Book Review: Intensity by Dean Koontz

I read Dean Koontz's Phantoms and then came to this book. Perhaps, Phantoms set the bar too high or maybe I am more of a fan of horror/supernatural genre than of suspense genre. Either way, Intensity failed to hold my attention till the end.

Chyna Shephard is visiting the family of her friend, Laura Templeton. Chyna had endured a tough childhood, marked predominantly by a lack of parental care and is very happy when she is provided warmth and acceptance by her friend's family. Her joy is short-lived, when an intruder breaks into the house and quickly proceeds to kill her hosts.

Consumed with rage and grief, Chyna sets out to avenge and jumps aboard the killer's vehicle. Soon the killer is aware of her presence and takes her to his house. In addition to the killer, Chyna has to contend with a pack of trained vicious Dobermann pinschers.

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The starting is good. The middle secton is OK. Then it kind of got repetitive. I just lost interest and skipped to the end of the book.

I would recommend Phantoms to any reader looking for their first Dean Koontz book to savor.

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Movie Review: Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Director Brad Bird with the cast of Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol is the best action movie in a long long time.

When it comes to some specific genres such as action or horror, what separates a run-of-the-mill movie from a great movie is the acting prowess on display. Granted that it is too much to ask for great display of thespian skills in an action movie, there have been many movies where the actors have tried their best to infuse some life and energy into a genre that is well known for playing it safe with some action set pieces. The actors often prove to be just eye candy while the movie lurches on from one action set piece to another. And this is where the Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol proves its superiority.

Tom Cruise looks stylish as Ethan Hunt

Tom Cruise returns to his usual self as the dashing IMF Agent Ethan Hunt, we have loved since the very first movie in 1996. He performs most of the stunts himself and deserves credits for the same.

The movie’s ensemble cast includes Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton as Cruise’s teammates.

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Simon made quite an impression in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Star Trek. Cast as Benji Dunn, the tech expert on the team, Simon provides the much needed comic relief amidst the insane action happening around him most of the time.

Paula Patton brings great gravitas to her role as Jane Carter, the team leader who has lost one of her men to a rogue agent.

Paula Patton and Simon Pegg in Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

But, all these great actors are upstaged by Jeremy Renner, who proves to be the dark horse of the team. Renner is cast as William Brandt, an intelligence analyst, with a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

Jeremy Renner in Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Brad Bird shows a very deft hand in his very first live action movie. Perhaps, this should not come as a surprise considering his earlier movie The Incredibles. He has also directed couple of episodes on The Simpsons. Both these animated works contain families coming to terms with one another, while they adapt to the world changing around them all the time.

Bird brings all these experiences on board to helm a gem of a action movie, that boasts of excellent ensemble acting and jaw dropping action.  The sequences inside Kremlin and atop Burj Khalifa tower deserve special mention. He successfully makes the transition from animated to real action movies and I look forward to his continued work on this series.

Highly recommended to all Cruise fans and fans of the spy thriller/action movie genre.

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Image Sources: Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, Tumblr 

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