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David McK (3843 KP) rated Troy in Books

Nov 30, 2020

Troy

Stephen Fry | 2020 | Education

8.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Stephen Fry's straight retelling (as much as is possible) of the Siege of Troy, following on from his earlier works 'Mythos' and 'Heroes'.

As such, we cover all the familiar ground: Helen of Troy, Paris, the Gods involvement, Agamemnon, Menaleus, Achilles, Odysseus, that giant wooden horse ...

I have to say, however, for such a well know story this is probably the first time I've ever seen (or heard) a straight retelling of it: we normally get either the Gods left out entirely (see the early 2000s film 'Troy'), a slow and plodding retelling that leaves it up to you to decide whether they were involved or not (BBCs 'Troy'), or a reworking/reimagining where the wooden horse is reworked into a metaphor for something completely different (I'm most familiar with those by David Gemmell, such as in his trilogy beginning 'Lord of the Silver Bow').

Having said that, this also has a bit of an abrupt ending, leaving it - I feel - open for a retelling of The Odyssey to come next!

Kudos

Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Van Helsing (2004) in Movies

Aug 19, 2019

Van Helsing (2004)

2004 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

6.8

(87 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Cast, acting, graphics/SFX, story (0 more)

Occasional under acting via dialogue. (0 more)

The original beginning of the Dark Universe

In the early 2000s we saw a drop in great movies, even good ones and was left with the occasional sleeper hit and the obvious box office hits.

In 2004 universal released 'Van Helsing', with pretty decent promoting, and some neat casting with rising stars Hugh Jackman & Kate Beckinsale at the helm - with Richard Roxburgh as Dracula (also Robbie Coltrane as Mr Hyde)

The Story:
Van Helsing is on a mission from God, to rid evil from the world. After a 'paris job' goes wrong, Helsing returns to the Vatican to be briefed on this next assignment which sees helsing and his ally and friar named carl heading to Transylvania, to hunt down and kill count Dracula.
Joining forces with a Gypsy Princess named Anna who also seeks to kill Dracula in order to break her family's curse before her bloodline ends allowing her family to enter the kindom of heaven.