Powerful Pages - Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher (An Official Stranger Things Novel)

Powerful Pages - Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher (An Official Stranger Things Novel)

My readers are aware that I enjoy Stranger Things immensely, and I love a good book, so I decided to give Darkness on the Edge of Town a go.  This tie-in centers on Hopper as he tells El about a strange case from his past.  In the summer of 1977, Hopper was a detective working homicides in New York. A series of ritualistic murders draw he and his fiery partner into a dangerous web that includes shady government agents, tough street gangs, and a demented madman with insidious plans for the city.  The novel culminates with a massive blackout and a desperate fight for survival.  Christopher's prose is clear and descriptive, and his grasp of the characters we know is strong.  The characters he creates are perhaps a bit more vivid, and he shows a knack for pacing and action sequences.  There are several sections where this book is a genuine white-knuckle pageturner.  It is an entertaing read, and it is cool to see a younger Jim Hopper mixing it up with a nifty collection of rogues on the mean streets of the Big Apple.  The novel is designed to appeal to both teens and adults who enjoy the show, and the tone may suffer a bit as a result.  It is a bit tame for the older generation, while it may be a little too rough for young adults--and the timeframe won't have as much allure for those readers either.  It's also fairly run-of-the-mill in a lot of ways; there is nothing daring or bold about the plot.  The execution is solid, and the story is exciting, but in many ways it is a routine thriller.  The big hook here is a chance to see a popular character cut his teeth in a dangerous situation long before finding himself facing far bigger challenges in Netflix's most popular program.  As such, it's perfectly serviceable, and it should please those looking for some cheap thrills with a couple of familiar faces in the mix.

Final Grade: B

Short Attention Span Review - Hellboy (2019)

Short Attention Span Review - Hellboy (2019)

Could the new Hellboy really be as bad as everyone said it was?  The way I remember it, about thirty seconds after it got released, the entire universe had labeled it a colossal failure.  Many reviews seemed to portray the picture's greatest shortcoming as an inability to measure up to Guillermo del Toro's work with the character.  Honestly, (and I know this is blasphemy to some) I didn't dig those flicks all that much.  And you know what?  With that mind, I have to say . . . this Hellboy was pretty bad.  Uneven and sophomoric, the pieces just didn't fit together all that well, and the ending was a total letdown.  I had heard that the CGI was dodgy, but I didn't find that to be an issue, and I really liked a lot of the character and set designs.  Mostly, the issues that handicapped this reboot were related to plotting and a lack of restraint.  And that turd burglar of a finale.  However, while it surely missed the mark in a lot of ways, I did enjoy this Hellboy at times.  It had some fun bits, and while it may have been too crude in many places, the effort Neil Marshall and his crew put into scraping the bottom of the barrel did yield some obnoxious entertainment along the way.  I enjoyed David Harbour in the title role, and some of his line deliveries really worked for me.  While I wanted more from the lovely Milla Jovovich (who was splendid, but given far too little to do), there were some nasty baddies in the mix.  The gore quotient was high, and I think the hard R approach served the property well when they didn't go overboard with it.  It's just a shame that the script fell so short, and I'm not sure that everyone involved was on the same page so far as the tone of the movie is concerned.  Yes, the new Hellboy is a misfire.  However, it's like Hudson Hawk or Tango & Cash--it's one of those duds that still has some unmistakable appeal.  Is it good?  No.  Far from it.  Is it entertaining?  Yeah, somewhat.  

Final Grade: D+

Okay, the new Hellboy is a dud, but don't blame David Harbour.

Short Attention Span Review: Stranger Things 2 (2017)

Short Attention Span Review: Stranger Things 2 (2017)

Sure, it's a bit too familiar.  Okay, maybe in addition to recycling beats from the first season, the show is even more derivative this time out.  Who cares?  The first season was epic, and a powerful nostalgia vibe is one of the biggest keys to this show's success.  Recycling is cool, and Stranger Things 2 is a wicked good time.  In terms of style and enjoyment, this breakout series easily skirts a sophomore slump and instead keeps the good times rolling for Netflix.    Everyone's back for another kooky voyage loaded with fright and intrigue, and there are some new faces in the mix to keep things fresh.  One of these, Dacre Montgomery, is a revelation as Billy, bringing a lot of beefcake and even more in the way of charisma to his part.  Billy is equal parts picture perfect 80s heart throb and despicable sociopath, and Montgomery makes the most of his screentime, damn near stealing every scene that he's in.  However, the biggest surprise for me was Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, who has somehow evolved from the most repulsive tool in Hawkins, Indiana to perhaps the show's most courageous and likable character.  Of course, Millie Bobby Brown continues to kill it as Eleven, and there's really no point in going down the list as all of the players are wisely given lots to do, and everyone puts forth a worthy performance.  Matt and Ross Duffer continue to impress with Stranger Things 2, another mindbending spookshow with a wealth of charm that fires on all cylinders and rewards viewers with a fantastic story populated by rich characters.  The score is pretty damn nifty too.  Hell, everything about this franchise is pretty damn nifty--if you're not watching it, you're missing out in a big way.

Final Grade: A

 

Short Attention Span Review: Stranger Things (2016)

Short Attention Span Review: Stranger Things (2015)

Netflix's latest killer series borrows heavily from the cinematic landscape of the 80s (and the 80s themselves, as the series is set in 1983 and a powerful nostalgia vibe is one of its biggest selling points), but it remains fresh and viable nonetheless.  This is surely somewhat due to the wide variety of genres and titles that it pays homage to and partly due to a plethora of original flourishes, but either way the recycling on display in this riveting series is rather charming and never feels derivative.  There are great performances to spare and while some viewers have lamented the effects, I found them to be just as impressive.  The score is invigorating and the pacing is on point--this is an ideal program for binge-watching as the story progresses quickly and each episode ends with a cliffhanger that will have you itching to cue up the next chapter.  The less you know about the plot going in the better, but suffice it to say that a little midwest town becomes the setting for a wild yarn that includes a terrifying creature, shady government officials and their top secret lab, gateways to other dimensions, and even super powers.  The events unfold in the wake of a young boy's disappearance, and his tough but bewildered mother will join forces with a determined lawman with a tragic past to try and get to the bottom of the sinister goings-on.  Their biggest allies will be a band of teenage misfits who love Dungeons & Dragons and science, and their search for answers is packed with chills, thrills, and loving nods to the 80s.  The characters have so much depth and such tremendous arcs that I frequently felt like I was reading a book while watching this one, and there was just so much talent on display throughout.  It's hard to imagine any fan of things that go bump in the night failing to fall head over heels for the wholly engaging and highly entertaining Stranger Things. 

Final Grade: A+

Stranger Things is positively brimming with wonderful performances, but the strongest comes courtesy of Winona Ryder.  The long lost starlet is sheer perfection here as a crazed mother who will do anything to save her child from a diabolical supernatural menace.