Movies
For the first time, we see the John Wick isn't just Baba Yaga. He has friends and they are there to support him in his quest. I know Winston was his friend, but at the end of the last movie there was some ambiguity to that. I say all this to point out the evolving story telling in this series.
Books
This is Lee Child's weakest performance in the Jack Reacher series so far, number 3, but is does manage to keep your interest with the expectation of the previous books. I enjoyed it, but felt it was overly predictable, intentionally perverse, and forced by publishers rather than for enjoyment.
Movies
This is a great movie, it is as simple as that. This was an amazing summer movie that you should have seen in theaters and if not, enjoy it with some surround sound.
Books
This book provides a detailed and easily digestible to all who read it. Andy Greenberg does a fantastic job of bringing complex geopolitical, malicious code, and poor reactions to some of the largest cyber threats in the world.
Movies
I have never seen the Mel Gibson Mad Max films, I know the story thought, and I won't after this. It is a very stylistic driving movie that he some really cool action, but lacks in any real substance as far as the movie. I know that that last statement is a VERY hot take as this movie is beloved.
Books
While this book is entertaining, some of the plot holes and plot points are highly predictable making this book a miss in an exceptional line up. However, this was the second book in the series and so learning does occur for the author making this an acceptable miss.
Movies
The acting in this movie is really just top notch with a star studded cast that is truly at their peak. I mean dark comedy, fear, love, and sacrifice are just the simplest actions that take place and these 5 people in a tank could show you it all.
Books
A case defined history of Oscar Heinrich. Dawson writes very well. This is a great introduction into the early years of forensic science as well as the repercussions of shotty science that still affect cases today.
Movies
This movie tried so hard to pull in every recall from previous movies, with the exception of Crystal Skull, that they could. People, lines, and story are all the same. I am immensely surprised that Harrison Ford agreed to do this movie. It isn't anything different.
Books
Yarrow once against tells a compelling story that is in need of some depth. The constant repetition from the previous book and ideas/lines from commercially successful movies makes this a parrot call to what it could have been.
Movies
This is a non-marvel Deadpool without the crude language of Ryan Reynolds. The story is the character that you are working through and the characters are the scene. I know that sounds super pretentious, but the characters have no development and that isn't a bad thing.
Books
Ben Macintyre's story of a Russian Spy is the a great culmination of different sources to tell a concise and interesting story. Providing pivotal perspectives from different source to tell a complete story with no fluff and no overt bias.