This week's reviews
Feb. 10th, 2013 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alobearDistrict 9:
I originally avoided this, despite good reviews, because I thought it might be too violent. We recently acquired it on DVD, though, with a recommendation from someone even more squeamish than me, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm really not sure what to say about it, though. Mostly it was just very silly - in terms of plot, rather than in terms of humour. The violence was more cartoony than anything, and didn't bother me. I thought the way it was put together, more as though it was a documentary than anything, was quite interesting, and it kept my attention all the way through. It didn't stand out much, though - okay, but not great.
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson:
I downloaded this from Librivox, so it wasn't a professional narrator, but at least it was all read by the same person, and he was perfectly competent. I didn't know anything about the story going in, so was a bit surprised to find it was mostly about Scottish politics. I did feel that the protagonist had things happen to him rather than actually doing all that much, but the way in which the story worked itself out in the end was quite clever, and it was an enjoyable enough adventure along the way.
Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts:
This was lent to me by a work colleague with whom I have quite a lot in common. I enjoyed all the political intrigue, particularly with it being from the point of view of a young female character trying to ensure the survival of her family name in a cut-throat, male-dominated society. There were a lot of interesting and likeable characters, some unexpected turns, and plenty of tension - though perhaps a little too much detail along the way. A good read, though I'm not sure the rest of the series will get to the top of my reading pile all that soon.
Hitchcock:
Stellar performances, a sharp script, beautifully made and convincingly period. It was just a little light on plot. The exploration of Hitch and Alma's relationship was very well done, and certainly gave Hopkins and Mirren plenty to work with. There wasn't much more to it, though, so it felt very much like a performance piece, rather than a proper film. I did enjoy it, but felt it could have had more weight.
So, four perfectly enjoyable items this week, but nothing outstanding.
I originally avoided this, despite good reviews, because I thought it might be too violent. We recently acquired it on DVD, though, with a recommendation from someone even more squeamish than me, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm really not sure what to say about it, though. Mostly it was just very silly - in terms of plot, rather than in terms of humour. The violence was more cartoony than anything, and didn't bother me. I thought the way it was put together, more as though it was a documentary than anything, was quite interesting, and it kept my attention all the way through. It didn't stand out much, though - okay, but not great.
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson:
I downloaded this from Librivox, so it wasn't a professional narrator, but at least it was all read by the same person, and he was perfectly competent. I didn't know anything about the story going in, so was a bit surprised to find it was mostly about Scottish politics. I did feel that the protagonist had things happen to him rather than actually doing all that much, but the way in which the story worked itself out in the end was quite clever, and it was an enjoyable enough adventure along the way.
Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts:
This was lent to me by a work colleague with whom I have quite a lot in common. I enjoyed all the political intrigue, particularly with it being from the point of view of a young female character trying to ensure the survival of her family name in a cut-throat, male-dominated society. There were a lot of interesting and likeable characters, some unexpected turns, and plenty of tension - though perhaps a little too much detail along the way. A good read, though I'm not sure the rest of the series will get to the top of my reading pile all that soon.
Hitchcock:
Stellar performances, a sharp script, beautifully made and convincingly period. It was just a little light on plot. The exploration of Hitch and Alma's relationship was very well done, and certainly gave Hopkins and Mirren plenty to work with. There wasn't much more to it, though, so it felt very much like a performance piece, rather than a proper film. I did enjoy it, but felt it could have had more weight.
So, four perfectly enjoyable items this week, but nothing outstanding.
no subject
Date: 2013-02-11 09:34 pm (UTC)The only RLS story I've read is Jekyll and Hyde which I liked rather a lot.
no subject
Date: 2013-02-11 10:04 pm (UTC)Ooh, me too - I loved that one when I studied it at uni. Very, very cool.