Eastern Promises

This movie was about a Russian mafia-type organization in London. Viggo Mortenson is some sort of undercover law-enforcement agent trying to bring down the organization. Naomi Watts is a doctor(? she calls herself a midwife) who is interested in the organization because an unidentified girl dies while giving birth and it turns out she was raped by the organizations head dude. It's a drama, with some action but not much (one really good fight scene). It's very moving and sad. And very good!

Grade: A

Eternals

Neil Gaiman is by far one of my favorite authors (perhaps you have noticed that) at the moment. His take on the Marvel Eternals (apparently created quite a while ago) is amazing. This is a story about ordinary people who discover they are extraordinary people, in fact that they are not people but invincible beings created to watch over the Earth by giant robot-like alien/gods called Celestials. This is an exquisitely created tale, which places the Eternals squarely in the Marvel universe. The nod to Greek and Roman mythology and the explanation of gods is brilliant. A definite must for Gaiman fans or for fans of Marvel.

Grade: A+

Nature Girl

Carl Hiaasen's latest novel is just as quirky and fun as his others. He's really good at developing a lot of storylines and then bringing them together in unusual and unlikely ways. I enjoyed this... it's about a sort-of crazy woman who's trying to take revenge on a slimy telemarketer.

Grade: B-

Sandman: Worlds' End

In this volume (the 8th), a random group of travelers find themselves at the Inn and Worlds' End during a reality storm, and tell stories to pass the time. This is an absolutely masterful work, just as exquisite as ever.

Grade: A+

300

I just rewatched this movie last night with my parents. I had caught it in the theaters. The second time around I was still stunned by the visuals. The cinematography is excellent, and everything is so beautiful, even the violence. I really like this movie, despite its violence and historical inaccuracies. Those can be forgiven since the movie is all about its message, which is a bit of a political one: freedom isn't free.

Grade: B+

Sandman: Brief Lives

This, the seventh volume of Neil Gaiman's amazing graphic novel Sandman, is an excellent one. It's a self-contained story featuring most prominently Dream and Delirium. Delirium is not a main character in many of the stories so it's pretty cool. Dream and Del are trying to find Destruction, who has left the family. The story is about change, how there are two sides to every coin and thus everyone can change, and how all lives are equally brief (even those of the Endless!). This is an excellent read.

Grade: A+

Sofie Metropolis

This is a mystery-romance(ish) novel about a Greek girl in NYC who's trying to be a PI. It's quite along the same lines as a Stephanie Plum novel, but the combined efforts of 'Tori Carrington' (really a husband and wife team) cannot match Janet Evanovich at all. So basically a Stephanie Plum knockoff that's not as good. Oh well, at least it was entertaining.

Grade: C