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Simon Theo Cutter (2 KP) rated Alita: Battle Angel (2019) in Movies
Feb 10, 2019
Amazing world building (1 more)
Jaw dropping special effects
A master class in science fiction
So I saw this movie Friday and I loved it ,this is the kind of movie you have to see on the biggest screen possible ,and beautiful to look at ,I completely forgot that the character of ALITA is completely rendered in I computer there are times where you swear that ALITA is a real human being ,the action is top notch it has some of the most exciting action set pieces I've seen in a movie period especially the motor ball scene ,it was a joy to watch that entire scene play out and my mouth was on the floor the entire time ,that scene alone is worth the ticket admission,the acting is great across the board you could tell that everyone involved was passionate about this project and they wanted to make the best movie possible ,there is however an aspect of this movie I thought didn't work and that was the love story it felt it was unnecessary but it did pay off in the end ,I'm not going to go into spoilers because I believe the best way to see this spectacular movie is to go in knowing next to nothing and just experience it ,I will say this Alita battle angel is a fast paced ,epic ,science fiction adventure and I came out of the screening wanting more ,this movie is a passion project for James Cameron and you can really tell ,after seeing this I can't wait to see what he brings to the table with his avatar sequels..I loved this movie !!!!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated I am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) in Books
Nov 15, 2019
When the planet Lorien is destroyed by invading aliens 9 refugee children who are bound by fate and will develop mystical powers come to Earth with their mentors. Each is given a number and they can only be killed in sequence. After Number Three is killed Number Four knows he is the next on the list, but he has a lot on his plate with not only his powers developing but his teenage school life becoming complicated. With the predatory aliens closing in he must rely on both friends and enemies to survive.
The basic outline is that of a good book but the detail and the execution somewhat let it down; too much of the back story is paper thin and invented for dramatic convenience. The killing in order thing is just hokey and absurd and that's just the start. The 9 aren't supposed to meet each other but that makes no sense as they would be stronger together. 'Henri', the mentor of Number Four is obseessed with secrecy yet sends him to school just when his powers are going to manifest in an obvious way. The plot itself doesn't quite hold together and the final showdown at the end of the book is over the top to the point of ridiculousness.
There are good bits, but they are generally unrelated to the whole Lorien part of it. The story of the new boy at school who gets on the wrong side of the school bully and befriends the previously friendless is good and works well with some good characters. This may have been better as a standard story of teenage life without all the science fiction trimmings.
I was disappointed with this book. I expected a lot more than it delivered. There are far far better science fiction books for young adults out there.
The basic outline is that of a good book but the detail and the execution somewhat let it down; too much of the back story is paper thin and invented for dramatic convenience. The killing in order thing is just hokey and absurd and that's just the start. The 9 aren't supposed to meet each other but that makes no sense as they would be stronger together. 'Henri', the mentor of Number Four is obseessed with secrecy yet sends him to school just when his powers are going to manifest in an obvious way. The plot itself doesn't quite hold together and the final showdown at the end of the book is over the top to the point of ridiculousness.
There are good bits, but they are generally unrelated to the whole Lorien part of it. The story of the new boy at school who gets on the wrong side of the school bully and befriends the previously friendless is good and works well with some good characters. This may have been better as a standard story of teenage life without all the science fiction trimmings.
I was disappointed with this book. I expected a lot more than it delivered. There are far far better science fiction books for young adults out there.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in Books
Oct 24, 2017 (Updated Oct 24, 2017)
Ridiculously amusing
This has been part of my to-read list since forever. And I can now assuredly say that the meaning of life is 42. It's hilariously silly and outright bonkers.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Man in the High Castle in Books
Sep 15, 2017
Classic dystopian novel about the US and if the Germans had won the war
Philip K. Dick is the godfather of Science Fiction, especially creating alternative realities and dystopian futures. In this case, he puts the point what would the world look like if Hitler had won the Second World War?
In this version, citizens of Jewish origin begin to be hunted down alongside those with ethnic minorities, except for the Japanese, given their support during the war. Amid this turmoil, is a mysterious and controversial book floating around, that explains what America would look like if they had won.
This is a bit of mind trip as a result, and it does end rather abruptly. However, the writing is gripping and you're desperate to find out how the man in the high castle connects to the story.
In this version, citizens of Jewish origin begin to be hunted down alongside those with ethnic minorities, except for the Japanese, given their support during the war. Amid this turmoil, is a mysterious and controversial book floating around, that explains what America would look like if they had won.
This is a bit of mind trip as a result, and it does end rather abruptly. However, the writing is gripping and you're desperate to find out how the man in the high castle connects to the story.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Body Stealers (Invasion of the Body Stealers) (1969) in Movies
Mar 16, 2019 (Updated Mar 16, 2019)
British sci-fi emanating from a weird dimension deep below the bottom of the barrel. When parachutists start vanishing into thin air mid-drop, the authorities call in rugged investigator and borderline sex pest Bob Megan (Patrick Allen). It turns out aliens from Outer Space are responsible!
One of those films where you quickly become pleasantly surprised when something isn't cheesy, inept, or horribly inappropriate; the kind of movie which gives science fiction a bad name (fans of the genre will doubtless recognise the alien spaceship from a more prominent appearance in another film). Various fairly capable actors find themselves adrift in a sea of uproarious nonsense; Neil Connery proves once again that, limited though his range may be, big brother Sean got all the acting ability in the family. Kind of fun to watch if you like bad movies.
One of those films where you quickly become pleasantly surprised when something isn't cheesy, inept, or horribly inappropriate; the kind of movie which gives science fiction a bad name (fans of the genre will doubtless recognise the alien spaceship from a more prominent appearance in another film). Various fairly capable actors find themselves adrift in a sea of uproarious nonsense; Neil Connery proves once again that, limited though his range may be, big brother Sean got all the acting ability in the family. Kind of fun to watch if you like bad movies.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Avengers in TV
Mar 4, 2018 (Updated Mar 4, 2018)
Iconic British cult adventure series. Very few shows change as much as The Avengers did over its seven season run; what started off as a gritty thriller about Ian Hendry's crime-busting doctor gradually transformed first into virtual science fiction (the Diana Rigg episodes feature mind-swapping machines, killer robots and a brain-controlling alien plant) and then a much more whimsical fantasy show for its final year or so.
Many of the early episodes are quite hard work now, but the two seasons where Macnee is paired with Diana Rigg are classic TV, and the sometimes-maligned final season with Linda Thorson also contains many neglected gems (the episode with the murderous clowns, for instance). Even when the show is not quite firing on all cylinders, there is always Patrick Macnee's inimitable performance as Steed to enjoy.
Many of the early episodes are quite hard work now, but the two seasons where Macnee is paired with Diana Rigg are classic TV, and the sometimes-maligned final season with Linda Thorson also contains many neglected gems (the episode with the murderous clowns, for instance). Even when the show is not quite firing on all cylinders, there is always Patrick Macnee's inimitable performance as Steed to enjoy.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated The Nightmare Stacks: A Laundry Files Novel in Books
Feb 23, 2018
Another fun entry in the Laundry Files series, this one is narrated by Dr. Schwartz, from the previous novel. Poor Alex is trying to come to grips with his sudden career change and living life as a PHANG (vampire, to the rest of us). He has also fallen into social interactions with an actual female person, which is vastly unusual in his life. In fact, having a social life is rather foreign.
There are a fair number of cringe-worthy scenes, if you (like me) are embarrassed when anyone else is. Of course, this is a comedy/horror/science fiction/fantasy series, so there are the requisite horrid things in the plot. If you've gotten this far in the series, I shouldn't need to warn you about that. I really wouldn't choose this volume as an entry point if I were you.
There are a fair number of cringe-worthy scenes, if you (like me) are embarrassed when anyone else is. Of course, this is a comedy/horror/science fiction/fantasy series, so there are the requisite horrid things in the plot. If you've gotten this far in the series, I shouldn't need to warn you about that. I really wouldn't choose this volume as an entry point if I were you.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Powersat (The Grand Tour #1) in Books
Nov 25, 2019
Dan Randolph has a dream - cheap power for all delivered via a series of orbital sun-powered 'Powersats' that will beam their energy down to Earth. However this is a huge project and there are any number of things that can go wrong. Dan will need to summon all his resources as a businessman and format astronaut to ensure his brainchild has a future.
This is a pretty solid start to the Grand Tour series of books, which seek to show the reader every corner of the solar system together with a gripping story. The science is accurate and plot is certainly gripping.
However this is a fairly workmanlike book, feeling a lot like Bova was writing with gritted teeth to actually get it finished. As a result it is a good but not great work of fiction.
This is a pretty solid start to the Grand Tour series of books, which seek to show the reader every corner of the solar system together with a gripping story. The science is accurate and plot is certainly gripping.
However this is a fairly workmanlike book, feeling a lot like Bova was writing with gritted teeth to actually get it finished. As a result it is a good but not great work of fiction.
Tom Turner (388 KP) rated Planet Of The Apes in Books
Apr 29, 2021
When the Tim Burton remake of the 1969 movie was released there was an uproar, essentially because they had changed the twist ending. True, the twist the Burton film came up with was awful, but there is an irony in that uproar. You see, that classic twist from the original movie is not the twist in this book! I'm not going to say what that twist is, but thankfully it is on a part with the one we all know and live.
I love this novel, and really wish more people were aware it existed. I wouldn't be surprised if some people avoided it believing it to be a novelization of the movie, but no, this was published six years before the original movie! I think this is a must read for any science fiction fan, and movie historian.
I love this novel, and really wish more people were aware it existed. I wouldn't be surprised if some people avoided it believing it to be a novelization of the movie, but no, this was published six years before the original movie! I think this is a must read for any science fiction fan, and movie historian.
GustavoCampello (6 KP) rated Another Earth (2011) in Movies
Feb 10, 2022
The film does refer, albeit in a shallow way, to Tarkovsky and this is perhaps its greatest asset. There are exaggerations. There is not the same poetry as in the Russian master's films, but the drama that unfolds at the same time as we have a science fiction in the background can't help but remember Stalker. The two actors are well in the roles, I think it was necessary to explore a little better Rhoda's relationship with her family. Some resolutions at the end were rushed and kind of gibberish, but the film is far from the American production standard, that in itself makes it much better than most of the garbage that Hollywood throws at the crowd. The final balance is much more positive than negative, and the ending makes you think, it's not something chewy, I like endings like that.