The Shadow of the Gods, is the first book in a fantasy trilogy, collectively called The Bloodsworn Trilogy, that uses Norse mythology as it’s launching point. The gods are dead, their bones litter the landscape, trapping power within them. It is a world of magic and monsters and introduces the reader to a trio of…
Tag: violence
Exit Strategy (2018) – Martha Wells
I love the Murderbot Diaries, I find them entertaining, fun, and funny as hell. Martha Wells has created a character and universe that I love revisiting. And with the size of the diary entries, none of the books so far have been much longer than a novella. This story circles back to check in on…
Wolfs (2024) – Jon Watts
Jon Watts wrote and directed this crime thriller with buddy overtones that shines with the banter and chemistry with its two stars, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The two leading men play fixers who are summoned to a hotel, Margaret’s (Amy Ryan, who I always delight in seeing, she’s wonderful) Man (Clooney) is summoned by…
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) – Tony Scott
Tony Scott updated the gritty 1974 classic, The Taking of Pelham 123 with his signature style, and introduced it to the 21st century. Featuring his signature editing, camera work and saturated colors, Pelham rockets along, resting easily on the shoulders of the film’s two leads, Denzel Washington, and John Travolta. Washington plays Walter Garber, a…
Star Trek: The Flight of the Buccaneer (1971)
Gold Keys Comics continued its Star Trek adventures, with The Flight of the Buccaneer, its twelfth issue, which hit comic spinners for November of 1971. Len Wein once again served as the storyteller, Alberto Giolitti continued to work as artist, and George Wilson painted another cover. This one ends up just being a silly pirate…
TIFF 25: The Furious dir. Kenji Tanigaki
The Furious is a balls-to-the-wall actioner that is outrageously over-the-top but incredibly crowd-pleasing in its violence and action beats. Having said that, the ADR in the film is terrible, and I honestly think the entire film should just be subtitled. The film has a strong enough appeal that I don’t think it needed to have…
Blood Fever (2006) – Charlie Higson
The end of James Bond’s first year at Eton is almost here, and the young boy, still thirteen, is working to figure out what to do with his summer holidays. His Aunt Charmain endorses his choice to go on a school trip to Sardinia, with the caveat that if it gets too dull, he can…
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) – Matthew Vaughn
I greatly enjoyed the Kingsman when I first saw it. It was this perfect blend of Bond films with comic book level violence and lots of swearing. It wasn’t afraid to have fun with its concept, and remind the world that these style of movies are just supposed to be fun. The sequel, Kingsman: The…
The Killer (2024) – John Woo
John Woo updates his own 80s classic, by shifting the location to Paris, and swapping out Chow Yun-fat for Nathalie Emmanuel. Emmanuel is Zee in Woo’s updated story. He wrote and directed the original, but this time out, there’s a script by Brian Helgeland, Josh Campbell, and Matt Stuecken. The script hits all the familiar…
Blue Ruin (2013) – Jeremy Saulnier
I enjoyed Rebel Ridge, and quite liked Green Room, so I figurd I would take a look at another one of Jeremy Saulnier’s works, Blue Ruin. What I found was a solid, revenge drama whose violence, when it happens, is shockingly real and bloody. Dwight (Macon Blair) has turned into a bit of a drifter,…
The Mind Reels 