Review - I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four (2011)
PG-13, 109 Minutes, Action/Thriller/Sci-Fi
Director: D.J. Caruso
Stars: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant and Dianna Agron
Viewed on 02.26.2011
* * *

I've read several reviews of this movie over the last few weeks, and most critics didn't seem to care for it, in general, complaining that there were too many plot holes / things that didn't make sense.  So when Bob & I went to see it on Saturday, I was prepared to not have a very good time.  Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as many made it out to be.  In fact, I quite liked it - and not just because Alex Pettyfer is so pretty.

First of all, one should keep in mind that this movie is based on (adapted from?) a Young Adult novel of the same name.  So perhaps the fact that I went into the theater knowing that it was aimed at young adults lowered my expectations slightly.  Whatever.  I haven't read the book yet, although I intend to at some point.  The things that other people thought were plot holes may have just been the inevitable holes that occur when books are adapted into movies - there's simply too much stuff, and some of it gets left out.  Sometimes that means that explanations aren't fully realized, or that scenes that might have shed light on a characters' motivations might have been cut.  Again, whatever.  The movie was fun, enjoyable, and stuff got blown up.  Deep and philosophical it wasn't, but you knew that from the previews, didn't you?

Anyway, the movie begins with the shadowy stalking and death of a young man in the jungle by creatures unknown - and half a world away, John Smith, who is minding his own business partying with friends on a beach in Florida, is forced to witness the death as a glowing symbol is burned into his leg, and a sinister voice whispers that he will be next.  He and his guardian immediately flee, destroying all evidence of their existence, and travel north hoping to find someplace safe where the sinister aliens won't be able to find them.  John insists on immediately going to the local high school against his guardians wishes (the one point that didn't ring true to me - what teenager insists on going to school when told he doesn't have to?) and makes some new friends and some new enemies.  Soon the super-sniffing Mog aliens arrive and all hell breaks loose, but not before we find out that John himself is from another planet, one of 9 children hidden on earth when the Mogs invaded their homeworld and somehow imbued with special powers that will allow them to defend themselves against the Mogs that are hunting them.  There's lots more detail and filler, but I've probably already included more spoilers than I should have, although hopefully not anything more than the trailers show.

Although this wasn't the best Sci-Fi/Action/Thriller movie ever made, it's fun, and cute, and enjoyable.  I probably won't rush out to buy the DVD, but then again I rarely do.  I was a little concerned that Diana Agron wouldn't be able to act out real emotion or angst, (her character on Glee always seems a little flat to me), but she did all right as the loner teen Sarah. The special effects were pretty good, and any movie that destroys a high school can't be all that bad - Right?

Overall I give it 3 stars. (Did I mention that Alex Pettyfer is pretty?)

Next, I'm very much looking forward to "Beastly," a modern re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale (also starring the very pretty Alex Pettyfer).  And I'm simply dying to see Red Riding Hodd, which I think will be visually stunning, if nothing else...

Teaser Tuesday - Red Seas Under Red Skies - Again!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

The Tease:
""If I were to presume to give you advice," said Lauris, "I'd suggest that you stay away from the Amusement War for the rest of your stay. Do what the rest of us here do. Ignore it. Paint a great cloud of fog over it in your mind's eye and pretend that it's not there."" - Red Seas Under Red Skies (The Gentlemen Bastards #2), by Scott Lynch.

I didn't get much time to read over the long weekend, so I'm still working on the same book as last week, but I'm totally loving it!  So far this is a great sequel to The Lies of Locke Lamora!

So....What's your Tease?

Review - The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown

The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown, 02/13/2011 * * *

I was first introduced to Dan Brown years ago when a friend insisted that the read The DaVinci Code.  I hadn't even heard of it, and I found it to be both exciting and interesting, and the ending came from so far out of left field that it left me speechless.  I was hooked and needed more!  So I then read Angels & Demons, which was also very enjoyable.  But both of his other two novels, Deception Point and Digital Fortress, were slightly less than satisfying.  So when The Lost Symbol was published, I added it to my TBR list, but wasn't in enough of a hurry to purchase the hard cover.

So when I went to the bookstore several weeks ago and found that it was finally available in paperback I snatched it up and began reading.  This time Robert Langdon is called to Washington DC by the assistant of an old friend, and through no fault of his becomes embroiled in a mystery involving the Masons, the CIA, national security, and the lives of two of his close friends.  Following clues around the city of Washington DC, through historical buildings and ancient cathedrals, Langdon tries to solve the symbolic codes which may lead to a secret treasure, and the location and identity of a psychotic killer.

Initially I was put off by seemingly large number of flashbacks in the first few chapters, but quickly got used to this method of storytelling.  The novel is quite interesting, with lots of information regarding the founding of the United States and the beliefs of the founding fathers and the massive amounts (and meanings) of symbols used in the art and architecture of the capitol city.  The pacing was good, but the reveal at the end was slightly anti-climatic, I felt.  Nowhere near as good as The DaVinci Code.

Still if you enjoyed Angels & Demons and The DaVinci Code, then you'll probably enjoy The Lost Symbol as well, along with the whirlwind tour of Washington DC.  I have to say that if nothing else, reading this book as inspired me to visit a city that I've never been interested in visiting before.

Have you read The Lost Symbol?  What did you think of it?  Leave a comment and let me know!!

Teaser Tuesday - Red Seas Under Red Skies

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

The Tease:
""Gods, I feel old and sour. I see things like this and I wonder if I was that bloody stupid when I was the boy's age."
"You were worse," said Jean. "Until quite recently. Probably still are."" - Red Seas Under Red Skies (The Gentleman Bastards #2), by Scott Lynch.

So....What's your Tease?

If you were stuck...?

Over on Awesomesauce the question has been raised - If you were stranded alone on a deserted island, (or perhaps, an abandoned space station) what are the top 5 books that you would want with you?

It's a common question, and one that gets asked a lot, about various forms of media.  But it is a fun question to re-visit occasionally to see if our tastes have changed.

My top 5 are:
1. Dragon Prince, by Melanie Rawn
2. The Ruins of Ambrai, by Melanie Rawn
3. The Mageborn Traitor, by Melanie Rawn
4. The Stand, by Stephen King
5. Foundation, by Isaac Asimov

Now, I would prefer to have the entire Dragon Prince & Dragon Star series, and the entire Foundation series, but since the question was 'books' and not 'series' that sort of limits my choices.  These are my favorites that get drug out of the book case and re-read periodically, and that I never seem to get bored with!

So what about you?  What 5 books would you want with you if you were stranded alone on a deserted island?

Teaser Tuesday - The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

The Tease:
"For an instant, everything was white, like heaven.
Then he hit the ice.
Cold. Black. Pain." - The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown.

So....What's your Tease?

Covering the Cover - Heartless, by Gail Carriger

As I'm sure everyone already knows, several days ago Orbit Books has released the cover art for The Parasol Protectorate, Book the Fourth: Heartless, by Gail Carriger!

I absolutely lovelovelove the covers of the first three novels, but this one...not quite as much. Something about the way the model is looking directly at you instead of slightly off camera as in the other covers, I think, but I'm not sure.  Also, this one feels slightly less "steampunky."  Nonetheless, this will be a fantastic novel, and I cannot wait until June to read it!!

For more information on the book, and to see a larger image, go here.

So what do you think?  Love it?  Hate it?  Indifferent?  Leave a comment and let me know!!

Review - The Night Angel Trilogy, by Brent Weeks

The Night Angel Trilogy, by Brent Weeks
1. The Way of Shadows 01/11/2011 * * * * *
2. Shadow's Edge 01/20/2011 * * * * *
3. Beyond the Shadows 02/02/2011 * * * * *

This story begins with a young boy named Azoth who lives in the slums of a corrupt city and is part of a gang of thieves.  One day by accident, Azoth encounters Durzo Blint, a legendary assassin, and decides that his only way out of the slums - and to protect his other friends in the guild - is to apprentice himself to Durzo and learn to be an assassin or "wetboy."

Unfortunately for Azoth, or Kylar as he comes to be known, nothing is as simple as it seems, and even growing up, becoming the best, and gaining everything you could ever want or dream of merely brings on a whole new set of problems and impossible choices.

I literally cannot say enough good things about this series.  I originally meant to review each book individually as I finished them, but as I turned the last page of each book I was in too much of a hurry to get the next one started to even think about doing anything else.  Make sure you have books two and three on hand before you start the first, or you will regret it!

The writing is simply superb.  The story flows so seamlessly and smoothly that I at times forgot I was reading, as I was so immersed in the amazing world the author has built, and the incredible characters he has created.  Incredibly human and flawed, Kylar tries to do the right things - but how does one do the right thing when every choice leads to worse situations or problems?  Do you murder someone who doesn't deserve to die in order to save thousands of others, thereby losing the one thing that makes you happy?  Do you save the one you love or let that person die to save a country?

Kylar is constantly faced with impossibly difficult choices and extremely challenging situations as his country and city are invaded by barbarians who only recognize and appreciate brutality and suffering.  As the story continues into the second and third novels, there are brief times when it seems that Kylar may finally be rewarded for making those difficult choices, although those moments don't always last long and aren't even always what they appear.  The author liberally sprinkles quite a few amazing and stunning plot twists that the reader may not always see coming (at least I didn't - several times said plot twists left me sitting, mouth agape and forgetting to breathe for several minutes at a time while I tried to wrap my brain around "what the hell just happened there?").  Your pulse will race, your blood will pound, and there will be chapters that you won't be able to stop in the middle of - no matter what!

Overall this is an amazing series - I recommend it to everyone, with the caveat that many of the themes are fairly adult-ish in nature, and that there are evil characters who will make Darth Vader seem a saint.  Step carefully to avoid the blood and gore, but also keep in mind that the blood and gore aren't the point of the story - they are merely a necessary by-product that shapes the characters -both good and bad - into what they are becoming.  Beware the plot twists that you won't see coming, and enjoy the hell out of them when they smack you up-side-da-head.  But you will come to love the characters, and you will root for them, hope for them, laugh at them and cry with them.  Mr. Weeks has an amazing imagination, and I hope that you will find his creations as thoroughly enjoyable as I did.

I avoided reading this series for a long time, because I hate trying out new authors, but I can pretty much promise that I will not be avoiding anything Brent Weeks writes in the future, and will most likely be a fan for life.

Teaser Tuesday - Beyond the Shadows - Again!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

The Tease:
"Feir's limbs felt weak. He had a single moment to think, how embarrassing, I can't possibly pass--
Then he passed out." - Beyond the Shadows, by Brent Weeks.

So....What's your Tease?