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Final reviews of 2011
Dec. 24th, 2011 09:55 amA few more reviews!
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Suitably silly, and nothing to actively dislike, but for some reason Guy Ritchie's Holmes just doesn't do much for me. The interplay between Holmes and Watson is fun, the action is fast-paced, there are some funny bits and some clever bits, but there just seems to be something lacking (either in the films or in me) that prevents me from really getting into it. Still, a fun outing with good friends is never to be sniffed at.
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson:
This started out as an excellent "first colonists on Mars" story, with the requisite long space journey (where alliances were forged and broken) followed by the initial setting up of a society in a hostile environment (interesting use of technology and continuing interactions of a small group of people trapped together in confined quarters). Somehow, though, it started to lose my interest as it went along. I think it was because the chapters started jumping multiple years and switching focus between characters, so there wasn't much in the way of continuity. It all expanded out too quickly for me - I would have preferred sticking with the original hundred colonists a bit longer before jumping ahead to when thousands of people were already there and the politics was suddenly much broader.
Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon:
Excellent audiobook by one of my favourite narrators, plus the start of a new trilogy in a world I really like. This followed on almost directly from the end of The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy, though the focus shifted away from Paks and onto some of the other characters, which was refreshing and provided an interesting new perspective.
Children of a Lesser God:
A film that's been on my DVD rental list for a very long time - glad I finally got to watch it, as it was pretty good.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Suitably silly, and nothing to actively dislike, but for some reason Guy Ritchie's Holmes just doesn't do much for me. The interplay between Holmes and Watson is fun, the action is fast-paced, there are some funny bits and some clever bits, but there just seems to be something lacking (either in the films or in me) that prevents me from really getting into it. Still, a fun outing with good friends is never to be sniffed at.
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson:
This started out as an excellent "first colonists on Mars" story, with the requisite long space journey (where alliances were forged and broken) followed by the initial setting up of a society in a hostile environment (interesting use of technology and continuing interactions of a small group of people trapped together in confined quarters). Somehow, though, it started to lose my interest as it went along. I think it was because the chapters started jumping multiple years and switching focus between characters, so there wasn't much in the way of continuity. It all expanded out too quickly for me - I would have preferred sticking with the original hundred colonists a bit longer before jumping ahead to when thousands of people were already there and the politics was suddenly much broader.
Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon:
Excellent audiobook by one of my favourite narrators, plus the start of a new trilogy in a world I really like. This followed on almost directly from the end of The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy, though the focus shifted away from Paks and onto some of the other characters, which was refreshing and provided an interesting new perspective.
Children of a Lesser God:
A film that's been on my DVD rental list for a very long time - glad I finally got to watch it, as it was pretty good.
