Shoot Them Up, Blow Them Up: My Kind of Valentine

Don't you just hate it when a perfectly good action story is ruined by an romantic interlude.  And I don't just mean a quick kiss and "I love you honey" type of thing.  I'm talking full out romance, the drawn out looks, the long speech, the whole package.

I mean come on... we've got time to declare our undying love for each other while people are shooting at us and the world is generally going to hell with a handgun.

Really???

Somehow I don't think so.

And it's kind of sad that writers think that the only way a woman can enjoy a action story is to have some romance thrown in.  Personally I enjoy nothing more than a shoot them up, blow them up kind of movie where the romance is minimal or even better non existent.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm a big believer in romance - of all varieties.  Whether it's true love, soul mates, love at first sight, I'm there.  I just don't need romance for the sake of romance or because I'm a chick.

I'd much rather have an action story be what it is: gripping, exciting with the odd touch of humour and filled with explosions, kick ass fighting, baddies to cheer for and men who don't take no for an answer.

Skyfall

How can you go wrong with a James Bond movie and the latest is definitely one of the best.  There's a baddie whose a little bit psycho, explosions, shoot outs and kick ass fighting.

God this is so my kind of movie and the perfect movie to watch on Valentine's Day.

After all nothing says romance like 'Honey pass me the gun so I can kill some bad guys'  
 The Avengers

I've been a fan of Joss Whedon for years.  After all he created one of the best shows ever in the form of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and he is just brilliant at creating and writing well rounded characters, flaws and all.

So hearing that he wrote and directed The Avengers was more than reason enough to see it and of course it doesn't disappoint.  The characters aren't quite as fleshed out but then again this is a movie not a TV series so time is limited.  There is though enough of his usual touches with some great one liners and moments of humour plus some serious ass kicking.

The Long Kiss Goodnight

 Now this is my kind of movie.

A heroine who doesn't need rescuing but who can quite easily rescue herself and take out a few bad guys along the way.

Even better she gives the ultimate pay back to a lover gone bad. Yes!


Aliens

Another kick ass heroine and one of the best action sci-fi movies ever made. This is the ultimate movie.  And one where fans know the words line by line (trust me - having witness a cinema full of guys quoting the lines at an anniversary screening was one of the funniest thing... EVER!)

This time the baddies aren't CIA or criminals on the run but aliens who are out to make your life hell.

Don't you just hate it when the world needs rescuing from suck face aliens.

Die Hard

Die Hard is not only my go to movie for Christmas but is also a perfect Valentine's Day movie.

There's the divinely wonderful baddie in the form of Alan Rickman (be still my beating heart...), explosions galore and one liners that make the heart flutter.

Who needs romance when you've got terrorists to cheer for.

Kick Ass

A boy who wants to be a super-hero meets a girl who kind of is.

Kick Ass the movie might be called but Hit Girl is the star of this all out bloody, funny, action movie.

With her purple hair, cool cape and black eye mask Hit Girl is the idol of many a girl (and women).

Even better Kick Ass 2 is due for release later this year and Hit Girl is back, older and badassier than ever.

Person of Interest

There is no romance in this show except for the bromance (and those out there know what I mean) between the characters of Reese and Finch, and it's perfect because of that.

Finch is the brains and Reese... well he's the muscle.  A stealthy,  deadlier, shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy and between them their out to help 'The Machine' save the lives of people who find themselves in bad situations.

It's a perfect blend of conspiracy, corruption, crime and ... comrade-a-ship.

All I can say is... bring on the mayhem!

Summer Reads For The Man In Your Life

"It's not the men in your life that matters, it's the life in your men."
- Mae West

Men.

They say that we're mysterious but really it's them who are the confusing ones.

There's their unconditional love of sport for one thing.  Even when their team is losing they are there cheering them on and yelling at the TV all sorts of bad words about the ref.

Then there's their love of gadgets.  From cellphones to chainsaws to cars nothing seems to give them more pleasure than playing with whatever new toy that has caught their latest fixation.  It's kind of sweet really how their faces light up as if they have seen the holy grail or something.  Weird but sweet.

And don't get me started on the truly weird phenomenon of how they can never find things without our help even when said "missing item" is staring them right in the face.

Still we wouldn't want to be without them.  From father to son to brother, to lover and BFF, they are there for us providing their unique attitude to life and their unconditional support.

They take care of the scary monsters even if they are only tiny little daddy-long legs.  They tell us we're beautiful even when we are looking our worst and they're the strong shoulders we cry on when we've had a bad day.

One way we are the same is that like us they like to read. 

From sports books to science books to spy thrillers there is a wide selection to choose from so here are some picks for that man in your life.

Happy reading! 

Richie McCaw : the open side / Richie McCaw with Greg McGee.

Even I know who Richie McCaw is, non-sporty person that I am, and here in his own words is the story of his career so far.

Rockin' garages : featuring Billy Joel, Keith Urban, Brian Johnson, Nick Mason, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Sammy Hagar, and more/ by Tom Cotter and Ken Gross 

As a wanna-be rock chick this book appeals even to me featuring as it does interviews with some of the biggest names in rock music who talk about their passion for cars all highlighted with wonderful photos throughout.  One for any music fan or petrol head.

The last man / Vince Flynn

Joe Rickman, head of CIA clandestine operations in Afghanistan, has been kidnapped and his four bodyguards executed in cold blood. But Mitch Rapp’s experience makes him wonder if something even more sinister isn’t afoot when he is dispatched him to Afghanistan to find Rickman at all costs.

Newton's fire / Will Adams

A chance discovery in a dusty attic plunges academic Luke Hayward into a race to uncover the truth behind some seemingly random scribblings - a race which pits Luke against a fundamentalist madman with dangerously powerful friends.

50 years of James Bond.

What can we say except James Bond rocks.  The greatest spy ever created.  50 years after the first movie Dr No screened Bond is still going strong.

A little history of science / William Bynum.

A look at what some consider the greatest adventure of all - the quest of science discovery.


The Stig : the untold story / Simon du Beaumarche.

Who is The Stig? Where did he come from? Why does he never speak?  These questions and others are answered in this tell-all-book.

I suck at girls / Justin Halpern.

A humorous collection of stories about the author's relationships with the opposite sex told chronologically, from his first kiss to getting engaged.

Red country / Joe Abercrombie.

Joe Abercrombie is considered one of the fantasy authors to watch out for out.  His books have consistently appeared in top ten fantasy must reads and his latest book is proving to be just as popular.  A stand-alone book this time, it sees the return of one of the fans favourites.

 The devil in silver : a novel / Victor LaValle

Placed in a mental institution, Pepper discovers that the terrifying creature he sees might not be a delusion and with three other inmates plots to fight back against the the monster that is stalking them, but can the Devil ever really be killed?
 
Petrolheads in sheds : unique kiwi car collections / Steve Holmes.

A look at the the hidden and private world of kiwi car collectors.

The Kiwi man cave / Steve Hale with Matt Elliott.

Man caves?  Mmm I'm not sure what they are but this book is sure to tell me.  Sounds very blokey, which is exactly how our kiwi men are and we love them for it.