Month: December 2018

Movie Recap – Best and Worst of 2018

Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, comedy, contemporary, Family, Fantasy, Movie Reviews, Paranormal, scifi, thriller , , , ,
  • Promo picture I found. I don’t own the image.
  • I don’t own any of these. They were all promos for their respective movies.

Introduction:

Midway through the year I ended up joining AMC’s A List. That’s the program where you pay a flat fee each month and can see up to 3 movies a week. I’d been debating myself most of the summer if it was worth it. So far, it has, but I’m not sure how it will work moving forward as I return to more writing and less movies. It also depends on the movie releases in 2019. (You break even if you see 1 dolby movie or two of almost anything else in a month.) Unless you’re not terribly picky, it’s kind of hard to find 3 movies a week you’d want to see. Personally, I rewatch really good movies, but I only managed to see 3 movies 1 week so far.

Saw about 40 movies this year.

*Top picks after ads.

What I saw in 2018:

(This is what I have ticket stubs for or AMC’s app could tell me. The ratings might have changed since I actually reviewed them because I’m going from memory. Incidentally, how well I liked something is actually subject to change over time. Guess this is more a “what is my feeling this moment” rating.)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle 4/5 stars (1/1/2018)

I remembered liking the original Jumanji movie when I was a kid, so I gave this one a shot. It turned out surprisingly entertaining. Didn’t watch it again, but if it happened to be on TV, I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.

The Last Jedi 4/5 stars (2/8/2018)

One thing a body learns being a Star Wars fan is that you’re not obligated to like every single one of the movies. They’ve definitely turned out some bombs. Still, I saw this multiple times, and I would see it again. It’s not ever going to make it as my absolute favorite Star Wars movie. I never was a fan of the middle story in a trilogy anyway. They’re always terribly dark. The end of next year should launch the conclusion to the trilogy, so I guess it’s all good.

Black Panther 4/5 stars (2/23/2018)

Enjoyable movie typical of the Marvel universe. It had plenty of action and a decent sprinkling of humor throughout.

Tomb Raider 4/5 stars (3/16/2018)

This reboot definitely follows more of the video game than the old school Tomb Raider stories, but both are nice prequel setups. The first game in the reboot series was absolutely fantastic. I remember playing it quite a few times. The only thing I didn’t do was finish all those silly shoot the target achievements. Anyway, it looks like that poor actress did a heck of a lot of work for that movie and it showed, big time.

Ready Player One 4/5 stars (3/29/2018)

Starting to think that my secret to enjoying movies is not really knowing the source material it comes from. I didn’t particularly like the main character in Ready Player One, but it’s an interesting world with some cool special effects. Reminded me a lot of Tron. A potential issue the story had was lack of stakes. Sure, the big, bad company’s after the kid, but what’s the impact for the rest of the world. A big company would have just as much motivation to keep things running smoothly for the mindless masses as a kid fighting for freedom on the Oasis.

Avengers: Infinity War 4/5 stars (4/27/2018; 5/4/2018)

Despite it’s infuriating lack of closure, Infinity War brought high stakes to new heights. It’s pretty much part one of its story arc because you know another movie’s coming. One of my friends really, really, really hated it, but I’m in the “eh, that’s a cheap trick, you studio meanies” category. I ended up seeing it several times as people could make it.

Solo 4/5 stars (5/24/2018; 5/25/2018)

Saw an early screening that was part of a fundraiser for my school. Then, I saw it the next day as well, as planned. That concludes the number of times I saw the movie. Although a decent film, it didn’t have a lot of sticking power. If it hadn’t been labeled Star Wars and used the familiar enemies and such, it could have been any middling scifi flick. I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t motivated to see it endlessly.

Incredibles 2 4.5/5 stars (~7/3/2018; 6/15/2018)

Despite them having one of those stupid “thanks for coming to see the movie” messages at the beginning, I enjoyed the movie. Why can’t they save that junk for the blu-ray/dvd extra section? My favorite part is still the baby’s fight with he racoon. Pretty sure I saw this a few times.

Ant-Man and the Wasp 4/5 stars (7/17/2018)

I can’t remember if I saw this more than once. I think so. It had good action, but in hindsight, I don’t think the main characters had much chemistry. Heroes don’t necessarily have glamorous lives.

Christopher Robin 3.5/5 stars (8/3/2018)

Enjoyable but forgettable. I like Ewan McGreggor and Haley Atwell. She’s better in Agent Carter, but that’s besides the point. The story is sweet, but it’s kind of like adults trying to cling desperately to their childhood dreams and cash in on a stagnant franchise.

Mission Impossible: Fallout 4.5/5 stars (8/4/2018; 8/7/2018;)

I’m not even a huge fan of the franchise, but this movie turned out swell. As usual, it’s a non-stop, the world’s gonna-end-if-we-don’t-stop-this kind of tale. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is running over buildings and jumping off them as expected. The chase scene with the helicopters (last 1/5 of the movie) is intense and crazy.

The Meg 4.5/5 stars (8/14/2018)

Jason Stratham typically plays tough guy characters. This round that’s not much different, though there are less guns involved, more swimming. A giant company is exploring the depths of the ocean and accidentally releases a megaladon (really big shark). It wrecks havoc on the heroes.

Blackklansman 4/5 stars (8/28/2018)

Glad I saw this one, but it’s not exactly my usual movie fare. I like Adam Driver who plays a supporting character. Seems there was a whole rash of “based on a true story” movies this year, though that could simply be me finally paying attention to such things. I’d never have seen this without A-List because I just wouldn’t have bothered to pay to see it.

Crazy Rich Asians 4.5/5 (8/30/2018)

Another surprisingly enjoyable movie. One of my friends wanted to see it, and a group of my friends wanted to try a new dine-in theater. The theater experience turned out to be just okay because they needed a better variety of food, but I’m glad we went. Romantic Comedies aren’t typically my thing, but it was worth watching. Not sure I’d ever go out of my way to read the books.

Peppermint 3.5/5 stars (~9/10/2018)

Woman on a revenge spree. Jennifer Garner (I think) takes on the role of a mother playing avenging angel. Typical everything-must-die thriller.

A Simple Favor 4/5 stars (~9/12/2018)

Creepy mystery, though not a murder mystery per se … more of a twisty friendship gone weird thing.

The House With a Clock in Its Walls 3.5/5 (~9/19/2018)

One of the stupidest titles for a movie I’ve ever seen, but it was okay. A mindless Halloween kiddie movie.

Smallfoot 4/5 (~9/26/2018 – lost stub)

Has one of the catchiest songs.

Venom 4/5 stars (~9/30/2018 – lost the stub somewhere)

Dark but fun.

Night School 3.5/5 stars (~9/30/2018 – can’t find the stub)

Fun for a weird comedy.

Bad Times at the El Royale (~10/17/2018)

I was entertained, but this is the kind of movie that makes you feel like you knocked yourself unconscious and had a weird dream.

Hunter Killer 5/5 stars (10/29/2018)

If you’ve kept up with my reviews this year or even just within this post, you’ll know that I don’t just hand out 5’s like candy. It takes a lot to move me beyond 4 stars. It’s a simple must-stop-x-to-prevent-the-world-from-blowing-up story that’s terrifyingly plausible. Gerard Butler plays a submarine captain who’s tasked with finding out what’s going on deep in the waters near Russia.

The Nutcracker 3/5 stars (11/2/2018)

Reminded me a lot of the “new” style Willy Wonka. Had a lot of garish colors and weirdo characters. Pretty sure that’s what it was meant to have, but maybe I’m just old. I was bored. I’m generally cool with most movies, but I can’t help feeling this one just wasted part of my life.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web 4/5 stars (11/7/2018)

Still haven’t seen the rest of the movies in the series or read the books. That might have helped with me figuring out who’s who and what’s what, but the movie’s enjoyable alone. There’s part at the end with a house set in the middle of nowhere that involves some very cool tech.

Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch 3/5 stars (11/9/2018)

Love Benedict Cumberbatch, but he’s so much better as Sherlock Holmes. I’m only marginally familiar with the story of the Grinch. Still, it’s a fairly forgettable movie.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald 4/5 stars (11/19/2018)

A fun movie set in the world of Harry Potter, but besides the main character and possibly one of the newbies, it’s like they worked very, very hard to get certain characters in (Jacob) just to tie it to the first movie and call it a sequel. Also, besides the cool fight scene at the end, there’s really not much going on. It’s essentially the middle story of however many they can justify making, so there’s a decided lack of closure.

Robin Hood 4/5 stars (11/21/2018; 11/26/2018)

New take on an old tale. I saw this several times with different friends. It’s a fun genre breaking fantasy story. The costuming felt decidedly modern. The dude who played Krennic in Rogue One essentially plays the same character here as the Sherriff of Nottingham.

Ralph Breaks the Internet 4.5/5 stars (11/21/2018)

Great sequel, and yes, they did a horrific “thanks for watching the movie” thing. This time, it was even longer and more painful than others because they were pretending to be on voice group chat. Besides that, the movie itself was a lot of fun. It’s a great depiction of the internet.

Widows 3.5/5 stars (11/28/2018)

Intriguing heist thriller, though it’s technically not really about the heist itself. It’s about the characters. It’s a rather complicated tale. Satisfying to see once, but not worth it in the long run.

Instant Family 4/5 stars (12/4/2018)

This might be the most surprising in terms of me actually enjoying it. The story focuses on a couple who decides to liven up their lives by becoming foster parents to 3 kids, a teenager and two elementary school aged kids.

Creed II 4/5 stars (12/7/2018)

Don’t typically watch sports movies. They generally end the same, but all the side stuff about his struggles helped balance things out. Creed is on top of the world but gets challenged by the son of the guy who killed his father in the ring ages ago. It would have been so much more satisfying if one of them could have punched out that idiot promoter. He was such a slimeball.

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse 3.5/5 stars (12/13/2018)

This is the type of movie that will continue to drop in stars if I think about it. It doesn’t make much sense, but then again, it’s based off a super hero so the unexplainable is sort of a given. I liked Miles Morales’s story, but the animation was a little hard to watch. They messed with the frame rate to make it more like a comic book. The end fight was like watching a nightmare fight (direction didn’t matter).

Mortal Engines 4/5 stars (12/14/2018)

Not sure why people keep making YA series into movies. While it turned out decently, I think it’s like the gold rush. Everybody’s hoping to recreate the giant success of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games (maybe even Divergent or The Maze Runner series, though I haven’t seen or read either of those). They come close but there’s so much in the books that it’s hard to adapt. I’ve not read the books so it didn’t bother me. The movie had some stellar and beautiful landscapes, but the story seemed convenient.

Green Book 4/5 stars (12/17/2018)

Not really about the story. Very much about the characters. It’s another “based on a true story” deals. An Italian guy and a world-class black pianist travel the deep South in the 1960’s. Racial tensions are still high, but in a different way than today.

Aquaman 4/5 stars (12/20/2018)

A genre-hopping wonderful hot mess of a movie. I had a great time and would definitely see it again. Jason Momoa is an excellent choice to play the title character. The guy who really wants revenge on him seemed like an annoying gnat of a character, but I think he means more to those who read the comic books.

Bumblebee 4/5 stars (12/21/2018)

Never saw the rest of the Transformer movies. Although a good movie, I doubt this would tempt me to see the rest of them. They spent a lot of time building Charlie’s backstory. While I liked her as a character, her longevity for the franchise is pretty much nil, so it seems a wasted investment of screentime.

Conclusion:

Great year for movies. Lots of intriguing tales of adventure. I’m still drawn to action/thriller or Disney type animated family safe types.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR

Top Picks of 2018:

  • Incredibles 2 – family/ animated; funniest scene (Jack Jack vs the Racoon)
  • Mission Impossible: Fallout – action/thriller; top thriller
  • Ralph Breaks the internet – family/animated; fun film
  • Instant Family – family/drama; most surprising that I liked it
  • Nutcraker and Grinch – tie for worst movie I saw this year
  • Hunter Killer – favorite movie of the year
  • Smallfoot – one of the best new songs
  • Bumblebee – best overall soundtrack


Scratched Off/ Mystery Playlist Explained

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, playlist, Reader Resource, suspense, thriller , ,

Warning: The discussion here will contain spoilers if you haven’t read Scratched Off. That said, if you don’t mind spoilers or don’t intend to read the book, you should totally read on. It’s a fantastic collection of music regardless (if I do say so myself).

Find the list here.

Audiobook Cover. Digital Artist – Rachel Rossano; Narrator for audio version: Rick Struve

Side note: Many of the songs on here aren’t really my first go-to for style, but I enjoyed exploring beyond my comfort zone.

Introduction:

Scratched Off (ebook version) features the story of an FBI agent hunting a serial killer. Typically, I try to find key points or chapters and find something that matches that mood. This time, though, I pretty much stuck with the killer and tried to go for things he would find inspiring. (What would he listen to as he prepared to wage his private war? What’s going on in his head? Is there a progression/a distinct spiral into madness?)

A Storm is Coming by Tommee Profitt and Liv Ash

The title’s pretty powerful and indicative of the whole story. In the killer, we have a man who wants to figure out the best way to take out the “human trash.”

Become the Beast by Karliene

“Embrace the darkness.” “We are the predators. The Hunters.” “Become the beast. We don’t have to hide.” Not quite a literal fit, but a nice metaphorical one for the killer’s logic.

Raise Hell by Dorothy and Born Ready by Zayde Wolf

I feel like Raise Hell captures the killer’s attitude pretty well. He knows he’s going to cause all manner of chaos. He’s prepared to walk the dark side to bring his own brand of justice to evil doers.

Born Ready is a pretty late addition to the list. Sounds like something he’d use to psych himself up. “I am the unknown fighter.” “I’m gonna push up higher.” “I’m gonna do what I do.” “I’m made of stone. I won’t break.”

Light That Fire by Oh the Larceny

Another song I feel the killer would keep on a personal motivation list. It’s also a good cheerleader type song to encourage one to keep on going.

Who’s at the Door by Unsecret, featuring Sam Tinnesz

This is probably the first song, besides the first, that is really about the mood of the book from the victims’ point of view. It’s also suitably creepy. Play around Halloween.

Wicked Games by The Hot Damns

I like the rhythm of this song. Probably the type of thing the killer thinks about the world. Why the world needs cleansing so to speak.

Wild Thing by Jaxson Gamble

“We descend into the madness. Like a wild thing. Rabid.”Another rallying cry for our killer.

Check it Out by Oh The Larceny

This would be something the killer would want to share with his muse. He has a person he thinks is perfect. He really wants to protect her. This song would appeal to his sense of purpose.

Rule Breaker by Gothic Storm

Don’t think there are any lyrics to this one. But the song captures the mission the killer’s set for himself. Also, from the flip side, it’s a good song to capture the rivalry and high stakes of the game between the FBI agent and the killer.

Vagabond by Tommee Profitt featuring FJORA

The fit here is twofold. I can see him thinking this as he eyes one of his victims. There’s a whole chapter where he kind of rails against a society that lets a woman stay homeless. In a way, this also applies to him. “Can’t put down roots cause they won’t last long … Everything here will all be gone.”

Watch Me by The Phantoms

He’s crying out for attention. He’s getting arrogant.

Incendiary by Tommee Profitt

There’s a dark, dangerous quality to this theme. The killer deepens his game. The agent closes in on a breakthrough.

Thoughtful by MHBH

Wasn’t totally sure about including this. It’s kind of a brain break. One of those that would be played in a montage of the agent and the killer each carefully planning their next steps.

Wolves by Sam Tinnesz, featuring Silverberg

The killer still declaring he’s dangerous.

Can’t Stop Me Now by Oh The Larceny

Pretty straightforward. A challenge.

Big Bad Wolf by Roses and Revolutions

For the second victim, the prostitute (Haley Doherty) or for one of the later victims who he takes out from afar.

Let You Down (piano version) by Tommee Profitt

You’ll probably think I’m obsessed with only like 3 artists, and you’re probably right. This is yet another nice interlude kind of piece. It can also be a theme for Melissa Novak and the budding relationship between her and the FBI agent. Mel’s definitely a side character, but a meaningful one to the main characters.

Man on a Mission by Oh The Larceny

“I’m never gonna ever stop. I won’t wait another minute. I’m a man on a mission. I don’t need no permission.” “If you’re standing in my way. It ain’t gonna be your day.” As things get hard, I can see the killer clinging to this kind of logic to bolster his courage.

Wicked Ones by Dorothy

“This not for the faint of heart. Cause the faint of heart gonna fall apart.” Another song that captures the spirit of what the killer wants to accomplish. Also, something to sort of key in on this mental decline.

No Escape: Genesis (instrumental) by Tommee Profitt

Good for when things come to a head.

Man or a Monster by Sam Tinnesz, features Zayde Wolf

The ultimate question for our killer. He’s done some crazy wicked things, but does it make him a monster? Who is he? Is his humanity gone?

Unstoppable by the Score

A nice theme for the good guys. Also, if it was a movie, a nice place to start the credits.

Gambling with Fate (Instrumental) by Tommee Profitt

If this were a movie, I imagine this would be middle/end credits.

Conclusion:

Of course, I’d love for you to read my book, but I know it’s not going to be for everyone. Still, listen to the playlist. You might find a new artist to love. They’re all super talented.

Associate Links to Follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR

Audiobook Reviews 3.45/5: Baby Blues: Escape from Reality by Rita Delude

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, contemporary, drama ,

Summary:

A pair of high school graduates ends up pregnant. The rich mother of the young lady wants her to abort, but they want to keep it. The girl (totally forget her name) gets a job in a small town crafts store. The boy goes off to college because he has a football scholarship, but he visits every weekend.

The other main couple is older, more established but they are having repeated pregnancy issues.

 Additional Comments:

  • I probably would have enjoyed this more if I didn’t think the two kids were idiots 99% of the book.
  • The characterization is like oh, she’s such a smart, sweet girl. Repeatedly.
  • Narrator’s performance was good. She put great emotion into all the right places.
  • I liked the older couple more. There were a few side characters who were interesting but they blended together. One was a neonatal nurse or something.
  • Characters 2/5: The younger couple is so dumb it hurts. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing because it’s accurate to some people or a bad thing. They’re not even likable for most of the book. The last chapter where everything comes together is great. I even like the characters then when they started making semi-sensible decisions.
  • Subtitle of Escape from Reality doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
  • Plot 3/5: Nothing earth-shattering.
  • End 4/5: 100% predictable yet satisfying.
  • Content Warnings: some cursing, including one f-bomb. Some talk about sex.

Conclusion:

There’s definite improvement as the book continues. I liked the end. I just don’t know if the rest of the book was worth wading through to get there.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR

Movie Reviews 4/5 Stars: Green Book

Julie Gilbert historical, Movie Reviews , , ,

Surprisingly Good Character-Driven Story *spoilers after the ads*

I do not own the image, but it’s one of the general promo ones I’ve seen everywhere.

Summary:

An Italian man, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) gets hired as a driver/body guard by a world class pianist, Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali). Add in the fact that it’s around the 1960’s (I think) and that the tour is through the deep South.

Additional Comments:

  • I think they got lazy on the title of the movie. It’s definitely more about the two guys, not about the green book, which tells Tony Lip where it’s safe for them to find hotels.
  • Racism is one of the main points of tension.
  • Character development is pretty strong in both of these guys.
  • It’s “based on a true story.” Normally, I question just how much is actually based on the story, but this one seems like one where they pretty closely followed the kinds of things that would happen on a trip like this.
  • Moretensen’s definitely not Aragorn here, but he still does a stellar job bringing the character to life. Ali’s definitely not whoever he plays in Alita, but he too does a great job bringing the pianist some life.
  • They played a lot of the funny moments in the trailer and saved a lot of the tense moments for the real deal.
  • The woman who plays Tony’s wife, Delores, (Linda Cardellini) is great as a supporting actress. The rest of the family just sort of blended into a blur of Tony’s extended family.
  • Ending: simple yet powerful.

Conclusion:

A worthwhile movie if you’re in the mood for a character piece that centers on racism. I guess it helps that I happen to like both of the main actors.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR

Spoiler Section:

Powerful moments and Commentary:

  • I loved the end scene where they end up at the tiny dive bar/dance club for colored people and Dr. Shirley plays.
  • Tony’s street smarts saves them several times, but his hot head also gets them in trouble a few times as well. I like that not everything could be solved with a few punches, sometimes they had to bluff their way out of things.
  • The piano pieces were beautiful, but this is definitely one of those movies where it’s about the journey itself, not the performances.
  • The road to racial peace still hasn’t been forged completely, but it’s nice to have stories like this that show small glimpses of hope. It also shows us where we’ve come from as a nation, which should help us define where we’re going to go from here.

Movie Reviews 4/5 Stars: Bumblebee

Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Fantasy, Movie Reviews, scifi, superhero ,
Promo poster. I don’t own the picture.

Transformers Action-Packed Prequel *spoilers after ads*

Summary:

Bee barely escapes his homeplanet. He’s part of the rebel group of transformers. Bad guys (Decepti-somethings or others) are after him. His escape pod lands him on Earth where he tries to blend in as a yellow VW bug.

Additional Comments:

  • While the action scenes worked out very well, the in between sections felt kind of long. We’re invited to feel for Charlie and the young man who’d like to start dating her, but since they’re just kind of passing through, they felt superfluous.
  • This is my first and probably last Transformers movie, unless they bring out more standalone type prequels.
  • One of the best soundtracks I’ve heard in a while, and that’s saying something because I don’t even like soundtracks with lyrics. Music ends up playing a huge role in the movie and they did that very, very well.
  • Pretty sure they worked hard to make Bumblebee look cute and unthreatening here.
  • The evil ones were sort of forgettable, but they had some great lines.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re a fan of the Transformer movies or new to it like I am, you can find something to like in here. It’s entertaining overall, even with the few slow points.

 Additional Comments:

  • I probably would have enjoyed this more if I didn’t think the two kids were idiots 99% of the book.
  • The characterization is like oh, she’s such a smart, sweet girl. Repeatedly.
  • Narrator’s performance was good. She put great emotion into all the right places.
  • I liked the older couple more. There were a few side characters who were interesting but they blended together. One was a neonatal nurse or something.
  • Characters 2/5: The younger couple is so dumb it hurts. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing because it’s accurate to some people or a bad thing. They’re not even likable for most of the book. The last chapter where everything comes together is great. I even like the characters then when they started making semi-sensible decisions.
  • Subtitle of Escape from Reality doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
  • Plot 3/5: Nothing earth-shattering.
  • End 4/5: 100% predictable yet satisfying.
  • Content Warnings: some cursing, including one f-bomb. Some talk about sex.

Conclusion:

There’s definite improvement as the book continues. I liked the end. I just don’t know if the rest of the book was worth wading through to get there.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

Scratched Off – Mystery/ Thriller – an FBI agent tackles the tough case of a serial killer.

OR


Spoiler Section

  • Bee getting used to hiding (alluded to in the trailer) was amusing. The short stint into vandalism moreso.
  • I feel like they worked too hard to involve Charlie’s family in the drama.
  • Not sure why the government people were hellbent on painting Charlie in a certain light.
  • Favorite line: “I like how they pop.”

Movie Reviews 4.5/5 Stars: Aquaman

Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Movie Reviews, scifi, superhero ,
Promo poster for the movie.

Fun, Genre Surfing Superhero Flick *Spoilers after the ads*

Summary:

Aquaman is the simple tale of two half-brothers with differing views of the world being caught up in a power struggle. The movie will likely remind you of several other movies along the way.

Additional Comments:

  • Story setup: It starts out with a queen trying to escape an arranged marriage. She washes up on shore and meets a lighthouse keeper. They fall in love, have a baby, and never quite reach happily ever after. Instead, some royal guards catch up to them. The queen fights them off, but knows she must return to Atlantis in order to save her lover and son. That much can be gathered from the trailers.
  • Aquaman (Arthur) is half-human and half-Atlantian. His heritage gives him powers from both worlds.
  • There’s definitely a not-so-subtle save-the-environment message in here.
  • One of my friends called the movie a hot-mess. What he meant was that the movie’s not quite sure which genre it wants to be in. At times, it hits the sweeping, epic long saga notes of Star Wars. The next, it’s an action-adventure thriller in the middle of the dessert. And the next, it’s a YA, starcrossed lover’s tale.
  • Other movies you might feel like you’re watching here: Tomb Raider, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Avatar (The Last Airbender), Thor, Avatar (Blue people Pocahontas retelling), The Princess Bride, Gladiator, and The Descent.
  • Casting worked out well.
  • High marks for the visual aspects of the movie.
  • Soundtrack – kind of odd. One second, you’re listening to rousing chase music or lovely sea exploration themes. The next, you’re hearing Pit Bull. It was a strange experience.

Conclusion:

I didn’t know anything about Aquaman, except what the trailer showed me. This wouldn’t really make me want to read every comic about him, but it’s a cool story that translated well to the big screen. Fun movie to see with friends.

 Additional Comments:

  • I probably would have enjoyed this more if I didn’t think the two kids were idiots 99% of the book.
  • The characterization is like oh, she’s such a smart, sweet girl. Repeatedly.
  • Narrator’s performance was good. She put great emotion into all the right places.
  • I liked the older couple more. There were a few side characters who were interesting but they blended together. One was a neonatal nurse or something.
  • Characters 2/5: The younger couple is so dumb it hurts. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing because it’s accurate to some people or a bad thing. They’re not even likable for most of the book. The last chapter where everything comes together is great. I even like the characters then when they started making semi-sensible decisions.
  • Subtitle of Escape from Reality doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
  • Plot 3/5: Nothing earth-shattering.
  • End 4/5: 100% predictable yet satisfying.
  • Content Warnings: some cursing, including one f-bomb. Some talk about sex.

Conclusion:

There’s definite improvement as the book continues. I liked the end. I just don’t know if the rest of the book was worth wading through to get there.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR

 

Spoiler Section:

  • The 3d panning around the kiss with explosions looking like fireworks at the end was so ridiculous that most people laughed. Also, the timing of that stunk too. (We have to hurry, people are dying – wait, no, we have to kiss for a solid 5 seconds.)
  • There really aren’t any surprises. You kind of know they’re going to meet his mother as soon as they say that the Trench kingdom is where she got exiled and that’s where they have to go to find the mythical trident that will give him the right to rule.
  • The bad guy was totally forgettable. (Not the brother, the dude out for vengeance.)

Audiobook Reviews 3.45/5: Romance at the Royal Menagerie

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, regency romance, romance ,

I don’t own the pic… it’s the ebook cover. The audiobook cover was less than impressive.

Mild Spoilers Ahead

Summary:

Poor but lovely girl meets enchanting rich guy who’s visiting the zoo her father works at. You could probably predict the ending from the title. Francesca (Franny) Hartwell and John Fairgate are from distinctly different social classes.

 

Additional Comments:

  • I hardly ever read any sort of regency romance, but I seem to be tripping over it these last few weeks. Since my pool of the genre’s pretty limited, I can’t compare too much to others, but I can say I find the attitude shifts at the end highly suspect. (No, no, no, no … well, if it’ll make you happy, feel free to break all social conventions.)
  • Characters 3.5/5: There’s a distinct lack of a real antagonist. Cartwright’s more of an annoying gnat since John’s not interested in her at all. There would have been more tension if she had some redeeming qualities and was ever some sort of competition for his affections. Conversely, there might have been more tension if Francesca had a suitor of a suitable class or something besides almost mystical powers over large cats. While interesting, we don’t really see her help little old ladies across the street or anything. What makes her the sweet, innocent protagonist we’re supposed to root for?
  • Plot 4/5: It’s kind of hard to predict passage of time in here. The sideplot with the birth of the leopards is neat. I know the story’s not really about John and his occupation, but we don’t really see him do anything at all except visit the zoo this entire book. Also, if he’s really into birds, why doesn’t he speak more about it?
  • Cover?? I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but there’s a reason these things matter. The ebook has a decent cover, so why does the audiobook get zip?
  • Narration was done well. There’s good variety between the characters.

 

Conclusion:

Definitely fits in the Sweet Regency Romance genre. It’s clean. It’s got some romance.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.


OR

Audiobook Reviews 3/5 Stars: Beds Are for Flowers by R.K. Gold

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, children's, dystopia, Family, Fantasy, middle grade ,

Narrated by Julie Hinton

Summary:

Clarence’s father is dying from some unknown illness. A Reaper comes by every day to see if he’s ready to travel the long road to Ganedyn, which I’m assuming is paradise. Many who travel the road don’t need it. While his mother’s willing to sacrifice years from her life, she doesn’t want the kids, Clarence and Jessi, doing the same. Desperate they resort to different tactics. Jessi sneaks next door and steals a bird from the Neighbor’s garden. That buys a little time. Clarence goes to speak to the neighbor and gets sent on a quest to dislodge the Reaper in the Tree, who’s presence there is pretty much the source of the problem.

 

Additional Comments:

  • World-building (3/5) – A lot of imagination went into creating this bleak, colorless world. Much of the lore is explained fairly naturally, but the worlds don’t make much sense. There’s a normal, mortal world, a paradise, and The End. Part of what bothered me is the naming system or lack thereof. The Neighbor, the Red Reaper, The Reaper in the Tree, etc. I wish they had real names instead of titles. Caggers (sorry about spelling) are fears from one of the worlds creeping into the mortal realm.
  • Characters (3.5/5) – Clarence, Wakoba, and Jessi are stereotypical questing kids. Clarence is the one given the quest. Jessi’s his sister, the brave one who carries a bat around. Wakoba’s the timid friend who has to face his fears to fulfill his part of the quest.
  • Plot (3/5) – It follows a logical path, but I don’t get a good sense of the world space or time passing. Part of that might be that time in the dark place they travel to (forest?) and nearing the Pit gets skewed. The characters go from one conversation to another talking about what’s happening with little actually happening until the final confrontation.
  • It’s 100% kid-friendly.
  • Disclaimer – it’s probably more literature-based fantasy than I’m used to. There are probably deep roots of moral lessons in here about taking care of the Earth/world you have, one person making all the difference, and the power of kids. Guess I just look for more direct, sword or bow-wielding action in my fantasy. There are plenty of scythes about because of the Reapers, but there are too many restrictions on them to make for a good old-fashioned fight. (Can’t kill a reaper with his own weapon.)

 

Conclusion:

Fans of RK Gold will probably enjoy this tale. Those who gravitate to Middle Grade literature too might find lots to love within. It reminds me of Treasure: Seed Savers by S. Smith. They’re both books about a world on the brink of collapse due to mismanagement of resources.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.


OR

Movie Reviews 4/5: Mortal Engines

Julie Gilbert Fantasy, Movie Reviews, scifi, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

Fun Despite Numerous Story Flaws

Summary: (spoilers after ads)

This is a young adult post-apocalypse sci-fi adventure. It’s also a book adaptation. I have not read the book, and I have no intention of doing so. That said, the world came across cool and the movie ended up being entertaining.

 Additional Comments:

  • Characters 3.5/5: Hester and Tom didn’t have great chemistry, but the circumstances are suitably grim to be believable. There are many other really interesting characters on the sides. Shrike could probably have his own movie. Valentine’s motivations aren’t terribly clear. Is it all just a power trip? Anna clearly has more of a story behind her.
  • Plot 3.5/5: The timing seems awfully rushed. The whole movie probably covers a span of 2 days. It goes from one event to another through a series of crazy coincidences. More on that later.
  • Chase Scenes 4/5: Very sweet.
  • Visuals/World-building 5/5: Although not a world I would like to live in, some pieces of what’s there are absolutely gorgeous. If nothing else, it’s often pretty.
  • Costumes 4/5: The London people certainly took notes from the Hunger Games elite. Even the slavers had a penchant for too much rouge.  
  • With all these complaints, why do I still like it? There are elements of great stories in here. The opening scene reminded me of Rogue One where Cassian is movie day through the city to meet the informant.

Conclusion:

Worth seeing once for the pretty visuals.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR

SPOILERS

Places the Logic Broke Down/Crazy Coincidences:

(Some might be explained in the book.)

  • Hester’s quest to kill Valentine. Seems like a heck of a lot of effort to go to for a chance at stabbing the dude.
  • Valentine being at the intake area for the new haul/being in stabbing range.
  • Valentine throws if Tom in makes perfect sense, but his friend just happens to be a witness. And Kate just happens to see that he’s a witness.
  • Shrike’s quest to kill Hester. That’s quite a bit of emotion for a zombie machine.
  • They didn’t all pass out in the floating city.
  • Anna Fang’s group goes to a lot of effort to find Hester like 8 years after. How would they even know there’s still a threat from London?
  • Hester happens to choose the one machine part of the trade city that broke down enough to be caught. If she sabotaged it to get caught, that’s messed up.
  • Running around the outlands from Southie machines trying to kill them the heroes just happen to get caught by slavers.
  • Anna Fang found Hester at the slave market.
  • They sent Hester to disable the machine and not Tom.
  • Tom knows how to fly a ship.
  • Anna trusts him enough to let him handle her airship.
  • Shrike finds Hester on the airship city. If he could find her that fast, why the heck did he not find and kill her in the last however many years it’s been?
  • Valentine has enough clout to kill everyone in the engine room. Why was ramming the shield wall even an option? Was there even an order for then to do that?
  • Hester being Valentine’s daughter. Cliche. That man has serious daughter issues.
  • Hester and Valentine getting into a brawl… how did she even know where to find him?
  • Hester and Tom flying off into the sunset so to speak. Stressful situations can form bonds, but straight to I wanna be trapped in a tiny flying thing with you is a big step. Also, why is the airship even theirs to keep? Did Anna not have any kin? Does finders keepers rule the world?
  • In 1000 years, I would expect they moved beyond steam-belching, garbage-eating machines.

Amusing Moments:

  • London Museum – American deities being minions.
  • Food of the ancients being indestructible. (Twinkies)
  • Anna Fang “I’m not that subtle.”

Movie Reviews 4/5: Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse

Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, scifi, superhero, Young Adult ,
I don’t own the image. It’s a general promo one meant to get suckers to the movies.

Summary:

An interesting origin story. A man is hell-bent on messing with realities so he can save his family. Miles Morales doesn’t quite fit in the prep school world he’s in. Then, he gets bit by a radioactive spider and becomes Spider-Man.

Additional Comments:

  • Cool idea. Impractical and improbable but there’s a good story inside anyway.
  • I am not particularly a Spider-Man fan, but I have seen many of the movies.
  • This movie very much embraces being a comic book franchise.
  • Stan Lee’s cameo was especially meaningful now that he’s gone.
  • I probably would have enjoyed it more if many parts didn’t give me a headache. The whole end fight looks like a bad dream.
  • Miles is a cool underdog kind of a character. The kid is just finding his way in the world, mostly poorly until he gains superpowers. Gwen Stacey, Peni and her robopal, cartoon spider-pig, Spiderman-noir, and several Peter Parkers make for an interesting team of misfit spider people.
  • End credit scene was NOT worth it, not by a long shot.
  • Seeing the different realities and permutations of the same story was kind of a nice touch.

Conclusion:

Whether you are a casual Spider-Man fan or a diehard, you can find something tolove in here. Don’t know if it’s worth going to see in costume, as the peoplenext to me did, but it’s a fun movie overall.

Associate links to follow…

(If you click through and buy something, there’s the chance I’ll earn like $0.04 ….)

Amazon Prime

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

OR