2016 Year In Review

2016 was a different year. I start watching with more regularity series, movies and animes. The last quarter of the year it even improve due to one thing... gaming. I stop playing so many games which help a lot.

106 movies
That's almost one every three days.
My favorite were, in no particular order:
- Oculus;  The Wave; Deadpool; Train to Busan; Martyrs & Kairo

337 TV Series Episodes
That's almost one per day, no?
21 Finish Seasons of Series
Stranger Things win with no problem... 
But Scream TV Series; X-Files and Ash vs Evil Dead are right behind...

523 Anime Episodes
31 Finish Series (or seasons)
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0; Hai to Gensou no Grimgar; KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!; Orange; ReLIFE; Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi (Eraser); Ushio and Tora (Season 2); Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin & Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (TV)

Yeah a lot...

So what's happening in the future for me?

I will try to watch even more since my first six months were not that good in terms of watching series or animes... as I said the games were destroy my time.....

T Eps Anime

T Eps Series

Movies

Total

Jan-16	0	18	10	28
Fev-16	0	0	1	1
Mar-16	0	26	5	31
Abr-16	15	21	1	37
Mai-16	15	3	6	24
Jun-16	46	27	12	85
Jul-16	18	24	19	61
Ago-16	84	44	1	129
Set-16	99	47	5	151
Out-16	19	3	33	55
Nov-16	69	75	7	151
Dez-16	158	49	6	213

92 Books 

but that's a bit false..

22 novels

70 audiobooks

This is something I would like to improve and I've alread started in December. I finish four novels in one month!

My goal will be reading 54 novels. I think it's feasible but probably unreliable...

Monthly Update -December 2016 - Movies, Series and Animes

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan

I must say that it was a great month December in terms of movies, series and anime... not so much in terms of boardgaming. Oh and reading it was also good.

A note to reading. I finish reading four books. The first four novels on the The Beast Arises 12 novel series.

Movies ( 6 Movies)
- Hundra (review here)
- After Earth - A Sci-fi movie with Will Smith and his son. Not so good I'm afraid
- Branded - Interesting movie about companies with some sci-fi components. I enjoy the movie (The first half at least)
- Patient Seven - Interesting little horror movie about interview on several mental patients..
- Equals  (review here)
- Spectral (review here)

TV Series ( 49 Eps)
- Doctor Who - 19 Eps
- Z Nation (Season 3)  - 4 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Ash vs Evil Dead (Season 2) - 2 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Van Helsing (Season 1) - 3 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Aftermath (Season 1) - 12 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Slasher (Season 1) - 7 Eps (Finish the series - review here)
- 35-sai no Koukousei - 1 Eps (8 to go...)

Animes ( 158 Eps)
Finish Series
- Days -  (Season 1)  - 4 Eps (Finish the series - review here
- Bernard-jou Iwaku - 4 Eps (Finish the series - review here
- Cheating Craft -  12 Eps (Finish the series - review here
- Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (TV) (Season 1) - 4 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- TO BE HERO 12 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Keijo!!!!!!!! 12 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- My Wife is the Student Council President!+ 12 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Kiitarou Shounen no Youkai Enikki  12 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Nazotokine 12 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)
- Nanbaka 12 Eps (Finished the series, review to come)

Still Watching
- Sengoku Choujuu Giga  - 11 Eps 
- Long Riders!- 7 Eps
- Hitori no Shita: The Outcast -2 Eps 
- 91 Days - 2 Eps
- Tiger Mask W - 12 Eps
- Ao Oni: The Animation - 4 Eps
- 3-gatsu no Lion - 1 Eps
- All Out!! - 4 Eps
- Fune wo Amu (The Great Passage) - 7 Eps
- 

Gi(a)rlish Number - 6 Eps
- Nobunaga no Shinobi - 13 Eps
- Stella no Mahou - 1 Eps
- Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru  - 1 Eps
- Watashi ga Motete Dousunda  - 1 Eps
- www.working  - 1 Eps

Plus 6 other animes I try one or two episodes but drop out...

All in all I watch 213 programs in one month. That's Amazing! :)
I will tell you all about my 2017 plans in a different post.

Movie Review: Spectral (2016)

Let me start from the beginning.... Rip-Off!

If you watched the Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within movie back in 2001 then basically you will recall this one. This is what I call repost... with an update version. 

Okay it's not a ripoff but damn it's very similar "monsters". In Final Fantasy they are Gaia's made after we desecrated the planet and in here they are man-made.

Basically the USA special forces are fighting in Moldavia against a dictatorship resurgent and they encounter something they cannot explain. Something that it's hidden from normal sight but visible under a special goggles. People who got hit by those shadow beings are killed immediately. Burned in the outside and gelid in the inside.

They call some guy who made the goggles who after an initial confrontation and other some locals understand that the only think that hurts them it's lead. It does not destroy them but it paralyses them. They also learn that ceramic also blocks their movement (they can move through walls).

After an initial war the remaining forces retreat to a place where the scientist understands that those beings are not camouflage as they thought initial or alien - they are man-made beings made by something called Bose-Einstein Condensate.

They track those beings to a factory which was being used as a secret technology department. The remaining army goes there with their new plasma weapons (probably because it generates heat - don't know) and strike down most beings who recover soon afterwards. Some guys including the Scientist go to the lab where they uncover a lot more beings that are still trapped. They shut down the machine giving them power and they colapsed out the existence... The scientist then discover that basically those beings were x-rays version on a molecular scale of human beings who were strip out of everything except their nervous system and controlled (although unconsciously) those things. They unplug them - killing them (against the CIA operative idea) and the monsters were defeated. We later learn that the Army was trying to learn of how was being made.

This movie is a anti-war. First the man discover something that could remove water from something and the army wanted to make it a weapon and now this. They give some examples including Einstein atomic bomb. Interesting good movie. But don't expect a masterpiece. Cool action scenes...

Review: The Emperor Expects by Gav Thorpe (The Beast Arises 3 of 12)

The Emperor Expects by Gav Thorpe
My rating: 7.5 of 10 stars

This novel is the first one we get to see a bit more action... in this case naval action. But Gav Thorpe is not in the same league as Jack Campbell depicting battle scenes.

For the first time I thought things were moving forward. In the other two novels they were too concentrated on Ardamantua Or Terra but it seems no time had passed. Some of the political plays were finally resolve here (SOME) and others began. We see the Imperial Navy coming together in one massive armada to destroy ONE Death Star Attack Moon.

One (or Two) of the main characters were the Vangorich and his "allie"Inquisistor Wienand who is embroiled in Inquisitors powerplays with even an attack on her by other Inquisitors. Basically Wienand with the help of Vangorich want to make the High Lords take charge and responsibility. The other Inquisitors try to banish and kill Wienand so they can take charge of the High Lords.
(This is quite interesting setting because the Inquisition is quite new Over 2000 years. We know that in 40K they are basically rulers and their power is absolute but from where did they come from? or their power?) There are some ideas here that ask that same question.. who created the Inquisition? Who make it powerful beyond belief?)

We also follow Captain Koorland the last survivor of Imperial Fists trying to reunite with their brethren to once again, after 2000 years, form a co-coalition of all imperial fists chapters.... (there are only 5 or 6 but I bet there are more, after all we don't know all the 1000 chapters - and I think that in 32K most of them weren't created yet - btw, who does a new chapter is created?)

Of newcomers we follow (as the previous novel did with the woman in that planet that commit seppuku) we follow Captain Kulik and Shaffenbeck (second in command) as he try to enter and distance himself from politics between Admirals. Interesting that half this novel was about this rivalries between naval officers and such.

Besides one naval boarding party they are almost non-existent. Okay they fought in Port Sanctus where they destroy the Death Star Attack Moon but they are also that...

This book was better that the previous two. We have more political dramas & schemes. Some fighting scenes (naval) & some space marine rethoric....

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Review: Predator, Prey by Rob Sanders (The Beast Arises 2 of 12)

Predator, Prey by Rob Sanders
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

Predator, Prey is the second book on this twelve book saga.

This book adds more characters and snatches up all plotlines. I think it gave scope to the series whereas the first focus a lot on Ardamantua Campaign.

We learn that there are a lot of attack moons..... which bears the question: Where did they come from? I wonder how noboy find out about this before. It's quite intriguing... I thought of Dark Eldars behind BUT I don't know... because it's not their way. Why help the Orcs destroy everything, basically...

We find out that the Mechanicus Faction are working to understand better of what are the Attack Moons and how they work. In a way they are experimenting. They find out in Ardamantua several space marines and rescue them - not because of compassion but because it could become value memory information. Only one of them survived... Koorland (Slaughter) and he is alone the sole survivor of the Imperial Fists...

One interesting thing is that the Orks althought a major player - we never see them work (or even the Beast for that matter). They arrive and destroy! That's it.

We also see more political agenda by Vangorich (Probably my favorite character so far) and the liasion or the head speaker of the inquisition. They plot and are allies of some sorts against the ineffective way of the High Lords. There is a great clash / power struggle between The Imperial Navy & Imperial Guard.

We also follow for several chapters a world called Undide and a female pirate-military to extract the planetary governor and the quest for the virus bombs to wipe out the world... and kill the orks (a seppuku if you will). It felt that it was a short story all in all but divided in small chapters.

We also have some information about the successor chapters of Imperial Fists like Fists Examplar & Black Templars. The Firsts Examplar are probably the only fighting scenes we see in this book. Basically they died because of Imperial Fists stubborn trait. Here we follow Maximus Thane. (On Black Templars we have some information about Marshal Bohemond). They also talk a bit about Dorn decision to split the chapter.

I would lie if I said "Great" but it's a bit interesting to see more plots being given, more political struggles and I am a bit confused about the Mechanicus almost conspiracy against the Imperium.

Nevertheless we receive a bigger scope to the Ork Threat and political schemes & chapter code thoughts...

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Review: I Am Slaughter by Dan Abnett (The Beast Arises 1 of 12)

I Am Slaughter by Dan Abnett
My rating: 5.5 of 10 stars

Small Review...
With a little over 200 pages it look like more a novella than a novel but that's what I expect from the new Black Library format. Why make 400 pages book when you can make 200 and charge the same (or more). Look at all those novels being release 2016. Not counting with HH most books don't surpass 250 pages or are an amalgamation of short stories.

Well Dan Abnett is a King but in this novel I didn't enjoy that much. It felt like a really long prologue (and probably it was what they were aiming there).

They throws us into a clash between the Imperial Fists and some beings (that look like intergalactic giant flying ants) in a planet quite close to Terra ( six weeks warp travel) called Ardamantua.
We mostly get to see the effects of big space hulks (flying planetoids) that tore the world apart.

Some imperial fists died from that (and from the innitial xenos). After the appearance of that monster moon the remaining Imperial Fists that were stationed on Terra (for over 2000 years) go to help their battle brothers. Suffice to say that they weren't enough of them.

We also got see a bit of something I didn't think they had talk before - the High Lords of Terra. IT's a complacent bunch and basically petty politicians that rob mankind and take advantage of their positions. Abnett also introduce us the petty squabbles between themselves. In this book we follow a couple characters inclduding Second Company Master Koorland aka "Slaughter" (which unfortunately I hope more of him). "Beast" an Assassin & "Beast" the Ork - Why name two characters with the same codename was a bit odd... We also follow the Master of Assassins - Drakan Vangorich who is not part of the High Twelve being substitute by another office.

I hope for a bit more but unfortunall that's what you get with a 12 book saga. Enter Predator Prey.

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Movie Review: The Equals (2015)

This movie reminds me of three or four more. The suppression of emotions. First Equilibrium (in here people don't feel and take pills to suppress their feelings) and The Giver (here also people don't feel and they even see in black and white...) 1984 - here it's discouraged but people still feel but bonding is not that common.

Synopsis
We get some glimpses about society. Some wars happened a most people died. The others who did not died made a treatment so they could be emotionless. Probably they thought emotions was the doom of mankind (so correct and so wrong at the same time). Those that start to feel are given a treatment that delays the inevitable death. SOS Stages. After silas was present in a arrest of a couple and some suicide guy he start to see changes in one college. He later befriends a "cop"-alike "Safety & Health" and understands that she is a Hider. She has all the symptoms but don't take pills to treat herself.

Later he starts follow until one day they start talking in a bathroom. They later touch and kiss and becomes lovers while hiding from everyone. He then begins to understand that he was a liability and exchanges work but soon Nia (the girl) go to his apartment and they become a couple.

After a while they plan to escape because a new treatment appeared and this time it will cure forever of "feelings". At a regular check up Nia is alerted that she is to be inseminated (that's their breathing protocol after all they don't have sex) but she finds out that she is already pregnant. She is arrested and force to commit suicide. The Safety & Health guy Silas knew helps NIA escape with the help of two others but they are soon discovered and apprehended - they are gone to receive the final treatment .

Silas distressed goes to the Den (the place where they commit suicide (or forced suicide) and learns that Nia was killed (she wasn't killed but exchanged names with a person who was killed). Heartbroken he tries to commit suicide but was weak. Nia arrives at Silas's Home and waits there for his arrival. After a couple of hours he arrives and she tries to touch him and caress him where she learns that he received the final cure and says that he remembers that he loves her but now he does not. He still escapes with her to the outside world but is totally apathetic to everything else.

In the last scene we see him sit besides her in the train leading outside and grabbing her hand - although he shows no emotions. Which leads us to an open ending.

Review 
This is a good movie but something I've seen before. Nothing original. You've seen Equilibrium and basically you watch this one. Although in Equilibrium there is a lot of fighting and the "feelings" are present but not hat exacerbated. The Giver is also a lot like this. Go read The Giver. You will feel more fulfilled. One of the best books I've ever read.

Worldbulding was weak. Why the emotion supression. How did it start. What year? What happen to people outside? Is the space travel only fiction?

Another is the cover... Those cameras and such. There is no big brother like in 1984. People are almost self imposed to give themselves up when they appear to have symptons. There are also detentions but it didn't felt like big brother. When he learns that Nia was supposedly killed he has some fit and the guard just before him just ask him whats up and he was visible distress.....

Nice tables to eat...never facing one another...

Then people with symptoms SOS 1 or 2 (there were four stages) still made part of society. They should be isolated so they couldn't "contaminate" anyone else. There are even some SOS 1 or 2 - "Health and Safety" jobs. How can you trust them to function correctly?

Nevertheless, an okay movie. Not thrilled to watch it nor angry or anything like that.. it's meh (You've seen what I did there?)

TV Series Review: Slasher - Season One

We're we go again. The last series I ended up seeing was "Slasher". Having love Scream TV Series I thought that I would also enjoy this one.

Well in part I did enjoy the series BUT I can't honestly say I would advice to anyone.

Basically the series are focused in two parts.
One only in snippets or images and the other in the actual story. The actual story focus on the life of Sarah Benett and her husband Dylan returning to a town where gruesome murderers have happen 20 years before. Tom Winston killed both Sarah father and mother while she was in her womb. After some problems with money she returns; she to work in a gallery and he to work as editor in chief in a newspaper.


From that moment on, we understand that there are a lot lies, hidden stories from each characters. Each episode as well focus on a killing - each one corresponds to one SIN

First Wrath; Gluttony; Envy; Sloth (2 victims); Greed; Lust and Pride. Yes, this are 7 seven sins in seven episodes Because the last one didn't had a cardinal sin. In the seven episode we learn who the killer was and it was awful blow...

Katie McGrath doesn't do a particular good work on her performance. I really didn't enjoy her acting... neither I enjoy Brandon McLaren (Dylan). I did enjoy Steve Byers (Cam) and Tom Winston (The original executioner).

Spoilers ahead...
- First the all Ian Vaughn story (the chief police). He kidnapped some drunk girl and had her as a slave for 5 years - and a son. Her wife knew and ignore it...
- Tom Winston, the original executioner killed and let himself  be arrested for what? Couldn't understand why he did it. In the seven episode we get the feeling he was being manipulated by Sarah's parents (she then find out that Tom was her true father). Later on he sacrifice himself so Sarah could live... what if he didn't do it? Then Sarah would've been killed and Cam wouldn't be with her... so... did he knew she would sacrifice himself?
- Then we've got Cam... So he killed his mother and several years afterwards start to clenase the city. Why? We know he is a serial killer but...
- In the final episode Cam frames Dylan, Sarah soon afterwards fucks Cam. It was a really interesting because we see Cam be a little violent. She then starts unpacking stuff and sees Cam with a drawing - a drawing he made several years before that symbolizes Gluttony - she then understands that he is the killer.


About the ending...
So, Sarah tries to kill Cam, fails miserable, lets her friend also be stabbed and runs away. Dylan then rescues Sarah but he is beat by a injured Cam (why all psychotic killers have such regenerative powers); Sarah then smacks Cam down and with the help of Dylan starts stabbing saying that one is for X and the other one is for Y and such. In the end she slashes his throat killing him. They then leave the city and a new tenants arrive with a cute little girl who snaps the throat of a cat - DAMN!! 



Thoughts
Is this going to have a new season? I think so but it's going to be with different characters and plot. I hope they do it and have more money to spent. I don't think it was that interesting and it could have been cut to half the episodes. I think it left some questions unanswered that probably will be left to our imagination. 

Nevertheless it was a fun watch. I watch the first episodes several months ago but the last 7 episodes in couple of days. If I knew beforehand I would have not watch the series so that goes to say - can I advice to anyone....

Anime Review: Cheating Craft (Fall 2016)

 Cheating Craft is a waste of time.

Now that I've said that let's start our review. Basically we are in a world where boys and girls are given a test. Either they pass and become someone important, noble or something like that or they fail and never rise again.

A boy Mu Ming Zhuge is taking the challenge so he can rescue his framed father. He hand his cousin try to enter that world. He is a C-Student (basically a person who passes classes by cheating) and she is a L-Student (a Learning Student)


All C-Students have some interesting techniques to cheat. In this case our protagonist uses Shokatsu technique which was taught by his own father. Each episode is a  different type of professor and test and their willing to cheat. It's a bit repetitive in my opinion. There is other characters, some eps focus on them and their interaction with our main character.

Some episodes in the middle (7/8 I think) appear out of nowhere and the boy learns something interesting - a new techniques, but it appear out of nowhere. No explanation. Nothing. The ending was quite strange, so it seems their teacher was a alien who was testing them all and they cooperate and defeated her. But then in the frame afterwards she is leading their class to another class. At the same time our guy receives a letter to meet someone and a "shot" is heard and the end... I mean, what a fvkc? What a heck happened?


Besides all of this, the story is very strange. Is he gay? because he sure like one girl... What about his cousin? Does she like him? I don't know. Very strange anime, waste of time and nothing is learned; unless you learn that cheating is okay unless you are caught. 

Anime Review: Bernard-Jou Iwaku (Fall 2016)

So here we are in a new review of another anime I watched in December. Bernard- Jou Iwaku - in English Miss Bernard said.

This anime could go for a lot of time if they wanted it. Each episode has 4 minute and only 12 episodes. Each episode, is FAST and FURIOUS. The lines of each character sometimes are so fast that to read everything you must pause and push backwards.

The series focus on a girl - Sawako Machida and her interest on books but she doesn't like to read... Yeah it's strange. She enjoys books but reading not so much. I can relate to that.

Well in the first three of four episodes it focus a lot on her and Endou (a guy). Then after the middle episodes they realized that the interest part was the relation between her and Kanbayashi.

Kanbayashi is a girl that enjoys books over everything and constantly suggests some books to her friend which either she just takes a couple of catchphrases or reads the backcover.

Then this series focus in other two things... Reading habits and books!

Each story, at least, they give us (the watchers) some feedback on a book. It's quite interesting. Most of them I Had since almost all of them are Sci-Fiction Literature.

The studio is called Creators in Pack. I don't understand what they are... if they are a real studio or something like that but most of their animes are not that well receive by the "critics" in MAL. Most their series rank from  5.46 to 6.70. So probably no second season... but advisable to anyone since watching them all in one go will take 30m or so...

Anime Review: Days (Summer 2016 & Fall 2016)

I've just wrote a brief review of Area no Kishi. I also made a review this year about another football anime I watched called Giant Killing. This last one is a bit different. It focus more on managerial aspects.

The last anime of football I watch this year It's DAYS. With 24 episodes it began in July and ended in December. One of the fews animes I watch the episodes as they came out. Just before the last episode we were informed that Days 2 is coming in a new future (probably July of 2017).

So what's the difference between this one and other football out there? Well comparing with what I saw, both Area no Kishi and Captain Tsubasa they were already great football players. Tsubasa is a journey to be the best player in the world, while Kakeru is a good player but have to find himself with his new "heart". In this Tsukamoto is quite different. Tsukamoto never once play football; I think he doesn't even understands what football is but one day Kazama (a brillant player) invites him to play indoor soccer and Tsukamoto enjoys so much that he follows Kazama into Seisiki football team. 

Right from the start older players understand his value. He never gives up and never surrenders and he goes beyond everything (training) to be better. He has no self-esteem and so he trains harder than anyone else so he might not be a burden. I must say that at times I felt like kicking is butt but he is an okay guy. I must say that he develops a lot in those 24 episodes. It's not like he wakes up one day and he is better. He sucks. He fails shots with no keeper and sometimes because of him the team loses. But everyone believes him. From 14/15 episode forward we see a development and a new side of Tsukamoto. He still thinks he sucks but he is has some value. When everyone thinks they are going to lose he screams Seisiki! FIGHT! and an inspiration to everyone else. He is a captain... (or at least the older players know he has the means to be one).

It's a great series. 
Kazama is a great player, probably the best one but also a first year and he helps Tsukamoto (at the same time he learns from Tsukamoto). Then we've got Ubukata a girl that first is quite harsh to Tsukamoto until she sees him training and doing more than anyone else. We've got Ooshiba who is always fighting with Tsukamoto because he knows he can lose his place to him; Kimishita a guy who is always angry and very harsh to Tsukamoto and the current Captain Mizuki who says awkwards things and nonsense things all the time. He is quite funny. He most of all sees Tsukamoto like he was. 

Advisable to anyone who wants to see a guy become a man. A real football series. Sometimes you lose sometimes you win. 

Two or three notes: First; there is a new series out there "All Out!" about rugby that it's a copy from this one. Basically it's a series about a guy who doesn't ev


en knew Rugby existed and starts playing from scratch. That's where the similarities end since their characters are quite different.

Good sound, good artwork and football skill and play. After the 12/13 the artwork it becomes way better. It's like a new guy arrived and start doing the artwork...

Anime Review: Area no Kishi (Winter 2012)

Well, my review is about a anime focusing on football or soccer as Americans call it.
I always enjoy watching football anime. One of my favorite growing up animes was Captain Tsubasa or Captain Hawk or Holly & Benji (all different names for it).

I remember watching and waiting for a new episode. I Still remember most of the plot and probably all the names from Nankatsu and many other teams. One of my favourite players was Misugi Jun. Well but apart from that, when I start watching anime again (June last year or something like that) 
One of the first animes I watched was:

The Knight in the Area  (Area no Kishi) - I never made a review of it but here it goes...
In this series 37 Episodes are mainly focus on a young boy called Kakeru that after having an accident received the heart of his older brother Suguru. In this series, Suguru is star play for japanese national team and Kakeru went to a more managerial place. After that accident something changed inside him (not counting his new heart) and he reevaluates what's best for him. 

He then meets some other football players and with them he begins to play football but something happens because at times he (and other people who knew his brother) sees in him Suguru.

I think that at times it focus a lot on that and less on the game play and such. There are a lot of episodes that nothing happens and others that we have some jump forward. Interesting is also Nana Mishima (his best friend, probably wannabe-girlfriend). She also plays football in the Japanese soccer team and it's a great player as well.

Good artwork, some mix genre (soccer & drama or slice of life). It has some fun moments, mainly Araki and in the end we get something. Unfortunately it was not the ending I invisioned. Basically the story ends right before they are playing a maximum importance game. Maybe someday a second season will come out BUT I don't know. Maybe is not that important. Maybe the important part is the JOURNEY until that moment. 

Would I advice anyone to watch it? No. There are way better out there...

Book Review: Vampire Hunter D Volume 05: The Stuff of Dreams by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Vampire Hunter D Volume 05: The Stuff of Dreams by Hideyuki Kikuchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was some suprising read. I read it in one go, well in one morning. Thats highly unusual for me but I had to go to the medic and after five hours of it I finish the book. Living an hour away from the hospital sometimes got its perks.

After a year or something away from D I really wanted to get in the mood because I like the idea behind him but at some time I feel like some trepidation reading these novels.

Vampire Hunter D is a mighty god alike without flaws and that is my main problem with him. After reading the previous novels I felt that I really couldnt connect with him. But since I had enjoyed the scenarios Kikuchi portrays, the setting, the amazing vistas, the odd animals/beasts that roam the land that is a mix of post apocalyptic and western is great. Unfortunaly the characters has his flaws. I enjoy the "upgrade" we got on D and his Hand but at the same time they feel distant as previous books. It seem that after so many battles. no one can defeat him and he knows it. He is as I said a perfect dhampir god. This upsets me because I fail to "feel" the character battles because I already know the outcome.

In this novel D is summoned by a dream to a town where the nobility lives side by side with humankind or at least had and no harm befalls his inhabitants. The source of these dreams is a girl that has been asleep for 30years.

Interesting plot yet simple to understand and this novel reminds me of some noir/mystery from the 40's.

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Book Review: O Natal de Poirot by Agatha Christie

O Natal de Poirot by Agatha Christie
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

Another Poirot tale of mystery and gruesome killing. This one was like the previous where Poirot enters the fray at half the book to help the police.

It was a quick read that made me think hard on would be the killer. I figure it out that Pilar was not who we were told she was. But I never would figure it out who the killer was.

Poor characterization (comparing with Ten Little Niggers or Murder in the Orient Express) and it was hard to me to keep tracking who was who, or even trying to guessing who might be the killer because they were weak characters with the exception of Alfred, Harry, Stephen and Pilar.

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Book Review: Elfslayer by Nathan Long

Elfslayer by Nathan Long
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

A good addition to the Gotrek Series. No doubt about it. Nathan Long as a different way of writing G&F stories but they are great nevertheless. But unfortunally now he stopped writing and other books are being written that don't follow the straight line they were travelling so far.

In this book we start right after last one (Manslayer) with Gotrek morose because he couldn't arrive at the last battle in the Storm of Chaos Invasion. After meeting with some old friends (Max) they search for something that might destroy the Olde Worlde by a elven reliquary long thought to be lost.

In this book, Thanquol also appears and in this book they come face to face, which never happened before. Right until now, they had battle Skaven but never learn of the Grey Seer. This was done in such a way that I laugh. So much energy, years, power and Gotrek and Felix never even heard of Thanquol.

Here they battle dark elves, pirates, skaven and even sharks. I really enjoy the last battle as Gotrek battles a Great Daemon of Slaanesh and when he says that Gotrek is meant to someone higher than it. What are they talking about??? What is greater than a Daemon Prince? A God? Which God? It's unfortunate that Long stopped writing, and we bet we won't be seeing the end until the "cow" stop making money.

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Book Review: Um Corpo na Biblioteca by Agatha Christie

Um Corpo na Biblioteca by Agatha Christie
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

A new Miss Marple story. In this story she has a bigger role that her previous book and people recogonize her skills since Sir Henry (one of the protagonists from her previous stories) asks for her help, not knowing that she was already in the case.

This story begins with a body being found in a closed library of a noble house. After investigating several angles I think this was one of the most easy Christie's novels even If I didn't found out about the second murderer... yes there are two. I enjoyed the novel and I read it in a couple of days on my way to work and in bed.

Quite a new addition to Marple personality that we haven't seen so elaborate before because of the small parts she had. The story itself it's great because of Christie comparision of societies and the way she saw aristocracy, the new age rebelds. Quite good. It's even funny how a story begins to travel through the village that changes a little bit everytime it passes from people to people...

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Book Review: Deep Sky by Patrick Lee

Deep Sky by Patrick Lee
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

This book ended this trilogy. Don't know if there will be more but I don't think so. This book is quite good. If the first and second were thrillers with SF elements, this one is the reverse.

In this novel we've got Travis and Paige (now it's girlfriend) as they watch the president of USA being killed. The only lead is Scalar that leads to the beginning of Tangent. In this novel we've got all threads resolved, including why Travis Chase actions will kill millions of people and why Paige as to kill him.

This third book is full of twists but with a bittersweet ending fulffils my expectations. Patrick Lee is one heck of a writer and one of those that I will buy what he publish. I read that he is publishing a new trilogy of thrillers but I will wait to read them all from the beginning to the end. I think that's the way to read a trilogy. Not waiting for a year. Excelent! Advisable to people who enjoy thrillers, Sci-fi, X-Files and conspiracies theories.

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Book Review: What Price Victory by Anthology

What Price Victory by Marc Gascoigne
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

This was an interesting anthology with one of my favourite tales of all times set in the warhammer 40k.

"Elucidium" by Simon Spurrier is a masterpiece. This tale made me swear in the end. It's that good. Twist upon twist that make you think what a heck just happenend. A inquisitor that really puts a question in our mouth. What a heck would you sacrifice to achieve victory in the end? What are willing to sacrifice? Surely Simon Spurrier is one of the best authors to write for BL. Unfortunally he left. Just one correction. Istaavanias were named after the Battle of Istvaan and not a inquisitor called Istvaar. Jaw Dropping. Expect a genestealer point of view.

"Thorn Wishes Talon" by Dan Abnett written is a prequel of Ravenor. I didn't read it because I am waiting for reading Eisenhorn first.

Mitchel Scanlon's "Forever Loyal" is a story about a PDF unit (but with guardsmen elements) try to uncover the mysteries of a long forgotten city. Their they find that it's not that deserted as it seems.

"Calculus Logi" by Hinks is a nice story with an interesting twist. Mechanicum versus human. Which is more pure? Which are the true son of the God-Emperor or are both? Indeed, at what price victory?"

"Crimson Night" by James Swallow is a story with two of my favourite chapters. Doom Eagles and Flesh Tearers. Unfortunally in my humble opinion Simon Spurrier tale of Doom Ealges in another anthology is way better than this one. The Doom Eagles on this book feel like other chapter without anything particular. The Flesh Tearers in the other hand are well portrayed with their arrogance and faults. Good story."

"Hunter/Prey" by Andy Hoare is a good tale about IG against Chaos Marine as they get help from nowhere. Satisfying.

Sandy Mitchell's "The Beguiling" is a Ciaphas Cain story. As other tales by him he gets himself into trouble even if he doesn't want it. In the end as other novels he is hailed as a hero. (A bit repetitive at times).


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Book Review: Crime no Vicariato by Agatha Christie

Crime no Vicariato by Agatha Christie
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

This was the first novel I read with Miss Marple but as I am getting to know the main protagonist are always other people. This book is told in the first perspective of the Vicar of Saint Mary Mead. He is married with Griselda which was an interesting character and a bit different from other previous books I read of Agatha Christie. Probably too un-wife I came to read in Christie's novels. Knowing that this book is from the 30's it seems that Christie puts forward a different type of woman we didn't believe to exist on that time. Most of all, an un-vicar wife if you like. But nevertheless they love each other.

Besides the short-story novel this is the first appearance of Miss Marple. A victorian point of view (I think it is said in the second book "Body in The Library") and always thinking the worst of people (and everytime correct) and giving parallels with other situations that she experience in her life.

Other interesting and what it seems recurring characters are Dr Haydock, Colonel Melchett (who gives a lot of credit to Miss Marple) and the arrogant Inspector Slack. Leonard and Griselda Clement are also present in Body of Library and other tales. I think other habbitants of Saint Mary Mead are present here as well.

With the dead of a husband both his wife and lover say they are the killers and Miss Marple must find the killer before everyone gets free.

I think another Christie's book happens the same thing. It will never be my favourite story but I think Miss Marple is an interesting character even if she is almost a minor character.

Funny that both Poirot and Marple are without partner. Funny that they work in two different ways but get the same results (resolving crimes). One is an arrogant and believes in love and people and only trust his brain cells (logic) and other is a victorian personallity that always thing the worst of people and uses her life (ProblamyInductive reasoning y) to solve her crimes.


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Book Review: Ghost Country by Patrick Lee

Ghost Country by Patrick Lee
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

Usually with every trilogies or sagas there is also the possibility that the second book will drag on and give nothing and you will feel empty and without patience to start the third book. That's the evil in the second book - or to be more precise the Middle book Syndrome. It's a real thing... read this article "http://www.bookbrats.com/middle-book-..."

But this particular book that doesn't happen. I will not dwelt on the synopsis (read the review of the first book). This book starts two years after the incidents on the first book and Travis Chase (our main character) was sent to alaska to keep low profile. Why? (again check the first review but I will summarize here) Travis in the end of the first book got the information that he was the creator of the "The Whisper" and because of that Paige (the girl she loves) will kill him because his creation will result on the killing of a lot of people. But a new entity as come from The Breach and Travis must united with Paige. This book deals with the future world of what if. Imagine an X-Files episode mix with the Fringe and then add some more conspiracy theory and you've got it. Action scenes are there and inbetween we've got development of the characters, descrition of technology and the Entity.

I don't think this book is better than the first nor the third but it's a good book that will make you wonder what happens in the third.

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TV Series Review: Doctor Who (Season 10) 1973

Well... The tenth series of Doctor Who (1973) was quite sad... well at least the last season it was... But let us start....

The Three Doctors was an interesting tale with 4 episodes where we got to see the first three doctors. It was interesting to return to see William Hartnell & Patrick Troughton. Interesting little tale about how the Time Lords needed help. As a reward they made the Third Doctor realeased the Doctor form Time Travelling. Finally!

The Departure of Jo Grant... :(

The Second story was Carnival of Monsters. Good episodes about SS Bernice last voyage. Interesting tale of monsters and reality. I really enjoy Jo & Doctor connection.. I believe they both love one another.

Frontier in Space is a tale that puts the Doctor between a coming war between a future Earth & Draconian Empires. Really interesting tale that makes the last appearance of the Master (Roger Delgado) and the return of The Daleks

Planet of the Daleks another good story about the Daleks and their master-plan to conquer the galaxy. 

The last story was The Green Death that makes the last appearence of Jo Grant. What a bogus. I really enjoy Jo and I know that for once The Doctor loved her as well... it was to forced.. She meets a guy and decides to marry her (they even haven't kiss yet..) Weak weak weak resolution.. We see the doctor leaving the party sad...