MOVIE REVIEW: Odd Thomas

Anton Yelchin plays a young man named Odd Thomas, who can see dead people. He can also see things he calls bodachs, evil beings that feed off death and despair. When he sees dozens of bodachs gathered around a man in the diner where he works, he comes to believe that something extraordinarily bad is going to happen to the town he lives in. With the help of the chief of police and the girl he loves, who both know about his abilities, he sets out to fend off the disaster.

This is a film based on a novel by the author Dean Koontz. It also features the talent of a young actor whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 27 in a freak accident. It is full of mystery, surprises, and supernatural happenings from the first minute right up until the last. Not recommended for very young children due to the violence, scary scenes, and some strong language, but definitely worth the time.

 

BOOK REVIEW: Old Christmas by Washington Irving

 

This short story is a treatise on the old traditions of England, where the author was invited to spend the holidays by a college friend. Full of delightful descriptions of an old country manor and its somewhat eccentric occupants, this paints a wonderfully moving portrait of Christmas as it was meant to be. Short enough to read in one sitting, but with chapters that can help stretch out the experience, this is one of Irving’s classics that continues to enchant new audiences.

MOVIE REVIEW: Bent

 

When a drug bust goes sour, a good cop takes the fall and ends up behind bars. Upon his release, he commits himself to finding out if he was betrayed by his partner or someone else. Along the way, he discovers that the case that he had been investigating has ties far beyond the drug trade.

Starring Karl Urban (Dr. McCoy in the new Star Trek films), this is a thriller with shades of the old police dramas that used to be all the rage in the 80s. Full of action, suspense, and a few good twists and turns along the way, it will definitely keep you guessing. 

BOOK REVIEW: Salem's Lot by Stephen King

 

A widowed author comes back to his hometown to find inspiration for his next book. While there, he discovers that the old, haunted house on the hill overlooking the town has been bought by a stranger, and the town's residents are falling prey to an insidious evil.

This is a vampire tale that was written before vampires became rock stars with teenage girls hanging off their coattails. The vampires in this are soulless, and often mindless, monsters. And the people who choose to pit themselves against these demons do so against their will. One of his classics, this is a must read for any King fan.

MOVIE REVIEW: Carriers

 

In a world where a pandemic has devastated the population, two brothers attempt to get a small group of friends to the place where they were happy as children. Along the way, they find a world of militant survivalists and infected victims.

Released in 2009, the producers of this film had no way of knowing that ten years later their predictions would come true, though to a lesser extent. Starring Chris Pine as the older of the brothers, this is a story of hopelessness and how different personalities react to it. As the movie travels through a landscape of despair, the effect finally ends up turning the people against each other, including the two brothers. Not a happy film with a happy ending, this is not recommended for family viewing, especially by young children. It is, however, a very good character study of how different philosophies can dictate who lives and who dies in nightmarish circumstances.

BOOK REVIEW: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

 

Owen Meany, son of the owner of a granite quarry, is a small, underdeveloped boy whose voice has never changed, but who ends up having a profound effect on, not only his best friend, who is the narrator of this tale, but on the entire town he grows up in. A child with an adult's understanding and perhaps the ability to see his own future, Owen's story is told with tender, and sometimes brash, honesty that is wonderful to behold. Intermixed with this is the soul of a town, a small, interwoven community that is largely gone in our day and age.

This is the story of a man's memories of his boyhood friend. Hilarious at times, tragic at others, it will draw you in and make you a part of the events in a way that other books fail to. A beautiful and poetic novel that will live on for years to come.

MOVIE REVIEW: Hitman: Agent 47

 

A young woman who has been on the run for most of her life is approached by two men. One is there to protect her and the other to kill her. But which one can she trust?

Though given a low reception by some critics upon its release, if one simply approaches this film as a pure action delight, it does not disappoint. While there is only enough background to justify the next scenes, and very little character development, it is extremely entertaining. Starring Rupert Friend (Homeland), Hannah Ware (Betrayal), and Zachary Quinto (Spock in the new Star Trek movies), this has excellent action sequences, some strong language, and plenty of violence. Though probably not a good idea for young children, this is fantastic for those seeking an extraordinarily well done action performance.