The Witcher

tags: action, fantasy, monster hunter, Netflix, supernatural, thriller

from Netflix

Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. 

I finished the series in 3 days and I like it. A lot. The series is based on Polish Andrzej Sapkowski's short stories published in 1984 that were translated into English in 1996/1997. A video game was also created based on the stories. I had no idea what the story is about having not read the books nor played the games. A lot of the books and games fans are disappointed in the series because they expected the chronological telling of the story. I do believe from just watching and paying close attention to dialog and different characters that I understood them very well and therefore enjoyed it more for not having any preconceptions. 

I like Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia regardless of his way of speaking, and his grunts are cute, in a way. The series is bloody and gory with lots of heads and limbs rolling, but it also has a bit of humor. I was annoyed at first with the travelling bard but he grew on me that I actually miss him after he parts ways with Geralt on Episode 7. The series is worth a second watch and maybe a third.

Highly recommended.

The Silent Patient

 tags: mystery, psychological thriller

from goodreads

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

I read the novel because Goodreads readers voted it Number 1 in Mystery category for 2019. Umm, no. Not even close. Maybe 100 or lower, IMHO. The book is not written well and filled with all the things I don't like such as describing what characters do upon waking up. Just get on with the story, for Pete's sake! Don't describe clothing and other unnecessary stuff that don't add anything to the plot. It's as though the author is paid by the words. Sheesh.

The premise is interesting and because I am a fan of whydunnit mystery subgenre with unreliable narrators, I continued reading even after rolling my eyes at all the absurdities and inconsistencies. There are too many characters to throw off readers but they are shallow, not believable nor interesting, and went nowhere in the plot. It's exhausting to read the background of the main characters and all the flaws of the numerous minor characters. The author tried really really hard to be the new Gillian Flynn or Keigo Higashino but he failed BIGLY.

Most of the story is told from POV of Theo Faber and a small portion from POV of Alicia through her diary. I normally don't like first person narration and perhaps it added to my annoyance of the novel. The twist at the end is just meh and not really phenomenal as other readers make it to be. Theo's reason for trying to make Alicia talk again is weak. The whole story could have been told in 20 or fewer pages and it still will not be compelling nor engaging. There just isn't a good story to tell in this novel.

Not recommended.

Christmas Movies

Classic and new Christmas flicks and series

My DVDs

Streaming on Amazon -The Santa Clause Series

Streaming on Netflix

The Christmas Chronicles debuted last year. It is now on my annual must watch list. Kurt Russel is great as Santa Claus. 

The Knight Before Christmas is Vanessa Hudgens' second Christmas fantasy flick on Netflix. The movie is a time travel fantasy. A knight from the 14th century is transported to the present by a crone. It's a love story which I normally don't watch but once in a while is fine specially at Christmastime. Apparently even 14th century people are not immune to binge-watching Netflix and learn modern slang such as AF. The movie is super cheesy which is why I like it. 

Home For Christmas is a Norwegian series with 6 less than 30 minutes episodes. It's 2019 in Norway so expect it to be "diverse". The series being European has sex scenes and infidelity. The 30 something Johanne feels pressured to get married. She has 24 days to look for a boyfriend to bring to the Christmas dinner so she won't be sitting on the far end of the table with the babies of her married sibling. The potential boyfriends are less than desirable from the truly obnoxious to the weirdo, except for the doctor and the sports enthusiast. The series is tolerable, has a few laughs, and the ending is unexpected but sweet.

Merry Happy Whatever is probably the wokest Christmas series I've seen or maybe this has been the trend but I wouldn't know because I've not seen US sitcoms and dramas in almost 15 years. 8 less than 30 minutes episodes with laugh track (why???). People probably will like it. I watched so you don't have to.

A control freak Catholic widower white father✔, a pushover Jewish son-in-law✔, a smart alec Chinese daughter-in-law✔, the father started dating a black woman whose son disapproves✔, a daughter married for several years came out as gay on New Year's Eve✔.

Anna

tags: assassins, thriller, Luc Besson movie

from IMDB

Beneath Anna Poliatova's striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world's most feared government assassins.

Anna has similarity to Luc Besson's earlier movie La Femme Nikita but has a different story line.  Anna was recruited by the KGB as an assassin and at the same time she works as a runway and print fashion model. The spy thriller kept me guessing where it's going. It gets twistier than a pretzel as it progresses and the ending is so satisfying. The assassination scene at the restaurant is bloody entertaining. Helen Mirren and Luke Evans are okay playing Russian characters; Cillian Murphy is also good as American CIA agent.

Streaming on Amazon. I watched the DVD; don't miss the extras.
Highly recommended