Untamed by PC and Kristin Cast

Untamed is the fourth book in the House of Night series.

Zoey has been abandoned by her friends, has lost all three of her boyfriends, and on behalf of all the vampires Neferet, the High Priestess, has declared war on the humans.

Just like the rest of the series, these books are not very well written, but in the same vein (no pun intended) as the Twilight series, they are extremely addictive.

Zoey can be annoying at times, and Aphrodite is still the most interesting character among them. There are plenty of new characters in this one, and the plot is getting more and more complex and convoluted.

Even so, not a lot really happens. This is definitely the build up to the real story in the next book to come, and as irritating as I find the House of Night series, I am far to addicted to not find out whats going to happen next.

Raising the Bar Season One DVD

This is a new series from NYPD Blue creator Steven Bochco, about Public defenders and DA's. The usual lawyer type show, this has characters that have a lot of depth and flaws, and this affects how they handle their cases.

The main character is public defender Jerry Kellerman played by Saved By the Bell's Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Jerry can get pretty self-righteous at times, but a lot of what he says about the justice system makes a lot of sense.

The supporting characters are public defenders Richard Woolsley, Bobby Gilardi, Ros Whitman. The DA's Michelle Ernhardt, Marcus McGrath, and Nick Balco. The main Judge seen is Trudy Kessler, who practically hates Jerry, and makes his job pretty tough. Plus, Charlie Sagansky, Jerry's best friend, and law clerk to Kessler.

Some of the cases do make you think, and I believe that they are well worth watching just for that fact alone.

The episode Bagels and Locks for instance, is about Jerry defending a pedophile for the murder of boy that he admits to raping.

There are continuing story lines throughout the series, as well as the cases themselves being standalone stories. Fans of legal shows should enjoy this.

The special features include a gag reel, which is amusing although I have seen funnier, and a panel with a few of the main cast talking about the show. This was the best feature among them, and you can see how well they all get along.

Just one question. Why are some of the cast missing on the front of the box?

Trick of the Light by Rob Thurman

This is the first book in a new series by Rob Thurman, who writes the Cal Leandros books, which I completely love.

Trixa is out for revenge on the demon that killed her brother. To do this she must find what is essentially a MacGuffin, called The Light of Life. But she's not the only one who wants to get their hands on the Light. Heaven and Hell, in their own forms are also looking to control the Light for themselves.

The characters in this book are just as much fun as the Cal books, and Zeke is totally awesome.

The ending is practically impossible to see coming, although I did suspect one of the twists, but only the minor one, and the others blew me away.

Rob Thurman has done it again, and wrote a story that makes me believe in the world these people inhabit.

And just like the Cal books, I would recommend this to people that have a snarky and sarcastic sense of humour.

Prison Break - The Final Break

*****POSSIBLE SPOILERS*****

This is the story of what happened in between the 4 year flash forward from the final episode of Prison Break.

This may have been pointless, considering how the last episode ended, but it was still entertaining.

Although this is mainly going to be for fans of Prison Break, I think that it stands on its own enough for anyone to watch and still understand what is happening.

This is a typical break out of prison story, to finish off the series, with all the twists and turns that the show is famous for, and the only downside I can see, is that we all knew how it was going to end.

However this is a very small downside and it was still nice to see all of our favourite characters again. Great story.

Sons of Anarchy Season One

*****POSSIBLE SPOILERS*****

I had never even heard of Sons of Anarchy until a person at work - who has similar tastes in TV - recommended it to me.

I watched a promo trailer on YouTube and then ordered the DVDs sight unseen.

The gamble payed off big time. This show is amazing. Created by Kurt Sutter, who was an executive producer on the also amazing The Shield, this is a story about an outlaw Motorcycle Club in California. Just like The Shield, this show gets more and more complex as it goes along, and I can't wait to see just how much more it can get.

All the characters, despite most being on the wrong side of the law, are all likeable, and just as complex as the show itself.

My favourite characters in this first season are Tig and Opie, but they all have their redeeming qualities.

Opie is a club member just released from prison, and is trying to balance his family life, with the club, even as he is trying to pull away from that part of his life.

Tig is a bit of a psychopath, and Kim Coates plays this side of him well. He has got crazy eyes. But he also has a funny side, and does get to reveal that he has a heart as well. But mostly he is crazy, and that is whats so great about him.

The season ends in such a way that will make you desperate to watch the next one, while still able to give closure to some of the story.

This show is the worthy successor to fill the void left by The Shield.

The special features on the DVD are interesting, entertaining, and informative.

The Making of featurette has interviews with cast and crew, and reveals what the scar on Gemmas chest is all about. (I was wondering that all season). You even get Charlie Hunman speaking in his English accent, and even though I knew he was English, after just watching him as Jax for 13 episodes, it was a little bit weird.

The Ink, and The Bikes both talk about designing the tattoos that they wear, and customizing their individual bikes, which the actor apparently had a hand in.

Anarchy on the set is the gag reel, which is actually pretty funny.

There's also commentaries on select episodes and deleted scenes to round out the set.

Touch of Twilight by Vicki Pettersson

*****POSSIBLE SPOILERS*****

This is third book in the Signs of the Zodiac series.

By this point in the series things have gotten complicated for Joanna. Obstacles are coming at her from all sides, but it never gets confusing for the reader. The Tulpa, Regan, Ben, and now a doppelganger. Plus something that she did in the last book could have disastrous consequences for the future of the Light troop if she doesn't fix it.

I love the scenes at Master Comics, and these were my favourite from the last two books as well. Zane and Carl, who create the manuals, are great characters, and we learn a little bit more about what motivates one of them here.

Hunter is a great character as well, and things with him finally end up where its been threatening all this time.

Warren, too, remains an intriguing character, and Chandra is becoming more rounded, and I can't wait to pick up the next one to find out what happens next.

Three Kingdoms

*****POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW*****

This film got slated by critics, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of love for it anywhere else. But I enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it was the best movie ever, but it was enough to keep me entertained for the duration.

I had already watched Red Cliff, and I knew that it was the same story, so I was able to fill in some gaps. And yes, I admit there were a few, that had I not already watched the former, then I would have been lost.

There were a couple of fake laughing scenes, but were easily forgiven. Other than that the acting was excellent. You can't really go wrong with Andy Lau. Maggie Q was not as bad as everyone is saying, and I didn't notice the dubbing, but then I have to read the subtitles, so the focus is off her mouth.

The fighting scenes were intense and exciting, and I would recommend this movie to others.

17 Again

*****SPOILERS BELOW*****

This was surprisingly a really good movie. I don't know what I was expecting, but this was much better than I thought it was going to be.

I would totally recommend this film to anyone.

17 Again was genuinely funny, all the way through, and the characters were all given chance to shine.

Ned in particular was hilarious, as the geeky best friend of Mike.

Never really thought much of Zac Efron's acting, but it really shows what a bad script can do for someone.

I mean, he won't be winning an Oscar anytime some, but the High School Musical films never let him show off what he can do.

He really needs to branch out with his movies, do something a bit different from the teen thing.

Standout scenes for me were

- The lightsaber fight. Just insane.

- The scene in the cafeteria where Mike confronts Stan.

- The court room scene. You can see just how good an actor Zac is in this scene.

Saints and Soldiers

*****SPOILERS BELOW*****

This film is about 4 American soldiers who escape from a German massacre of POW's. They come across an English Air Force officer who has documents in German code that only he can read. And they have to get to an American post and keep him alive. It is also based on a true story.

I really liked this film. At only 86 minutes it didn't run on too long. The 5 characters were all well developed and you felt for them when they died. Especially Deacon at the end. You just watch that last scene of his, hoping that he will hit that German soldier and get away. But then he wouldn't have had his heroic moment, saving Gould and Winley, and getting them to safety.

Yes, there were war movie cliches here, but when the story and the actors are as good as this, you don't care.

Dollhouse Season 1

*****SOME SPOILERS BELOW*****

Just finished watching the entire season one of Dollhouse for the first time, on DVD.

Don't listen to all the negative reviews for this show, it is brilliant. Remember, Joss is God, he can do no wrong.

Buffy and Angel are two of my favourite series of all time, with Firefly not far behind, and now Dollhouse can join the ranks of genius.

OK, so the first few episodes are not great, but they still had enough intrigue to keep me watching. And yes, episode 6, Man on the Street is where things kick off.

But do not watch this show expecting to see another Buffy or Firefly, because you will be disappointed. The tone of Dollhouse is a bit of a departure from Joss' usual work. It is a more mature piece of television. That's not to say that it is deadly serious or unfunny. Joss' trademark wit is still present, it just takes a few episodes to really get into it.

Joss has a way of creating the kind of characters that are so easy to fall in love with, and he has created them in spades here.

It doesn't matter that Echo gets mind wiped every episode, she is still able to exhibit character growth and development.

Boyd Langton is the father figure of Dollhouse, and is one of the few with a conscience, and out to keep the dolls safe.

Topher. I love Topher. He's the geeky type genius tech guy, and gets a lot of the funny lines.

Paul Ballard is the FBI guy assigned to the Dollhouse case, and is determined to bring it down. He may have to change his thinking for next season. His relationship with Mellie/November is great to watch, but it was a little bit twisted there for a while. Plus, he is played by Tahmoh Penikett, and whats not to love there. And yes, I am shallow.

Sierra is one of my favourite characters. She's just really easy to like, and it is impossible not to love her, especially after her story in Man on the Street. And am totally loving the Sierra/Victor thing going on, and can't wait to see how that develops.

Victor is my other favourite character. He's funny, he's cute, he's sweet, and just all round great in every persona.

Adelle DeWitt comes across at first as someone to to hate, out for the money, and all that. But as the series goes along you realise that she actually has a heart, and that she cares for the dolls and the people that work for her.

Amy Acker gets to play the part of Dr Claire Saunders, who by the seasons end is revealed to be an doll. This was something that I had been suspecting for a while, and wasn't spoiled ahead of time, so it was a good surprise when it turned out to be true.

Laurence Dominic is the head security guy. He really doesn't like Echo, and you can sort of see his point of view, because of what happened with Alpha. But he is a character that you love to hate. His big reveal in A Spy in the House of Love as the spy was not expected, and that he ended up in the attic always means that we could end up seeing him again later on.

Miracle Laurie plays Mellie, a neighbour of Paul's. It is difficult not to get spoiled for some of this when you have to wait for the DVD's to watch it, and so I already knew that she was also November, another doll. But by the way certain characters were talking about her, I started to think that maybe she just wasn't one yet. But then she got triggered by Adelle, so I was still able to be surprised by her.

Ghosts: Is a bit of a messy episode, but it introduces the characters, and gives you an impression of what it is they do at this Dollhouse.

The Target: Topher gets some good lines here, particularly why anyone would want to be in the middle of nowhere. Kinda agree with him there.

Stage Fright: Hated Rayna. But other than that this was pretty good. And shows off Eliza's voice.

Gray Hour: An OK episode. More of the intrigue with Alpha, and remote wiping.

True Believer: Pretty good. And Topher gets the best line again. 'Something came up'. But it also develops Victor and Sierra.

Man on the Street: This is great.. You can really see this show getting better every episode.

Echoes: This is a funny episode, with characters getting infected with a drug, that makes them all high. Typical Whedon humour.

Needs: One of my favourite episodes. Love the scene in the wardrobe with Victor. In fact Victor is just awesome in this one.

A Spy in the House of Love: Another great episode, that twist and turns.

Haunted: Completely love Topher using Sierra for a friend on his birthday, and Adelle knowing about it.

Briar Rose: Alan Tudyk made this episode, playing the funny guy, with a 'carrot plantation', and then at the flick of a switch becomes a total psychotic killer.

Omega: Loved it! The multiple personalities of Alpha were extremely entertaining. And Alpha escaped so he should be back. Guessed that it would November at the end that Paul freed, and not Echo. Not sure how she will fit into season 2 now.

Epitaph One: Not sure how I feel about this one. It might be an episode that will make more sense when season 2 has aired, and we can see how it fits into the whole scheme of things, but it was nice to see where the story could lead.

Cannot wait for season 2, but thank God I have the DVD's to rewatch in the meantime.