Numero Zero

 tags: conspiracies, dark humor, mystery, politics, satire 

goodreads

From the best-selling author of The Name of the Rose and The Prague Cemetery, a novel about the murky world of media politics, conspiracy, and murder.

A newspaper committed to blackmail and mud slinging, rather than reporting the news. 

A paranoid editor, walking through the streets of Milan, reconstructing fifty years of history against the backdrop of a plot involving the cadaver of Mussolini's double. 

The murder of Pope John Paul I, the CIA, red terrorists handled by secret services, twenty years of bloodshed, and events that seem outlandish until the BBC proves them true. 

A fragile love story between two born losers, a failed ghost writer, and a vulnerable girl, who specializes in celebrity gossip yet cries over the second movement of Beethoven’s Seventh.

And then a dead body that suddenly appears in a back alley in Milan.  

Set in 1992 and foreshadowing the mysteries and follies of the following twenty years, Numero Zero is a scintillating take on our times from the best-selling author of The Name of the Rose and Foucault's Pendulum.

I read this thoroughly engaging satirical, timely, and often hilarious short novel in late November 2015. It's the second to the last written by Umberto Eco, who has died at the age of 84 last Friday. I learned that he wrote his last book to be issued posthumously later this year. I'm looking forward to it. It's a sad day for me and his fans worldwide. Rest In Peace Signore Eco

Highly recommended for Umberto Eco readers.

The Last Girl

 tags: dystopian, post apocalyptic, science fiction-ish

 

from goodreads

A mysterious worldwide epidemic reduces the birthrate of female infants from 50 percent to less than 1 percent. Medical science and governments around the world scramble in an effort to solve the problem, but twenty-five years later there is no cure, and an entire generation grows up with a population of fewer than a thousand women.

Zoey and some of the surviving young women are housed in a scientific research compound dedicated to determining the cause. For two decades, she’s been isolated from her family, treated as a test subject, and locked away—told only that the virus has wiped out the rest of the world’s population.

Captivity is the only life Zoey has ever known, and escaping her heavily armed captors is no easy task, but she’s determined to leave before she is subjected to the next round of tests…a program that no other woman has ever returned from. Even if she’s successful, Zoey has no idea what she’ll encounter in the strange new world beyond the facility’s walls. Winning her freedom will take brutality she never imagined she possessed, as well as all her strength and cunning—but Zoey is ready for war.

*Sigh* The first 2 books I read this year are utterly ridiculous and total waste of time. The Last Girl, a Kindle First for March 2016, however, is the better one of the two and worth writing about if only to warn readers what to expect and to avoid it.

The novel is described as a science fiction thriller but there isn't much science fiction going on in this first of 3 series. The next 2 books will probably be more sci-fi; however I wouldn't know because I won't be reading them if the writing style does not improve. Yes, his style is rather strange and not in a good way, specially the analogies
- Her lungs are two limp bags inside.
- Panic is a living creature in her chest, tearing at her heart and lungs. 
- Watching the sinuous way the light rolls through the trees. 
It reminds me of the flowery language in P. D. James's The Children of Men, the only science fiction novel she wrote and the only one I didn't like.

Spoilers

Unbranded

tags: adventure, documentary, wild horses

IMDB

Sixteen mustangs, four men, one dream: to ride border to border, Mexico to Canada, up the spine of the American West. The documentary tracks four fresh-out-of-college buddies as they take on wild mustangs to be their trusted mounts, and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Their wildness of spirit, in both man and horse, is quickly dwarfed by the wilderness they must navigate: a 3000-mile gauntlet that is equally indescribable and unforgiving.

I read about this documentary way back in September when one of my favorite American actors, Jensen Ackles, mentioned on Facebook that he liked it. I agree with him. It is entertaining and a tad educational. The movie was financed through Kickstarter pledges of over $170,000 and the producers hired a first-time director who did an exceptional job.

It's admirable that the four young men chose to ride adopted wild horses instead of cars for their after-college American Wild West adventure. It's a beautiful film showcasing not just breathtaking scenery and friendship, but also promoting awareness of wild horses adoption program and wilderness preservation. There are lots of laughs and a few sad moments. I was charmed by the stubborn but lovable donkey, Donquita.

Highly recommended. Currently streaming on Netflix and Amazon.

Detectorists And Atelier On Netflix Streaming

Netflix is currently streaming 2 multi-episode drama-comedy series that are both witty, smart, and funny. Highly recommended.

Detectorists

tags: British, comedy, drama, metal detecting, relationships

Season 1 - Six 30-minute episodes

Two quirky friends share a passion for metal detecting and a dream of unearthing Saxon treasure that they're certain is buried in a local farm field.

The smart and often hilarious dialogue, beautiful cinematography, and superb acting by all the actors (leading and supporting) make this series a true gem, one of the best I've seen this year on Netflix. It's a light comedy with a touch of drama and a little romance. The script is 95% "clean" with just a handful of foul words uttered and no nudity or sexual situations. The second season unfortunately is not yet available on Netflix. I'll have to find the episodes on YouTube or other streaming service.

Update: 12/22/2015

I watched the second season. There's a little bit more drama, just enough; it's as brilliant and funny as the first season, and most important, it has a very happy metal detecting ending worthy of "the dance". Search for streaming services available online. It'll be worthy of your time. I'm also looking forward to the Christmas Special which is scheduled to be shown in The U. K. on December 23.

Atelier

tags: comedy, drama, Japanese dorama, luxury lingerie manufacturing



Thirteen 45-minute episodes in Japanese language with English subtitles

Mayuko finds a job with a high-class lingerie manufacturer in Ginza. It is the story of a woman experiencing confusion, struggle and growth in a world with a new set of values different from any she has ever known, and seizing the Japanese dream. Atelier is a workplace-based coming-of-age novel drama, written to present the story of a working woman, with the setting of a glamorous world of lingerie manufacturer.

One word: amazing! Although the idea of manufacturing custom-made luxury underwear doesn't seem to be an interesting premise for a dramedy, the script and acting make this such a wonderful series. It's light comedy and not overly dramatic. The series also shows the Japanese culture, most notably their attention to the tiniest of detail, from the actual product to the packaging. I love the materials they use for the underwear but most specially I dig their Juki sewing machines.

Yakuza Apocalypse: The Great War Of The Underworld

IMDB

In the ruthless underground world of the Yakuza, no one is more legendary than boss Kamiura. Rumored to be invincible, the truth is he is a vampire - a bloodsucking Yakuza vampire boss! Among Kamiura's gang is Kageyama, his most loyal underling. However, the others in the gang view Kageyama with disdain and ridicule him for his inability to get tattooed due to sensitive skin. One day, assassins aware of boss Kamiura's secret arrive from abroad and deliver him an ultimatum: Return to the international syndicate he left years ago, or die. Kamiura refuses and, during a fierce battle with anime-otaku martial-arts expert Kyoken, is torn limb from limb. With his dying breath, Kamiura bites Kageyama, passing on his vampire powers to the unsuspecting yakuza. As he begins to awaken to his newfound abilities, Kageyama's desire to avenge the murder of boss Kamiura sets him on a course for a violent confrontation with Kaeru-kun, the foreign syndicate's mysterious and seemingly unstoppable leader!

Takashi Miike's latest gorefest comedy, Yakuza Apocalypse, is as insane and entertaining as Gozu. It's a mashup of violent bloody gang fights, eye popping martial arts, vampires, and fantasy with several shout-out to other movies from Yojimbo and the original Django with the coffin, to Revenge Of The Nerds, to ET or maybe Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, to The Island Of Dr. Moreau with a half-man half-turtle character, to Eddie Romero's bat-man character in Twilight People (the hero vampire's costume and the ending remind me of TP's ending). The weirdest but fun part is the giant Kero Kero Keroppi frog lookalike and its bulging eyes death stare. I enjoyed the movie in all its craziness. Only Takashi Miike can pull off this kind of extremely weird movie.

Streaming on Amazon, DVD only from Netflix

Recommended for Takashi Miike fans.

Dark Places

tags: murder mystery, thriller

From Wiki

Set in a farming town in Kansas, Dark Places follows Libby Day, the only surviving witness of a horrific massacre that took the lives of her mother and sisters. Believing the slaughter to be the work of a Satanic cult, Libby testifies in court against her own brother. Almost thirty years after the murder, she remains haunted by the gruesome violence of her past when she meets a group of amateur investigators who call themselves "The Kill Club." Looking to satisfy their morbid curiosity, the group begins its own inquiry about the case, believing that Libby's brother is innocent. To help them, Libby must unearth painful memories of the event and learn that her past may not be what it seems.

Dark Places is based on Gillian Flynn's novel with the same title. I read the book and rated it 4 stars in August 2012. Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl, is a very skilled storyteller and I like her books regardless of the main characters having a potty mouth.

I appreciate that the movie didn't stray much from the book's story line. I had to give it just 3 stars though because large portions of the movie are very very dark visually. A little bit more lighting would have been better. In one scene, Charlize Theron was reading some old records/papers. The lights were turned off and she was reading using a torch. She does have electricity in her house and she is not doing it stealthily or something. The director has taken "dark places" quite literally.

I also didn't like Charlize Theron as Libby Day. The Libby I had in my mind is shorter than Charlize, more delicate looking, and with long hair, not the short masculine hair style that Charlize has. *But it's just me, I've never liked very short hair on women.* The younger actors are very good, specially Chloe Moretz as the wicked girlfriend of Libby's brother, Ben, played by Tye Sheridan.

Recommended for Gillian Flynn, murder mystery, and thriller fans.
Currently streaming on Amazon, Blu-Ray DVD from Netflix.

Assassination Classroom Live Action 2015

tags: comedy, fantasy, Japanese, live action anime

Eigapedia

“Class E” of Kunugigaoka Junior High School consists of students determined to have no future. They’re separated from their classmates and assigned to a bizarre tentacled alien homeroom teacher. The alien, whom the students refer to as “Kurosensei” (literally “unkillable teacher”), had previously destroyed most of the moon and threatened to destroy Earth. However, he decided to delay his plan for one year if he was given a class of junior high school students to teach on the terms that he wouldn’t harm them.

Kurosensei teachers his class various assassination techniques and the government promises a 10 billion yen reward to the student who finally manages to kill him. Unfortunately, Kurosensei is able to avoid all of their attacks due to his vastly superior alien reflexes. In spite of this, student Nagisa Shiota keeps track of any perceived weaknesses as he and his classmates try to come up with new ways to kill him.

I love this latest live action anime from Japan. It's so silly but lots of fun to watch. The English subs are probably not 100% accurate but I find they make sense and am able to understand the movie. I'll watch it again just to see if the subtitles have improved.

Recommended for Japanese anime fans. Full English subtitled movie is no longer available on YouTube. Have fun watching Kurosensei's antics if you can find the movie elsewhere by searching.

The lead actor, Yamada Ryosuke as Nagisa Shiota, is a member of the Japanese idol group Hey! Say! JUMP. Here's a video of one of their songs from the movie

 

The Ridiculous 6 Trailer

Wiki

The Ridiculous 6 is an upcoming American comedy film directed by Frank Coraci and written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler. The film is a satire of westerns in general, and the classic 1960 western, The Magnificent Seven in particular. It stars Sandler, Will Forte, Taylor Lautner, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, Terry Crews, Luke Wilson, Nick Nolte, Rob Schneider and Jorge Garcia. The film will be released worldwide on Netflix on December 11, 2015.

Taylor Lautner acts like a half wit in this satirical Netflix movie. The Mark Twain look-alike at the end of the trailer is also funny. I hope the whole movie is hilarious and can't wait to see it.

Collector Of Secrets

 conspiracies, historical fiction, Japanese



from Amazon.com

A riveting debut thriller with the twists and turns of “North by Northwest” and The Firm about an American in Japan who comes upon a mysterious decades-old diary, and ends up caught in a web of global espionage he cannot possibly fathom.

Max Travers is an English teacher in Japan. When his manipulative boss begins swindling the unsuspecting parents of his students, Max must retrieve his passport to return home. Max sneaks into her office only to stumble upon a burglary-in-progress. Max barely escapes, but accidentally takes a strange diary bound in leather and embossed with a strange seal. Little does Max know that this diary has been hidden for over half a century, and its secrets could topple some of Japan’s most powerful people and rewrite the history of the royal family.

Max soon finds himself on the run from everyone from tattooed Yakuza to the Japanese police and a mysterious American who has ties in the highest places, all willing to kill for the diary’s secrets. With his and girlfriend's lives in the balance, Max must decipher the diary's secrets in a richly detailed and ambitious thriller that covers everything from World War II to Watergate.

A lot of new authors think they could write a good story and they get encouragement from and get published by Amazon. Unfortunately, IMHO, only a few were good and worth reading. I have nothing against wannabe authors. In fact three of my top 10 favorite novels were debut novels: The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco, The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt published in 2000, and The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker published in 2013.

Collector Of Secrets, however, just like the others I rated very low or no stars, suffers from the syndrome called "allergy to professional editor". This book is one of the worst I have read this year. 

I should have stopped reading right at the first page because I had a gut feeling it might be about that darn Yamashita's treasure yet again! And it is. &*@^!!! Still, I wanted to know what it's all about and hoped it will be better than the awful The Dragon's Triangle. The author lifted the conspiracy theory nonsense from the same book the author of The Dragon's Triangle lifted her characters and story from. What the heck is wrong with these so-called "authors"? *sigh*

Spoilers

X

 Kinsey Millhone, mystery, private detective

X:  The number ten. An unknown quantity. A mistake. A cross. A kiss.
X:  The shortest entry in Webster’s Unabridged. Derived from Greek and Latin and commonly found in science, medicine, and religion. The most graphically dramatic letter. Notoriously tricky to pronounce: think xylophone.
X:  The twenty-fourth letter in the English alphabet.

Sue Grafton’s X: Perhaps her darkest and most chilling novel, it features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes. Once again breaking the rules and establishing new paths, Grafton wastes little time identifying this sociopath. The test is whether Kinsey can prove her case against him before she becomes his next victim.

Kinsey seems a little bit different in this 24th installment of her alphabet series. She says sh*t more frequently and she's grumpier than ever before which is IMHO a good thing because eventually it worked well for her and her landlord Henry. She also is funnier, showing a lot of her sense of humor. I'll miss Kinsey when the series comes to an end. Yes, only 2 more to go, Y and Z.

Spoilers ahead