Category Archives: Nuclear energy

Cloud Atlas (2012)

From Netflix:

In this star-studded drama, six seemingly disparate stories take viewers from a South Pacific Island in the 19th century to 1970s America to a dystopian future, exploring the complicated links that humans share through the generations.

In Mitchell’s novel each of the various episodes, all of which are related one to another, continue uninterrupted up to a cliff-hanging point of the episode near its end. At the end of the novel each of the episodes concludes.

In the film, on the other hand, those episodes are shuffled like a deck of cards. You constantly and abruptly flit from episode to episode.

Story alone will get you through the 172 minutes, even if not all the actors (some quite well known, but mum’s the word) excel at their craft.

For me the most unsettling thread was the account of Corpocracy. Could that really happen? In the book names of objects are replaced by their brand names. For example, the word “Lipton” is used instead of the archaic “tea”. Also I found the costumes for that portion eerily appropriate.

Believe it or not, I preferred the film. Enjoy!

Devices and Desires (1991)

From NetFlix:

Roy Marsden stars as Scotland Yard sleuth Adam Dalgliesh in this epic miniseries based on the popular mystery novel by P.D. James, a tale that also features a brief appearance by a young Kate Beckinsale. After inheriting a seaside cottage from his aunt, Dalgliesh escapes the city for a little R&R, only to find himself neck-deep in a string of serial killings. Can he expose the killer before his vacation is completely ruined?

Filmed in 1991, this 6-episode P.D. James mystery series can be streamed from NetFlix with subtitles. Somewhat ordinary, at least the story is neither gritty, grim, nor graphic.

Roy Marsden has played Adam Dalgliesh in many of these P.D. James book adaptations. As an extra treat we get to shudder at Gemma Jones’ cold steel-grays eyes.

Throw in some clandestine romances, some landlord-tenant grief, a struggling mother-less family with 3 children, and nuclear reactor intrigue and you get a watchable 6 hours of entertainment.