While I've enjoyed them all so far, Darkness, Take My Hand is easily my favorite of the Kenzie/Gennaro novels. It's tense, creative and relentlessly awful. I know that's maybe not the most appealing description, but it's apt and the tough tone of these books is really part of the appeal. (more…)

A Drink Before the War is the first of the Patrick Kenzie/Angela Gennaro novels and even though I knew some things that happened (because I read the fourth novel in the series first), I still enjoyed the hell out of this book.
(more…)

If I was slightly disappointed by the last Shaw Brother movie I watched, Heroes of the East cleared that disappointment up in a hurry. While it's almost entirely plotless after the first 30 minutes, what plot is there serves its purpose admirably. That purpose? Setting up an hour of non-stop fights between Lau Kar-Fai and a stream of Japanese martial artists- each brandishing a different style or weapon. It's structured like kung fu porn.

Yes.
(more…)

Only about 30 minutes of The Magic Blade really grabbed me. It was 30 minutes of non-stop, lurid action. Weird characters, cannibalism, freaky weapons and sets- it had it all. The rest of the film? Not so much. It was good, just not as appealing to me as the mayhem filled middle section. Which is something of a disappointment as I'd heard good things about this film.

Oh well.
(more…)

While it's not Lean's best film, Ryan's Daughter, is still a David Lean film, so it's well worth checking out.

It is an odd film. It's basically a romance novel filmed with the full blast of Lean's epic vision. The rugged, beautiful landscape certainly lends itself to the sweep of Lean's eye, but sometimes the scale of the drama comes off as a little overwrought (and in the case of the storm sequence- slightly ridiculous.)

Also, the prime elements of the plot could fit comfortably intot he running time of a one-act play, but yet the film stretches out to nearly 4 hours. That might work for something as grand as Lawrence of Arabia, but here it seems like a stretch.

Still, I'd recommend it, especially if you're a fan of the Travel Channel and have a good TV. I spent some time in that area of Ireland last year and Lean brings it to life in a big way. It's a gorgeous country and it really shines in this film.