Tuesday 30 December 2014

Ahriman: Sorcerer by John French (Black Library)

I return to the world of Black Library, with the latest entry in John French’s Ahriman series, Ahriman: Sorcerer, focusing on the infamous titular sorcerer of the Thousand Sons Legion.


Sunday 28 December 2014

Awards #2: The Best Books of 2014

In the second Awards post of 2014, I turn my attention to the best books to come out for this year, running down, like I have done in previous years on The Founding Fields, the Top 25 novels of this year from a variety of genres in fiction, but mainly science fiction and fantasy.


Wednesday 24 December 2014

Locke (2013)

I review Locke, a film Steven Knight and starring Tom Hardy. It was released in 2013 and is currently available to buy on DVD. 


Tuesday 23 December 2014

Awards #1: The Best TV Shows of 2014

In the first of three separate posts, I hand out my traditional ‘best of the year’ blogs to various subjects. The first of these awards goes to TV Shows, where I run down The Top 20 TV series of 2014, as well as listing my favourite actors/actresses from this year, as well as including my favourite 10 series that I started watching in this year not from 2014. So it’s essentially a big, bumper post that should give you enough television to watch over the Christmas break. Enjoy! 



Monday 22 December 2014

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

I offer my thoughts on Dallas Buyers Club, a 2013 film based on a true story starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. This drama is directed by Jean Marc-Vallée.


Sunday 21 December 2014

Hannibal Season 1 (2013)

I review the first season of NBC’s psychological horror series, Hannibal, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy and Laurence Fishburne. The first two seasons are currently available to buy on DVD, and the third premieres early 2015. 



Saturday 20 December 2014

The Martian by Andy Weir (Crown Publishing)

In today's blogpost, I look at a science fiction novel from Andy Weir, entitled The Martian, published by Crown Publishing Group, that’s currently available to buy.

Sunday 14 December 2014

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

I share my thoughts on Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, the action thriller 2014 film directed by Kenneth Branagh starring Chris Pine as Jack Ryan, with Kevin Costner and Keira Knightley.



Saturday 13 December 2014

Captain Phillips (2013)

I review Captain Phillips, a 2013 drama film directed by Paul Greengrass, which is based on a true story and stars Tom Hanks.



Thursday 11 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters of 2014 – Day #11: Team Machine (Person Of Interest)

For the penultimate day in my Advent Column, I turn my attention to the lead characters of NBC’s hit crime/science fiction drama, Person Of Interest, created by Jonathan Nolan, which is currently in its fourth season.


Wednesday 10 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters of 2014 – Day #10: The Guardians of the Galaxy

For the tenth out of the twelve days that my column is running for, I turn my attention to the group of misfits from James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, this summer’s best movie.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Picador)

I cover the brilliant, thought-provoking post-apocalyptic novel Station Eleven from Emily St. John Mandel, published by Picador in the UK and Knopf in the USA.

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters of 2014 – Day #9: Nikita & Alex (Nikita)

For the ninth day of my (now reduced to 12) Advent column looking at my favourite characters of 2014, I turn my attention to the cancelled CW series Nikita’s two main characters, the titular star Nikita (Maggie Q) and Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca).



Monday 8 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters - Day #8: Korra (The Legend of Korra)

Reduced to 12 days of December rather than the original 24, I look at the Avatar Korra from The Legend of Korra as my next choice of character from 2014. With Korra voiced by Janet Varney, the series, currently in its fourth and final season, is aired by Nickelodeon



Sunday 7 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters Day #7: Bluebird & Spoiler (Batman Eternal)

I turn my attention to two of the extended members of the Batfamily, Harper Row (Bluebird) and Stephanie Brown (Spoiler) for the next installment of my Favourite Characters of 2014. This entry also marks the start of my reduced plan to lower the limit down to 12 rather than 24 due to the fact that I want to prioritize more time for my University work.



(Note, there is no image featuring both Spoiler and Bluebird so I have just used a cover from Batman Eternal for this article)

Star Wars: Tarkin by James Luceno (Del Ray)

I share my thoughts on James Luceno’s latest Star Wars novel, Tarkin, looking at Darth Vader’s right hand man from the original trilogy. This book was published by Del Ray Books.



Saturday 6 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters – Day #6: The All New X-Factor

The team from Peter David’s fantastic All New X-Factor comic, Gambit, Polaris, Quicksilver, Danger, Cypher and Warlock make Day #6 of my Advent column.



True Detective Season 1 (2014)

I review the first season of the eight hour True Detective, HBO’s serialized crime drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.



Friday 5 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters Day #5: The 99th Precinct (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

The fifth day on my favourite characters advent column goes to the crew of the New York’s 99th Precinct, which encompasses the main characters on Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine.


Thursday 4 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters – Day #4: Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla

I switch to a new interpretation of a classic ‘character’ today for this Advent column and look at the latest take of Godzilla, the King of Monsters, from Gareth Edwards’ film that was released earlier this year and is currently out on DVD.



Wednesday 3 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters – Day #3: Nolan & Irisa (Defiance)

I focus on Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler) and Irisa (Stephanie Leonaidas), the two main protagonists of Syfy’s TV Defiance series, as we enter Day 3 of my list of favourite fictional characters.



Tuesday 2 December 2014

Meritropolis by Joel Ohman

I turn my attention to yet another young adult dystopian novel, the self-published Meritropolis by Joel Ohman.


Advent 2014: Favourite Characters – Day #2: The Mikaelson Family (The Originals)

In the second chapter of my Advent 2014 column looking at my favourite characters from 2014, I turn my attention to the Original Vampires, specifically the Mikaelson family, and specifically, within the Mikaelson family, Elijah, Klaus and Rebekah, the New Orleans-based leading stars of the CW’s The Originals, a Vampire Diaries spinoff that’s far superior to its parent show.


Monday 1 December 2014

Advent 2014: Favourite Characters - Day #1: Raylan Givens (Justified)

In the start of a new column that should run right the way up until Christmas Eve, I address my favourite fictional characters (taken from a wide variety of sources, mainly novels, television, film and comic books) from 2014 and why they’re so awesome, starting on the first day with Justified’s (FX) Raylan Givens, played by actor Timothy Olyphant.




Sunday 30 November 2014

Blog Update (30 November 2014)

I offer a glimpse of what to expect over the next month or soon this blog as well as provide the obligatory link to the New Star Wars trailer (and some awesome fanart courtesy of Legion of Potatoes on Tumblr) that seems to be cropping up pretty much everywhere lately.


Friday 28 November 2014

Fury (2014)

I share my thoughts on the World War Two tank focused drama, directed by David Ayer and starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peṅa and Jon Bernthal.



Thursday 27 November 2014

Black Sails Season 1 (2014)

I cover the first season of Starz’s ambitious pirate drama, chronicling the adventures of Captain Flint and John Silver, 20 years before the events of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island, starring Toby Stephens, Luke Arnold and more.


Sunday 23 November 2014

Nightcrawler (2014)

 I review Nightcrawler, a Dan Gilroy crime thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton and Riz Ahmed.



Saturday 22 November 2014

Interstellar (2014)

I look at Interstellar, Christopher Nolan’s latest epic starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine and Casey Affleck.



Wednesday 29 October 2014

Why You Should Be Watching... The Originals

I return with another Why You Should Be Watching... feature, looking this time at the CW’s Vampire Diaries spinoff, The Originals, that is currently in the middle of its second season. No spoilers!



Sunday 12 October 2014

The Maze Runner (2014)

I review The Maze Runner, the latest adaption of a popular young adult dystopian series, based of James Dashner’s novels and directed by Wes Ball. It stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and more.


Sunday 5 October 2014

The 100 Season 1

I review the first season of CW’s The 100, a science fiction series adapted from Kass Morgan’s novel, developed by Jason Rothenberg, starring Eliza Taylor, Bobby Morley, Thomas McDonnell, Isaiah Washington, and more.




Saturday 20 September 2014

Who Would Make A Good Supergirl in CBS' Upcoming TV Series

Inspired by the multiple blog posts that everyone seems to be writing and the recent announcement that CBS have given a series commitment to Supergirl, I thought I’d compile a reasonably realistic list of who I think would make a good choice to play Kara Zor-El on screen. Hit the break to find out my choices. Once again, these are my personal favourites, so if you’ve got someone who you believe would be a better fit, let me know in the comments section.




Sunday 14 September 2014

The Fourth Gwenevere by John James

I turn my attention to a Jo Fletcher published The Fourth Gwenevere, John James’ take on Arthurian Legend. Hit the break to find out more.



Thursday 11 September 2014

The Leftovers Season 1

I review this summer’s most depressing (but also one of its most addictive) show on TV, the first season of HBO’s The Leftovers – a dramatisation of Tom Perrotta’s standalone novel, starring Justin Theroux, Christopher Eccleston, Sarah Margaret Qualley, Carrie Coon and more. This show is created by Damon Lindelof, the man responsible for Lost – with the aid of Perrotta himself.



Tuesday 9 September 2014

The Young World by Chris Weitz (The Young World #1)

I review The Young World, the first novel in a young adult series by director Chris Weitz, published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers.



Wednesday 3 September 2014

The Skyscraper Throne #3: Our Lady of the Streets by Tom Pollock

I cover the concluding act in the young adult urban fantasy trilogy The Skyscraper Throne, entitled Our Lady of the Streets, published by Jo Fletcher Books. For details about why I've started covering book reviews on this blog, hit the break for more information.



Tuesday 12 August 2014

The Bourne Identity (2002)

I review the first Jason Bourne film, The Bourne Identity, a conspiracy thriller film starring Matt Damon and Franka Potente, directed by Doug Liman and adapted from Robert Ludlum's novels. 


Monday 11 August 2014

Dominion Season 1

I turn my attention to the first season of the biblical-inspired post apocalyptic drama Dominion, which recently wrapped up its first season on Syfy, based on the movie Legion – starring Christopher Egan, Tom Wisdom, Roxanne McKee and Anthony Head.



Sunday 10 August 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

I review Guardians of the Galaxy, the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Batista, Lee Pace, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.


Thursday 7 August 2014

Halt and Catch Fire Season 1

I review the first season of AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire, a 1980s period drama starring Lee Pace, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Toby Huss and Kerry Bishe.

Wednesday 30 July 2014

LEGO Marvel Superheroes

I review 2013's LEGO Marvel Superheroes, a fun game developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.



Sunday 20 July 2014

Transcendence (2014)

I share my thoughts on Transcendence, the first movie directed by Wally Pfister, Christopher Nolan’s cinematographer on the Dark Knight Trilogy, starring Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy and Kate Mara.



Wednesday 16 July 2014

Why You Should Be Watching... Person of Interest

I’m currently making my way through the third season of Person of Interest at the moment, and have to say that it’s arguably the best show currently on television right now. Hit the break to find out just why I love this show – and as this post is designed to get newcomers onto the series, there are virtually no spoilers.




24: Live Another Day

I review 24: Live Another Day, the ninth season of thriller TV series 24, a limited event starring Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Yvonne Strahovski, Kim Raver and William Devane.



Sunday 13 July 2014

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

I review Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the first film in the rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise, directed by Rupert Wyatt and starring Andy Serkis, James Franco and Freida Pinto.


Saturday 5 July 2014

Penny Dreadful Season 1

I share my thoughts on the first season of Penny Dreadful, a gothic horror eight-episode Showtime series created by John Logan, and starring Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Billie Piper, Harry Treadaway & Reeve Carney.