Jan Film Reviews - 2 - Bumblebee

Hi guys

Another belated film review.

This time the excellent Bumblebee film which is a prequel/reboot to the other Transformers films.

This time it hasn't Michael Bay directing which is a good thing as you can see the action better plus the story is more coherent.  Travis Knight took over as director.

It involves a fantastic opening scene set on the Transformers planet of Cybertron and the Autobots and Decepticons are in their Generation One glory as they should be.

The Autobots are losing the War so Optimus Prime is sending his troops off world to safety and to find refuge.

He instructs Bumblebee to secure the planet Earth.

Once on Earth he has been followed by Blitzwing who he fights and just wins but loses his memory in the battle transforming into Volkswagen Beetle.

He lays dormant till Charlie Watson played by the hot Hailee Steinfeld finds him and takes Bumblebee to her garage.

Lots of fun ensues as Charlie and Bumblebee evade the Decepticons and the US Military.  This includes Agent Burns played by John Cena.

Overall  - A more straightforward film with no convoluted plots and it would be a good reboot movie.  Plus the best thing is seeing the Transformers in their G1 glory.  All except Megatron which was a shame. 

With plenty of action, laughs and heart this is easily my favourite Transformers movie and I hope they make a sequel to this.

Score   -    10/10

York book haul and York

Hi guys

Recently went on an overnight trip to York.  Had a great time and didn't get too drunk.  More importantly went to a few book shops.  Although ended up buying books in Waterstones.
Although was a bit miffed the fantasy section had no David Gemmell.

Anyway enjoy the pics of books I got and a few York pics.

Book Review - Prince of the Blood by Raymond E Feist

Six fucking months!

Yes that is the amount of time it has taken me to read this 396 page book.  It took me less time to read Lord of the Rings or the Riftwar trilogy that came before it!

Partly I'm to blame as I've been too busy procrastinating again.  Instead of reading I've been watching Booktubes and listening to others talk about books they've read instead of diving into the book, the world of Midkemia.

The book is also to blame.  Set twenty years after the Riftwar trilogy which started with the excellent Magician and ended with A Darkness at Sethanon (the last book I read before this one).
It follows Arutha of Krondor's young sons Borric and Erland who keep getting into trouble.  They use their Princehood as a get out clause too many times so Arutha sends them on a diplomatic trip to neighbouring Kesh.
Kesh is a vast Empire who's Empress is holding birthday celebrations.

As Borric and Erland travel to Kesh along with Duke James (Jimmy the Hand all grown up) and Locklear they are ambushed.
Borric is feared killed and the party continue to Kesh.

Borric is alive and has to warn his brother by travelling to Kesh alone with killers on his heels as there is a conspiracy involving the throne of Kesh.

I think the problem with the book is that it is more small scale than the previous trilogy which covered two worlds and many lands and a huge cast of characters.  Not to mention the previous books had more grand scale action and events which included more magic and dragons.

This is more a political/royal thriller and some parts once I'd got into it were very good with enough twists to keep me going back.
But for me there wasn't enough action or magical elements and we only briefly see Pug one of the main protagonists of the trilogy.
It didn't help that I read this straight after the trilogy and with it being low key lost the grandeur of the world built in previous books.  I feel I should have read something else before this.

The characterisation and writing is fine although the pacing in some parts is slow.  This would have been better as a novella in a collection by the author than a full novel and it's hard to see what will come after.  Although something is being set up as Pug senses a great evil and goes off for answers.

Overall  -  took too long to read for such a small book.  I enjoyed it once I got reading it, but didn't hold my attention as well as the huge trilogy that came before it.  More action would have been better.   The main action is in the last 30 pages.

Score    -    6/10

Next book - back to David Gemmell with Legend of Deathstalker.

March and a mini Book Haul

Hi guys

March 2019 already doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

Well this is the month I get back to writing I can feel it as my head feels right for it so will update on the writing later in the month and may share an extract!

Reading wise - I'm one chapter away from finishing "Prince of the Blood by Raymond E Feist" and yes it's took me six months to read.
A review will follow shortly.
But I also feel I'm in a reading mood so hope to read more books and quicker the rest of the year.

I've been naughty and bought more books which I wasn't going to do until I had read at least five books from my shelves but I thought I needed the new Alastair Reynolds in hardback to match the first book in the Revenger series.
Also two books were cheap from The Works and one I've seen reviewed alot which is Places in the Darkness.

Well chat soon folks x

Jan Film Reviews - 1 - Spider-Man Into the Spiderverse

Hi guys

Sorry for the delay in posts especially this movie review of the excellent Spider-Man -Into the Spiderverse. 

I've watched it again recently and can honestly say it's so far my favourite Spider-Man film.  As a huge Spider-Man fan it's a surprise especially when you realise the main character isn't Peter Parker but teen Miles Morales.  Something I wasn't happy about when he first came into the comic scene.

The film opens up with Peter Parker telling us about how he's the only Spider-Man and shows a montage of how the spider bit him and some scenes from the live action films including the awkward dance in Spider-Man 3.

Next we meet normal teen Miles Morales who goes to do some graffiti with his uncle in the subway near some laboratories owned by Kingpin and a Spider from the multiverse bites him.  Similar to how Peter Parker became bitten.

Miles soon finds himself going through changes including being more self aware and his hands and feet sticking to things.  Plus we find that as well as Peters normal powers Miles can also make himself invisible and has a venom shocker that electrocutes his enemies. 

Miles goes back to investigate the spider and there he sees Spider-Man battling Green Goblin in an attempt to stop Kingpin switching on his collider which he does. Spider-Man gets pushed into the vortex and then manages to blow up the collider.

Miles sees all this and Spider-Man gives him a dongle which turns of the collider for good.  Sadly *Spoilers* Kingpin kills Spider-Man and eventually his identity is known to the public.

Although I don't think this is the original 616 universe Spider-Man. 

The film has some big emotional moments including Spider-Man being killed and Miles finding out his Uncle is The Prowler.

To balance this, funny moments come from the alternative versions that come through from their universe. 

This includes Peter B Parker an older version who is more of a loser after losing his wife Mary Jane and now eats junk food and is chubby.

There is also Spider-Gwen and Noir Spider-Man who is all in black and excellently voiced by Nicholas Cage.

There is also Spider-Ham a Spider that was bitten by a radioactive pig who is cartoony and fun.

Lastly there is Peni Parker who is from a manga universe and who has a special spider which controls a robot spider.

Yep these other versions are weird but anyone who has seen the excellent Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon will be familiar with some of these as they featured in a similar story arc. 

The film's visuals are great and look like comic books that have come alive including thought and speech bubbles.

Overall  - An Amazing Spider-Man film that has many Easter eggs which relate to Spidermans long history.  I hope a sequel comes soon.

Also my daughter enjoyed it which is great as she don't normally like Spider-Man .

Bel Score    -    10/10

My Score    -    10/10

W H Smiths - A rant! Death of Fantasy genre?

Hi guys

Today was meant to be a post of film reviews but a worrying thing has happened instead.

As an avid reader and writer of Fantasy, Sci Fi and Horror one of the main places to purchase these books for me has been Waterstones and WH Smith's.

Sadly I have been to two WH Smith's in Halifax and Bradford and noticed the above mentioned section has disappeared and any Fantasy books are now mingled into the general fiction section.

This might not sound too much of a deal but then if there is no Fantasy and Sci-fi section will the genre slowly and quietly slip away?

For me as a fan I don't think it's good as now only independent book shops and Waterstones have these sections.

And yes there is online shopping like Amazon but not everyone likes to shop for books online including me.  I like to get a feel for a book and sniff it!

Also as I work full time it's a pain being in if you have to sign for it and a farce.  Plus books I've had from online before have been slightly damaged.

So my friends what do you make of WH Smith's getting rid of the genre shelf?

Will it have a long term effect on the Fantasy and Sci-fi genre?  Is this going to happen in all WH Smith's? (At time of post Leeds WH Smiths still had this section.)

I'd like your thoughts.

Cheers.

Neil

Feb 2019 Update

Hi folks!

How are you all?

Haven't posted as I'm currently trying to finish Prince of the Blood by Raymond E Feist. 

I'm almost there have the last 100 pages to go then can start something else. Probably a David Gemmell book. 

Tomorrow will post a belated film review of Bumblebee and Spiderman into the Spiderverse. 

Haven't written yet this year but had a few ideas for short stories so will jot them down but itching to get writing again.

In the meantime I've been watching too much T.V, but great shows including DCs Titans on Netflix and Star Trek Discovery. 

Also Legends of Tomorrow. 

Anyway chat later.

Neil