Movie Review - Vanguard

Do you remember a decade or two ago when movies used to be good and going to the theater was enjoyable? I do, and now I don't have to just remember.

Vanguard is a 2020 live-action action adventure Chinese film. It is rated PG-13 for action and is appropriate for most ages.

The Good

Execution. The story is pretty basic: an international security firm has to protect one of its clients from terrorists and action ensues. What makes this film special is its execution. It was perfectly cast, scripted, acted, filmed, and edited. It was chuck full of fun and entertainment.

Casting. This movie couldn't have had a better cast. Everyone was perfect for his roles, and the cast as a whole had great chemistry together.

Fun. This film was so much fun! While most of it seemed pretty grounded and realistic, it had some signature Jackie Chan parts that were just fun and silly and you know would never happen, but you don't care because it's just so cool to watch.

Action. The movie had tons of action, and it varied so it never became stale or repetitive.

Visuals. This film takes place around the world from London to Dubai and several places in between, and each location couldn't have been shot better.

The Bad

...

What I Would Like To Have Seen

 A sequel.

Overall

Vanguard is a 2020 live-action action adventure Chinese film. The story is pretty basic: an international security firm has to protect one of its clients from terrorists and action ensues. What makes this film special is its execution. It was perfectly cast, scripted, acted, filmed, and edited. It was chuck full of fun and entertainment. It was serious but fun. This movie couldn't have had a better cast. Everyone was perfect for his roles, and the cast as a whole had great chemistry together. The movie had tons of action, and it varied so it never became stale or repetitive. This film takes place around the world from London to Dubai and several places in between, and each location couldn't have been shot better.This film was so much fun! While most of it seemed pretty grounded and realistic, it had some signature Jackie Chan parts that were just fun and silly and you know would never happen, but you don't care because it's just so cool to watch. I highly recommend this film give it 5 out of 5 Boxes of Popcorn.

     

 

Book Review - Star Runner by B. V. Larson

I'm a big fan of science fiction, but it's getting harder and harder to find something in the genre that is interesting and not just a rehash or bad remake of something I've already seen or read.

Star Runner by B.V. Larson is a science fiction space opera drama. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Characters. The characters are really likable and not the usual suspects. The main character is a clone of the smuggler captain which is just different enough to make him unique. One of the characters is a symbiotic life form, but they author puts a twist on her I hadn't seen before. They all have great chemistry together and each is developed enough you care what happens to them.

Story and Pacing. The story is a twist on the weapon smuggler space opera story but with twists and turns you don't normally see in that sub genre. While the science is important to the story, the characters and their missions in life and interactions with each other make up the majority of the plot and story. The book moves quickly and holds the reader's attention.

Use of Biology and Technology. Most science fiction focuses on a single area of science and usually follows a common use of that science. This book uses several and uses them well and uniquely. It was a surprise to encounter advanced travel technology, military technology, and biological systems all used together and each used in a unique way.

The Bad

Ending. The book felt like it just stopped instead of ended.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish the ending had felt more like an ending and not just the end of another chapter. When the book was over, I wasn't sure the story had ended.

Overall

Star Runner by B.V. Larson is a science fiction space opera drama. Most science fiction focuses on a single area of science and usually follows a common use of that science. This book uses several and uses them well and uniquely. It was a surprise to encounter advanced travel technology, military technology, and biological systems all used together and each used in a unique way. The story is a twist on the weapon smuggler space opera story but with twists and turns you don't normally see in that sub genre. While the science is important to the story, the characters and their missions in life and interactions with each other make up the majority of the plot and story. The book moves quickly and holds the reader's attention. The characters are really likable and not the usual suspects. The main character is a clone of the smuggler captain which is just different enough to make him unique. One of the characters is a symbiotic life form, but they author puts a twist on her I hadn't seen before. They all have great chemistry together and each is developed enough you care what happens to them. The only negative is the book felt like it just stopped instead of ended. When I finished reading the book, I wasn't sure the story had ended. I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

  

 

Book Review - The House Guest by Mark Edwards

I really enjoy mysteries and psychological thrillers, but it's hard to find one that's really good and takes surprising twists.

The House Guest by Mark Edwards is a psychological thriller mystery. It is available as an eBook, Audiobook, and those paper things your grandparents used to read.

The Good

Concept. The concept was one I had never heard of quite like this. A couple is house sitting for friends they had met previously on a cruise. One night a young lady appears at the door claiming she's there to visit the owners of the house and charms her way in. All seems to be fine until the husband wakes up one morning with a terrible hangover and his wife and the house guest are no where to be seen. And it only gets better.

Twists. While none of the twists were completely shocking or original, only one of them was obvious, so that made for an enjoyable read.

The Bad

Conclusion. The conclusion wasn't bad, it was just a little too quick, neat, and easy. It relied on betrayal of which there was absolutely no hint of before it happened, so it felt like a bit of a cheat.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish the solution had been as well thought out as the rest of the novel. It seemed to end just a little too easily and a little too neatly.

Overall

The House Guest by Mark Edwards is a psychological thriller mystery. The concept is one I had never heard of quite like this. A couple house sits for friends they met previously on a cruise. One night a young lady appears at the door claiming she's there to visit the owners of the house and charms her way in. All seems to be fine until the husband wakes up one morning with a terrible hangover and his wife and the house guest are no where to be seen. And it only gets better. While none of the twists were completely shocking or original, only one of them was obvious, so that made for an enjoyable read. The conclusion wasn't bad, it was just a little too quick, neat, and easy. It relied on betrayal of which there was absolutely no hint of before it happened, so it felt like a bit of a cheat. I highly recommend this book and give it 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

  

 

TV Show Review - Dash & Lily

I feel bad for broadcast television and cable TV, because all the good stuff seems to be going to streaming lately.

Dash & Lily is a 2020 8-episode teen-angst romantic comedy on Netflix. It is rated TV-PG and is appropriate for all ages.

 

The Good

The Concept. The concept is pretty cool and one that hasn't been done to death. A girl leaves a diary with a literary treasure hunt for some boy to find and find her. They use the diary to write back and forth and create dares to get each other out of their comfort zone while never meeting in person.

The Characters. The characters are very likable and very relatable with realistic concerns and challenges and just enough zaniness to make them fun.

The Pace. This series moves along at a great pace.

The Journey. A lot of shows talk about a journey and make a big deal about the participants' journey, but this show actually has a journey worth following alone and enjoyable to watch.

The Bad

The Wrap up at the end. This series doesn't follow the normal cliches, which is nice, until the very end when everything is wrapped up, even things you don't really care about. It was just a little too tidy and felt forced.

 

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I was satisfied.

Overall

Dash & Lily is a 2020 8-episode teen-angst romantic comedy on Netflix. The concept is pretty cool and one that hasn't been done to death. A girl leaves a diary with a literary treasure hunt for some boy to find and find her. They use the diary to write back and forth and create dares to get each other out of their comfort zone while never meeting in person. The characters are very likable and very relatable with realistic concerns and challenges and just enough zaniness to make them fun. A lot of shows talk about a journey and make a big deal about the participants' journey, but this show actually has a journey worth following alone and enjoyable to watch. This series doesn't follow the normal cliches, which is nice, until the very end when everything is wrapped up, even things you don't really care about. It was just a little too tidy and felt forced. I highly recommend this show and give it 4.5 out of 5 remotes.