Random musings on books, code, and tabletop games.
The Seven Percent Solution, 1976; directed by Herbert Ross, characters by Arthur Conan Doyle, screenplay (and original novel) by Nicholas Meyer. A good rendition of Sherlock Holmes by Nicol Williamson and an adequate rendition of Dr. John Watson by Robert Duvall.
Assassin's Apprentice, by Robin Hobb, copyright 1995; Bantam Spectra, Bantam Books, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, April 1996.
Royal Assassin, by Robin Hobb, copyright 1996; A Bantam Spectra Book, Bantam Books, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, March 1997.
Children of Dune, 2003; Directed by Greg Yaitanes, novels by Frank Herbert, teleplay by John Harrison. I thought this and it's predecessor Dune were well done adaptations. Now I'm going to have to reread the books.
The Seven Hills, by John Maddox Roberts; Ace Books, The Berkley Publishing Group, The Penguin Group (USA) Inc., March 2005. Another good book in Roberts's alternate history of a Rome destroyed by Carthage and its rebirth.
Prince of Darkness, by Sharon Kay Penman; A Marian Wood Book, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2005. Another very good medieval mystery to stand alongside the earlier entries in the series: The Queen's Man, Cruel as the Grave, and Dragon's Lair.
Zatoichi kyojo tabi, also known as Masseur Ichi, the Fugitive and Zatoichi, Crazy Journey, 1963. Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka, Writing by Seiji Hoshikawa and Kan Shimozawa (story). So, Zatoichi can wrestle, too!
Ancient Light, by Mary Gentle, copyright 1987; Roc, 1990.
Marvel 1602, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Any Kubert, digitally painted by Richard Isanove, lettering by Tod Klein, cover art by Scott McKowen. A very good reworking of the Marvel Universe at the end of the reign of Elizabeth I of England.
Shin Zatoichi monogatari, also known as Masseur Ichi Enters Again, 1963. Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka, writing by Minoru Inuzuka and Kan ShimozawaThis is the third Zatoichi film. I think it was the first Zatoichi movie I saw. Very good.
The Sea of Trolls, by Nancy Farmer; read by Gerard Doyle; Recorded Books, 2004. A good children's book, despite some new-ageish moments.
Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow, 2004. Directed and written by Kerry Conran. An interesting proof-of-concept: the visuals were good, but the story and acting didn't quite jell. Still fun, though.
Kaena: La prophétie, also known as Kaena: the Prophecy, 2003. Directed by Chris Delaporte and Pascal Pinon; writing by Patrick Daher (story), Chris Delaporte (screenplay), Chris Delaporte (story), Tarik Hamdine (screenplay), and Kenneth Oppel (screenplay collaboration). An odd computer animated movie.
Finding Neverland, 2004. Directed by Marc Forster; writing by Allan Knee (play) and David Magee (screenplay). A very good movie. Johnny Depp does a good job.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse, 2004. Directed by Alexander Witt, written by Paul W.S. Anderson. Exactly the sort of thing you'd expect.