review

Reviews of the top geek movies, tv, and books in the industry.

The Way Back (2020)
I’m surprised you could keep him out of the bar long enough to hold practice. There are lots of similar sports movies like “The Way Back“. Moralistic stories about how a trainer manages to bring a floundering team to unprecedented heights. Preferably, the team consists of a few foul-mouthed hotheads who want to impress the others by acting tough. Usually, they have a talent for the sport they practice, but lack of discipline makes them miss constancy. To the annoyance of the appointed coach at that moment. Of course, they are allergic to any type of authoritarian behavior. Until the new coach comes up. Preferably an old sports star who can look back on a successful sports career and who comes to the rescue by using clever pedagogical techniques. First of all, he gives each of the team members a figurative kick in the butt. Suspends the most rebellious pain in the ass (who of course comes back crawling to ask if he can be re-included in the team because the sport is vital for him). Then the grueling training sessions begin in such a way that this bunch of misfits finally starts winning games and slowly propel them to stardom. You saw it in “Coach Carter”, “Slap Shot” and to a lesser extent in “Major League”. “The Way Back” follows this same scenario. Only here the coach is also struggling with his personal demons.
By Peter P6 years ago in Geeks
Review of ‘Amber & Dusk’ (Amber & Dusk #1)
Synopsis Lyra Selene weaves a lush and thrilling story of sacrifice, secrets, and star-crossed love set in a Parisian-inspired world where the sun never sets in this remarkable YA fantasy debut. Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies. So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers. But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to seize what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay. An extraordinary, vividly rendered YA debut.
By Cyn's Workshop6 years ago in Geeks
Review of ‘The Raven and the Dove’ (The Raven and the Dove #1)
Synopsis Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo! A princess longing to be free... On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon. A bastard aching to belong... Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him. Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart... Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her. Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove!
By Cyn's Workshop6 years ago in Geeks
Review of ‘Red Hood’
Synopsis A dark, engrossing, blood-drenched tale of the familiar threats to female power--and one girl's journey to regain it. Five starred reviews greeted this powerful story from Elana K. Arnold, author of the Printz Honor winner Damsel. You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked. And the wolf is angry. Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She's kept mostly to herself. She's been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou's past, and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods--frightened, but not alone.
By Cyn's Workshop6 years ago in Geeks
Review of ‘Spellhacker’
Synopsis From the author of The Disasters, this genre-bending YA fantasy heist story is perfect for fans of Marie Lu and Amie Kaufman. In Kyrkarta, magic--known as maz--was once a freely available natural resource. Then an earthquake released a magical plague, killing thousands and opening the door for a greedy corporation to make maz a commodity that's tightly controlled--and, of course, outrageously expensive. Which is why Diz and her three best friends run a highly lucrative, highly illegal maz siphoning gig on the side. Their next job is supposed to be their last heist ever. But when their plan turns up a powerful new strain of maz that (literally) blows up in their faces, they're driven to unravel a conspiracy at the very center of the spellplague--and possibly save the world. No pressure.
By Cyn's Workshop6 years ago in Geeks
Stand By Me - A Movie Review
Follow the train tracks and we’ll be there by morning. Just watch out for the train. Based on the novella by Stephen King, Stand By Me is a riveting 1986 film about four boys on a mission to find a dead body in the woods. Each struggling with their own dilemmas, this journey helps the boys reflect.
By Marielle Sabbag6 years ago in Geeks
‘The Lovebirds’: A Romcom Murder Mystery All in One Night
The last time I was physically in a movie theater (for Impractical Jokers: The Movie), I saw The Lovebirds’ trailer. I thought it looked cute, and figured I’d see it once it came to streaming services. As fate would have it, The Lovebirds came to Netflix sooner than expected, due to COVID-19 restrictions preventing the theatrical release.
By MovieBabble6 years ago in Geeks
Disney Plus' Hidden "National Treasure"
Disney + is brilliant and a stroke of genius commercially. You've got Disney super-fans who will eat up anything and everything from the Mickey Mouse House; you've got Star Wars fans who were desperate to see "The Mandalorian" and binge all related series and content; you've got Marvel fans, young and old, who are frothing at the mouth for the new MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) limited series'; you've got parents who need clean, trusted films & TV programmes for their kids of all ages; and then you've got everyone else who has some great, nostalgic connection with at least one of the films or shows in their library.
By Matthew Buck6 years ago in Geeks
The Banker (2020)
Sometimes you need to take a step back and enjoy what you’ve accomplished, baby. What an amusing movie this was. Such a movie you start watching and before you know it, the end credits roll across your screen. Even though the subject won’t get you very excited. The world of real estate and banking. A world populated with stiffs in perfectly fitting suits who prefer to juggle with repayment schedules and capitalization rates while using a jargon that a normal human can’t make heads or tails of. I sometimes have my doubts whether they understand it thoroughly themselves. And the reason why it became an entertaining film is not only due to the packaging but also because of the Holy Trinity Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, and Nicholas Hoult. A colorful (pun not intended) cast that effortlessly works through dialogues and plays so naturally that it seems as if they have been working together for years.
By Peter P6 years ago in Geeks
My Review of "Tag"
Tag is a pretty weird premise. It's hard to believe that this movie is based off a true story. Although I didn't want to watch it but the movie kept coming up on Netflix. I got suckered into watching as I always get duped by repeated advertising. Thankfully it didn't turn out to be the bad movie that I thought it would turn out to be.
By Brian Anonymous6 years ago in Geeks
My Review of "MasterChef Canada: Season 4"
MasterChef Canada: Season 4 had just finished off a really spectacular season with Season 3. After three seasons it's tough to keep the series fresh so that the audience doesn't find the activities monotonous. They also have to keep the contestants on their toes so that they can't fully prepare for what's in store for them later on in the show. Still some of the activities are pretty popular and you can't really get rid of them.
By Brian Anonymous6 years ago in Geeks
A Review of Fruits Basket
Tohru Honda finds herself homeless after her mother passes away. When a classmate discovers this, he and his cousins take Tohru in. The twist? They're possessed by Chinese zodiac animals, and they transform into their respective animals whenever hugged by a person of the opposite sex.
By Lucy Jenson6 years ago in Geeks