Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Ruchome obrazki by Terry Pratchett

4 reviews

crufts's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Moving Pictures is the 10th book in the Discworld series. It can be read as a standalone.

For years, lazy wizarding student Victor has managed to avoid graduating from Unseen University, instead existing in a comfortable limbo of unending student stipends. But one day he feels a inner calling to a land he's never been before: the land of Holy Wood. People from all over the Discworld find themselves gathering in the hot, dry hills, filled with strange thoughts and ideas - ideas about moving pictures captured in boxes full of imps, and the fistfuls of money to be made by projecting them on a screen. 
With Holy Wood's ever-rising trajectory of fame, will it be a place where dreams are made... or nightmares?

Moving Pictures is silly, irreverent, and doesn't take itself too seriously. It's very much like an action film, where the protagonist doesn't have any real internal conflict. On the one hand, this made it an easy read, and invited lots of spectacular action scenes - explosions, chases, etc. On the other hand, with the protagonist lacking more of an inner life, it also felt like the story was a bit shallow. But given that it's a satire of Hollywood, maybe that's the idea?

Because the book chronologically follows the other 9 Discworld books, it was fun to see some returning characters, especially from the wizard contingent and the Unseen University. These existing characters were integrated well into the story and stayed very much in-character.

The plot was very exciting and intriguing in the first two-thirds or so, as the mystery of Holy Wood is yet to be revealed. However, the final third was just "okay": after the big climactic showdown scene, the narrative still has to continue for a while in order to wrap up loose threads.

Overall, an entertaining and action-packed story, but without the philosophical depth that many other Discworld novels enjoy.

If you liked this, you may like: Going Postal
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tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
This book does have some fun moments. We get our first introduction to Archchancellor Ridcully and Ponder Stibbons. Gaspode the Wonder Dog is a darned delight. And that climactic scene is pretty edge-of-your-seat.

Still. My favorite Discworld books are the ones where Pratchett brings his keen perceptions and sharp humor to shared human concerns. "Everything in Hollywood is fake and trolls are stupid" proved to be a very thin frame to hang a book off.
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raidingkvatch's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

It’s Pratchett so it’s funny and fun and entertaining, but there’s not much plot until the end and I think he did it better with Soul Music (music instead of movies obviously). One Pterry’s weaker books. 
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theaceofpages's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

" You know what the greatest tragedy is in the whole world?... It's all the people who never find out what it is they really want to do or what it is they're really good at. It's all the sons who become blacksmiths because their fathers were blacksmiths. It's all the people who could be really fantastic flute players who grow old and die without ever seeing a musical instrument, so they become bad plowmen instead. It's all the people with talents who never even find out. Maybe they are never even born in a time when it's even possible to find out. It's all the people who never get to know what it is that they can really be. It's all the wasted chances. "

I always enjoy Pratchett's books that are clearly set in a Discworld equivalent of a real Earth place. In this case, Hollywood. People and animals alike ae being drawn out into the desert and don't know why until they get there - get to Holy Wood. The alchemists discovered how to make moving pictures and moved out there to get away from the ever judgmental wizards (although one of them ends u becoming one of their biggest stars). I enjoyed all the references to popular classic movies and the commentary on the movie making process. With all of Pratchett's signature chaos, randomness and puns of course.  I loved all the cut throat competition, crazy ideas and general weirdness of it all. With the mysterious darkness lurking underneath.  And I loved seeing more of Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler and his manipulativeness. I loved getting to see his ambition and how his mind works a bit after so many appearances in previous books. And of course the ever present flawed reasoning and somehow exceptionally functional some of the time reasoning of the wizards in the background. 

If you like movies, movie humour or just a crazy weird ride of the book this is definitely worth a read or listen. This is a standalone book in the Discworld series. While we do see previous characters, you can enjoy this book without knowing anything about them.
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