Film Review - Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Firstly, I want to start by saying I'm not a huge Star Trek fan (I'm sorry I'm sorry!!).

My dad is a fan of the original show so I have watched it somewhat. But space stuff normally doesn't interest me. Far away galaxies and aliens aren't really my thing. But this did look quite good.

I can't compare it to the last movie since I never watched it. At the time, I was a huge Heroes fan and couldn't see Zachary Quinto in any other role apart from Sylar, so it was difficult for me to take the trailers seriously. Heroes has been off the air for years now so it isn't too bad. Shame to say, I'm also a BBC Sherlock fan, and if I didn't have a thing for Benedict Cumberbatch, I would have had the same problem this time around. (Though there was one scene in the movie I did take a step back and think "You know, this is Sylar chasing after Sherlock Holmes")

But enough of me and my typecasting, how was the movie? It was surprisingly really good. Not too hard to follow, even for new viewers such as myself. It had its funny moments, its dramatic moments, its silly moments and its action packed moments. The acting is pretty decent. Plot is a bit iffy but i don't know if that is just this plot or if its a genre thing, i'm not sure. As i've mentioned, it's not my normal territory.

Is it worth a watch? Yeah. It was on my list of summer blockbusters and though it's not the best movie so far this summer, its good. It's not for everyone but if you like sci-fi/star trek, go see it. And if not, if you think the trailer is good, then go see it too, it do live up to the advertisements

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Book Review: "Dead Ever After"

Book Review

"Dead Ever After" - Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse/The Southern Vampire Mysteries/ True Blood #13 (Final book)

Though I've never really bothered with the tv version, I loved the books for years. Despite the decline in quality the past couple of books, I still get excited every year for another visit to Bon Temps. Nothing beats the blues than snuggling up in bed with a cup of tea and some Sookie Stackhouse :) I would say it was a guilty pleasure except I don't feel guilty about it lol. And like many fans, I had my own ideas and hopes for the ending. Strangely, everything I wanted to happen actually happened! Which resulted in me yelling "Yasss!!! I knew it!" at random moments. 

So what did I think? Well, being as spoiler free as I can, there are no new major character brought in, which I liked. However, I felt that Harris had just wrote a list of past character who could be bad guys and just picked at random. Which did result in me thinking "wait! What? He's after Sookie? Why? He was in like one scene, 5 books ago! Why have you brought him back?" They weren't all like that though. One of the villains was actually a bad guy and we knew that and I had marked him down as a character I wanted to make a reappearance before the series ended anyway. So that made sense. The others, not so much. 

The other thing I didn't like was the ending. Not the conclusion, I liked that, but the final face off with the bad guys. It felt rushed, without sense of threat. Now, mmmm, book 9! Now THAT had threat. This one didn't. The scene was resolved within a couple of pages, without much happening. So that was a disappointment. 

All in all, the book did feel rushed towards to end and yes it did had plot holes and we were left with quite a few questions left to ask. But we live, make do and enjoy the ride anyway. Old faces popped up for a final time to help Sookie. The story moved into third person as well as first which was fun - nice to see what else goes on when Sookie's not around - and it did tie up a load of loose ends. 

So in conclusion, did i like it? Silly question. Course i did. It wasn't the best book, but was a little better than the last couple. It was another wee fun adventure in Bon Temps. I still can't get over the fact that this is the final book. Next summer won't be the same without it. But i'm glad Sookie got her happily ever after, and that was the whole point. I'm sad to see her go. 

On a side note - as for the unanswered questions, at the end of the year Harris is due to release the final final Sookie book called "After Dead" which is what happened next - an A-Z of characters and their final fates. So I'm looking forward to reading that out of curiosity. 

Film Review - Iron Man 3 (2013)

"I just stole a poncho from a wooden Indian"

So Marvel's Phase Two is officially under way. It's the moment we've been waiting for since the end of last summer. Will it be as good as Phase One? No one was really sure. The Avengers was such a good movie that Phase Two had to step it up. 

Phase Two (as far as i'm aware) will feature the following:

• Iron Man 3
• Thor: The Dark World
• Captian America: The Winter Soldier 
• Guardians Of The Galaxy 
• Ant Man (?)
• The Avengers 2

I'm not too sure about Ant Man since some sources say Phase Two, others say Phase Three. 
And don't forget ABC's new show "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." (#CoulsonLives)

So yeah, Iron Man 3 opened the next Phase of operation, and it had to work as a stand alone movie as well as part of the series. Plus with a different director from the other two Iron Man movie, it was going to be new ball game. 

How did it work out? Brilliant! I loved it. It contained everything an Iron Man movie should contain; Tony Stark's Wit, big explosion action scenes, humour, a bit of growing up, references to other Marvel movies/characters, fun end credit scene a cameo from Stan Lee, etc. The plot was a little silly but that's part of the fun. The other movies in this Phase have a lot to live up to as this is just the opening. But i have faith.

The new Thor trailer came out the same week as Iron Man 3 was released in the UK, and it looks amazing too. This is encouraging a whole new generation to get into comics and superheroes. 

I don't want to say too much and spoil anything for those who haven't yet seen it. To those people i say this, go see it. It's worth it. It has everything you need. 

Coming Soon

During the next few days, i have a couple of reviews which i will be publishing. So keep you're eyes open, for i have the following waiting in the wings:

• Film Review - Iron Man 3
• Book Review - Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
• Book Vs Movie - Let The Right One In

2013 Reading Challenge

1. The Night Eternal - Guillermo Del Toro
2. Bloodlist - P.N. Elrod
3. Zom-B Underground - Darren Shan
4. Life Blood - P.N. Elrod
5. Blood Circle - P.N. Elrod
6. Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand - Carrie Vaughn
7. Fifty Sheds Of Grey - C.T. Grey
8. Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
9. Art In The Blood - P.N. Elrod
10. Fire In The Blood - P.N. Elrod
11. Blood On The Water - P.N. Elrod
12. Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion
13. Married In Green - Seanan McGuire
14. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman*
15. Zom-B City - Darren Shan
16. Discount Armageddon - Seanan McGuire
17. Kitty Raises Hell - Carrie Vaughn
18. Sweet Poison Wine - Seanan McGuire
19. Deadlocked - Charlaine Harris (reread)
20. Dead Ever After - Charlaine Harris 
21. A Bad Beginning - 
22. Let The Old Dreams Die - John Ajvide Lindqvist
23. The Vampire Diaries: The Unseen - L.J. Smith (creator) 

If you would like to read a full review on any of the above books, please feel free to leave a comment. Also comment if you wish to recommend anything. I love recommendations :)

This list will be updated throughout the year.

*audio/drama

Book Review - Discount Armageddon

DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON

SEANAN MCGUIRE

I first discovered Seanan McGuire at the start of last year, but not as Seanan McGuire but as her pen name, Mira Grant. I have yet to find a UK shop that sells her work under her own name. I had to get this (and a couple others which i haven't read yet) send over from the States. It was worth it though! She's a wonderful author, but as herself and as Mira.

I had been reading the short stories on her website based before this series so i have a good idea how this world worked and i was excited about starting this book. 

The story follows Verity Price, a young woman who would like nothing more than to dance. However, she was raised to be a cryptozoologist, to protect innocent creatures from humans and other creatures that may want to hurt them. So she lives a split life. But one day, cryptid women start disappearing and it's up to Verity to find the cause and stop it. It doesn't help that a member of the Covenant of St. George is in town too (the Covenant's goal is to wipe out these creatures and sees the Price family as traitors to the cause as they had once been members)

So what did i think? I loved it! It was fun and action packed. You didn't really know what was round the corner and even if you did, you didn't see the witty dialogue. Verity is a kick-ass heroine and proves that you can still fight off the baddies in high heels.
One thing i loved about the prequels was the Aeslin Mice, who turn everything into a religious celebration. I was glad to see them back. I mean, who doesn't want to celebration "The Holy Feast Of I Swear, Daddy, I'll Kiss The Next Man That Walks Through That Door" !!

I can't really think of much else to say, the plot is easy to follow, the characters are likable and the writing is great. I have already imported my copy of the sequel and can't wait to start that too and hope that McGuire will publish some more prequels too. 

"One Hell Of A Ride", "No Place Like Home" and "Married In Green" are all available on Seanan's website and follow the lives of Verity's Great Grandparents.

Book Vs. Movie - Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

WARNING!!! CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS 

Once people get to know me, they discover that i like to know months in advance which movies to look out for. Over a year before it was released, i came across a movie called "Cirque Du Freak". Recognizing the name as a book by Darren Shan, i got a hold of every Shan fan i knew (which was a load) to give them the heads up. Skip forward to 8 months before the release date and the people i'd told were excited but annoyed. The film kept changing release dates and the title had been changed to "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant". On talking about it to a friend, i admitted never actually reading any of Shan's work (oh how times have changed!!) She was so shocked, she let me borrow the full Saga Of Darren Shan to show me what i was missing out on. I really enjoyed the series and i keep meaning to go back and reread it (since then, i have not only bought my own copy of the series but i've meet Darren (more than once) and had it all signed!)

So what happened when the movie actually came out in October 2009? We had to see it on the first day! We just had to! And here's where we come to the Book Vs. Movie stuff because i didn't really enjoy the movie. 

The first half plays up a little like the book but the whole second half is different. The film is meant to be based on the first three books in

the Saga Of Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire's Assistant and Tunnels of Blood), but only Cirque Du Freak is really kept similar. Characters you meet in the next two books aren't in the movie meaning that if they were to continue the series in movie format, they would have to change a load of the later on stuff as either the characters return or they have some sort of impact on the series. In fact, thinking back, Darren and Steve have two other friends who return later in the series who are also missed out from the Cirque Du Freak section. 

Another thing that spoils the movie makers chance at turning this into a series is the ending. I don't want to spoil too much but the ending of the film should have been left to a later date, as it is in the book. Though, the actual ending ending leads into the next book. Not the same way as the book but it defiantly is leading into book 4. 

There was some things i liked about the movie. I liked the opening credits. Thought that was pretty cool. I liked the Little People. They were kinda cute in a creepy way. I liked seeing the Cirque brought to life. I liked how the movie (before it came out) introduced me to a wonderful author. 

What i didn't like? Missing characters, different ending, spoiling some of the overall ending, Mr. Tiny doesn't look anything like i pictured him (Where was the heart shaped watch and wellington boots ?!?!?!?)  

Conclusion

Simple, no doubt about it. Book was far better!! 

Also on a side note, since the release of the Hunger Games, i can't watch this movie without thinking about Josh Hutchingson as Peeta and not as Steve :(