John Wick 4 - Film Review - Spoilers

 

Hi Dudes 

Went to see the newest and possibly last John Wick movie starring the great Keanu Reeves.  This is the first John Wick film I've seen at the cinema.

Set some time after the third film. After being shot and falling about six floors to the ground, getting badly injured in the process, John has been getting back into fitness and training.  A bounty is still sat on his head.  Once he is ready he takes revenge on the High Table, with the help of the Bowery King (Lawrence Fishburne).

As he exacts his revenge a new leader called the Marchese is introduced played by Bill Skarsgard.  He swiftly punishes those who have helped Wick.  Firstly he destroys the Continental Hotel managed by Winston (Ian Mcshane) and kills his friend Charon (the recently deceased Lance Reddick).

Then the Marchese forces Caine (played by the great Donnie Yen), a blind assassin and old friend of Wick's, to go after him using his daughter as leverage.  Winston finds an old law so Wick can be free of the bounty on his head and retire like he wanted to.  The catch is he has to challenge the Marchese to a duel to the death.  The Marchese has other plans and tries to stop Wick from attending the duel.

Overall - as with the first three John Wick films, the action, stunts and set pieces are fantastic and go one further than the last three movies.  Stand out moments include the nun-chuck fight, the fights on the steps in France near the end and the over view in an abandoned house where Wick blows bad guys to bits.  

It is a better film than John Wick two and three, but because there is so much going on, the story sometimes suffers and the in-world logic sometimes doesn't make sense.  An example would be, in the third film Wick finds it hard to leave New York without being recognised.  Yet in this film he travels all over the world with no problem from France to Berlin and even Japan.  Also he falls great heights and shot at even more yet doesn't seem as injured as previous films.

Another problem I have is the film has the great underrated action star Scott Adkins in, as Killa.  Although he is hardly recognisable in a fat suit.  He pulls off a great fun character though and shows off his traditional kicks.

Spoilers - the ending is fitting though.  He sacrifices himself to save his old friend Caine's daughter and in dying joins his wife in heaven.  Or does he?  There is a small hint at his grave that he may have faked his death and recovered.  Although I think they should finish the franchise on this note.  If they carry on they will weaken the character and films like the Fast and Furious movies have done.

Score  -   9/10

Shazam 2 - Fury of the Gods - Film Review

 

Hello Geeks

I took my daughter to see the new film from DC/Warner Bros at the weekend.  Didn't know if it would be any good, especially with James Gunn rebooting the DCEU.  It kind of makes this film pointless unless they make a sequel.  Although it is a fun film to watch.

Following on from the 2019 Shazam film - this sequel again follows Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who turns into the superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi) witb his adopted family.  Most of whom also turn into superheros themselves due to the wizards staff.  I'm not going to name them all as there are too many and was slightly confusing at first.

The film starts with the daughters of Titan Atlas (a mythical God), coming for the wizards staff that Shazam broke at the end of the first film.  They are Hespera (played by the still stunning Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (the equally stunning Lucy Liu).

They take the staff and go after Shazam and his crew in order to take back the powers they have that are rightfully theirs.  They then decide to bring the mythical creatures of old back to Earth.

I won't go into too many plot details as quite a lot happens in the run time.  Plus there are too many characters to talk about.

Overall  - a solid and fun film.  Again for an action and superhero film the special effects are great.  I liked the CGI better than most of the recent Marvel films.  Plus I liked most of the plot, which gave something different to the genre going back to old Gods and monsters. 

For the most part the acting is fine.  The child actors have improved since the first and I especially liked Zachary Levi's portrayal of Shazam.  It will be sad if this is his last outing.

Bel's Score   -   7.5/10

My Score     -   8/10

I'm Writing Again!

 

Hi Fellow Writers

Hope you are all well and at your screens, furiously tapping away at the next blockbuster.

After a writing slump of around 4 years, I have slowly got back into my writing!

Part of the reason I was in a writing slump, was because the laptop I have has crap memory capacity and wouldn't let me clear anything out.  So after saving up, I treated myself to an actual PC.  The first PC I have ever had in my long, boring life.  It was a cheap PC from Amazon but well worth purchasing!

Another reason for not writing stemmed from the fact I was paying £59:99 to Microsoft for Office - this included Word document, which I have always used to write on.  As I wasn't writing I cancelled it and looked for cheaper alternative.

Eventually giving in and purchasing Office whilst I had the cash, I can now write again.

Upon going into my old stories and Word, I noticed it had been updated.  I've still to get used to this newer Word document, but so far it is looking good.  It has a new Edit feature and a Dictate icon so I can put the story down via speech if needed.  With some messing around I should be fine with it soon.

So currently I am trying to finish my Ghost Story "The Cubbyhole".  I've been thinking of it on and off and so will be changing it slightly, even adding a second POV character.  I hope to have it as a novella and hope to get it published in some anthology.  Or I may try self publishing it using Amazon.

Now I'm writing again, I hope to get published somehow in the next year or two.  Always follow your dream - many people say.  Which is true.  Plus I'm not getting any younger!

Will keep you all updated on my writing and my reading also.

Take care.

Neil x

Reading Slump Update

 

Hi Fellow Readers 

Hope you are all well and reading some great literature.

Sadly I've been in a reading slump for over a year.  This includes this year too.  I even did a Goodreads challenge of reading 25 books this year, which is nothing for some readers.  Some avid readers, read 25 books in a month!

I'm glad to report that I'm making progress and been reading a lot this week so hope to finish Ruin this weekend.  Then straight onto the next book in the series, Wrath.

Then I hope to read some small, quick and easy books.  I think I will drop my challenge of reading 25 books this year to 12.

How is everyone else's reading going? Anyone else in a reading slump?  Any tips to get out of reading slumps?  If so add a comment.

Happy reading.

Neil x

Happy World Book Day 2023

Hi Readers 

As today is World Book Day, I thought I would do a quick blog focusing on my favourite hobby - books! Book buying, book reading and book writing.

Here are some questions and answers regarding my relationship with books.

Earliest memories of books and reading?

My first memories go way back to primary school and learning to read in one to one sessions with the teachers.  The Bangers and Mash books were a favourite and made me laugh.  

Plus the teacher, Mrs Yates I think, read out the Dark is Rising books which got me interested in fantasy.  

As I got older and my reading improved, I branched out into comics, including Beano and Transformers. I also read the Ladybird books and Doctor Who novels.  I read anything I could magical including Roald Dahl.

Favourite Authors?

Well David Gemmell is my favourite. His stories are full of action, with grey characters and life lessons.  I was a late David Gemmell fan, but glad I managed to meet him and attend a David Gemmell Awards ceremony.

Other favourites include Terry Pratchett, Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne, Raymond E Feist, David Eddings, Helen Cadbury and many more.  There will be many more to discover too.

Favourite book shops?

Well the main one for me is Waterstones, as it has the most variety.  Especially for my favourite genre's fantasy, Sci-Fi and horror.  It used to be Borders before they closed as they had even more selection.

I also love an independent book shops too and if they have books I'm interested in will buy from them too.  Two I visit are Brighouse Books and The Book Corner in Halifax.

In this day and age I also like to buy cheaper books from The Works, some supermarket's and of course Amazon.

What format do I read?

Quick answer is physical books.  Mainly paperback, but some hardback too.  Have read Ebooks but prefer the feel and smell of a physical book. Plus I look at screens too much as it is.  Haven't tried audio books and let's be honest that's listening to books not actually reading.  Have looked at Manga too but can't get used to reading backwards.

Book highlights?

Going to author and writer events, talks and signings.

As well as meeting David Gemmell, over the last 10 to 15 years I have seen and met so many authors.  A lot of this is due to the regular events Waterstones have on.  Plus writing events have helped too, including helping out with Cleckheaton Literature Festival.

Plus bigger events like Edge-lit have helped me come into contact with even more authors.

With Waterstones I have met Peter F Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds and even Joe Hill. Plus Stephen Baxter, Joe Abercrombie and Peter V Brett.

With Peter V Brett

With Joe Hill 

With Stephen Baxter

With Cleckheaton Literature Festival and writing group I have met Ian C Douglas, Helen Cadbury, Leigh Russell, Joanne Harris and Justina Robson.  Plus many more besides including Jodi Picoult and Andy McNab.

With Leigh Russell 

With Justina Robson (3rd left)

Ian C Douglas 

The late great Helen Cadbury 

With Edge-lit I have met Stan Nicholls, Andy Remic, Christopher Golden, Conn Iggulden and Frances Hardinge and Anna Smith Sparkes plus many more.

 I hope there will be many more author events and talks to come, including Edge-lit 2023.

Currently reading?

Ruin by John Gwynne - a fantastic book which I hope to finish by the weekend.

Well hope you enjoyed an insight into my reading mind.  What are you reading? What are your favourite authors? 

Happy reading x

Neil

March 2023 - Update

Hi Gang 

Spring is in the air as we fly through another year.  Yes, February is a short month but zoomed by faster than Sonic the hedgehog.

Like February this update will be short and fast.

February Roundup 

Writing and Reading - 

In February I had slumps in both reading and writing despite getting a new computer - still to finish reading Ruin. 

Other - 

Still at a call centre doing stupid hours. 

I still haven't walked as much as I'd liked to get fit.  I also had the blood pressure monitor fitted for a day.  This was a waste of time as they didn't get a good enough reading and to do it all again in April.  Although I did visit Lindley near Huddersfield which was a nice little village.

At the end of February I was also hit with the dreaded COVID!  It was the first time I'd tested positive for it.  I'm still of work now as not feeling great!

March Upcoming -

Reading and Writing -

My main goal for March is to finish reading Ruin and start Wraith by John Gwynne.  I'm aiming to finish both and his Faithful and the Fallen series and put out reviews.  I've not much to read on Ruin so any day now.

I also mean to get into my writing in March.  This includes biting the bullet and paying the £59:99 Microsoft account fee so I can access Word and my work and write.  Currently I can get onto my  work in Word but it won't let me save anything, it's just read only which is no good.

Other -

Need to search for a job with better hours and not on phones all day long. Any suggestions?

Once I've got over Covid going to definitely walk more and get to the gym too.  Watch this space.

I'm also getting my Edge-lit tickets this month also!

Well there you have it folks - more if the same.  Enjoy March. 

Neil x