Lord Of The Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the first fantasy book I have read and I think it is the fundamental book concerning fantasy.

The Lord of the Rings Movie - Peter Jackson


I have found these movies also worth watching, but I have also a lot of objections. If you would like to see the movies and you haven't seen them yet, watch the extended versions.

James Clavell - Shougun (Atheneum, NY 1975)

'In James Clavell's shogun we see a up close description of Japanese life in the 1600s. Clavell's work is very close to a masterpiece. John Blackthorne is a captain on a search for the enchanting far off place called Japan. In Shogun we see a variety of themes and plots. From romance to the common everyday literature we all love.'


Another book I have read when I was little (about ten years old). I really liked this one because it was showing the differences between the japanese and non-japanese. It also revealed a bit about japanese history in the beginning of 17th century (But if you would like to know more about this era in Japan read a book named Taikou). Still I would say this novel is as close to the history as it can be.

Shougun Miniserie


I have seen just this miniserie (I haven't seen the movie.) It's good to see. But it won't make you feel like Blackthorn in his position or Toranaga-sama. It's better to read the book. The book is much better.

Dune - Frank Herbert 1998

I will use a phrase someone used before me. 'Huge in scope, towering in concept, it is a work that will live in the reader's imagination'. This applies just for the first book. I don't like the rest much (Prelude - Harkonnen is the exception).

Dune the movie


I have seen both versions of Dune. The first movie is to old for me, and I have seen it a long time ago. But when I saw the movie I liked the effects, Fremen were 'using' the Shai-Hulud exactly as I have imagined and the Bene Gesserit was also as mysterious as it should be. But I don't like Vladimir Harkonnen in this movie (also Patrick Stewart plays in this movie).
The new version of Dune is not a bad movie. But it lacks something. The last battle for Dune was too much for me. I don't like scenes like this (in the third movie).

Children of Dune, Messiah of Dune the movie


I have found this movies better then the books. But it's just my opinion. Nothing can outweight original Dune (the book)

Magic: The Gathering - Distant planes, An Anthology (HarperCollins, NY 1996 and WotC)

A collection of fifteen stories from the planes of Dominia. I have read some books from the world of Magic: The Gathering and I liked them, but I don't find them worthy for a 'normal' reader (I play M:tG and I like everything what is fantasy...). I went to a shop called Forbidden Zone and found this book (under tons of other books). I saw the title and started to think 'is this just another book from M:tG world?'. I asked for the price and when the person told me it costs just 6 Euros I said 'yes, I'm taking this one' (original price $12). But now after I have already read it, I have to say it's worth $12.

DragonLance Chronicles - Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman (WotC)

Epic Heroic Fantasy.

Forgotten Realms - The Dark Elf Trilogy - R.A. Salvatore (WotC)

Drizzt Do'Urden, our beloved character of the FRCS. Ofcourse I like this character, I don't think that he's the best character ever in FR but I like him. This book describes his first decades of life (from his birth in Menzoberranzan to a meeting with his friends from Icewind Dale). There are also 'thoughts(epilogs and prologs)' of Drizzt Do'Urden, which can help you understand some things. You can also think about it yourself. The drow society is also well described (though it has changed a lot in the DnD.3e)

The Death Gate Cycle - Tracy Hickman (Bantam Books)

'Millennia ago a battle raged between the Sartan and the Patryn, and the Sartan sundered the world into four reals - air, fire, stone, and water - and then vanished. But now the two races have rediscovered each other through the magic of the Death Gate - and war is about to erupt anew.'

A series I didn't want to read at first. This sentence doesn't make the book too much appealing. But after I have read the first book I changed my mind and continued reading the other six books. The story is long, complex and I would say even original. The setting, races and characters are well done also. The idea of the 'universe' fascinates me. I would say it's much better then DragonLance, but I know a lot of you would kill me for this^_^. The characters are not that well made as in DL but still they are more 'real' then characters in most of other fantasy books. This series has some minuses (in my opinion). One is for example Zifnab (remember old Fizban?). He's funny, but it was a bit annoying for me.

The Gap Series - Stephen Donaldson

'The world in which the series is set is one run by, well, a corrupt and virtually commercial police organisation. All protagonists become pawns in games played wholly or in part by people in the police organisation's highest echelons, and the story is pregnant with betrayal, anger, conspiracy. Every time you think you've got the ulterior motives worked out, when the rug is pulled from under you, other factors get added, and you don't know what the heck is happening. The "Gap" series is a story of enormous complexity with all the bits fitting neatly together - though not until after a lot of mental exercise on the part of the reader. '
The books are pretty harsh. The future is not one with silver linings, people are driven by greed, a need for power and the tendency to corrupt. In this, well, pretty sick world, pretty horrible things happen, morally and physically. It's a harsh science fiction series, but an extremely brilliant one.

I don't know how better to describe this series. The autor has to like Japan and their way ofthinking. There's a lot of 'things' I would consider japanese. 'Real Story' seems to be a normal science-fiction book, but from the beginning of the second book you will find out that it holds more than just a story. Characters are realistic, fully aware of what they do. They think, act with or without success. 'Setting' is also well made and prepared (all the politics). Everything makes sense and is logical. Every character has it's own role and his own attitude in this ruthless world (ehm space). It's also fun even in the situations which are so depressive that they would force you to commit a seppuku.
He also uses really interesting and original 'word conjunctions' which makes the description/action etc. richer.
I really love this series.

Neuromancer - William Gibson

Cyberpunk as it should be.

Snow Crash - Neil Stephenson

Stephenson's best piece I would say. Cyberpunk. Really good idea and good background.

Last Samurai (Bushidou) - Zwick, E.

'Captain Nathan Algren (TOM CRUISE) is a man adrift. The battles he once fought now seem distant and futile. Once he risked his life for honor and country, but, in the years since the Civil War, the world has changed. Pragmatism has replaced courage, self-interest has taken the place of sacrifice and honor is nowhere to be found - especially out West where his role in the Indian Campaigns ended in disillusionment and sorrow.
Somewhere on the unforgiving plains near the banks of the Washita River, Algren lost his soul.
A universe away, another soldier sees his way of life about to disintegrate. He is Katsumoto (KEN WATANABE), the last leader of an ancient line of warriors, the venerated Samurai, who dedicated their lives to serving emperor and country. Just as the modern way encroached upon the American West, cornering and condemning the Native American, it also engulfed traditional Japan. The telegraph lines and railroads that brought progress now threaten those values and codes by which the Samurai have lived and died for centuries.
But Katsumoto will not go without a fight.
The paths of these two warriors converge when the young Emperor of Japan, wooed by American interests who covet the growing Japanese market, hires Algren to train Japan's first modern, conscript army. But as the Emperor's advisors attempt to eradicate the Samurai in preparation for a more Westernized and trade-friendly government, Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai. Their powerful convictions remind him of the man he once was.
Thrust now into harsh and unfamiliar territory, with his life and perhaps more important, his soul, in the balance, the troubled American soldier finds himself at the center of a violent and epic struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his sense of honor to guide him.'


I went to a cinema to watch The Return of the King in the mid-december and I have seen a trailer for this movie. There wasn't much shown but I decided to see the movie (actually that bengal tiger in Japan interested me. Tigers and Japan? No way...and also the japanese 'phrases' like otoko no kokoro etc.). The first thing which surprised me was the length. I thought it's going to be a 'normal' movie about 1:45 or 2 hours max. long. But it's 2,5 hours long! Before seeing the movie I have read the text written above and so I knew how it would end. This movie surprised me. It isn't stupid american movie about an american hero. Actually it is but well done. The Director Zwick changed a bit the history of Japan though. But I think it showed well the things how they 'were' in this period of Japanese history -The influence of foreign people in Japan.

Ran (Chaos in English?) - Akira Kurasawa

This movie is quite old but it is a non-ageing movie. It's the Kurasawa's version of King Lear in japanese setting. Movie which will play with your emotions, and you won't never forget it. Also nice spectacular scenes. Worth seeing at all costs.

Galaxy Quest

'Aliens mistake the old reruns of star-trek style show (Galaxy Quest) for historical documents. They take them away into space to try and help them fight their dreaded enemy.'


This movie is a Star Trek parody but also it shows a lot about conventions. I was taking part in quite a lot of conventions and I know how the things are. I even organised a small one in my country (not going to do that again^_^ ). Also you can say I am Star Trek fan so I know a lot about ST. When I have seen the movie for the first time, I was laughing all the time. There's a lot of catchwords and a lot of 'funny' scenes. But actually after I saw the movie I was like 'that's fun, but it's also true...'. The soundtrack is also kind of parody (Star Trek Soundtrack).

Shrek

The best animated movie?? Maybe yes, maybe no, but it's definitely 'great'. Fun! A lot of fun.

Hero (with Jet Li)

Spectacular movie based on an old chinese legend. Worth seeing at least for the effects and color schemes. The soundtrack is also well fitting the movie.

Ringu - Hideo Nakata

A horror movie they say. I would say it's 'psycho'. A thriller for me. I haven't read the manga (too long for me) but this movie is well done. It plays with your nerves and emotions. Well done movie.

Mortal Kombat - Paul Anderson

In my opinion this movie is one of the best movies based on a 'video game'. In 1992 I was amazed by Mortal Kombat 1 game and I have become a fan of this game series. Few years after I have seen the movie. The storyline is simple, but the scenes in the movie adds a atmosphere to the movie. The locations are beautiful and the interiors also. Also the fights are well done (it's a fighting game^_^). The only two fights which didn't end up that well were Sonya vs. Kano and Liu Kang vs. Kitana. The songs for the soundtrack were well chosen and the main score is also nice.
Note: Mortal Kombat Annihilation has nothing to do with this movie. It's terrible:-(. Not worthy the name Mortal Kombat.

Pirates of Carribean

Just good movie to watch. Fun and action. A movie which surprised me in this 'era' of remakes and movies based on comics.

Cypher

If you want to see something unusual, go see this movie.

Butterfly Effect

A movie which surprised me. It's a good one.