I'm going to go see this tomorrow - and I can barely WAIT!
What are your plans for this weekend?
Showing posts with label thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thriller. Show all posts
Friday, November 9, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Book Review - The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone Series, by Steve Berry
1. The Templar Legacy 06/09/2009 * * * *
From Goodreads:
"The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was-and its true nature could change the modern world.
Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts-and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he'd left behind.
It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton's former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who's far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she's not alone. Competing for the historic prize-and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses-is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command.
Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power, lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world-and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees."
My Thoughts:
Cotton Malone is a retired CIA agent who has retired to Copenhagen to open a bookstore, and is, for the most part, living quite happily in his new home. But that all changes when his old boss blows into town for a visit, and suddenly Malone finds himself swept up in a desperate chase across the city and eventually across Europe, as he deciphers secret clues to try to stop the plans of a crazy man who also happens to be the Grand Master of a new secret Templar cult.
The pace moves at breakneck speed, for the most part, although as so often happens, there is a section in the middle that I felt got a little bogged down. Full of murder and mayhem, blackmail, kidnapping, betrayal and seemingly impossible escapes, The Templar Legacy is quite good, considering that the first novel in a series usually leaves a bit to be desired. Characterization is a bit weak, I suppose, as it's a little difficult to get to know a character while he's running for his life, but that's a small quibble and something that does get better as the series continues. The subject matter feels impeccably researched, and the reader may accidentally find themselves learning quite a bit of early Christian and European history without even noticing.
Similar in tone to Dan Brown's Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, but smarter, with a heavy dose of James Bond thrown into the mix, many will find this novel to be controversial in scope and subject matter in terms of religion and Christianity. Nonetheless, I highly recommend The Templar Legacy. It's a fast, fun, fact-filled, fascinating, and fulfilling novel. If you like Dan Brown's novels, and aren't afraid of controversial ideas in your fiction novels, then I think you'll enjoy The Templar Legacy.
Have you read The Templar Legacy? What did you think? Did you find the ideas regarding Christianity too controversial?
1. The Templar Legacy 06/09/2009 * * * *
From Goodreads:
"The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was-and its true nature could change the modern world.Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts-and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he'd left behind.
It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton's former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who's far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she's not alone. Competing for the historic prize-and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses-is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command.
Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power, lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world-and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees."
My Thoughts:
Cotton Malone is a retired CIA agent who has retired to Copenhagen to open a bookstore, and is, for the most part, living quite happily in his new home. But that all changes when his old boss blows into town for a visit, and suddenly Malone finds himself swept up in a desperate chase across the city and eventually across Europe, as he deciphers secret clues to try to stop the plans of a crazy man who also happens to be the Grand Master of a new secret Templar cult.
The pace moves at breakneck speed, for the most part, although as so often happens, there is a section in the middle that I felt got a little bogged down. Full of murder and mayhem, blackmail, kidnapping, betrayal and seemingly impossible escapes, The Templar Legacy is quite good, considering that the first novel in a series usually leaves a bit to be desired. Characterization is a bit weak, I suppose, as it's a little difficult to get to know a character while he's running for his life, but that's a small quibble and something that does get better as the series continues. The subject matter feels impeccably researched, and the reader may accidentally find themselves learning quite a bit of early Christian and European history without even noticing.
Similar in tone to Dan Brown's Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, but smarter, with a heavy dose of James Bond thrown into the mix, many will find this novel to be controversial in scope and subject matter in terms of religion and Christianity. Nonetheless, I highly recommend The Templar Legacy. It's a fast, fun, fact-filled, fascinating, and fulfilling novel. If you like Dan Brown's novels, and aren't afraid of controversial ideas in your fiction novels, then I think you'll enjoy The Templar Legacy.
Have you read The Templar Legacy? What did you think? Did you find the ideas regarding Christianity too controversial?
Friday, October 12, 2012
Book Review - The Third Secret, by Steve Berry
The Third Secret, Steve Berry 10/18/2005 * * * *
From Goodreads:
"Explosive in both its pace and its revelations, The Third Secret is a remarkable international thriller. Bestselling author Steve Berry tackles some of the most controversial ideas of our time in a breakneck journey through the history of the Church and the future of religion.
Fatima, Portugal, 1917: The Virgin Mary appears to three peasant children, sharing with them three secrets, two of which are soon revealed to the world. The third secret is sealed away in the Vatican, read only by popes, and not disclosed until the year 2000. When revealed, its quizzical tone and anticlimactic nature leave many faithful wondering if the Church has truly unveiled all of the Virgin Mary’s words–or if a message far more important has been left in the shadows.
Vatican City, present day: Papal secretary Father Colin Michener is concerned for the Pope. Night after restless night, Pope Clement XV enters the Vatican’s Riserva, the special archive open only to popes, where the Church’s most clandestine and controversial documents are stored. Though unsure of the details, Michener knows that the Pope’s distress stems from the revelations of Fatima.
Equally concerned, but not out of any sense of compassion, is Alberto Cardinal Valendrea, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Valendrea desperately covets the papacy, having narrowly lost out to Clement at the last conclave. Now the Pope’s interest in Fatima threatens to uncover a shocking ancient truth that Valendrea has kept to himself for many years.
When Pope Clement sends Michener to the Romanian highlands, then to a Bosnian holy site, in search of a priest–possibly one of the last people on Earth who knows Mary’s true message–a perilous set of events unfolds. Michener finds himself embroiled in murder, suspicion, suicide, deceit, and his forbidden passion for a beloved woman. In a desperate search for answers, he travels to Pope Clement’s birthplace in Germany, where he learns that the third secret of Fatima may dictate the very fate of the Church–a fate now lying in Michener’s own hands."
My Thoughts:
So, it's been awhile since I read this novel, but I still remember how much I liked reading it. It isn't my favorite of Steve Berry's novels - I much prefer his Cotton Malone series - but reading The Third Secret was fascinating and enjoyable. As usual Mr. Berry has done what I can only imagine was a massive amount of research, which makes the story feel complete and authentic, and also manages to be informative about the history and workings of the Vatican without ever feeling boring or educational.
Suspenseful and exciting, the story is full of political intrigue, action, murder, with a little of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. The writing is solid and the pacing is good, though there is a bit in the middle where it bogged down a bit, for me at least. But overall, even though this isn't my favorite of his novels, I do strongly recommend it as an enjoyable read.
Have you read The Third Secret by Steve Berry? What did you think?
From Goodreads:
"Explosive in both its pace and its revelations, The Third Secret is a remarkable international thriller. Bestselling author Steve Berry tackles some of the most controversial ideas of our time in a breakneck journey through the history of the Church and the future of religion.
Fatima, Portugal, 1917: The Virgin Mary appears to three peasant children, sharing with them three secrets, two of which are soon revealed to the world. The third secret is sealed away in the Vatican, read only by popes, and not disclosed until the year 2000. When revealed, its quizzical tone and anticlimactic nature leave many faithful wondering if the Church has truly unveiled all of the Virgin Mary’s words–or if a message far more important has been left in the shadows.
Vatican City, present day: Papal secretary Father Colin Michener is concerned for the Pope. Night after restless night, Pope Clement XV enters the Vatican’s Riserva, the special archive open only to popes, where the Church’s most clandestine and controversial documents are stored. Though unsure of the details, Michener knows that the Pope’s distress stems from the revelations of Fatima.
Equally concerned, but not out of any sense of compassion, is Alberto Cardinal Valendrea, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Valendrea desperately covets the papacy, having narrowly lost out to Clement at the last conclave. Now the Pope’s interest in Fatima threatens to uncover a shocking ancient truth that Valendrea has kept to himself for many years.
When Pope Clement sends Michener to the Romanian highlands, then to a Bosnian holy site, in search of a priest–possibly one of the last people on Earth who knows Mary’s true message–a perilous set of events unfolds. Michener finds himself embroiled in murder, suspicion, suicide, deceit, and his forbidden passion for a beloved woman. In a desperate search for answers, he travels to Pope Clement’s birthplace in Germany, where he learns that the third secret of Fatima may dictate the very fate of the Church–a fate now lying in Michener’s own hands."
My Thoughts:
So, it's been awhile since I read this novel, but I still remember how much I liked reading it. It isn't my favorite of Steve Berry's novels - I much prefer his Cotton Malone series - but reading The Third Secret was fascinating and enjoyable. As usual Mr. Berry has done what I can only imagine was a massive amount of research, which makes the story feel complete and authentic, and also manages to be informative about the history and workings of the Vatican without ever feeling boring or educational.
Suspenseful and exciting, the story is full of political intrigue, action, murder, with a little of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. The writing is solid and the pacing is good, though there is a bit in the middle where it bogged down a bit, for me at least. But overall, even though this isn't my favorite of his novels, I do strongly recommend it as an enjoyable read.
Have you read The Third Secret by Steve Berry? What did you think?
Friday, September 14, 2012
Movie Review - The Bourne Legacy
The Bourne Legacy (2012) * * * *
Director: Tony Gilroy
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton
From IMDB:
"An expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on Aaron Cross, a new hero, who experiences life-or-death stakes which have been triggered by the events of the previous three films."
My Thoughts:
Over the last few years I have quite enjoyed the first three movies in the Bourne saga, partly because they are great action films, partly because of the "mystery/spy" elements, and partly because I'm one of those people who just really likes Matt Damon.
I do!
Stop laughing.
So when I began to hear rumors that a fourth Bourne film was in the works, and that it would NOT have Matt Damon in it, I was very disappointed and skeptical, and was literally mere seconds away from swearing a solemn vow to refuse to see The Bourne Legacy when I realized it was starring Jeremy Renner - who, as it happens, I like even more than Matt Damon.
Still I wasn't sure it would work. It's a new agent, ok, I can handle that. It's good to mix things up a little, freshen up the story. Then things started sound confusing - simultaneous timelines, different black ops agencies, and super-powers? Say, whaaaaaat??
So, yeah. But it turns out that The Bourne Legacy is a REALLY good film. Aaron Cross is an agent in a different program - the agents are treated with various drugs to increase their physical and mental abilities, and closely monitored and studied. But when Jason Bourne and Pamela Landy blow the lid on Treadstone, the resulting investigations threaten other secret programs, and the head honchos begin cleaning house to cover their own asses - eliminating all their agents and researchers. Cross manages to evade his own assassination attempt, and goes looking for the doctor who can get him more of the drugs that will help him maintain his mental acuity. Unfortunately, she's also being targeted by the agency for knowing too much, so of course, they both go on the run to try to save their own lives.
Shakespeare it isn't - but what it is, is loads of fun. Renner does a great job as Agent Cross, effectively portraying both the hardened agent and also the vulnerable not-so-bright soldier he used to be before the drugs opened his eyes to a whole new world that he is now terrified of losing. I've always loved Rachel Weisz, and she's amazing in this role - brainy, frightened, hysterical at times, yet pulling it together to get the job done when it counts.
Of course in a movie like this there's lots of explosions and chase scene, and while some have complained that there were too many chase scenes or that some of them lasted too long. I heartily disagree, but I will admit there was a brief moment where I thought, "Just escape already!" but then something awesome happened so it was all ok!
I think The Bourne Legacy lives up to it's predecessors and deserves 4 stars. A little more character development might have bumped it up to five stars, but overall it's a great action film, and if you like the previous Bourne movies I believe you'll like this one as well.
I'm way late on this review, so most of you have probably seen it already - What did you think of The Bourne Legacy? Leave me a comment and let me know if you agree with me, or if you think I'm all sorts of wrong about the film!
Director: Tony Gilroy
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton
"An expansion of the universe from Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on Aaron Cross, a new hero, who experiences life-or-death stakes which have been triggered by the events of the previous three films."
My Thoughts:
Over the last few years I have quite enjoyed the first three movies in the Bourne saga, partly because they are great action films, partly because of the "mystery/spy" elements, and partly because I'm one of those people who just really likes Matt Damon.
I do!
Stop laughing.
So when I began to hear rumors that a fourth Bourne film was in the works, and that it would NOT have Matt Damon in it, I was very disappointed and skeptical, and was literally mere seconds away from swearing a solemn vow to refuse to see The Bourne Legacy when I realized it was starring Jeremy Renner - who, as it happens, I like even more than Matt Damon.
Still I wasn't sure it would work. It's a new agent, ok, I can handle that. It's good to mix things up a little, freshen up the story. Then things started sound confusing - simultaneous timelines, different black ops agencies, and super-powers? Say, whaaaaaat??
So, yeah. But it turns out that The Bourne Legacy is a REALLY good film. Aaron Cross is an agent in a different program - the agents are treated with various drugs to increase their physical and mental abilities, and closely monitored and studied. But when Jason Bourne and Pamela Landy blow the lid on Treadstone, the resulting investigations threaten other secret programs, and the head honchos begin cleaning house to cover their own asses - eliminating all their agents and researchers. Cross manages to evade his own assassination attempt, and goes looking for the doctor who can get him more of the drugs that will help him maintain his mental acuity. Unfortunately, she's also being targeted by the agency for knowing too much, so of course, they both go on the run to try to save their own lives.
Shakespeare it isn't - but what it is, is loads of fun. Renner does a great job as Agent Cross, effectively portraying both the hardened agent and also the vulnerable not-so-bright soldier he used to be before the drugs opened his eyes to a whole new world that he is now terrified of losing. I've always loved Rachel Weisz, and she's amazing in this role - brainy, frightened, hysterical at times, yet pulling it together to get the job done when it counts.
Of course in a movie like this there's lots of explosions and chase scene, and while some have complained that there were too many chase scenes or that some of them lasted too long. I heartily disagree, but I will admit there was a brief moment where I thought, "Just escape already!" but then something awesome happened so it was all ok!
I think The Bourne Legacy lives up to it's predecessors and deserves 4 stars. A little more character development might have bumped it up to five stars, but overall it's a great action film, and if you like the previous Bourne movies I believe you'll like this one as well.
I'm way late on this review, so most of you have probably seen it already - What did you think of The Bourne Legacy? Leave me a comment and let me know if you agree with me, or if you think I'm all sorts of wrong about the film!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
TV News - New Official Poster for Season 3 of The Walking Dead
AMC revealed a new poster for Season 3 of The Walking Dead, which returns on October 14th - Only a few weeks away!
I love this new poster, and I think the tagline is great - "Fight the Dead. Fear the Living." Sounds like Season 3 will explore new territory and new threats to Rick and Company. So far, fighting the dead has been their main concern. Now they face a new menace - the living.
To me a prison sounds like a horrible place to take refuge. What are your thoughts on the new poster, or Season 3 in general?
I love this new poster, and I think the tagline is great - "Fight the Dead. Fear the Living." Sounds like Season 3 will explore new territory and new threats to Rick and Company. So far, fighting the dead has been their main concern. Now they face a new menace - the living.
To me a prison sounds like a horrible place to take refuge. What are your thoughts on the new poster, or Season 3 in general?
Friday, August 3, 2012
Book Review - The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith
Ancient Egypt Series, by Wilbur Smith
1. River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt (Have Not Read)
2. The Seventh Scroll 07/08/2012 * *
3. Warlock: A Novel of Ancient Egypt (Have Not Read)
4. The Quest (Have Not Read)
From Goodreads:
For 4,000 years, the lavish crypt of the Pharaoh Mamose has never been found...until the Seventh Scroll, a cryptic message written by he slave Taita, gives beautiful Egyptologist Royan Al Simma a tantalizing clue to its location.
My Thoughts:
I'm not even sure where I got this book from - I think it might have been out of a bag of books that my mom gave me. I'd never heard of the author before, and didn't even realize it was part of a series until I looked it up on Goodreads when I was about halfway through the novel. But even though The Seventh Scroll is actually the second book in a series, it works as a stand alone novel.
Mostly, I enjoyed The Seventh Scroll. The character of Royan was entertaining to read and easy to relate to, for the most part. Overall it's a decent story, and parts of it were fascinating. Many other parts were boring, dull, poorly written, overly descriptive, super predictable, and a few were actually cringe-worthy. And something that bothered me immensely, the POV changes randomly, sometimes even in the middle of a paragraph. I love multiple Points of View, but I'm of the opinion that the POV change needs to happen at a chapter break, or at least a section break within a chapter. But in The Seventh Scroll, the POV seems to change completely randomly, and didn't always makes sense to me.
As I read through the many reviews from other people, though, I almost wonder if I'm missing something. Many others seem to love the author and this series, and rave on and on about how good it is. I didn't hate The Seventh Scroll, but I didn't love it either. It's a good read, and starts well, but the middle part of the novel loses momentum and never quite picks it back up again. By the time I muddled through to the end I just wanted them to find the treasure and be done already.
I'm giving The Seventh Scroll two stars. I feel vaguely bad about doing so, but I'm also not quite willing to go to three stars and say I liked it. It was ok. I probably won't try any of the rest of the series, even though the first book in the series, River God, seems to get rave reviews. But I think I'll pass, for now at least.
Have you read The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith? What did you think - am I way off base?
1. River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt (Have Not Read)
2. The Seventh Scroll 07/08/2012 * *
3. Warlock: A Novel of Ancient Egypt (Have Not Read)
4. The Quest (Have Not Read)
From Goodreads:
For 4,000 years, the lavish crypt of the Pharaoh Mamose has never been found...until the Seventh Scroll, a cryptic message written by he slave Taita, gives beautiful Egyptologist Royan Al Simma a tantalizing clue to its location.
But this is a treasure cache others would kill to possess. Only one step ahead of assassins, Royan runs for her life and into the arms of the only man she can trust, Sir Nicholas Quenton-Harper-a daring man who will stake his fortune and his life to join her hunt for the king's tomb. Together, they will embark on a breathtaking journey to the most exotic locale on earth, where the greatest mystery of ancient Egypt, a chilling danger and an explosive passion are waiting.
Steeped in ancient mystery, drama and action, The Seventh Scroll is a masterpiece from a storyteller at the height of his powers.
My Thoughts:
I'm not even sure where I got this book from - I think it might have been out of a bag of books that my mom gave me. I'd never heard of the author before, and didn't even realize it was part of a series until I looked it up on Goodreads when I was about halfway through the novel. But even though The Seventh Scroll is actually the second book in a series, it works as a stand alone novel.
Mostly, I enjoyed The Seventh Scroll. The character of Royan was entertaining to read and easy to relate to, for the most part. Overall it's a decent story, and parts of it were fascinating. Many other parts were boring, dull, poorly written, overly descriptive, super predictable, and a few were actually cringe-worthy. And something that bothered me immensely, the POV changes randomly, sometimes even in the middle of a paragraph. I love multiple Points of View, but I'm of the opinion that the POV change needs to happen at a chapter break, or at least a section break within a chapter. But in The Seventh Scroll, the POV seems to change completely randomly, and didn't always makes sense to me.
As I read through the many reviews from other people, though, I almost wonder if I'm missing something. Many others seem to love the author and this series, and rave on and on about how good it is. I didn't hate The Seventh Scroll, but I didn't love it either. It's a good read, and starts well, but the middle part of the novel loses momentum and never quite picks it back up again. By the time I muddled through to the end I just wanted them to find the treasure and be done already.
I'm giving The Seventh Scroll two stars. I feel vaguely bad about doing so, but I'm also not quite willing to go to three stars and say I liked it. It was ok. I probably won't try any of the rest of the series, even though the first book in the series, River God, seems to get rave reviews. But I think I'll pass, for now at least.
Have you read The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith? What did you think - am I way off base?
Friday, July 27, 2012
Movie Review - The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) * * * * *
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Matthew Modine.
From IMDB:
"Eight years on, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham's finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy."
My Thoughts:
I totally loved this movie. I'm not even gonna try to be all critical and professional about it either. It's an awesome movie, you must see it, and you must love it!
*sigh*
Ok, fine. I suppose you don't "have" to "love" it. But I am betting that if you are a fan of Nolan's take on Batman in general, as evidenced in "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," then you probably will love "The Dark Knight Rises."
(Here there be spoilery things).
This third installment in Nolan's series felt to me like a perfect third and final movie in a trilogy. The story is involved, and fantastically layered, providing answers to questions that we didn't know we had, and tying certain events back to previous points in the story. (As an example, when the residents of Gotham's prison system are released, we see some familiar characters, who take an active role in the story as it unfolds).
The movie is long, and could have been made shorter with tighter editing, without sacrificing any actual plot content, but at the same time, it didn't feel like a long movie, to me at least. Several plot twists, and some truly great action scenes and character growth moments made this film a winner.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the way that Batman, who disappeared in disgrace at the end of The Dark Knight, is able to rehabilitate himself and his image. During his 8 year absence, the city government and citizenry have grown and learned to care for themselves - the police, who were previously too terrified to fight against the mob and other criminals infecting Gotham's underbelly, are now all too willing to fight against the terrorists, and take back their city when given the chance, creating a situation where Gotham finally doesn't need its' Dark Knight any more, but instead has the symbolism of heroes to look up to and emulate.
But the bottom line is it is awesome and you should totally watch The Dark Knight Rises on the big screen. I give it five stars, and even Bob enjoyed it. Go see it as soon as possible!
But when you do, take a moment to think about the victims and families involved in the shooting in Colorado. My thoughts and best wishes go out to them, with the hope that someday, the true meaning of what Batman and all the other Super-Heroes stand for will be realized and understood by everyone, and events like that will no longer happen in our world. As Bruce Wayne says, "Anyone can be Batman." Let's try to remember that, because we can all be heroes in our own way.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Matthew Modine.
From IMDB:
My Thoughts:
I totally loved this movie. I'm not even gonna try to be all critical and professional about it either. It's an awesome movie, you must see it, and you must love it!
*sigh*
Ok, fine. I suppose you don't "have" to "love" it. But I am betting that if you are a fan of Nolan's take on Batman in general, as evidenced in "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," then you probably will love "The Dark Knight Rises."
(Here there be spoilery things).
This third installment in Nolan's series felt to me like a perfect third and final movie in a trilogy. The story is involved, and fantastically layered, providing answers to questions that we didn't know we had, and tying certain events back to previous points in the story. (As an example, when the residents of Gotham's prison system are released, we see some familiar characters, who take an active role in the story as it unfolds).
The movie is long, and could have been made shorter with tighter editing, without sacrificing any actual plot content, but at the same time, it didn't feel like a long movie, to me at least. Several plot twists, and some truly great action scenes and character growth moments made this film a winner.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the way that Batman, who disappeared in disgrace at the end of The Dark Knight, is able to rehabilitate himself and his image. During his 8 year absence, the city government and citizenry have grown and learned to care for themselves - the police, who were previously too terrified to fight against the mob and other criminals infecting Gotham's underbelly, are now all too willing to fight against the terrorists, and take back their city when given the chance, creating a situation where Gotham finally doesn't need its' Dark Knight any more, but instead has the symbolism of heroes to look up to and emulate.
But the bottom line is it is awesome and you should totally watch The Dark Knight Rises on the big screen. I give it five stars, and even Bob enjoyed it. Go see it as soon as possible!
But when you do, take a moment to think about the victims and families involved in the shooting in Colorado. My thoughts and best wishes go out to them, with the hope that someday, the true meaning of what Batman and all the other Super-Heroes stand for will be realized and understood by everyone, and events like that will no longer happen in our world. As Bruce Wayne says, "Anyone can be Batman." Let's try to remember that, because we can all be heroes in our own way.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Movie Review - Prometheus
Prometheus (2012) * * * * *
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron
From IMDB:
"A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race."
My Thoughts:
I'm sure that by now you've probably seen the movie Prometheus, or read about it online. Even if you haven't seen it, you are most likely already aware of all the problems that have been noted by the many, many people who have seen the movie.
And really, there are lots of problems. I freely admit that there are a lot of things that happen in the movie, that when you think about it, don't make any sense. People make choices that are illogical. The scientists ignore basic scientific protocols. The guy with the nifty mapping probes gets lost. Another guy decides to touch something that most people would run away from. Why was the medical machine only programmed for one gender?
The list goes on and on.
The thing is, though, that for the most part, while you are actually watching the movie, you don't really notice all of that. And the reason you don't really notice all of that is because the movie itself is so big, and huge, and awesome, and amazingly gorgeous, and freaky, and wonderful, and terrifying, all at the same time, that while you are caught up in the moment you don't really stop to think "Hey, how come no one has asked her why she's running around half naked and covered in blood? Is this a common event that happens so often that no one around her gives it a second thought, or are her fellow crew members all just asshats?" It isn't until after you leave the theater and start to think about the movie that you suddenly realize that there were things that didn't quite fit.
In my opinion, that's a good thing. I loved Prometheus! It's awesome and amazing! It scared the crap out of me at least twice and Bob has the fingernail imprints in his arm to prove it. And I loved the movie not because it's perfect, but because it's not.
People do stupid illogical things, like take their helmets off before they know if the air is safe to breathe. People push buttons when they have no clue what those buttons do. People panic and get lost even when they are holding a map. Humans can be so passionate about something that they will do all sorts of stupid, dumb, illogical things while pursuing their passion. It happens.
In addition to that, one of the things that I like best about the movie is the level of discussion and thought that has resulted from people watching the film. This movie has made people think - not just about what's wrong with the movie, but with bigger things, like philosophy, and creation myths, and archetypal personality-types, the origin of the universe, relationships between a creator and its' creation, and what being human means. Folks are writing articles and blog posts and tweets about this movie and how their perceptions of these concepts, and the resulting dialogue has been fascinating. To me, at least.
But that's what I think a truly great movie should really do - make people think. About stuff that doesn't even have anything to do with the actual story being told in the film. Of course a movie should tell a good story, and this is where Prometheus falters slightly, but it more than makes up for its' missteps by taking people's mind and thoughts and hurtling them different directions and causing conversations about ideas.
That's why I give Prometheus five stars. That's what I loved the most, and that's why I think everyone should see it, no matter whether or not you like Science-Fiction, or Horror, or Suspense-Thrillers. Prometheus is all those things, and also so much more.
Have you seen Prometheus? Do you agree or disagree with me? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments!
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron
From IMDB:
My Thoughts:
I'm sure that by now you've probably seen the movie Prometheus, or read about it online. Even if you haven't seen it, you are most likely already aware of all the problems that have been noted by the many, many people who have seen the movie.
And really, there are lots of problems. I freely admit that there are a lot of things that happen in the movie, that when you think about it, don't make any sense. People make choices that are illogical. The scientists ignore basic scientific protocols. The guy with the nifty mapping probes gets lost. Another guy decides to touch something that most people would run away from. Why was the medical machine only programmed for one gender?
The list goes on and on.
The thing is, though, that for the most part, while you are actually watching the movie, you don't really notice all of that. And the reason you don't really notice all of that is because the movie itself is so big, and huge, and awesome, and amazingly gorgeous, and freaky, and wonderful, and terrifying, all at the same time, that while you are caught up in the moment you don't really stop to think "Hey, how come no one has asked her why she's running around half naked and covered in blood? Is this a common event that happens so often that no one around her gives it a second thought, or are her fellow crew members all just asshats?" It isn't until after you leave the theater and start to think about the movie that you suddenly realize that there were things that didn't quite fit.
In my opinion, that's a good thing. I loved Prometheus! It's awesome and amazing! It scared the crap out of me at least twice and Bob has the fingernail imprints in his arm to prove it. And I loved the movie not because it's perfect, but because it's not.
People do stupid illogical things, like take their helmets off before they know if the air is safe to breathe. People push buttons when they have no clue what those buttons do. People panic and get lost even when they are holding a map. Humans can be so passionate about something that they will do all sorts of stupid, dumb, illogical things while pursuing their passion. It happens.
In addition to that, one of the things that I like best about the movie is the level of discussion and thought that has resulted from people watching the film. This movie has made people think - not just about what's wrong with the movie, but with bigger things, like philosophy, and creation myths, and archetypal personality-types, the origin of the universe, relationships between a creator and its' creation, and what being human means. Folks are writing articles and blog posts and tweets about this movie and how their perceptions of these concepts, and the resulting dialogue has been fascinating. To me, at least.
But that's what I think a truly great movie should really do - make people think. About stuff that doesn't even have anything to do with the actual story being told in the film. Of course a movie should tell a good story, and this is where Prometheus falters slightly, but it more than makes up for its' missteps by taking people's mind and thoughts and hurtling them different directions and causing conversations about ideas.
That's why I give Prometheus five stars. That's what I loved the most, and that's why I think everyone should see it, no matter whether or not you like Science-Fiction, or Horror, or Suspense-Thrillers. Prometheus is all those things, and also so much more.
Have you seen Prometheus? Do you agree or disagree with me? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Teaser Tuesday - The Seventh Scroll
* 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!
----------
Royan and her business partner Nicholas have traveled from England to Ethiopia in search of a lost Pharaoh's tomb written about in an ancient scroll. They have searched the Nile river for clues to the secret location, and have found carvings in a cliff wall that may lead them closer to their goal. They've also been shot at, nearly died in an explosion, and kicked out of Ethiopa. Now back in England, they plan to return and try to claim the Pharaoh's treasure before the man who killed Royan's husband, Herr von Schiller, can steal it from them.
Royan and her business partner Nicholas have traveled from England to Ethiopia in search of a lost Pharaoh's tomb written about in an ancient scroll. They have searched the Nile river for clues to the secret location, and have found carvings in a cliff wall that may lead them closer to their goal. They've also been shot at, nearly died in an explosion, and kicked out of Ethiopa. Now back in England, they plan to return and try to claim the Pharaoh's treasure before the man who killed Royan's husband, Herr von Schiller, can steal it from them.
The Tease:
"Von Schiller had gone ashen pale as he listened. Sweat beaded upon his forehead, and his voice was hoarse and chesty as he asked, "A royal mummy?""
-The Seventh Scroll, by Wilbur Smith
What's your Tease?
Monday, June 18, 2012
Teaser Tuesday - The Seventh Scroll
* 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!
----------
Royan and her new partner Nicholas have traveled from England to Ethiopia in search of a lost Pharaoh's tomb written about in an ancient scroll. They have searched the Nile river for clues to the secret location, and have found carvings in a cliff wall that may lead them closer to their goal.
Royan and her new partner Nicholas have traveled from England to Ethiopia in search of a lost Pharaoh's tomb written about in an ancient scroll. They have searched the Nile river for clues to the secret location, and have found carvings in a cliff wall that may lead them closer to their goal.
The Tease:
"Swimming on downwards, he found another niche, then another. Four rows of niches, twenty-four feet below the surface. His ears were popping and squeaking as the pressure squeezed the air out of his Eustachian tubes. His eyes were wide open, but the waters below him were dark and turbid."
-The Seventh Scroll, by Wilbur Smith
What's your Tease?
Monday, June 4, 2012
Teaser Tuesday - The Seventh Scroll
* 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!
----------
Over the weekend I posted a message to both Twitter and Facebook, asking my followers to vote on which book I should read next - either 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson, or Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds. Then while I was waiting for people to vote I accidentally started reading The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith instead...
Royan Al Simma is a beautiful, young Egyptologist who has just witnessed the murder of her husband, who was apparently killed for the information he possessed. Together they had been translating a series of scrolls written by a slave nearly 4000 years ago which might lead to a fabulous treasure tomb. Now the people who killed her husband are after her, trying to eliminate all information about the scrolls, and anyone who knows about them.
Royan Al Simma is a beautiful, young Egyptologist who has just witnessed the murder of her husband, who was apparently killed for the information he possessed. Together they had been translating a series of scrolls written by a slave nearly 4000 years ago which might lead to a fabulous treasure tomb. Now the people who killed her husband are after her, trying to eliminate all information about the scrolls, and anyone who knows about them.
The Tease:
"Holding the queen in her good hand she moved like a sleepwalker to her desk below the window. Her PC was wrecked. They had shattered the screen and hacked the mainframe with what must have been an axe. She could tell at a glance that there was no information left on the hard drive; it was beyond repair."
-The Seventh Scroll, by Wilbur Smith
What's your Tease?
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Movie Review - The Avengers
Marvel's The Avengers (2012) * * * * *
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johnasson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Clark Gregg
From IMDB:
"Nick Fury is (the) director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster."
My Thoughts:
The short version is that I honestly think that Hollywood should just roll up the sidewalks and stop making superhero movies, because this is the best they've ever done, and I can't imagine that they will ever do a better superhero movie!
Joss Whedon does an amazing job as director (and writer!) with this film, and it's full of comments, references, and humor that Whedon fans will instantly recognize. I don't want to spoil anything, (but really if you haven't seen it stop waiting and go already!), so I'll try not to mention the plot too much.
To me it felt like the first half of the movie spent a lot of time dealing with the age old questions of "if this hero was in a fight with that hero, who would win.?" When the Avengers are assembled by director Fury, there's a lot of time spent bickering and posturing, and initially the team doesn't want to work together, because they are not used to the concept of being a team. Through a series of events orchestrated by Loki, and then later manipulated by Fury, the group of heroes pull together to fight against the overwhelming threat to Earth. The second half of the film follows the epic battle as they use their own strengths, and weaknesses, to fight the enemy as a unit, instead of battling each other.
The film is fast paced with very few slow moments, and I hardly noticed that the movie was over two hours long, as it all flies by so fast. The special effects are amazing, and overall the movie is just plain Fun!! Even someone who isn't a fan of the Marvel comics or familiar with the characters back-stories can still enjoy the movie and follow the plot.
Bottom line - The Avengers is an awesomely fun film that anyone, young or old, can enjoy. I can't even think of a single thing that I didn't love about it. I'm giving it five stars, and even Bob thought it was a pretty good movie! So if you haven't seen it yet go now. And make sure you stay all the way to the very very end of the credits, there are two scenes you won't want to miss!
Have you seen The Avengers yet? What did you think? Leave a comment and let me know!
Director: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johnasson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Clark Gregg
From IMDB:
My Thoughts:
The short version is that I honestly think that Hollywood should just roll up the sidewalks and stop making superhero movies, because this is the best they've ever done, and I can't imagine that they will ever do a better superhero movie!
Joss Whedon does an amazing job as director (and writer!) with this film, and it's full of comments, references, and humor that Whedon fans will instantly recognize. I don't want to spoil anything, (but really if you haven't seen it stop waiting and go already!), so I'll try not to mention the plot too much.
To me it felt like the first half of the movie spent a lot of time dealing with the age old questions of "if this hero was in a fight with that hero, who would win.?" When the Avengers are assembled by director Fury, there's a lot of time spent bickering and posturing, and initially the team doesn't want to work together, because they are not used to the concept of being a team. Through a series of events orchestrated by Loki, and then later manipulated by Fury, the group of heroes pull together to fight against the overwhelming threat to Earth. The second half of the film follows the epic battle as they use their own strengths, and weaknesses, to fight the enemy as a unit, instead of battling each other.
The film is fast paced with very few slow moments, and I hardly noticed that the movie was over two hours long, as it all flies by so fast. The special effects are amazing, and overall the movie is just plain Fun!! Even someone who isn't a fan of the Marvel comics or familiar with the characters back-stories can still enjoy the movie and follow the plot.
Bottom line - The Avengers is an awesomely fun film that anyone, young or old, can enjoy. I can't even think of a single thing that I didn't love about it. I'm giving it five stars, and even Bob thought it was a pretty good movie! So if you haven't seen it yet go now. And make sure you stay all the way to the very very end of the credits, there are two scenes you won't want to miss!
Have you seen The Avengers yet? What did you think? Leave a comment and let me know!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Movie Review - The Raven
The Raven (2012) * * * * *
Director: James McTeigue
Stars: John Cusack, Alice Eve and Luke Evans
From IMDB:
"When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's works, a young Baltimore detective joins forces with Poe to stop him from making his stories a reality."
My Thoughts:
This movie is bloody brilliant. Go see it now!
What? You want more?
(sigh)
Ok here's the deal. Bob's been wanting to see this movie for weeks, and while I thought it might be interesting, I wasn't nearly as excited about it as he was. But it turns out that The Raven is totally amazing. John Cusack (whom I adore) was completely brilliant as the washed-up has-been Poe, who is having an illicit affair with Emily Hamilton, the love of his life, when suddenly an insane person begins committing grisly murders that are based on Poe's stories. Detective Fields, played by Luke Evans, notices the connection to Poe's horror tales and drags Poe in as a consultant. But when the psychotic killer kidnaps Emily in a shocking and dramatic fashion, Poe and Detective Fields must race against the clock to solve the mystery in time to save young Emily's life.
One of the great things about the film is that even though Emily is kidnapped, she isn't a shrinking-violet or damsel-in-distress type at all, and fights back against the kidnapper in some ingenious ways, which was thrilling to watch. Rather than waiting around for some man to show up and rescue her, she does everything she can to rescue her own damn self, and at one point very nearly succeeds. Alice Eve plays the role of Emily, and does a darn fine job of portraying a strong woman who isn't afraid to fight back.
The film mixes multiple genres easily and almost defies definition - is it comedy horror, or mystery thriller? Yes, totally. Police procedural / romance? Sure, there's some of that too. The narrative weaves in and out of all these smoothly and seamlessly while telling the story from several perspectives, which has the advantage of making the viewer doubt who the killer is and keeps one guessing until almost the very end. It is, simply put, a bloody brilliant movie!
And I should mention that it is bloody in several places. Most of the "icky" isn't any worse than what one would see on TV in shows like "Bones" or any of the "CSI" shows, but there is one scene specifically that made me squeamish, and that's where the killer is imitating the Pit and the Pendulum. It's straight up gross, I'm not gonna lie. Thankfully, it was also very short, and most of the horror derives from the suspense and anticipation than the actual gory act of the death itself.
Other than that it was a great movie, and I loved it far more than I expected I would. John Cusack seriously shines in the role, and I highly recommend The Raven, even to folks who might not normally be a fan of the horror genre. Give it a chance and there might be something there you'll like. Just watch out for giant falling metal blades.
Have you seen The Raven yet? What'd you think? Let me know in the comments!
Director: James McTeigue
Stars: John Cusack, Alice Eve and Luke Evans
From IMDB:
My Thoughts:
This movie is bloody brilliant. Go see it now!
What? You want more?
(sigh)
Ok here's the deal. Bob's been wanting to see this movie for weeks, and while I thought it might be interesting, I wasn't nearly as excited about it as he was. But it turns out that The Raven is totally amazing. John Cusack (whom I adore) was completely brilliant as the washed-up has-been Poe, who is having an illicit affair with Emily Hamilton, the love of his life, when suddenly an insane person begins committing grisly murders that are based on Poe's stories. Detective Fields, played by Luke Evans, notices the connection to Poe's horror tales and drags Poe in as a consultant. But when the psychotic killer kidnaps Emily in a shocking and dramatic fashion, Poe and Detective Fields must race against the clock to solve the mystery in time to save young Emily's life.
One of the great things about the film is that even though Emily is kidnapped, she isn't a shrinking-violet or damsel-in-distress type at all, and fights back against the kidnapper in some ingenious ways, which was thrilling to watch. Rather than waiting around for some man to show up and rescue her, she does everything she can to rescue her own damn self, and at one point very nearly succeeds. Alice Eve plays the role of Emily, and does a darn fine job of portraying a strong woman who isn't afraid to fight back.
The film mixes multiple genres easily and almost defies definition - is it comedy horror, or mystery thriller? Yes, totally. Police procedural / romance? Sure, there's some of that too. The narrative weaves in and out of all these smoothly and seamlessly while telling the story from several perspectives, which has the advantage of making the viewer doubt who the killer is and keeps one guessing until almost the very end. It is, simply put, a bloody brilliant movie!
And I should mention that it is bloody in several places. Most of the "icky" isn't any worse than what one would see on TV in shows like "Bones" or any of the "CSI" shows, but there is one scene specifically that made me squeamish, and that's where the killer is imitating the Pit and the Pendulum. It's straight up gross, I'm not gonna lie. Thankfully, it was also very short, and most of the horror derives from the suspense and anticipation than the actual gory act of the death itself.
Other than that it was a great movie, and I loved it far more than I expected I would. John Cusack seriously shines in the role, and I highly recommend The Raven, even to folks who might not normally be a fan of the horror genre. Give it a chance and there might be something there you'll like. Just watch out for giant falling metal blades.
Have you seen The Raven yet? What'd you think? Let me know in the comments!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Movie Review - Underworld: Awakening
Underworld: Awakening (2012) * * * *
Directors: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy and India Eisley
From IMDB:
"When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans,
a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress
Selene leads the battle against humankind."
My Thoughts:
So, I wasn't really sure that the world need a fourth installment in the Underworld franchise, but I figured, I've seen the other three so I might as well see this one, too. And I have to admit that it really was fairly enjoyable. Instead of following the same formula as the previous movies in the series, "Awakening" takes a sharp turn and takes the series in a whole new direction. Through the voice-over in the opening sequence we learn that somehow humans became aware of the vampires and the Lycans, probably due to the war being waged between the two groups, and humanity banded together to destroy them both, nearly wiping out the Lycans completely and driving the vampire clans deep underground - literally.
What follows is a refreshing change, because instead of being sort of tragic love story, "Awakening" is all about Selene the fierce protector and avenger! And she does it well! The action and fight scenes are amazing, and the 3D was extremely well done.
I quite enjoyed "Awakening," far more than any of the first 3 movies in the series. Fans of the series will most likely enjoy it, and it's not a bad place for newcomers to join in, as extensive knowledge of the previous films only enhances the moves, but isn't required to follow the tale. "Underworld: Awakening" gets four stars from me, and even Bob thought it was pretty good.
Have you seen "Underworld: Awakening" yet? What did you think? Leave a comment below!
Movies I'm itching to see:
John Carter
The Hunger Games (OMG - it's sad how badly I want to see this!)
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Mirror, Mirror
Wrath of the Titans
Directors: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy and India Eisley
From IMDB:
My Thoughts:
So, I wasn't really sure that the world need a fourth installment in the Underworld franchise, but I figured, I've seen the other three so I might as well see this one, too. And I have to admit that it really was fairly enjoyable. Instead of following the same formula as the previous movies in the series, "Awakening" takes a sharp turn and takes the series in a whole new direction. Through the voice-over in the opening sequence we learn that somehow humans became aware of the vampires and the Lycans, probably due to the war being waged between the two groups, and humanity banded together to destroy them both, nearly wiping out the Lycans completely and driving the vampire clans deep underground - literally.
What follows is a refreshing change, because instead of being sort of tragic love story, "Awakening" is all about Selene the fierce protector and avenger! And she does it well! The action and fight scenes are amazing, and the 3D was extremely well done.
I quite enjoyed "Awakening," far more than any of the first 3 movies in the series. Fans of the series will most likely enjoy it, and it's not a bad place for newcomers to join in, as extensive knowledge of the previous films only enhances the moves, but isn't required to follow the tale. "Underworld: Awakening" gets four stars from me, and even Bob thought it was pretty good.
Have you seen "Underworld: Awakening" yet? What did you think? Leave a comment below!
Movies I'm itching to see:
John Carter
The Hunger Games (OMG - it's sad how badly I want to see this!)
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Mirror, Mirror
Wrath of the Titans
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Teaser Tuesday - The Mephisto Club
* 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!
----------
A new week, and yet another new book! This one is part of the mystery series that the television show Rizzoli & Isles is based on. It isn't the first in the series, but I haven't felt lost by not reading the previous novels, which is nice. The Tease:
"One look was all it took.
One glimpse of blood, of splayed arms and ruined faces.
Of Giorgio and Paolo, tangled together in a last embrace.
She backed away, hand clapped to her mouth, her vision blurred in a wash of tears.
My fault. This is all my fault. They were killed because of me."
One glimpse of blood, of splayed arms and ruined faces.
Of Giorgio and Paolo, tangled together in a last embrace.
She backed away, hand clapped to her mouth, her vision blurred in a wash of tears.
My fault. This is all my fault. They were killed because of me."
-The Mephisto Club, by Tess Gerritsen
What's your Tease?
Friday, January 20, 2012
Book Review - A Discovery of Witches
All Soul's Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness
1. A Discovery of Witches, 12/01/2011 * * * * *
My Thoughts:
A very good friend of mine had been telling me that I should read this book for months before I finally gave in and downloaded it to my NookColor. I didn't want to read A Discovery of Witches, not because of all the wonderful things my friend had to say about it, but because after she recommended it to me the first time I went to Goodreads and read their description of the novel, and that last little line that compares it to the Twilight series completely and totally turned me off.
I realize that it is entirely possible that I am the only person in the world who doesn't care for the Twilight series, and that for MOST people that comparison would be a rousing endorsement. What it did for me was to cause me to determine to stay as far away from the novel as I possibly could.
Of course, my friend continued to tell me how good the book was and that I would like it, yada yada, and I finally surrendered. And I am SO GLAD that I did, and so glad that she kept bringing it up, because in truth, A Discovery of Witches is an amazing novel that is incredibly well written, deeply involving, very well researched, and on top of all that, it was impossible to put down. I loved it!
Diana Bishop is a descendant of very powerful witches, and has purposely ignored her magic nearly all her life. She has dedicated her life to history, research, and science, and does her very best to avoid the supernatural whenever possible. But her request of a strange obscure manuscript at the university library initiates a chain of events that force her to deal with her heritage, as members of the three branches of supernatural creatures (witches, vampires, and demons) begin stalking her, waiting for her to break an ancient spell. Matthew Clairmont, a very old vampire doing genetic research at the same university becomes her protector and of course falls in love with her. The story moves quickly as the unlikely pair try to escape and evade the many threats against Diana, as Matthew takes her to his home in France and eventually to Diana's old home in upper New York State to try to keep her safe. With the help of Diana's aunts, and several unexpected visitors, Matthew and Diana try to learn more about the mysterious manuscript everyone wants to get their hands on, why the three races are dead set against their relationship, and the mystery of Diana's extremely powerful but nearly uncontrollable magic.
Blending science and the supernatural, A Discovery of Witches is a mesmerizing story with many twists and turns, unexpected plot points, excellent pacing, wonderful characters that come alive in your mind, a tiny dash of romance, and multiple intriguing mysteries. While I originally did not expect to enjoy the story nearly as much as I did, it now gets 5 stars, and I'm very excited to read book 2, Shadow of Night, which is expected to be released in mid-July, 2012. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, vampires, or Anne Rice - just don't let the comparison to Twilight throw you off!
As always, please feel free to leave a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts, whether you've read A Discovery of Witches or not. But if you haven't read it, you totally should, you know. I'll keep bugging you until you do.
1. A Discovery of Witches, 12/01/2011 * * * * *
From Goodreads:
"A richly inventive novel
about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious
manuscript that draws them together.
Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism."
Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.
Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism."
My Thoughts:
A very good friend of mine had been telling me that I should read this book for months before I finally gave in and downloaded it to my NookColor. I didn't want to read A Discovery of Witches, not because of all the wonderful things my friend had to say about it, but because after she recommended it to me the first time I went to Goodreads and read their description of the novel, and that last little line that compares it to the Twilight series completely and totally turned me off.
I realize that it is entirely possible that I am the only person in the world who doesn't care for the Twilight series, and that for MOST people that comparison would be a rousing endorsement. What it did for me was to cause me to determine to stay as far away from the novel as I possibly could.
Of course, my friend continued to tell me how good the book was and that I would like it, yada yada, and I finally surrendered. And I am SO GLAD that I did, and so glad that she kept bringing it up, because in truth, A Discovery of Witches is an amazing novel that is incredibly well written, deeply involving, very well researched, and on top of all that, it was impossible to put down. I loved it!
Diana Bishop is a descendant of very powerful witches, and has purposely ignored her magic nearly all her life. She has dedicated her life to history, research, and science, and does her very best to avoid the supernatural whenever possible. But her request of a strange obscure manuscript at the university library initiates a chain of events that force her to deal with her heritage, as members of the three branches of supernatural creatures (witches, vampires, and demons) begin stalking her, waiting for her to break an ancient spell. Matthew Clairmont, a very old vampire doing genetic research at the same university becomes her protector and of course falls in love with her. The story moves quickly as the unlikely pair try to escape and evade the many threats against Diana, as Matthew takes her to his home in France and eventually to Diana's old home in upper New York State to try to keep her safe. With the help of Diana's aunts, and several unexpected visitors, Matthew and Diana try to learn more about the mysterious manuscript everyone wants to get their hands on, why the three races are dead set against their relationship, and the mystery of Diana's extremely powerful but nearly uncontrollable magic.
Blending science and the supernatural, A Discovery of Witches is a mesmerizing story with many twists and turns, unexpected plot points, excellent pacing, wonderful characters that come alive in your mind, a tiny dash of romance, and multiple intriguing mysteries. While I originally did not expect to enjoy the story nearly as much as I did, it now gets 5 stars, and I'm very excited to read book 2, Shadow of Night, which is expected to be released in mid-July, 2012. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, vampires, or Anne Rice - just don't let the comparison to Twilight throw you off!
As always, please feel free to leave a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts, whether you've read A Discovery of Witches or not. But if you haven't read it, you totally should, you know. I'll keep bugging you until you do.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Teaser Tuesday - A Discovery of Witches
* 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!
----------
So, this is the third week that I've been reading this book on Teaser Tuesday, but I'm almost done, so we only get one more Tease from A Discovery of Witches. In this scene, Matthew and Diana are discussing an unexpected discovery with Diana's aunt Sarah.The Tease:
""Sarah," I said impatiently. "Daddy couldn't have wanted me to go back in the past and get the manuscript. What did he think, that I'd timewalk and snatch it before it was bewitched? What if I ran into Matthew by accident? Surely that would mess up the time-space continuum."
"Oh, relativity," Sarah's voice was dismissive. "As an explanation that only goes so far.'"
"Oh, relativity," Sarah's voice was dismissive. "As an explanation that only goes so far.'"
-A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness
What's your Tease?
Monday, November 21, 2011
Teaser Tuesday - A Discovery of Witches
* 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!
----------
Can I just pause for a moment and say how MUCH I'm enjoying this book?! It is seriously, amazingly good, and I'm so glad I finally decided to listen to the person who recommended it to me. Good stuff!!In this scene, Ysabeau, Matthew's mother, tries to drive home the point that vampires are not always the romantic and noble creatures that humans sometimes imagine.
The Tease:
"Ysabeau grabbed my horse's reins. There were tiny drops of blood on her cream shirt.
"Do you think vampires are beautiful now? Do you still think it would be easy to live with my son, knowing that he must kill to survive?"
It was difficult for me to put "Matthew" and "killing" in the same sentence. Were I to kiss him one day, when he was just returned from hunting, there might still be the taste of blood on his lips.
And days like the one I was now spending with Ysabeau would be regular occurrences."
"Do you think vampires are beautiful now? Do you still think it would be easy to live with my son, knowing that he must kill to survive?"
It was difficult for me to put "Matthew" and "killing" in the same sentence. Were I to kiss him one day, when he was just returned from hunting, there might still be the taste of blood on his lips.
And days like the one I was now spending with Ysabeau would be regular occurrences."
-A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness
What's your Tease?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
James Bond Returns
Today, producer Barbara Broccoli & Producer Michael G Wilson announced that the 23rd film in the 007 franchise begins shooting this week, and will be released in November of 2012, in the fiftieth anniversary year of the first film, "Dr. No(1962)." The title of the new film will be Skyfall, which the producers claim will have an "emotional resonance" once people see the film.
Daniel Craig will return as 007. Other stars of Skyfall include Judi Dench (as M), Albert Finney, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, French actress Berenice Marlohe, & Ralph Fiennes.
Not much information was given about the plot of the film, only that "In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost." They also hinted that "Skyfall" will not connect directly to the previous two films, "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace."
You can read more about the announcement and the details of the movie at:
BBC News
Tor
Reuters
I'm a huge James Bond fan, and I can't even begin to explain how excited I am!! November 2012 can't come soon enough!! The title of the film isn't a traditional 007 title, so it will be interesting to see what this "emotional resonance" will be. Also exciting is the prospect of learning about M's past! I can't wait!!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Book Review - Ghost Story
The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher
1. Storm Front 2/3/2007
2. Fool Moon 2/5/2007
3. Grave Peril 1/23/2007
4. Summer Knight 2/14/2007
5. Death Masks 2/16/2007
6. Blood Rites 2/18/2007
7. Dead Beat 8/23/2007
8. Proven Guilty 8/26/2007
9. White Night 10/30/2007
10. Small Favor 4/2/2010
11. Turn Coat 4/8/2010
12. Changes 5/10/2011
13. Ghost Story 9/14/2011 * * * * *
***** Big-Huge-Spoiler-Alert-You-Have-Been-Warned! *****
From Goodreads:
My Thoughts:
The 'blurb really doesn't explain the premise of this novel very well. I mean, that is partly what the story is about, but it's also a lot more than that. At the end of "Changes" Harry is murdered and falls into Lake Michigan. When he awakens at the beginning of "Ghost Story" he learns that he is dead, six months have passed, and he is given the choice to go back to try to solve his murder, and help save some of his friends from dying. Being Harry, he of course chooses to go back, and is heart-broken to learn how drastically things have changed in Chicago since his death, and the devastating effects to his friends.
Harry struggles to learn to cope and function as a ghost or spirit (although several characters comment that he isn't really a ghost and not really a spirit but something else), learning quickly about the huge supernatural threat to the city and his friends, but is so intent on saving his friends, (and in several cases, complete strangers) that he makes little headway into solving his own murder until very close to the end where several huge reveals are made.
While the story doesn't lack at all in the action department, quite a bit of the story is spent with Harry musing over past events, both the recent events told in the novel "Changes," and also several key events from his childhood. Harry becomes very introspective in this tale, focusing on how his choices and actions in the past have shaped and affected the lives and choices of those around him, specifically his closest friends, but also the city and supernatural communities at large as well. This 'interconnectedness' of choices and cause/effect is a recurring theme running through the story, and it's fascinating to see how his choices (both good and bad) have changed the landscape of his world, and how they will affect his future as well.
Yes, one of those huge reveals I mentioned does in fact deal with his future - basically that he will have one - but I won't say any more than that as the plot twist was surprising and thrilling (at least to me), and I wouldn't want to ruin the details for anyone. Suffice it to say that this won't be the last Dresden File, and while this story was slower and more introspective and mental than the previous novels, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can't wait to see what mysteries and challenges are waiting for Harry next! "Ghost Story" gets five stars, as does the series overall.
Have you read "Ghost Story" or any of the other Dresden Files? As always, please leave your thoughts and comments below!
1. Storm Front 2/3/2007
2. Fool Moon 2/5/2007
3. Grave Peril 1/23/2007
4. Summer Knight 2/14/2007
5. Death Masks 2/16/2007
6. Blood Rites 2/18/2007
7. Dead Beat 8/23/2007
8. Proven Guilty 8/26/2007
9. White Night 10/30/2007
10. Small Favor 4/2/2010
11. Turn Coat 4/8/2010
12. Changes 5/10/2011
13. Ghost Story 9/14/2011 * * * * *
***** Big-Huge-Spoiler-Alert-You-Have-Been-Warned! *****
From Goodreads:When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn't doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.
But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.
To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...
But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.
To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...
My Thoughts:
The 'blurb really doesn't explain the premise of this novel very well. I mean, that is partly what the story is about, but it's also a lot more than that. At the end of "Changes" Harry is murdered and falls into Lake Michigan. When he awakens at the beginning of "Ghost Story" he learns that he is dead, six months have passed, and he is given the choice to go back to try to solve his murder, and help save some of his friends from dying. Being Harry, he of course chooses to go back, and is heart-broken to learn how drastically things have changed in Chicago since his death, and the devastating effects to his friends.
Harry struggles to learn to cope and function as a ghost or spirit (although several characters comment that he isn't really a ghost and not really a spirit but something else), learning quickly about the huge supernatural threat to the city and his friends, but is so intent on saving his friends, (and in several cases, complete strangers) that he makes little headway into solving his own murder until very close to the end where several huge reveals are made.
While the story doesn't lack at all in the action department, quite a bit of the story is spent with Harry musing over past events, both the recent events told in the novel "Changes," and also several key events from his childhood. Harry becomes very introspective in this tale, focusing on how his choices and actions in the past have shaped and affected the lives and choices of those around him, specifically his closest friends, but also the city and supernatural communities at large as well. This 'interconnectedness' of choices and cause/effect is a recurring theme running through the story, and it's fascinating to see how his choices (both good and bad) have changed the landscape of his world, and how they will affect his future as well.
Yes, one of those huge reveals I mentioned does in fact deal with his future - basically that he will have one - but I won't say any more than that as the plot twist was surprising and thrilling (at least to me), and I wouldn't want to ruin the details for anyone. Suffice it to say that this won't be the last Dresden File, and while this story was slower and more introspective and mental than the previous novels, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can't wait to see what mysteries and challenges are waiting for Harry next! "Ghost Story" gets five stars, as does the series overall.
Have you read "Ghost Story" or any of the other Dresden Files? As always, please leave your thoughts and comments below!
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