David McK (3227 KP) rated Iron Man: Extremis in Books
Jan 30, 2019
That, of course, is not the case now, after 3 solo outings (to date) and 2 'team' entries (Avengers Assemble and Age of Ultron).
As my only real exposure to the character had also only come form those movies, I was also unaware that Tony Stark's identity (as Iron Man) was NOT common knowledge - I had always thought that was one thing that had set him apart from the likes of Batman, Superman, et al.
I also later discovered that this comic was one of those that had influenced those movies - while pretty obvious in Iron Man 3 (which also deals with Extremis), it had also had an impact on the first movie - reading this comic in 2016, it's interesting to see how: from the 'reboot' of his origins from the original Vietnam War to more modern Afghanistan, to even the look of the character (this came first, remember), and to the whole 'Genius Playboy Billionaire Philantropist' persona after he is injured by his own weaponry.
Congress, Presidents, and American Politics: Fifty Years of Writings and Reflections
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When Lee H. Hamilton joined Congress in 1965 as a US Representative from southern Indiana, he began...
Kissinger's Shadow: The Long Reach of America's Most Controversial Statesman
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In his fascinating new book, acclaimed historian Greg Grandin argues that to understand the crisis...
The Hercules Story
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The C-130 Hercules first flew in 1954, an easily maintained aircraft which entered service with the...
Once a Runner: A Novel
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Originally self-published in 1978, Once a Runner captures the essence of competitive running-and of...
Wonderland
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Joyce Carol Oates's Wonderland Quartet comprises four remarkable novels that explore social class in...
Beyond the Headlines (Clare Carlson #4)
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She was a mega-celebrity—he was a billionaire businessman—now he’s dead—she’s in jail ...
Mystery Suspense Thriller
David McK (3227 KP) rated Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) in Movies
Jun 16, 2019 (Updated Apr 24, 2023)
This has nothing to do with it, but is (rather) a continuation of 2014's Godzilla movie that 'kicked off' what I'm going to call the Monster-verse, which now consists of 3 movies: 2014s "Godzilla", 2017s actually-quite-enjoyable "Kong: Skull Island", and now this.
The connecting tissue? The organisation known as Monarch, which has secretly being studying the Titans (as they are called here) ever since the events of that movie (set during the Vietnam War, remember). Kong is mentioned a few times, and appears on a TV screen in the background, but is not a character in this film.
What anybody really wants out of a movie like this, of course, is to see the monsters fighting each other whole destroying all around, and - in that respect, at least, this movie does not disappoint. It's just a pity that the human element doesn't really connect, with some clumsy eco-message exposition, although it does have some nice-looking vignettes when viewed in isolation (King Ghidorah on top of a mountain, with a cross in the foreground, for example).
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated The Bride Test in Books
May 7, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this one, but unfortunately the part I really have mixed feelings about is very spoilery, so I can't talk about it without ruining major plot points! Overall, I did really like the book, and Khai showed a lot of the same traits my husband does. The first book's autistic character is female, so it was nice to see a character so similar to my husband this time. The characters from The Kiss Quotient do make a token appearance in The Bride Test, and I'm hoping Hoang will finally write Quan's story next! There is an untitled third book in the series due out in 2020, so I'm crossing fingers for Quan!
I absolutely adored Esme in this book. She is hardworking and strong-willed, and knows what she's worth. I wish she'd been a little more honest with Khai, but I can understand being too afraid to be fully honest with someone who could have such control over your future. I did really enjoy this sequel, and I can't wait to hear what the plot will be for the third book.
You can read all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Known and Unknown: A Memoir
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With the same directness that defined his career in public service, Rumsfeld's memoir is filled with...