Captain America : Civil War

Why I'm watching
Marvel’s been knocking these out of the park. The first Captain America was alright I guess (Hugo Weaving was massively underused) but Captain America: Winter Soldier was great (and not just great for a superhero movie).

Where I watched the movie
Local theater with just Alan (usually we do these superhero movies with a big group…)

Expectations
Something along the lines of Captain America: Winter Soldier in plot and feel, but with all the A
vengers getting cranky at each other and failing to communicate. I won’t lie, I’m expecting the infighting to be annoying (come on guys, just sit down and talk it out, it’s all a misunderstanding)

So how was it?

Uhhhh…. Really good. Really, really good. I don’t know how they got that many characters together (including two entirely new introductions) and built that complex of a plot without getting confusing, convoluted, bloated, or boring. Are you taking notes, DC? Because the latest Superman reboot managed all four and an insanely bland story.

There’s a lot going on in this one, but the central issue is (I’m not kidding) paperwork. After the disaster in Sokovia, the UN wants control over the Avengers, and the Avengers initially take sides over signing a treaty -- Iron Man is for, Captain America against. The actual “civil war” comes when a bomb goes off and Bucky Barnes (Rogers’ old frenemy, the Winter Soldier) is implicated.

And guess what? It wasn’t all just a misunderstanding. There’s lots of people feeling all sorts of feels, having all sorts of opinions and perspectives, and no one is entirely wrong. (Okay, well, in terms of priorities, Cap’s team is right to go after the bad guy that Stark’s team doesn’t quite know about; there could have been better communication there).

Best villain yet, I think.

Recommendation
Oh, just go see it.

Feels
It had exciting action scenes and a reasonable amount of humor (much less than the Avengers movies) -- but you’re gonna feel some feels. Lots of good people hurting each other because they’re doing what they believe is right. While it avoids pointless grittiness, this isn’t a lighthearted superhero movie.

Favorites
It’s all about the pacing. We get action scenes that are dynamic and interesting (and don’t drag on as characters repetitively bash each other into buildings), slower scenes with some humor (that’s actually funny and appropriate to the situation), glimpses of humanity (without bleeding hearts and dramatic speeches), side characters who actually matter (and aren’t just plot devices)... basically my favorite part is the whole movie.

Part of that good pacing includes just chucking two new superheros into the mix with minimal backstory (especially Spiderman, oh god) or explanation of powers (still not 100% on what Black Panther is or how he does what he does).

Okay, I lied: my favorite part is the central fight, team Cap vs. team Stark -- more specifically, the constant undertone of "Imma beat your face in, but we’re still cool, right? Right."

Least favorites
There were a few things I was iffy about, but ultimately liked. Black Panther’s character was a little weird for the first, oh, third of the movie, because I didn’t have context for him -- but in the end, I love the way they did it.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Deadpool // Ryan Reynolds

Why I'm reading
All the marketing looks hilarious (and c’mon, it’s Deadpool.)

Where I watched the movie
Local theater with Alan again.

Expectations
It’s Marvel, so I wasn’t too afraid of a trainwreck. But Deadpool’s humor is easy to mess up -- either too PG, or relying too much on violence/swearing/sex instead of actually being funny.

So how was it?

Fantastic! Once again, excellent pacing. The whole thing was framed with a narrative, allowing Deadpool to break the 4th wall with impunity (as he should). It starts with an action sequence, then a narrated flashback to Deadpool’s origin story and (I kid you not) surprisingly romantic and fun meetcute with his (prostitute?) girlfriend. Eventually it picks back up after the first scene, and Deadpool meets up with some B-grade X-Men to track down the guy who turned him ugly.

The jokes are spot-on Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds was born the play Deadpool. He’s rude and random and weird and has zero filter -- but without trying to impress us with how rude-random-weird he his (no sporks or penguins, promise).

And yes, there’s a romantic subplot. I don’t hate it. They meet, they make stupid sex jokes, they have hilariously inventive sex, he goes AWOL and gets turned into an avocado-testicle-hybrid, they eventually get back together. The actual relationship part is fairly normal and low-key.

Recommendation
Not for the light-hearted when it comes to sex, violence, and language. NOT a kid’s movie.

Feels
Like a comic book!!!

Favorites
I can’t choose one thing. The sex scenes? His old lady roommate? All the viral marketing?

I guess what really made this movie for me was (I can’t believe I’m saying this) the humanity. Reynolds is playing an irreverent and violent character, but he does occasionally pause to feel some feels; they’re surprisingly normal feels (I love you, I have cancer, I’m ugly now) and he doesn’t overdo it.

Least favorites
I expected to hate Negasonic Teenage Warhead, but her lines were consistently funny and she hit ‘third generation disaffected teenage X-Man’ spot-on.

I didn’t love the CGI on Colossus.

I hated the fight scenes between Colossus and Angel Dust. Don’t get me wrong, she was a great character -- good to have more female roles/superheros/villains, and they didn’t try to jam a backstory into every single character -- but she was way overpowered. Super strength does not mean super invulnerability… and invulnerability is supposed to be Colossus’s thing. If Colossus was just some random other superhero, it would’ve been fine, but… dude, Colossus.
Yes I totally put a romantic comedy tag on this.

Artemis Fowl // Eoin Colfer {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
It’s one of those series/characters I keep hearing about, and it’s Scifi, and it’s available on audiobook.

Where I got the book
Greenwich!

Expectations
To be honest? Not high. I got pretty burnt by the trainwreck that is the Dresden Files, so I’m hesitant to start another popular scifi/fantasy detective series. Also, Artemis is a girls name.

So how was it?

The adventures of Artemis Fowl, pre-teen super-villain ; his bodyguard Butler ; fairy LEPrecon officer Holly Short ; the technical genius centaur Foaly ; and Mulch Diggums, a kleptomaniac dwarf.

Soooo much better than I expected. It’s not high literature (or even high fantasy) and it’s definitely YA, but it’s a good solid adventure with a well-built world and lots of interesting characters. Fairies are real, and they're technologically advanced. Awesome.

I’ve seen it billed as something similar to Sherlock Holmes, and Artemis is theoretically the villain... and while that’s not untrue, it’s not really accurate. Artemis himself certainly fits the idea of a young Sherlock well (or, since the audiobook reader gives him an Irish accent, BBC’s Moriarty) and some deduction happens, but the plot is more action/adventure than detective mystery. As for his villainy, you might not even notice that he’s the “villain” of the first story if he (and other characters) didn't keep mentioning it.

I blew through the whole series in a few days:

1. Artemis Fowl
   Twelve-year-old Artemis, super-villain in the making, kidnaps fairy officer Holly Short for a ransom of fairy gold.
2. The Arctic Incident
   Artemis and the fairy LEP reluctantly team up to fight a goblin conspiracy, led by an evil pixie.
3. The Eternity Code
   Artemis looses a piece of refitted fairy technology to an evil human businessman, and once again teams up with Holly and the LEP.
4. The Opal Deception
   Fairy LEP drafts Artemis to help prevent humans from finding and destroying a major fairy city.
5. The Lost Colony
   The demon island Hybras, banished millennia ago, returns to the normal time-stream.
6. The Time Paradox
   Artemis and Holly go back in time to save his mother from a magic-related illness; the timeline gets all sorts of messed up.
7. The Atlantis ComplexArtemis is suffering from magic-related paranoia and OCD, and is kidnapped.
8. The Last Guardian
   Artemis and Holly struggle to prevent an evil pixie from destroying the human race.

Recommendation
Fans of Scifi and Fantasy. I'd call this "techno-fantasy" or "techno-detective-fairies."

Feels
A little bit like like a detective story, a little like a classic YA novel (before they all got obsessed with love triangles and contests).

Favorites
I really can't choose. Technologically advanced fairies, for one. The ridiculous characters.

Least favorites
Okay, let me get this off my chest: OMG ARTEMIS IS A GIRL’S NAME. Greek goddess. Hello. I actually just met someone who didn’t know that. But hey, at least someone acknowledges that in the second book.

Mockingjay // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Duh.

Where I got the book
Greeeeeeenwich.

Expectations
Finally getting to this whole rebellion thing.

So how was it?

After being rescued in Catching Fire, and bumming around with what is probably several layers of PTSD, Katniss ends up the Mockingjay: the rebellion's figurehead. There’s lots of arguing about everything, a new flavor of makeover, and actual rebellion-fighting action! Then she sets off with a small elite squad and the real action actually starts. Also, Peeta’s all sorts of messed up.

This vastly exceeded my expectations. Not so much in terms of plot, but in terms of how Collins handles the emotional aspects of war. There's a brief afterword at the end (read by the author in the audiobook) explaining how she came up with the idea: she was flipping through channels, and saw  young reality TV stars juxtaposed against young soldiers in Iraq. I'm so glad I stuck around for the afterword (I usually don't read them) because it explains how this book had such an impact; the plot and the characters are your typical dystopian thriller, but there's a strong undercurrent of -- I don't know what to call it, but it reminds me of M*A*S*H.

The afterword also explained why I was constantly thinking jeez, I really hope they filmed this shot-for-shot, the scenes are set up perfectly for film -- Collins worked in TV!

Recommendation
Well, if you’ve made it this far…

Feels
Like everyone’s dying and you don’t have time to care. Seriously, just assume everyone dies. Not everyone does, but at least then you'll be -- let's not say pleasantly surprised, but at least not totally crushed.

Favorites
Continues to be Finnick and Haymitch, although Haymitch plays a smaller role this time. The shenanigans with the camera crew. Katniss’ last arrow.

Least favorites
The whole thing with Peeta was a little silly initially, but I guess it served its purpose. I also wasn't a fan of the way she wrote the fire... thing at the very end.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Catching Fire // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Well, I can’t stop in the middle, now can I?

Where I got the book
Greenwich, Overdrive, etc. etc.

Expectations
Not really sure what The Hunger Games is going to be after the Hunger Games are over. Politics and rebellion and ass-kicking, I presume.

So how was it?

Okay, so, I guess the Hunger Games aren’t over.  

Catching Fire kicks off with the victors, Katniss and Peeta, going on tour to all the districts. It’s traditional, but President Snow is also using the tour (and their shmoopy fake relationship) to relieve the unrest inspired by Katniss’ defiance in the previous book.

Aaaand suddenly there’s such a thing as a “quarter quell,” an extra-special version of the games that happens every 25 years, and involves special rules… yup, Katniss and Peeta are dumped right back in the arena. I know, it's so ridiculous that they can't believe it, either. But in a shocking turn-up, this second trip to the arena actually wasn’t boring or repetitive. It’s an entirely different situation, with entirely different tributes -- other past victors, at various ages and levels of preparation -- and everyone’s acting oddly.

On the Team Gail / Team Peeta front, Katniss becomes even more conflicted; I continue to prefer Peeta. (Which, from my experience with Korean TV dramas, usually means she'll end up with the other one.)

Recommendation
Same as the first book: there’s fighting, survival, romance, a little bit of a psychological thrill (like a spy novel), family drama, and pageantry.

Feels
About the same as the first one in terms of gritty YA plot/action, but the tone is no longer one of immediate immediate desperation. Katniss continues to have no idea what's going on.

Favorites
Finnick Odair, hands down. Of course that means he’s probably going to die. I also continue to like Haymitch.

Least favorites
The Gail/Peeta wishy-washy gets on my nerves, but I knew what I was getting into.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Hunger Games // Suzanne Collins {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
I feel like a bad librarian for not having read Hunger Games yet. That's me, always late to the party!

Where I got the book
Overdrive from Greenwich Library.

Expectations
I've seen the first movie, so more or less (more, it turns out) know the plot.

So how was it?

The movie stuck fairly close to the plot -- and feel -- of the book, so it was what I expected: a dystopian future, where North America is split into twelve districts, each of which sends two 'tribute' citizens to compete in the Hunger Games.

The book is always better (of course) but in this case, the movie had no chance; as a film medium, it just can't get the same message across. In the book, we understand that Katniss is playing things up for the camera, that everything she feels/does is filtered through the lens of being watched and fighting for her life, and that she's disgusted by the audience watching her -- all things that are nearly impossible to convey to... well, an audience watching her. Jennifer Lawrence actually does a fantastic job conveying the right blank-face disgust and terror.

I've held back on watching the other movies, because I don't want to spend the rest of the series comparing the two (hey, it worked for LotR!)

Recommendation
If you liked the movie, you'll like the book. It's got a little of everything: fighting, survival, romance, a little bit of a psychological thrill (like a spy novel), family drama, and pageantry -- but definitely heavy on the fighting and survival.

Feels
Fast-paced without being ridiculous or confusing. The romance elements are a bit annoying, but honest and don't have any real resolution.

Favorites
It's nothing groundbreaking, but I really appreciated the detail and honesty given to Katniss' relationships -- they're allowed to be conflicted and confusing. She doesn't understand the motives behind her own actions, especially when it comes to Peeta.

Least favorites
Suddenly werewolves? Or something? I can see why they downplayed that in the movie.

Writing style
Easily accessible, descriptive, just the tiniest bit cheesy. Lots of flashbacks.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Crimson Peak // Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston {Movie}

Why I'm watching
I won't say Tom Hiddleston wasn't a major draw, but it's also directed by Guillermo del Toro, and the trailer looks absolutely gorgeous.

Where I saw the movie
Local cinema, after dinner... somewhere. This was less than a week ago, how have I forgotten where we ate?! Bill's Pizza?

Expectations
I've seen it marketed as both horror and Gothic romance, so a mix of the two. The house (mansion) looks creepy and gorgeous. No idea about the plot, though.

So how was it?

"Gothic horror/romance" was spot-on. The movie follows Edith (Mia Wasikowska), a young, rich, high-society American woman who wants to become an author. While visiting her father's office, she meets and becomes entangled with Thomas (Tom Hiddleston), a British inventor looking for investor capitol, and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain).

The rest is either spoilers, or mostly belongs in the 'favorites' section.

Recommendation
Great for horror fans who don't mind some romance, and don't need a ton of evil/gore/etc. Great for romantic drama fans who don't mind violence and gore. Not great if you're expecting a complicated plot -- you'll figure this one out quickly, and get irked when it continues to act mysterious.

There was more gore than I expected, but it's not just gore for the sake of gore. 

Feels
Gothic. Horror. Romantic. A hint of video-game.

Favorites
Edith blew. it. out. of. the. water. She's confident without getting anywhere close to "spunky," "sassy," or defensive; she's a female author without coming across as a nerdy social recluse; she was clearly born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and it's neither ignored nor whinged about. She isn't perfect, but makes reasonably smart choices. She kicks a reasonable amount of ass against a reasonable opponent. Brilliant. This is a strong female hero.

The set, of course.

I also love the interplay of British and American characters. Edith's father (Jim Beaver) is pure distilled American self-made nouveau riche, set against a British baronet in decline. The Americans' indulgent confusion about his title is adorable. Casting was perfect, especially for Edith, her father, Lucille, and the random socialites. Alan (Charlie Hunnam) was a little blah, but then again, I think he was supposed to be.

I don't know what department is responsible -- set design? casting? wardrobe? lighting? -- but you really got a feel for the era... it didn't feel like a bunch of actors trotting about in period costume.

I have... feelings... about the waltz scene, but I'm not sure if it's favorite or least favorite. I'll consider it favorite, because it seemed historically accurate, wasn't super awkward, and they clearly consulted a professional; the candle metaphor was a dead give-away.

Least favorites
Nothing really stuck out, but I was left with a sense that it could have been better. The ghosts weren't scary or mysterious enough, and (gasp) I was actually a little disappointed with Hiddleston. Then again, that's partly my fault: I read that Benedict Cumberbatch backed out, so I spent the whole movie noticing how much more suited he would be for the role. More on that...

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... spoiler filter disengaged!

Ant-man // Paul Rudd {Movie}

With more actual ants than anticipated!

Why I'm watching
We were bored, full of burritos, and didn’t feel like going home yet.

Where I watched the movie
Local cinema.

Expectations
Another fairly good Marvel movie. Didn't seem quite as good, but reviews have been positive, so I had no idea what to expect.

So how was it?

Your typical divorced, down-on-his-luck, great-dad-trying-his-best character -- in this case, a cat burglar trying to find gainful employment -- bumbles his way into superhero powers. He then faces down your typical bald, egomaniacal, high-threadcount nemesis, helped by your typical grumpy-but-moral washed-out old scientist guy, and your typical badass hot woman who resents him for most of the movie, then kisses him.

Now with more ants!

It’s definitely worth a watch, and the story is fun, but don’t expect anything on the level of the main Avengers movies (Avengers, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc.)

Recommendation
Fans of more comedic comic book movies; for some reason, this felt 90s to me, or like a Jim Carrey movie.

Feels
Fun, funny, family friendly.

Favorites
It might be by-the-book, but oh my god this movie got the comedy right. The fight scenes manage to be both awesome and completely ridiculous. See this for the fight scenes if nothing else -- no, actually, see this for the sidekicks if nothing else. His friends provide a constant background of hilarity, and it actually works with the story (rather than being obnoxious “comic relief”).

Least favorites
Maybe it’s just me -- I’ve been noticing this with a lot of movies recently -- but it felt extremely heavy-handed. We don’t need six conversations, several longing looks, and a close-up on the hero writing out his own motivation in a notebook (“when I get to see Daughter”) to understand that he loves his daughter and needs money to support her. But, whatever, the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously for this to really put me off.

There's some great casting on certain characters, but on the other hand, other actors just dragged everything down. The villain was good, but either the actor or the script (or the director) overdid it. But the worst was Michael Douglas; he was just completely out of place. I don't know what went wrong there, but he was not good.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Rush // Ron Howard {Movie}

Why I'm watching
We just watched Imitation Game, and needed to watch… something else. It was kinda disappointing.

Where I got the movie
Suggested by JR, and somehow magicked up from Alex’s server.

Expectations
Not very high, considering it’s a movie about auto racing, but it came recommended.

So how was it?

This was surprisingly good! It’s a semi-biographical story about two Formula One drivers, James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Hunt is your typical gutsy American party boy, and Lauda is a cool, cranky tech-head from Austria; they go head-to-head to win the 1976 Formula One season.

It’s not a fair comparison, since we just randomly watched the two movies on the same night, but I was far more impressed by Rush than Imitation Game.

Recommendation
Definitely not just for race fans -- it absolutely holds its own as a drama. I’d recommend it to just about anyone who likes dramas, especially dramas that don’t center around romance.

Feels
Real, conflicted, painful, funny. It’s clear that the actors are playing real people. Yes, there are racing scenes, but it’s not an action movie.

Favorites
Hunt punching out a reporter.

Least favorites
There wasn’t anything in particular that bothered me about the movie, but apparently (according to the wiki) they exaggerated the rivalry; they were actually pretty good friends. I would have liked to see more of that -- actually, all my favorite parts were the rare moments of friendship.

Live Die Repeat // Tom Cruise {Movie}

Why I'm watching
I’m a big Tom Cruise fan, no matter how cray-cray he is… but mostly I’m watching because the plot looks awesome.

Where I got the movie
Greenwich library. Watching it on a plane to Arkansas!

Expectations
Tom Cruise living, dying, and repeating said process. If I had to take a stab at the plot, I’d say Cruise (and female costar) go to some kind of post-apocalyptic Earth to do...something?

So how was it?

Yeah, no, I’m now fairly certain that’s the plot to Cruise’s Oblivion, which I should probably see.

Anyway.

I really, really liked Live Die Repeat Edge of Forever Edge of Tomorrow. Like, holy crap, big-budget scifi action movies are making a comeback!

Cage seems like your typical Tom Cruise Military Dude at first, but we quickly find out he’s a useless cowardly asshole. As an actor, Cruise doesn’t have a huge range -- but when he deviates from his typical action hero role, he does it really well.

Things happen, he gets sent to the front lines, and accidentally gets stuck in a time loop. As this is the first we (or the military in general) hear anything about time manipulation, he’s justifiably WTF. His reaction to the time loop -- before and after he figures it out -- absolutely makes the movie worth watching. He ends up being trained by the famous war hero Rita (Emily Blunt) -- turns out she was caught in a time loop, too, but lost it -- in an attempt to destroy the alien threat.

Oh right, the world’s military is fighting these crazy alien things. And the soldiers are equipped with exoskeleton fighting suits.

Recommendation
Action and scifi fans. Duh.

Feels
Fun and action-y, with a hint of Oceans 11 elaborate social misdirection. The plot is smart without being wrapped up in its own complexity. The characters are engaging.

Favorites
The movie was surprisingly subtle and heartfelt about how Cruise was changing as he repeats the same day for who-knows-how-long. On the surface, he’s just memorizing the day and learning how to fight… but if you pay attention, you actually see him changing as a person. I love it when movies don’t shove this stuff down your throat.

I also liked the trust between the two characters -- he trusts her training and guidance, she trusts his knowledge of the day. Teamwork!

Least favorites
I really have no complaints. Of course there were some parts of the plot that don’t make all that much sense, you have to suspend disbelief about certain alien things, and the characters make some stupid decisions, but… it’s an action movie.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Mad Max // George Miller {Movie}

Ugh. Can I just say -- a plate full of edamame does not constitute “vegetables,” not even with the little bits of shredded carrot. We went out with some of Alan’s friends for this one, and I was not impressed by the Chinese (?) fusion place we went. I think it was supposed to be French/Chinese fusion, but it was just Americanized Chinese take-out with fancy plates and a few odd ingredients. It wasn’t bad, but… meh.

Anyway!  

Why I'm watching
Well, yes, partially Tom Hardy, but honestly the movie looks like great scifi dystopian action.

Where I saw the movie
Middletown. The theater was super tiny… I’m not sure why we went there for an action movie. Once we walked over to the parking lot, I realized I’d been here before with Abby to see that sort of magic-themed Ocean’s 13 bank robbery movie with Morgan Freeman, Ariadne, and the kid who played Zuckerman Now You See Me.

Expectations
Boom.

So how was it?

The entire thing is more or less a chase scene. 

It was pretty much everything you could ever want out of a dystopian action movie. Fantastic cinematography, high caliber actors, self-aware absurdity, engaging characters (heroes and villains!), crazy sets and wardrobe, world building, an impressive lack of spoon-feeding… just solid, awesome, and chock full of explosions. And on top of all that, a female-heavy cast (without making a point of it) and fairly feminist plot.

Mad Max is played by the gorgeous and increasingly non-verbal Tom Hardy, Furiosa by the badass Charlize Theron, and a host of excellent supporting actors rounds out the cast.

Recommendation
Action fans, scifi fans, and/or feminists.

Feels
Like a solid, classic 80s scifi flick -- and I'm not just talking about the visuals. Beautiful cinematography, fantastic world building, simple-but-solid plots and themes, absolute unapologetic absurdity, and none of the overly twisty-turny plot shenanigans that have been so popular in the last decade.

Favorites
I can’t choose. Doof (the guitar guy). The two lead actors, who were able to crunch so much into just one glance that the usual action movie dialogue tropes weren't necessary. The world building. The wives. How every single character was a solid, recognizable, individual personality.

Least favorites
Max was pretty quiet -- which I didn’t have a problem with at all -- but since they went that route, I think they should have made it a more deliberate character trait. There are a few scenes that make a point of how non-verbal he is, but several scenes just seemed a little unbalanced, like they forgot to write in his dialog.

Cinematography
I remember thinking about the cinematography in Blade Runner -- gorgeous, sure, but it was just rammed down your throat. HEY LOOK, STOP AND LOOK, LOOK AT THIS SET, LOOK AT HOW WE SET THIS SHIT UP, IT LOOKS LIKE A PAINTING LOOK LOOK LOOK.

This... was not that. There were a handful of incredibly gorgeous shots, but they always fit with the flow of the movie, had elements of movement and good timing, and told you something about the characters. They weren’t just pretty shots.

And yes, yes I did tag this as road trip.

The Girl With All the Gifts // M.R. Carey

I got a new phone! Woo! Not sure I’m in love with it, but it’s fast and not (quite as) glitchy.

Why I'm reading
I just installed the Overdrive app, because I want to start reading more ebooks on my phone, and -- hello -- libraries do that. Honestly the cover was okay and the summary wasn’t terrible, but mainly I just wanted to load a random book to make sure Overdrive worked.

Where I got the book
The Overdrive app.

Expectations
None, except that the sample page seemed like an interesting take on zombies.

So how was it?

This went right onto my ‘favorites’ shelf on Goodreads.

“Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.” 

I usually summarize a little bit, but I’m not sure exactly what to put without ruining some of the surprise. I can’t even really call it “surprise,” because that usually means sudden unexpected deaths and unpredictable plot twists. But The Girl With All the Gifts never really surprised me; instead there was a slow, building horror as we (and the girl) slowly piece together what’s going on, and come to terms with it.

Recommendation
Fans of zombie books, of course. But this will also appeal to people who like sci fi short stories. Maybe it’s because they require less investment, but short stories usually end up more experimental and interesting.

Feels
Confusion, horror, gentleness, and adrenaline.

Favorites
The first chapter felt like the world was turning upside-down, but very slowly… like one of those turning tunnels in a funhouse.

Least favorites
None that I can think of. It’s not entirely free of tropes, but what is?

Writing style
Subtle, I guess? No punches were pulled with the horror and suspense, but they’re not overdone. It’s written in third person, but focuses on one character for several chapters at a time, so we get to understand all the characters.

Ready Player One // Ernest Cline {Audiobook}

I wrote an extremely long and actually fantastic review of Ready Player One, with all sorts of insightful ramblings and meaningful commentary. It was pretty much the greatest review in the world.

This is not that review; this is just a tribute.

In a spectacular show of fail, I managed to lose that review completely. That’ll teach me to write something directly in the Blogger interface… I was lured in by the promise of cloud backup, and clearly forgot the ancient teachings of livejournal.  

Why I'm reading
I’d heard some great things about this book, but also some not-so-great things. It seems like the kind of book that’s fantastic if it’s your thing, and stupidly self-indulgent if it’s not.


Where I got the book
Greenwich library, audiobook format.

Expectations
Your classic YA Marty Stu character -- overpowered, angsty, shallow, and special -- with a nerdy 'uncool but secretly super cool' bent. And for some reason, I think I had a vague impression of Tron leotards, which is strange, since I know very little about Tron. In retrospect, this was not entirely incorrect.

So how was it?

Ready Player One is fairly easy to sum up: it’s almost Willy Wonka, but with 1980s nerd trivia instead of chocolate. A rich gaming guru dies, leaving his fortune -- and control of his massive multiplayer online virtual reality gaming company (OASIS) -- to the winner of a contest. We follow the five young frontrunners as they try to win before the employees of a faceless rival company take over and ruin OASIS for everyone.

This book was a little bit of a roller-coaster for me. The first few chapters were incredibly engaging, and then it took a rambling left turn into Self-Righteous Opinionville, for a chapter, before getting back on its feet, leveling out, ramping up to some pretty fun stuff about two-thirds in, and rolling to a gently satisfying conclusion.

Recommendation
If you like references to video games and 1980s pop culture, you’ll love this book (although you don’t need to understand the references in order to enjoy it). If that sounds irritating, this is really really really not the book for you.

Feels
Exciting, dangerous; cyberpunk post-apocalyptic, but not too gritty.

Favorites
Both side-kick characters were awesome. There’s also a major plot point with the evil rival company, but I don’t want to spoil it.

Least favorites
The book starts out well for the first chapter or so, but -- like I said -- it takes a bad turn for about a chapter. The author more or less hijacks the story to ramble on about some shallow and angry take on ecology, social responsibility, economics, etc. The worst offender is this little plot sinkhole: the economy starts to tank, with resources getting scarce, so people moved into the overcrowded city for the express purpose of finding food and work, because there was nothing to survive on in the rest of the country. You know, nothing but arable farmland.

Writing style
Engaging, with lots of focus on details and textures, which works for a story that takes place in both the real world and a virtual reality construct. I listened to the audiobook, which could not have had a better narrator (Wil Wheaton).

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!

Sherlock Holmes I & II // Robert Downey Jr. {Movie}

Why I'm watching
I've been meaning to see it for a while, and it just so happened to come back in while I was at the circ desk.

Where I got the book
Berlin-Peck Library, returns cart :)

Expectations
Fun, relatively mindless action-adventure.

So how was it?

Fun, relatively mindless action-adventure. Holmes and Watson take on a case with dark magic, mysterious deaths, and politics. The sequel is about the same.

It's not groundbreaking, but the plot was fun, the characters were great, action was good, good cinematography and pacing. It had some bromance and great female characters and no annoying romantic subplots. Sure, there's some drama over Watson being engaged, but it's bromance drama.

Recommendation
If you like Psych, House, or any mostly-humorous interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, you'll love this.

Feels
Fun, a little goofy, interesting without trying to be too twisty or dramatic.

Favorites
Mary being super cool about everything.

Severance // Chris Bucholz

Why I'm reading
I want to start reading more sci-fi, and the summary made this look fantastic. A generation ship, cliques, drugs, costumed orgies(!), meat plants, and a murder mystery.

Where I got the book
Another LibraryThing Early Reviewers ebook!

Expectations
An inventive futuristic world, a murder-mystery plot, probably some so-so YA level character development, randomly capitalized Things and Groups, and a "twist" ending about the purpose of the generation ship. A sci-fi snack.

So how was it?

Severance follows Laura Stein, a vaguely mid-level engineer on the generational ship Argos, which is headed towards a new home in another star system. One of her underlings ends up dead after a routine maintenance assignment, leading Stein to unravel a conspiracy that could rip the ship in two.

It was exactly what I expected... only a hell of a lot better than I expected. The writing was a little clunky (like a YA book) but I don't even care. The world development was fantastic -- imaginative, but still grounded, built into the plot but not harped upon, and completely plausible. The plot never felt too slow, didn't put the main character through dramatic trials just to watch her suffer, and built up foreshadowing without (gasp) being too predictable.

There was a great amount of humor, too, from the friendly piss talk between Stein and her friend Bruce, to the hilariously stupid inhabitants of Argos. The description had me worried, with mention of groups like Breeders and Markers... factions and capitalized Proper Nouns are a big, cheesy thing in YA literature. Yeah, that's not a problem with this book. I won't spoil what the Markers are because it's too funny, but they exist in the same world as teenagers who look at the curved ship walls and spin until they puke (vomit clubs, and they've gone out of style).

N.b. I keep referring to YA books, but I'm not sure if this fits or not. Reading level and entertainment value, yes, YA. But there's a reasonable amount of casual swearing, and honestly, it avoids a lot of the annoying YA tropes.

Recommendation
Sci-fi and action/adventure fans, mystery fans.

Feels
Exciting, fun, a little gritty -- but it doesn't make a point of being gritty, if that makes sense. Dirty and a bit scruffed up. I think I could see this adapted into a movie fairly well. It has an almost comic book vibe.

Favorites
Characters, hands down. He doesn't dig too deep into any of the characters, but they're realistic and fun. The main character is relatable without being Typical Teenage Girl, competent but not especially good or bad at what she does, smart and brave but not unreasonably so, etc. etc. She's just in the right place at the right time, and does what needs to be done. Well, okay, there's one special bit about her -- she's a "canned baby" -- but it's not a big deal.

Least favorites
The writing was indeed a little clunky... I wanted to break out my red pen at points. There were also two side characters I wish had a little more "screen time," so I could appreciate their friendship. But overall, I had very little to complain about.

Writing style
Clunky, yes, but... there are little tiny hints of Douglas Adams' influence. Ramshackle technology, a silly little metaphor here and there, and a storyline that jumps around and doesn't always go where you're expecting. Not perfect, but it has its delightful moments.

Astounding Stories

I’ve just loaded a whole batch of Astounding Stories onto my Google Books to read when I’m bored. They’re these fun little sci-fi stories from the 1930s, issued in a monthly magazine. Check them out on Project Gutenberg!

Astounding Stories // multiple authors

Finished the October 1930 Astounding Stories of Super-Science!

Some of these would make good Twilight Zone style TV episodes. A couple of them are hilari-bad. They’re chock full of familiar Sci-Fi tropes and early imaginings of the future, along with some fairly awful science.

Stolen Brains // S. P. Meek 
A Sherlock/Watson-style duo solve a case involving mysterious amnesia, an unexplained spherical ship, and a brain-goo-stealing megalomaniac dwarf. Simple, but not painful.

The Invisible Death // Victor Rousseau 
Invisible Comrad Mad-Scientist-cum-Emperor decimates the United States with fuzzy science, Explains His Plan to the Manly Hero, and is betrayed by Misguided Female Love Interest. An adventure in thirteen verbose chapters.

Prisoners of the Electron // Robert H. Leitfred 
A honey-I-shrunk-the kids plot, with kitschy futuristic inventions, dumb-as-bricks female characters, awkward and uncomfortable romance, heaps of treknobabble, and -- I kid you not -- subatomic dinosaurs. The author tortures his thesaurus and describes his characters’ eyes no less than 9 times before anyone even gets shrunk. I could go on. and on. and ON. A fantastic candidate for literary MST3000.

Nanette gazed with staring eyes... 

Also, can we appreciate this stunning feat of metaphor and thesaurus abuse?

Dazzling white teeth caught the glow of the blue-white incandescents along the platform, and became under the bow of her red lips a string of priceless pearls.

Jetta of the Lowlands (Part 2 of 3) // Ray Cummings 
An interesting look at climate change from a 1930s perspective.

An Extra Man // Jackson Gee 
Something goes wrong in the invention of a Victoria-age transporter -- yes, a transporter, like Star Trek. In terms of prose, this one strikes an incredible balance between vivid and (deliberately?) absurd; it reminds me of Doctor Who, somehow. Best of the bunch.

John Wick // Keanu Reeves {Movie}

Why I'm watching
Keanu Reeves + action movie = AWESOME. 

Where I saw the movie
Our local theater. I LOVE our local theater… matinee tickets are like $5, and the chairs are super comfy. You can even move the armrests out of the way to snuggle. We went by ourselves on a weeknight, so the theater was mostly empty.

So how was it?

John Wick is your typical, formulaic action/revenge movie. And it. is. awesome. John Wick is the guy you send to take out the guy from Taken.

The story is pretty basic. After his wife’s death, ex-hitman John Wick comes out of retirement for revenge. And by revenge, I mean take down the Russian mob and kill everyone involved. It has all the tropes: retired hitman, deceased wife, revenge, cool cars, seedy underground crime organizations, Russian mobsters, annoying sons of Russian mobsters, gun fights, knife fights, car chases, a chase scene through a crowded club, dramatic one-liners and sarcastic quips… everything you could want in an action movie, and it’s all done really, really well. And it keeps a perfect balance between stylized and realistic.

Recommendation
This is an action movie that will appeal to pretty much everyone, as long as you don't mind a little blood. There is a lot of violence, but no excessive gore.  

Feels
Touching, sad, cheesy, hilarious. You will sniffle, you will laugh, you will cheer.

Favorites
The realism and detail in the fight choreography, especially the club scene. What action movie is really complete without a chase scene through a crowded club, techno music blasting? And NO ONE can deliver a cheesy action hero one-liner like Keanu Reeves. I don’t want to give anything away about the (very sparse) plot, but the opening scenes definitely get you ready for some serious hardcore revenge.

Least favorites
There was one death that I wish hadn’t happened, although I can see why it was sort of necessary for the plot.  

Related viewing
If you liked this movie, check out the Korean action movie Man From Nowhere starring Bin Won. The fight choreography has a similar level of realism and intricacy, and Bin Won has a similar deadpan delivery.

So what did I really think?

Click "read more"... massive spoilers ahead!