Tag Archives: Marvel

AudioBook, Book, Review, Sci-Fi, Zombies

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Leave a comment

The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. CareyI became aware of The Girl With All the Gifts from finding and viewing the movie — which was AMAZING!

I recently completed the audiobook by M.R. Carey, narrated by Finty Williams.  Among other accomplishments M.R. “Mike” Carey  is the current writer on Marvel’s X-Men.  Finty Williams is an English actress and the daughter of Dame Judi Dench.

The basic premise of the story …
In the future humanity has all-but been wiped out by a fungus.  This new and powerful spore turns the host — human beings — into mindless eating machines, referred to as “hungries”.  When they are prompted to capture and consume some protein they can move at high speeds, without fatigue, and be deadly.  When it comes to food … birds, cats, dogs, humans … anything will do.

Melanie is a 10 year old girl living a controlled life on a military base.  She very smart, loves learning, and likes her teacher.  When the base falls under attack, everything breaks down — Melanie, her teacher, a scientist, and a few military men are thrust into the wild.

And this is where I don’t say anything more to avoid giving spoilers.

All that said …

I thought the film was good.  The book, so far as I could tell, had more going on in it — as books often do.  I would say that the film did a great job of honoring the content and spirit of the story — making changes as needed to achieve the film.  As I neared completion of the audiobook I reordered the film from my local library; it will be interesting to re-watch the film.  Also, I have become aware that Carey wrote a second book in the series — a prequel titled “The Boy on the Bridge“.

If you take nothing else away from this commentary — take this …

The book and the film are one of those rare pieces that change everything for its genre — the bar has been raised!

Girl With All The Gifts crosses multiple genres — zombie, military fiction, drama, and even sci-fi.  It gives story elements you do not expect.  Carey has made a futuristic declining-apocalyptical setting that could support many more stories — and with any luck …. it will!

LINKS

 

Movie, Review, Zombies

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Leave a comment
Wait — what — “Thor / Ragnarok” is a zombie film?!?

Uh … YEAH!

Remember when Hela, Thor’s older evil sister played by Cate Blanchett, raised the former soldiers of Asgard?

Yep … ZOMBIES!

The undead Asgardian army (or more appropriately the Berserker Army makes Thor: Ragnarok a zombie film.  Considering that most modern Z-films have ‘infected’ zombies, these ones being raised by Hela’s powers (magic, whatever) is closer to the original voo doo zombies.

Draugr
Who’s a pretty boy?

Frankly, as zombie films go … I have to rate this one Yellow Puss.  It’s a considerably bad-ass movie, but the zombies have too little to do with it.  In fact, I think they were only shown about twice in the film.  They didn’t even particularly seem to have anything to do with the Norse concept of zombies — better known as a Draugr.

The Old Norse meaning of Draugr is a revenant.  The details of these buggers and their abilities are many.  In simple terms, they are animated corpses with physical bodies and similar physical abilities as in life.  Draugrs have superhuman strength, are able to increase their size at will, and give off the stench of decay … basically it’s a cross between a 2 year old and a teenager.  How do I know this?  Because they guard what they treasure, wreak havoc on living beings, or torment those who wronged them in life …. in other words, their parents.  Don’t believe me?  Well, they also have the ability to enter into the dreams of the living.  They live in their grave or burial mound, usually guarding the treasure that was interred with them.  When they do rise from their grave, they come out as wisps of smoke and “swim” through solid rock.

Sparkles
Keep in mind — Thor is “The God of Thunder” … but Disney makes him “The God of LIGHTENING”

Now — I’m telling you — a film with these zombies would be INCREDIBLE …. and frankly, in this regard Thor / Ragnarok fell severely short.  Sorry Disney … I guess you don’t just screw up Star Wars films (specifically TLJ / ROS) — you screw up Marvel films as well.

Links