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Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard (1988)
1988 | Action
For my money, this is Bruce Willis's breakout role as New York detective John McClane, who - when visiting his estranged wife Holly for Christmas in Los Angeles - gets caught up when a group of criminals (led by Alan Rickman, in another brilliant role) seizes control of the high-rise building in which she works.

On his own, and presenting a more everyday action hero than the like of Schwarzenegger or Stallone (who would probably walk over broken glass without flinching in one of their films), the wise-cracking McClane finds himself taking on the group one by one in the cramped confines of the high rise.

There's a reason many-a-film since has been called "Die Hard on a xxx"

In short, oft imitated but never bettered

(and, back here, McClane has not yet transformed into the almost-superhero who shrugs off injuries that would cripple a lesser man that he becomes in the alter films)
  
    SMARTIFY: Scan & Discover art

    SMARTIFY: Scan & Discover art

    Art & Design, Education and Reference

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

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    – Scan the art, uncover the story BBC Arts Editor, Will Gompertz: "Smartify is the most elegant,...

The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch, #3; Harry Bosch Universe, #3)
The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch, #3; Harry Bosch Universe, #3)
Michael Connelly | 1994 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
9.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
LA homicide detective Harry Bosch is facing a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the Dollmaker case. Four years ago, this serial killer was terrorizing Los Angeles until Bosch killed him. But just as the case comes to trial, Harry gets a new note that appears to come from the killer. And it leads them to a fresh body. Did Bosch kill the right person? How might this affect his trial?

This is quite obviously not one of the cozies I normally read, and it got into some details I didn’t care for. However, the case was very compelling, and it kept me engrossed the entire time. This was half police procedural and half legal thriller, something this author has turned back to for the Mickey Haller series. We also got to see so true growth in Bosch in this book, and I can’t wait to see where that growth takes the character next.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-review-concrete-blonde-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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The Forgotten Man (Elvis Cole, #10)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Normally, a man shot in an alley in downtown Los Angeles wouldn’t cross Elvis Cole’s radar. However, this man claimed that he was the PI’s long-lost father in town to make up for lost time with his son. Could it be true? If so, what was he doing in the alley when he got shot?

At some point, this part of Cole’s past had to come into the foreground in the series, and this book does a great job of using that hook to springboard us into a great mystery. As you’d expect, there are some good twists and an exciting climax. I did feel that a flashback to Elvis as an early teen really didn’t do much for the story other than slow it down. We don’t get to see much of Joe Pike, Elvis’ partner. Instead, the sidekick role is filled with Carol Starkey, but I hated how she came across here. Definitely a step down for her character.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-forgotten-man-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Please Stand By (2017)
Please Stand By (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Drama
Cute and touching
Maybe a cross between Rain Man and Lady Bird or Nebraska, this cute amusing film is about a girl with autism who is devoted to Star Trek (who isn't?) and has the opportunity to write a script for a contest where she could win $100,000.

The script turns out great, but now she has a problem: how to get it to Los Angeles within 3 days to beat the deadline.

I have always been a great fan of Dakota Fanning going back to I Am Sam, War of the Worlds and Man on Fire, and she is excellent and the star of the show here as well. Her portrayal of a young woman on the spectrum is truly believable, touching and sweet.

Some of the situations and people she encounters are a little too strange, unusual and/or only would happen in a movie, but overall her journey to LA is fun and you are really rooting for her to succeed.