Robert Downey, Jr. won a Golden Globe for his performance of Sherlock Holmes. That won’t mollify the purists who think Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett are the only actors who could play the role. Downey, with the aid of Jude Law as the able
Dr. Watson, take on a criminal conspiracy that dabbles in Black Magic and revolution. My only quibble is that the fetching Rachel McAdams doesn’t get enough screen time for my taste. Turning Sherlock Holmes into an action movie does have some downside: the action has to be explained in a data-dump delivered by Downey at the movie’s conclusion. But despite these quibbles, I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes and you probably would, too. GRADE: B
SHERLOCK HOLMES
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Hubris. Paul Ingrassia uses that word several times in his meticulous historical analysis of “what went wrong” with the U. S. automotive industry. But, Ingrassia doesn’t stop there. He includes all the mistakes the Japanese made in the American auto market, too. There’s plenty of blame to spread around from General Motors betting the price of gas would stay at $1.00 a gallon so SUVs would stay a viable (and profitable) product line–they lost that bet Big Time–to the United Auto Workers negotiating the infamous Job Bank that paid laid-off workers almost all of their salary to do Nothing (at a cost of $400 million). Colossal blunders, greed, excess, abuse of power, and denial of Reality round out Ingrassia’s fascinating story. I highly recommend Crash Course. GRADE: A 
Jack Bauer is back on FOX tonight to protect us from terrorist plots and corrupt Government officials. Season Seven of 24 was a bit of a yawner so I’m hoping Season Eight features plenty of explosions and gun-play. The best part of 24 is following Dave Barry’s real-time commentary on each episode. I log on to Dave Barry’s blog before each airing of an episode of 24 and laugh at Dave Barry’s analysis of 24’s mayhem. If you haven’t watched the previous seven seasons of 24 don’t worry. You’ll get up to speed quickly as soon as the bullets start flying. The plotting isn’t that deep.
It was news to me that Antonin Dvorak had written a piano concerto. I’m familiar with Dvorak’s other music, with the New World Symphony, the Slavonic Dances, the “American” String Quartet, and the Cello Concerto in B minor being my favorites. When I read a very positive review in the American Record Guide of Vassily Primakov’s new CD with his performance of Dvorak’s piano concerto, I immediately ordered it. While not as compelling as his other work, Dvorak wrote a very entertaining piece of music when he penned his piano concerto. Vassily Primakov’s performance is sparkling and full of energy. Along with the piano concerto, Dvorak’s Poetic Tone-Pictures, Op. 85 fills out the disk. This is pleasant music superbly played. GRADE: A-
Rick Robinson and Drongo urged me to review A. Merritt’s classic The Ship of Ishtar so here it goes. I read this book back in the 1960s. Now with Planet Stories’ new edition being published, it was great to reread this mind-bending fantasy. The first fact you need to know is that The Ship of Ishtar was first published in 1924. Literary fashions change over 86 years. In The Ship of Ishtar the reader needs to adjust to florid descriptions like “His eyes dwelt upon her sweetly amorous, scarlet mouth, the tiny chalice for kisses at her throat.” (p. 62) The glamorous redhead on the book’s cover is Sharane, the avatar of Ishtar (Mother of the Gods and Men). Opposing her on the Ship of Ishtar is the evil Klaneth, avatar of Nergal (God of Death). Into this fantastic brew lands John Kenton, an archeologist recovering from injuries sustained during World War I. Kenton’s adventures aboard the Ship and his frequent journeys back to his mansion in 1924 make for a choppy narrative. But stay with the story for the dramatic rescue in the Temple of the Seven Zones. If you enjoy High Adventure in the mode of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Otis Adelbert Kline, Clark Ashton Smith, and Robert E. Howard then you’ll enjoy The Ship of Ishtar. Eric Mona and the staff at Planet Stories have put together a great package: the most complete edition of this novel in 60 years including Virgil Finlay’s legendary erotic artwork. This book should be in your personal library.
Liz Williams’ Snake Agent works the same side of the street as Jim Butcher’s “The Dresden Files” and Simon R. Green’s “Nightside Supernatural Detective” series. Detective Inspector Chen is assigned spooky cases (anything supernatural or mystical) in the Singapore Three Police Department. He is allied with a goddess who protects Chen (sometimes) and is the source of his powers (sometimes). Chen starts Snake Agent by investigating the murder of an industrialist’s daughter and uncovers a vast conspiracy that leads to Hell itself. Along the way, Chen finds himself working with Seneschal Zhu Irzh, a demon from Hell’s Vice Division. Together, they follow the clues to uncover a dangerous plot. For more information, you can check out Rick Robinson’s take on Snake Agent 
