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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated American Assassin (2017) in Movies

Jul 11, 2019  
American Assassin (2017)
American Assassin (2017)
2017 | Action, Thriller
7
6.4 (35 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Traumatic events affect people differently. Some avoid anything that resembles that moment or triggers memories of it. Others are impacted so deeply that they must take action. American Assassin, based on the Vince Flynn books, features Dylan O’Brien (Maze Runner) as Mitch Rapp who wants to avenge the killing of his girlfriend in a terrorist attack. Upon his attempt to track down the men responsible, he is recruited by the CIA to help them track down the perpetrator of several attacks on civilian and military targets.

The film is ambitious in its approach to entering the realm of spy thrillers. There is no real depth to the film or moments that make the audience truly invested in the characters onscreen. At times, the story feels rushed, repetitive, and confusing. The actions scenes, however, are engrossing and give the audience the sense of chaos that would be felt if they were a part of it. The most interesting aspect of the film is not the story, but Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Stan Hurley, who leads Rapp on their international quest to find a rogue agent and prevent a nuclear detonation. Keaton’s character seems to be a combination of some of his more iconic roles allowing for much more depth, connection to be made between him and the other characters, despite the lack of chemistry between them collectively.

American Assassin is a good action film for those looking for an escape in the theaters, but for those looking for something that will rival any of the Bourne films, or the James Bond series, they are going to be sorely disappointed.
  
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Ande Thomas (69 KP) rated Foundation in Books

May 30, 2019  
Foundation
Foundation
Isaac Asimov | 1942 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
7.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
I'll admit. I didn't get it the first time. I found it lacking in more ways than one. I wanted a universe full of history and activity, rich with politics and intrigue. What I got...was actually just that. It just took me a second read through to appreciate it. I think that more than anything, I want a series that values society more than the individual. I want an acknowledgement that a single character isn't necessarily more important than any other, because in the grand scheme of the universe, life is far too fleeting to be of importance. Foundation fits the mold.

No character in Foundation really elevates to the unrealistic heroics one might expect in a sci-fi epic, save for possibly Hari Seldon. And though he get's all the credit, he did have a team of psycho-historians behind him. Every era throughout has its hero, to be sure, but they all identify within the confines of Seldon's prophecies. They recognize the Seldon crises, and they act, but only because they see what must be done. It's probably my favorite thing about the book and also the most frustrating. If a single person can set in motion the solution to a Seldon crisis, then how could Seldon have accounted for the variables of a single, powerful king or advisor? I'm no psycho-historian, so presumably his models give room for one rogue actor to deviate, causing another to react in a way that would guide the trajectory back on target. Who knows. All I know is it's fun. It's fun and frustrating, and despite my initial reservations, I can't wait to continue the series. I was wrong. There, I said it.