Book Review: Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .

Synopsis:

In À Bientôt, delivered, along with his own hand-drawn sketches, to his publisher mere days before he passed away, Roger looks back on his life—and gives it his trademark sideways glance. Nostalgic, funny, charming and, most importantly, very human, his reflections on age and aging encompass all aspects of this universal experience, from reminiscences on childhood and “what might have been;” keeping abreast of the everchanging times; senior moments, memory and getting to grips with technology; the joys—and frustrations—of travel; work and play.

Along with these he tells of the intense happiness—and some equally intense sadnesses—of family life. Featuring his own sketches throughout, this book sees Roger at his most open and forthright. The true stories and situations he shares in this warm and intimate book reveal a “Bond unbound,” the human being inside the action-adventure character that made him so famous the world over. Always upbeat and—as ever—endearingly self-effacing and unpretentious, he shares the joys he experienced every day along with the tiny triumphs that life brings to us all at the most unexpected times

A Brief History:

I have been a fan of Roger Moore’s work on the big and small screen for most of my life. Whether it was as The Saint, James Bond, or even in “Boat Trip,” Moore was always great. But over the last few years, my attention was turned from his acting, to his books.

In fact, some of my favorite books over the last few years have been written by Roger Moore. So being a fan of Mr. Moore, there was no way I was going to pass on his final book, “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .”

My Thoughts:

If you’re expecting a play by-play account of Moore’s time as James Bond, you’re out of luck. This time, Roger Moore focuses more on family, relationships, and some fun stories he had before, during, and after his time as 007. In this book Moore writes quite a bit about his wife Kristina, his kids, and the res of his family. I would say “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” is easily the most personal book Moore wrote.

Throughout the book, Moore has these interludes he called “What if,” which detail roles he passed on, or missed out on. I don’t want to spoil any of these stories, but I will say that many of them were fascinating, and thought-provoking. A few of these “What If” moments left me wondering what might have been, or what we might have missed out on if Roger Moore had chosen a different path during his long career. And at least one “What if” left me scratching my head wondering how Roger Moore would have been in that particular role.

Final word and score:

It saddens me that “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” is the last book I’ll ever read by Roger Moore. I’m going to miss reading his funny stories about something that happened to him at airports, or as he got older, or something took place at home with his wife Kristina. But most of all I’m going to miss his wit.

As sad as his passing was, I have to admit “Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” was a perfect way to end. This is one of those rare books that I will definitely read again, and again. So thank you Roger Moore for the fun 007 movies, the Saint, and all the great laughs your books always brought.

“Roger Moore: À Bientôt . . .” score: A+

 

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Better late than never review: Murder on the Orient Express

Possible spoilers ahead!

Based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, Kenneth Branagh’s “Murder on the Orient Express” is the latest screen adaptation of the famous novel. Branagh stars as famed detective Hercule Poirot, who is looking forward to taking a much deserved holiday. However, his vacation is cut short when he is summoned to London, where another case awaits him.

To get the detective to London as quickly as possible, his friend, Mr. Bouc (Tom Bateman), offers Poirot a seat on the Orient Express where he meets his fellow passengers, including career criminal Samuel Ratchett (Johnny Depp), governess Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley), Dr. Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom, Jr.), Princess Dragomiroff (Judy Dench), Gerhard Hardman/Cyrus Bethman Hardman (Willem Dafoe), missionary and nurse, Pilar Estravados (Penélope Cruz), Mr. Ratchett’s secretary, Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad), Ratchett’s valet, Edward Henry Masterman Derek Jacobi, and American widow Mrs. Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer).

The trip from Turkey to London should have been uneventful, but that all changed the night the train was derailed by an avalanche. This was also the night Hercule discovered one of the passengers on the train has been murdered. Deducing that one of the other guests on the train must be responsible for the crime, Poirot is tasked with uncovering the mystery before the authorities arrive.

Before I get to the film itself, I have to admit that I haven’t read the Agatha Christie novel, nor have I seen the 1974 film adaptation. But I do know of Hercule Poirot from the long running British TV series starring David Suchet. As for the 2017 Kenneth Branagh film, its strongest aspect is of course the stellar cast.

Kenneth Branagh is naturally the star of the show. He performs the part in a believable manner, but because much of the movie takes place in one setting, his performance also has a theatrical manner. One of the things I liked best about his Hercule is that Branagh gave the part several layers. For example, when he’s not working, he is more light-hearted, and outright funny in places. But when the situation calls for it, he is serious, and dramatic. You can almost see the wheels turning inside his head as he examines the evidence before him.

Next we have Jonny Depp, who shed the cartoonish roles he’s known for to play Ratchett as a realistic but unlikeable guy. I wouldn’t say this is Depp’s best work, but he is quite convincing as the despicable Ratchett. Also of note were Josh Gad and Daisy Ridley, both of who make the most of the material. Ridley in particular, showed some range as Mary Debenham. She had one of my favorite scenes with Brannah where they meet at a picnic table next to the Orient Express.

The other stand out in the cast is Michelle Pfeiffer as Caroline Hubbard. I’ve liked her since she played Catwoman in “Batman Returns” way back in 1992. She’s good in everything she does, but in “Murder on the Orient Express,” Pfeiffer shows just how good of an actress she really is.

Her role as Mrs. Hubbard takes Pfeiffer from damsel in distress, to femme fatale in the blink of an eye. One minute you hate her guts, and the next you are rooting for her. And just when you think you’ve seen it all from Pfeiffer, she surprises you again and again.

The film itself looks gorgeous from start to finish. “Murder on the Orient Express” easily has some of the best cinematography of last year. This is made clear from the opening scenes in Jerusalem which are just stunning to look at, to the restaurant in Turkey which I wish we could have seen more of. Even the sequence in the tunnel towards the end of the film was lit beautifully, and all of it looked and felt epic.

The only bad thing that I can say about “Murder on the Orient Express” is that the outcome to the main plot thread felt too convenient. Like I said earlier, I haven’t read the novel, so I don’t know if thing play out in the same manner. But I felt that with the script doing what it does, some of the characters got short-changed.

Several of the other characters are meant to be prime suspects in the crime, but they barely get anything to do. Poor Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, and Willem Dafoe, only get one major scene a piece. And that’s when Poirot interrogated them. All the background information we get about them comes from Poirot, and not from Dench, Cruz, or Dafoe. This was rather disappointing, but I’m guessing some things where left in the editing room.

In the end though, “Murder on the Orient Express” is a solid film that should please Agatha Christie fans. For me, it was Kenneth Branagh’s directorial vision and superb performance as Poirot which elevated the movie even more. There’s a lot to enjoy in this film, and even though I had a couple of problems with it towards the end, I will see the sequel whenever it hits theatres. But I still want to know if his mustache is real or not

“Murder on the Orient Express” final score: B+

Better late than never review: IT

I’ve been a movie fan for as long as I can remember. In all those years of going to the multiplex I’ve come to enjoy several movie genres, but horror has never been my favorite. It’s not that I’m afraid of horro movies, it’s just that they don’t do anything for me. As I told a friend not to long ago, “You’ve seen one horror movie, you’ve seen them all.” But maybe that changed yesterday when the wifey finally convinced me to watch “IT.”

Before I get to the important stuff, I should mention that I have not seen the TV version of “IT” from several years ago, nor have I read the Stephen King novel which both movies are based on. Come to think of it, I haven’t read a King book since the early 1990’s. The point is that all I know about the world of “IT” comes from the 2017 movie.

And don’t forget: Possible spoilers ahead!

On a rainy day in 1988 in the city of Derry, Maine, young Georgie Denbrough goes missing after he sets off playing with a paper boat that his older brother, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), made for him. At the start of the following summer, Bill sets out with his friends “The Losers,” to try to find his younger brother who he believes is still alive.

However, in the process of searching for Georgie, the group, along with new members, Beverly (Sophia Lillis), Mike (Chosen Jacob) and new kid Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), discover that the town of Derry is the home of an immortal creature that can shape-shift and feeds on children by taking on the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård).

As I mentioned above, I’m just not a huge horror fan. But I was shocked by how much I enjoyed “IT.” I guess one of the reasons I liked the movie is because unlike most horror movies, “IT” has a great plot that kept me engaged from start to finish. From the moment we meet Georgie and Bill, you become attached to these people. Because of this one scene you understand what’s driving Bill the rest of the movie and you’re there with him for all of it.

Another thing in the movie that caught my eye were the visuals. This is the first horror movie that I can remember that used color to great effect. From Georgie’s yellow rain coat, to the bully’s chasing one of the kids in the forest. Even the underground scenes used the blackness of the location to enhance whatever was going on.

However, I should mention that in some of these scenes it was too damn dark to tell exactly what was happening. In a couple of instances, the only lighting the scene had come from the kids’ flashlights. But, I still thought the darkness added to the overall feel and look of the movie.

As good as the visuals and the tone of the film are, easily the best part of “IT” is the charismatic and talented cast. Each of the young actors gave their character a distinct personality, and motivations. They’ve joined forces to battle Pennywise, but each one has his or her own reason as to why they are there.

I thought all of The Losers were great. Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), Ritchie (Finn Wolfhard), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), Stanley (Wyatt Oleff) and Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer). These actors gave the film heart and humor. But I was happy to see that it was the kind humor that didn’t feel forced in a horror movie.

But for my money, the best character was Beverly (Sophia Lillis). Out of the whole crew, she had the most compelling story. Beverly has seen a lot of pain and suffering in her short life, and all of it thanks to her father. But it was wonderful to see her go from the bullied girl, to a total badass, and full fledged member of The Losers club.

At the end of the day, I was pleasantly surprised by “IT.” This wasn’t your run of the mill horror flick, this was an experience. The entire cast was terrific, the look of the movie was stunning, and the villain was actually scary for a change. As crazy as it sounds, “IT” may be the first horror movie I watch more than once.

“IT” final score: A-

Better late than never review: The Dark Tower

Possible spoilers ahead!

“The Dark Tower” is based on the series of books by the guy I accidentally met at a 7-11 in downtown Boston many years ago I’m speaking of course about the one and only Stephen King. More about that meeting later, but let’s get back to the movie, shall we?

“The Dark Tower” centers around young Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor), a troubled 11-year-old who has vivid dreams of an evil being called the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), and of a heroic Gunslinger named Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), who is the only one who can stop the Man in Black. Jake also has visions of a tower that protects his world from the darkness and fire that the Man in Black plans to unleash.

On top of the dreams and visions, Jake now spends most of his time drawing pictures of what he’s seen in his dreams, and is often getting into trouble at school. Worried about him, Jake’s mother Laurie (Katheryn Winnick) and stepfather send him to a clinic upstate, but everything changes when Jake discovers that his dreams are quite real.

Due to a number or reasons I wasn’t able to see “The Dark Tower” in theaters like I’d planned, so apologies for the delay in getting this review up. Since the movie opened a few months ago, I read and saw the brutal reviews from critics, which is probably why I went in with very low expectations.

But maybe those low expectations were a good thing, because I actually liked “The Dark Tower.” However, this one of those movies that also pissed me off because there is so much wasted potential here.

“The Dark Tower”  has a ton of things that could have been better. I would have loved to have seen more of the Gunslinger’s world then and now. I also wished they’s explained why the Man in Black kept referring tot he Gunslinger as “old friend.” And speaking of the evil one, I wish we could have seen more of him on earth because those few scenes were a highlight.

Now, having not read the book series or even the Marvel Comics adaptation, it is possible some or all of these complaints are addressed there. But I should note that at no point during the movie did I feel lost or anything like that. In fact, I wanted to see more, and had the movie been longer I think some of the best parts could have been developed deeper.

Instead, I feel like the filmmakers tried jamming too much stuff into a 95 minute movie when they should have just focused on a few things and a bit of world building. And there are plenty of things in “The Dark Tower” to like, if only the script had been edited a little more.

Easily the best part of “The Dark Tower” is its cast. Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey offer entertaining performances, but we never really get to know much about their characters. Elba’s Roland is your typical tortured Western hero, deciding between doing what’s right and seeking vengeance for the death of his father.

Meanwhile, McConaughey’s Man in Black is an all-powerful evil sorcerer, but one whose evilness borders on humorous and creepy rather than terrifying. But the movie doesn’t give us much in the form of details on this guy. Sometimes he’s called Walter, but we never find out why.

The big surprise of the film was Tom Taylor as Jake. He’s the viewer’s guide into this crazy world, and he’s the once we identify with the most. Taylor was particularly good when he shared the scree with Elba’s Gunslinger. While this type of mentor relationship isn’t new in movies, the two actors provided for some of the film’s best and funniest moments. The two may be from different worlds, but they have more in common than they realize.

As for the film’s action, when it’s good it’s really good. But other times, the CGI looked rushed or perhaps unfinished. The best action scenes in “The Dark Tower” are the Gunslinger’s battles with the Man in Black’s armies, those were top notch sequences. But the CGI took me out of the movie in other places.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed “The Dark Tower” more than I expected. But I’m also well aware that the film has issues from beginning to end. The sad thing is that most of the problems in this movie were fixable. All it needed was someone to take the time to flesh out the story and characters.

“The Dark Tower” final score: C

Epilogue:

So about my encounter with Stephen King. At the time, I was attending art school near Copley Square in Boston. Each morning I’d walk past a 7-11 on the way to school from the parking garage, and sometimes I’d pop in for a breakfast sandwich or a snack for later. That morning I was walking out of the store when a gentleman on crutches approached the door. Being a nice guy, I held the door open, and he thanked me a couple of times.

The next morning at school, I was reading the newspaper when I came across the gossip page and saw a picture of the man on crutches. Under the picture it said that Stephen King had been spotted downtown for the first time since his accident. So yeah, I met him, and didn’t even realize it.

 

Book Challenge Review: Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary

Synopsis:

“Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary” chronicles the career of Otto Binder, from pulp magazine author to writer of Supergirl, Captain Marvel, and Superman comics. As the originator of the first sentient robot in literature (“I, Robot,” published in Amazing Stories in 1939 and predating Isaac Asimov’s collection of the same name), Binder’s effect on science fiction was profound. Within the world of comic books, he created or co-created much of the Superman universe, including Smallville; Krypto, Superboy’s dog; Supergirl; and the villain Braniac.

Binder is also credited with writing many of the first “Bizarro” storylines for DC Comics, as well as for being the main writer for the Captain Marvel comics. In later years, Binder expanded from comic books into pure science writing, publishing dozens of books and articles on the subject of satellites and space travel as well as UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

Comic book historian Bill Schelly tells the tale of Otto Binder through comic panels, personal letters, and interviews with Binder’s own family and friends. Schelly weaves together Binder’s professional successes and personal tragedies, including the death of Binder’s only daughter and his wife’s struggle with mental illness.

A touching and human story, Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary is a biography that is both meticulously researched and beautifully told, keeping alive Binder’s spirit of scientific curiosity and whimsy.

A Brief History:

“Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary” is a book that I’ve been drying to read for some time because I love reading about the history of comics and the people who worked on them. And since the last item on my book challenge was to select a book that I was excited to buy or borrow, but hadn’t yet read, this seemed like a perfect time to try out Bill Schelly’s book.

My Thoughts:

Because I’ve read comics for roughly three decades now, I thought Otto Binder only contribution had been the Captain Marvel books from Fawcett. Boy, was I wrong. Binder had a long career in science fiction long before the comic book world came calling. And Binder had a long career after Fawcett Comics folded creating a ton of stories for DC Comics.

Over the course of his career, the man wrote, edited, and became colleagues with some of sci-fi’s greatest names. He even attended some of the very first fan held sci-fi conventions around the country.

Bill Schelly does an amazing job detailing Binder’s life, his many jobs as a writer, and even some of Otto’s road trips with coworkers. The one that stuck out to me was Binder’s first trip to New York City which nearly ended before it began.

Final word and Score:

“Otto Binder: The Life and Work of a Comic Book and Science Fiction Visionary” by Bill Schelly is a page turner from beginning to end. The entire book is filled with so much information, not just about Binder, but about comics and sci-fi writing in general, that you may need to read it multiple times. This is a great book for anyone who loves the history of comics, and all things sci-fi.

And with that, the item is crossed off the 2017 reading challenge:

Book Challenge Review: Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess Of Thunder

Synopsis:

Mjolnir lies on the moon, unable to be lifted! Something dark has befallen the God of Thunder, leaving him unworthy for the first time ever! But when Frost Giants invade Earth, the hammer will be lifted — and a mysterious woman will be transformed into an all-new version of the mighty Thor! Who is this new Goddess of Thunder? Not even Odin knows, but she may be Earth’s only hope against the Frost Giants! Get ready for a Thor like you’ve never seen before, as this all-new heroine takes Midgard by storm! Plus: The Odinson clearly doesn’t like that someone else is holding his hammer — it’s Thor vs. Thor! And Odin, desperate to see Mjolnir returned, will call on some very dangerous, very unexpected allies. It’s a bold new chapter in the storied history of Thor!

Collects Thor (2014) #1-5.

A Brief History:

All right, I may have cheated a little bit by choosing Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess Of Thunder for the 2017 Book Reading Challenge. This is not a book in the normal sense, although if it weren’t for comics at a young age, I’d probably still hate reading today.

Also, in my defense, one of the items on the book challenge was to pick something in the backlist of a new favorite author. So I chose Jason Aaron’s first Thor arc because:

A. I hadn’t read it
B. Jason Aaron is one of my favorite comic book writers

My Thoughts:

Forget everything you ever knew about the God of thunder, because Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess Of Thunder changes everything!

This is the arc that introduced the comic world to a brand new and mysterious Thor. And let me tell you, even if you now know who she is, Goddess of Thunder is still worth reading. This trade has sooooo much going on, it’s crazy.

This book not only introduces the new Thor, but it gives us one of the best supporting casts in comics. We get a borderline crazy version of Odin, a kick-ass Thor mom, and a Lady Sif who is tired of taking the Odinson’s crap. And did I mention the old Thor lost an arm?

Final word and Score:

Without a doubt, Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess Of Thunder is one of my favorite Thor stories ever. The art by Russell Dauterman and Jorge Molina is gorgeous, giving each character a distinct personality. The story by Jason Aaron turned out to be much more than I expected, and will keep you coming back for more.

I’ve been reading the current Thor book for a couple of months, but now I wish I started from the beginning. Thanks goodness Goddess of Thunder came to my rescue.

Thor Vol. 1: The Goddess Of Thunder gets an: A

And just like that, another item is crossed off the 2017 reading challenge:

Book Challenge Review: Near-Mint Memories: Tips and Stories from a Lifetime of Comic Book Collecting

Synopsis:

Interested in collecting comic books, but don’t know where to begin?

Drew Van Huss, a comic book collector for over thirty years, offers his insightful tips to beginning a collection alongside entertaining anecdotes about his time spent collecting comic books that will appeal to new and old collectors alike.

Previously featured in USA Today for his love of all things Batman, Drew Van Huss captures the heart and soul of the comic book collector and shows why this hobby can help you create your own near-mint memories.

A Brief History:

While talking books with one of the workers at my local comic shop (Hi Jason!), he mentioned the short book Near-Mint Memories: Tips and Stories from a Lifetime of Comic Book Collecting by Drew Van Huss.

Jason told me it was a very quick read, but a highly enjoyable one. And since one of the items on my 2017 book challenge is to read a book recommended by someone with great taste, I figured this book was right up my alley.

My Thoughts:

For long time comic book readers, the sections on how to get into collecting comics, and where to find them will be pointless, but they will be helpful for newer fans. But what made this book worth reading were the personal stories by Drew Van Huss. Like the time he waited in line for a John Romita Jr. sketch, only to lose out my a mere two minutes.

Drew Van Huss also discusses his favorite comic shop in his Tennessee hometown, and how a trip to that store helped him start healing after his father’s passing. Having gone through similar situations, I was able to relate to Huss’ story that proves comics are always there for us.

Final word and Score:

As I mentioned earlier, Near-Mint Memories: Tips and Stories from a Lifetime of Comic Book Collecting is one short book. I read the whole thing in under an hour, but that doesn’t take away from the great stories within.

Near-Mint Memories: Tips and Stories from a Lifetime of Comic Book Collecting by Drew Van Huss gets a: B.

And just like that, another item is crossed off the 2017 reading challenge: