We finished Reacher and I give it 4 stars. Not because it's The Green Mile or Shawshank Redemption. Because it's a near-perfect incarnation of the silly action genre.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Friday, February 18, 2022 - 07:41 am: Edit

And the guy they chose is a near perfect "Reacher." Much better than Tom Cruise.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Monday, February 21, 2022 - 09:10 am: Edit

I never read the books. Is he supposed to be a muscled giant supergenius?

By Randy Green (Hollywood750) on Monday, February 21, 2022 - 03:57 pm: Edit

Ginger, pretty much.

By Ginger McMurray (Gingermcmurray) on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - 09:45 am: Edit

Then Tom Cruise is definitely wrong for the part. Though I never saw the movie so can't say how well he did.

By Steve Stewart (Stevestewart) on Thursday, February 24, 2022 - 08:26 am: Edit

He was OK, just not tall (which I can sympathise with....)

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Sunday, March 20, 2022 - 02:31 pm: Edit

I managed to read 50 books in 2021. I thought I would share the five I enjoyed the most. In order by when I read them ...

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause. The Silver Kiss is Most Excellent! To me, this is almost the perfect vampire romance/non-romance. More importantly, it is about facing death, facing life, facing evil. It is about choosing life. While it was written for young adults, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes a touch of horror in their vampire novel.

+++

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is one of those "oh, my gosh" books. Written for middle school and older readers, I found the book to be rich in folklore and good reading for adults. The author's world is fascinating and her characters complex. And the story ... I kept finding myself surprised because it didn't wander into standard fantasy tropes. Just when I would think, "I know where this is going," the characters would go and do something else, but that something was totally what that person would do. An added bonus is I think I learned a little more about West African mythology. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or mythology. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

+++

A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. Oh my goodness, what a joy to read! While the book is written for middle-grade readers, the 14-year-old heroine has much to say for readers of all ages. What makes a hero? Who is responsible when something wrong happens? What is each person's responsibility when that wrong must be righted? All of these questions are explored in the book. If you read one fantasy this year, choose this book. You won't regret it.

+++

Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron. When I heard that Margaret Maron had passed away, I knew I needed to reread (in some cases read) her books again. I decided to start with Bootlegger's Daughter. I remembered it fondly, and how could I go wrong with a book that won the 1992 Agatha Award and the 1993 Anthony, Edgar, and Macavity awards for best novel. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys well-crafted books. If you like mysteries, this should be on your "to read" list.

++

In the Vanishers' Palace by Aliette de Bodard. This year I wanted to stretch my wings a bit and try some fantasies that weren't by familiar-to-me authors. I have generally been pleased with the books I chose; this one is no exception.

Start with a well-written fantasy. Combine Vietnamese characters and traditions with Beauty and the Beast. Add a dash of science fiction. Shake it up and add a dollop of philosophical and ethical musing. You end up with the book In the Vanishers' Palace. Oh, and a dragon! This book is not your traditional fantasy. If that is what you are looking for, perhaps a different book is for you. Nor is it a conventional "Beauty and the Beast." If you want to spread your wings and try a unique fantasy, then this book might well suit you.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, April 16, 2022 - 04:56 pm: Edit

FLIGHT WORLD WAR II
A C-movie available free on YouTube.
A planes leaves Dulles and flies through a blue thunderstorm at which point their satellite based technology stops working. Two history professors figure out they are over St Nazaire in June 1940 during a German bombing raid. They are attacked by Me262s.

At this point you assume that the script was written by morons who never read a history book, but hold on.

Talking to a British radio operator we hear of the destruction of the British Army at Dunquerke, and you can watch it yourself.

The plot is full of holes, but you could guess that.

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Sunday, April 17, 2022 - 11:35 am: Edit

Like a Me262 would have the ceiling to get to a passenger jet.

Or Me 262w were flying missions in 1940.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Sunday, April 17, 2022 - 01:02 pm: Edit

From the sound of it (given the destruction of the British Army at Dunquerke), it was an alternate history...quite likely one where Germany *did* advance their jet fighter program earlier. Thus the Me262 operating in June of 1940.

It's also worth remembering that the Me262 had a service ceiling of just over 37,000 feet...which is honestly not much less than the ceiling for most passenger jets (which is around 42,000 feet).

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, April 18, 2022 - 11:27 am: Edit

They were attacked when they came low to look for landmarks, and escaped attack by climbing. It was clearly an alternative history as i noted in the original post.

By Eddie E Crutchfield (Librarian101) on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - 01:51 am: Edit

Sounds like a take off on the old Twilight Zone episode. The Odyssey of Flight 33
"The Odyssey of Flight 33" is episode 54 of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. An unlikely break of the time barrier finds a commercial airliner sent back into the prehistoric age and then to New York City of 1939. The tale is a modern telling of the Flying Dutchman myth.(from google search)

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, May 22, 2022 - 04:53 am: Edit

POP GUN, a spoof shot by Navy pilots decades ago to make fun of the Tom Cruise movie, is available on YouTube. It's pretty awful but includes some gems like this one...


NIMROD: Commander, I fear I am going to flunk out of Pop Gun.
COMMANDER: Do what everyone does in that situation, write a book report for extra credit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ9ln6SYbxI

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, May 30, 2022 - 11:43 pm: Edit

STAR WARS (the version in which the storm troopers get proper eye care and can hit their targets).

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/here-is-how-star-wars-would-have-looked-if-stormtroopers-were-accurate/ar-AAXS1LG?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=48c8ffa1e81444faa34510135468f52c

The actual vid starts at 19 minutes; before that is "how they did it".

By Matthew Lawson (Mglawson) on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 - 11:53 am: Edit

What is funny is that the people who dress as Stormtroops and are members of the 501st really have a hard time seeing out of those helmets and they need help going up and down stairs. Phase 1 Clone Trooper helmets I hear are the best.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 - 12:38 pm: Edit

Not 100% relevant, but I remember reading about a famous "Star Trek vs. Star Wars Battle" a few years ago.

Cosplayer fans from both franchises did a blood drive. It was Klingon Warriors vs. Imperial Stormtroopers.

IF* memory serves, there were more folks dressed as Klingon Warriors, so they were (collectively) able to donate more blood, but IMO this was one where there were no losers.

(* This is a BIIIIGG "If." Were I to try to put numbers on it, I'd say my confidence level is about 55% Klingons "Won," 45% Imperials. Again, it was for a GOOD cause, so I salute both fan groups. )

By Mike Dowd (Mike_Dowd) on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 - 03:11 pm: Edit

Klingons always have more blood to give... it isn't always *theirs* though!

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 05:53 pm: Edit

Just got back from TOP GUN movie. Absolutely worth seeing in the theater.


Garth L. Getgen

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 08:04 pm: Edit

Just saw it today as well with my son (age 22). A fun military oriented action film. A little slow to start, but it builds and builds and builds. We both liked it. My son commented on how one could really feel how painful it seems pull Gs in aggressive flight maneuvers. He also commented that he liked the simplicity of it -- the good guys win, and how it felt so different from so many current dystopian future films/TV shows. When I was his age, the good guys won in *every* movie...

--Mike

By Randy Green (Hollywood750) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 08:47 pm: Edit

Mike, Matthew Bennell would like a word with you...

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 09:05 pm: Edit

OK, well maybe not THAT one!

--Mike

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, June 01, 2022 - 11:38 pm: Edit

You know what movie I'd like to see them make?

Top Gun: Phoenix


Garth L. Getgen

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, June 02, 2022 - 11:16 am: Edit

TOPGUN Instructors React to 'Top Gun: Maverick' -- runtime: 47:33


Garth L. Getgen

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, June 03, 2022 - 12:41 am: Edit

Today, Steve Petrick, Al Beddow, and I went to see TOP GUN MAVERICK. While we found some stuff Hollywood, we enjoyed it immensely.

The link Garth posted is well worth watching.

By Randy Green (Hollywood750) on Saturday, August 06, 2022 - 10:10 am: Edit

No comments on Maverick rolling a 5 on the J6.422 chart???