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David McK (3755 KP) rated Batman: Resurrection in Books

Apr 6, 2025  
Batman: Resurrection
Batman: Resurrection
John Jackson Miller | 2024
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Michael Keaton's version of The Caped Crusader seems to have undergone something of a renaissance in recent years, with the publication of the Batman '89 graphic novels, and with his reappearance in the otherwise-disappointing movie 'The Flash' from 2023.

So roughly 35 or so years after the original 'Batman' film - which reimagined him from the camp flamboyant character of the '60s TV series to something altogether more serious - we get this novel, set between the events of 'Batman' And 'Batman Returns' and so set in the very-gothic Tim Burton version of Gotham instead of the more-grounded Christopher Nolan version: a Gotham that is still reeling from the after-effects of The Jokers gas attack towards the end of that film.

With said Gas, and the chemical attack earlier in the film in the form of Smylex, kickstarting the plot here by providing the reason behind the creation of what, to me, is one of the lesser-known of Batman's Rogue Gallery - a character that, without giving too much away, I only really first became aware of through playing the Arkham Asylum series of videogames, where he has a larger role in one of the later entries (and who has yet, to my knowledge, make it to the movies - ironic, when you consider his profession).

Him, and the puppeteer pulling his strings - both of whom I have encountered in said video games; neither of which have played a larger role (any?) in any of the live-action Batman films.

As an 'in-between' novel, there's also hints of things to come with cameo's from certain characters who will later play a larger role in Batman Returns, and by one character in particular who the upcoming sequel to this is going to centre on.
  
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Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Alanna: The First Adventure in Books

Apr 16, 2018  
Alanna: The First Adventure
Alanna: The First Adventure
Tamora Pierce | 1983 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.8 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
The beginning of an epic world (0 more)
Writing style (it gets better!) (0 more)
The Song of the Lioness quartet is Tamora Pierce's first set of books. I read her latest trilogy (the Beka Cooper trilogy) first, which didn't exactly prepare me for The Song of the Lioness. It's obvious, going from the latest trilogy to her first writing, how much her writing has matured since the 80s. My first thought upon completing Alanna: the First Adventure was "I'm very glad she's gotten better at writing!" The story itself is still interesting and worth reading, but the style is a little difficult to read when I KNOW how well she writes now. The characters are mostly one-dimensional; few of the side characters seem to have plots going or events happening to them when they're not with Alanna. Characters pop up, have a significant interaction with Alanna, and are gone again, with no indication they exist outside of their usefulness to the main character. This is in stark contrast to her latest work, where every character that has a significant role to play has a history of their own, and thoughts and feelings of their own. They're much more fleshed out in her recent books.

That complaint aside, the Alanna books are really the foundation that the rest of Tortall was built upon. It's interesting to see how Pierce has fleshed out some of the concepts she touched on in the Alanna saga, and it's fun to see where some of the things from the Beka Cooper trilogy originated. It also pays to keep in mind that though the Alanna books were written first, the Beka Cooper trilogy is based two hundred years earlier. We learn a lot more about the office of The Rogue in the Beka Cooper trilogy, something that isn't explained very well in the Alanna quartet, even though one of Alanna's main romantic interests is George Cooper (yes, a descendant of Beka!), the Rogue. Pierce also never explains the origins of Alanna's cat, Faithful, in the actual Alanna books. That explanation lies in the Beka Cooper books as well.

The Song of the Lioness quartet is the story of a girl who decides to rebel against tradition and follow her heart to become a knight. In her time, ladies simply do NOT become knights. They learn to organize households and marry well. Alanna, however, is lucky enough to have a twin brother who does not want to become a knight; instead Thom wants to be a mage. So when they're sent off to face their futures, they switch places, with Alanna becoming "Alan", the younger twin. (Thom stays Thom; the school that ladies are sent to is the same school mages start at.)

Alan/Alanna begins as a page, then moves to squire, and eventually a knight. Her secret is discovered, but due to her influential friends, most of whom knew she was a girl by then, she is able to keep her status. Her adventures take her from uncovering a plot against the royal family, to being adopted by a desert tribe, to recovering a magic jewel of prosperity, with many small adventures in between.

I love reading Pierce's heroines; both Alanna and Beka have problems reconciling their feminine natures with the work they've chosen. The scenes where Alanna's love interests see her in a dress for the first time, instead of her normal boy-garb and armor, is heart-warming in one case, and sad in another. In both womens' lives it's the man who can accept all of their aspects who ultimately wins their heart, which is a wonderful message.

Ultimately, the technical flaws in the writing of the Alanna saga faded as I became absorbed in the story. I'll be requesting more Tortall books from the library in the near future!

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
  
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Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) in Movies

Jun 4, 2019  
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
2000 | Action, Mystery
6
5.6 (19 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Short of Average
When you spend two hours on a movie like Mission: Impossible 2, you can’t help but wonder, “Did they make this just to piss me off?” I knew the answer was no, but I was pissed nonetheless. In the franchise’s first sequel, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is back at it trying to recover a deadly virus from a rogue agent.

Acting: 8

Beginning: 9

Characters: 8

Cinematography/Visuals: 3
I wish I could have been in the editing room when they were working on this movie. Everytime director John Woo would mention anything about slow mo, I would send an electric shock down his spine. Enough already. You can slow the camera down, great! It doesn’t add to the value of the action. The John Wick movies are a perfect example of that. He cuts through guys with efficiency and speed. And you know what else? He does it without the damn doves! M:I 2 is a visual mess.

Conflict: 8

Genre: 3
When I think of great actions movies, this ain’t it. Not even close. It had flashes, but falls well short of being even average.

Memorability: 5

Pace: 6

Plot: 5
This movie breaks two major rules of filmmaking by having: 1. A love relationship that develops way too quickly and 2. A plot that advances based on sheer coincidence. You can’t be clever with screenwriting and take shortcuts at the same time, good writing just doesn’t work that way. At best, the story is mediocre.

Resolution: 7

Overall: 62
Mission: Impossible 2 reminds me of those cheesy action movies of old that you knew would be bad, but you suffered through it because you just wanted to see stuff blow up. Actually, it’s worse than that because it actually attempts to be a good movie and, in the process, takes itself way too seriously. Flashes of greatness, but moreso just a flash in the pan.