Take one part Gilligan’s Island, mix with liberal parts of Jurassic Park, X-Files and The Twilight Zone and you get one of the most compelling new shows of 2004…..LOST. JJ Abrams, the man behind the surreal spy drama "Alias", brings "LOST" to the screen. It is the story of 48 survivors of a horrific air disaster who are now stranded on a tropical island where all things are not as they seem.
Much of what makes "Lost" so compelling is it originality as it is very different than anything currently on TV. As much as the originality the characters are what set "Lost" apart. The brilliant ensemble cast is lead by Matthew Fox, last seen on the Fox TV drama "Party of Five". Fox plays the role of Jack a trauma surgeon who becomes one the de facto leaders of the group. Among the other characters are Sayid (an ex-member of the Iraqi Republican Guard), Kate (the beauty with a mug shot), Locke (a man with a second chance at life),. Sawyer (the con man and opportunist) and others. None of the characters are what they seem to be. Each character has their own often tragic back-story and these are revealed weekly by way of flashbacks shown during the episodes.
The decision the writers made in determining who would emerge as leaders of the group was equally compelling. While Jack is the obvious choice the decision to make Sayid not only a leader but a wholly sympathetic character is certainly a bold choice.
As the season and hopefully season’s progress it will be interesting to see the direction the program takes and where they decide to go with the plot. The ratings are strong and hopefully "LOST" will enjoy a long run.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Monday, November 15, 2004
Book Review: "Iron Tigers".....
The emergence of a stable and democratic Iraq has greatly shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. As a consequence, Saudi Arabia has found itself all but marginalized. When hard line elements in Russia, promising to return their nation to its former glory, come to power the Saudi’s see an opportunity. A Russo-Saudi alliance is formed with the goal of driving the United States from the region and gaining control of the worlds oil reserves. Standing in their way are elements of the Unites States military and the battle hardened Iron Tigers.
That is the premise behind Michael Farmer’s military thriller "Iron Tigers". It is a straight forward, get to point war story. While not on a par with Tom Clancy’s World War III masterpiece "Red Storm Rising" or works by Larry Bond (Vortex and Red Phoenix) it is nonetheless a fast paced, enjoyable read.
As an active duty member of the military serving with CENTCOM Farmers knowledge of tactics and tank combat is clearly seen within the pages of "Iron Tigers". His writing reminds me of Harold Coyle (Team Yankee and The Ten Thousand). He also does a nice job of taking the reader into the halls of power in Washington and Moscow to observe some the statecraft and brinkmanship involved in waging a war.
The characters in "Iron Tigers" are fairly one dimensional and standard for a novel of this type. There are two exceptions. Rolf Krieger is a Schwarzenegger-esque type character, the son of parents from the East Germany he has a burning hatred of Russians and is delighted for an opportunity to confront the Russians in battle. The other is a Jack Russell Terrier named
Phantom who survives a run in with a brutal Russian Colonel to fight another day.
The story while fast moving and entertaining does feel a bit rushed particularly a cloak and dagger B plot inside the Kremlin itself. This B plot alone could make a great read. Fans of the movie "Patton" will appreciate the climax of "Iron Tigers" be it a bit farfetched.
A few faults aside "Iron Tigers" is a nicely conceived, well-executed military thriller and well worth a look.
That is the premise behind Michael Farmer’s military thriller "Iron Tigers". It is a straight forward, get to point war story. While not on a par with Tom Clancy’s World War III masterpiece "Red Storm Rising" or works by Larry Bond (Vortex and Red Phoenix) it is nonetheless a fast paced, enjoyable read.
As an active duty member of the military serving with CENTCOM Farmers knowledge of tactics and tank combat is clearly seen within the pages of "Iron Tigers". His writing reminds me of Harold Coyle (Team Yankee and The Ten Thousand). He also does a nice job of taking the reader into the halls of power in Washington and Moscow to observe some the statecraft and brinkmanship involved in waging a war.
The characters in "Iron Tigers" are fairly one dimensional and standard for a novel of this type. There are two exceptions. Rolf Krieger is a Schwarzenegger-esque type character, the son of parents from the East Germany he has a burning hatred of Russians and is delighted for an opportunity to confront the Russians in battle. The other is a Jack Russell Terrier named
Phantom who survives a run in with a brutal Russian Colonel to fight another day.
The story while fast moving and entertaining does feel a bit rushed particularly a cloak and dagger B plot inside the Kremlin itself. This B plot alone could make a great read. Fans of the movie "Patton" will appreciate the climax of "Iron Tigers" be it a bit farfetched.
A few faults aside "Iron Tigers" is a nicely conceived, well-executed military thriller and well worth a look.
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