The 21-Word Review: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Amazing how Lin-Manuel managed to pull out the relevant bits and make it into a popular musical. A fascinating life

The 21-Word Review: Lee Daniels' The Butler (Netflix)

I finally saw it just as President Obama's term is ending. People of the future, we didn't elect Trump, did we?

The 21-Word Review: Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik

A bit high level in some areas, but overall a fascinating way of making the seemingly ordinary things in life extraordinary.

The 21-Word Review: His Dark Materials Omnibus by Philip Pullman

"Read it as an adult!" they said. "It will still be amazing!" they said. They were sadly mistaken. Very, very mistaken.

The 21-Word Review: Kilo Two Bravo (Netflix)

Gritty and amazingly realistic. I could have used subtitles for the accents, but I'm pretty sure I caught the overall gist.

The 21-Word Review: The Revenant by Michael Punke

Having not seen the movie, I can't imagine how Leo survived it. If you ever think your day is going badly ....

The 21-Word Review: Red Cliff (Theatrical Version) (Netflix)

Truly spectacular, interesting, and complex. I could not tell who was who during the large battles. Perhaps colored hats next time?

The 21-Word Review: Hitman, Agent 47 (Delta In-Flight Movie)

Every  flight, I pick a movie to sleep through that is sufficiently noisy but limited in plot. Introducing this week's winner.

The 21-Word Review: Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Ironically, I was halfway through reading his book with the author died. A brilliant if unnecessarily dense book at times.

The 21-Word Review: Hunger Games, Mockingjay Part 2 (Delta In-Flight Movie)

It is hard to remember when Jennifer Lawrence was a young, fresh, relatively new face in the first Hunger Games movie.

The 21-Word Review: Black Mass (Delta In-Flight Movie)

Captain Jack is looking pretty bad these days. And his vocabulary has significantly suffered, too. Or perhaps this is a prequel?

The 21-Word Review: The Martian (Delta In-Flight Movie)

Nerds rule! Almost as techie as the book, but still exciting enough that liberal arts majors can enjoy it. Science FTW.

The 21-Word Review: Creed (Delta In-Flight Movie)

Yes, it is definitely the best one since the first Rocky. No more lose, then a death, then win trite formula.

The 21-Word Review: 10 Cloverfield Lane

The genre changes at least three times, and there is no way to predict what will happen next. I like surprises!

The 21-Word Review: Deadpool

Original, even if based on a longstanding character. And for those who asked, no - do not take your 12 year old.

The 21-Word Review: Day Watch (Netflix)

Sequel, vampires, shape shifters, dynamic subtitles, cars driving on buildings, apocalypse, the Chalk of Fate, swords, souped up utility trucks. Fantastic.

The 21-Word Review: Night Watch (Netflix)

A perfect treadmill movie - innovative subtitles, distracting action, and a unique storyline that keeps your mind off of the running drudgery.

The 21-Word Review: The Ridiculous Six (Netflix)

I like to imagine that Netflix had Sandler create this because of some beef with Tarantino. No other explanation makes sense.

The 21-Word Review: The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino and Alexander O. Smith

Who wouldn't like a book with an introverted, unattractive, overweight, genius, Japanese, mathematics teacher hero? But seriously, it works remarkably well.

The 21-Word Review: Star Wars, the Force Awakens

I thought the [spoilers] was particularly interesting, especially when [spoilers]. And could you believe [spoilers] killed [spoilers]? [Spoilers] if [spoilers] [spoilers]?

The 21-Word Review: Big Short

The book was amazing, but I never expected it to work as a movie. Thanks you SAG friend for the ticket.

The 21-Word Review: Making a Murderer (Netflix)

I added Manitowoc County to the list of places to visit in my Wayback Machine, along with Area 51 and Roanoke.

The 21-Word Review: Things to do in Denver When You're Dead

Sleep.  Just fall down. Lie in the middle of a mile high street. Slide down the ski slopes on your face.

The 21 Word Review: Battle Royale

Hunger Games not brutal enough? Try the Japanese middle school version, where disrespecting elders is the justification for killing off kids.

The 21-Word Review: Reservoir Dogs (Netflix)

The 21 words that would best describe this movie, taken directly from the script, could not be published on this blog.