aaropender
Lawrence Public Library
aaropender's Completed Shelf
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Format
True GritTrue Grit, DVD
DVD - 2011DVD, 2011
aaropender's rating:
Added Jul 27, 2023
TakenTaken, DVD
DVD - 2009DVD, 2009
aaropender's rating:
Added Jun 21, 2023
Come PlayCome Play, DVDViens Jouer
DVD - 2021DVD, 2021
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 12, 2022
The CursedThe Cursed, DVD
DVD - 2022DVD, 2022
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 12, 2022
aaropender's rating:
Added Jul 25, 2021
Comment:
This is Book 5 of an epic fantasy series; both book and series are shaping up to be well worth the read. Erikson's prose, pacing of character development, and plot pacing show clear signs of improvement in this fifth book. It is incredibly epic, dramatic, and tense. The author capably completes several threads, each of which were key to the plot throughout.This is Book 5 of an epic fantasy series; both book and series are shaping up to be well worth the read. Erikson's prose, pacing of character development, and plot pacing show clear signs of improvement in this fifth book. It is incredibly epic,…
Scary Stories to Tell in the DarkScary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Unknown
Unknown - 2019Unknown, 2019
aaropender's rating:
Added Jul 16, 2021
Comment:
It's a solid, very fun, and enjoyable creepy movie. The scare factor was on point; it wasn't centered on gore or on jump-scares, but on your imagination/anticipation and on some very fun monsters. The main characters were fun. The visuals and cinematography were effective. The plot was interesting.It's a solid, very fun, and enjoyable creepy movie. The scare factor was on point; it wasn't centered on gore or on jump-scares, but on your imagination/anticipation and on some very fun monsters. The main characters were fun. The visuals and…
High LifeHigh Life, DVD
DVD - 2019DVD, 2019
aaropender's rating:
Added Jul 16, 2021
Comment:
I have a strong appreciation for slow, thoughtful films. This one provided nothing to interest me and after 45 minutes, I decided that I had better uses for my time.
Godzilla Vs. KongGodzilla Vs. Kong, DVD
DVD - 2021DVD, 2021
aaropender's rating:
Added Jul 09, 2021
Comment:
They put a lot of work into the physics engine.
Too Much and Never EnoughToo Much and Never Enough, BookHow My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man
by Trump, Mary L.Book - 2020Book, 2020
Added May 27, 2021
Comment:
Full of truth and cold, hard facts.
The Shape of WaterThe Shape of Water, DVD
DVD - 2018DVD, 2018
Added Mar 15, 2021
Pee-Wee's Big AdventurePee-Wee's Big Adventure, Unknown
Unknown - 2008Unknown, 2008
Added Mar 15, 2021
MoonlightMoonlight, DVD
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
aaropender's rating:
Added Mar 15, 2021
Comment:
This is an effective, moving film: one that makes self-reflection almost impossible to avoid.
Amazing directing, acting, editing, soundtrack, pacing. Very moving.
Ford V FerrariFord V Ferrari, Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc - 2020Blu-ray Disc, 2020
aaropender's rating:
Added Dec 20, 2020
Comment:
Pacing and performances are tight for a 2.5 hour-long movie. Maybe a more fitting title would have been Drivers v Businessmen. Definitely worth your time, unless you simply detest motor sports.
The witchThe witch, DVDsubversion
DVD - 2020 | KoreanDVD, 2020. Language: Korean
aaropender's rating:
Added Dec 20, 2020
Comment:
It's a fun sci-fi/drama/action flick. It's not like an Avengers movie with fight scenes alternating with quip-based dialogue. The story takes time, is deep, and has emotional weight. Characters engage in meaningful activity and dialogue. Setups take time. Ultimately, a better than average movie.It's a fun sci-fi/drama/action flick. It's not like an Avengers movie with fight scenes alternating with quip-based dialogue. The story takes time, is deep, and has emotional weight. Characters engage in meaningful activity and dialogue. Setups take…
V/H/SV/H/S, DVD
DVD - 2012DVD, 2012
aaropender's rating:
Added Dec 19, 2020
Comment:
It's a string of disconnected shorts with a bunch of bloody, violent dying; and confusing motivations for strange and violent activity. Not worth having watched.
The Last House on the LeftThe Last House on the Left, DVD
DVD - 2008DVD, 2008
Added Dec 10, 2020
Comment:
Just tension stemming from random, thoughtless actions by dudes without empathy or remorse wielding weapons in front of two teenage girls. I couldn't get through it.
The Invisible ManThe Invisible Man, DVD
DVD - 2020DVD, 2020
aaropender's rating:
Added Dec 10, 2020
Comment:
There's a fair amount to like here. It's okay. There are two or three segments that pretty much evaporate my suspension of disbelief. A really good example of this has to do with the invisible man having paint dumped on him. The viewer sees the paint wash over the guy's head and shoulders and much of the top of his torso. Another character follows the trail of paint down a hallway and the trail trickles to an end within like 8 feet. There are no footprints. The paint is just gone. Then, the character hears a kitchen sink turned on, makes their way to the sink within like 30 seconds, and finds about half as much paint in the sink as had been seen on the invisible man; throughout all this and after it, the invisible man was never seen covered in paint. Moments like this really bring the film down. Dude walking around with paint splashed on him would have left all kinds of footprints and would have been incredibly visible.There's a fair amount to like here. It's okay. There are two or three segments that pretty much evaporate my suspension of disbelief. A really good example of this has to do with the invisible man having paint dumped on him. The viewer sees the…
Gretel & HanselGretel & Hansel, DVDA Grim Fairy Tale
DVD - 2020DVD, 2020
aaropender's rating:
Added Dec 10, 2020
Comment:
It's not action and it's not a slaughter-fest. It is a slow-burn, atmospheric fantasy thriller with tension that builds gradually throughout. The movie is well-made. The scenes look great. The acting, makeup, and effects are convincing, which is important with the shots used in the film. It's good if you're not just looking for blood.It's not action and it's not a slaughter-fest. It is a slow-burn, atmospheric fantasy thriller with tension that builds gradually throughout. The movie is well-made. The scenes look great. The acting, makeup, and effects are convincing, which is…
SherlockSherlock, DVDSeason Three
DVD - 2014DVD, 2014
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 29, 2020
Comment:
At least about as good as Season 1, and certainly superior to Season 2. The mysteries are more involving, the relationships more meaningful. The series certainly keeps me wanting to see what happens next.
LockeLocke, DVD
DVDDVD
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 26, 2020
Comment:
This is a challenging movie to pull off, and it was done very well. Hardy's lead is incredibly strong. Most of the side performers are consistently very good. The concept is provocative. The story was uplifting in a way that was exactly what I needed.This is a challenging movie to pull off, and it was done very well. Hardy's lead is incredibly strong. Most of the side performers are consistently very good. The concept is provocative. The story was uplifting in a way that was exactly what I…
SherlockSherlock, DVDSeason Two
DVD - 2012DVD, 2012
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 26, 2020
Comment:
A clear step down from Season 1; worth watching if S.1 was up your alley. This season focuses more on how Sherlock's mind and relationships work than on the mysteries being solved. As before, leaves a cliffhanger for Season 3.
The House That Jack BuiltThe House That Jack Built, DVD
DVD - 2020DVD, 2020
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 25, 2020
Comment:
This movie is incredibly difficult to get through, because the viewer is made to feel violence coming well before it is put into action. As I think Hitchcock pointed out, effective films are those that harness our anticipations and imaginations as much as reveal 'the payoff'. The final 15 or so minutes, though, reward you for sitting through what you sat through, and remind you that you are a good person who did not want the harm to take place.
As the product of a craft, the movie is actually very solid and well-made. As referenced above in this comment, the film is incredibly effective at evoking in viewers a profound and visceral experience. The performances, art direction, score and soundtrack, editing, and pacing are all top-of-the-line.
I appreciate that the movie was not over-the-top in violence or in putting physical pain in front of the camera. It's certainly a horror movie, but the physical pain shown is pretty short in duration.
Watch if you're into intelligent, artful horrors. Wait until you are firmly connected with your own 'goodness' as a person.
This movie really gets me to question whether I can stomach any more movies about people enacting violence intentionally or deliberately.This movie is incredibly difficult to get through, because the viewer is made to feel violence coming well before it is put into action. As I think Hitchcock pointed out, effective films are those that harness our anticipations and imaginations as…
SherlockSherlock, DVDSeason One
DVD - 2010DVD, 2010
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 24, 2020
Comment:
Very good show!
Ip man 2Ip man 2, Unknownlegend of the grandmaster
Unknown - 2010 | ChineseUnknown, 2010. Language: Chinese
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 24, 2020
Comment:
The first one was sufficient.
You Were Never Really HereYou Were Never Really Here, DVD
DVD - 2018DVD, 2018
aaropender's rating:
Added Nov 15, 2020
Comment:
This is slow-burn, suspenseful drama through and through. Phoenix is very, very good, here - nearly as good as he was in Joker, which would have been made shortly after this film.
Comment: