Book Review - How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

Title: How to Solve Your Own Murder (Castle Knoll Files # 1)
Author: Kristen Perrin
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2024
 
Description: It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends, Emily and Rose. But Frances’s life takes a turn when a fortune teller make a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who cosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously. Until that is, nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered.
 
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great aunt Frances. But the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Catle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder.
 
Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer? As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit ger great ant’s fate instead of her fortune.
 
Review: In “How to Solve Your Own Murder” we follow Annie, who is on her way to her great-aunt Frances. When she arrives, Frances is found dead. We also follow the storyline of a young Frances, who visits a fortune teller, who tells her Frances will someday be murdered. This turns her life upside down and her whole life she is trying to find out who will murder her. But, it’s too late. Now it’s up to Annie to find out who had it in for her great-aunt.
 
I always enjoyed dual timelines. We follow the present, where Annie is trying to figure out what happened to Frances. And we go back in time, where Frances is young and finds out about her fate, which eventually controls her life. Because Frances documented everything in a diary, Annie does get some help, but she still has to try and solve the mystery herself. And she learns that the people in this town have many secrets.
 
“How to Solve Your Own Murder” has an interesting premise and it does start out great. The mystery is fun to dive into. I never really got invested into any of the characters and felt like most of them were very naïve people. And am I the only one that thinks that the request in Frances’s will was kind of ridiculous and it could potentially put the people involved in danger? Even though I like an amateur sleuth story, they mostly choose to do so themselves. Annie is somehow forced in that role, even though she would have probably gone in that direction herself. It still feels a bit weird. Because more people are put in this position in trying to solve the murder, the stakes are higher.  
 
I’m okay with authors being detailed. Especially in describing surroundings or settings. But I really don’t care about what people are wearing. The characters in this story seem to be obsessed by other people’s appearances. I did not enjoy that.
 
I think “How to Solve Your Own Murder” is an okay mystery, nothing surprising or ground-breaking. Had a good time reading it, but will probably forget about it within a week.
 
Rating: 3/ 5

Book Review - Pan's Labyrinth by Cornelia Funke, Guillermo Del Toro

Title: Pan’s Labyrinth
Author: Cornelia Funke, Guillermo Del Toro
Genre: Fantasy/ Horror/ Young Adult
Published: 2019
 
Description: Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro and bestselling author Cornelia Funke have come together to transform Del Toro’s hit movie “Pan’s Labyrint” into an epic and dark fantasy novel for readers of all ages, complete with haunting illustrations and enchanting short stories that flesh out the folklore of this fascinating world.
 
This spellbinding tale takes readers to a sinister, magical, and war-torn world filled with richlt drawn characters like trickster fauns, murderous soldiers, child-eating monsters, courageous rebels, and a long-lost princess hoping to be reunited with her family.

Review: It does not happen often that I prefer the movie over the book, but in this case I did. But there is a reason for it. “Pan’s Labyrinth” was a movie before it became a novel. Director Guillermo del Toro asked author Cornelia Funke to translate his masterful film to a book. Not for all ages in my opinion, like the synopsis says, but middle-grade or young adult would be more appropriate.
 
We meet Ofelia, a young girl who loves fairytale stories. Together with her mother Carmen she moves into a house in the woods, with her mother’s new husband Vidal, who Ofelia calls “the Wolf”. Carmen is expecting a baby with Vidal, but Ofelia believes Vidal doesn’t really love her mother and only wants a son to carry on his bloodline. Because Ofelia never feels welcome in her new home, she starts exploring her new ‘neighborhood’. Where she meets Pan, a Faun and the keeper of a secret labyrinth. He believes Ofelia is the long-lost princes Moanna and he gives her task, so she can return to her family. And so a journey begins.
 
The story is beautifully written and it’s accompanied by amazing illustrations. Because I have already seen the movie, it was easy for me to imagine all the creatures, the surroundings and characters of the book. But I felt like the book was missing something that the movie did have and I cant quite put my finger on it. Even though I still believe this book is fantastic and a wonderfully written tale, I believe the film conveys the right atmosphere to the audience better than the book did.
 
I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers, this is the type of fantasy that even I love.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Final Update

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme or reason there, just watching those movies I love so much. And this is my final update, because as of now, I have rewatched all 100 of them. 
 

96/ 100: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is still a barely outdated ode to the adventure film. We meet archeologist Indiana Jones for the first time in this film. He has to contend with an untrustworthy rival, who has been commissioned by Hitler to search for the mythical Ark of the Covenant, a historical relic said to possess magical powers. Exciting and funny, the absolute embodiment of the adventure genre. And in my opinion still the best film of the series.  Read my full review HERE.
 

97/ 100: Die Hard (1988)
New York cop John McClane travels to L.A. to visit his estranged wife at work. Unfortunately, during the company’s Christmas party, a gang of terrorists led by Hans Gruber, has planned a hostage taking/ robberty operation. This is still Bruce Willis’ most iconic role. Where “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the embodiment of the adventure genre, “Die Hard” is that for the action film. Also had numerous sequels. I liked all but part 5. HERE you can read my full review.
 

98/ 100: Reservoir Dogs (1992)
“Reservoir Dogs” is director Quentin Tarantino’s masterful debut film, about a jewelry heist that gets completely out of hand. The surviving robbers try to figure out what went wrong and if there may be a mole in their midst. The story is told in a non-linear way, where we get to meet certain characters before the heist, how the heist is planned, the actual day of the heist and the aftermath. A beautifully crafted screenplay with clever and funny dialogue and brilliant acting. Still my favorite Tarantino film to date. Check out my full review HERE.
 

99/ 100: Sin City (2005)
In this film noir  film, based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, we follow three stories of violence in Basin “Sin” City. A big, tough criminal seeks revenge on the killer of his dream woman. A troubled policeman hunts a psychotic child killer. And a private detective tries tot prevent a massacre of “ladies of the night”. The film amazed me the first time and it still does. It’s like your reading the graphic novel, but the images are moving this time. It looks fantastic. I love that this film is black and white, with the occasional touch of color. HERE you can check out my full review.
 

100/ 100: Drive (2011)
Director Nicolas Winding Refn has a very distinctive style and it shows in “Drive”. We follow an unnamed stunt driver who earns extra money as a getaway driver. The camerawork and direction are fantastic, and with the 1980s vibes of the soundtrack Refn creates this stye. Ryan Gosling is amazing as ‘driver’. And an excellent supporting cast with Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks and Oscar Isaac. Check HERE my full review.

00s Movie Review - Sin City

Director: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, Quentin Tarantino
Genre: Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Toro, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Jaime King, Josh Hartnett, Carla Cugino, Michael Madsen, Rutger Hauer, Powers Booth, Brittany Murphy, Alexis Bledel

Description: An exploration of the dark and miserable Basin City and three of its residents, all of whom are caught up in violent corruption.

Review: “Sin City” is a film noir-like movie which is very faithful to the graphic novel it’s based on. A perfect job for director Robert Rodriguez, who is accompanied by “Sin City” novel writer Frank Miller and director Quentin Tarantino. 

All these creative minds are a guarantee for an explosive and inventive film. “Sin City” looks breathtaking and is groundbreaking. The graphic novel isn’t just made into film, it looks like the novel actually came to life. De original pictures are used for the story

board and stayed intact. The actors had to film in front of a so-called ‘green screen’.
The presented world and its citizens is shown in black and white. Sometimes things as a red dress, golden blonde hair and blood are highlighted with color. The contrasts look great. 

There are lots of extravagant characters in “Sin City”. Like ‘Yellow Bastard’, a violent pedophile with rubbery skin and unhuman physical forms. And Jackie Boy, a corrupt cop. But most memorable is cannibalistic Kevin, a slick man with a sardonic grin on his face. The anti-hero is Marv, played by Mickey Rourke who you barely recognize. As a storm he rages through the city. For the women, it’s Jessica Alba that catches your eye. As a kid she was rescued by John Hartigan, played by Bruce Willis. Now she is a gorgeous, young woman turned stripper. 

Like I said before, “Sin City” is a groundbreaking film and it amazes me every single time.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Title: The Road
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Genre: Fiction/ Dystopia
Published: 2006
 
Description: A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food – and each other.
 
Review: In this gripping story by Cormac McCarthy, a father and sone are on their way to the cost. All they have in their possession is a shopping cart with a few belongings and a gun. Fortunately, they still have each other, because the road is long and life is hard.
 
In “The Road”, the world no longer looks as we know it. There is no more harvest, houses and stores have been looted, the only holdout is the road to the coast. Even though the father is almost certain there is nothing at the coast, there is still a glimmer of hope for his son.
 
Father and son continue to follow the road, but at the same time must be careful not to be seen by anyone else. Because it is every man for himself, you never know when someone has bad intentions. The father explained to his son that they carry the fire and therefore belong on the good side. On the bad side you have the people who steal or worse: kill other people.
 
In a world that has almost perished, everything is allowed. There a no more laws. The book is gripping, terrifying and emotional. As a reader, you get a certain picture of humanity as father and son try to survive in this post-apocalyptic world. Do you choose to survive for yourself or are there other options? Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is it hopeless?
 
The names of the father and son are never mentioned, yet the story feels personal and close. It is as if, as a reader, you are walking with them to the shore. You hope for the father and son that there is more than the road. The father has already seen a lot and his son, despite everything, is still innocent. The young boy knows nothing else, he was raised in this world.
 
It’s not a very spectacular book, it’s focused on the characters, not so much on the plot. It’s a slow book, which may scare you. There is some repetition here and there and there are some moments that drag a little bit. But for the rest, “The Road” is a fantastic book.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

90s Movie Review - In the Mouth of Madness

Director: John Carpenter
Genre: Thriller/ Horror/ Mystery
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: Sam Neill, Charlton Heston, Julie Carmen, Jürgen Prochnow
Description: An insurance investigator (Sam Neill) begins discovering that the impact a horror writer’s books have on his fans is more than inspirational.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 37: A THRILLER OR SUSPENSE FILM
 
Review: Sutter Cane is the author of a famous horror series. Cane has gone missing and so is the manuscript of his last book. No copy of it exists. According to insiders, the book is said to be so terribly scary that it drives readers to madness. Cane’s publisher appoints insurance investigator John Trent to find the author and his work. This search leads John to the isolated village of Hobb’s End in the state of New England, where the true nightmare begins.

John Carpenter is most known for his horror films “Halloween” and “The Thing”. Atmosphere is something Carpenter manages to create best and this is also something very present in “In the Mouth of Madness”. The film is suspenseful and very creepy and disturbing. It’s a low-budget film and he lets his imagination run wild. It has a H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King vibes. The film is not for light-sensitive souls. 

I really enjoyed it, even though it’s very weird and scary.

Rating: 4 / 5

Book Review - She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

Title: She’s Not Sorry
Author: Mary Kubica
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery
Published: 2024
 
Description: Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunging over twenty feet to the train tracks below.
 
But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin pushed and if so, by whom and why?
 
Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients, but this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims.
 
Review: Before I started reading “She’s Not Sorry”, I had only read one other book by Mary Kubica: “Local Woman Missing”. I really liked that book, but I love her newest release!
 
Meghan Michaels is an ICU-nurse and a single mom, who’s recently divorced. One day, new patient Caitlin arrives at the hospital, who is in a coma and suffering from a severe brain injury. Where Meghan normally succeeds in staying emotionally detached from her patients, she is pulled into Caitlin’s and her family’s life. Questioning what really happened to her and maybe somebody did this to her.
 
The book is split up in two parts. When I was reading the first half of the book, I felt a lot was happening. It felt a bit all over the place and I had no clue why these random events were happening. With a mid-way twist, that totally caught me off-guard, the pieces of the puzzle starting falling into place. And that made the book so much better. The first half started making more sense.
 
“She’s Not Sorry” is an easy to read book, you can fly through it, as did I. The story has tension and raises so many questions, that you will get answers to eventually. There are many twists and turns and I was surprised. This book is impossible to put down.
 
Meghan is an interesting character to read from, we follow the story through her POV. You can relate to her at the start of the book, with her being a single mom, working hard to provide for her daughter. You do question some decisions she makes and because the characters still stays a bit on the surface, you never really understand why she becomes so fixated on Nat, an old school friend that she hasn’t seen for 20 years. And the fact that Meghan is constantly concerned about her daughter Sienna, when there is really no reason for it. Making you believe that something bad is going to happen to her.
 
I really loved reading “She’s Not Sorry”, the first chapter sucks you in. The first half of the book doesn’t make a lot of sense because so much is going on. But once you’ve reached the second half, you are in for a treat. So many surprises.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Challngers

Director: Luca Guadagnino
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Comedy
Runtime: 131 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor
 
Description: Tashi (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach, transformed her husband (Mike Faist) into a champion. But to overcome a recent losing streak and redeem himself, he’ll need to face off against his former best friend, and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend (Josh O’Connor).

Review: Luca Guadagnino has directed one of my favorite films of all-time: “Call Me by Your Name”. It’s one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen in my life, it’s simply perfect. I was excited to see Guadagnino’s newest film, especially since it’s been getting great reviews. “Challengers” is a really good, unpredictable film. While many say it tops “Call Me by Your Name”, I disagree, but I did enjoy “Challengers”. Though I might never rewatch it.

From the beginning it’s clear that there are three main characters: Tashi, Patrick and Art. Their interaction will define the drama. But the script does not the the story chronologically. The film has a fractured structure.

“Challengers” promises to be a sports film about rival tennis players. The film kicks off with the salutations of the ultimate match between Patrick and Art. But how that match evolves, we are given wordy details. Between beginning and end, the viewer is tossed back and forth between past and present, sometimes only for a brief scene.

Pretty soon, Guadagnino reveals that they are moving into a different direction from the classic boy-gets-girl sports drama after all. Art and Patrick used to be bosom bodies, when they were novices, who fell madly in love with then tennis star Tashi. But through the first sequence, which is a glimpse into the future, we know Tashi quit tennis, married Art and decided to coach him. What happened? Why was Patrick left out. Why did Tashi quit?

The mischievous Tashi, formidably portrayed by Zendaya, clearly finds that relationship tantalizing. The question, however, is what or who she really wants. I found Tashi highly unlikeable, as for Patrick. Art was somehow the only one I could somewhat root for, but I never really liked him either. Just three very nasty people, manipulative, seductive, egotistical.

Because of that, I might never want to rewatch this film again. Even though it’s very well put together. The way the story is constructed is so clever and it has some unpredictable twists here and there. But I kind of hated the three main characters, and then I find it somehow really difficult to get behind it.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - The Village

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller/ Drama
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, Sherry Jones, Adrien Brody, Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Pitt, Judy Greer

Description: A series of evens tests the beliefs of a small isolated countryside village.

Review: If you think of director M. Nigh Shyamalan’s best movies, you think of “The Sixth Sense”, “Unbreakable” and “Signs”. “Split” and “The Visit” will also come to mind. Usually “The Village” is not on that list. And I will not say it’s my favorite, but I certainly believe it’s much better than most people claim it is and feel it’s a bit underrated.

The film is set in an isolated village, with a close community of people that live a sober yet happy life. When dark things start happening, the villagers are made to believe it’s the inhabitants of the forest that are warning them to keep out. But the truth is hidden.

The film is never scary, but there is a lot of suspense that you constantly feel. You know something is wrong, just not yet what that is.

The film has a star-studded cast and Bryce Dallas Howard plays the main female character. She is really good and I loved her in this film. The ending/ twist is something most people don’t really like, but I personally always liked the twist of the film.

I think this movie deserves a little mote love then it’s getting. It’s absolutely not a bad movie. It’s slow and doesn’t rely on scares, but has a lot of atmosphere and a very good premise. With a surprising twist, that I just happened to like.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

 

 

 

80s Movie Review - Die Hard

Director: John McTiernan
Genre: Action/ Thriller
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, William Atherton

Description: A New York City police officer (Bruce Willis) tries to save his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.

Review: I have watched this movie so many times, I can’t believed I never wrote a review for it. Bruce Willis plays his iconic character John McClane. He is visiting his estranged wife in Los Angeles, only realizing that during her company’s Christmas party, some uninvited guest arrive to keep them hostage. Good luck for them, because McClane is a bad ass New York City cop.

The story is pretty simple, but the execution of it is phenomenal. A real action movie with lots of humor interspersed with rock-hard action. “Die Hard” set a trend for a new generation of films in the late 80s and early 90s.

“Die Hard” is a kick-ass movie that ever fan of the action flick lives. Willis’ most iconic role.

Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Find Her by Tessa Bailey

Title: Find Her
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre: Romance
Published: 2019
 
Description: When Hope scores front row tickets to see her favorite band, she never expects the lead singer, Johnny Scott, to stop singing halfway through his first song and ask for her name. And she definitely never expects him to request her presence backstage after the show.
 
Johnny has forgotten why he loves music. Thankfully the rock gods have sent him a beautiful muse who breathes new life into this world with one word, one touch. He’s never met anyone like Hope and he’s not letting her go.
 
But when Johnny wakes up alone after the best night of his life, he has no idea how to find her.
 
Review: It’s a novella, only a little over 50 pages long. And only so much can happen in a short romance story like this. I got this as a gift with another book purchase and I’m glad I never paid for it. Because what the actual fuck. This is really bad.
 
First of all, this book reads like fan fiction. Like a teenage fangirl wrote it. Hope feels ‘in love’ with Johnny, when she attends his concert and he stops playing in the middle of his song when he spots her in the audience. And when they meet backstage, let’s just say, there is a lot of spice. Johnny really forces himself on her and Hope is just a naïve groupie. After meeting just a few hours ago, they already love each other. And he’s actually telling himself, that “I need to take it slow with her”. Well, that’s the total opposite of what you’ve been doing, Johhny!
 
This books feels so unrealistic, the characters are caricatures and it’s poorly written. Worst book I read all year.
 
Rating: 1/ 5

Book Review - The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Title: The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Author: Holly Jackson
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller/ Young Adult
Published: 2023
 
Description: 18-year-olfd Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her moms’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has not memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and bel wishes everyone would just move on.
 
But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.
 
Rachel as an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead.
 
Review: I’m a big fan of Holly Jackson’s “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” series. Her 2023 novel, “Five Survive” was a huge disappointment, but I was still excited to read her 2024 release “The Disappearance of Rachel Price. And even though it took me a while to get into it, I’m glad I read it, because it’s a lot better than “Five Survive’.
 
The story is told entirely from the perspective of Bel, in third person. She was only 2-years-old when her mom Rachel Price went missing. So it’s obvious she has no recollection of what happened that day. The book is more about the plot and the characters and their development is secondary. However, it is immediately apparent that Bel suffers more from the sudden disappearance of her mother than she wants to admit. Bel feels like she and her father are a team, and their life has always been overshadowed by the disappearance of Rachel. And when she returns, it makes life even more difficult. And listening to Rachel’s story about the happenings, Bel evades questions about her mother’s disappearance.
 
It's a pretty big book and it took me a while to get into it. It takes some time for the mystery to become interesting. But when it does, it really does it well. Jackson manages to create a twisty, unpredictable mystery. This family has a lot of secrets. Towards the end, it becomes nail-biting exciting. But this is also the point where some plot twists/ plot points are less credible.
 
“The Reappearance of Rachel Price” is an interesting mystery for the most part. You have to push trough at first, but once you do, you’re in for a treat. I’m glad Jackson delivered again.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Inside Out 2

Director: Kelsey Mann
Genre: Family/ Animation/ Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Phyllis Smith, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Kensington Tallman, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan. Paul Walter Hauser, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ayo Edebiri,
 
Description: Riley is entering puberty and experience brand new, more complex emotions as a result. As Riley tries to adapt to her teenage years, her old emotions try to adapt to the possibility of being replaced.

Review: As a child, life is simple. A child’s emotions are still basic, but it’s a whole different story once puberty hits them. Snapping at parents, wanting to belong, getting bored and, above all, a lot more worries come along. So too for Riley, the happy-go-lucky girl who managed to embrace her sadness in the first film to become more balanced. Riley is now thirteen and that balance is in danger of disappearing completely to a host of new emotions affecting her life.

“Inside Out” was an outright hit where the various emotions of human beings were explained extremely well and in depth in a fun and colorful format. Nine years on, the second installment is released with an attempt to bring Disney out of its slump (they haven’t released the best films lately). In this, the emotions in Riley’s head succeed all too well. And again has much emotional depth.

Its greatest strength lies in the recognizability of the story and the accompanying emotions. Where we already dealt with Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, we are now introduced to Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui.

Amy Poehler is still as infectiously cheerful and determined as in the first film. She is the perfect Joy. But Maya Hawke as Anxiety is the big surprise in “Inside Out 2”. She perfectly manages to combine the hustle, anxiety, stress, panic and urge to control that fits the emotion. She delivers her dialogue with great energy and you can feel the emotion in every scene she is in.

All the emotions are incredibly well played. The interactions unfold with great humor and the jokes hit the mark. One of the other new emotions is Ennui (boredom), only with a small role, but makes to most of the scarce moments it is in.

With “Inside Out 2”, Disney seems to put its core values first again by creating a humanly relatable story in a warm and cheerful setting. The complicated emotions are perfectly laid out and made understandable. A great sequel.

Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Title: Project Hail Mary
Author: Andy Weir
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: 2021
 
Description: Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission – and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.
 
Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.
 
All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
 
His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery – and conquer and extinction-level threat to our species.  
 
And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he?
 
Review: Let me just start with telling you that I don’t get the hype. I understand why people may like this book, but I don’t think it’s one of the best science fiction books ever written. Because that’s how this book is being marketed.
 
We meet Ryland Grace, who is the only survivor on a space mission. Waking up, remembering nothing, he is trying to figure out what the mission is all about and finding his way back.
 
I really enjoy science fiction, but “Project Hail Mary” was not it for me. I don’t mind complex stories, but there is so much scientific information that it started feeling like a text book, more than a novel. I listened to the audiobook, and I’m glad I did. Because I don’t think I would be able to get through a physical copy. I think that this kind of sci-fi is better in movie form for me, because I would love to see this being turned into one. But if was a bit dry and dragging for my liking as a novel.
 
I still really liked the story, it was interesting. But I never felt fully invested in the story and the main character. And that’s mainly why I struggled with this book.
 
Rating: 3/ 5

20s Movie Review - The Wonderfull Story of Henry Sugar

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 40 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel, Richard Ayoade, Ralph Fiennes

Description: Chronicles a variety of stories, but the main one follows Henry Sugar, who is able to see through objects and predict the future with the help of a book he stole.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 36: A FILM FROM A DIRECTOR KNOWN FOR THEIR VISUAL STYLE
 
Review: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” from 2009 didn’t only mark Wes Anderson’s first full-length stop-motion animation, but also his first adaptation of a story of Roald Dahl. Initially, “The Wonderful Story of henry Sugar” was intended to be a full-length feature film. Anderson backtracked on that by making it part of a four-part series of short Dahl adaptation.

We first meet a storyteller, played by Ralph Fiennes, telling us about the wealthy Henry Sugar, who finds in a book about a man from india who can see without his eyes. He acquired this technique, refined over many years, from a Yogi. So, a story within a story within a story withing a story. But Anderson manages to let these complex artifices sink in surprisingly smoothly.

“The Wonderful Story of henry Sugar” has few dialogues and consists almost entirely of renowned actors addressing the camera to tell the story.

It’s a ludicrous story, which we are used to from Roald Dahl and makes perfect material for Wes Anderson. I loved how this story was told, with backgrounds changing rapidly, making it almost magical. There are three more films on Netflix, that are based on Dahl’s stories and directed by Anderson. Them being : “The Swan”, “Poison” and “The Ratcatcher” and I will most definitely watch them all.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Find Me Falling

Director: Stelana Kliris
Genre: Romance/ Comedy
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Harry Connick Jr., Agni Scott, Ali Fumiko Whitney, Tony Dimitriou
 
Description: After a failed comeback album, rock star John Allman (Harry Connick Jr.) escapes to a dreamy Mediterranean island, only to discover that his new cliffside home has an unfortunate notoriety that attracts unwanted visitors and an old flame.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 35: A ROMANCE FILM OR LOVE STORY

Review: Unless it is an emphatic theme, it is easy to argue that coincidence does not exist in fiction. Character make utterances that recur later in a story, object or events become relevant later and all help make for a nicely rounded story. Proof of this statement is undeniably provided in the romantic island film “Find Me Falling”.

Rocker John Allmann, after a failed comeback, has set his guitar aside and traded his lucurious rock ‘n roll life in New York for a lonely hut on the coast of Cyprus. What the real estate agent didn’t tell John is that the cliff in front of his house is a popular spot for desperate souls to end their lives. So there is little choice but to build a substantial fence to prevent depressed souls from taking their own lives. Years ago, John already visited the island and left an unforgettable impression on some residents of the nearby village.

John meets the young Melina, who delivers his groceries. The girl turns out not to only speak English without an accent, she is also a very gifted singer. When Melina performs in the town tavern, John comes face to face with an old acquaintance.

I found this a so-so romcom. I liked the fact that it’s people getting a second chance in love and life, in a later stage of their lives. But the romance wasn’t my favorite part of the film. It was actually the bond between John and Melina. And the whole premise of the film, with the cliff side, is rarely touched upon aside from a few short moments. It’s okay for a mindless movie night, but it’s very forgettable.

Rating: 2,5/ 5