Movie Review: Police Story Lockdown (2013)

Length: 1 hr & 50 mins
Released: 2013
Genre: Action/Adventure & Drama
Rating: N/A (I would say PG-13 at minimum)
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:
A man looking for the release of a long-time prisoner takes a police officer, his daughter, and a group of strangers hostage.

TRAILER:

N/A (Can't find one anywhere - GAH)

REVIEW:

When first reading the summary, I wasn’t really interested in watching the film for multiple reasons. One, it is technically part of a series and I feel like a cheat and worried I’ll be lost. And two, I didn’t think I would like it. However, Boyfriend informed me that Jackie Chan was the star and I was game at that point. Now, Jackie Chan is always fun to watch. Not the greatest actor, but he does well. I mostly love the fact he does 99.9% of his own stunts. He is amazing when it comes to this. He is old in this film, but he still stayed true to his word he will always do his own stunts. So major kudos to him on that.

The story was sometimes hard to follow, because never seen the past movies. I had to ask a few questions about who was who and what a certain reference meant. Luckily this didn’t happen ALL the time, only a few instances popped up. Also, the whole situation seemed SO impossible. Intriguing? Yes. Was I worried and on the edge of my seat? Why, yes. HOWEVER, it seemed SO impossible.

I was very cynical about who was truly the bad guy. I liked this. Who really is to blame? Is there really anyone TO blame to what happened to the girl? I can’t say much else, but I do love when movies really make you have to think and nothing is as it seems. Nothing was black and white in this and that made me happy. 

The ending left me perplexed. Did I like it? No. Did I dislike it? No. It was just that…an ending. It was cliffhanger-ish, but not really. I’m really sure how to describe it. It really went into the flow with that nothing is as it seems. The story, I can tell you, is not done since the main character is still a cop and has things to do. 

The acting was meh. Only Jackie and the main “baddie” did well. The rest…they were just meh.

The fight scenes. Good and realistic. However, I wanted more. Just a little more would’ve made me happy.

Overall, this film was just okay. Better than I had expected, but still okay. The acting was lacking and I wanted more fight scenes. The ending left me perplexed which is good, but bad. So much confusion going on! I do regret not watching the other film that technically came before this, but what can you do? I’m not even sure how many they had made before this. I know for sure there is one from the 1980s. Anyways, I shall stamp this with 2 stars. 

Re-watch?: No

B's Monday Review - The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant

Vivien Kovacs, a sensitive, bookish girl grows up sealed off from the world by her timid Hungarian refugee parents, who conceal the details of their history and shy away from any encounter with the outside world. She learns how to navigate British society from an eccentric cast of neighbors -- including a fading ballerina, a cartoonist, and a sad woman who wanders the city and teaches Vivien to be beautiful. She loses herself in books and reinvents herself according to her favorite characters, but it is through clothes that she ultimately defines herself. 

Against her father's wishes, she forges a relationship with her uncle, a notorious criminal and slum landlord, who, in his old age, wants to share his life story. As he exposes the truth about her family's past Vivien learns how to be comfortable in her own skin and how to be alive in the world. 

My thoughts:

This was one of those, oh what to call it, calm ones, not slow, just silently being there. A story that just happens, but one I could not put down.

Vivien grows up in postwar London. Her parents are Hungarian immigrants who fled before the war broke out. She knows nothing about their past. She loves books, she loves clothes, and she does not want to be like them always inside, always careful. It's the story of her growing up.

But that is not the whole story. She is curious and she reaches out to the uncle her parents does not speak about. And the second story begins, the story about his life, and the life she did not know her dad had. And all those little things that makes sense now. 

The story of life in Hungary could have been a story in itself. War, persecution, starvation. You name it. But then I liked Vivien and the flashbacks to that life. I liked the calm way it was told, fine, slow way it was told, but it's not slow! I did finish it in a day.

Conclusion:

A well told story.

Paperback, 304 pages
Published May 1st 2009 by Virago Press (UK) (first published October 2nd 2008)
Fiction
Library

Book Review: The Wondrous Kite by Jason Sandberg

Author: Jason Sandberg
Title: The Wondrous Kite
Genre: Picture book, child's book, & short story
Pages: ebook
First Published: December 2015
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by publisher and/or author for my honest and unbiased opinion)





What would it be like to be a carefree kite? This rhyming picture book imagines the world as seen by “The Wondrous Kite.” Perfect as a bedtime story, this book also serves as an introduction to the pet dinosaurs, pixie wings, and resourceful heroines that populate Jason Sandberg's eBooks. 

This is the second children's book by this author that I have read. This one is a little shorter and I feel it is for a younger crowd then the last one. The story and art is simplistic, which I like, so I feel this would be a good one for 6 years and younger. It is a good book especially for that age group just starting to learn how to read. 

Again, I love the art in this one. It is simple and beautiful much like the books from my own youth. I love how vibrant the kite is compared to the background, so it really draws your eye to it. It is the star of the book, so it makes sense it would pop more. 

The story was simplistic as well. I liked the story, but I think I wanted more from it. It seemed super short, which yes it should be short, but I feel like more could have been done. 

Overall, this was a cute little storybook for kids. I highly recommend it for those who kids are 6 years old and younger. Its a nice story for kids who are just learning how to read and for those that just want to look at the pictures. I shall stamp this with 4 stars.

Book/Comic Review: Doctor Who by Nick Abadzis

Author: Nick Abadzis
Title: Doctor Who
Genre: Comic & SciFi
Pages: ebook
First Published: August 2015
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)





Take a blistering trip through time and space with three stunning ALL-NEW short stories featuring Tenth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor and the brand-new Twelfth Doctor

This was a free comic I got a while back. Honestly...I still think its free. But anyway - I love the Doctor and I do enjoy a comic book from time-to-time, so why not?

Well...this was a wee bit of a let down. It was so damn short!! I get that it was free and all, but really? Each of the three stories legit lasted one or two pages. The entire comic was maybe 9 pages and that includes the cover and all the other nonsense that none of read like publication info.

The art was okay. The first and last story the art was nice, but the second story with the 11th Doctor was super meh. He looked doopey as hell. :/ 

Also...I was confused who the people were following the Doctor? Clara was in the one with the 12 - totally get it, but the hell were the other folks? No names were mentioned, nothing. So I was confused by who and what was going on.

I get that this was free and all, but there was barely any work done on this. 

If you love this TV series as much as me, feel free to read it, just don't have high expectations. In the end, I shall stamp this with 2 stars.