Tag: Three Stars

A Feat Under His Heel

WillLeave a comment

I wish I could have gotten up, not that I have to, my Kindle is full of books, but I had to take that first step to read this, and I could not stop, also another reason nobody saw me reading this book at work. A Feat Under His Heel, quite a challenge

One foot in front, that’s a step, perhaps being the bigger man, and even now I feel like I’m walking on eggshells because I was in no hurry to finish this story. However, don’t let that suggest my “great” endorsement of “Under His Heel” By Adara Wolf, I was more to the point of running away from it. For the record, I’m male, straight, and a dominant and while I have been reading the erotica genre for years, my review may be slanted and more critical, but if I can, I will focus more on the book itself but no promises, so here we go.

Other than being maybe the first “space” adventure I’ve read with a BDSM theme the plot isn’t anything new, to be honest, some guy gets into trouble, needs fast cash, and ends up in the service of a Captain Johannes Tracht, but of course, you can get that from the blurb. I didn’t find that the environment though served much for a change a pace, more like instead of keeping someone in a dungeon or some area, you keep them in dead space and what is it they say, no one can hear you scream. One of Captain Tracht’s fetishes, sensory deprivation, should that have come with a spoiler alert, in BDSM everyone has their thing, and it was somewhat refreshing to learn about his, it’s enough to give someone ideas, regardless of their sexual preference, tools of the trade.

The whole feet thing along with the clothing was not my cup of tea, but that’s the tip of the iceberg with this title, there’s a mountain of negatives, but that’s me being me, but you should know there is a reason for this title Under His Heel. One more would be that of Total Power Exchange, only in this world, it is entirely enforceable by the law, and Captain Tracht utilizes it with no mercy when it comes to his bondservant, Alex. It became a bit repetitive and annoying. I’m all for submission, but I suppose the idea of having someone with apparently no will of there own is one more thing that doesn’t sit well with me but to each his own which was my way of thinking as I trudged my way through this title, for days.

It was a feat to get through it all, but at least I wasn’t surprised “again” not my first time reading about a “man cave” is that even a thing… anyway, I don’t run from a challenge and while I read mostly for enjoyment and to better my writing this was something else. I can’t even begin how to imagine how women would take this title though if it’s how most men look at two women, then I’m sure this will get them going honestly.

The book’s saving grace, but I’ll get to that; out of Captain Johannes Tracht and Alex Stone (immediately made me think of a porno), I’ll choose Captain Tracht merely because it’s always better to be the hungry than the food. Minus the guy chasing and the obsession with feet he is somewhat a man that I can relate to but by no means was he my favorite character, I leave that honor to Jeremy Parsons and thank heavens for Nadia Sinclair; give me a book about her and I’m interested.

Captain Tracht is, stop me if you’ve heard this one, confident, somewhat wealthy, and a long list of expletives I shouldn’t say if I want this posted anywhere so basically he’s the man all the bad girls want. From Ms. Espinosa who desired his body wantonly, the fetishes that he and Dr. Singh shared, and even his sister that wanted him to be a bit nicer when it came to his own family; probably another reason I liked Parsons so much. Also like any dominant, he is quite protective of Alex, but again it’s one thing to have a submissive under contract but with how he treated him, either the moments were a bit hateful, humiliating, or horny, just saying.

Alex was an idiot, most times when I read about a female submissive, she’s naïve, new, but never stupid but Alex, as Captain Tracht will bring up, again and again, is moronic or easily manipulated but of course he has a contract to back him up. Mr. Stone comes off as the muscle, perhaps another selling point for women because he treats women poorly unlike Captain Tracht who is quite respectful; unless a woman messes up professionally, but he loves to torture Alex because of his treatment of women. The only time I even think anything of Alex is when he has his friendship with Parsons or Nadia, probably the only two people that don’t treat him like garbage or a hole they should fill.

Titles such as this are never known truthfully for traditional or “family values” but I liked Parsons because despite what he did, he only wanted to provide a future for his loved ones and when it came to him and Captain Tracht *sigh*, I didn’t like it but Alex signed up, and the Captain does what he does. I would have liked to see something spring up between Alex and Nadia and if men don’t do it for me, neither do tattooed girls with shaved heads, though I could tell you some stories, probably not better than this, not yet.

Three Stars out of Five and I would probably go two, but that would be me, being mean and bored, not to mention not turned on except for a sex scene with women and those were far too few and short. I should also warn you there might be a few more spoiler alerts, but if you like dominant men and it doesn’t matter who’s catching then this is a good book, but sci-fi fans shouldn’t get their hopes up if you’re looking for technical intrigue in the space realm.

I am in no way inspired to read the sequel to this, here’s hoping my erotica reading group doesn’t get any ideas for the time being; this isn’t a bad book by Adara Wolf; it’s not for me, point blank period but I took a somewhat leap. There is a decent note here or there; I remember looking up the name of one of the space stations and having a fascinating read about the Greeks which served as a nice break… how long did it take me to read this? The author gave me that glimmer of hope that this wouldn’t be what I was expecting, I did a review of “Shiver” By Ella Frank, and I said I didn’t read carefully enough to know what I was getting into, and it was… never mind.

Probably my favorite part of the story was “Tracht Made Alex (sleep with) Nadia at one point.” And that was during a somewhat orgy chapter, nothing wrong with that and I was probably dragging at some point. Parsons did break my heart which is probably where that third star comes into play, and I don’t mean what he did but what happens to him. If Alex did what he did on the grounds of, Captain Tracht being his benefactor, I could understand, but this seems more like Stockholm Syndrome than any real love or affection. Besides the punishments, I liked Tracht’s sister who has a stronger role in the next book, but even wanting to see Tracht be put down is not enough to warrant that reading, to be honest.

Three Stars for a book I would rather avoid, but I read what I read, and as always I appreciate being open to a new point of view, what friends I have in the LGBT community don’t talk about their love lives, and I don’t ask, and I’ve never thought to broach the subject of BDSM. Some books are meant to challenge the mind, to teach new things, to even give you a sense of accomplishment and so this has, A Feat Under His Heel.

More Rest Than Art “Peace”

WillLeave a comment

Was I looking for a miracle or a night’s sleep, I don’t believe in one, and I sleep too much to call it a night or maybe since I never know peace it’s hard to imagine it, but I held such hope for The Art of Peace. More Rest Than Art “Peace”

The dead don’t entirely rest in peace; I’m a zombie junkie so stop me if you heard this one *ahem* I read this because I watched “The Walking Dead” Season Six, Episode 4 “Here’s Not Here” I mean when has The Walking Dead ever been wrong… Already I want to make excuses for “The Art of Peace” I read it on my Kindle, maybe I was having a hard time when I read it, so I was exhausted, or I could have been expecting some grand miracle, well I finished it, does that count some, not that it’s so terrible.

Three stars without a doubt but for some reason I couldn’t stick with it, I took martial arts as a child, Karate not Aikido, so like back then do I blame the teacher or my “father” he indeed has better taste in books but I was looking for another man for guidance. I wonder why The Art of Peace became a prop for Lennie James a.k.a. Morgan Jones but shouldn’t I be blaming John Stevens who translated the book or more so Morihei Ueshiba who’s the author? Even now I wasn’t ready to read the paperback copy that I bought because I must be missing something, the urge to like this title is so strong within me, and it wasn’t the worst thing ever, but I was expecting so much.

Don’t get me wrong with the Kindle version I read you do get a big backstory on Morihei Ueshiba and in some parts; I can understand why he would develop such a philosophy for life after everything that he experienced. Maybe that’s the problem that he became decorated as so godlike, and despite the superhuman feats it came off more like someone who was only spouting a phrase here or there that sounded deep, and nobody wanted to challenge him. A lot wiser than the Bible without all the things that people attempt to hide but still an ideology that I couldn’t exactly get behind despite everything I highlighted within.

It could be that I was looking for that one moment from The Walking Dead and I might have found it but it didn’t resonate the same way with me; let me discover myself in a zombie apocalypse though and I might beg to reread this. As I said with the hope of proving myself and these three stars wrong and I wouldn’t mind learning Aikido maybe it’s the fact that I have no practical experience in the culture but then again I read erotica…

Maybe I read it too fast which is saying something with the fact that I fell asleep sometimes, not because of the book hopefully but I was attempting to push through when perhaps I should have practiced meditation on what I read. Once I got past the biography of the man, the wisdom was seen to a certain extent, as he said The Art of Peace is continually evolving over time and from one person to another which I find entirely true without a doubt.

If anything while reading this I wasn’t interested in fighting anyone, but I didn’t care to do much of anything else, maybe in a way I guess the book did its job though perhaps novel is the wrong word for this title as short as it was. What about that don’t judge a book by its cover because when I looked at the size of the book, I was already disappointed, and that’s why I snatched up my Kindle copy so quickly as well sadly. I don’t know whether peace is supposed to be so easy to have or so hard to understand, it’s there regardless of whichever you choose, and for me it was hard but wisdom is not to know acknowledgment in a day, and it took me quite a few to finish.

Perhaps it wasn’t as motivating as I hoped, most of the motivational jargon I’ve listened to and watched and read gets me ready to do something but this more to the point, and I keep saying it is to find peace. The pacing I found slow and somewhat repetitive, but that’s because well I’m human and see even now I’m beginning to feel I missed the point of the book entirely but I was thrown off by the history of the man and not by his great words. What about the “word art” I can’t honestly say that I got it, other than the fact that when I was younger, I did go through a phase of finding beauty in the Asian culture and for once I don’t only mean the women; does that make me sexist, I do wonder?

Again I return to The Walking Dead and the idea that I figured this book would change me but I was better off sticking with that moment of realization between Morgan and Eastman and while I continue to realize I need this peace, the practical application of it I have found daunting. Much like reading the book, yes when I get more time, I want to study it at least once more, and this time I will read the physical copy and see if that will help me understand better.

The Art of Peace did reawaken a bit of “Asian Persuasion” again in all areas such as ideology, anime, and Martial Arts, though I don’t think Aikido is for me, though if I could combine it with something else, I might give it a chance. Speaking of giving this book a chance, three stars out of five and the fact that I do want to reread it at that is high praise. There are five-star books that leave me wrecked that I don’t think I could rehash because there would be nothing left of me and so much for reviews.

With The Art of Peace, I know there is something more for me; if I only have the patience to find it which I suppose can be counted as a life lesson and wasn’t that the whole point, to learn something that will help me in my day to day life? In that regard, while I already mentioned the Bible, don’t expect this to help with your day to day life though it is easier to read honestly and isn’t likely to tell you, while you are divine that everybody is somehow trash. It doesn’t bring out the worst flaws of humanity but instead tells us there is a way to live however it does not tell me how not to punch-out my co-workers but rather why I shouldn’t truthfully.

Which is also one of the problems I’ve gone over, it has somewhat of a deep mysticism to it and while I do believe that Morihei Ueshiba was a gifted human being, given that this title is his true teachings it still seems a bit too incredible too much. Also with these ideas of life and I would be the first one to admit that my life isn’t exactly something to write about, I felt as though I was slogging through this for the most part. I feel as though The Art of War would be more to my liking even though The Art of Peace states that this is more the way of the warrior, so maybe by reading the other I will understand what I have read all the more in time maybe.

I can’t stress this enough but if not for The Walking Dead I probably wouldn’t have bothered with this, and I do feel somewhat the better for having read this and in trying to understand it, as best as I can. Though I wouldn’t suggest that you be at peace when you begin reading this; it will probably keep you from resting in because who has time to think about all the evils in the world when this is undoubtedly More Rest Than Art “Peace?”

Psychopath’s “Pray” For Better Books

WillLeave a comment

Sometimes death is not the end, and then you read something like this and wonder how someone could get something like murder wrong in the end, but it was more than that, still gave it three stars. “Psychopath’s “Pray” For Better Books”

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, and it is a shame I thought so highly of this book, it’s a shame like that psychology class I took in high school my preparations were inadequate, and it’s a shame that against my better judgment, three stars. Noted I might not be a smart man, that class I took pretty much proved that, and with all the psychobabble I’ve heard I’m not qualified to talk about it, but Psychopath’s Prey by V. F. Mason come on.

Not a title I sought out, “Dark Erotica” reading group book of the month and this V. F, Mason’s work has shown me that maybe it is okay to skip one because honestly, I wish I had with Psychopath’s Prey. To be fair with all its flaws, I was ready to suggest it to a friend of mine and then what happened… Chapter Twenty-Five occurred, and those four stars drifted quickly to two and then maybe I thought I am unreasonable. When these things happen I always want to blame myself first, but when the rest of the story went on afterward I thought I was stupid, maybe I still am, maybe someone should explain it to me one day.

Okay, long story short; Ella, tragic past wants to feel better about it or go all avenging angel, and for a moment I was rooting for her until yeah for someone with her background maybe she is in the wrong line of work. The serial killer who I’ll name later is practically the same, horrific past and in the same line of work as Ella, hoping that such tragedies don’t occur with anyone else, other than parenting issues, I couldn’t get into either one of them. This story is one of those crime shows with some sex thrown in and considering I liked Chloe and Simone more than I loved Ella already I knew this was bad news all around.

Still, four stars because even though it was extremely predictable right up until the end, and that was a surprise and not a sexy one but an incredibly stupid one, why do I keep wanting to defend this book wondering if there is something I didn’t understand. Girl, FBI, Boy, Same, love and reasoning, I knew it would have a happily ever after but then one screwed up chapter gone.

There will be spoilers from here on out, an official warning but if you’re leaving three stars if you like predictability, the bad boy and good girl finding love and if you like family drama bloody, then it’s a decent read. Now Ella and Kierian, that’s right I said it, Kierian, I knew right away, and I was wishing and hoping it wasn’t Preston which is one of the things I’m taking so personally honestly.

I haven’t read “I See You” by Ker Dukey and D.H. Sidebottom in the longest time and I’ve read both of them individually because I won’t be rereading V. F. Mason hopefully, seeing as how Kierian is directly relatable to I See You. There was a twist here and there but not one of them enhanced the story more like, well okay then, I kept turning pages only because I wanted the whole motive. If Ella had become Kierian you would have another title “Whispers In The Dark” by LeTeisha Newton, I don’t blame V. F. Mason for having ideas along those lines but in the execution of said ideas…

Other characters were merely there to populate the world, and you can’t fault a guy for having thoughts about Chloe, Simone, and Ella, I got more of a kick out of my imagination than the goings on of the story. Ella and Kierian had some hot sex scenes, and the bloody scenes were gory enough but again tamed so that this could work on TV any night of the week. Preston, Preston, that is where I got lost, how I became infuriated, and the moment stars began being deducted, honestly what was the author thinking with that climax because I don’t understand in the slightest.

I’m a bit of a writer myself, and I know what it’s like to rush to an end and wanting a twist, but that wasn’t anything but noise to distract us from the ending we knew was coming anyway. I’ve been going back in the book looking for any clue and why even bother building Kierian up at all making him a criminal and then let’s have Preston to hate because of course Ella loves Kierian, and he needs to look less the monster now.

I’m not this book’s target demographic of course, get any straight guy to read these works, and you’ll question what all women are thinking, but I only suspect the author and myself, two stars if I stay mad, three stars by the work itself. There was plenty to like about the book if you’re looking for something that you’ve seen before, the characters are one in the same, and you might want to feel like the smartest person in the room for a little while.

As I said the sex is decent, the imagined sex is better; you can understand Ella and Kierian’s feelings though they are spelled out for you, and the intro to the characters is pretty impressive. Not that you know how or why but a happy ending is a happy ending and however you slice it, get it, Kierian is making the world a better place; I’d be all for such an avenger. There is a trace amount of mystery, that .1% but it’s enough to make you think isn’t this ironic rather than moronic for a few seconds and then okay where was the surprise?

I despise Chapter Twenty-Five for taking me out of the story and making me the idiot, math books make me feel stupid but this was a first in the erotic genre, and perhaps I’m not. I hate the fact that Preston is a killer, that it’s the quiet ones you have to watch, this is personal what the hell is wrong with being quiet it doesn’t make you a psychopath, this is the worst stereotype other than myself being black. We get everything on Ella and Kierian but yeah where is Preston’s story a few sentences and it doesn’t matter he’s gone quite quickly boom.

Did I relate to Preston, I don’t know enough about him to say, but he shouldn’t have even been a character for such a farce of an ending as this book is given, right out of the blue. For somebody that liked explaining nearly everything why am I left with this feeling of utter confusion and anger, but are is supposed to have you experience something and if that is something of Psychopath’s Prey well, Psychopath’s “Pray” For Better Books.

Glad There’s Two Galahad Suns

WillLeave a comment

The space race is it about the journey or the destination, if anything half the time I didn’t know where it was all going and that’s what kept me there, even if it took awhile, but that was more my fault than the author. Glad There’s Two Galahad Suns

There could be possibly more, but honestly, I barely got through the first one and by no means was it bad… pretty long but not the worst thing I’ve ever read but then again not the best either. The novel Galahad Suns meant to be a space odyssey, but it’s a bit odd to me, some of that being my fault because it took me so long to read it and I’ve read way longer but am I so busy?

Don’t expect delusions of grandeur like for Star Wars or Star Trek, it’s more like an episode of Cowboy Bebop or Firefly and shouldn’t that be considered high praise that Galahad Suns written by David Kimberley is comparable with such works of art? If you want to know one secret between judging a good book and a bad book, ask yourself, a straightforward question “what happens next” if you have to answer with the question of “do I care” well I answered that one with yes but I also have other reasons. Every person in the universe has a purpose, and for Davian Kurcher it’s simple, the man wants to collect a paycheck, a bounty.

The author honestly had to get this out, and when I was reading it was like I too was in space, plenty of black with a shining star here or there, and when you put it all together, you only have to ask yourself what’s it all for truthfully. Speaking of stars if you’re curious I’m giving it three, blame me for being a stickler on time, some books are too brief, some are pretty dang long, some are “just right,” and if the book hooks you I mean genuinely hooks you, it doesn’t matter. Which is another thing about this title, what catches you and what do you read and okay get me to the next planet or the next big moment so I can keep reading this epic?

Well probably not epic but I was highlighting like crazy trying to keep up, and I appreciate the author having a list of characters and alliances and such because I was taking off for days especially at the beginning but it does pick up. Again I think on incredible space adventures, a person can watch Star Wars and get the story, read the books get more, watch the cartoons more, study the folklore and maybe I just wasn’t ready for so much all at once.

Now while I’m making comparisons between other things I don’t think I have ever seen this story done, an original plot which is one of those stars this book is keeping, the concept has been done, but I can’t remember the plot anywhere else. Long story short Davian Kurcher and a band of misfits save the universe but they are going to take a long time getting there, and while I usually give myself an hour and a half daily, my phone is calling me.

So Kurcher is an enlister or executioner, even you sign up or you drop dead, he along with his copilot Justyne Frost are just doing what they do, hunting people down and then Kurcher has to do some enlisting with the worse scum of the galaxy. Kurcher is more of an anti-hero if you consider the fact that he instead shoots first and he happens to be a drug addict, but nobody’s perfect. Frost does get pretty close though, if I were going to fall in love with anybody in this book it would be her, not to mention I always need a bit of a love story a bit of sex in-between all the action, from the front page to last at different paces.

As for everyone else, maybe a hero here or there but for the most part everyone is a killer, almost like The Purge, sure some commit another crime here or there but yeah pretty much all criminals when it comes to a disregard of human life. Also, there is plenty of equal opportunities when it comes to all the outlaws and the military, the author must like strong women, and probably the worse two men out of the lot get what they richly deserve. Don’t worry I’m not giving anything away yet; I don’t know if it were too much or too little and didn’t I say that this was a long book and once you get started… writing, not reading, you get too comfortable; I did decide to sleep rather than continue one time.

The characters are alive as much as they need be because if you had to go over every single individual, I probably wouldn’t have finished it unless there was a side story between Frost and Tara Oakley who had a similar issue in mind. I can’t say there is one character I truly related to but other than my love for Frost, I did like Edlan Rane, he was the smartest guy in the room, but you’ll have to read to find out the reason.

So is three stars worth the read though, in this case, if you’re entirely into sci-fi which I’m not I’m afraid, at least not reading it, or this particular brand. Anyway sci-fi fans, people who like research but want to relax too, maybe you want a touch of some old familiar show perhaps. Now here comes the spoiler alert because it had its moments but if I knew this had a sequel, I would undoubtedly have to have nothing on my reading list, or it would have to be something shorter than this I think.

First and foremost and anyone who knows me saw this coming Justyne Frost and Sieren Broekow, those moments were few and far out, but if they had their own story, I would have read it for sure. Saul Winter working from the shadows was another plus for me, while I didn’t much care for his allegiances the single aspect of his life was something I could do in such a universe as the author paints. The final battle, how I enjoy an epic showdown, that was one of the moments I felt myself becoming part of the story, and even when I knew it was coming, I wanted more. How the ship itself being this incredible weapon, which was Titan A.E. meets Star Wars, which is again high praise indeed.

Now while the beginning of the novel was decent I felt like I was slogging through, maybe I was tired with work and all, as I said I was taking days off reading this because there weren’t any mesmerizing moments. I compare the whole process to building a rocket, research you’re learning so much and just when you’re about to have enough, you get an aha moment, and you keep going. Nothing horrible about the title at all and the ending is good but not even that interest me enough to go looking for the next one let’s say if I got it for another honest review I wouldn’t say no, I wholly believe that.

So I wish on three stars that my novels could come out to such, that this author will gain even more praise with another title and maybe we’ll get a story with one of the criminals “crims,” more Tara Oakley would be excellent. For now, though I’ll keep my feet planted firmly on the ground and dream of stars and women that fall from the Heavens as I find myself Glad There’s Two Galahad Suns.

Pacific Rim: Uprising Or Something

WillLeave a comment

Did the old “Godzilla” have robots, those were before my time. Sorry to say Pacific Rim: Uprising should have waited a bit longer, for somebody to come up with a proper story for a great idea I think. Pacific Rim: Uprising Or Something

Maybe uploading, up to something, upchucking but the movie wasn’t that bad, was it; usually, you give me a hero I can root for, John Boyega as Jake Pentecost. A pretty spunky brunette Cailee Spaeny as Amara Namani and plenty of Jaegers and Kaiju and you would think I’d be a happy camper, but not happy, not wowed, but okay another big monster movie. I feel like John Boyega is trying to distance himself from Star Wars, so let me say that this is not the way to do it, but he makes an effort.

Try harder, and I don’t say this just to him but everybody, the whole time I was sitting there thinking something was missing, short one Charlie Hunnam, one huge chunk of backstory, and yet they have found a reason to make one more of these movies. Somebody had a plan alright, but it wasn’t a great movie. I didn’t think much of the first one, that’s why I didn’t see it in a theater, but it got me to watch this one, if you can get past wanting to be dramatic, your inner child will consider this film pretty decent.

As Fandango is now sated, whatever were they thinking with this, it’s just not there, I mean any of it, one of the things that intrigued me about the first one was the relationship between Rinko Kikuchi as Mako Mori and Raleigh Becket, where they didn’t go with the love story angle. No worries here, no love story but no story period, we know the Kaiju are coming back, but the excuse is flimsy at best, that’s just what it was an excuse. Honestly, that could’ve been it, making more money from China and Japan but big robots, big monsters, that’s about it, and trying to appeal to women, African-Americans, and Asians all at once.

Let’s not forget about the kids because Power Rangers surely isn’t fitting the bill anymore and some adults need to remember that they were once fans of several anime shows starring robots. Maybe they figured if Independence Day: Resurgence could make a quick buck then this will work, and so it has, and I might even get Pacific Rim: Uprising if it’s cheap on Amazon.

So in the tradition of all monster movies, yes they come back for one reason or another, and it’s up to a few young kids to save us, the NRA might like this movie if they were into building giant robots… I shouldn’t go giving them ideas. Not like this movie had any and maybe I’m perhaps too hard on this film, but anger is one thing, and disappointment is another, and that’s what I was, I hate when people say I have potential, so too this movie had great potential but couldn’t make it.

Okay Jake Pentecost who was never mentioned in the first movie, even though his dad won the war, even kid in Independence Day: Resurgence had a bit of a tale, anyway Jake and his adopted big sister Mako are trying to lead the fight with the return of the Kaiju. That right there was a significant plot hole, but I’ll save that for spoilers, like the reason “Gipsy Avenger” was fighting “Obsidian Fury,” I told a friend if I went into porn I am so stealing that name. Speaking of relying heavily on or straight up taking, did Scott Eastwood as Nate Lambert try to give us some of that Fast and the Furious family speech, tugging on our heartstrings?

It’s all the movie had to go on since the story again just wasn’t there, if you cut out the Kaiju entirely and went straight to Jaegers fighting Jaegers; oh right, Transformers or who remembers Robot Jox which is doing worse than Pacific Rim: Uprising, seriously people? Besides not having any real story or backstory and relying on tired clichés, visually it’s stunning if you like your CGI and there is plenty to go around and the battles, well I did fill like a kid again. Though unlike when I was a child, and I missed an episode of Power Rangers, I wouldn’t have been too upset if I skipped this but yes I’m glad I saw it. If only to be reminded that if they do make a third one, I think I’ll wait just a little bit longer.

It’s not dull, it’s entertaining but maybe don’t get your hopes up and try not to overthink it much like the Jaeger names. Do they only pull two names out of a hat, with the following exceptions of Gipsy Avenger the hero, Obsidian Fury the evil Jaeger and spoiler alert Scrapper which was truthfully the most realistic name? I can’t remember any of the names on the soundtrack of this, but I still remember the trailer music was a mix of songs, and that was badass, saying for the record.

Using the Fandango rating system, I’ll give Pacific Rim: Uprising a three out of five because I liked it, disappointed, maybe a bit sad but by no means would I say I hated it, it’s an easy way to kill time and I wouldn’t pull out my phone. So as you go to buy your tickets for this, I’d advise you not look any further for there will be spoilers ahead but this movie does have my blessing but oh why couldn’t it have been better for Pacific Rim one.

Charlie Day as Dr. Newton Geiszler and Burn Gorman as Dr. Hermann Gottlieb were back again and while I deny most of this lack of a story, there is a great twist with Dr. Geiszler, which kept me in the movie. Was Mako Mori so replaceable that they just found Tian Jing as Liwen Shao and flipped her from villain to hero so quickly, and you knew Mako wasn’t going to make it, robots, helicopter yeah, how much did this movie take from Independence Day: Resurgence? As for my favorite scene, probably Amara Namani, and not just because I have a thing for brunettes this is the first thing I’ve ever seen Cailee Spaeny in and all her scenes with John Boyega or her in Scrapper were good all around.

So that plot hole and maybe it’s dumb, even if you have no wars to fight you still have a military, but that’s just it. The Kaiju were gone, but you still need an army of Jaegers, and you’re building even more than were in the first Pacific Rim, taller or more does not always mean better. Then you want to take this army and put them under the sole control of one corporation, when has that ever not spelled trouble in something like this. Then we have the smart guy that turns into the bad guy and the bad guy suddenly becoming all good and what not, I guess, and of course, you had to throw Scrapper into that fight to only show-off some.

I wouldn’t cut this off if it were on TV, I just wanted to know, and the sad thing is I still don’t know enough like maybe I need to look for a book or a comic. Only if I don’t do it for The Walking Dead, I won’t do it for this movie. Take your kids to your couch, but if you have money to burn and want some fun movie experience well know Pacific Rim: Uprising Or Something.

Digging Up The Tomb Raider

WillLeave a comment

I suppose anything to get out of America nowadays, and a pretty girl always helps though I doubt she will be anything like Lara Croft but can’t a guy dream, not that this movie will put you to sleep. Digging Up The Tomb Raider, indeed.

Some things are better left buried, and some things are just discoveries and Tomb Raider is a real discovery, or I should say Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft; as I told a friend other than thinking Lara Croft is hot, I can’t say I’ve played a lot of the Tomb Raider Series. Honestly, I like Alicia way more than the Angelina Jolie versions as Alicia’s Lara was to an extent, should I say believable, real, you could feel her character more, a more visceral hero.

Seeing as how they are trying to bring back the franchise, I give them points for their faith in this film, this is more of an origin story of Lara Croft, with throwbacks to how she became the “butt-kicking” hero we know her to be. Tomb Raider being probably the second movie I’ve seen Alicia in, I’m pretty curious to see more of her as she has yet to disappoint; if only the film tried as hard but it’s decent. Daniel Ku with another Into The Badlands alum did their thing, but who watches Into The Badlands, just me, so go and watch this movie.

Pleasing the Fandango gods first let’s now get to the real just like Lara Croft or maybe more like the villain of the movie Walton Goggins as Mathias Vogel, not that this movie made me want to go “home,” though I did look at my watch more than I would like. I didn’t go into this movie with great expectations, give me a pretty girl, a bunch of guns and… hey, I thought this was America; does nobody know Randy from South Park either? I should also say the trailer song “Survivor” filled me with a bit of nostalgia, and how about this “blasphemy,” I like the trailer way more than the original Destiny’s Child.

It sounds like I’m making excuses to why I was interested in this but movies nowadays give away so much in trailers and Tomb Raider didn’t have to do that for obvious reasons being around as long as it has. Though you know what’s coming there are still plenty of twists and turns along the way as there should be, an almost “The Twilight Zone” feeling which also works well.

I don’t remember much from the original franchise but Alicia’s Lara starts as a poor, nowhere near invincible ragamuffin with daddy issues, she’s hot, did I mention she’s hot but not is some overly sexualized type of way, though the story lets us know she’s a “fox.” Even the villains are somewhat on the broke side and working just a bit less industriously than the slaves; I can’t help but wonder though set in London was that a directing choice, familiar looking down on wealth?

Yes I’m trying to stay out of the political realm, so what about the mystical story of Himiko, while that tale made sense, the idea of Lara’s father pursuing it or even Trinity is a bit of a stretch, with his money and their control. Also, Lara taking to the bow so well, yes she’s trained, but while her first kill without it brought forth such emotion, the following battles were a bit empty of such though Daniel Ku brought up a bit of the slack. Which is another thing, again Trinity held so much power but rested on fate to find labor or attempt to uncover the tomb though that would have been too much of a throwback to other versions, attacking the manor?

While Vogel is a decent bad guy, that’s just it; he’s just villain number one, he didn’t seem to have a solid plan which makes Richard Croft ridiculous. The bad guys don’t know so I’m going to set up shop at the front door, just to say you can’t come in. Now while not pivotal plot points, Lara returned to the pawn dealer but what about her training or her other job, yeah she didn’t exactly need it but was the beginning nothing but filler?

Am I asking for this movie to be longer… no way and the fact that it isn’t like any of its predecessors is a high point, only it does seem a bit rushed at times, and there wasn’t enough back story to fill it out. At least it won’t be one of those horrible video game to movie examples, if anything it’s just a blip on the radar, almost as if they were afraid of going too far with it.

Huge risk and high reward but no I believe three stars is quite enough; not a waste of money but if honestly pressed I would have watched Black Panther for the fourth time and as Tomb Raider is concerned, would the 3D version add anything honestly? Now I should probably put up a spoiler warning as if I haven’t given too much away already; everyone already knows where the film is going without any doubt.

There are no real saving graces even if the film was a bit la dee da; nothing stood out on screen for me besides Alicia’s beauty just wow and maybe figuring out one of the puzzles in the tomb. I already mentioned the one song in the trailer but as for the movie itself only Doing Me by RAY BLK is worth writing down. Another female hero for little girls I suppose and no bloody moments though, not entirely kid-friendly, but with the things on TV now I say go ahead and take the kids; I’m the cool dad, but I only have a dog.

My favorite part would be a toss up of when Alicia gets all Lara Croft minus short shorts; she’s wearing pants just saying or the somewhat iconic scene at the end when she indeed becomes; gamers will recognize. The worst was again the overall plan, sort of like Amy ruining Indiana Jones for Sheldon and the boys but tombs got to get raided right? At least they avoided some of the standard tropes like zombies; I swear there was a scene I expected a mess load of zombies, but yeah people can be horrible enough all on their own nowadays.

In all, this is a good movie to go and kill two hours, and I am somewhat disappointed this hero won’t get as recognized as other but I work retail, and they still aren’t giving Black Widow props, but that could be more to do with her weapon of choice. Only Lara has her bow for nearly the whole movie so. Three stars, more than worth a little bit of gas but keep your expectations just so low and like pretty girls and you’ll be Digging Up The Tomb Raider.

Thinking Outside The Box, “SHIVER”

WillLeave a comment

Sometimes in the box is the best place a man can be but then we are all different, and apparently, this is a different read for me but a decent one to be sure. Thinking Outside The Box, “SHIVER” it might be scary for a whole other type of reason

NOTE: Excuse me for not reading categories, that’s how focused I am with books that I didn’t notice that “Shiver” was placed in the Gay & Lesbian Erotic genre on Amazon, if I can make any excuses, one I’m a book addict so getting another one was just another hit. Two, I’m also a guy, and anyone that knows how guys watch/read porn knows we always skip ahead for satisfaction.

Not that this book scared me, uncomfortable yeah when I realized what I was reading, but then I chose to keep turning the page and other than being weirded out; what I couldn’t help it, the story is pretty good. Now I’m going to do something the authoresses should have pointed out that this a male with male romance (probably would have guessed if I bought a paperback) and already I can feel you judging me, and I don’t want to sound like some of the media or religious bigot.

Let me just state for the record, ever since I’ve gotten into the erotic genre, specifically dark erotica, I’ve grown used to the covers of these alpha males that make women go gaga so if this was to serve as a warning to me, uh no. It also wouldn’t be the first gay “lust” story I have read, I’ve read works from Kit Rocha but of course, most of those are straight, and the male/male scenes are quickly made up for in my eyes. Lastly I have no problem with the LGBTQ, but I don’t watch gay porn for a reason because I was born straight, but anyway regarding “Shiver.”

Yes, I was thinking outside the box, seeing how the other… I don’t know, give me a percentage lives, and it turns out the rich guy going after the small time boy/girl still applies, nothing different there. The two main characters Salvatore Wolfe and Jesse Clark, I can’t say I identified with either one, but they fit the bill of this shared passion though I think either the authoresses said this wasn’t a romance or a love story. What got me were the parts inside The Wolfe’s Den and when they talked about the background of this obsession with Jesse, personally though I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between this and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, to be honest.

I’ve read some pretty whacked out stuff having to do with obsession, stalking and the like which is what made the ending all the more engaging, but would I read a sequel? Anyway, I bring up The Rocky Horror Picture Show because for the day and age that was made and it made gay people look, well strange and seeing how most of the stuff I read has that reconciliation of the madness, Shiver well…

Okay so stop me if you know this routine, rich guy Wolfe, sees new graduate Jesse and is bitten by the love bug. I’m sorry it’s Salvatore that does the biting in this, romance blah, climax blah, will they won’t they, not that I was bored just busy, which explains how long it took me to read this. I could have stood to hear plenty more about Salvatore’s right-hand girl Trinity, and Brayden, who knew you could get me to root for the athlete best friend, new horizons to see.

The BDSM aspects were on point, I’ve read plenty about alpha vs. beta males, and Jesse played the beta for as long as he could until the eventual climax, falling out that always accompanies these stories. I can say the same for Wolfe minus the madness, his backstory was typical, but it does leave you with questions which kept me wanting to know how he accumulated his power though I can make a guess. What about the erotic scenes, let’s just say that these books usually are porn for women, being a guy after reading this I appreciated women in all sorts of ways yeah.

For those who needed another villain, that man would be King, see ladies, men are idiots whether guys are gay or straight and the scenes between him and Wolfe were all about establishing Wolfe’s masculinity. Trinity served as the voice of reason though her part was small, though she couldn’t stop either Wolfe nor Jesse and it might be pretty cool to see things from her perspective, hers and Brayden’s, am I trying to find a straight romance here? The convenient timing of the sister finding Jesse though; I like to think of myself as an author and have probably done the same thing in my work, but it doesn’t make it any less out of the blue or semi-lazy.

Parts that made me think were when Jesse wasn’t; I’ve heard of people dying like that and again makes me go into that whole this is a weird scenario, like my fetishes, are different. Other than the kink that almost ended the book prematurely and my initial shock and surprise, “Shiver” kept a steady pace, a decent addition to this genre if I say so.

Now if you don’t want any spoilers I give it three stars, and you can stop here because there might be some. Is there anything that this book could have done differently, again who am I to judge being so new to this type of novel and trying to be as fair, if I may.

It was a different kind of dark given Wolfe’s stalkerish tendencies, but I’ve seen worse that have ended better, not that I can say I was rooting for any ending either way… was I that caught up? I still wanted to know so much more about The Wolfe Den, the book covers the different levels of course, but I found it all fascinating and lacking any personal experience this is a great place to start. I saw Jesse and Brayden’s relationship somewhat pleasant; truth be told I don’t see many heterosexual relationships amongst men that don’t include, sports, violence, or women but two guys just hanging out together at home.

As for the three stars, I just can’t help but feel like I let myself be readily convinced, yes I’m a Kindle reader, but when I saw this book from my erotica reading group, I figured what could it hurt and just shock and not my cup of tea. Erotic Asphyxiation I know some people that like choking or other forms of breath play, but it seems to me this was just used to give Wolfe yet another type of darkness when the hunting of Jesse in the woods was enough. With the ending, they chose I’m not sure, again most books might give you a heads up, but with this title, I don’t know whether I’m impressed maybe or whether the authoresses are trying to say something else with this, not a love story.

I will have to keep an eye out for Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine, can’t say I’m in any rush to get my hands on another book of theirs but don’t let me dissuade, ladies it’s a good read, gentlemen unless you swing that way, seek life elsewhere. Three Stars and I think I’m going to find a box because Thinking Outside The Box, “SHIVER.”