was a shame, I was rather hoping for a new take on it.
The book is well written for the most part, the witch given an extremely strong voice. I would recommend this to those who are looking for an undemanding read, not a scary or fraught one
The characters, at times, feel very thin. It would have been nice to know them more before the witch makes her, surprisingly early, appearance. It is the character of the witch that we get to see the most, despite her being cast as the most mysterious.
No time was really given to creating tension or mystery - in this tale the witch appears quickly and makes her intentions and the source of her creation obvious almost immediately.
The author's explanation for the witch is one that is the most bandied about. This was a shame, I was rather hoping for a new take on it.
The book is well written for the most part, the witch given an extremely strong voice. I would recommend this to those who are looking for an undemanding read, not a scary or fraught one
Jessalyn Joy (118 KP) rated The Circle in Books
Aug 28, 2017
AWESOME!
Well, when I first saw it was a movie I was excited. But then when I saw it was a book I was curious. I then checked it out from the Aplington library. When I was done with the previous book I started reading The Circle immediately. I was immediately interested because at the beginning we read about Mae. A young woman who has arrived at The Circle for her first day on the job. I have told friends and family who I have talked about the book to and I am going to say it here. It is an extremely well detailed book. It's incredible. I never got bored with the book. It surprised me throughout. I would recommend this to anyone no matter what their reading interests are. I would recommend for high schoolers up to adults. Also, being in highs school already I think this would be a great book for a high school English class. I thought the characters were incredible and incredibly described. The plot was very well written and like I said earlier never bored me.
Auburn (57 KP) rated Umbertouched (Rosemarked, #2) in Books
Apr 10, 2019
As the cover suggests this book is more about umbertouched and the ways to become so. Zivah and Dineas have escaped the capital but not the continent. This follows their progress back to their homeland and what happens afterwards. Can they still fit in and where is their place now.
I enjoyed the relationship between Zivah and Dineas and how that continued to develop. The stress of being back home and back to their old lives was well thought out. The fighting and battle was interesting as well. I liked how each part from the first book to the very last page of this intertwined. Dineas's split personality is well documented and the problems that came from losing his memories in the first are seen.
My only problem was the ending. Is this a duology or will there be a third. I feel like if it is only two there is missing a key wrap up at the end. It feels incomplete. I do not know if that is what the author is going for but I feel a bit underwhelmed.
I enjoyed the relationship between Zivah and Dineas and how that continued to develop. The stress of being back home and back to their old lives was well thought out. The fighting and battle was interesting as well. I liked how each part from the first book to the very last page of this intertwined. Dineas's split personality is well documented and the problems that came from losing his memories in the first are seen.
My only problem was the ending. Is this a duology or will there be a third. I feel like if it is only two there is missing a key wrap up at the end. It feels incomplete. I do not know if that is what the author is going for but I feel a bit underwhelmed.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Eden at the Edge of Midnight (The Vara Volumes, #1) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from StoryCartel in exchange for an honest review***
This was a well-written fantasy with well defined and realistic characters. That always makes it so much easier to be concerned for their well-being, and I did care what happened to Sammy and her companions. Sammy is an average human teenage girl who finds herself alone on a strange world, trying to survive and find her way home. Along with her new-found companion Mehrak and his dinosaur/house Louis, Sammy has to escape crabmen, decide which of those trying to help her are really on her side, and find the book that will show her the way to get back to Earth.
I started to panic about 20 pages from the end because I knew there was not enough time for everything that I wanted to happen, to happen! Thankfully book 2 is on the way, but I will have to wait until October to read Back to the Vara.
This was a well-written fantasy with well defined and realistic characters. That always makes it so much easier to be concerned for their well-being, and I did care what happened to Sammy and her companions. Sammy is an average human teenage girl who finds herself alone on a strange world, trying to survive and find her way home. Along with her new-found companion Mehrak and his dinosaur/house Louis, Sammy has to escape crabmen, decide which of those trying to help her are really on her side, and find the book that will show her the way to get back to Earth.
I started to panic about 20 pages from the end because I knew there was not enough time for everything that I wanted to happen, to happen! Thankfully book 2 is on the way, but I will have to wait until October to read Back to the Vara.
Monkey Puzzle
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Book
"I've lost my mum!" It's not too much fun being lost in the jungle, and little monkey wants his...
Billy Gibbons recommended Outskirts of Love by Shemekia Copeland in Music (curated)
AJaneClark (3975 KP) rated Date with a Devil (Dallas Devils #1) in Books
Jan 14, 2021
First Read of the Year
258 Pages
Kindle Edition
This light and at times steamy kicked off the start of 2021 with a bang (of bodies hitting the boards, and the clashing of hockey sticks as pucks hit the ice)!
Austen hosts a popular online section for the Dallas Devils, going on "dates" with the players and introducing them to the fans... All went well until it was the turn of jock Dane, an athlete with a reputation for disliking the media and being a fan of the puck bunnies!
What follows for the duo with a great deal of chemistry, is a bumpy road which threatens to impact both of their careers and their relationship!
The first in the Dallas Devils series, and Winters does not disappoint with this contemporary sports romance. It was an easy read with a great deal of depth, well paced and oozing chemistry.
The story progression worked well with Winters' writing style, with added drama from a historical back story which is explained in further books, and a great antagonist.
Hoping book 2 is just as interesting!
Kindle Edition
This light and at times steamy kicked off the start of 2021 with a bang (of bodies hitting the boards, and the clashing of hockey sticks as pucks hit the ice)!
Austen hosts a popular online section for the Dallas Devils, going on "dates" with the players and introducing them to the fans... All went well until it was the turn of jock Dane, an athlete with a reputation for disliking the media and being a fan of the puck bunnies!
What follows for the duo with a great deal of chemistry, is a bumpy road which threatens to impact both of their careers and their relationship!
The first in the Dallas Devils series, and Winters does not disappoint with this contemporary sports romance. It was an easy read with a great deal of depth, well paced and oozing chemistry.
The story progression worked well with Winters' writing style, with added drama from a historical back story which is explained in further books, and a great antagonist.
Hoping book 2 is just as interesting!
ClareR (5674 KP) rated Love Will Tear Us Apart in Books
Apr 9, 2024
I try to avoid book series like the plague (commitment issues). But here we are, and I’d like to start The Stranger Times Addiction Club. I listened to Love Will Tear Us Apart on audiobook, and the narrator Brendan McDonald has made me realise that I’ll probably need to buy all subsequent Stranger Times instalments on audiobook as well (except for the next one - I’ve already read that on NetGalley. Review to follow 🫢). Brendan, you are superb!
Bancroft thinks his wife is still alive and he’s acting very strangely; Hannah (assistant editor) has not only had the cheek to resign, but she’s gone to a spa as well; and an ex-columnist (who never strictly existed) has disappeared. Sounds confusing? Well, that’s The Stranger Times for you!
God, I enjoyed this - these books are always so uplifting (like some of the staff!), and I laughed so much. Which is ideal on your dog walk…
This is a series that I really don’t mind being caught up in at all. Just fabulous!
Bancroft thinks his wife is still alive and he’s acting very strangely; Hannah (assistant editor) has not only had the cheek to resign, but she’s gone to a spa as well; and an ex-columnist (who never strictly existed) has disappeared. Sounds confusing? Well, that’s The Stranger Times for you!
God, I enjoyed this - these books are always so uplifting (like some of the staff!), and I laughed so much. Which is ideal on your dog walk…
This is a series that I really don’t mind being caught up in at all. Just fabulous!