Last of the Resolution Reviews
Dec. 26th, 2007 04:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wook77Resolution Reviews –
Standard Disclaimer – if I didn't like something, doesn't mean that you don't. However, if you enjoy something that I didn't or hated something that I loved, feel free to tell me your opinions. I'd love to discuss any of these with you.
Warnings for foul language, squee over nekkidness (and higher ratings due to said nekkidness), etc. all apply.
Angela's Ashes (book) by Frank McCourt
At first, I was quite annoyed with the lack of quotation marks throughout the book to delineate conversations. I've gotten used to them and I quite love them. However, I soldiered through until that writing foible became rout for me and I enjoyed this book immensely. It's a dark book with lots of dark humor and life in it. It's a sad story but at the same time, it's a hopeful one. I loved all the different pieces and incarnations of Frank McCourt's life.
I only really picked up the book as I enjoyed the movie so much (review down a bit from here). I'm really really glad that I did pick up the book because, as always, the book is so much more vivid and awesome than the movie.
I'm a big fan of James Joyce and, to me, this read in a similar style to Joyce. There's a certain way of speaking and writing to them both that appeal to me. It's almost like Frank McCourt is having a conversation with you, like you're sitting at a pub listening to him tell his story, rather than reading a book. Eventually, the lack of quotation marks morphs from annoyance to a reinforcement of this familiarity.
It's not a happy story but it's not an unhappy one either. It's life.
8 out of 10
Tis by Frank McCourt
This book is the continuation of Angela's Ashes and, because the writing style was already familiar to me, it was a beyond enjoyable reading experience. Another life story, it has its share of ups and downs and keeps you intrigued throughout. I didn't fast-forward a few pages at any point throughout this book as I wanted to read every detail.
Frank McCourt is brutally honest about his own shortcomings and I love that about the book. It makes it much more realistic. There's his hopes (stability and family) and fears (including an encounter with a lecherous priest). He doesn't mince words, just puts it out there for whomever to read and judge as they'd want.
10 out of 10
Herotica (Anthology by various authors)
God, this book was painful. I bought it at the annual booksale at work and thought it might be awesome. It's erotica written by women for women. However, it really read like excerpts out of Penthouse. Holy shit was it painful. I'll stick to fandom for my erotica, methinks. My flist are MUCH better authors than any of this tripe. I kept hoping it would get better and it never ever did.
Personally, I think we should put together an anthology of fandom authors writing original erotica. We'd make a killing because we're much better.
1 out of 10
Calderon's Fury by Jim Butcher
A continuation of the Calderon Series by. It was enjoyable but didn't advance the plot very much, to be honest. I was a bit disappointed by that. I think there are too many subplots going on in this series for the author to maintain a good grasp on it. There are lots of genre clichés in it as well, which is slightly disappointing as the author does such a great job with the Dresden Files books.
However, genre clichés and lack of forward motion aside, it was an enjoyable mindless read. I liked it, I just didn't love it.
8 out of 10
The New World (Book 3 in the Cartography Series by Michael Stackpole
Like Calderon's Fury, I liked the book, I just didn't love it. Michael Stackpole has my expectations set so high that I couldn't help but be disappointed by this book. If it had been anyone else, I would've rated the book higher. As it is, the ending was cliché and predictable, the characters were annoyingly bland and the action was boring.
This really isn't the series I would recommend for people wanting to experience Stackpole. He's a much better writer than this series. For example, he has a book called "Talion:Revanant" and omg, is that book love. Go check it out. For the Star Wars fans – check out his X-Wing Rogue Squadron books or I, Jedi. So much better writing there. Hell, even is Mechwarrior books (written ages and ages ago) are much better than this. I think he rushed this story and I'm disappointed.
5 out of 10
300
Plus – nearly naked sexy men with chiseled stomachs and legs.
Minus – plot or lack thereof
Plus – nearly naked sexy men with chiseled stomachs and legs moving in slow motion for optimum eye candy-age
Minus – acting and characterizations
Plus – nearly naked sexy men with chiseled stomachs and legs moving in slow motion for optimum eye candy-age all the frikken moving.
Minus – omg boring fight sequences if you take the nekkidness out.
Final decision – the pluses outweigh the minuses. Mindless and entertaining if you like naked men.
7 out of 10
The Invasion
Did wook go see a "scary" movie? Why yes, yes she did. Did she find it scary? Nope. Instead, it was trite and sort of boring and overacted. However, it was also sort of enjoyable because otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to see it. I haven't seen the original as it's supposed to be superscary. I'm obviously not a fan of horror movies but this one was borderline comical and, thus, I enjoyed it. Didn't love it and probably wouldn't go out of my way to see it again but it was fun enough (especially due to being at a drive-in).
6 out of 10
Rush Hour 3
Jackie Chan is getting OLD. The guy is really slowing down and that really detracted from the movie. Add in Chris Tucker's overacting and you get a movie that, at times, made me flinch in shared shame (or what should've been shared shame. Instead, it was just me feeling sorry for the two of them). However, the rest of the cast make up for the small bits and, well, it is Jackie Chan and he is better than like a million other people (except for Chuck Norris, of course).
I'll probably buy this one when it comes out on DVD as I did enjoy it enough to watch it again. I just didn't enjoy it enough to go hunt it down on the first day it's out.
8.5 out of 10
American Psycho
My scoring of this is obviously a reflection of the fact that, nine times out of ten, meta-anything annoys the shit out of me. I don't care if it's metafiction or metamovies or anything. To me, they all read/view as an attempt to pat oneself on the back and go "look mummy, look what I can do!" That was the exact feeling this movie left me with. The director just went "Gee, I'm so clever and witty and everyone can start applauding at any moment!!!!"
This movie just annoyed me from start to finish. I understood what was going on but was left with this bzuh?! feeling at the end. Really disliked it the first time and hated it the second watching. Only reason I watched it a second time was that someone insisted that I had missed the nuances. I saw the nuances. I just didn't like them.
Only reason this scored as high it did is because Christian Bale is in his underwear a couple of times.
3 out of 10
Angela's Ashes (movie)
I'm so in love with this movie and not just because it has wee Devon Murray (EEEEE ICKLE DEVON MURRAY) in it. Instead, I'm in love with all the characters. There's such desolation and despair but this overriding belief that something, anything, is going to get better because they're already at the rockbottom. The acting is just perfect in it. Da (played by the guy from the Full Monty) is so heartbreakingly TRUE and real that I just ached for Frank and his brothers because I've been there with the alcoholic parent and the highs and lows.
His mam is beautiful. The actress's way of keeping her back straight and her head up, even while she's begging for a bed where no one's died is just brilliant.
The whole movie left me stunned and in love.
10 out of 10
The Purifiers
First, let me tell you that the only reason this scored what it did is because Dom Monaghan is in it. In fact, that is the only reason I sat through all that time of horrible martial arts, worse acting and a plot that made my brain hurt because it was so bad.
I, literally, cheered when a couple of the Purifiers died because that meant that they wouldn't be polluting my space any further. (Yes, even Dom because his acting in this was horrible).
If you want one of the shittiest martial arts movies ever, rent this disaster. Just don't blame me if you do. I warned you.
2 out of 10
The Italian Job
Mark Wahlberg is love, even drowning Mark Wahlberg. The movie had a few parts that made me go o.O but overall, it was a good, mindless movie. I called who the bad guy would be the first time the dude opened his mouth but I didn't really care because this movie had Mark Wahlberg in it. We got a few of the "Mark Wahlberg March" scenes in it and god, I love how he struts his stuff. Slow motion Mark Wahlberg makes me a happy happy girl, especially if I can see his biceps.
Yep, I'm predictable.
7 out of 10
Rock Star
Basically, see the above review for Italian Job (sans the drowning bit). Only add in some squee over Mark being shirtless and with long hair.
7 out of 10
Beat
Based on a true story, this movie shows a horrible moment in the Beat writers lives. I hadn't known Keifer Sutherland was in it until I turned it on (I only rented it because it had Norman Reedus in it). It was alright but the accents annoyed me, the way the characters just felt stiff and rehearsed (and yet not, if that makes sense), it all annoyed me. I fast forwarded until Norman was in the pond/lake/thingy and watched him swim about and then hit fast forward again.
The wiki on this event is much more entertaining so I wouldn't bother with this movie. Just go to the wikipedia.
4 out of 10
Blades of Glory
I went in to this movie expecting it to suck major donkey balls. I hated Napoleon Dynamite. I hate Will Ferrell.
However, I quickly forgot it was Will Ferrell and the annoying kid from Napoleon Dynamite as I was laughing far too hard to think about it. My brain turned off and omg, the slash fangirl took over. Dude, hilarious movie with funny moves and skating routines. The acting felt like a sketch from Saturday Night Live (if it had an ice rink and all that, of course).
Really really enjoyable. Just don't expect fantastic acting.
8.5 out of 10
Shrek the Third
Honestly, I was disappointed in this. The series just gets less and less funny as they get further and further into it. The holiday special (Shrek the Halls) was much funnier. I just didn't laugh all that much. In fact, in bits, it felt like the producers, directors and actors were just milking the dead horse for a little bit more money.
I laughed in bits but, overall, just disappointed.
5 out of 10
Wild Hogs
This post is one about my expanding horizons, methinks. First, I enjoyed a Will Ferrell movie. Than I enjoyed a John Travolta/Tim Allen/Martin Lawrence movie (I love William H Macy and Ray Liotta). This movie made me laugh throughout the whole thing. I loved all of them in this. William H Macy's character saved the movie, IMHO, as I laughed the most at him. Tim Allen's character was really just Tim Taylor/whomever on a motorcycle but he was still fairly funny.
Mindless and fun. (the catchwords of this post)
8 out of 10
TMNT
I loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when I was a kid. Hell, I can recite their names and sing the song to this day.
I just don't get the thought process that this would be a good idea, though. IDK, Shredder is gone and there's this other guy who turns out to be a sort of bad guy/tragic hero thing and it just sort of made no sense.
Then again, maybe my copious amounts of breaks to squee over Dumbledore being gay had something to do with it.
6 out of 10
Catch and Release
I'm not a big fan of Jennifer Garner. However, I forgot that as I watched it. All the acting was brilliant though, of course, Kevin Smith was my favorite character.
The plot was sort of clichéd but don't let that discourage you from viewing this. I enjoyed all of this movie. It was a good interpretation of the romantic comedy cliché.
8 out of 10
That's 100 folks. 50 movies, 50 books.
Bonus reviews:
The High King's Tomb (Book 3 of the Green Rider Series) by Kristen Britain
I've been waiting for this book for 3 freaking years. Supposedly, this book was going to be published November 2006 and then May 2007 and finally, it was published November 2007.
Though the main plot didn't move very far, quite a few of the subplots resolved themselves. I really got to know and love these characters all over again. I freaking loved this book, to be honest. It's just brilliant, the different little scenarios. You can really see, as you read, how Kristen Britain has improved as an author. Her writing is a lot more concise (even though the book weighs enough to knock someone out if you were to throw it at someone. Not that I would ever do that), her dialogue is a lot more polished and she knows these characters so well.
It's not a series I would recommend someone start reading as the wait between books is painful. You get so addicted to the characters and to the main plot that you just absolutely MUST HAVE the next book and yet? 3 years go by and you finally get it. However, if you are willing to put up with the 3 year breaks, then run, do not walk, to your bookstore/library and read these books. They're fantasy and omg, so worth it.
9.5 out of 10
Transformers
This movie rocked. The explosions, the evil transformer in the sand jumping out and snagging a dude and then chasing the soldiers, the fight, the teenage girl who's lippy and sassy and brave, all of it made me cheer and enjoy this movie.
My expectations were low because, hello, Transformers aren't exactly Dostoyevsky, yanno? But this exceeded my expectations by about a billion percent.
It's what is normally billed as a dude movie. The main actor tries to be Karl Urban in Doom (and almost succeeds, if only he was Karl Urban *le sigh*).
Don't expect a great movie, just expect awesome stunts, explosions and some laughs.
10 out of 10
Jack Daniels Series, Books 1-3 by JA Konrath
Series of books starring a middle-aged female police detective called Jack Daniels. They're gory (sometimes way over the top gore) but realistic in the treatment of Jack. It sort of surprised me that they were written by a man (the gore sort of gave it away, imho) as the woman and her motivations and reactions were so spot on female. Then I thought, well, I write from the dude perspective a fair amount of the time so if I can do that, why can't a dude write from the female perspective? So, I quickly got over my sexism and just enjoyed the books.
They're a fast read and the antagonist is fairly easy to identify but, then again, JA Konrath doesn't seem to keep it a secret, either.
The only reason they score so low is because of the gore level. It's over the top and disgusting at times. Certainly not my sort of thing but if you like movies with blood splattering everywhere while some evil guy cackles maniacally and twirls his hands or handlebar moustache as he cuts people up or fucks their wounds (no, really, in book 1, he does this), then this series would rate higher for you.
6 out of 10
Sicko
I had high expectations as I've enjoyed Michael Moore's documentaries before. 9/11 makes me question the government and the establishment and Bowling for Columbine made me o.O at the world. So, thus, high expectations.
This exceeded those expectations. It opens with scenes of people that have no insurance and what they do to cope (sometimes rather graphically, including a guy giving himself stitches which made me almost pass out as I do not deal well with real blood).
The fact that some of the heroes of 9/11 got better care and more respect within Cuba than they did on American soil just utterly and completely disgusts and appalls me. It enraged me, to be honest. Because if it can happen to "them", it can happen to me. My own insurance company was named no less than 5 times. One of the times was for denying someone coverage due to weight issues. I have almost that same build and I wonder, why did I get insurance and not this other person?
All in all, this movie reinforced my wish to move overseas because the way that the American government is pushed around by corporations and the pansies (on both sides of the aisle) let themselves be pushed around just pisses me off far more than is healthy for my blood pressure (and I certainly don't want to risk losing my insurance due to blood pressure issues *winks*).
Only thing that is a negative is that, at times, it felt rambly and I lost the story line as bits dropped for long periods of time and I forgot who was who or who had what ailment.
9 out of 10
So there it is. These are probably the last of my reviews for the year. I shall be back next year with more as I quite enjoyed doing this. I hope you all have enjoyed the reviews as well.
Standard Disclaimer – if I didn't like something, doesn't mean that you don't. However, if you enjoy something that I didn't or hated something that I loved, feel free to tell me your opinions. I'd love to discuss any of these with you.
Warnings for foul language, squee over nekkidness (and higher ratings due to said nekkidness), etc. all apply.
Angela's Ashes (book) by Frank McCourt
At first, I was quite annoyed with the lack of quotation marks throughout the book to delineate conversations. I've gotten used to them and I quite love them. However, I soldiered through until that writing foible became rout for me and I enjoyed this book immensely. It's a dark book with lots of dark humor and life in it. It's a sad story but at the same time, it's a hopeful one. I loved all the different pieces and incarnations of Frank McCourt's life.
I only really picked up the book as I enjoyed the movie so much (review down a bit from here). I'm really really glad that I did pick up the book because, as always, the book is so much more vivid and awesome than the movie.
I'm a big fan of James Joyce and, to me, this read in a similar style to Joyce. There's a certain way of speaking and writing to them both that appeal to me. It's almost like Frank McCourt is having a conversation with you, like you're sitting at a pub listening to him tell his story, rather than reading a book. Eventually, the lack of quotation marks morphs from annoyance to a reinforcement of this familiarity.
It's not a happy story but it's not an unhappy one either. It's life.
8 out of 10
Tis by Frank McCourt
This book is the continuation of Angela's Ashes and, because the writing style was already familiar to me, it was a beyond enjoyable reading experience. Another life story, it has its share of ups and downs and keeps you intrigued throughout. I didn't fast-forward a few pages at any point throughout this book as I wanted to read every detail.
Frank McCourt is brutally honest about his own shortcomings and I love that about the book. It makes it much more realistic. There's his hopes (stability and family) and fears (including an encounter with a lecherous priest). He doesn't mince words, just puts it out there for whomever to read and judge as they'd want.
10 out of 10
Herotica (Anthology by various authors)
God, this book was painful. I bought it at the annual booksale at work and thought it might be awesome. It's erotica written by women for women. However, it really read like excerpts out of Penthouse. Holy shit was it painful. I'll stick to fandom for my erotica, methinks. My flist are MUCH better authors than any of this tripe. I kept hoping it would get better and it never ever did.
Personally, I think we should put together an anthology of fandom authors writing original erotica. We'd make a killing because we're much better.
1 out of 10
Calderon's Fury by Jim Butcher
A continuation of the Calderon Series by. It was enjoyable but didn't advance the plot very much, to be honest. I was a bit disappointed by that. I think there are too many subplots going on in this series for the author to maintain a good grasp on it. There are lots of genre clichés in it as well, which is slightly disappointing as the author does such a great job with the Dresden Files books.
However, genre clichés and lack of forward motion aside, it was an enjoyable mindless read. I liked it, I just didn't love it.
8 out of 10
The New World (Book 3 in the Cartography Series by Michael Stackpole
Like Calderon's Fury, I liked the book, I just didn't love it. Michael Stackpole has my expectations set so high that I couldn't help but be disappointed by this book. If it had been anyone else, I would've rated the book higher. As it is, the ending was cliché and predictable, the characters were annoyingly bland and the action was boring.
This really isn't the series I would recommend for people wanting to experience Stackpole. He's a much better writer than this series. For example, he has a book called "Talion:Revanant" and omg, is that book love. Go check it out. For the Star Wars fans – check out his X-Wing Rogue Squadron books or I, Jedi. So much better writing there. Hell, even is Mechwarrior books (written ages and ages ago) are much better than this. I think he rushed this story and I'm disappointed.
5 out of 10
300
Plus – nearly naked sexy men with chiseled stomachs and legs.
Minus – plot or lack thereof
Plus – nearly naked sexy men with chiseled stomachs and legs moving in slow motion for optimum eye candy-age
Minus – acting and characterizations
Plus – nearly naked sexy men with chiseled stomachs and legs moving in slow motion for optimum eye candy-age all the frikken moving.
Minus – omg boring fight sequences if you take the nekkidness out.
Final decision – the pluses outweigh the minuses. Mindless and entertaining if you like naked men.
7 out of 10
The Invasion
Did wook go see a "scary" movie? Why yes, yes she did. Did she find it scary? Nope. Instead, it was trite and sort of boring and overacted. However, it was also sort of enjoyable because otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to see it. I haven't seen the original as it's supposed to be superscary. I'm obviously not a fan of horror movies but this one was borderline comical and, thus, I enjoyed it. Didn't love it and probably wouldn't go out of my way to see it again but it was fun enough (especially due to being at a drive-in).
6 out of 10
Rush Hour 3
Jackie Chan is getting OLD. The guy is really slowing down and that really detracted from the movie. Add in Chris Tucker's overacting and you get a movie that, at times, made me flinch in shared shame (or what should've been shared shame. Instead, it was just me feeling sorry for the two of them). However, the rest of the cast make up for the small bits and, well, it is Jackie Chan and he is better than like a million other people (except for Chuck Norris, of course).
I'll probably buy this one when it comes out on DVD as I did enjoy it enough to watch it again. I just didn't enjoy it enough to go hunt it down on the first day it's out.
8.5 out of 10
American Psycho
My scoring of this is obviously a reflection of the fact that, nine times out of ten, meta-anything annoys the shit out of me. I don't care if it's metafiction or metamovies or anything. To me, they all read/view as an attempt to pat oneself on the back and go "look mummy, look what I can do!" That was the exact feeling this movie left me with. The director just went "Gee, I'm so clever and witty and everyone can start applauding at any moment!!!!"
This movie just annoyed me from start to finish. I understood what was going on but was left with this bzuh?! feeling at the end. Really disliked it the first time and hated it the second watching. Only reason I watched it a second time was that someone insisted that I had missed the nuances. I saw the nuances. I just didn't like them.
Only reason this scored as high it did is because Christian Bale is in his underwear a couple of times.
3 out of 10
Angela's Ashes (movie)
I'm so in love with this movie and not just because it has wee Devon Murray (EEEEE ICKLE DEVON MURRAY) in it. Instead, I'm in love with all the characters. There's such desolation and despair but this overriding belief that something, anything, is going to get better because they're already at the rockbottom. The acting is just perfect in it. Da (played by the guy from the Full Monty) is so heartbreakingly TRUE and real that I just ached for Frank and his brothers because I've been there with the alcoholic parent and the highs and lows.
His mam is beautiful. The actress's way of keeping her back straight and her head up, even while she's begging for a bed where no one's died is just brilliant.
The whole movie left me stunned and in love.
10 out of 10
The Purifiers
First, let me tell you that the only reason this scored what it did is because Dom Monaghan is in it. In fact, that is the only reason I sat through all that time of horrible martial arts, worse acting and a plot that made my brain hurt because it was so bad.
I, literally, cheered when a couple of the Purifiers died because that meant that they wouldn't be polluting my space any further. (Yes, even Dom because his acting in this was horrible).
If you want one of the shittiest martial arts movies ever, rent this disaster. Just don't blame me if you do. I warned you.
2 out of 10
The Italian Job
Mark Wahlberg is love, even drowning Mark Wahlberg. The movie had a few parts that made me go o.O but overall, it was a good, mindless movie. I called who the bad guy would be the first time the dude opened his mouth but I didn't really care because this movie had Mark Wahlberg in it. We got a few of the "Mark Wahlberg March" scenes in it and god, I love how he struts his stuff. Slow motion Mark Wahlberg makes me a happy happy girl, especially if I can see his biceps.
Yep, I'm predictable.
7 out of 10
Rock Star
Basically, see the above review for Italian Job (sans the drowning bit). Only add in some squee over Mark being shirtless and with long hair.
7 out of 10
Beat
Based on a true story, this movie shows a horrible moment in the Beat writers lives. I hadn't known Keifer Sutherland was in it until I turned it on (I only rented it because it had Norman Reedus in it). It was alright but the accents annoyed me, the way the characters just felt stiff and rehearsed (and yet not, if that makes sense), it all annoyed me. I fast forwarded until Norman was in the pond/lake/thingy and watched him swim about and then hit fast forward again.
The wiki on this event is much more entertaining so I wouldn't bother with this movie. Just go to the wikipedia.
4 out of 10
Blades of Glory
I went in to this movie expecting it to suck major donkey balls. I hated Napoleon Dynamite. I hate Will Ferrell.
However, I quickly forgot it was Will Ferrell and the annoying kid from Napoleon Dynamite as I was laughing far too hard to think about it. My brain turned off and omg, the slash fangirl took over. Dude, hilarious movie with funny moves and skating routines. The acting felt like a sketch from Saturday Night Live (if it had an ice rink and all that, of course).
Really really enjoyable. Just don't expect fantastic acting.
8.5 out of 10
Shrek the Third
Honestly, I was disappointed in this. The series just gets less and less funny as they get further and further into it. The holiday special (Shrek the Halls) was much funnier. I just didn't laugh all that much. In fact, in bits, it felt like the producers, directors and actors were just milking the dead horse for a little bit more money.
I laughed in bits but, overall, just disappointed.
5 out of 10
Wild Hogs
This post is one about my expanding horizons, methinks. First, I enjoyed a Will Ferrell movie. Than I enjoyed a John Travolta/Tim Allen/Martin Lawrence movie (I love William H Macy and Ray Liotta). This movie made me laugh throughout the whole thing. I loved all of them in this. William H Macy's character saved the movie, IMHO, as I laughed the most at him. Tim Allen's character was really just Tim Taylor/whomever on a motorcycle but he was still fairly funny.
Mindless and fun. (the catchwords of this post)
8 out of 10
TMNT
I loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when I was a kid. Hell, I can recite their names and sing the song to this day.
I just don't get the thought process that this would be a good idea, though. IDK, Shredder is gone and there's this other guy who turns out to be a sort of bad guy/tragic hero thing and it just sort of made no sense.
Then again, maybe my copious amounts of breaks to squee over Dumbledore being gay had something to do with it.
6 out of 10
Catch and Release
I'm not a big fan of Jennifer Garner. However, I forgot that as I watched it. All the acting was brilliant though, of course, Kevin Smith was my favorite character.
The plot was sort of clichéd but don't let that discourage you from viewing this. I enjoyed all of this movie. It was a good interpretation of the romantic comedy cliché.
8 out of 10
That's 100 folks. 50 movies, 50 books.
Bonus reviews:
The High King's Tomb (Book 3 of the Green Rider Series) by Kristen Britain
I've been waiting for this book for 3 freaking years. Supposedly, this book was going to be published November 2006 and then May 2007 and finally, it was published November 2007.
Though the main plot didn't move very far, quite a few of the subplots resolved themselves. I really got to know and love these characters all over again. I freaking loved this book, to be honest. It's just brilliant, the different little scenarios. You can really see, as you read, how Kristen Britain has improved as an author. Her writing is a lot more concise (even though the book weighs enough to knock someone out if you were to throw it at someone. Not that I would ever do that), her dialogue is a lot more polished and she knows these characters so well.
It's not a series I would recommend someone start reading as the wait between books is painful. You get so addicted to the characters and to the main plot that you just absolutely MUST HAVE the next book and yet? 3 years go by and you finally get it. However, if you are willing to put up with the 3 year breaks, then run, do not walk, to your bookstore/library and read these books. They're fantasy and omg, so worth it.
9.5 out of 10
Transformers
This movie rocked. The explosions, the evil transformer in the sand jumping out and snagging a dude and then chasing the soldiers, the fight, the teenage girl who's lippy and sassy and brave, all of it made me cheer and enjoy this movie.
My expectations were low because, hello, Transformers aren't exactly Dostoyevsky, yanno? But this exceeded my expectations by about a billion percent.
It's what is normally billed as a dude movie. The main actor tries to be Karl Urban in Doom (and almost succeeds, if only he was Karl Urban *le sigh*).
Don't expect a great movie, just expect awesome stunts, explosions and some laughs.
10 out of 10
Jack Daniels Series, Books 1-3 by JA Konrath
Series of books starring a middle-aged female police detective called Jack Daniels. They're gory (sometimes way over the top gore) but realistic in the treatment of Jack. It sort of surprised me that they were written by a man (the gore sort of gave it away, imho) as the woman and her motivations and reactions were so spot on female. Then I thought, well, I write from the dude perspective a fair amount of the time so if I can do that, why can't a dude write from the female perspective? So, I quickly got over my sexism and just enjoyed the books.
They're a fast read and the antagonist is fairly easy to identify but, then again, JA Konrath doesn't seem to keep it a secret, either.
The only reason they score so low is because of the gore level. It's over the top and disgusting at times. Certainly not my sort of thing but if you like movies with blood splattering everywhere while some evil guy cackles maniacally and twirls his hands or handlebar moustache as he cuts people up or fucks their wounds (no, really, in book 1, he does this), then this series would rate higher for you.
6 out of 10
Sicko
I had high expectations as I've enjoyed Michael Moore's documentaries before. 9/11 makes me question the government and the establishment and Bowling for Columbine made me o.O at the world. So, thus, high expectations.
This exceeded those expectations. It opens with scenes of people that have no insurance and what they do to cope (sometimes rather graphically, including a guy giving himself stitches which made me almost pass out as I do not deal well with real blood).
The fact that some of the heroes of 9/11 got better care and more respect within Cuba than they did on American soil just utterly and completely disgusts and appalls me. It enraged me, to be honest. Because if it can happen to "them", it can happen to me. My own insurance company was named no less than 5 times. One of the times was for denying someone coverage due to weight issues. I have almost that same build and I wonder, why did I get insurance and not this other person?
All in all, this movie reinforced my wish to move overseas because the way that the American government is pushed around by corporations and the pansies (on both sides of the aisle) let themselves be pushed around just pisses me off far more than is healthy for my blood pressure (and I certainly don't want to risk losing my insurance due to blood pressure issues *winks*).
Only thing that is a negative is that, at times, it felt rambly and I lost the story line as bits dropped for long periods of time and I forgot who was who or who had what ailment.
9 out of 10
So there it is. These are probably the last of my reviews for the year. I shall be back next year with more as I quite enjoyed doing this. I hope you all have enjoyed the reviews as well.
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Date: 2007-12-27 12:45 am (UTC)Rockstah!
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Date: 2008-01-03 06:03 am (UTC)Books, well, I devour books. I've been known to read a 600 page book in about 4 hours when I'm speed reading. Plus, some of the books that I read and reviewed? I didn't finish because they were just. that. bad. (you should see my one review of a laurell k hamilton book)
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Date: 2007-12-27 12:54 am (UTC)That movie was awesome.
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Date: 2008-01-03 06:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-03 06:21 am (UTC)*snerk*
We pick movies based on explosions, car chases, explosions, ninjas/kung-fu/wire tricks, robots ruling the future, explosions, pirates, and also explosions. ;)
I distinctly remember being sick during the brief period we had cable TV in ~2003/4, and discovering that Spike TV was directly aimed at me. They showed me The A-Team, Miami Vice, Knight Rider, Dukes of Hazzard, Airwolf, and some weird time-travel thing with lots of fights and explosions. I was feverish, but in absolute heaven for that week of flu.
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Date: 2007-12-27 01:31 am (UTC)It made me go "AAAAGGGGGGHHHH" at the end!
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Date: 2008-01-03 06:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-03 06:06 am (UTC)A log cabin in Maine. And Maine's population isn't all over the state... we can hunt her down!
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Date: 2008-01-03 06:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-03 06:10 am (UTC)