Author: kane2026

Treadstone Review - John played by Jeremy Irvine

TV-series

Treadstone The Cicada Protocol Review

Treadstone is a new series depicting the origin stories of the secretive CIA assassins from The Bourne Ultimatum movie series – and novel by Robert Ludlum. I hadn’t really noticed this series coming – the first I heard of it was in the spring. But after yesterday’s premiere I am glad I have taken an interest in this series. It is dark, mysterious and offers a bountiful springboard for more, but with a few caveats. The episode starts with an man restlessly restrained in a chair at a Stasi facility in East Berlin – sometime before the collapse of communism....

Mr. Robot '402 Payment Required' Review 6

TV-series

Mr. Robot ‘402 Payment Required’ Review

It has been a while since I reviewed Mr. Robot. The show starring Rami Malek and created by Sam Esmail has been a favorite since the beginning, but also hard to review. This episode was however very enjoyable and easy to follow. The latter cannot be said often of this show, which I think has alienated many viewers. If you want an easy intro to season 4, then this is your review to read. Mr. Robot will be ending with its fourth season. After this episode there are only 8 more to go, not much time left to fully conclude...

Blade Runner 2019 # 4 Review - small cover

Literature

Blade Runner 2019 # 4 Review – the end of book one

A few days ago Blade Runner 2019 issue 4 was released. I have been so busy with the website as well work I have had no time to do a thorough review. Which I hereby remedy with my review of Blade Runner 2019 # 4. If you want to catch up with all three previous reviews here are the links: issue # 1, issue # 2 and issue # 3. Issue 4 takes Blade Runner Ash to the sanctuary island off the coast of Mexico. With the help of the Tyrell corporation she managed she track down billionaire Selwyn’s missing...

2600 the hacker quarterly

Literature

Review of 2600 The Hacker Quarterly Autumn 2019

For almost a decade I have been an avid reader of one particular Hacker zine: 2600 The Hacker Quarterly. First launched in 1984 the title is reference to the dial tone that was used on older non-digital telephones. Mimicking this sound it allowed those so inclined to make long distance calls for free if necessary. 2600 has as such been around for a long time, along with the Hacker conference they organize every 2 years (HOPE). Alas the publishing market is not what it once was with diminishing subscriptions, ad revenue and increasing print costs. 2600 once had a readership...

Earthquake Bird poster starring Alicia Vikander

Film

Earthquake Bird Trailer and Preview

Yesterday saw the release of the official trailer for Earthquake Bird. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Susanna Jones and start Alicia Vikander. Set in the late 80s Japan Vikander plays Lucy Fly, an expat who becomes the lead suspect in the disappearance of her friend Lily. Earthquake Bird is not a whodunnit The story of Earthquake Bird is based on is not really a whodunnit, but instead an in-depth analysis of a relationship breaking down. It deals with themes such as obsession, estrangement and betrayal. So why would Earthquake Bird capture my attention?...

Joker Review - Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character

Film

Joker Review – the most depressing movie of 2019 and its greatest

For most of the year the movie I was looking forward to most was Joker. When a famous actor – especially a character actor such as Joaquin Phoenix – stars in the origin story of one of the best villains of all time you know it will be great. You know it will also be cringe worthy – the director admitted to borrowing from Taxi Driver after all. As if that is not reason enough to watch it Joker also stars Robert De Niro (from aforementioned Taxi Driver and of course The Godfather), Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2) and Brett Bullen...

Hack Yourself First Review

Literature

Hack Yourself First Review – an introduction not to miss

A few days ago I managed to obtain a review copy of a recently released book on cyber security. It is called Hack Yourself First by Stephen Haywood. I have a read a fair number of books on the topic during the past decade and I can tell you: less is more. Plenty of tomes explain the details of a particular hack vector only to forget readers must be able to apply them. I myself even ventured to write a book about hacking as well. It is called The Linux Command Line, Programming and Hacking. It is currently available at...

Rogue Bit Review 1

Computer Games

Rogue Bit Review for the Nintendo Switch

Programming and hacking games are becoming increasingly more popular these days. Games such as Uplink, Exapunks and now Rogue Bit are each defining the genre in different ways. The latter is now also available for the switch. And this is not a straight-forward port. The in-game text has actually been altered for the Switch. In Rogue Bit, you play as a sentient Bit. In actuality you are the second bit from a larger Byte. Your lot in life is to try and survive. If for example you XOR’ed, then your value is set to zero and that won’t do. Rogue...

Will Byers Secret Files 4

TV-series

Read my review of Will Byers Secret Files

It has only been just over 2 months since season 3 of Stranger Things aired on Netflix. The series, set in the early 80s has been a fan favorite since its start in 2016. Featuring a group of youths in the town of Hawkins, Indiana who must deal with the illegal experiments wrought upon its citizens. Will Byers is one of the group members. The other core members are Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Eleven (El). However over the course of three season this group as changed, now Mad Max, Steve and Jonathan can also be said to be included. The...

Star Wars Kylo Ren issue 1 Kylo Ren kills the god

Literature

Star Wars Age of Resistance Kylo Ren Review

This week I am reviewing another single issue in the Star Wars Age of Resistance maxiseries. Last week I reviewed the Rey comic issue. This time the character focus is on Kylo Ren – or Ben Solo if you see things from a certain point of view. I take everybody is familiar Ben became Kylo Ren. The story of Kylo Ren # 1 This comic issue is set some time before The Force Awakens. It is seen through veteran storm trooper commander Captain Ruthford – now a member of The First Order. He is sent with his troops and Kylo...

Ad Astra Review - Brad Pitt as Astronaut Roy McBride

Film

Ad Astra Review – Brad Pitt subverts expectations

One of the oddball movies to see this year was for me Ad Astra. Before I saw it yesterday I knew very little about it. It appeared on my radar 2 years ago as some low-budget sci-fi flick, it just happen to star Brad Pitt, and Tommy Lee Jones, and Donald Sutherland as well as Ruth Negga and Liv Tyler. Those five names made it obligatory to watch. If it was a bad movie I would write a review telling everybody just how much it crashed and burned. I might have even bought a T-shirt that says ‘I survived Ad...

Land of Wolves by Craig Johnson Review cover

Literature

Land of Wolves by Craig Johnson Review

Its September, and you know what that means – another Craig Johnson novel. Specifically, another Longmire novel featuring our favorite Absaroka County sheriff Walt Longmire, and his kick-ass deputy Vic. This year’s novel is entitled Land of Wolves, an animal that features no small role. Land of Wolves feels like a refreshing reboot of the franchise. The depressing events of the previous books involving the Mexican drug cartels is finally over. The series jumped the shark with Walt going south of the border – but that is now in the past. Instead, Land of Wolves deals with a normal Absaroka...

Blade Runner 2019 # 3 Review 1

Literature

Blade Runner 2019 # 3 Review – Ash visits Tyrell corp.

This Blade Runner 2019 # 3 of the comic sets off right after the last one stopped. After her spinner is attacked Ash manages to crash land it. Her injuries are severe and unfortunately her fellow Blade Runner colleagues discover her extensive body modifications. Her boss pulls her off the case and she even loses her badge. Nobody wants to work with human-hybrid. No longer a Blade Runner but also unable to put the case aside Ash visits the Tyrell Corporation. Tyrell has already been looming over this comic as a dark shadow, but the visit proves their involvement in...

Star Wars Resistance Rey # 1 Review 4

Literature

Star Wars Resistance Rey # 1 Review

Since the summer Marvel has released single issue Star Wars comics under the Resistance maxiseries label. All of these issues are themed around a character from the sequel trilogy. The series gives us a little bit of insight into the characters in the run up to Rise of Skywalker. We have had Finn, Poe and somewhat controversially Snoke. Now Rey will have her issue. Rey is of course played by Daisy Ridley in the movies. Despite being the most important character of the sequel trilogy she has not appeared in many of the tie-in novels and comics. Until now with...

Borderlands 3 Review 2

Computer Games

Borderlands 3 Review – back to Pandora for more loot

Since 2009 Gearbox Software has been entertaining players with their cell-shaded graphics, loot-boxes and coop gameplay. Now Borderlands 3 is out and it feels like the developers have managed to yet again surprise me with their solid gameplay. The campaign sports about 35 hours of gameplay. I have done about a third of that. While the game itself is great I do have some gripes about the setting, which may not be for everyone. But you can read that for yourself in my review / first impression. So what is Borderlands 3 all about. Just like before the game is...

Lucy Liu in The Fashion of Elementary Season 7 Printed Silk Turtleneck Dress by Marc Jacobs and Jakeen Belt by Isabel Marant

TV-series

The Fashion of Elementary Season 7

Elementary may have concluded, but that does not mean we cannot admire its fashion one last time. For seven seasons I have admired how Rebecca Hofherr and her supporting staff clothed Joan and Sherlock. Joan especially sported a trendy, urban but also daring style. While wearing miniskirt and high heels to a crime scene may not be too sensible it is stylish. Her style is more reminiscent of boardrooms, luxury dining and trendy Manhattan neighborhoods. As Elementary sported plenty of each her look was just perfect. Sherlock’s fashion changed over the course of 7 seasons. From sensible 30s something urban...

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