I’m behind on my movie watching, which is a first for me. I’m catching up with The Avengers. What an awesome way to start the summer blockbuster season. And for a fun, similar read (a team fighting to save the world, minus the super hero part): The Devil Colony.

 

Book: The Devil Colony,

by James Rollins

I’m ashamed to say I’d never actually heard of James Rollins until he agreed to be the keynote speaker at DFWCon. (hangs head in virtual shame). I tend to hang out in fantasy and science fiction, and splash around in the paranormal romance pools. But I do enjoy a good thriller and a good mystery, too. And this was both. No magic, no fantasy, just one long exhausting race to the finish line with the fate of the entire world in the balance. About half way through I was frantic to find out how it ended, and more than a little freaked out at the thought of what is hanging out under Yellowstone National Park. Wondering what that is? Read the book!

 

First Line:

“It looked like the entrance to hell.” Well ok! You have my attention. The poor guys who stumble on this “hell hole” prove that curiosity really can kill you. And everyone around you. And possible the rest of the world. Maybe some things are better left alone.

 

This is the latest in an entire series featuring the Sigma Force. I love watching a good team work together and support each other. It reminds me of the best parts of Mission Impossible (when they didn’t kill off the whole team) or the A-Team (flashback, I know). The plot for this one uses a lot of Native American legends and myths as a backdrop in a way that made them beyond scary/real. I was so nervous by the time I’d finished this book that I was grateful for the included “what is real and what isn’t” section at the end of the book. And believe me, what is actually real is scary as hell to think about. Thanks for giving me nightmares, Rollins!

I’ll be reading all the rest of the series now. And, hopefully, I’ll get one autographed at DFWCon!

 

Movie: The Avengers

Robert Downey Jr.Chris EvansMark RuffaloChris HemsworthJeremy RennerScarlett Johansson)

Of course I had to go see this on opening weekend. After all, it features Thor and Tony Stark! (Massive grrrrr factor and plenty of eye candy for both boys and girls). I enjoyed the hell out of this movie. It had all of the technical effects and explosions you could ask for, all well done, but unlike some movies I could name (cough Transformers cough) it had an actual plot. The story was solid and well told, from the inciting incident to the final scene in which Tony Stark…well, I don’t want to spoil it. Let me just say I cheered, I laughed, I cringed, I fretted. This movie had everything I want in a summer blockbuster. I watched it in 3d which, to be honest, always leaves me with a headache, but definitely added something to the effects.

The writing provided plenty of quotable moments and one liners. Joss Whedon (and the team) did not disappoint. My favorite?

Loki: What have I to fear?
Tony Stark: The Avengers. It’s what we call ourselves, sort of like a team. “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” type thing.
Loki: Yes, I’ve met them.
Tony Stark: Yeah, takes us a while to get any traction, I’ll give you that one but, let’s do a head count here. Your brother, the demi-god; a super soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend; a man with breath-taking anger management issues; a couple of master assassins, and *you*, big fella, you’ve managed to piss off every single one of them.
Loki: That was the plan.
Tony Stark: Not a great plan. When they come, and they will, they’ll come for you.
Loki: I have an army.
Tony Stark: We have a Hulk.
Loki: I thought the beast had wandered off.
Tony Stark: You’re missing the point. There’s no throne. There is no version of this where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it’s too much for us but it’s all on you. Because if we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we’ll avenge it.

 

Now doesn’t that just make you want to cheer?

I’ve never read the comics for The Avengers, so my opinion is based solely on the movies. And this one kicked ass and took names. Loved it. Stay for the end credits…all the way to the end.