Travis Simpkins: Video Games

Showing posts with label Video Games. Show all posts

Saturday, February 14, 2026

The Last Wish. The Witcher. Andrzej Sapkowski. Fantasy. Geralt of Rivia

I'm enjoying "The Last Wish" the first book in The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Geralt the Witcher—revered and hated—holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in this collection of adventures, the first chapter in Andrzej Sapkowski’s groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games.

Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. Yet he is no ordinary killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good . . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

Witcher collections
The Last Wish
Sword of Destiny

Witcher novels
Blood of Elves
The Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of Swallows
Lady of the Lake
Season of Storms
Crossroads of Ravens

Hussite Trilogy
The Tower of Fools
Warriors of God

Translated from original Polish by Danusia Stok

https://amzn.to/4kzPDRx

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Tomb Raider (2018): Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft

Directed by Roar Uthaug, Tomb Raider (2018) is based on the 2013 version of the video game and is a reboot of the earlier Tomb Raider film series. The story follows Lara Croft, the independent daughter of a wealthy adventurer, who is pushed to the limits when she finds herself on the remote Pacific island where her father disappeared. Action and archaeology mix well with ancient curses and legend. The mummy of the mythical Queen Himiko, said to hold the power of life and death, adds a nice eery touch. The cast does a great job, including Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft and Dominic West as her father.

Tomb Raider. 2018

Tomb Raider. 2018: Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003): Angelina Jolie and Pandora's Box

Directed by Jan de Bont, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) sprung off the success of the previous film based on the popular video game series… with a bigger budget and bigger effects. The story concerns Lady Croft's search for the mythical Pandora's Box, the existence of which became known after her discovery of Alexander the Great's sunken Luna Temple. Exotic locales provide a beautiful backdrop. Tense shootouts amongst ancient Chinese terra-cotta warriors and Macedonian treasures are cringe-inducing. Like the previous film, the subject matter lends itself to the glorification of looting by presenting a sensationalized depiction of archaeology… but it is pure entertainment and is delivered with a modicum of humor. Angelina Jolie is beautiful, energetic and agile in her role, performing many of her own stunts. The supporting cast is good as well, including Ciaran Hinds and Djimon Hounsou.