Review: The Girl with all the gifts

It's quite difficult to talk about the Girl without spoiling the book and film, but I'll do my best to skirt around her true nature.  Suffice to say that when the realisation finally comes, it's one of the most satisfying elements of the novel - and brings a streak of originality to what is an overly populated sub-genre of science fiction.

Many elements of this road trip novel have been done before, but rarely with such humanity. The Girl, Melanie has distinctive perspective.

Appreciated the attempt at plausible science as well as the conflict between the scientific method, the good of humanity and the rights of the individual. It got me wandering down ethical avenues as diverse as people with dementia and the anti-vaxxers.

While not deeply drawn characters, each of the main humans were certainly very recognisable.  One of the key elements of a road trip (beyond putting odd balls together) is that of personal growth and greater understanding of each other.  I don't know that's its entirely realised that beyond the Parks-Melanie relationship.

The movie
After finishing the book, Amazon Prime delivered up a gift of its own in the form of a movie based on the book and written by the same author.

It's a simpler story, of course, and also lacks the shifts in mind's eye view that are characteristic of the original narrative.  But Close and Arterton, near devoid of makeup, anchor the film with two very different views about what to do about Melanie. Some scenes such as our gang's progress through a crowd are more claustrophobic and intense than book suggests and all of the better for it.

Only the wisely and sparsely used computer graphics betray its low budget.

Verdict: Both movie and book are worth your time if your taste in science fiction tends towards the dystopian.

Review: Centurion

Tautly told rescue-release-chase movie set in Roman occupied England era with a lengthy excursion across the border.  A good sprinkling of character actors like West, Fassbinder and Kurylenko and often grimly weather beaten location filming keep what could be ludicrous grounded in  reality.  Finally, there is brutality aplenty for the gore hounds out there.

Verdict: Entertaining and with a certain spartan beauty. 

Review: The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth

In my twenties, I adored Boyd's work. It seemed to hit the perfect mark between the worldly, romantic, and distinctly human while often bringing to life locations and periods of history I'd rarely encountered. Somewhere along the line  in the late 2000s, his newer works and I fell out of love with each other.

So having randomly discovered The Dreams of Bethany Mellmouth on the returns shelf of my local library, I decided to give him another go.

Boyd was never at his strongest in short story format - and so it is with this collection.   It's the disparate range of well drawn characters which is probably most satisfying and there's the dark comedic vibe from Tales of the Unexpected in some of the plots.  The title story, taking up half of the book as is it does, is closer to a novella than a short story and probably not the one I'd have chosen to expand upon.

Verdict: Boyd's melancholia and eye for character remains satisfying, but this collection is not his best work.

Review: Urbanized

I rather enjoyed this documentary romp through some of the more interesting projects being undertaken around the world's cities.   From memory, and it's been a few weeks since I watched it now - but projects in South America, North America, Germany and even Brighton in the UK are covered.

I particularly liked putting visuals to projects I'd only heard about before eg those of half built housing which enables their occupiers to finish them at their own pace and priorities.  And I loved seeing planners and architects in one city put cycling and public transport ahead of the car - on the grounds that more more people used them.


Verdict: Although thematically lacking, this surfaces some interesting stories.

Review: Unknown

Taken has a lot to answer for. Without it, I doubt we'd see quite as much of Neeson striding across our screens as a not-quite everyman trying to puzzle his way through a succession of action thrillers. Unknown is perhaps better than most as it see the big fella try to figure out why his identity has been stolen or has it?

This euro-thriller feels distinctly Hitchcockian (although thankfully faster paced) with its many twists, turns and gasp worthy reveals. Neeson does a sturdy job as always while Jones, Ganz and Langella provide unconventionally cast but equally acceptable support.

Verdict: A good popcorn chomper.

Review: Green Book

Satisfying and worthy Oscar winning road trip which is a near perfect execution of the formula. Not only highly entertaining, but also well judged on the education side of things.  Mortensen and Ali perfectly capture two very different people who are thrown together and slowly gain an appreciation of each other's finer qualities while being personally transformed.

The attention to period detail is wonderful on multiple layers. From street furniture to dialogue and appalling racism I felt completely immersed in the era.  Warning, you may feel rather hungry as you watch large Italian-American families and Tony Lip devour their way through some gargantuan portions of 60s grub.

Verdict: Spot-on Sunday viewing

Review: The Energy Plan

Collins' book helpfully adapts what has worked for athletes and other sports people to us ordinary mortals. In truth there wasn't much that was new here, but if you've never considered the impact diet and exercise can make on your life and want a relatively no-fuss way of taking your first steps.

I did like his approach to measuring portions - a mixture of handfuls, cupped hands and thumbs as well as his refusal to consider calories (simply noting that overdosing on healthy foods can still make you fatter). The notion of tailoring meal composition to what you've been doing activity wise was good too.

Collins' is an informed sceptic on supplementation and probably of most use to me was the chapter on ageing (and the necessity to adapt your plan to differing needs and activity levels).

Verdict: Food for thought.