The 100 Year Old Man Film Review

Title: The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Director: Felix Hergren
Certificate: 15
Out: 4th July 2014

Review: This film is exactly what it says on the tin! The film, an adaptation of the hugely popular Swedish novel of the same name by Jonas Jonasson, stars Robert Gustafsson as we go on a journey of life, laughter and lots of BOOMS on the day of his 100th Birthday.  

This was one of those films where I walked in expecting one thing, and then was given something completely different and really enjoyed it. It seems to be becoming a thing with me where I walk into a film oblivious that its going to be in subtitles, and then they start and I let out an 'ah' of recognition.  But the script was simple and effective and flowed with ease and I could have got the feeling and humour without the subtitles. 

Whereas the book was able to take more creative liberties and go more in-depth with the action both in the immediacy of his escape and in his life, the film is aided by the quicker pace it takes. Switching between the present day and Allan's life growing we are giving snapshots of a troubled, varied, yet interesting (for better want of a word)life. It seems Alan was responsible, in part at least, for a lot of historical events! It was here though with the quick pace that I feel the film was slightly let down, falling into slapstick, that didn't match the effortless humour of Allan in the present day. 

The film from the beginning felt like it was shot as a drama, rather than a comedy, which was then layered with humour, that was inserted simply but oh so effectively, packing an effective punch where we were all regularly laughing. This was only heightened with the blaze approach and reaction to the extremities of the action as it unfolded, and each new character that was introduced added a new dynamic. This also took the story from purely a comedy to a subtle look about life, love and the choices we make (this could also be me completely over analysing it, but I have been thinking about it a lot since I saw it). 

If you enjoyed the book, you'll enjoy the film, and if you haven't even read the book, you'll still enjoy the film (maybe even more). This is also...dare I say it...one of those rare instances where you want to see the film first, to laugh and enjoy and then go to the book and get a whole lot more out of it!  Definitely one to watch this summer!   

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Shadow of the Wolf by Tim Hall Review

Title: Shadow of the Wolf
Author: Tim Hall
Published: 03rd July 2014
Publisher: David Flickling Books

Summary: Robin Loxley is seven years old when his parents disappear without trace. Years later the great love of his life, Marian, is also taken from him. Driven by these mysteries, and this anguish, Robin follows a darkening path into the ancient Sherwood Forest. What he encounters there will leave him transformed, and will alter for ever the legend of Robin Hood...

Review: This was a dark, fresh twist on a tale we thought we all knew! Forget Disney...actually don't, it might help to have that in your head, because this will take you somewhere completely different and you might want a sing song by the end of it.


I know it said it in the blurb, but it was still a shock to read that Robin was only eight at the start of the story. The was already a heaviness set upon him, and you could feel the darkness that would manifest as the book went on hanging like an omen. Then enter Marian and things change! Robin and Marian's childhood adventures had such a sweet innocence to them they were like all the adventures and summers I wanted to have as a child.

 Marian was the fire that gave the narrative spark, and her flame only got brighter as I kept reading. She was a fascinating character and I laughed with her, fought with her and wanted to constantly know more about her goings on. One of the things I most enjoyed within this was the communication between Robin and Marian, the way she took charge and the presence that she had, especially when they weren't together.

For we all know that in the classic tale there has always been Robin and Marian, but they weren't always together and it is their separation that set the downward spiral for Robins decent into darkness. Robin changed dramatically as the novel unfolded  none less helped by the spirits of the forest. This foray into fantasy was a subtle, natural extension of the story and played extremely well into my enjoyment of the book.  I feel like we only touched the tip of the iceberg with these characters, and I really want to learn more about them.

This was definitely and unexpected read. It started off in one place and took me to somewhere completely different, somewhere that I liked and that I'm glad will continue. The book set me up, got my emotions riled and I'm nervous for the battle to come for everyone involved. This was a darker twist on the tale, bloody at times, sad, but there was also a joy to it as well. If you start down this path, you will have to keep going until the end...the annoying thing is you'll have to wait until the next book for that.

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ZOM-B Clans by Darren Shan Review

Title: Zom-B Clans
Author: Darren Shan
Published: 3rd July 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Summary: B's first mission with the Angels --sentient, do-gooder zombies-- went horribly wrong when vicious members of the Ku Klux Klan attacked New Kirkham, a stronghold of precious human survivors. B is not about to let the racist thugs persecute innocent people, but while saving the town, one of B's oldest friends is kidnapped by the Klan.

The Angels are prepared to do what it takes to save him, but B will have to make some very hard decisions about loyalties--to old friends, to the Angels, and to new families and old.

Review: So any one that knows me knows I've been up and down with this series, but as I've maintained, with hindsight (and a beautiful thing it is) it all comes together and works well as a series. What we get is snapshots into the life of one B-Smith and life after the zombie apocalypse, and for me this snapshot was high up on my likeability scale.

As ever with Shan the writing is full of quick, short snappy sentences that carry the story along  with such a pace I found that I was flying threw it, almost to fast so that it was over before I knew it. Shan writes this blaze nature to the activities of the zombies, with brains flying here and there, that adds almost a dark humour to proceedings.

But this is not a funny book at its core, for all the quick whips and front of B. As ever Shan takes serious and heavy topics to lie under the action, and the reality here is blunt and in your face. Racism is played out as in your face as it can be, and I was uncomfortable when I first heard the format that it would take, and even in reading it I still feel that level of awkwardness. However the message behind the imagery is what I feel to be more important, and something we should be thinking about. What would you do, and how do you see yourself? When you think about the parallels with our society these are questions we need to be asking. The development of B dealing with these questions has been a triumph of the series, especially because of the different dimensions it has taken with various characters.

This instalment also saw the return of one of my favourite (if favourite is the right word to use) characters Dan Dan, and brought me round to the character of the Owl Man.  The 'villains' of this series are really shaping up, with creepy human characteristics and a reality to them that makes you look out the corner of your eye as you walk down the street! And as for looking out the corner of your eye, if anyone has a dog that is showing signs of looking like the dog on this cover RUN! I'm quite certain in this instance, his bite is most definitely worse than his bark.

This book was BANG revelation, BANG revelation, BANG revelation, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Its got me very excited for what's to come, and what's even more exciting is that it is a future I still can't predict what will happen. So many questions, so little books left!!

Stephen 

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