SCI-FI, FANTASY, and HORROR MOVIES of 2014

Here are a few movies I've found that are due to arrive in theaters from March to June 2014.  Hey, if you Outworlders out there know of any Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror movies not on this list please share them and we will let the world tremble in fear and awe together.                                                         March  7:     300: Rise Of An Empire,    Mr. Peabody And Sherman ( Animated ),   Haunt, and   In Fear  March  14  Patrick: Evil Awakens                                                                                                       March 21    Divergent                                                                                                                             March  28   Noah ( with Russell Crowe )                                                                                                   April   4   Jinn                                                                                                                                         April 11   Oculus                                                                                                                                     April 16   Antboy                                                                                                                                    April 18   Godzilla: Japanese  Original,       13 Sins                                                                                    May  2   Amazing Spider-Man 2                                                                                                             May 9    Legend Of Oz:  Dorothy's Return ( Animated ),    Stage Fright                                                  May  16   GODZILLA   (  can't wait to see this)                                                                                       May  23   X-Men: Days Of Future Past                                                                                                   May  30   Maleficent                                                                                                                               June  6    Edge Of Tomorrow ( with Tom Cruise ),     The Sacrament                                                     June  13   How To Train Your Dragon 2 ( Animated )                                                                              June  20   The Purge 2: Anarchy                                                                                                               June  27   Transformers 4: Age Of Extinction ( with Mark Wahlburg ),     The Congress                                                                                                                                                                                        

BOOK REVIEW #4 SCIENCE FICTION

THE HELIX WAR    By:  Edward Willett    Publisher:  DAW                                                                                 This is actually an omnibus edition of two novels:  Marseguro and Terra Insegura. Marseguro won Canada's prestigious Prix Aurora, while Terra Insegura was a finalist for that award a year later. Book One, Marseguro, begins the story of why a scientist and his followers flee Earth and inhabit a planet light-years away. While the denizen's of the spaceship start a new life on Marseguro the leading officials back on Earth search for decades trying to locate where the ship escaped to. The estranged grandson of the scientist discovers where the unpure leader and his crew are. The military and religious forces embark on the long  trek to eradicate the abominations from the Universe forever. Marseguro is an excellent Science Fiction/ Fantasy story. The characters are well defined with emotion, purpose. ambition. and revenge. The action is relentless and violent. Mr. Willet has crafted an incredible world on Marseguro and this reader highly recommends other Outworlders to visit it.  Book Two, Terra Insegura, is almost as delightful as Book One. The setting changes dramatically, but the protagonists are still there.  Just pick up The Helix War Omnibus and enjoy both novels.  SCORE:  Marseguro 9.5/10       Terra Insegura 9/10  

MOVIE REVIEW #3 SCIENCE FICTION

RoboCop ( 2014 )   Director: Jose Padihe   Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Keaton   Rated PG-13                                 WOW!  Where to begin? How about 1987 the year the original film appeared!  Great  movie, unique plot, and wonderful cast.  Peter Weller was awesome as the title character. The supporting cast was excellent which included: Nancy Allen, Kurtwood Smith, Ronnie Cox, and many others. This film is still enjoyable to watch today it just doesn't get old. And the line we can't wait to hear..." Dick, you're fired!"  Now back to 2014 and this new RoboCop is back to kick the sh...oops...crap out of the bad guys.  Once again great movie, a different vision of a unique plot, and a wonderful cast.  Joel Kinnaman is great as the half-cop, half- robot police detective.  Gary Oldman showed up and delivered another superb performance.  Samuel L. Jackson hosted a media show and his character definitely supported robots.  And Michael Keaton threw money around like there was no tomorrow trying to bring robots to the US of A.  But what is truly different about this version to its predecessor is its loaded, no I mean LOADED with emotion. As i sat in a dark theater sometimes a tear would well up in the corner of my eye. Anyway, RoboCop ( 2014 ) is great movie-making. Go see it.    SCORE:  9/10

Movie Review #2 Comedy/Drama

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY       Director: Ben Stiller    Cast: Ben Stiller    RATING:  PG      First off let me apologize for this entry in a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror based blog. Because The Secret Life Of  Walter Mitty qualifies as none of these genres. But I had to review this movie anyway. Actually the only reason I went to see this film was my wife and daughter wanted to see it. Boy, am I glad I went! What a wonderful experience and message this movie unveils before your very eyes. It is something we all should live by. I remember reading the short story about Walter Mitty in High School, but couldn't remember his exploits. If you are a Ben Stiller fan go see this movie, if you are not a Ben Stiller fan go see this movie. Heck, even if you loathe the sight of Ben Stiller go see this movie it is worth the admission price and a bucket of popcorn.      SCORE:  9.5/10                          

Russell's Favorite Movies of 2013

#6:  RIDDICK- It's great to see Vin Diesel back as "anti-hero" Riddick. Very entertaining with great special effects.                                            #5:OBLIVION-  Fast-paced and entertaining with a great plot. Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman are excellent in this Sci-Fi adventure.                                #4:     MAN OF STEEL-  Superman reboot with Henry Cavill  as the orphan from Kypton. This movie won the award for Best Special Effects Of The Year. Awesome job. Super, super start, can't wait for Superman vs Batman.        #3:       THE HOBBIT:  THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG-  Part 2 of the prequel to The Lord Of The Rings. Another wonderful film from the world J.R.R. Tolkien and brought to life by Peter Jackson and company. All the characters (even those not in the book ) are fun to watch on the big screen. Part 3 coming to theaters in Dec. 2014.                                                                                              #2:    STAR TREK:  INTO DARKNESS- J.J. Abrams' taking the starship Enterprise and its crew into another mega-monster of a movie. How exciting to be teleported to the twenty-third century again, but this time we're looking for a weapon of mass destruction. This is great film-making, can watch this movie over and over again.                                                                    ********   #1:     PACIFIC RIM- Everything about this movie just evolved so  incredibly smooth.  How can any guy ( sorry gals! ) pass up on an epic film about Robots and Monsters.   I  had great expectations for this and it didn't disappoint. 

Movie Review #1 Action/Adventure

47 RONIN    Director: Carl Rinsch   Cast: Keanu Reeves                                                                               I read the novelization by Joan D. Vinge before watching the movie so  I had great expectations for the film. Truthfully, I found the movie quite entertaining, but there was just too much...vagueness...it seemed as if the direction the movie went was uncertain of where it wanted to go. The character development and back story should have been more enlightening and detailed. The novelization was excellent in this aspect and the audience was well informed and emotionally involved with all the characters and their motivations toward building and enhancing the story. Now as for the star, Keanu Reeves, who I like, appeared , at times, to be ...uninspired. Maybe the director was overwhelmed with the scope of the project, perhaps a budget that ballooned beyond what was planned, or Reeves accepted a role beyond his grasp. Who knows? But I do know this it should have been a better movie. I really wanted this to be a successful film, but it is probably going to bomb. Too bad what a great story. This is actually based on true events during a time of peace in feudal Japan.  Interesting fact: A movie titled, The 47 Ronin was released in Japan on December 8, 1941       ( one day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.)               SCORE:  6/10         Read the book to see how good this movie could have been.

Book Review #3 Historical Adventure

47 RONIN    By: Joan D. Vinge ( Author of novelization of screenplay.)  Publisher: TOR                               This novelization of the screenplay was written by Fantasy/Sci-Fi author Joan D. Vinge. She has captured, in words, the incredible beauty and serene landscape of feudal Japan during a time of peace. Magic, betrayal, witchcraft, and forbidden love highlight this tale of vengeance. The characters are brought to life vividly with great detail and deep emotion. The fight scenes are exciting and wonderfully brutal. Also, the relationships between Kai and Mika, and Kai and Oishi standout to others in the story. I wonder why books are almost always superior to the theatrical version. Is it star quality? Directorial leadership? Perhaps its the imagination of the author with their silky-smooth weaving of words? I,m not really sure, but this book is way better than the movie.     SCORE:  8/10