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Action, Historical, Military, Reviews

The Patriot (2000 film)- a Review

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Success can be a curse sometimes. In creative endeavors, a tremendous success can overshadow subsequent artistic accomplishments. Within Christendom, Mel Gibson may be most frequently associated with The Passion of the Christ.  In the secular world, however, his zenith of success (as both director and actor) was Braveheart in 1995. It was such a blockbuster that a following tour de force, 2000’s The Patriot, is often wrongly compared to it, and unjustly slept on.

Although the two films share at least one theme, The Patriot is its own movie and was not intended to resemble Braveheart.

I had opportunity to re-watch The Patriot recently and was struck first by what a masterpiece of filmmaking it is. After that, what most surprised me was how much it enthralls today’s younger generations. Homelanders, who are hard to convince that anything which occurred before acquiring their first smart device could possibly be important, assume the American War of Independence took place in 1976 and the Civil War involved Martin Luther King. But this movie resonates with them, and it’s possible they might just learn something about America’s history from watching it.

DIRECTION/ACTING:

Director Roland Emmerich previously enjoyed summer blockbuster success with the alien invasion flick Independence Day. In this production,  he did not tweak Robert Rodat’s screenplay, which was the right call.

Emmerich coaxed believable and nuanced performances out of most of the cast. One exception was Lisa Brenner as Anne Howard (Gabriel’s love interest). I don’t know what else she’s done or how well she did it, but for whatever reason her delivery just doesn’t strike me as invested or believable. Gibson and Heath Ledger (playing his oldest son, Gabriel) however, are dynamite in their respective roles. Ledger, especially, excels in the scenes calling for understated performances.

The opening sequence is perhaps oversold. We know Benjamin Martin’s (Gibson) sons are excited to receive mail, but it smells like the director and cast getting high on their own supply–which can be a pitfall for any group inside a creative bubble.

The film score is not catchy or especially memorable, but is competent and adequate, accentuating suspense and action scenes just as much by what it doesn’t do as by what it does. Emotional scenes are where it is most obvious, walking the line between powerful and sappy.

THEMES:

What this film shares with Braveheart, thematically, is the desire for freedom. In both films it remains mostly an abstract concept. In The Patriot, the importance of freedom is accentuated by the lack thereof, depicted in the abuse of power by William Tavington (Jason Isaacs), commander of “the Green Dragoons.”

Tavington murders prisoners of war, terrorizes civilians by burning down their homes, and forcefully conscripts freedmen into His Majesty’s service. Put another way, he represents a system that doesn’t recognize natural rights to life, liberty or property.

Whatever his moral failures, at least Tavington knows the right hand/arm signal for “halt.”

Similarly, the yearning for liberty manifests by implication through the character of Occam (Jay Arlen Jones), a slave who is sent to fight in his owner’s stead. There are no scenes of his life as a slave or his treatment, but all Americans have grown up hearing the stories and there really is no need to rehash the injustice of human beings treated as beasts of burden to be bought, sold, and “owned.”

At one point, Gabriel follows his father into a Rebel encampment and finds an abandoned American flag on the ground. It is faded, tattered, torn and threadbare–much like our republic (for which it stands) currently is. Gabriel picks it up. An exhausted, cynical fellow American tells Gabriel, “It’s a lost cause.”

This is a double (perhaps triple or quadruple) entendre. That sentiment surely was present during our country’s fight for independence, after a string of defeats against the world’s most powerful empire. It is also in sync with the “black pill” sentiment of today, as we are on the brink of losing our American birthright forever. Is freedom worth fighting for, even when the odds look impossible? When it looks like a lost cause?

In one of those understated, nuanced performances I mentioned before, Gabriel stubbornly keeps the flag and tucks it into his satchel, to be repaired, turning his back to his black-pilling countryman.

In subsequent scenes, during downtime in bivouac, Gabriel faithfully works to repair the flag. In one notable such scene, Gabriel has a brief conversation with Occam. “People call this the New World; but it’s really the same as the old one,” opines Gabriel. But they’ve got a chance to build a new world, he continues–a world where a man’s rights are protected regardless of who his parents or ancestors are. His rights are recognized simply because he was endowed them by our Creator. And while he pontificates on his vision for a new world where freedom is the rule (not the exception) the camera moves in close on Gabriel’s hands sewing that tattered flag back together.

Later, Benjamin finds the flag his son had repaired. Benjamin was forced to join the conflict. He fights for revenge and for what’s left of his family. Gabriel, however, fights for the cause (independence and freedom). Benjamin will later proclaim that his son was the better man.

Late in the film, having made peace with the French military advisor who served as something of a minor antagonist for most of the movie, Benjamin signifies their new frendship by exclaiming, “Vive le France!”

Major Jean Villeneuve (Tchéky Karyo) responds by reminding Benjamin what the struggle for independence (and America itself) is all about: “Vive la liberté!”

When Benjamin rides out to join the American force marching to meat the British for the climactic battle, he flies the flag that his son restored. The Rebels cheer. Benjamin has transformed from a farmer fighting for personal (perhaps selfish) and immediate motives, into a patriot. He now fights for the Cause, so his countrymen and progeny will enjoy the blessings of liberty long after he is gone.

It’s doubtful that screenwriter Rodat had studied generational theory, but The Patriot is in harmony with it nonetheless.

The American War of Independence was our republic’s first fourth turning–the historical winter season of the saeculum. The Nomads serve as the tough, brutal field commanders who lead the young, collegial Heroes into battle, and to victory.

Benjamin Martin would have been from the Liberty Generation (Nomad archetype). He cut his teeth in the French & Indian War (as did George Washington), and carries even to the film’s present day a suppressed savagery to rival that of the Native warriors he fought both alongside and against. This is symbolized by the Cherokee tomahawk he has kept hidden away in his old war chest. When he joins the fight against the British, he digs the tomahawk out of storage and proves that he still knows how to use it with deadly expertise, despite not wanting to.

Son Gabriel is Republican Generation (Hero archetype) and demonstrates his cohort’s peer personality perfectly. He is confident, optimistic, a team player, altruistic, self-sacrificial, eager to marry and start his own family.

Gabriel may not appreciate enough what a barbaric business war is, but his younger brothers are even more naive. Thomas’ pastime is painting lead figurines of soldiers, fears that the war may be over before he is old enough to fight in it, and breaks into his father’s war chest to examine the souvenirs. He poses in front of the mirror wearing his father’s old uniform jacket, with the aforementioned tomahawk. Thomas will learn the hard way that war is not a game and there’s nothing romantic about it.

CHARACTERS:

Benjamin Martin is a reluctant hero from the classic mold, but with no small measure of tragedy in his life both before and during the story. A widowed farmer with seven children, he aspires to build furniture and forget the violence of his past. He both witnessed and committed atrocities fighting on the British side in the French & Indian War. He wants to avoid war at any cost not just to protect his family, but because he fears the bloodthirsty savage within himself, which awakens in the heat of battle. It makes sense why, in this “hero’s journey,” he rejects the first “call to adventure.”

Gabriel Martin has a lot of his dead mother’s personality in him, we are told. Like his mother, presumably, he serves as the voice of conscience to counterbalance the wild, barbaric warrior side of his father. He is the Robin to Benjamin’s Batman–a calming influence that motivates Benjamin to be a better example, to remind him of what he should and should not be fighting for (the Cause, or revenge?) and that good men are as quick to show mercy as they are to rage against injustice.

Aunt Charlotte is a little undeveloped. Sister of Benjamin’s dead wife, he and she have feelings for each other, but it’s handled so subtly that when their passions come to the surface, it seems almost that the romance came out of nowhere.

Major Villeneuve is technically an ally; but there is bad blood between him and Benjamin. In the last war they fought on opposite sides. Benjamin is infamous for an atrocity he committed against the French at Fort Wilderness. A personal vendetta against the British is what drives Villeneuve in this war. He and Benjamin have similar motives for fighting this war, but that alone is not enough for them to bury the hatchet (no pun intended).

William Tavington comes from an esteemed British noble family, but his father squandered his inheritance. So Tavington’s career, reputation, and future rest solely upon his victories in battle. This is offered as the excuse for his brutal war crimes. As in many epic tales, this villain is like a dark reflection of the hero. Benjamin Martin may have turned out identical to William Tavington, without the civilizing influence of his wife and children.

General Cornwallis is portrayed as a preening military genius, whose pride is his downfall. He knows better than to do and allow what he does, but his ego clouds his judgment. Otherwise, he could have been a civilizing influence on Tavington and, so far as this narrative goes, dealt Washington and the Continental Army a decisive defeat.

I’m commenting on Dan Scott (Donal Logue) and Occam together because they represent the duality of young America. Occam stands in for one of our founding principles: that all men are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, to include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Dan Scott only agrees to fight for the Cause after being shamed into it by Anne Howard; but clings to his prejudice against Occam. He is offended to be serving with a slave, distrusts him, and views Occam, at best, as a target for ridicule.

“What in the hell you gonna do with freedom?” Scott sneers at Occam at one point, implying he’s too stupid (maybe even subhuman) to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The discrepancy these two characters signify is not a trivial skeleton in the American closet. Just one saeculum after our War of Independence (IOW the next fourth turning) over half million Americans would die fighting each other to resolve the contradiction.

Dan Scott, who begins the story as one of the least admirable men, has the most distinct character arc (next to the protagonist himself).

These two characters star in a subplot that is poignant and touching, even after all the race hustling and identity politics that unraveled what racial harmony America once enjoyed. That unraveling started just eight years after the release of this film, though today it seems to have been going on forever.

HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Speaking of slavery and race relations…

The War of Independence erupted in Massachusetts. After Lexington and Concord, other northern colonies joined with them. But even with all 13 colonies fighting, it was still an unlikely long shot against the world’s greatest empire. It might have been impossible without the southern colonies.

The leadership of those southern colonies were not willing to give up their slaves. A compromise was reached: the southern colonies would join in the War for Independence, if they were allowed to pass and follow their own laws as states in the Union–including laws regarding the institution of slavery.

South Carolina was one of those southern colonies, and where The Patriot is set. In an early scene, Benjamin Martin takes his family to Charleston, SC, where an assembly has been called. Eight colonies have already joined the rebellion against the British Empire. Patriots and loyalists gather to debate as to whether South Carolina will be the ninth.

Once all arguments are heard, the South Carolina assembly votes for a levy to form a Continental Army–in effect, a declaration of war.

Benjamin Martin eventually becomes a brevet colonel of volunteers. Both the strengths and weaknesses of militia fighting against a force of professional soldiers is highlighted throughout the movie. The Minutemen perform well under fire when using guerrilla tactics. But they and the Continentals get their teeth kicked in when they meet British regulars in the open field fighting in mass formations, European-style.

Benjamin Martin is loosely based on “the Swamp Fox,” Francis Marion, plus other Americans who fought the British. But spergs can pick this film apart for the creative license taken with historical facts.

What historical movie could not be picked apart for its inaccuracies?

IN CONCLUSION:

Realism (or lack thereof) notwithstanding, The Patriot is a brilliant film. It might piss off British apologists/anglophiles/modern day British loyalists, but its overall message and supporting themes speak to the heart of an American. Including young Americans.

It’s been long enough that Braveheart no longer casts such a long shadow. With the MAGA movement uniting people across multiple demographic demarcations, now may be the perfect time to rediscover this film and let it shine.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Today, the Black Friday Based Book Sale begins. My novel Tier Zero will be discounted to 99 cents for the sale  at Amazon and all other  E-Book stores. I’m probably crazy for doing this, but my entire Paradox Series, assembled in a digital “box set,” will also be on sale for 99 cents. Pick up your copy and relax with some great reads for Thanksgiving weekend!

Action, Reviews, Sci-Fi

Lucid Reality by M.D. Boncher – a Review

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LUCID REALITY: Tales from the Dream Nebula Book 2 by M. D. Boncher

Reviewed by

As promised in the previous review (Dreams within Dreams), I was so pleasantly surprised with the writing in this series of the Tales from the Dream Nebula that a review of volume 2 was unavoidable!

Boncher is a skilled plot creator; he possesses such an acute sense of when to push the envelope and when to slow things down, that at no point do we feel as though we’ve gotten enough of these adventures in the Dream!

What impresses me most is that even within the confines of this fun-loving, action-packed genre, Boncher still manages to display some mighty fine prose. His writing just jumps off the pages with life and color not typical of your average indie pulp novel.

PLOT:

I won’t waste too much time in explaining the plot of Lucid Reality since it picks up where Book 1 left off, so I encourage you to pick up Book 1 first. It’s worth it!

After barely escaping  with their lives, we find Winston and crew seeking asylum on Nova Tortuga, where Commodore Robert welcomes them with open arms.

What happens here is something not typical of the pulp genre, which is to keep the main character ‘offline’ for a determined amount of time while other characters will move the plot forward. Other than Boncher, the only other current pulp writer I know of using this approach is Robert Victor Mills in Man of Swords.

Keeping the MC offline creates a number of interesting circumstances that the reader usually would not expect. And so, for the entire first act of Book 2, Winston lays unconscious while the story follows the actions of other significant characters like Mother, an AI being who will prove crucial in the plot development.

A FEW ISSUES?

I don’t mean to sound too picky but it’s always important to highlight minor issues even in an awesome book such as LR:

  1. The scene where the Sierra Madre is approaching Nova Tortuga felt dragged and a little too prolonged in its description
  2. Conversely, the scene of the big trial before the mighty Emperor Xiao felt like a lost opportunity to create the type of tension that would highlight the eloquence and wits of both the plaintiff and the defense, thus making the final verdict much more emotionally satisfying for readers.
  3. I noticed some euphemisms that just felt misplaced, given the context. The most noticeable one was when Winston said: “Like watching your favorite horse be put down in her prime”. This comment just didn’t resonate well with me considering what type of man Winston is. I highly doubt he would know a thing about owning horses… Again, not a deal breaker but worth mentioning.

CONCLUSIONS:

When I reached the last page of Lucid Reality, I asked myself if I was left wanting to read Book 3, and my answer was a very loud and clear YES! What Boncher manages to accomplish is creating a narrative that is fresh, innovative, and original. Yes it does come with a few quirks and a few missed opportunities, but the stakes that have been raised are compelling to say the least.

Buy Book 1 and 2 as they are both INFAMOUS🦀REVIEWER recommended and keep an eye open for the upcoming review of Book 3: The Waking Nightmares.

Support our indie writers… at least the good ones!

🦀

Action, Adventure, Alternate HIstory, Reviews, Sci-Fi, Socio-Sexual Studies, Speculative, Sports, Time Travel

Paradox 1: Escaping Fate by Henry Brown

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Paradox 1: Escaping Fate by Henry Brown

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I don’t like time travel tropes. The whole concept of time traveling usually ends up giving me a headache. But I’d be a liar if I said there were NO works of fiction out there (based on time-traveling) that I didn’t end up loving over the years. The biggest example of this is Wild Stars by legendary Michael Tierney!

 

A new series can now be added to my collection of rare favorite time travel-based pulp novels: PARADOX, written by none other than your Virtual Pulp editor-in-chief Henry Brown!

Escaping Fate covers the entire first volume of Paradox, and this is where we are introduced to our main characters–Peter and Uncle Si–in their present circumstances. But before we discuss those in more detail, it’s important to see that this story is comprised of THREE fundamental layers which work together to produce what I believe is a new cultural dimension of Americana:

  • Socio-cultural
  • Developmental
  • Fictional

Socio-cultural: the story is not just a fun and exciting adventure, but it is a mirror of the social and cultural aspects of humans–specifically in the US. The time traveling tech here offers an eye-opening lesson on how and why humans behave the way they do, and from one generation to the next. Why were people in the 1950s, for example, so much different in behavior, likes, dislikes, interests, and ambitions from our contemporaries? Or why was a family able to sustain itself on a single income? These and other complex socio-cultural questions are intelligently tackled in the pages of EF.

 

Developmental: Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, Rocky and Mickey, Neo and Morpheus. What all these iconic duos have in common is that they all show a very special teacher/student relationship, with the student going through a developmental journey which otherwise would have never taken place. Similarly, young Peter literally goes through his own transformation/maturing via the teaching of Uncle Si. The image of the mentor not only supervising the student but caring for him and nurturing him is here on display and THAT is where for me the story really sets itself apart!

 

Fictional: the time travel technology, the rigged vehicles and airplanes, the ‘invisibility’ raincoats, are all showcased here in all their glory. This is the sci-fi element of the story. If you like to read about cool toys, there’s plenty to spare here!

PLOT:

Without giving too much away, Peter is a kid of age 12-13(?) raised by a single mom in 1988(?) St. Louis. Living in a shabby trailer with mom, barely making ends meet is a constant toll on Peter’s psyche. The health of a child is strictly connected to the health and cohesiveness of his family. Eating stale buns is the norm for Peter. Not having friends other than his dog is just one of the many results of his present situation.

But circumstances suddenly turn around with the arrival of enigmatic Uncle Si into Peter’s life. Uncle Si takes Peter under his wing to teach him how to basically stand for himself and become a man. When a group of futuristic hitmen attack his trailer–taking the lives of both his mom and step-brother–Uncle Si rescues Peter and enlightens him on his true identity as a time travel bandit.

Peter and Uncle Si will visit several time periods together, and each trip will prove a teaching lesson for the youngster.

CONCLUSIONS:

I think that this book should be read less as a sci-fi novel and more as a source of reflection upon the history of the US and the West, and understand what elements have played a role and continue to play a role in the quality of life that is considered the norm. If you lean left you’d probably be skeptical of some of its content, and that’s OK too. But in my humble opinion this is a pillar of US fiction literature and families should read this together and have a conversation about it.

The refreshing thing about ESCAPING FATE is that the author understands that portraying people from a different era is not just about putting them in period clothes. Their cognitive processes were developed during entirely different circumstances than ours. Their attitudes and tendencies are going to be different from ours. This is something that a big majority of modern writers fail to grasp or refuse to acknowledge.

My only issue was that the ending of Book 1 felt very incomplete. Readers won’t feel a sense of fulfillment UNLESS they read Book 2 next. That’s fine, but like I always say: if you expect readers to PAY for your book, you have to offer some sense of fulfillment by the time they get to the last page. Can you read Book 1 by itself and get some degree of fulfillment? Or does it leave you hanging like you just bought ⅙ of the entire book?

My advice? By all 6 volumes together! 

🦀

Editor’s note: A “box set” of all six E-Books in the series is forthcoming.

UPDATE 1: The Box Set for Apple, Kobo, B&N, and other non-Amazon sites, is available for pre-order.

UPDATE 2: The Box Set is now available on Amazon.

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Reviews, Sci-Fi

Velin: The Rifle’s Song by Black Knight

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Velin – The Lothorian: The Rifle’s Song by Black Knight

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When I first picked up and started reading The Rifle’s Song, which consists of Book 1 of Velin The Lothorian, I couldn’t help but get Star Wars vibes with a ‘Conan the Barbarian” type of main character. This is probably due to the blend of sci-fi and classic fantasy/action that we get to read starting on page 1 and all throughout this book. The author  unsurprisingly credits R. E. Howard’s Conan The Barbarian for his inspiration of this character.

But the comparison to Howard’s classic hero ends right there at the surface.

 

CONAN/VELIN:

The son of farmers in a distant world, Velin grew up learning hard work and how to farm land from his father. After his mother’s death due to illness, at the age of 8 a gang of slavers attacks his village, killing his father in the process and taking young Velin as a slave for hard labor.

And just like Conan, the following years of hard labor and harsh conditions will forge him and prepare him to become the unique warrior he’s destined to become.

After years of captivity Velin earns his freedom by sheer will, acute killer instincts, and physical prowess. When he is taken up by a group of Terran samurais called the ‘Terr’aan Knightly Order’- dedicating their lives to fighting slavery and injustices across the universe-Velin masters the fine arts of combat, thus becoming the perfect killing machine to fight evil and protect the weak.

 

NOBLE INTENTIONS/WEAK EXECUTION: 

Let me emphasize the indisputable fact that the author known as Black Knight is truly an outstanding human being with a noble heart. He understands the concepts of good and evil, of chivalry, of the pure and selfless hero. However where I feel he falls short is in putting it all together, for different reason:

  1. Character Development: all the characters we encounter in this story feel like they need more fleshing out. We know the basic facts about them but they are all very one-dimensional and they function only on one gear.

For example:

“He sought to draw strength not from his bleeding, scorched body, but the hallowed Terr’aan railgun instead.”

I thought it was awkward to have the main character draw strength not from his mother or father, or even his mentors, but from an object, his railgun (??)

2. Prose: I know English is the author’s third language but when we decide to put our book on the market for a price, we should ensure that the editing/proof reading is up to standards. The writer has this tendency to always put the subject last in a sentence which creates awkward structure overall.

          Example:

“Gargling, the dying, terrified beyond measure road bandit, raised his hand.”

 Also there are some word choices that the author overuses like olden instead of ancient, or nigh instead of near, or ‘twas instead of was. 

I understand that indie authors for the most part work a day job and professional editing costs money, but if we feel readers should PAY to read our books, competent editing and presentation are essential.

CONCLUSIONS: 

This is a book very well suited for younger readers who enjoy comic books and are perhaps only now finding out about the beauty of long-format fiction. Children of 10 years and older would absolutely love it. This would make a great gift to those youngsters that we want to introduce to classic pulp. 

I know Black Knight has a big following online who seem to genuinely love his work, so don’t let this review dissuade you from at least sampling his pulp novel.

🦀

Editor’s note: Make sure to stop by the Based Book Sale and find yourself some great reads!

Action, Fantasy, Reviews

The Thief of Eyes by Robert Victor Mills

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Part 6 of a 6-Part Review Series by

“Rhoye grabbed the hideous thing by the scalp, pressing it to the tabletop, whereupon Astropho, grimacing as he did so, dug his fingertips into its eyesocket to pry out its eyeball.”

 

This installment marks the last tale in The Girl with the Fire in Her Hair by Robert Mills. It’s been a great ride and once again Mills, if anything, delighted us with a blend of exquisite prose and classic adventures all throughout the book.

 

PLOT: 

Rhoye and Astropho take it upon themselves to go visit the small town of Augwick, where most of the men have gone missing under strange circumstances. We will learn of how Haralfe, former apprentice of the Loyal Guild of Merchant Magi at the city of Galdurburgh, has become a powerful golenmaster with a corrupt soul and how our heroes, with the help of the local townsfolk, will have to defeat him in order to bring back normalcy to Augwick.

This story will not only exalt the courage and prowess of Rhoye and best friend, but also that of the local residents, ordinary folks placed in extraordinary circumstances.

 

PLAYING IT TOO SAFE?

This is a very fun and entertaining story, BUT I felt that coming from Mr. Mills, it played out too much on the safe side, feeling a bit too ‘formulaic’ at times in its plot development. I know what the author is capable of writing, so perhaps I’m holding him up to higher standards than the average fantasy writer, but this was a point that must be mentioned.

The most positive comment I can give is in regards to how we see all throughout the story an active involvement of ordinary people in extinguishing the evil of the land. Usually in these tropes the hero does all the work, in fact he often warns ordinary folk to get out of the way and stay home. But here there would be no good ending if it wasn’t for a joint effort from all parties involved. Even the small deeds performed by ordinary men and women CAN make a difference!

 

CONCLUSION:

As we wrap up this 6-part series the question instinctively rises: is The Girl with the Fire in Her Hair a better overall collection than Man of Swords?

My answer is NO. And this is not a knock on this latest collection or the author at all. But if we want to be objective, Man of Swords set the bar very high and by comparison, The Girl feels more average, and though remaining a fun read on its own, it is not the best we’ve seen.

The stories unfold within a safer ‘formulaic’ fantasy format more commonly seen in current fiction writing. What distinguishes it is certainly the exquisite prose, and the fact that Mills knows how to put together good action scenes.

Having said all that, I still must recommend this collection to all of you who still care about compelling characters and fantasy realms where it is still possible to escape for a few hours!

🦀

Action, Adventure, Historical, Reviews

The Mark of Zorro – A Review

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(1940 Film)

 

I saw this movie on TV as a very young boy and remembered very little about it. I rewatched it recently and, despite its flaws, it is more relevant than ever.

The Universal Scenario:

I don’t know about the recent Zorro productions (for all I know they gender-swapped the character and made the masked kickass grrrlboss fight against “white supremacy” or something–I’m not gonna bother finding out), but otherwise, all the incarnations have a similar backdrop: a tyrannical military-political complex has institutionalized injustice and oppresses both the peons and caballeros alike. Crushing taxes are the usual instrument of oppression, but just as with today’s IRS, the Alcalde of Los Angeles has enough armed goons to murder or imprison anybody who doesn’t bend the knee.

Don Diego de la Vega, son of Alejandro de la Vega, has been sent away to a military academy in Spain where he grew from a boy to a young man–and also the top cadet in his class thanks to his swordsmanship and horsemanship. He gets a letter from his father which compels him to quit the academy before graduation and return to California immediately. He is chapped about not getting his commission, but obeys his father and bids his fellow cadets goodbye.

It isn’t until he reaches California that the reason for his father’s urgent message becomes clear: Don Alejandro has been forced into retirement as Alcalde, and replaced by a cruel, corrupt tyrant. Don Diego grieves for his people. Then when somebody (a priest or monk in some versions) expresses their desire for an avenging angel to intervene, he is inspired. He will disguise himself as El Zorro (the Fox) to play Robin Hood in Los Angeles. The corrupt government will be unable to retaliate against his family, because his true identity is kept secret.

Characters in this Version:

Linda Darnell plays love interest Lolita Quintero, niece of the new Alcalde, who rankles at the injustice her uncle causes. Darnell is one of the quiet beauties of that era, and a good choice for the part.

Linda Darnell and Tyrone Power.

Actor Eugene Pallette reprises his role of Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood, only now he is called Fray Felipe and he’s in Los Angeles instead of Nottingham. And he doesn’t fight with a quarter staff. But I think he might wear the same costume.

J. Edward Bromberg plays the new Alcalde as a weak, cowardly Prince John Type. He’s like a mixture of Tim Walz and a less demented Joe Biden–but just as much of a tool. However, he’s not a complete fool.

Capitan Esteban Pasquale is the Alcalde’s egomaniacal muscle, who is really running the show through the petty politician, who he intimidates into compliance. Basil Rathbone really broke his foot off in this role–and with minimal screen time.

Tyrone Power does well as the swashbuckling Zorro, but is perhaps too convincing as the effeminate fop Don Diego pretends to be so as to avoid anyone suspecting him as the masked outlaw.

Character Folly:

Can’t really blame Tyrone Power for this, as I doubt he wrote the script, but he’s a little too foolish to be in the resistance business. It reminds me of the unmasking-in-public fetish so prevalent in the Marvel movies. Within days of donning the guise of the Fox, he begins revealing his secret to everyone but his father (who buys into his son’s metrosexual facade and is ashamed).

First Friar Tuck Fray Felipe is read in on Operation Zorro.

Then Lolita. Simply brilliant, Don Diego. After all, she’s beautiful, which of course means she is morally pure and will be faithful to you until the end of time. Not only that, women never gossip or reveal secrets. At least special women, which you are convinced of beyond any doubt after spending maybe a cumulative hour within her presence.

Don Diego blows his cover spectacularly.

But that’s not nearly careless enough. Don Diego has to pull all the stops out to spread his folly wider and farther. He intentionally blows his cover to Capitan Pasquale and the Alcalde. He kills the former in a sword fight, so I guess that loose end is tied up. But the latter has him arrested and jailed. Great plan, Don Diego.

Zorro Through the Ages:

Tyrone Power was pretty adroit for the role. There are some nice action sequences in The Mark of Zorro  to keep you entertained, but this movie doesn’t hold up as well as I’d hoped.

But then, not many do. I watched the original silent version with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. It proved my attention span has dwindled along with my hearing since I was a young man.

There was a Zorro movie from Spain (or was it Italy?) that made the rounds on network TV back in the day that I enjoyed as a child (“Here’s to being free/Here’s to you and me/La la la la la el Zorro’s back!”) but wasn’t much impressed by when I found it at a public library and watched as an adult.

Out of all the actors who’ve played Zorro over the years, it’s actually Guy Williams I like the best. That’s right–I’m referring to the old Disney series. Williams’ Don Diego was more of a troubadour than a dandy, but he was both believable and admirable in the role. As Zorro, he buckles a swash with the best of them.

Another mark in Disney’s favor is that, though many tried to discover Zorro’s true identity and some came close, Williams’ Don Diego didn’t spill the beans to anybody but his father and their mute servant. In other words, close, trustworthy allies.

What Disney did (back before being handed over to a depraved mind) was preserve the character’s utility for future adventures.

The typical formula (with Zorro’s identity becoming known to all by the end of the story) could be remade, but sequels weren’t much of an option after the public unmasking.

 

CONCLUSION

Zorro is a fantastic character just dying for a mythic treatment. Maybe that’s what some film makers were shooting for. Nobody has quite pulled it off to the extent that would satisfy me as a fan.

 

Action, Reviews, Sci-Fi

Onslaught by Bowen Greenwood

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An Exile War Novel –  Book 1

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As I write this review, we’re in the middle of the summer in sunny Florida, which is also a time when numerous ‘popcorn flicks’ get released. But you know what’s even better than a fun, action-packed movie? A fun, action-packed novel! And coincidentally, Onslaught is one of those novels that beg to be movies on the big screen!!

 

FIRST IMPRESSION:

Upon reading Onslaught, the first impression I got was that this book reads like a screenplay of a mid-1990s action movie. Its dynamics, action sequences, love entanglements, attractive male and female protagonists, and simple plot all reminded me of that film era when movies had primarily one object: to entertain audiences.

And this book absolutely entertains its readers, beginning to end, despite some flaws which will be discussed further in this review.

 

GENRE:

We could label this story as sci-fi but to me it felt more like ‘action with a sci-fi flavor’. The author doesn’t delve too much into the minutiae of this futuristic world as it would be the case in classic hard sci-fi, but rather focuses primarily on thrilling action with a sci-fi backdrop. Again, this feels a lot like the sci-fi element is more secondary or textural, in this instance.

 

PLOT:

We learn that in this advanced society some individuals are born with telepathic powers which, if not kept in check, could be dangerous to humanity. A league called the Gentle Hand is created to train telepaths and put them to good use for society. Our main character, Langston Wheeler, belongs to the Hand and he is tasked with finding and subduing a dangerous ‘rogue telepath’. When his fate and that of Executive Tia Dynn cross, that’s when the real fireworks begin! 

Suddenly Lang finds himself torn between fulfilling his duty as a Gentle Hand and following his heart. When a social gathering is crashed by the rogue telepath in black camouflage, the time to think is over, and it’s time for ACTION!

THE ORDER OF THE JEDI?

I couldn’t help but see similarities between the Gentle Hand and the Jedi masters in Star Wars. They are both the result of an innate power coupled with years of rigorous training and self-control in order to protect others from evil and injustice. Instead of The Force, we have ‘telepathic powers’ here that allow these gifted individuals to even shoot flames, heal injuries, or become invisible at will. 

 

FLAWS:

What I found issue with was

1) The way the love affair develops between Lang and Tia. I am all for a good heterosexual love story but this felt a little too rushed. I understand that finding each other stuck together in the middle of a war zone can bring about a special bond, but these two are already discussing the complications of marriage just a few hours after having met! I felt like if the writer took his time to develop their reciprocal feelings more organically the emotional payoff for the readers could have been greater.

The other issue I had was:

2) The way characters like the hybrids-the result of genetic experiments on humans/hogs DNA-is not tackled in a way that would make the reader care much. What exactly led scientists to combine human and hog genes, leading to these creatures? What was the drive or intent of this research originally? 

It doesn’t need to turn into a science lesson but at least create a foundation of plausible ideas that would make all these elements more compelling.

 

IN CLOSING:

This felt like watching a 1990s movie in the summer. Full of action, explosions, pew-pew, and a good-looking woman and a handsome man not being able to take their eyes off each other. 

Frankly, I’ll take Onslaught before any movie these days!

🦀

Action, Fantasy, Reviews

Hero’s Metal: How Black the Sky

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by TJ Marquis

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“Taking life is hard. Neither of us had ever killed so much all at once, and I could only imagine how he was feeling.”

 

To summarize this first book of the Hero’s Metal series with one word, I’d have to use the word FUN. And this book is first and foremost just that: a fun ride with cool fantasy/action and just enough comedy thrown into the mix! 

The author credits his inspiration to progressive heavy metal, dungeonsynth music, nature itself, very good people, and Jesus. The result is a very distinct narrative with its own unique undertones.

 

CHARACTERS:

Our MC is Pierce, a young man whose battle skills are only surpassed by his sheer (and at times reckless) courage. Pierce joins the most legendary group of justice-seeking warriors, the Gorgonbane, composed of Axebourne and wife Scythia, Agrathor, and supra-gen Ess (she’s kinda like a mage, we could say). Later on the group will be joined by  Forgemaster 77 (aka Sev) who betrays his lord and main villain of the Underworld to join Pierce and his friends.

 

THE WORLD:

This world we are catapulted into is divided into Overland and Underland, with the latter ruled by Overlord Kash. Kash is amassing an army to take over Overland for reasons we will find out by the end of the book.

Underland is populated by big scary creatures like the Gen and the Monstrosity. In addition you also have supra-Gen and supra-Monstrosity with even greater lethal powers.

BATTLE SCENES:

The siege of the city of Grondell was very well executed particularly in the aftermath of this epic clash between the Gorganbane and city militia against the hordes of Underland. The taste of defeat, the dismay that follows, the disappointment of failing at defending the city, at being the heroes they ought to be, all transpire through the words of Marquis very effectively.

 

A TWIST:

What I really enjoyed mostly about Book 1 is how the author lures the reader into a specific path and outcome but then with a big reveal he unmasks some truths that one might not expect. This element of surprise is what really made this story worthwhile, particularly since without that, some characters might have seemed weak or incoherent at best.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

How black the Sky is a solid beginning to introducing readers to this fantasy world which can be at times suspenseful but at other times funny enough as to not take itself too seriously either.

Based on the unexpected plot twist I have mentioned above, my curiosity ignited, I will have to pick up book 2 and see where this might be leading next!

 🦀

Action, Fantasy, Reviews

The Eagle and The Dove – a Review

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From The Girl with the Fire in Her Hair by Robert Victor Mills

Part 5 of a 6-Part Series by

“You have not retched for the metal of hot blood in your mouth, nor revolted at the mud and gore brimming your boots to the knee, nor been deafened with the mewling of new-murdered men while hedged in the thickest press!”

 

The opening premises of this 5th tale included in The Girl with the Fire in Her Hair are quite intriguing as we read on…

 

PLOT:

Rugosto, Ealdorman of Oltisa finds himself challenged to a duel by Baron Wulfiolo over a matter of honor. Since he cannot walk due to war injuries, and cannot stand , the law allows him to pick a champion to fight on his behalf. Things get complicated since that same law requires the chosen champion to be a family member. Rugosto only has one daughter, just barely 18 years old and no combat skills: Celesta.

But what Celesta lacks in physical prowess she makes up for with courage and intelligence. She seeks the help of Royhe and her power of conviction is here in full display: 

“Most mortal of weapons, a woman’s tears, to the heart of a true man. For against that soft stiletto of feminine woe can be raised no shield, nor any armour ward the chivalrous breast from the plunge of so delicate a blade.”

 

As it goes, Celesta pleads with Royhe to teach her sword fighting, since she is the only next of kin who can fight for Rugosto, her father. Naturally Royhe thinks this madness, considering that she is but a small young lady with no experience with the sword, whereas the Baron is a seasoned soldier but most importantly, a man with twice her size and strength!

ASTROPHO AGAIN:

So if you guess that Astropho will be the one to save the day yet again, you guessed right! But what I loved about this is how the author is able to create a sense of anticipation regarding how the cunning bard will be able to solve this conundrum. To let young Celeste fight would surely mean her death, yet by law only a relative could fight for the challenger, if the latter is injured or disabled.

CLOSING REMARKS:

This is thus far one of my favorite tales in the book. The specific circumstances in which our heroes find themselves require more than brawn to get resolved. Particularly considering that neither Rohye nor Astropho are willing to break the law in order to help Rugosto and Celeste. The end result was brilliant and left me smiling. 

This is how you write NEW LEGENDS!

🦀

 

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Scout’s Honor by Henry Vogel

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A Review

David Rice is a “Terran Scout” who crash lands on a world colonized long ago, then left to develop on its own.  The Scout falls right into a feudal conflict as well as  some palace intrigue, and it’s off to the races.

The characters barely get a chance to breathe. because the  action is almost non-stop. The reader may want for breathing room, too, because every chapter I remember ends with a cliffhanger.

If this sounds like retro-pulp, well, it is. Specifically, it conforms to a genre called “sword & planet.”  However you felt about John Carter’s adventures on Mars, that’s probably how you’ll feel about Scout’s Honor. The manuscript could be taken back to the 1930s, each chapter used as an episode to be published in multiple issues of a pulp periodical, and nobody would be the wiser. You’ll find that the character development and the romance simulates what came off Edgar Rice Burroughs’ typewriter as well.

When Rice (coincidence? I think not) lands on this planet, a beautiful princess and her bodyguard are under attack.  He comes to their aid, and not too much later he pledges his life-long support to the princess. This guy must have been a recruiter’s wet dream. But he’s not doomed to rot away from jealousy as the princess dallies with and/or marries somebody else, because she falls in insta-love with him, too. Luckily for them both, nobody has much of a problem with foreigners of non-noble blood merging into the royal line, either.

This would be a good read for children and young adults who can handle long-form fiction. Adults looking for a few hours of escape should appreciate it, too.