Tag Archives: Julie Lynn Hayes

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 20: Showdown at Alubarna by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 20: Showdown at Alubarna   

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 3, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Luffy and the Crocodile are having a showdown in the desert, as everyone scrambles toward Alubarna. The Crocodile is a tough customer, but Luffy refuses to give up, no matter what. Is it possible he’s met his match? Captain Smoker announces he has other business to attend to and tells Tashigi to decide for herself what she wants to do. What is he up to?

Vivi and the rest of Luffy’s crew utilize a huge crab named Pincers to navigate the desert, but a problem arises when they reach the Sandora River. Oddly enough, this crab doesn’t like water! What are they to do? Looks like a job for Karoo and the Supersonic Duck Squad!  The Rebels are also on the move, but Baroque Works is determined that Vivi and Koza not cross paths. Wonder why?

As Usopp and Sanji race to Vivi’s aid, she encounters someone who looks like Usopp. But luckily she knows the difference.   The real Usopp and Vivi, along with Chopper, come face to face with Mr. 4 and Merry Christmas, and Usopp becomes engaged in a game of Whack a Mole! When things take a turn for the worse, though, he decides to flee…

There is a lot going on in this volume, not gonna lie. I found it confusing at times to remember who is where and doing what. Nonetheless I think we’re approaching the end of this arc, hopefully on to bigger and better things. I imagine we’ll lose Vivi after this, as she will be needed to take care of her kingdom. Perhaps things will work out with her and Koza and they will do this together. I admit I didn’t care for her at first, as a member of Baroque Works, but her real identity and personality have come out and she is much nicer than I thought. Another great volume, on to the next!

Saturday is Horror Day #203 – Carnage for Christmas

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Carnage for Christmas

Lola (Jeremy Moineau) is a true crime podcaster. She decides to head home for the Christmas holidays, albeit rather uncertainly, as it’s been a long time and she knows that not everyone is accepting of her as a transwoman.  She stays with her sister, Danielle (Dominique Booth), who loves her dearly. Not so much so her roommate,  Riley (Olivia Deeble) who has nothing but snide remarks for her.

But then Riley and her girlfriend Kat  (Lewi Dawson) wind up dead. Lola didn’t expect to find herself in

the midst of a trail of murders that seem to mimic what happened to her as a child, when she was the one who discovered the body of a young victim. Nobody seems to believe her when she says it’s happening again,  and it’s time to search for the truth, but at what cost?

This film came out in 2024, and was only 70 minutes long, but I have to say I enjoyed watching it. I saw it described as Australia’s first transgender holiday horror, and that’s a pretty accurate description. The main character, Lola, is a very interesting and strong woman with a great smile and no-nonsense attitude. I loved how her sister is so caring and warm herself, accepting Lola completely for who she is.

Naturally there are people who don’t accept Lola, but she doesn’t let these assholes get to her. Even the cops are less than helpful and quick to dismiss her. But in the end, Lola shows them just what kind of woman she is. It’s nice to see films about transgender people played by transgender people. I’d like to see more of Jeremy Moineau in the future. I give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #202 – The House That Dripped Blood

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The House That Dripped Blood

A seemingly harmless house for rent seems to be the catalyst for mysterious happenings.

Method for Murder:

Charles (Denholm Elliott) has a case of writer’s block, and the only cure is to take his wife Alice (Joanna

Durham) and get away from it all so he can get back to writing. They settle down to write in the house leased to them by agent AJ Stoker (John Bryans). Charles quickly immerses himself in his work about a serial killer named Dominick, who strangles his victims. Things are going well… until Charles begins to actually see Dominick. But that isn’t possible, is it? Dominick is just a character… or is he?

Waxworks:

Philip (Peter Cushing) has retired and decides to rent the house from Stoker. Searching for something to do, he comes across a waxwork museum, and becomes fascinated by the wax figure depicting Salome with the head of John the Baptist. But fascination turns to obsession, and them more…

Sweets to the Sweet:

Reid (Christopher Lee) brings his young daughter Jane (Chloe Franks) to the house. Deciding against   sending her to school, he engages a nanny/teacher, Ann (Nyree Dawn Porter). As Ann grows attached to Jane, she finds the man’s attitude toward his daughter to be rather harsh as well as stifling. But perhaps there is a reason why he does the things he does…

The Cloak:

Paul (Jon Pertwee) has made a career of playing vampires, but the new movie he has been cast in is less than inspiring. He makes fun of the cheap seat they’ve constructed to represent his castle, and the cloak they gave him is laughable. He decides to take matters into his own hands and ends up at a small costume shop. The proprietor sells him a much butter cloak at a ridiculously low price. But when Paul puts on the cloak, strange things begin to happen.

This anthology of four stories was made in 1970, and stars four well-known talented actors. Typical of its time, it relies less on blood and gore than on actual story and psychology. Not everything is what it appears to be, and figuring out the twist is fun. One of the writers of the film was Robert Bloch, whom you may remember as having given us Psycho. I liked all of the stories, but especially the last two. The story that binds these four concerns a Scotland Yard detective who is working on a missing persons case. There are no jump scares in this film, and perhaps it’s not terrifying, but it’s certainly entertaining and worth watching. I’ll give this film 3.75 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #201 – The Righteous

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Righteous

Frederic (Henry Czerny) and Ethel (Mimi Kuzyk) Mason have suffered a terrible loss in the death of their young daughter. A distraught Frederic questions why this has happened and goes to see his priest. Frederic also admits to certain difficulties in his marriage, although he loves his wife. The priest suggests perhaps he should return to the church – at one time, Frederic had been a priest. But Frederic dismisses that idea.

Later that night, while sitting alone in the dark, Frederic hears a noise outside. To his surprise, he discovers a young man lying on the ground, in pain and requesting help. Frederic is reluctant, but agrees to bring him first aid material. His concerned wife calls the police, but when Frederic returns to the young man, he finds him unconscious and carries him inside. By the time the police offer, Mary (Mayko Nguyen) arrives, Frederic claims – to his wife’s confusion – that the young man is a distant relative he hadn’t recognized at first and all is well.

Ethel is uneasy but Frederic assures her that all is well, although he doesn’t seem entirely sure himself. Rising in the middle of the night, he founds the young man, Aaron (Mark O’Brien) in the kitchen. Aaron asks for tea, so Frederic agrees, and they sit there together, talking of many things. Little does Frederic realize just how much his world is about to change.

This movie dates from 2021 and was shot in black-and-white, giving it an eerie almost gothic atmosphere. The excellent film score and direction adds to this, emphasizing the creepiness of the entire situation. The action is deliberately slow-paced and calculated to send shivers up and down your spine as you try to figure out what the heck is going on here. Twists and turns and revelations abound, along with in-depth discussion of life and religion, and the sins of the past. Definitely an interesting film. I’ll give it 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #200 – The Others

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Others

WWII has just ended, and Grace (Nicole Kidman) and her two children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley) are living in an isolated old family mansion in the Channel Islands. Grace’s husband Charles (Christopher Eccleston) is a soldier. Although he hasn’t returned from the war, Grace expects him to arrive any day now. She and the children love and miss him very much.

But an unexpected knock at her door turns out to be the servants she has sent for –  Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan), Lydia (Elaine Cassidy) and Mr. Tuttle (Eric Sykes). From the beginning of their employment, Grace shows herself to be strict and expects nothing less than complete obedience from them, especially when it comes to following her rules. For example one cannot open a door to a room until the door they’ve just come through is closed and locked – no exceptions. Also they must be mindful to keep the curtains drawn whenever the children are around as they are extremely photosensitive and the sunlight can cause serious damage to them.

Perhaps because of the house’s isolation, Grace becomes convinced that it is haunted. It doesn’t help that Anne claims there are people there inside the house, and that she has been in contact with a little boy named Victor. Grace grows more and more sharp-tempered with her children and the servants, as her nerves reach a breaking point. The unexpected appearance of her husband temporarily calms her but even that doesn’t last. She knows she’s heard people in her house and she is prepared to fight them to protect her children!

I originally watched this movie a long time ago, but as I couldn’t remember it very well, decided to give it another watch. This movie has a lot of atmosphere. The direction and cinematography are both excellent, not to mention stellar performances from all involved. Nicole Kidman won an Oscar for her performance and Fionnula Flanagan won one for Best Supporting Actress. Also, this was before I even knew who Chris Eccleston was, so pre 9th Doctor.  I highly recommend watching this film. I give this film 4.5 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: January 8, 2025

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A Rock and a Hard Place by Julie Lynn Hayes

The smell of toffee was overwhelming. For some reason, it reminded her of stories her great-grandmother told of the Great Molasses Flood. But that had happened back in 1919 Boston and this was 2019 Boston, and never the twain shall meet.

Breathe, just breathe, Carly.

She’d always had an overactive imagination, even as a child, as well as the most unusual interests for someone her age. Her favorite companion had been Richard Feynman, the physicist. It never mattered to her that no one else could see him,

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Saturday is Horror Day #199 – Sting

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Sting


Twelve-year-old Charlotte (Alyla Browne) feels as if the weight of the world is upon her shoulders. Her parents are divorced and her father is off in far-away Thailand, while her mother, Heather (Penelope Mitchell) has remarried a man named Ethan (Ryan Corr) and now they have a six-year-old son named Liam (Jett Berry). And Charlotte’s grandmother, Helga (Noni Hazlehurst) who lives with her sister Gunter (Robyn Nevin) in the same apartment building, but Helga has dementia and often doesn’t know the people who love her. Charlotte is very talented and creative, and she and Ethan are working together on a comic. But Charlotte feels ignored even in this venue. 

One day Charlotte finds a small spider. On impulse, she decides to keep it and raise it, but she neglects to mention anything of its existence in their apartment to either parent. From the beginning, this spider is acting strangely… and it is growing exponentially. Suddenly it’s not quite so small and cute, and it’s becoming a problem for all living things in this apartment building.

 

If you suffer from arachnophobia, this probably isn’t the film for you. There is only one spider, but it’s a doozy. The movie is pretty creepy and definitely keeps you watching to know what happens next. But it also has its humorous moments in the form of Frank the exterminator (Jermaine Fowler), who you might remember from Sorry to Bother You.

 

But although this is a story about a horrible spider that threatens to consume a family, it’s about Charlotte gaining a new understanding and appreciation for what makes a family, and finding her place in it. This is echoed in the story of another neighbor, Maria (Silvia Colloca) who has lost her family and would give anything to have them back. I believe it works on both levels, the acting and directing are decent, and it held my interest. Worth giving a watch, in my opinion. I’ll give this film 3.5 Stars. I was able to watch this movie on Hulu. 

Saturday is Horror Day #198 – In Her Skin

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

In Her Skin


Rachel Barber (Kate Bell) is young and pretty and very well-liked by everyone. Lovely and slender, her passion is dancing, and she takes classes at a local school. Her parents, Michael (Guy Pearce) and Elizabeth (Miranda Otto) adore her. But one day, Rachel does not get off the tram, where her father is waiting to pick her up, and life will never be the same for the Barbers.

 

 

Realizing immediately that something is not right, the family contacts the police, but they are dismissive of their concerns, and claim that it hasn’t been long enough to be considered missing. That she has probably run away. Rachel’s boyfriend Manni (Khan Chittenden) says he hasn’t seen her, and neither have her friends. Rachel is too dependable to simply have gone somewhere without letting someone know. But then Manni confesses that Rachel told him she was going to a job that night, one that paid a lot of money but was vey secretive, and that’s all he knows. The Barbers are naturally concerned what that might mean.

 

In Her Skin is based on a true story that took place in Australia in 1999. The stars in the cast are rounded out by Sam Neill, who plays the father of a girl who once babysat for the family, Caroline Reid Robertson, played by Ruth Bradley. The acting is top notch, not surprisingly with such a cast, and the concern for their daughter is palpable. Anyone who has children can relate to how hopeless they must have felt, wondering where their daughter was. As we discover the identity of the killer and watch her own descent into madness, it’s difficult to empathize with her, despite her difficult childhood and her feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing. At the end of the day, a young life was taken for no good reason. This is a story that will haunt you afterwards. The seeming indifference of the police is indeed maddening. I would have felt frustrated too.

 

I think this film is underrated and worth a watch. Just be aware that it is a difficult subject and does not have a happy ending. I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: December 25, 2024

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page. If you are interested in becoming a Wednesday Briefer, please leave a comment or email me at shelley_runyon@yahoo.com.

A Witcher Christmas by Julie Lynn Hayes

“Tell me something. Has Geralt always been so…” Jaskier floundered for words, something he was generally not at a loss for, and finally finished his question with “crotchety?” The petulant bard kicked disconsolately at an object situated alongside the path, then yelped in dismay after discovering said object was a rather hard rock which would not yield to his misguided efforts to dislodge it.

The slim platinum blonde he’d addressed patted Roach’s cheek and briefly nuzzled the patient horse before turning back to her companion. “You’ve known him far longer than I have,” she said bluntly. “You tell me.”

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Book Review: One Piece, Vol 19: Rebellion

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One Piece, Vol 19: Rebellion   

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: October 7, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Luffy and his crew are making their way to Alabasta, slowly but surely. Since Luffy ate all the bait they need for fishing, they are using Karoo, to Vivi’s shock! When they pass through a steam cloud caused by an underwater volcano, they are surprised to find they have gained an unexpected passenger.  He’s a bit of an oddball and claims to have also eaten the devil fruit. Only when a ship draws near and takes him off do they find out he is Mr. 2 Bon Clay of Baroque Works!

They reach Alabasta at last, only to find, to their alarm, a whole lot of Baroque Works ships behind them! They anchor the ship and Luffy takes off immediately, having smelled a restaurant.  Vivi is dismayed to spot Mr 3’s ship in the harbor. Apparently he isn’t dead after all. Not only that, but Captain Smoker is there as well. Luffy finds food, but then Smoker finds him. Off Luffy goes, Smoker in hot pursuit! Another unexpected arrival turns out to be Ace, Luffy’s older brother! Brother, what?

Meanwhile, Mr. 11 has been captured by a group who calls themselves the “billions”. They see an opportunity to make a name for themselves – at 11’s expense.  As Luffy and the others reunite, Vivi sends Karoo with an important message for her father. Of course, everyone wants to know about Luffy’s brother, who apparently has also eaten the devil fruit. What are the odds? For something that is supposed to be a rarity, they seem to find a lot of people who have partaken of it. Ace invites Luffy and his friends to join Whitebeard’s pirates, but of course he declines.

They set course for Yuba. Vivi intends to reason with the leader of the rebels, intent on avoiding future bloodshed. She is determined to rid her country of Baroque Works as well.  In the meantime, those same people are meeting at their headquarters, at the Spiders Café.

Luffy and the others arrive at Erumalu the Green City – but it isn’t very green!  Vivi explains that it was once upon a time, but that rain hasn’t fallen there in three years!  She also tells them about the King’s Miracle, which provided water to Alubarna – but at a high price. It’s gonna be a long, hot, and dry trip to Yuba across the desert sands!

We’ve finally reached the crux of the Alabasta arc and things are falling into place. We have Luffy and the others who are fighting for Princess Vivi, who is fighting both Baroque Works and the rebel forces. We’re seeing the assembled Baroque Works now, in all their “glory”. They have some real characters among them, that they do. There is backstory for Vivi, which yields very interesting information, especially in light of an unexpected reveal. And let’s not forget Captain Smoker, who is hot on Luffy’s heels! Things are really happening, looking forward to the next volume!