Movie Review: I, Frankenstein (2014)

Length: 1 hour & 32 mins
Released: 2014
Genre: Horror, Mystery, & Sci-Fo
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:
Set in a dystopic present where vigilant gargoyles and ferocious demons rage in a battle for ultimate power, Victor Frankenstein's creation, Adam, finds himself caught in the middle as both sides race to discover the secret to his immortality. 






TRAILER:

REVIEW:

This has been on my TW list for a while now, but I never got a chance to watch it in theaters. Finally, it appeared on Netflix! Yayy! Honestly, I wish I did get to see it on the big screen. The visual effects and fight scenes were awesome. We have a decent sized TV, but nothing compares to the huge cinema screen. Oh well.

I loved the concept of this movie. I loved following on with Frankenstein monster's story and opening his eyes that he has worth, he has a mission - kill demons. The demons want to take him in and learn the secret of how the doctor was able to break the code of life. The gargoyles the protectors of Humans from the demons and help out the monster and even named him, Adam. The name had me roll my eyes - too obvious what the Queen of the Gargoyles was doing. haha WHICH I was super excited to see some familiar faces in this film especially Mirando Otto - I haven't seen her in anything in a while. I loved her as the Queen. :)

This was a fun movie, with fun effects, fight scene, and interesting characters - especially the gargoyles who are put down here by God to defend the humans and fight the demons. The name of Adam was silly (and the actor was meh - HOT as heck, but meh) and I did not like the love story. IDK. I feel like it was forced and it took away from Adam finding himself. *shrugs* Maybe it was because I wasn't expecting a love story. Also, I did not like the very last scene - it was cheesy. 

All-in-all, this was a fun movie. A couple cheesy parts (like the love story), but I did like it. I wish I seen this in theaters, but what can you do? Sometimes you have no time. I am glad that it was put on Netflix. I heard rumors of a sequel; why can't they leave well enough alone? Sighs. Anyways, I recommend this for those that like fantasy movies with good fight scenes. It also seemed a little UF. Out of five stars, I stamp this with...mmmmm...3. 

Favorite Character(s): The Gargoyle Queen, Gideon (the actor should stay with brown hair - he looks WAY better), and the rest of the gargoyle gang

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Terra (meh)

Re-watch?: Sure if it was on. It is worth another watch

Book Review: Under the Pyramids & The Unnamble by HP Lovecraft

Author: HP Lovecraft
Title: Under the Pyramids
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, short stories, & Classic 
Pages: 46
First Published: 1924
Where I Got It: Borrowed from my friend, Court

"Told from the first-person perspective of escape artist Harry Houdini, "Imprisoned with the Pharaohs" is a fictionalized account of an encounter that he claims to have experienced while on vacation in Egypt in January 1910. Enlisting the services of a guide named Abdul Reis el Drogman, Houdini is taken on a tour of Cairo and eventually forced to break up a conflict between his guide and a Bedouin leader by the name of Ali Ziz. Drogman enlists Houdini to help him settle the fight by way of a "custom of great antiquity in Cairo" a boxing match atop the Great Pyramid of Giza. Houdini soon discovers, however, that the entire argument was merely a ruse designed to lure him into the desert at night and kidnap him. The escape artist is tied up, taken to an unknown location, and dropped down a deep pit."

This is first story I've read by HP Lovecraft. I'm a huge Poe fan (as you all know) and my friend Court let me borrow her collection of Lovecraft's works, so I give him a go.

Ugh. This one was boring. :/ I skimmed a lot. However, I loved the ending...that was creepy and unexpected and awesome. Honestly, the author should have shortened it up, but thats just my opinion.

Not a great intro to Lovecraft, so onto the next short story.

Out of five stars, I stamp this with 2 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): The half animal-mummies? LOL
Not-so Favorite Character(s): No one really

Author: HP Lovecraft
Title: The Unnamble 
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, short stories, & Classic 
Pages: 4
First Published: 1923
Where I Got It: Borrowed from my friend, Court

"Carter, a weird fiction writer, meets with his close friend, Joel Manton, in a cemetery near an old, dilapidated house on Meadow Hill in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts. As the two sit upon a weathered tomb, Carter tells Manton the tale of an indescribable entity that allegedly haunts the house and surrounding area. He contends that because such an entity cannot be perceived by the five senses, it becomes impossible to quantify and accurately describe, thus earning itself the term unnamable."



The second story I have read by Mr. Lovecraft. SO much better then the first one. It was shorter, but I was on the edge of my seat. I read through it two or three times, because I was trying to make sense of what happened in the end. 

SO CREEPY! OH SNAP! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! 

LESSON ONE: DON'T QUESTION THINGS ESPECIALLY THE 'UNNAMBLE'! LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE! *shudders*

This was so much better then the first one, in my opinion. It was super creepy and you just KNEW something was around the corner. The tone of the story, you could just feel the heaviness. Amazing. I shall stamp this with 5 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Carter and Manton (even tho they should have not questioned or talk about it)
Not-so Favorite Character(s): nada

Blodeuedd Reviews: Armed and Magical by Lisa Shearin

Blurb:
My name is Raine Benares. Until last week I was a seeker—a finder of things lost and people missing. Now I’m psychic roommates with the Saghred, an ancient stone with cataclysmic powers. Just me, the stone, and all the souls it’s ingested over the centuries. Crowded doesn’t even begin to describe it. All I want is my life back—which means getting rid of the stone and the power it possesses. To sort things out, I head for the Isle of Mid, home to the most prestigious sorcery school, as well as the Conclave, the governing body for all magic users. It’s also home to power- grubbing mages who want me dead and goblins who see me as a thief. As if that’s not enough, Mid’s best student spellsingers are disappearing left and right, and I’m expected to find them. Lives are at stake, goblins are threatening to sue, mages are getting greedier, and the stone’s power is getting stronger by the hour. This could get ugly.

My thoughts:
This is a fun series, and I would call it UF in a fantasy land. Cos it's so UF! Just you know, set in a fantasy world with elves, goblins and humans and magic.

Raine is a seeker, she has some magic but not a lot. But in the last book she became the host of this magical stone. And trust me, that is NOT a good thing. The stone is not a nice stone, and if Raine can't get rid of it then she will probably die. Painfully!

But before that! An adventure on the island of mages. Mages are disappearing and she is the right woman for the job. All while trying to find a way to get rid of that stupid stone.

She is so cool. I like her. I like her pirate cousin, and I especially like Tam, mmm Tam. Yes choose the sexy bad boy goblin. Do not look at that pretty boy elf! Ok so yes I admit, there is a love triangle there, but I can live with it, as long as she goes for Tam ;)

I enjoyed it, and I want more.

Mass Market Paperback, 293 pages
Published April 29th 2008 by Ace
Raine Benares #2
Fantasy
Own

Book Review: The Iris Fan by Laura Joh Rowland

Author: Laura Joh Rowland
Title: The Iris Fan (Sano #18)
Genre: Historical Fiction & Mystery 
Pages: 352
First Published: December 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publish for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"Japan, 1709. The shogun is old and ailing. Amid the ever-treacherous intrigue in the court, Sano Ichirō has been demoted from chamberlain to a lowly patrol guard. His relationship with his wife Reiko is in tatters, and a bizarre new alliance between his two enemies Yanagisawa and Lord Ienobu has left him puzzled and wary. Sano’s onetime friend Hirata is a reluctant conspirator in a plot against the ruling regime. Yet, Sano's dedication to the Way of the Warrior—the samurai code of honor—is undiminished.

 

Then a harrowing, almost inconceivable crime takes place. In his own palace, the shogun is stabbed with a fan made of painted silk with sharp-pointed iron ribs. Sano is restored to the rank of chief investigator to find the culprit. This is the most significant, and most dangerous, investigation of his career. If the shogun's heir is displeased, he will have Sano and his family put to death without waiting for the shogun's permission, then worry about the consequences later. And Sano has enemies of his own, as well as unexpected allies. As the previously unimaginable death of the shogun seems ever more possible, Sano finds himself at the center of warring forces that threaten not only his own family but Japan itself."

This is the 18th and last book of the Sano series, however it stands alone pretty well. There were some backstories I missed out on (like Sano and Reiko getting together and their adventures), but besides for that it does stand alone pretty well. I am upset, because it IS the last of the series and I feel like I cheated. XI However, it has motivated me to go back to the beginning. :)

Oh my Atlanta there was so much going on with SO many characters and POVs. Alongside the main plot about the Shogun's stabbing there was about 5 mini plots going on: Sano and Reiko's marriage issues, a love story between Teiko and Masahiro, Hirata's possession, and so much more. At first it was a little overwhelming, but everything was connected and it seemed to flow much better after a couple chapters. Hirata being possessed by a ghost worried me, because I did not see how that was going to connect to the main plot, but eventually it made sense at the end. 

I honestly wasn't a huge fan of the supernatural bit...but I get why it happened and how it was important to the main plot. But still...meh.

Poor Sano and poor Reiko. They are both so angry and hurt by each other; if they honestly had a sit down chat and talked it through, their marriage could have been healed WAAAAAAAAAAY earlier. Again, COMMUNICATION PEOPLE! Whenever they did manage to talk to each other one would erupt and walk away. C'mon. I get both sides and how each one is in the wrong, but still...if only there was marriage therapy back then - all of the drama and hurt could have been avoided. 

Poor Taeko. :/ 

Poor everyone. There is a lot of drama alongside the political bullcrap and the mystery parts and I liked it. It was addictive and I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT! I did guess who stabbed the Shogun, but the motive and who "helped" the person was a mystery to me. I read 80% of it in one night. Boyfriend and his friend had a games night, (and since I was not included, because it was a two player game), so I read. I would have finished it off, but I couldn't keep my eyes closed, so off to bed with me. 

In the end, this was a good book.  There was a lot going on and at first it was hard keeping track of who was who and what was happening. Everything began to make sense and flow better after a couple chapters. The ending was good and so was the journey. I was not a big fan of the added supernatural bit, but I get WHY it was added. I am looking forward to starting at the beginning someday. I want to see how we got to this point. Anyone who loves Historical Fiction would like this book (maybe start at the beginning, LOL). I shall stamp this book with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Reiko, Sano, Taeko, and Masahiro (even tho he really upset me at one point - he made it up, but still...)
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Lady Yanagisawa, Yanagisawa (at first I liked him, but no...it was all a lie), and Lord Ienobu