ScorchingSun
Ottawa Public Library
ScorchingSun's Completed Shelf
Filter your results by...
Ad AstraAd Astra, DVDVers Les étoiles
DVD - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Jan 8, 2021
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Jan 5, 2021
Comment:
An odd but endearing look at the minds and hearts of futuristic AI.
Full of action, perhaps a bit on the frenetic side.
Read the four preceding novellas first, for proper context.
ScorchingSun's rating:
1 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 20, 2020
Comment:
What's going on here? Many of the previous comments refer to the very good 1987 movie starring Elizabeth Shue. THIS film is the 2016 annoying remake.
We shouldn't lump different versions together as if they were interchangeable.
----------------------------------------------
For this film, I stopped at 26 min...
Couldn't take any more of the continuous parade of lame, ridiculous screwups pretending to be cute humour.
A limp attempt to reinvent the original film.What's going on here? Many of the previous comments refer to the very good 1987 movie starring Elizabeth Shue. THIS film is the 2016 annoying remake.
We shouldn't lump different versions together as if they were…
Hunter KillerHunter Killer, DVDOpération Hunter-Killer
DVD - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 19, 2020
Comment:
Butler is the strong jawed, maverick saviour of mankind, in a tense, action filled tug-of-war to prevent a war.
Somewhat standard plot with a few nice twists.
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 19, 2020
Comment:
A smart, wisecracking but emotionally lost woman leads a sad existence.
Sombre and introspective. Some flashes of wacko humour.
--------------------
BTW, in the cover picture: I don't believe the character there is doing a Marilyn Monroe subway grate skirt-fluttering imitation.A smart, wisecracking but emotionally lost woman leads a sad existence.
Sombre and introspective. Some flashes of wacko humour.
--------------------
BTW, in the cover picture: I don't believe the character there is doing a Marilyn Monroe subway…
CrawlCrawl, DVDTerreur Dans La Tempête
DVD - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 10, 2020
Comment:
Bloody and scary. Hide-and-go-seek with long snout Jaws.
But it's on the verge of going overboard with the unrelenting mighty struggle between human and reptile.
Death in ParadiseDeath in Paradise, DVDSeason One
DVD - 2013
ScorchingSun's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 1, 2020
Comment:
Light hearted fun in an exotic setting.
Likable ensemble cast, intricate puzzle murders, and a near genius detective (comparable to TV's "Elementary") make for a good first season.
But a sneak peek at later seasons' changes is not encouraging.
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 1, 2020
Comment:
One of those classic-themed "ominous forces coming together in puzzling ways for some mysterious reason".
Author's writing style is less than dramatically eloquent but does describe her characters well, though sometimes her people do swirl about like customers at a crowded marketplace.One of those classic-themed "ominous forces coming together in puzzling ways for some mysterious reason".
Author's writing style is less than dramatically eloquent but does describe her characters well, though sometimes her people do swirl about…
ScorchingSun's rating:
2.5 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 18, 2020
Comment:
In the constant avalanche of exhausting bling gibberish, there was actually an interesting story.
But the deliberate mudslides of designer names, ultra expensive material possessions, and nostril flarings, smothered the hope of a decent novel.
Skip the glitter (reread it later if you wish) and go with the rich people angst and ego storylines (though even this the author overstretched with relationship babble).In the constant avalanche of exhausting bling gibberish, there was actually an interesting story.
But the deliberate mudslides of designer names, ultra expensive material possessions, and nostril flarings, smothered the hope of a decent…
AnnaAnna, DVD
DVD - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 18, 2020
Comment:
Nicely brutal fight scenes (anything worth doing, like breaking arms, is worth doing well) and an interesting flashback technique that allows viewers to observe events from different, revealing perspectives.
Characters though, seem to be on the antiseptic side.Nicely brutal fight scenes (anything worth doing, like breaking arms, is worth doing well) and an interesting flashback technique that allows viewers to observe events from different, revealing perspectives.
Characters though, seem to be on the…
A VigilanteA Vigilante, DVD
DVD - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
1 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 14, 2020
Comment:
Virtually every scene plods along at a snail's pace, overshadowing Olivia Wilde's portrayal of a physically and emotionally tortured woman.
The subject matter (domestic abuse) already has a bad name. The quality of this film adds another.
ScorchingSun's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 11, 2020
Comment:
A darkly twisted tale of bloody violence, betrayal and redemption.
Our heroine does have a wicked sense of black wry humour.
Your nameYour name, DVDYour nameYour name[Kimi no na wa]
DVD - 2017 | Japanese
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 11, 2020
Comment:
A seemingly silly beginning changes into a mysterious, sweetly haunting fantasy story, though some of the back and forth body switching may be confusing.
Wonderfully artistic and beautiful graphics.
Spoiler alert:
It puzzles me how these two could switch minds multiple times, yet still remained unclear on each other's address, how to communicate with each other or even what year they were living in.A seemingly silly beginning changes into a mysterious, sweetly haunting fantasy story, though some of the back and forth body switching may be confusing.
Wonderfully artistic and beautiful graphics.
Spoiler alert:
It puzzles me how these two…
Too Much and Never EnoughToo Much and Never Enough, eBookHow My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man
by Trump, Mary L.eBook - 2020
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 2, 2020
Too Much and Never EnoughToo Much and Never Enough, eBookHow My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man
by Trump, Mary L.eBook - 2020
Available
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 2, 2020
Comment:
Reads like a horror story.
One might think that the author is a vindictive woman lashing out with fabricated accusations, at the family that tormented her weak father. Except that the truth of her allegations against Donald Trump has been on full display on the world stage.
Of note: the pathetic life of Mary's father, Freddy, a self-destructive prisoner of a cruel, dysfunctional clan.Reads like a horror story.
One might think that the author is a vindictive woman lashing out with fabricated accusations, at the family that tormented her weak father. Except that the truth of her allegations against Donald Trump has been on full…
The LighthouseThe Lighthouse, DVDLe Phare
DVD - 2020
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 26, 2020
Comment:
Perhaps madness is best served in black and white. Certainly all the dirt, grime and shadows look grittier that way.
At some point in the film, like the Winslow character, viewers are apt to throw up their arms and yell "dangnation with everything!"
Googly-eyed energetic frenzy from Dafoe and Pattinson.Perhaps madness is best served in black and white. Certainly all the dirt, grime and shadows look grittier that way.
At some point in the film, like the Winslow character, viewers are apt to throw up their arms and yell "dangnation with…
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 25, 2020
Comment:
A continuation of the first novel's head-exploding spectacles.
Of mega rich people living in super palaces, raising spoiled spendthrift children.
Again there are some balances of sanity amid the money mad maelstrom.
HomelandHomeland, DVDThe Complete Seventh Season
DVD - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 19, 2020
Comment:
Hair-pulling manipulations of the truth and its evil twin- alternative facts, and the perilous crossing of morality lines are big issues this season.
Some high tension action, some skewering, jostling of power politics and some personal heartbreak for poor Carrie, the postergirl for mental health challenges.
Watch for an emotional courtroom scene with Maggie, Carrie's sister.Hair-pulling manipulations of the truth and its evil twin- alternative facts, and the perilous crossing of morality lines are big issues this season.
Some high tension action, some skewering, jostling of power politics and some personal heartbreak…
ScorchingSun's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 19, 2020
Comment:
Great imagination.
A progression from a mid level magical setting to ultimately an eye-popping level, world and mind altering super bang.
It does swing back and forth a bit from comic quirkiness to heart-rending seriousness, but it's that kind of crazy novel.Great imagination.
A progression from a mid level magical setting to ultimately an eye-popping level, world and mind altering super bang.
It does swing back and forth a bit from comic quirkiness to heart-rending seriousness, but it's that kind of…
The Girl Who Lived TwiceThe Girl Who Lived Twice, BookA Lisbeth Salander Novel, Continuing Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series
by Lagercrantz, DavidBook - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
2 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 9, 2020
Comment:
A disappointment.
First third of the novel droned on about the uneventful, humdrum life of Mikael Blomkvist. Then an investigative story became mildly interesting but dragged on and on with foggy minutiae.
The Dragon Tattoo girl seemingly shoved out of focus into the sidelines. No doubt she'll play some important role later but I had no endurance to continue reading past the 2/3 mark.
Just too many jaw-cracking yawns.A disappointment.
First third of the novel droned on about the uneventful, humdrum life of Mikael Blomkvist. Then an investigative story became mildly interesting but dragged on and on with foggy minutiae.
The Dragon Tattoo girl seemingly shoved…
The ParadiseThe Paradise, DVDSeason Two
DVD - 2014
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 4, 2020
Comment:
Not quite as good as season one's focus on the tensions of a lowly shopgirl's struggles.
This time around, mostly retracing familiar story and character paths. Somewhat flat compared to the original.
Doctor SleepDoctor Sleep, DVDDocteur Sleep
DVD - 2020
ScorchingSun's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 4, 2020
Comment:
A menacing sequel, oozing of unjust cruelty, worthy of the surreal original (if you omit Jack Nicholson's clown face performance).
Woman Walks AheadWoman Walks Ahead, DVD
DVD - 2018
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 3, 2020
Comment:
A somewhat bland ambience.
The emotional and cultural elements are present but not enough sparks to light up the dramatic fire.
Green BookGreen Book, DVDLe Livre De Green
DVD - 2019
ScorchingSun's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Sep 23, 2020
Comment:
Well written dialogue, tightly acerbic and often funny. Strong performances from Ali and Mortensen as an initially polar opposite odd couple urged by circumstances to walk in each other's shoes.
Unlike most tepid road trip movies, this one's unusually entertaining.Well written dialogue, tightly acerbic and often funny. Strong performances from Ali and Mortensen as an initially polar opposite odd couple urged by circumstances to walk in each other's shoes.
Unlike most tepid road trip movies, this one's…
ScorchingSun's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Sep 23, 2020
Comment:
David Lagercrantz writes in a more compact, tighter-paced style than Stieg Larsson.
Lisbeth Salander's character remains as near stark primaeval as ever.
But the world of Mikael Blomkvist has been woven so many times now, it's becoming repetitious and a bit tiresome.
Can't this guy find himself another muse other than the Dragon Girl ?David Lagercrantz writes in a more compact, tighter-paced style than Stieg Larsson.
Lisbeth Salander's character remains as near stark primaeval as ever.
But the world of Mikael Blomkvist has been woven so many times now, it's becoming repetitious…
Comment: