Dev Patel directs and stars in Monkey Man, an action revenge film that makes sure to add in emotion, trauma, as well as some commentary on religion and politics. It’s all done without losing the driving, pulse-pounding action sequences that make this film incredibly enjoyable and watchable. As the nameless hero of the film, known…
Tag: revenge
Man on Fire (2004) – Tony Scott
I love Tony Scott films; the saturated colours, the moving cameras, the tight pacing, the visual shorthand he used in his storytelling style. I don’t think I ever met a Tony Scott film I didn’t like. Sure I like some more than others, but all of them have his indelible print on them. Man on…
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Book 3: Fire (2008) – The Southern Raiders, and The Ember Island Players
We are racing to the conclusion of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and there’s lots going on. After Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) and the gang are forced to separate and make an escape from the Air Temple following an attack by Fire Nation forces led by Azula (Grey Griffin), Zuko (Dante Basco) wants to prove himself…
Magnum P.I. (2020) – Double Jeopardy, and Easy Money
Season three of Magnum gets underway with Double Jeopardy. Written by showrunners Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim, the season debuted on 4 December, 2020. Higgins (Perdita Weeks) is settling into the role of running the estate, and she informs Magnum (Jay Hernandez) that he’s going to have to start paying rent, or move out….
Magnum P.I. (2019) – Payback for Beginners, and Honor Among Thieves
Season Two of Magnum P.I. opens with another White Knight sequence from a Robin Masters’ novel, which Abby (Brooke Lyons) is reading but it doesn’t take long for Magnum (Jay Hernandez) to take a new case, something he chooses to do while Higgins (Perdita Weeks) decides whether or not she’s going to become his partner…
Deadpool (2016) – Tim Miller
Ryan Reynolds was made for the role of Deadpool, the Marvel meta-merc. His appearance as the character in Wolverine: Origins was horrible, and this is nothing but redeeming, and insanely funny. While the film is an origin story, showing how Wade Wilson (Reynolds) became Deadpool, it also knows to make fun of itself and origin…
Ancillary Justice (2013) – Ann Leckie
Ann Leckie delivers an interesting space opera read that uses the feminine pronoun she throughout, as a part of its language, not as a descriptor of the people themselves, who are predominantly genderless. It’s a great touch, and really plays nicely with the casting of characters in the mind’s eye. We are introduced to Breq,…
The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) – William A. Fraker
There are a few things to redeem the 1981 iteration of the Lone Ranger story, it has a score by John Barry, and features Christopher Lloyd as the film’s baddie. But beyond that, this one is pretty horrible. The story, while violent, isn’t layered, sophisticated or much stronger than a grade-school tale. And that’s to…
Doubleshot (2000) – Raymond Benson
The next Raymond Benson 007 novel, takes place a few short months after High Time to Kill. Ian Fleming’s creation, James Bond, is on medical leave and isn’t doing so well. There may be a lesion in his brain causing blackouts, and his medication seems to be exacerbating things. Even dealing with these issues, Bond…
Hill Street Blues (1986) – Fathers and Guns, and More Skinned Against Than Skinning
There are lots of emotional troubles to be had in Fathers and Guns. Written by Jeffrey Lewis from a story by Lewis and Jerry Patrick Brown. It first aired on 9 December, 1986. Belker (Bruce Weitz) is still learning to be a new father, and the stress of the job, and the world have infiltrated…
The Mind Reels 