Author: Peter Kanelis

I was born in Portland, Oregon and currently reside in Texas. I am an avid reader and movie watcher. I also am a long-time Doctor Who fan and collect the audio dramas as well as watch the television series. I have been writing reviews of this nature on social media for a few years now and want to expand on that practice.

Book Review: Rocky Mountain Murder

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Dead of Winter is a pretty decent thriller written by the prolific Darcy Coates. Coates often writes supernatural story, but this story doesn’t fall into that territory. It does get pretty gruesome and far-fetched, but I ended up enjoying the ride that was meant to terrify me. I don’t really get terrified that easily by a book, but I can still appreciate the attempt.

The story is told from the point of view from a young woman named Christa, who has joined her boyfriend on a winter vacation to the Rocky Mountains where they plan to stay in a luxurious lodge with other guests. The bus breaks down, and a wicked storm is on the way. The passengers make their way to small, abandoned cabin where they plan to wait out the storm. The situation gets more dire when the tour guide is killed and then beheaded. As the days and nights start to pass, the group is rapidly shrinking as the heads are left on display outside the cabin being punished by an unrelenting, violent snowstorm. Christa has reason to start believing that the group was not gathered at random, and there is a more precise motive than just some random bloodthirsty psycho satisfying a dark compulsion.

This is the second novel in a row I have read with the too familiar plot of a small group of people trapped in a tight, claustrophobic locale with a seemingly crazed killer stalking them. Coates does a pretty good job with a very common plotline. The motivation behind these killings is a bit far-fetched, but Christa is a compelling enough heroine for me to forgive that.

The revelations are pretty well placed. Coates has a pretty engaging prose style as well. The characters are pretty interesting for the most part. Coates apparently doesn’t mind leaving a couple of loose threads when she ends a story.

This is my first time reading a novel from this author, and she already has a pretty significant catalogue. I am sure it will not be too long before I try another one.

It has been a while since I have indulged in a Star Trek novel, so I think I will make a return trip to the twenty-fourth century and visit with Captain Picard’s crew aboard the Starship Enterprise. Next up, Shadows Have Offender by Cassandra Rose Clarke.

Film Review: The Apes Rule Again

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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the latest in a franchise that actually has managed to stay reasonably solid for the past few years. The Planet of the Apes brand was rebooted in 2011, and this installment continues the story after the main protagonist’s death.

Wes Ball serves as director of the script that was written by Josh Friedman. The film is based on characters created by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Pierre Boulle wrote the original novel in 1963. The cast includes Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy.

Caesar has died and is remembered by many of the intelligent apes with reverence. Some of his teachings have been maligned and distorted creating a society of some pretty dictatorial and ruthless apes. The protagonist in this one is a young ape named Noa. He seems a pretty amiable sort of simian with friends and family. His father is the leader of the village. Life is pretty good for Noa and his clan.

Well, that life takes a pretty startling turn when his village is raided. Noa manages to escape the clutches of another tribe under the leadership of a tyrannical ape named Proximus, but his tribe has been abducted. He allies himself with another lone, sagacious ape named Raka as he tries to locate his loved ones. They are joined by what they think is a mute human woman they initially name Nova. Nova, however, turns out to be more gifted and intelligent than they realize and certainly isn’t a mute.

Nova is on a quest of her own, and her allegiance to her newfound companions come into question at times. Noa learns some uncomfortable aspects of the history between humans and the apes, and he will have a big fight on his hands to reclaim his tribe and rebuild their homes.

Obviously, the big draw is the visual effects, and the execution here is first-rate. The scenery is quite majestic at times. I know that a heavy reliance on CGI is sometimes a contentious issue among movie fans, but this effort was first class. The performances were quite good. I was not familiar with much of the main cast, but they were well selected. William H. Macy was the only one I could recognize on sight, and as usual, he was quite good.

Freya Allan was also quite compelling as the somewhat dubious Nova. The relationship between Nova and Noa gets a little complicated, and I do not mean in the romantic sense. Fortunately, nothing that weird goes on in this film.

There are times when the movie drags a bit. It’s a bit on the longer side, and it feels like it sometimes. When the pace picks back up, the time is worth it.

Overall, the filmmakers did a pretty good job. There are some moments that are quite moving. I grew to like and sympathize with the heroes. The story does bring up some intriguing questions if there were two species with competing intelligence and motivations and what that would look like.

There are apparently plans to produce another trilogy and this film does the job as far as making me intrigued enough to catch the next one.

Book Review: Calamity In The Catskills

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An Unwanted Guest is a thriller that has one of my favorite scenarios in that a small group of people is stuck in a remote location with a murderer in their midst. Shari Lapena first had this published in 2018 and has written several novels since then.

The setting is a luxurious inn in the Catskill Mountains where a group of guests who apparently do not know each other gather to escape the mundaneness of their daily lives. There is a troubled married couple, a traumatized war journalist, and a defense attorney with an unusual past. That is just the beginning. A young woman is found dead at the bottom of the staircase. The inn loses power during the height of a snowstorm, so help from the police is not forthcoming. Then, a second body is found. The group has to wonder if there is someone else in the inn secretly or if one of them is a murderer.

As much as I love this sort of mystery, Lapena really proves how overdone it could really get. She isn’t a terrible writer, but there is not much that makes it stand out. None of the cast of characters was uniquely interesting. When the investigator finally is able to get there, she is not that compelling.

Much of the motivations behind the killings rely on some unlikely coincidences.

Lapena is another one of these current female writers being compared to Agatha Christie. Christie had considerably more skill in her plotting. I don’t mind today’s author paying some homage to the Queen of Crime, but Lapena seems to try a little too hard here. I could not muster much sympathy for any of the characters, even the victims. I just found the novel to be a little bland.

In spite of some misgivings about this particular novel, I will likely give Lapena another chance down the road. She is not a hopelessly awful writer, but she seems a little too attached to the formula. Still, Lapena is a bestselling author, so my criticism may be in the minority. I just found the mediocrity of this literary contribution to be mildly soul crushing.

Ironically, my next read is going to once again have a group of people isolated on a snowy mountain with a killer lurking in the forest. I will see if Darcy Coates can do a better job with Dead of Winter.

Film Review: No Need To Chart A Course For This One

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Uncharted is a 2022 action-adventure film based on a video game franchise, and I would guess the game is much better than this almost worthless effort from Sony Pictures. As director, Ruben Fleischer is the main culprit assembling this ill-conceived venture. It took three screenwriters in the shape of Rafe Judkins, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway to present this to the studio. Jon Hanley Rosenberg and Mark D. Walker share the blame with Judkins for the story idea. Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Ali, and Tati Gabrielle comprise most of the lead cast.

The supposed premise is that Nathan Drake, played by Holland, is convinced by a fortune hunter and a former associate of his long-lost brother to join him on a worldwide search for said brother. There’s some explorer’s diary that sends them on a hunt for some ancient cross. There are secret passages and many traps that beleaguer Drake and his shifty allies. Rival mercenaries are on their trail. There are many spectacular stunts and scenery that fail to make up for the lackluster dialogue.

Holland and Wahlberg are charismatic enough to almost make this watchable, but they had little to work with when it comes to the script. Tati Gabrielle is kind of hot as a psychotic henchwoman, so she was somewhat fun to watch, but even that isn’t enough to tip this into something that would dissipate the regret I have for sitting through this.

The cinematography looked great, although there was some heavy CGI use. The fight scenes were just too ludicrous. I know that films based on video games should receive some grace and patience to have any hope of enjoyment, but the producers were just asking for too much.

It is not really the worst movie I have seen, but Uncharted does hover over the abyss of being total cinematic garbage, which is a shame. I can usually enjoy a movie featuring Holland or Wahlberg, but their agents didn’t think this one through. I usually enjoy this genre of film, and I would likely play the original game if I find the time to fire up the Playstation again. What is unlikely is that I will take the time to give this film another chance.

Doctor Who Audio Review: The Brigadier Wants Some Answers

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The Children of the Future is another worthy entry into the Big Finish audio range Doctor Who: Sontarans vs. Rutans. Tim Foley provides the script which was directed by Ken Bentley. Tim Treloar has once again performed his version of the Third Doctor, originally portrayed by the late Jon Pertwee. Sadie Miller reprises the role of Sarah Jane Smith, who was originally portrayer by her late mother, Elisabeth Sladen. Jon Culshaw continues his masterful impression of the late Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Jeremy Ang Jones, Nicholas Boulton, and Lucy Goldie make up the guest cast.

The Doctor has become more irascible and secretive lately, and the Brigadier and Sarah Jane Smith become concerned enough to follow him to a secret base of soldiers who claim to be from the future. They claim that they are refugees after the Sontarans invade Earth in the future. There is an audacious plan to breed humans who are uniquely capable of standing up to the invasion that has yet to happen. Sarah detects a few inconsistencies and begins to doubt the Doctor’s allegiance, and then his identity. The Sontarans’ long-standing enemy, the Rutans, are shapeshifters, and this Doctor may not be the genuine article.

All of the original actors who played the main parts are deceased, but the characters live on. Sadie Miller really is getting better at emulating her mother’s vocal talents. Treloar has continued to solidly capture the essence of Pertwee’s performance as well. The story has some interesting red herrings in the plot. The resolution was not as obvious as it could have been, but that’s good. It still ends up being merely solid entertainment, but that’s better than being outright garbage.

Book Review: Heresy And Murder Descend On The Abbey

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The Heretic’s Apprentice is the sixteenth novel by Ellis Peters to feature twelfth century monk, Brother Cadfael, and can be a bit of a slow read. Ellis Peters can get a little too verbose in her exposition.

Brother Cadfael is a former soldier who has answered the call of God to join a monastery where he serves the community of Shrewsbury in the 1100’s. Cadfael is an expert herbalist and a keen observer of humanity. He is also one of those servants of the Lord that has a unique insight into the sometimes evil motivations of the human heart. This novel begins with an apprentice bringing home his deceased master who had left on a pilgrimage some years before. William of Lythwood had once been accused of heresy, and it seems the young servant may have some of the same views. When his main accuser is later found murdered, Cadfael is willing to employ his investigative talents and assist his friend, the sheriff of Shrewsbury, in getting to the bottom of the matter.

It’s an interesting plot, but Peters has a style of prose that I found a little hard when it comes to staying focused. Several scenes seem to just go on and on. Of course, this novel was written about thirty-five years ago. I have read other novels in the series, and the struggles remain the same. Peters is a talented and imaginative writer. Cadfael is an intriguing enough protagonist for me to still occasionally try another installment in this series. It’s an engaging plot, but it does require an amount of concentration that is not always to maintain.

The series is successful for a reason, so I would still encourage mystery fans to not pass on this series. It does offer a glimpse into what life in England could have been like if one can sort of ignore the monk who is able to solve crimes. The story itself is pretty interesting, and Cadfael’s steady, reasonable presence may seem a little dull compared to other flashier fictional detectives, however I do enjoy his wisdom and prudence during these somewhat traumatic events occurring around his abbey.

I will likely return to Shrewsbury and visit Brother Cadfael again before too long, but my next literary journey will have author Shari Lapena introduce me to The Unwanted Guest.

Doctor Who Audio Review: Vicki Takes Another Spin In The TARDIS

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Fugitive of the Daleks is a Doctor Who audio drama from Big Finish Productions that sees Stephen Noonan doing another pretty good impression of William Hartnell’s version of the Doctor. Jonathan Morris returns as scriptwriter with Nicholas Briggs pulling double duty as director and the voice of the Daleks. Maureen O’Brien reprises the role of Vicki, who has lived as Lady Cressida in Earth’s distant past. Lauren Cornelius is also back as Dodo, who was originally portrayed by the late Jackie Lane. Ashley Cousins, Mark Elstob, Genevieve Gaunt, and Gary Turner make up the guest cast.

Vicki has lived a long, prosperous life after being left behind by the Doctor and Steven in the doomed city of Troy. She has raised a family and told tales of her previous travels in the TARDIS. She is informed that a strange blue box has appeared, and she recognizes the description. She is reunited with the Doctor who seems to be mysteriously injured and suffering from some sort of amnesia. He is restored to health on a space station with three survivors of a mysterious plague. They soon realize that the Daleks are on their trail. Vicki starts to notice some peculiar inconsistencies in the Doctor’s behavior. A mysterious presence is on board the TARDIS. Another chase has ensued, but Vicki is not sure that she can trust the Doctor as she did in times past.

Noonan’s performance echoing the vocal mannerisms of the late William Hartnell continue to improve. O’Brien is now about 80 years old and still sounds fantastic. There is a moment in the cast interviews where Nicholas Briggs assured O’Brien that she did not need to sound like an old lady even though she was playing a Vicki close to her own age. It was the right call because Briggs was right when he pointed out that many older people retained a youthful voice, and there was no need for O’Brien to sound more like an old crone. O’Brien still manages to easily slip into her “Vicki voice” and is fantastic in this release. Dodo doesn’t appear until pretty late into the story, but Cornelius doesn’t disappoint either when she finally makes her appearance.

There are some pretty good twists that offer some interesting callbacks to some of the television episodes. I am not sure that liked the final twist all that much, but I am not going to spoil that one.

My first instinct is that Morris is just echoing a little too much the television serial known as The Chase. I am a little annoyed that there is some repetition here, but there is just enough unpredictability to help me forgive it. Morris has been one of Big Finish’s most consistent and competent writers. Although I do not rate this one as a top tier contribution, it’s still pretty good.

Even if I have to work at it a bit to enjoy the First Doctor, I still appreciate Big Finish’s efforts to bring new stories to represent the era.

Film Review: A Stuntman With A Story

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The Fall Guy is another pointless re-imagining of an old television series that is made watchable by competent casting. It’s not the greatest of cinematic endeavors, but it manages to avoid dumpster fire status.

The director is David Leitch with the script provided by Drew Pearce. It’s loosely based on the 1980’s television series created by Glen A. Larson, and by “loosely” that means it’s a virtually unrecognizable to the program that starred Lee Majors. Ryan Gosling is in the lead role of Colt Seavers. Emily Blunt is the love interest here, which is an understandable casting choice. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddington, and Winston Duke are also included in the cast.

The story begins with Colt Seavers getting severely injured in a movie mishap and deciding to put pause in his stunt career. He also withdrew from his girlfriend, played by Blunt. He gets a phone call that gets him back onto the set where he has to revive the old skills after a year and a half away. When the narcissistic star of the film disappears, Colt is asked to scrounge him up and get him back to work. Instead, Colt finds a dead body and a squad of mercenaries on his heels. He wants to rekindle an old romance, but he has to resolve a little life and death situation that has fallen into his lap.

Leitch pulls out all the stops when it comes to the stunts and special effects. It’s ludicrously over the top, but Gosling and Blunt are just compelling enough to keep me interested. The complicated love story between the two lead characters is actually pretty well realized. The moment where Colt reveals why he withdrew from his girlfriend after his accident is actually kind of moving and well written. I didn’t get choked up or anything, but I was impressed with the script in that moment, and Gosling gives a pretty convincing performance.

The film is a little uneven when it comes to the overall experience. There are some genuinely funny moments, but story drags a bit at times. The plot isn’t that bad, but the craziness of the stunts and visual effects could be a little distracting. It’s another film where I enjoyed it a little more than I expected, but there was still little need for another reboot.

Book Review: The First Strike

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The Cuckoo’s Calling is a promising start in a detective series written by J.K. Rowling. Although, Rowling is writing under the pen name of Robert Galbraith, which is a pretty good pseudonym.

A supermodel’s plunge from her apartment balcony has been ruled a suicide, but her brother is not convinced. He turns private detective Cormoran Strike for some help in confirming his suspicions of foul play. Strike initially doesn’t seem up to the job considering that his personal life is coming apart at the seams after an acrimonious break-up. Strike is a disabled war veteran with a prosthetic leg, and his business has not been very fruitful. Strike is skeptical that he is going to come up with a different conclusion from the police, but he could use the money. He has a temporary assistant who ends up being more help than most. Strike also is pretty skillful investigator, so it’s not too long before he starts to wonder if his client may be onto something.

I have yet to read Rowling’s Harry Potter series, but this endeavor may encourage me to give that a shot. It’s not that the plot is all that original, but Strike ends up being a compelling enough protagonist to spark my curiosity. Strike is a pretty distinctive and disheveled figure, but his instincts and morals have not dulled since leaving the Royal Army. There is also kind of a cool chemistry depicted with his new temp worker, Robin. It took a bit of persistence for me to start to like this novel, but it gets better. Rowling may need to work on her literary hooks a little, but her talent and popularity does still appear to be well-earned.

This novel was first published in 2013, so she has continued this series quite a bit since then, and I think it will not be too far down the road before I get to the next installment.

My next port of call on the leisure reading cruise will be Ellis Peters. It has been a while since I have visited the gates of a certain medieval abbey where Brother Cadfael resides with his fellow monks, but it’s time I learned the truth of the mystery surrounding The Heretic’s Apprentice.

Film Review: Warfare Doesn’t Always Need To Be Gentlemanly

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The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is the latest action-comedy spy caper directed by Guy Ritchie and is actually quite entertaining in the typical over-the-top Ritchie style.

Ritchie co-wrote the screenplay alongside Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, and Arash Amel. Henry Cavill is in the lead as Major Gus March-Phillipps. He is joined by an impressive cast that includes Alan Ritchson, Eiza Gonzalez, Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer, Rory Kinnear, and Cary Elwes. The film is loosely based on the history surrounding a group of rogue operatives who worked secretly for Winston Churchill in efforts to disrupt Nazi activities during the Second World War.

The major and his company are sent on a mission to destroy a German supply ship docked at an island known as Fernando Po. They first have to rescue an ally who has fallen into the hands of the Nazis. They also are conspiring with a couple of spies on the island. Gonzalez plays an actress and singer named Marjorie Stewart who is assigned to seduce a Nazi commander on the island. The background is a mission known as Operation Postmaster, which apparently really happened. Of course, Ritchie took some creative liberties with the historical figures and events.

There is a lot of gratuitous violence throughout the film, but it’s pretty well choreographed and is entertaining to watch. The set designs are great. Gonzalez may be one of the most beautiful women I have seen onscreen in some time. Also, the rogue agents recruited by Churchill were great. There was some quintessential British deadpan humor that really makes this film work. I appreciated the humorous stoicism displayed by the team during the setbacks or what would be traumatic events to anyone else. Somehow, it’s almost always satisfying to watch Nazis getting mowed down with the frequency that occurs in this particular film.

I should note that Cavill’s role is apparently an inspiration for James Bond. Ian Fleming appears as a character as well and is plated by Freddie Fox.

Yes, this is a pretty ridiculous film but an enjoyable one. It also reveals another interesting historical piece of World War II that could bear some further research