Category: links

mini-reviews, 4

First, second, third,

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Film Review The Taking of Pelham 123

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Well, I didn’t know John Turturro was in this film; if I knew then I would have entered the cinema with a little more than a vague, vague curiosity. John Travolta as the crazy-ass hostage taker, with bespectacled Denzel Washington chained behind a microphone. Pelham 1 2 3, the train, comes to a sudden halt, Travolta’s Ryder gives his demand, and filmmaker Tony Scott freeze-frames every now and then to slap us with the number of minutes remaining, just in case we forget. It’s quick, it’s sleek, and it’s exactly what I needed that Friday afternoon.

James Gandolfini is in this film, too. Bet you didn’t know that.

The Green Mile (novel)

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I’ve seen the film years before, and I’ve been meaning to read the novel, but every time I dropped by the bookstore I only find the last two volumes (it was originally published as a serial novel), and what the hell was I supposed to do with that, right. Before going to the movies I passed by a BookSale branch and lo and behold, a copy meant just for me. Good, strong writing, even some lovely passages (See? Even genre readers care about language); a story I can easily get lost in. I finished it late on Saturday night. And because I’ve seen the film first I couldn’t help but hear Tom Hanks’s voice in my head as I read the words of the Narrator.

Sigh, I want to see the film again.

PS I’m pretty sure Cois will again say I should read Hearts in Atlantis, and what is wrong with me? But I’m working on it, I swear! :D

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While in Powerbooks I saw a copy of Tana French’s new book on the counter. I didn’t even know she’d already come out with a sequel!

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I really liked her debut novel, In The Woods, but originally had misgivings about the idea of a sequel. (I liked Rob more than Cassie, for one.) Then I saw the book and now I want iiiiiit.

I’ll have to save money, then I’ll come back to grab it. Hopefully by then there’ll be cheaper copies.

* * *

During the screening I saw the trailer of Surrogates, a sci-fi flick starring Bruce Willis. Looks interesting.

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I just found out today that I was this close to winning a free book. :) Tell a mystery/romance sci-fi story in 126 characters, they said, so I sent:

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Congrats also to Celestine and Sir Kenneth. :D

fiction for 6/12

Philippine Genre Stories and A Time for Dragons contributor Paolo Chikiamco (did I get that spelling right) on June 11 posted a call for six-word speculative fiction stories to celebrate this year’s Independence Day. What better way to celebrate freedom than with stories, right.

I sent him four, and here’s my personal favorite:

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I’m now seriously thinking of turning this into a story. :)

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Read more of these short short short stories here. Maybe next year you’ll have more entries, eh, Mr. Chikiamco? And maybe a book? And and prizes?

Kidding.

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Here’s an article about Independence Day from the National Historical Institute. Makes you wonder how things would have turned out if Aguinaldo did different.

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So I’ve been reading Issue 8 of Expanded Horizons, and I have to say that Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s “King of Sand and Stormy Seas” is my favorite story there.

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Here’s a cool announcement about the EH issue from the World SF blog.

http://bahaytalinhaga.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/rp612fic-celebrate-independence-day-with-six-word-stories/

night out

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“Night Out”, Expanded Horizons, Issue Eight (June issue). Click here to read the story.

Thanks to Charles and Kenneth (co-contributors to PSF IV, both) for spreading the word. :)

plugging

Plugging?? Me ganon?!

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Toodles.

(Toodles?? Me ganon?!)

(For non-Filipino speakers: Me ganon, a contraction of May ganoon, is used to express amusement or disbelief, or amused disbelief. Transliterally it means There is such a thing. It doesn’t make much sense.)