Jungle Beat

Szentül hiszem, hogy az Ice Age sikere a motkánynak köszönhető. A legelső trailer, a könnyezve röhögés rengeteg embert becsábított a mozikba, mégha a dolognak semmi köze sem volt a filmhez (nekem ez csalódás volt). Enélkül a trailer nélkül az Ice Age-ből aligha vált volna franchise. Így gondolhatta a Dél-Afrikai Starburst Animation stúdió is, mert erre a koncepcióra húztak fel egy egész sorozatot. (Bár ez nem egy klasszikus sorozat, mert rengeteg időt tesznek egy-egy epizódba - talán inkább rövidfilmek folyamaként érdemes rá gondolni). Gyönyörűen rajzolt állatok, vicces szituációk, rengeteg nevetés. Egy kis kikapcsolódás, amit az egész család együtt élvezhet. 

Fire in Paradise

The wildfires in California are of interest to me. I can't tell you why. I've been trying to find a book that would explain the whys and hows, but so far without success. This documentary by Netflix doesn't achieve that either, nor does it even attempt it. But it does a marvelous job in conveying the abject terror that come with these natural events. In case of the Camp Fire that this covers, the director (and the photographer) did a great job in depicting the survivors and in downplaying the drama that occurred in the parking lot which has already been widely publicized in the media.

Morten Strøksnes :: Shark Drunk

What makes a writer and an abstract painter to hunt for a Greenland shark? A creature which roamed the arctic ocean before the age of the dinosaurs and remains quite the mystery despite the fact that at some point it was hunted heavily. We may never learn that, but we'll still learn a lot from Morten Strøksnes' book about life north of the arctic circle. Most reviews painstakingly avoid comparison to the Old Man and the Sea as that would be an exaggeration, and yet ... this book comes pretty darn close.
Maybe it's the meandering story telling, maybe it's the associative jumps from one topic or aspect to another which follows the conversations of Aasjord and the author, but the book does have a distinct high-literature feel to it. Either way, it does spirit you away into the (surprisingly not so) frozen north where the jagged peaks reflect over the water and the fishermen have frost in their beard; into a world where two friends can sit in a leaky rubber boat and lament life itself while they fish for a predator that weighs a ton, lives for hundreds of years and existed for eons. And this, maybe this is what makes this book so exceptional. This conflict between the eons (i.e., how things used to be) and the modern day. Our generation may claim that we were born to this age, but humanity as a whole arrived to this point in time after a long journey and we who are alive today have a foot in both the past and the future. And what could be more jarringly 21st century than the paradox of nonchalantly throwing an emptied paint can filled with graks overboard while bemoaning the destruction of the planet? This book is about all of us.

Unbelievable

This series doesn't start well. I guess, intentionally so. The first episode is just painful to watch - it's like being invited over for dinner only to witness the fight of another couple and your only wish is to somehow leave and get out of this situation. But there's just no way you can do that. It's grey, it's depressing and really doesn't give you the slightest promise that it can get any better. Bleak would be a word for it exacerbated by the fact that you know that you are watching a true story. It leaves the sour taste in your mouth as sexual assault is bound to do that you'd rather not know about this. But this actually happened. And it happens all over the world probably every single day.

The HU : Gereg

When The HU have released their first two singles a year ago, they became a sensation overnight; an unavoidable phenomena in the metal scene. And rightfully so. I mean, a metal band from Mongolia who not only have the balls to enter the international stage singing in their native language and use traditional instruments (and yes, I consider throat singing to be an instrument in this case) but also to conjure historical images of the Great Genghis and to be openly nationalists (although it shall be noted in a mostly inward facing manner) with a bold face? You just had to appreciate them.

First Blood (Rambo) 1982

A veteránok sokáig egészen különleges megbecsültségű helyet foglaltak (és egy bizonyos mértékig foglalnak el ma is) az amerikai társadalomban. A vietnámi háború veteránjainak azonban jó egy évtizeden át egészen más bánásmód jutott. A vietnámi konfliktus kirobbanását követően elég gyorsan népszerűtlen lett, az amerikai kivonulást a tüntető hippik tömegei ünnepelték, a hazatérő katonák pedig az éveken át tartó média hisztéria által keltett megvetés áldozataivá váltak.

Rengeteg film készült erről a faramuci helyzetről, számosat a kritikusok elismerése övezett (a Született Július 4én két Oscar-t is nyert, pedig szerintem konkrétan nézhetetlen). A Rambo-t az ítészek nem halmozták el babérkoszorúkkal, de megtette helyettük a közönség; hamar kultikus státuszba emelkedett és nem véletlenül kapott három (hamarosan 4) folytatást is. Bár ez utóbbiak minősége megkérdőjelezhető, a First Blood nem csak Stallone felsőtestének és vicsorgásának köszönhette tartós sikerét; jelentős szerepe volt ebben a szimbolikával teletömött forgatókönyvnek.

Steven Pinker: The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined (2011)

No one denies the mind-boggling leap in technological progress humankind made since the Industrial Revolution, and very few claim that our material comfort didn't increase tremendously in the same timeframe. Yet the nostalgia for the good old days of simpler times lingers on. At least then, there were no serial killers, child-rapists, genocides, everyday muggings, mass shootings, constant wars and the ever-present nightmare of nuclear Armageddon. People were more caring and had some decency. Or so one might think. In this heavy but enthralling book, Steven Pinkers embarks on a mission to disabuse the readers of such misbeliefs. He shows not only that these intuitions are wrong, but also how wildly wrong they are, and why common wisdom and facts go the exact opposite way.

Steven Pinker: Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress (2018)

Humanity spent its first hundred thousand years eking out a bare existence in a hostile and unforgiving environment. Thousands of generations led the same nasty, brutish and short lives. Although inventing agriculture was a major game changer, a farmer from 4000 BC Mesopotamia would still easily recognize his 1500 AD peer as equal in most ways. Then around 300 years ago something happened that opened the lid on human creativity, which unleashed a might-bending wave of progress, unbroken and accelerating ever since. The turning point is known as the Enlightenment.

Critical Role - Campaign II

Around 2015 "actual play experiences" started to be a 'thing' when it came to RPG and streaming with dozens of initiatives across twitch.tv and various podcast platforms to the point where this happened at Gen Con 2018. Critical Role is probably not even the most popular of them, but it definitely stands out on a couple of fronts as evidenced by breaking the film/television record of kickstarter by getting $11M for an animated series of their first campaign. Matt Mercer is a DM who is almost as good as our own sensei used to be on his best days and the players are not too shabby either. The production quality is remarkable and is continuously enhanced through the usage of props, miniatures, elaborate battle scenes, etc.
Critical Role is what you get when a bunch of D&D loving voice actors decide to go public with their role playing habit. A weekly installment of goofy fun, a run that has a fair dose of acting (so watching it is recommended, but the podcast works) emphasizing the drama of a well-timed natural 20.

Barns Courtney: Glitter & Gold (2015)

K. J. Parker - Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City

It shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm enamored with K. J. Parker. Not all his work is great, but he has single-handedly established economic fantasy (and yes, I'm going to coin that term). This is an offshoot of the genre, a tall tale of a siege as seen through the eyes of a military engineer trapped in that city and told from his witness perspective (subjective as that may be).

But Orhan, son of Siyyah Doctus Felix Praeclarissimus is not trapped by the city, more so by his own morals, his own interpretation of duties, obligations and maybe even loyalty to people of mutual despise. Shrewd as he is, misguided as he may be, against overwhelming odds none of the 15 established ways of defense are going to work and thus he has to come up with a sixteenth. War and Death forges weird alliances and pushes the ties of friendship to their breaking point with the bad luck of having most of the friends on the other side of the impregnable walls.

Sam Harris: End of Faith (2004)

In a time of unprecedented level of peace, prosperity and individual freedom, the majority of humankind in the 21st century nominally reach back for moral foundations to scriptures written thousands of years ago by scribes of desert-dwelling, xenophobic illiterates following a wrathful and jealous god. Since the dawn of civilization, religion served as much as the engine of war and sadism as a tool of personal guidance and consolation, and almost continuously the main obstacle of scientific progress and human flourishing.

Ed McDonald : Blackwing (The Raven's Mark)

This is the first book of a trilogy, but luckily it holds its own as a standalone book as well. It is filled with grit, like he Misery is filled with sand and hope is scarce just like joy is in the same place. A book which manages to resemble Glenn Cook's Black Company in so many ways: the mood, the tone, the morale. Because you get a bunch of cutthroats who are stuck between a rock and a hard place and against all odds they still try their damnedest just to spite everybody to the bitter end. Captain Ryhalt Galharrow loathes the cream (i.e. the nobility), hates the Drudge and despises himself most of all. Nenn is a shewolf who more than equals Ryhalt in swordplay and the hate of nobility, while Tnota is just a gay dude who wants to find joy where others perceive none to be had. Under the threat of the horror of Darlings, Gillings and all the rest, under the screaming sky of the Misery our "heroes" have to face the ancient Deep Kings with the much needed but truly unwelcome help of the Nameless. To help them get through that they have camaraderie and a dash of black humor. Not much, is it?

Triple Frontier

I can't say enough good things about this movie - the deepest "action" movie I've seen in years. An extremely talented director, great music (hell, we start with Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls), exceptional photography and a very good cast of actors. It is really nice to see Charlie Hunnam pulling off a great performance after Sons of Anarchy, Ben Affleck proves that he has not forgotten his act and Pedro Pascal shows that he is much more than a series guy.

Charles Soule: Darth Vader (2017-2019)

Charles Soule's 25-part run picks up the story where Star Wars: Episode III left off. Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, has fallen. The Dark side consumed his soul, and Obi-Wan Kenobi left his wreckage of a body on the burning planet of Mustafar to die. But Emperor Palpatine retrieved him and gave him a new cybernetic body and a purpose. His new un-life starts with his first task to lead a group of fallen Jedis, the Inquisitorius, to hunt and kill the remaining Jedis who survived the purge.

Zachary Mason: Void Star

It is exceedingly rare to find a good cyberpunk novel. It is even more rare to find an exceptional one like this one. Don't get me wrong, it is not without flaws, but it has everything this genre needs. A cyberpunk society that the reader wants to devour and understand page-by-page. Characters of intertwined fate from all walks of life. The threat of violence brimming just under the surface (and yes, eventually surfacing).

What this book has in addition is paying hommage to the classics of William Gibson. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the novel are the favelas (and one I desperately hope the author will further explore in future novels) reflect Gibson's Bridge while the plot itself is an artful spin on Johnny Mnemonic.

The Devil Makes Three

I wouldn't be able to tell you what sort of music this band plays. I guess it's bluegrass, but quite frankly their style has changed a lot across albums. Hell, it's a small miracle that the band still exists considering the rather storied friendship of the members moving all over the US and whatnot.

To me it's feel-good music - the kind that makes you tap your feet. It's compounded by lyrics that are somewhat sorrow - imagine saying all be damned we'll have fun anyway.

Anyway, I'm not a writer for the Rolling Stone magazine. Have a listen and decide for yourself.

David Gilman: Master of War

Many books have been written about the 100 Years' War (some good ones among them too), but those tend to focus either on the great battles or the virtues (khm) and prowess of nobility. Master of War stands out, as it elects a conscripted English longbowman as its protagonist albeit an exceptional one.

"Fate with its travelling companions Bad Luck and Misery, arrived at Thomas Blackstone's door on the chilly, mist-laden morning of St William's Day, 1346."

While Thomas' experiences differ radically from that of a typical bowman (e.g., he actually manages to survive) for the sake of a compelling story, that can be forgiven as Gilman's book is historical accurate not just when it comes to social interactions (with minor sacrifices made on the altar of bitter humor), clothing and customs, but also in terms of fighting mechanics. It's about bowmen after all and thus it has to ring true when it comes to the intricacies of fletching ...

Újratervezés / My Guide

This is a master-class in short films. Extremely good actors who'd be able to tell the story through only facial expressions if they had to (and actually they do this in the middle third of the film). The setting is relatable and captivating. A dash of humor and an immense amount of emotions.

David Simon: Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991)

David Simon, later creator of The Wire, at the age of 28 had the chance to shadow the Baltimore Police Department Homicide Unit for the full year of 1988. A Year on the Killing Streets, considered by many as the best book ever written about real police work, is the result of his experiences.

James Rebanks: The Shepherd's Life

It is always interesting to walk in someone else's shoes for a day, to try different walks of life. The next best thing is, to read a book about their lives. And what could be more different in the 21st century than being a shepherd of all things? We are in the luck - James Rebanks, an Oxford graduate decided to follow along with his family tradition and carry the torch in Cumbria raising lamb in some of the most unforgiving terrains known to man. He writes about the life in the fells in a voice that is not only entertaining but that pulls off being authentic - and yes, the words 'UNESCO' and 'fuck' can appear on the same page. While his days are filled with back-breaking work from dawn till dusk, he still manages to write prose that is not only slow but has a distinct bucolic feel to it that did spirit me away from the cubicles of corporate life into the lands of rain, fog, emerald green grass, joys and sorrows where the abilities of a dog, the posture of a sheep and the opinion of your neighbors matters more than the bottom line of the bank account. No wonder James Rebanks' twitter account became a thing.