Friday, December 28, 2007

I Am Legend

Will Smith’s new movie is fantastic. Yes, he’s saving the world again, but he also isn’t. The catastrophe that befalls mankind is unbelievable. Is it science or God that condemns us? Is it science or God that will save us? Is it a bit of both? There are so many questions, so many things that can be talked about, but I don’t want to ruin the movie for anyone who might read this. I just recommend seeing this movie more than any other one in theatres right now. There were moments where it actually made me want to cry and where I was suddenly terrified.

For a full synopsis (with full spoilers) you can check out the wikipedia page. I don’t really recommend it, or looking at too many trailers. They can give away too much about the movie and you don’t want that.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

In Sylvan Shadows

The second book of R. A. Salvatore’s Cleric Quintet was fantastic. It makes me look ahead to the future books. I want to know what happens to innocent Cadderly and his friends. Things have changed so much for him. He has seen the world beyond the library walls and it is not what he expected. Violence and monsters are all too real. Death haunts him. Mercy and compassion can be weakness.

Secrets circle about him. They come so close, then are pulled away. He has to learn to deal with the real world after the things he’s experienced. Cadderly also has to learn about his own past. Who were his parents? Why did they leave him at the library? His journey goes beyond understanding the positive and negative aspects of the world, it is about finding those things in himself.

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Little Brother

Who was Mary Mann and how could she write such a frightful story? The ending was so disturbing, I had to take pause. Little Brother is short, shocking and to the point. I didn’t know what to expect, but this wasn’t it. Mary Mann gives us a harsh glimpse into English life.

Friday, December 07, 2007

A Mere Interlude

Poor Baptista. I am so sad for her. She appears to have real strength at the beginning, but then loses it. Perhaps it was never strength at all and just the succumbing to a new pressure. No matter the source, I feel sorry for Baptista. She has to deal with marriage, death, passion and children all in the space of a month. She is so young. The “children” are closer to her in age than her husband! She hates teaching and when she thinks she’s gotten away from it, it is thrust upon her again.

Thomas Hardy creates an interesting, sad and funny tale. A Mere Interlude is fantastic. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I’ve always enjoyed Hardy’s works, Tess of the D’Ubervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd are fantastic novels. His short story does not disappoint.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Relics of General Chassé

I must say, that unlike Dickens, I was not eager to read Relics of General Chassé by Anthony Trollope.  I admit that I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed Anthony Trollope’s short story. It was funny, full of odd coincidences and kept me interested all the way through. The characters were believable. The situation was unique and hilarious. I’m ready to give Anthony Trollope’s works another try.

Blade Trinity

I know this is an old movie, but I saw it for the first time last night. Is it me, or did they undo everything in the second movie with the third? I thought there was a kind of bridge built between Blade and vampires. Maybe I just remember it wrong. Didn’t a beautiful female vampire die in his arms? I suppose it has been a long time since I’ve seen the movie. Is there no peace made? Or is it only with that particular group of vampires represented in Blade: II?

Whistler died. How many times has this character died now? I think this time it’s going to stick, since they’ve brought on replacement Whistler. Abigail Whistler is Papa Whistler’s illegitimate daughter. Fantastic! Now we get to see hottie Jessica Biel take a shower. Was it really necessary to have so much naked woman? I guess so, it is Biel after all, still rebelling after leaving 7th Heaven. Oh, have I said too much?

Though I must admit, she and Ryan Reynolds did a good job. They really held up the action end of this movie. Their fight sequences were great. For the ladies watching this movie, Ryan Reynolds was hot. If the guys get naked Jessica, the girls get Ryan with his shirt off. He still had his fun, comedic edge, though.

I really think that Ryan and Jessica carried the action. In some of the fight sequences with Drake, Wesley Snipes just didn’t have the flexibility he used to. He’s still big, but can’t do a spinning kick. The actor they hired for Drake didn’t have that either. I know people like him because he’s the older brother from Prison Break, but I thought he was a lame Dracula. Drake should have been bigger, scarier or something. Is this therefore the final installment of Blade? I think so. I really can’t see Wesley Snipes as the agile vampire hunter from his earlier work.