Clearing the Backlog...

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy


Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)[/B]

18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)

This could be three separate entries but I really only read them as one large book and I have a feeling that they were written as such so the trilogy will be just one entry.

Take the virus-causing zombie mutations and evil corporation of Resident Evil. Add in the Borg from Star Trek. Sprinkle with repetitive dialogue and description - chaos repeatedly boils and things are not dark or black but obsidian - and mix in liberally almost every trope from a sci-fi film you can think of - amnesia, betrayal, love found in the heat of battle - and you have your recipe for Necropolis.

This is sci-fi, zombie trash of the highest order, although reasonably harmless trash. The repetition in story and description gets annoying by the third part but there was enough interesting characters to keep me interested and to be fair I did read 600 pages in rather rapid order.

Strangely, the best section of descriptive writing comes when the protagonist is wondering about alone and does not come up against any sort of enemy. Rather than falling back on gore or monsters, the author has to create some tension and talk about Bishop's surroundings and does it quite well. Makes you wonder why he did not do it more often.

Speaking of Resident Evil, it reads more like the plot of a computer game than that of a novel as it seems to need to put its protagonist in constant action with a series of end of and mid level bad guys to square off against.

The protagonist, Greg Bishop, certainly had the luck of a computer game character, inexplicably surviving against all the odds and having every one of his hair-brained, heat of the moment schemes, tactics and traps come off, being able to survive for long periods without food/water/sleep and somehow, along with all of his allies, being a far better shot that computers or Dark Ops soldiers despite being a glorified security guard.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After

18. In the Electric Mist

Tommy Lee Jones playing the same character he has in about half a dozen movies in the last ten years, although in some ways his detective in this movie is not as jaded or gruff as the men he plays in Three Burials, No Country or Valley of Elah and even has a bit of Agent K and a willingness to cross the line thrown in. I suppose you could say that The character Jones has taken to playing reflect his own descent into not really caring anymore. There were even some smirks to be had, such as the detective's claim that his talking about speaking a dead confederate general after having his Dr Pepper spiked with LSD made for "an interesting evening."

As for the story, it's not great. The reveal of the meaning of the flashback scenes was strange as it had little to real significance other than reminding the main character. Also much like many other films/tv shows set in the Deep South, a large part of the movie is about being in the Deep South - everything is weird, people have strange accents etc. plus the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the War in Iraq are laced clumsily into the dialogue, like some sideways political commentary.

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy


Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)[/B]

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

1. Bret Hart autobiography - ★★★
2. Legend - David Gemell (Drenai #1) - ★★★★
3. Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis - ★★★★★
4. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey - ★★★★★
5. Neuromancer - William Gibson - ★★★★
6. The Gunslinger - Stephen King - ★★★★
7. The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury - ★★★
8. Watchmen - Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons - ★★★★★
9. At Swim-Two-Birds - Flann O Brian - ★★★
10. The Hardcore Truth - Bob "Harcore" Holly - ★★★★
11. The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler - ★★★★

Just finished this one off this morning. Enjoy it quite a bit. The style felt a little 'clichéd', but I guess that's to be expected when you are the most influential writer in a genre. Not that that's a bad thing of course; the book delivered exactly what I was going in for. The plot was good, all worked out in the end as any good detective story should. Marlowe was a cool cat, maybe even cooler than the Marlo in The Wire. Would recommend to others interested in the genre anyway... I'll most likely pick up the next in the series somewhere down the road.

Next up is the third book in the Arturo Bandini series by John Fante. I've read the first and loved it; and this guy is the key inspiration for Charles Bukowski who I'm also a big fan of. Supposed Bukowski said "either you adore him or you've never heard of him.", but I can't find a source on that. Should be fun.



Reading the first? Great series. Hoping to pick up that guys sci-fi detective series soon. Dirk Gently or something.

If you're into noir, I find Dashiel Hammett to be a superior writer to Raymond Chandler (I highly recommend either the The Thin Man or The Glass Key...judging by how quickly you read The Big Sleep, you can finish these just as fast). Also, as much as I believe James Ellroy to be the epitome of mediocre, The Black Dahlia is a pretty fucking amazing book.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I feel like a marathon runner who's just found himself in the hundred meter dash.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After
18. In the Electric Mist

19. The Other Guys

An enjoyable caper with plenty of pokes at the accepted silliness of many cop films - Rock and Nick Fury inexplicably thinking they could survive a 20 leap like they were Riggs and Murtagh, the ridiculous number of bullets to hit the Prius but no one inside etc.

Ferrell's constant commenting on everything that was happening was funny but got a little old. shockingly. Keaton's character was a little inconsistent, from normal, affable captain to an increasingly weirdo. Ray Stevenson' Aussie mercenary was rather amusing though.

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy


Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)[/B]

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I feel like a marathon runner who's just found himself in the hundred meter dash.

Once you finish Infinite Jest, feel free to gloat and be the most arrogant prick around your friends. It's one of the two greatest novels written in the past 30 years (the other being Roberto Bolano's 2666) and the book that pretentious people have said they read to impress people. If you've actually read Infinite Jest then that's an impressive feat.

 

[Danger Burger]

Roberto Bolano's 2666

I keep seeing this guys name around (and his books all have stupid holes in the front of them...), have you read him? He's in the 'cult fiction' section in my local, and, for some reason or another, all the books I'm interested in reading seem to be there too. He's making his way onto my list, inch by inch.

Edit: Re-read your comment... Sounds like you have read it! And more specific recommendation than being one of the two greatest books etc etc?

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

I keep seeing this guys name around (and his books all have stupid holes in the front of them...), have you read him? He's in the 'cult fiction' section in my local, and, for some reason or another, all the books I'm interested in reading seem to be there too. He's making his way onto my list, inch by inch.

Edit: Re-read your comment... Sounds like you have read it! And more specific recommendation than being one of the two greatest books etc etc?

If you're interested in reading Bolano, start with The Savage Detectives then read 2666. Although 2666 is the more accomplished work, The Savage Detectives is one of my three favorite novels of all time (the other two being American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis and Concrete by Thomas Bernhard). The Savage Detectives is about an aspiring Mexican writer who becomes involved with a literary movement known as the Visceral Realists. The first and third parts of the book detail this writer's involvement with the movement's leaders, Arturo Belano and Ulises Lima. The intervening part of the book is the meatiest of the three and is a documentation of an unnamed person's interviews with peripheral characters that are introduced in the first part of the book. It can be inferred quite quickly that the aforementioned person is someone trying to chronicle the lives of Belano and Lima.

I cannot even begin properly describe my feelings regarding this book. Its story is so steeped in mystique yet so profoundly written and told. Almost every single page of this book made me feel as if I was on the verge of receiving a sip of that Faustian wisdom that all of us intellectuals so badly want to besot ourselves with. Once I finished the book, I was simultaneously elated, saddened, disappointed, hopeful, and about a thousand other pairs of antonyms.

The most frustrating thing in telling you this is that Bolano died from liver failure complications in 2003. He only became a worldwide literary phenomenon posthumously. While he thankfully left a substantial oeuvre, there is no telling whether or not this man would have finally let us in on the truths of the world that he so obviously had access to.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After
18. In the Electric Mist
19. The Other Guys

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy


Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)[/B]

19. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)

Another excellent short introduction to an aspect of the late Republic/early Empire from Shotter. I particularly liked his section on how Tiberius, in being fair and following Republican traditions, was actually damaging his reputation and relations with the Senate.

It demonstrates the state of flux that the Roman world found itself in at the end of the Republic and Augustus' death when its leading citizen was painted in a poor light for not acting more like a dictator.

This will likely find its way into my teaching aids in the future, although I would liked to have had some footnotes, particularly when it came to interacting with the primary sources.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2000)
3. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet (2001)

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After
18. In the Electric Mist
19. The Other Guys

20. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

There are a few laughs, most coming from Brick and his new girlfriend but this is largely tramping over old ground. There is nothing wrong with that per se but trying to capture the same lightning in a bottle of the original was always going to be tough.

Plus the story takes a couple of unnecessary and clumsy turns - the news team turning on Ron came almost out of nowhere while the falling out with Veronica was not needed at all.

21. Thor: The Dark World

Thor continues to be my favourite of the Avengers, maybe it is because it is so obviously placed in a comic book world and not trying to be 'believeable' like many other comic book movies. The problem that Thor does continually struggle to overcome is the strength of many of the main characters. the likes of Heimdall and Odin have to be sidelined in some way. Hell, even Freya defeated Malekith in combat. For the most part, these hurdles are overcome but they still linger.

It will be interesting to see where the Asgard stories heads.

22. The Lego Movie

Great fun which definitely brought a smile to my face on numerous occasions.

I could have done without the 'real world' bit at the end - it was trying a little too hard to be clever in explaining things - and I thought that there was room for more instances of major film versions of LEGO - Star Wars, LOTR etc.

23. GI JOE: Retaliation

Not enough Duke, Roadblock or Joe.

Indeed, I felt that there was almost too much from Cobra. Also that one nondescript JOE, Flint was it?, could have been removed altogether. I mean the only things he did were complain and sneak a glance at the hot girl while she was changing. The turning of Storm Shadow was also pretty naff.

Still it was a decent way to kill 100 mins.

24. To End All Wars

I came across this whilst channel hopping during a monstrous thunder storm. I think I had seen parts of it before and it certainly has a recognisable cast with Sutherland, Carlyse and Strong, even if none of them are the lead.

It is really just another POW movie but I did enjoy the the character of the harsh Japanese camp commandant. You could see how despite his need to follow orders he came to see how his belief in Bushido and honour had been distorted by the ruthlessness of Japanese imperialism. His realisation that despite the horrendous conditions of their captivity the Allied prisoners retained more honour than even he was excellent. It made his inevitable
seppuku mean more than just another commander committing suicide to escape justice.

25. Iron Man 3

I liked the long stretches of Stark not having his armour and JARVIS as that added something approaching realism and vulnerability which was much needed given the reuse of the overly powerful baddie and his minions and Stark's eventual counterattack.

Not entirely sure what the whole point of Killian's deployment of the Mandarin really was. It seemed an unnecessary side show just to lure the Iron Patriot into a trap, especially when Killian was so powerful and clearly psychotic. Also was it ever really mentioned why all these servicemen and women suddenly became willing to kill for Killian? Was Extremis doing something more than fixing/empowering them? Probably but I do not remember that being talked about.

26. American Hustle

As I have mentioned before, con films are largely played out with the final con being either too obvious or too contrived. This is largely the former and for a long stretch it is a con film without a real con, just a series of entrapments. Even the final trick is relatively low key and uninspired - just tell the truth to two of the four main players.

A nice cameo from De Niro, Amy Adams going from pretty, wholesome girl to smoking sexpot, Bradley Cooper's mesmorising snake hips or Jennifer Lawrence's Live and Let Die dance-cleaning but over all there is little here for me to comprehend home the film became so acclaimed, nominated and rewarded.

27. Gravity

A visually stunning dirty phone call with Sandra Bullock, whose character's survival is by far the least likely thing to ever happen. How neither Stone nor Kowalsky were struck by debris was unrealistic.

28. We're the Millers

I think my viewing of this suffered from being an airplane edited version as several of the more graphic scenes and language were censored or removed, although strangely not Aniston's strip tease, not that I am complaining.

This actually comes closer to a family road movie than an Apatow type comedy and I certainly did not hate it, although I rarely laughed.

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy

Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)
19. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)

20. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2000)

Always good to relive the childhood. Usually I would not list such a thin book but actually the 120 A4 pages of this work contain a vast amount of text (enough for two or three paperback pages) and bundles of information - the story of the trapped German miners that proved to be Anderson's spark of inspiration, the technical effects that were invented for the creation of the show, histories of the voice actors and technicians, character/craft biographies, extensive episode synopses and notes, broadcast history, cultural impact, particularly in marketing, all tied together with a fantastic array of photos and a nice writing style from an author who is clearly a fan of the show.

What more could a fan of Thunderbirds want? Except maybe to go watch the show again!

21. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet (2001)

There was only one direction to go after my previous read.

Unsurprisingly, this book is made in exactly the same way as its Thunderbirds counterpart - voice actors, technicians, character and craft biographies, episode and book synopses, broadcast history, cultural impact, photos, with an extended section on marketing and the limited future of Supermarionation with Joe 90 and Secret Service before what seems to be a decadely Renaissance in the early 1980s, early 1990s and what was at the time the prospect at the time of publication, since realised, of a fully CGI version, dubbed Hypermarionation, of Captain Scarlet.

Again, a great trip through an integral part of my childhood viewing that makes me want to go straight to watching through the series again.

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. Simon B. Jones The Battles Are The Best Bits

 

[Dan Severn's Moustache]

Completely agree with you on the Lego Movie:

Spoiler

The ending really did seem like a twist just for the sake of a twist and to give Will Ferrell some on-screen time. Sure, the redemption was a cute moment, but it kind of damaged the integrity of the world that the Lego characters lived in.

Still, I thought it was a great movie and it more than redeemed itself with its humour and general quality.

 

[Uncle Sam]

The ending, for one reason or another, seemed very... late eighties/early nineties family movie, which made me love it all the more.

 

[Барбоса]

The ending, for one reason or another, seemed very... late eighties/early nineties family movie, which made me love it all the more.

Are we talking about the LEGO movie or We're the Millers as I could apply this to both?

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After
18. In the Electric Mist
19. The Other Guys
20. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
21. Thor: The Dark World
22. The Lego Movie
23. GI JOE: Retaliation
24. To End All War
25. Iron Man 3
26. American Hustle
27. Gravity
28. We're the Millers

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy

Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)
19. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)
20. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2000)
21. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet (2001)

22. Simon B. Jones The Battles Are The Best Bits

This was a strange read in that it was part general history of antiquity and part diary of the author's discovery of it through his reading - well, it was more the former than the latter and in some way that is both the saving of and the sinking of this book.

By focusing more on a narrative retelling of what he was reading, the author is taking the safe route and also that which will see more people read his book. Had he gone beyond just the odd musing at the end of a paragraph and spoken more about his discovery of history, it would have allowed his work to stand out more but become far less readable to the masses.

That said, he has clearly done a lot of reading and for an amateur writer and historian, he has an eminently readable style, even if it could have done with a more thorough read through to catch a few SPG errors. Definitely worth grabbing a read if you like inexpensive (perhaps free) history.

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2.

 

[red ass skull muhfukkah]

Anyone have any recommendations for books on American History pre-Revolutionary War?

 

[Барбоса]

Anyone have any recommendations for books on American History pre-Revolutionary War?

Richter's Before the Revolution: America's Ancient Pasts has gotten some decent reviews.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After
18. In the Electric Mist
19. The Other Guys
20. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
21. Thor: The Dark World
22. The Lego Movie
23. GI JOE: Retaliation
24. To End All War
25. Iron Man 3
26. American Hustle
27. Gravity
28. We're the Millers

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy

Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)
19. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)
20. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2000)
21. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet (2001)
22. Simon B. Jones The Battles Are The Best Bits

23. Tony Perrottet Napoleon's Privates: 2500 Years of History Unzipped (2008)

A silly history of mildly amusing anecdotes of mostly sexual escapades, although there are strange diversions into food. It brings out the odd s****** and some interesting facts -"being shaved by the national razor" as a euphemism for being guillotined - but ultimately this let down by a lack of a decent lay out, writing style and in the in-depth material, which leaves it languishing in an ill-defined mess.

It very quickly becomes quite boring, despite the seemingly entertaining premise.

24. Peter Blake and Paul Blezard The Arcadian Cipher (2000)

Why oh why did I subject myself to this?

Predecessor to The Da Vinci Code and it follows many of the similar problems that that work incorporated, except one major difference. This is not a story. This is actually seen as a 'factual' discovery of some long hidden truth. What truth you ask? Well, you will have to read the book... Most of it. The authors talk for so long about the secret and its cipher but take for ever to say what it is about. Much like the Da Vinci Code again.

And how did they uncover this truth? Through studying Renaissance paintings.

Yes, apparently every major name in Renaissance Europe was in on the big secret - French kings and queens, Cardinal Richlieu and his retinue, the Florentine and Milanese dukes and their families, various popes, every painter worth his salt.

Conspiracy theory nonsense at its worst - take the most unlikely explanation at every turn and throw in a few inexplicable plasterings of a pentagram that does not even fit on the painting here and there to point at something you want it to.

The authors also regularly resort to long, barely connected tangents on the likes of Richlieu's origins, the 19th century discovery and translation of the Epic of Gilgamesh or the machinations of the Medici in Florence, seemingly with the aim of adding unneeded backstory but with the ulterior motive of adding some hard facts to their work and hoping that through some transference that the reader will be more likely to believe their massive jumps to conclusions.

Time I will never get back.

Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2.

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After
18. In the Electric Mist
19. The Other Guys
20. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
21. Thor: The Dark World
22. The Lego Movie
23. GI JOE: Retaliation
24. To End All War
25. Iron Man 3
26. American Hustle
27. Gravity
28. We're the Millers

The combination of work, too many films on holiday and watching TV shows has completely undermined my movie watching.

Repeat Viewing

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy

Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)
19. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)
20. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2000)
21. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet (2001)
22. Simon B. Jones The Battles Are The Best Bits
23. Tony Perrottet Napoleon's Privates: 2500 Years of History Unzipped (2008)
24. Peter Blake and Paul Blezard The Arcadian Cipher (2000)

25. Giles Milton Samurai William: the Adventurer who Unlocked Japan (2003)

An interesting story to be sure and well worth a read, although I would somewhat question the focus that the title would seem to promise. While Samurai William Adams is the main character in this story, for long stretches he does not appear in any great depth, with the perspective changing to those who are meeting him, soon to be arriving in Japan and even those who did not make it to the Land of the Rising Son. Indeed, the entire second half of the book is more about the lead merchant of the English factory in Hirado, Richard Cocks - an unfortunate name.

Such padding out is by no means a problem as the 16th century Far East is not somewhere that it greatly known about so any fleshing out of the burgeoning Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and English trade routes in steaming, disease-ridden swamps amongst cannibalistic tribes and the rather splendid juxtaposition with the honour-driven, ritualistically violent culture of Japan is welcome/needed but that should really see a change in the title with William Adams relegated somewhat from the main story to a major player within the "Unlocking of the Orient."

Still though, this is popular history at its best - easily, even compulsively read but at the same time providing plenty of information and dangling the line of further investigation should the reader what to pursue it.


Currently Reading

1. Peter Heather Empires and Barbarians: Migration, Development and the Birth of Europe (2009)
2. S.J. Hill and S. Ireland Roman Britain (2013)
3. M.K. Bohnhoff and M. Reaves Star Wars: Shadow Games (2012)

 

[Барбоса]

Films

First Viewing

Spoiler

1. Eastern Promises
2. Lust, Caution
3. Taxi Driver
4. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
5. Valhalla Rising
6. Django Unchained
7. Contraband
8. Zoolander
9. Centurion
10. The Eagle
11. Super
12. X-Men: First Class
13. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
14. Son of the Mask
15. Despicable Me
16. Despicable Me 2
17. Shrek Forever After
18. In the Electric Mist
19. The Other Guys
20. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
21. Thor: The Dark World
22. The Lego Movie
23. GI JOE: Retaliation
24. To End All War
25. Iron Man 3
26. American Hustle
27. Gravity
28. We're the Millers

Repeat Viewing

Spoiler

1. Zulu
2. Die Hard With A Vengeance
3. The Punisher
4. The Guard
5. Octopussy

Books

Read

Spoiler

1. James Bowder (ed.) Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (2012)
2. Paul S. Kemp Star Wars: Riptide (2011)
3. James E. Fraser The Roman Conquest of Scotland: The Battle of Mons Graupius AD84 (2008)
4. Aaron Allston Star Wars: X-Wing #10 - Mercy Kill
5. Chester G. Starr The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History (1989)
6. Robert Harvey Clive: The Life and Death of a British Emperor (1998)
7. David Ross Nelson: Britain's Greatest Naval Commander (2005)
8. Dan Crompton A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: The World's Oldest Joke Book (2010)
9. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Choices of One (2012)
10. Peter Haining A Brief History of Cults: Bizarre Rituals and Murderous Practices Revealed (1999)
11. Drew Karpyshyn Star Wars: The Old Republic - Annihilation
12. Shaun Porter Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution
13. Chester G. Starr The Emergence of Rome as Ruler of the Western World (1953)
14. Patrick Bishop Target Tirpitz: X-Craft, Agents and Dambusters - The Epic Quest to Destroy Hitler's Mightiest Warship (2012)
15. K.M. MacPhee Dalriada: Heartland of Scotland (2012)
16. John Richardson Roman Provincial Administration (2001)
17. Michael Grant The Collapse and Recovery of the Roman Empire (1999)
18. S.A.Lusher The Necropolis Trilogy (2014)
19. David Shotter Tiberius Caesar (2004)
20. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2000)
21. Chris Bentley The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet (2001)
22. Simon B. Jones The Battles Are The Best Bits
23. Tony Perrottet Napoleon's Privates: 2500 Years of History Unzipped (2008)
24. Peter Blake and Paul Blezard The Arcadian Cipher (2000)25. Giles Milton Samurai William: the Adventurer who Unlocked Japan (2003)

26. M. Reaves and M.K. Bohnhoff Star Wars: Shadow Games (2012)

Back to the Star Wars Universe again; this time to a story that seemingly takes places in the immediate run up to Episode IV. There are plenty of nods to events in the movies although most of them seem somewhat shoehorned in just for the brief moment of recognition.

I have long liked the character of Dash Rendar since the days of Shadows of the Empire on the N64, particularly his back and forth with Leebo, but he is really just a Han Solo clone and when both appear together, it is like listening to a guy talk to himself.

Like many stories that rely on something of a mystery, the big reveal - in this case the culprit - can be something of a let down. "What do you mean it was the one person present on every occasion but never suspected?" The setting itself - a travelling music tour - is also way over the top given the underlying story behind it.

Currently Reading

1. S.J. Hill and S. Ireland Roman Britain (2013)
2. Timothy Zahn Star Wars: Scoundrels (2013)

 

[Uncle Sam]

Just checking - A Feast For Crows is meant to be absolutely boring as fuck, no?

 

[Барбоса]

I did not find it boring, although that was more to do with me reading the whole thing in one go so the books bled into one. It is definitely a lull in the story though - the draw of breath after the end of the War of the Five Kings, introducing new characters, moving pieces into new places etc.

I think if Martin had his time over, he would perhaps rehash AFFC and the first part of ADWD.

I thought maybe you would be commenting on my lack of movie watching... 6 weeks with no additions...

 

[Uncle Sam]

I've been assured that A Knight's Tale is actually as funny as I thought it was when I was eleven. I assume its use of Queen - the band, not the title - is historically accurate. Maybe you'd like it.

 

[Барбоса]

Haven't seen A Knight's Tale. Don't think I am in any rush to change that.

My DVD 2 Watch pile is beginning to creep up again too. I had it down into the teens at one point but after an American trip and a couple of Tesco/Asda finds, it is up to 28 again...

Might watch something tonight if I am not indulging in Mario Kart, Wind Waker and Crusader Kings II.

 

[idif]

I'm doing the same thing, but with video games. Lots of old, classic games I've never played that I'm now just getting into.

 

[Uncle Sam]

A Feast For Crows spoilers:

Spoiler

Did they fucking seriously just kill The Onion Knight 'off-screen'? I am so fucking sick of this fucking book. One more Brienne chapter and I'm going to scream.