ceedeegee57
Vancouver Public Library
ceedeegee57's Completed Shelf
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The squareThe square, DVD
DVD - 2018 | SwedishDVD, 2018. Language: Swedish
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Nov 13, 2023
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Sep 29, 2022
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Sep 19, 2021
Vienna BloodVienna Blood, DVD[Season 1]
DVD - 2020DVD, 2020
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Apr 21, 2021
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Apr 06, 2021
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2021
Comment:
So good it hurts ****1/2
A fantastic read, as well as a sharp intelligent science based speculation on the far future, self/humanity/"aliens" I flew through this and couldn't wait to get my hands on the "sequel" CHILDREN OF RUIN which is not so much "better", but a sequel that is willing to actually expand the world building of the first.
Some of the best "aliens" since Brunner's CRUCIBLE of TIME, and Forward's DRAGON'S EGG (but far, far better written than the latter.)
Tchaikovsky instantly entered my gallery of top authors, one whom I'd entirely missed before.
For those alienated by the bleakness of The Three Body books, this is the perfect anodyne.So good it hurts ****1/2
A fantastic read, as well as a sharp intelligent science based speculation on the far future, self/humanity/"aliens" I flew through this and couldn't wait to get my hands on the "sequel" CHILDREN OF RUIN which is not so…
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2021
Comment:
SUPERB ****1/2
A worthy follow up to the excellent CHILDREN OF TIME which is a different story, with perhaps some initial similarities, but RUIN builds off situations and characters making the first book richer. (As a side note, while not necessary per se, reading OTHER MINDS: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness a non-fiction book by Peter Godfrey-Smith which Tchaikovsky acknowledges as an influence I found deepened my appreciation of RUIN)
It's hard to say much without spoilers, but Tchaikovsky pulls off a fascinating twist on what may at first appear to be a stock sci-fi alien concept, in my opinion nailing not just the dismount but the entire routine/story. He also reunites us with intelligences met in the first book. The book is an exciting far future science based romp blended with some serious musings on intelligence, "alien-ness", humanity, self, etc.
If I were to add a one area for improvement it would be that while Tchaikovsky can write great female characters, he can slide into defaulting to males a bit too much.
Highly recommended, with CHILDREN OF TIME ranks on my top 20 of the last 5 years.SUPERB ****1/2
A worthy follow up to the excellent CHILDREN OF TIME which is a different story, with perhaps some initial similarities, but RUIN builds off situations and characters making the first book richer. (As a side note, while not…
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Dec 19, 2020
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Nov 25, 2020
Bullets Over BroadwayBullets Over Broadway, Music CDThe Musical : Original Broadway Cast Recording
Music CD - 2014Music CD, 2014
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Oct 01, 2020
Complete LettersComplete Letters, BookWith Reproductions of All the Drawings in the Correspondence
by Gogh, Vincent vanBook - 1958Book, 1958
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Aug 26, 2019
The Complete Letters of Vincent Van GoghThe Complete Letters of Vincent Van Gogh, BookWith Reproductions of All the Drawings in the Correspondence
by Gogh, Vincent vanBook - 1958Book, 1958
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Aug 26, 2019
BwoyBwoy, DVD
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Jan 10, 2018
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Jan 17, 2016
Comment:
It's well enough written (mostly, except... uh?!), and it plods along at a reasonable pace, but there are absolutely no surprises here.
Except Author Brian Francis' obsession with bodily functions. For example, certain subjects make Joyce "physically ill", but really do you know anyone who actually vomits because they think for a second someone even their son is gay? Francis pulls this one out several times. And Joyce spends a lot of the time in the bathroom.
Joyce's "change of heart" which is telegraphed from 1000 miles away (it's sort of the point of the story) happens because she meets a man who... what? Maybe reminds her of her son? Except really we've no idea because this earth changing relationship is not only not explored in depth, it's barely shown. Joyce changes because we've reach the part of the story where she's caught up with herself in the present (it's told as a series of flashbacks) so in order to go forward something needs to happen. ( Ignore the hype pleading with you not to read the last 60 pages in public as you'll cry, hard maybe more than once. I cry at everything, I was moved some, sure but beyond that?)
A well intentioned novel but there are lots of mother/gay child stories out there that are better. (There is one interesting plot twist that seems both contrived and yet, somehow not only does it provide the most interesting parts of the book, I wonder if it's actually happened... indeed I though it would have made a better centre focus for the book. )
See if you can dig up Consenting Adult by Laura Z. Hobson (it's a bit dated but it was the first really positive novel I read dealing with homosexuality, family and growth.) Or try "In the Gloaming" by Alice Elliott Dark a devastating short story in the collection of the same name.It's well enough written (mostly, except... uh?!), and it plods along at a reasonable pace, but there are absolutely no surprises here.
Except Author Brian Francis' obsession with bodily functions. For example, certain subjects make Joyce…
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added May 13, 2015
Comment:
So many RCW books are excellent. This one may in some ways be my favourite. It's got some really interesting ideas behind it, the characters are uniformly interesting and believable. The book is by turns a heart-wrenching family drama and a sf thriller. Its imagining of the nearish future and beyond is so real and finely textured that it's hard to believe RCW hasn't been there. Highly recommended, (indeed with RCW books even the weaker few are better than much fiction out there, and the great ones like SPIN/BLIND LAKE/GYPSIES etc are superb). I might take issue with the reviewer below, I love the fact that the novel has a good ending, without having everything tied up in a tight package. I find nothing unclear, but not everything is completely resolved. Sort of like life.So many RCW books are excellent. This one may in some ways be my favourite. It's got some really interesting ideas behind it, the characters are uniformly interesting and believable. The book is by turns a heart-wrenching family drama and a sf…
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Feb 24, 2015
Comment:
Robert Charles Wilson is one of my favourite authors. He is consistently good. This one is a fast read, with good characters and a chilling, thought provoking concept. For the most part RCW avoids pat easy answers to the questions he poses, instead trusting the reader to "play" with some of the ideas he's proposed. The "aliens" remain alien and somewhat unknowable, while we are given enough information to satisfy. In many ways he gives us no more than the characters in the book get, making the book the more interesting. If not as great as Blind Lake or Gypsies, this is still prime reading. Recommended.Robert Charles Wilson is one of my favourite authors. He is consistently good. This one is a fast read, with good characters and a chilling, thought provoking concept. For the most part RCW avoids pat easy answers to the questions he poses, instead…
Pixar Short Films CollectionPixar Short Films Collection, DVDVolume 2
DVD - 2012DVD, 2012
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Jun 21, 2013
Comment:
A couple of really good ones and way too much Cars/Mater Filler etc
The first collection is far superior, but then PIXAR has been erratic since the knuckled under to Disney.
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Nov 20, 2012
Comment:
I loved this, mostly for the writing. It's not the greatest ending ever, but It does cast light on a somewhat unknown (to me) way of life. I love the "voice" of this novel. Not for everyone but if you like the voice... read on.
CleanflixCleanflix, DVD
DVD - 2012DVD, 2012
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Nov 17, 2012
Comment:
Interesting doc about censorship & artistic ownership with an almost unbelievable jaw dropping twist. I don't mean to be offensive folks but Mormons are a bit crazy (seriously what is the point of watching a violent film with the deaths cut out of it? I'm not defending or attacking films, or beliefs but seriously folks if watching sex or killing is against your religion, then chose other movies - because actually you don't have the right to remove the Matrix's body count because Mormon elders say don't watch any more than you'd have the right to remove the Mona Lisa's smile if it offended you.)
They scare the crap out of me (they can be as fanatical and dangerous as the worst religious zealots of any stripe, they just hide it better.)
Well worth watching.
Here's the $64,000.00 question... Did he or didn't he?Interesting doc about censorship & artistic ownership with an almost unbelievable jaw dropping twist. I don't mean to be offensive folks but Mormons are a bit crazy (seriously what is the point of watching a violent film with the deaths cut out of…
Battle royaleBattle royale, DVDthe complete collection
DVD - 2012 | JapaneseDVD, 2012. Language: Japanese
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Oct 30, 2012
Comment:
I hoped and expected more from this. The reason for the whole BR law seemed slight and mostly illogical/nonsensical. I was vastly confused by the beginning and end. The movie never manages to build any real suspense, most of the carnage is poorly shot so it's often unclear who has done what to whom, and without emotional hooks to make me care. Little bits of back story are occasionally dropped in, but they amount to nothing, not really adding to characters (there aren't really any, they're mostly types) and said back story attempts to flesh them out seem random, unconnected, too little, too late.
Not dreadful, but not really good either, most slasher movies manufacture scares and emotion better than this.I hoped and expected more from this. The reason for the whole BR law seemed slight and mostly illogical/nonsensical. I was vastly confused by the beginning and end. The movie never manages to build any real suspense, most of the carnage is poorly…
Suitability
Ages 15
Hamlet 2Hamlet 2, DVD
DVD - 2008DVD, 2008
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Oct 30, 2012
Comment:
I like Steve Coogan, and the meta-nature of Shue's participation, and the cast is generally terrific. However this all just felt... lacking. Oddly underpowered, not as funny as it wanted or needed to be (or indeed thinks it is), not nearly as politically incorrect as it could have been. The best scenes for me were the ones between Coogan and the very young theatre critic for the school paper. Best line "I gotta get going to recess." Not a terrible time waster, but there is much better out there.I like Steve Coogan, and the meta-nature of Shue's participation, and the cast is generally terrific. However this all just felt... lacking. Oddly underpowered, not as funny as it wanted or needed to be (or indeed thinks it is), not nearly as…
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Oct 28, 2012
Comment:
Excellent read, won't tell you how to be happy exactly (it's not a "self-help" book, but more it will tell you why you make the choices you do and why you end up feeling the way you do about them after. Revealing in the best possible way.
Prayers for BobbyPrayers for Bobby, DVD
DVD - 2010DVD, 2010
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Oct 26, 2012
Comment:
Although made-for-tv is stamped all over this, I found it an effective and affecting drama with an excellent cast. definitely worth watching, the extras contain some great information.
It never goes deeper than it's subject, but the story is gripping and while emotional only the "hell" dreams/visions seemed manipulative - or just plain didn't work.Although made-for-tv is stamped all over this, I found it an effective and affecting drama with an excellent cast. definitely worth watching, the extras contain some great information.
It never goes deeper than it's subject, but the story is…
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Book
by Shaffer, Mary AnnBook - 2008Book, 2008
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Oct 12, 2012
Comment:
A mostly fun and fast read, with some interesting history behind it (bet you most people don't know about the occupation of the Channel islands by the Germans.)
I'm not sure that the book itself doesn't suffer a bit from the over reliance on the romance subplot(s) but the authors manage to make the epistolary format work well and succeed in building interesting characters.
If you can't figure out how it's going to end, well you aren't paying attention - and it ends far to neatly, but it is an enjoyable and occasionally laugh out loud read with a moving core (which if given precedence over the romance might have tipped this from good to great.)A mostly fun and fast read, with some interesting history behind it (bet you most people don't know about the occupation of the Channel islands by the Germans.)
I'm not sure that the book itself doesn't suffer a bit from the over reliance on the…
ceedeegee57's rating:
Added Oct 10, 2012
Comment:
Couldn't finish this (barely got beyond the first part), just not my cup of tea - and felt very familiar, and slow.
Comment: