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I'm sure if you mentioned the name Bernard Cornwell to most readers, they would immediately think of historical-set 'boys-own' mainly and-based action-adventure novels, which I once read described by one critic as 'men behaving badly, but with incredible brio' (which I had to go and look up what that meant).
So, not a contemporary (at the time of Cornwell's writing) set mystery, then, with a heavy slant towards nautical matters.
Yet that is precisely what this is.
While I can't comment on the accuracy (or otherwise) of the naval segments - other than to say they seemed plausible to this land-lubber - I have to say, I also found this to be rather predictable fare, with it startlingly obvious - at least to me - just who stole the priceless Van Gogh (the McGuffin that provides the drive for the plot) further early on, not long after that character is introduced.
Sorry, Mr Cornwell: not your best effort.
So, not a contemporary (at the time of Cornwell's writing) set mystery, then, with a heavy slant towards nautical matters.
Yet that is precisely what this is.
While I can't comment on the accuracy (or otherwise) of the naval segments - other than to say they seemed plausible to this land-lubber - I have to say, I also found this to be rather predictable fare, with it startlingly obvious - at least to me - just who stole the priceless Van Gogh (the McGuffin that provides the drive for the plot) further early on, not long after that character is introduced.
Sorry, Mr Cornwell: not your best effort.
A.O. Scott recommended The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) in Movies (curated)
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Wolf Man (1941) in Movies
May 8, 2021
The first Universal werewolf film to really make an impression doesn't have the same iconic status as either Frankenstein or Dracula, but is still a much more proficient movie in purely technical terms. Larry Talbot is plunged into a world of misery and horror when he returns to his family home in Wales; many visitors to the principality will probably empathise, but his experience is particularly bad when he is bitten by a gypsy and becomes a werewolf.
Solid story, decently structured; the wolf man make-up is honestly not that great, and neither is Chaney's performance, but the rest of the cast is decent and the plot rattles along. Notable as the film which established the 'rules' of lycanthropy as far as mainstream cinema is concerned. As ever, probably more interesting from a historical point of view than as a genuine piece of entertainment, but still a film which has deservedly resonated in the culture.
Solid story, decently structured; the wolf man make-up is honestly not that great, and neither is Chaney's performance, but the rest of the cast is decent and the plot rattles along. Notable as the film which established the 'rules' of lycanthropy as far as mainstream cinema is concerned. As ever, probably more interesting from a historical point of view than as a genuine piece of entertainment, but still a film which has deservedly resonated in the culture.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) in Movies
Sep 6, 2020
Fourth St Trinian's film is a knockabout farce which has not aged at all well. Crooks hide the loot from a train robbery (such things were topical at the time) in a disused building, which is then taken over by St Trinian's school as their new premises. Can the villains retrieve the swag without anyone noticing?
Notably pragmatic (to the point of ruthlessness) in pursuit of its gags: there is shotgun satire of politicians, civil servants, the private school system, and various topical issues (there are some very dodgy jokes about immigration and racial minorities). Even more cartoony than a Carry On film, and increasingly frantic as it goes on, it does have a remarkable cast of well-known faces from British films of its period, but the jokes are thinner on the ground than one might hope for given the talent involved. Has a certain historical interest these days but it's awkward to watch as much as entertaining.
Notably pragmatic (to the point of ruthlessness) in pursuit of its gags: there is shotgun satire of politicians, civil servants, the private school system, and various topical issues (there are some very dodgy jokes about immigration and racial minorities). Even more cartoony than a Carry On film, and increasingly frantic as it goes on, it does have a remarkable cast of well-known faces from British films of its period, but the jokes are thinner on the ground than one might hope for given the talent involved. Has a certain historical interest these days but it's awkward to watch as much as entertaining.
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated The Impossible Fortress in Books
Oct 5, 2020
I really wanted to like this book, but perhaps I'm simply the wrong audience. The book takes place in 1987 with a group of 16 year old boys. I happen to remember that time, having been 30 at the time. Of course, I lived in a nice suburb of Chicago and these boys come from a less than affluent part of New Jersey, I don't think that they could have been as different as this book makes out. Some of the chronological/historical errors bothered me, and a few other details just didn't make sense (for example, would a single mother, forced to work night shifts for the extra dollar an hour, really have cable TV so her son could watch MTV? Personally, I doubt it). More importantly, the idea of petty crime and (even soft core) porn just didn't sit well with this nearly 60 year old mother, especially if 16 year old boys today might think it cool!
>Sorry, but no... not for me!
>Sorry, but no... not for me!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dracula Untold (2014) in Movies
Jan 10, 2021
Untold, uninspired, and underwhelming take on a Dracula origin story, very much in the style of a comic book movie. Historians look away: Vlad Tepes is a client king of the Turks, who is forced to rebel against them and seeks out demonic, blood-sucking powers to help him defeat his opponents. (Charles Dance, playing his mentor in evil, is the best thing in the movie.)
Mildly diverting as an empty spectacle (gasp as Superdrac uses his FIST OF BATS power to squish the Turks!) but essentially useless: the film fails to engage with either the historical Vlad the Impaler or the iconic Dracula. Luke Evans fails to communicate any essential darkness lurking in his character, just coming across as a nice guy who makes a bad decision under pressure. If Dracula's not going to be a properly evil monster, what's the point of him? Good effects and reasonable art direction, but misses the point in every narrative sense.
Mildly diverting as an empty spectacle (gasp as Superdrac uses his FIST OF BATS power to squish the Turks!) but essentially useless: the film fails to engage with either the historical Vlad the Impaler or the iconic Dracula. Luke Evans fails to communicate any essential darkness lurking in his character, just coming across as a nice guy who makes a bad decision under pressure. If Dracula's not going to be a properly evil monster, what's the point of him? Good effects and reasonable art direction, but misses the point in every narrative sense.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Black Lions Bride (Warrior Trilogy #2) in Books
Dec 8, 2020
203
Kindle
Black lion’s Bride ( Warrior trilogy book 2)
By Lara Adrian
As deadly as she is beautiful, Zahirah, daughter of the King of the Assassins, steals into the camp of the English army. She intends to murder King Richard, but her plan only delivers her into the hands of the enemy and puts her at the mercy of the dashing Black Lion, Sebastian of Montborne. Seeing only a mysterious beauty in need of his protection, Sebastian is unaware that Zahirah is the enemy he has sworn to destroy. Caught in a web of passion and deception, they now risk their lives to share a forbidden love.
I’m a sucker for historical romances and loved the first book in this series. I also enjoyed this one although I did find it a bit harder to fall into Sebastian is amazing it took me a little longer to like Zahirah! Overall it was a good read and would recommend
Kindle
Black lion’s Bride ( Warrior trilogy book 2)
By Lara Adrian
As deadly as she is beautiful, Zahirah, daughter of the King of the Assassins, steals into the camp of the English army. She intends to murder King Richard, but her plan only delivers her into the hands of the enemy and puts her at the mercy of the dashing Black Lion, Sebastian of Montborne. Seeing only a mysterious beauty in need of his protection, Sebastian is unaware that Zahirah is the enemy he has sworn to destroy. Caught in a web of passion and deception, they now risk their lives to share a forbidden love.
I’m a sucker for historical romances and loved the first book in this series. I also enjoyed this one although I did find it a bit harder to fall into Sebastian is amazing it took me a little longer to like Zahirah! Overall it was a good read and would recommend
Mel (490 KP) rated Lincoln in the Bardo in Books
Oct 2, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
When this book first came out it seemed to be publicised everywhere so when I saw it on a daily deal I picked up a copy.
I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't quite what I got. While the main thread of the story focusing on the death of Lincoln's son and the ghosts in the graveyard was interesting it felt like this was essentially a short story bulked out into a novel (given the author is far more famous for his short stories this probably isn't surprising). The use of historical quotations to tell the parts of the story taken from real life seemed more of a clever affectation than actually a useful plot device. While I finished the book and felt like I knew a little more about Lincoln the man afterwards overall I didn't think it lived up to the hype surrounding it
I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't quite what I got. While the main thread of the story focusing on the death of Lincoln's son and the ghosts in the graveyard was interesting it felt like this was essentially a short story bulked out into a novel (given the author is far more famous for his short stories this probably isn't surprising). The use of historical quotations to tell the parts of the story taken from real life seemed more of a clever affectation than actually a useful plot device. While I finished the book and felt like I knew a little more about Lincoln the man afterwards overall I didn't think it lived up to the hype surrounding it
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