Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

Director:

Roland Emmerich

Starring:

Jeff Goldblum

Liam Hemsworth

Bill Pulman

Plot:

Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-Solar threat. But will mankind’s new space defenses be enough?

Review:

Wow, just wow. This movie was just a string of clichés and tropes, there was no build up it was from the get go the aliens are trying to kill us, here feel something for these people. Nope, not going to happen. Here watch a woman sacrifice herself for a new mother and newborn. Watch this father give his life for his child. Watch this dork say things that get the girl to like him. This movie was seriously horrible, but not in a way that made it good. This movie was never good, never. They took an interesting premise, a good piece of source material to build from, and made a joke.

1/5

Pecan Pies and Homicides (Charmed Pie Shoppe #3) By: Ellery Adams

Pecan Pies and Homicides (Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries #3) By: Ellery Adams

Plot:

Owning the Charmed Pie Shoppe and serving enchanted treats in the magical town of Havenwood, Georgia, seemed like a little slice of heaven for Ella Mae LeFaye. But now her hopes for both a lasting romance with Hugh Dylan and business success are starting to seem like pie in the sky, and Ella’s left wondering: Where has the magic gone?   When an enchanted grove is set ablaze, Ella realizes she has more grave problems. With her magic waning, she’s going to have to sleuth from scratch to stop an arsonist who has no respect for sacred ground—or human life…
Review:

Still liking this series a lot. The world was further developed, as were relationships, and goals created in the previous book. I actually really like that one of her major goals was accomplished and not dragged out. Unfortunately, there’s still no relationship resolution with Hugh.

Ella Mae is learning to use her powers and learning about the world around her, most of that seems to be happening off screen, but that’s fine. I really like the combination Adams has made of paranormal and cozy, it’s pretty much half and half, neither dominates, which makes things interesting. I like it.

As a character Ella Mae is kind of growing on me, still not someone I care too much about, but not quite as boring as before. Really looking forward to the next book and hoping for some Hugh resolution.

4/5

Sense 8 Season 2 (2015-?)

Sense 8 Season 2 (2015-?)

Network:

Netflix

Creators:

J. Michael Straczynski

Lily Wachowski

Lana Wachowski

Starring:

Doona Bae

Jamie Clayton

Tina Desai

Tuppence Middleton

Max Riemelt

Miguel Ángel Silvestre

Brian J. Smith

Toby Onwumere

Plot:

A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world’s order.

Review:

Once again I watched the entire season before writing my review. If I could have watched this all in one day I would have, but I couldn’t because of kids and I watched with my husband so it took much longer than I would have preferred.

Anyway, if you liked the first season you’ll probably love the second. The pacing is much better, though there are still slower bits that I could have done without. Still more character development, but there was finally some story and world development as well. So much happened and each of the characters had their moment to shine, we were also introduced to some more Sense 8s which was fun to see.

Honestly, I love this series flaws and all. I still love Lito, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, episode eight with him had me laughing so hard. I don’t dislike the new actor playing Van Damm, Toby Onwumere, but I didn’t love him as much as the previous, really warmed up to Kala, Tina Desai, this season.

The final episode felt rushed, which is kind of crazy considering you never think that with the rest of the show. I’m hoping that if there’s a season 3 (there better be) that they go more in depth into what happened. If not I’ll be annoyed especially since the previous two episodes were the weakest of the series.

4.5/5

Lightning Blade (Ruby Callaway #1) By: D.N. Erikson

Lightning Blade (Ruby Callaway #1) By: D.N. Erikson

Plot:

After twenty years inside a supernatural internment camp, bounty hunter Ruby Callaway is granted a temporary release by FBI Agent Colton Roark to help capture a necromancer publicly killing high ranking government officials. Each year, on the same day, the necromancer kills. And today marks the eighth anniversary.

But after dying at the killer’s hand, Ruby discovers something strange: the day repeats over and over, in an endless time loop starting at midnight.

The killer has something much bigger planned for today. And Ruby, as the only one capable of seeing the necromancer’s endless time loop, must stop the psychotic necromancer from obtaining unlimited power.

But the world outside the fence has changed, the supernatural forced to live in sprawling slums lying just outside gleaming cities. And in this uneasy new world, there might be threats even greater than serial killers lurking in the shadows…

Review:

Lightning Blade is made up of things I love, time loops, futuristic settings, and a kick ass female heroine. Time loops are so rarely done, at least I seem to rarely read about them, that when I saw that was what this book was I couldn’t not buy it.

I’m still not exactly sure what Ruby Callaway is, she’s a realms something or other, but she seems to be unique but not over powered. She ages very slowly so she’s had some time to train, which explains the abilities we were shown. I’m curious to learn more, though.

The real winner, though, was the world created. A futuristic world with paranormal creatures is just so cool to me. Things, of course, aren’t peachy in the future, and our heroes must find a way to survive and break the time loop, but things are never what they seem.

I wish the villain had been better developed. The pieces were all there, but the only time I felt anything for him was when he was first introduced, after that it was just sort of, “oh yeah there he is again.” He wasn’t over the top and he had awesome motivation but I feel like he could have easily been expounded on.

Really enjoyed the book over all, though, and I’m looking forward to reading the next one.

4/5

Bad Boys II (2003)

Bad Boys II (2003)

Director:

Michael Bay

Starring:

Will Smith

Martin Lawrence

Plot:

Two loose-cannon narcotics cops investigate the flow of Ecstasy into Florida from a Cuban drug cartel.

Review:

I didn’t plan to watch this movie, but flipping through streaming services it appeared and I couldn’t not watch it. This is really Will Smith at his peak, him and Lawrence were great together. I didn’t plan on watching the full thing, but each time I started to turn it off something funny would keep me watching. I love the marriage of comedy and action. My husband says that this is the best Michael Bay movie and I think I agree with him.

4/5