TV
Jessica Jones
I was attempting to do per episode review of this show and Episode 4 killed me. This show has no damn purpose and I was never able to finish it. I have attempted 3 times since writing this over a year ago and no. Its a 4.
Garrett
Movies
The Machine
So this is a polarizing movie because it is stupid, or stupid funny depending on who you are. I meant IMDB gives it a 5.8 and rotten tomatoes a 33% which isn't surprising as critics will hate this movie. On the flip side, the audience score was 88% so like I said... polarizing.
Books
13 Hours (Book)
This narrative telling of the actions of a few men doing great good is heart wrenching, frustrating, and harrowing. I think what this book does really well that others like it fail to do, is be upfront about the intent of the book, who profits from the book, and what information is shaded...
Movies
13 Hours
The acting from the primary cast here is so good. John, Pablo, and James are outstanding. This movie alone shows how underrated Pablo is. He also is the number one provider of outstanding military humor starting with a story of a Commander's beret.
Movies
John Wick 4
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
Tripwire
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
Top Gun Maverick
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
Sandworm
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
Mad Max: Fury Road
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
Path of the Assassin
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
Fury
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
American Sherlock
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.