Author: markswritingcorner

Mark Ahern was born in 1979 and is from Ireland. He attained a Degree in Commerce from UCD in 2000 and a Masters in European Studies in 2001. He has written three novels to date encompassing science fiction and thrillers. At times Mark has used his experiences as an individual with a disability to write from a truly unique perspective. "Chronicles of Martan" which is his sole science fiction work to date, is an epic space odyssey inspired by his love of Star Wars. This was followed by "Not the Usual Suspect" and "Paradigm". His current project is called "The Irish Ripper" and should be available late 2019.

Review of One Battle After Another (2025)

Well, readers, if ever there was a counter-culture film to Trump’s America, then this is it, It oozes wokeness, but, at nearly three hours long, is it any good?

It stars some great actors, Leonardo Di Capprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro. Di Capprio gives a great performance.

The film’s narrative grapples with ideas about legacy, revolution, and personal consequence. For many viewers, these themes may give the story a depth beyond surface-level action. Thrilling sequences are filled with moments that invite reflection on how past actions reverberate through personal and political life.

Ghetto” Pat Calhoun (Di Capprio)and Perfidia Beverly Hills are members of a far-left revolutionary group, the French 75. While breaking out detained immigrants from Otay Mesa Detention Center, Perfidia sexually humiliates the commanding officer, Steven J. Lockjaw, who afterward becomes obsessed with her. Pat and Perfidia become lovers. When Lockjaw catches Perfidia planting a bomb, he releases her after she agrees to his demand to later meet him for sex.

After Perfidia gives birth to a girl named Charlene, Pat tries to persuade her to settle down, but she instead abandons Pat and Charlene to continue her revolutionary activities. She is arrested after murdering a security guard in an armed bank robbery. Lockjaw arranges for her to avoid prison in exchange for the names and whereabouts of key French 75 members. Perfidia enters witness protection, while Lockjaw uses the information she provided to hunt down and summarily execute her comrades. French 75 member Howard Sommerville gives Pat and Charlene stolen identities as Bob and Willa Ferguson, while Perfidia flees witness protection for Mexico.

This covers the first third of the film, or so. French 75 are terrorists. They bomb courthouses and free illegal immigrants at the point of the gun. Their cited causes are no borders and bodily autonomy (against restrictions on abortion). And white people are bad, mostly.

There is a part that had me laughing. In the car early in the film, Perfidia asks Leonardo’s character Pat if he likes black girls. I knew that wouldn’t be a problem, but I wondered if she would be too old for him!

A weakness in the early part of the film is how easily Lockjaw can track Perfidia with little explanation given. Also, nobody in the movement seems bothered that the only person they kill is a black security guard.

Anyhow, sixteen years later, living off-the-grid in the sanctuary city of Baktan Cross, California, Bob (Pat) has become a paranoid stoner. He is protective of Willa (Charlene), now a free-spirited teenager who resents his substance abuse, and has led her to believe Perfidia was a hero. Through his vehement anti-immigration efforts, Lockjaw has become a colonel and a prominent figure within the U.S. security agencies. When Lockjaw is invited to become a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club, a white supremacist secret society, he seeks to kill Willa to hide his past interracial relationship with Perfidia. He hires the Indigenous bounty hunter Avanti Q to capture Howard, triggering a distress signal to be sent to the French 75.

What follows is some good action scenes. As with more modern films, Charlene saves herself to a large extent. There is little need for the father figure except as emotional support.

I score the film three stars out of five. In cinemas now.

Review of the Film 28 Years Later

Hi, ladies and gentlemen. Yes, I’m still on my Christmas holidays. That is probably why you are hearing so much from me at the moment. On the plus side, I watched this film earlier and thought I’d share my thoughts.

For those who don’t love zombies as much as I (weirdos), this is a sequel to the iconic film 28 Days Later. A truly great film.

The premise in this universe is that in 2002, animal activists infiltrate a top-secret laboratory of scientists to release animals, and in the process unknowingly release chimpanzees infected with a pathogen, resulting in a rapid outbreak. The scientists were studying a highly contagious and powerful disease named the Rage Virus. This virus spreads throughout the UK, turning much of its population into de facto zombies.  Great stuff, I know.

Fortunately, it’s only the UK that has been affected (not overly worrisome), and it is in quarantine. This is a bit more serious than leaving the EU.

Anyways, this film starts with lots of kids in a room watching the Teletubbies, a perfect way to tell us the time period. Except for one lucky survivor, all the kids get killed. I almost shed a tear, seriously.

The film then jumps forward to the present. The movie understands that the real horror of an apocalypse isn’t just the chaos—it’s the long-term admin. Systems are breaking down. People are adapting in weird ways, going all medieval and shit. Societies are rebuilding themselves with duct tape and unresolved trauma.

At the heart of the film is a son’s love for his mother. It was all going so well, till then. She’s very sick, and the son thinks a doctor is a solution. It gives them a reason to go on a journey, but the kid seems happy to risk everything on blind luck. It’s a major weakness for the film, as well as the lack of understanding of the father.

They should have continued the film as it started – the father-son relationship.

Another criticism is that many of the scenes didn’t look apocalyptic. Too few trees, the grass was too short, and the roads’ surface too perfect. 28 years later, my ass. I expect more from a film.

For those reasons, it’s three stars from me.

Have you seen it? Why not message and let me know?

Distant Love (Part 56)

She has long, curly, brown hair and is giving him a warm smile. Her body is voluptuous, and she is dressed in a black tank top and bottom.

“Come here often?” Derek replies.

“Quite often, best place to go if you ask me. I live quite close by.”

Two guys with long hair pulled up on either side of her.

She glances at them and nods in Timothy’s direction. “Meet my new friend.”

They both say hi.

The guy to Derek’s left asks. “So, where are you from?”

“Zone C. The name’s Derek. I came for the Jupiter fair.”

The man’s eyes widened. “So did we. Brilliant, wasn’t it? My name is Jake, and this is Ted. You’ve met Melanie.”

“Oh yeah, brilliant. I’d love to visit for real.”

It makes Derek’s trip, and the banter continues for over two hours.

Then his new friends give him a hug and say their goodbyes.

He looks at the empty table and then around the bar. This is a bar that never closes. The bar staff and most of the patrons have changed since his arrival. The music is still blaring. He feels the warmth from the alcohol as well as some lethargy.

For a moment, he thinks he sees the woman with the tattoo at the other side of the bar. Then, she turns and is gone again.

Stranger Things Finale Review: Four Stars for Epic Battle

Well, there it is, ladies and gentlemen, the finale of Stranger Things. But what did I think? I know what you’re thinking, not a Game of Thrones ending, please.

Well, I enjoyed it. The first hour or so was excellent. It was the final defeat of Vecna, and each character played their role. It explained where Veca had come from.

The action scenes were fabulous. My favorite was when they were battling the Mind Flayer. I loved the visual effects. Really edge-of-the-seat stuff.

Everything got tied up nicely.

But that was the peak.

Then they seemed to drive themselves, literally, into an obvious trap. They knew the military was after them.

Big Spoiler Alert

And then Eleven sacrifices herself to ensure they will never be able to use her blood to make baby Vecnas. Everybody’s crying. A bit of a downer, but I enjoyed it.

Then it jumps to 18 months later, and we see how they are getting on, and hints at what lies in their future. My guess is the nineties. All nice, warm, somewhat boring. Mike comes up with a believable theory that Eleven might still be alive. It sounds plausible. They all believe. I see some plot holes.

I give it four stars out of five.

Have you seen it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Happy New Year!

Hello readers, thank you for all the support you’ve provided throughout the year, whether it’s in the form of messages, likes, shares, or simply reading my blog posts.

2025 had one thousand more views than 2024. I hope it will continue on an upward trajectory in 2026.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Review

Well, I finally got around to seeing this. This lapse would be very difficult to explain to my ten-year-old self. But was it worth the wait?

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (also known as Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker) is a 2019 American epic space opera film produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. Produced by Lucasfilm and Bad Robot, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017), and the final episode of the nine-part “Skywalker saga.” And what a saga, it has proven to be.

Rey continues her journey with determination, compassion, and the kind of emotional resilience that would make any Jedi Master weep proudly into their robe. Her arc is full of self-discovery and inner conflict, and the movie treats her struggle with genuine sincerity. She’s not just swinging a lightsaber—she’s wrestling with identity, legacy, and the age-old Star Wars question: “What if my family history is… a lot?”

And in fairness, her family history is complicated to say the least. You see, it turns out Palpatine is her grandpa. These Jedi and Sith seem to be all related.

Meanwhile, Kylo Ren remains one of the most entertainingly conflicted characters in the entire franchise. Adam Driver commits so hard to every glare, whisper, and emotional breakdown that you half-expect the Force to file a noise complaint. His journey is dramatic, intense, and surprisingly touching—proof that no one does “angsty space villain with great hair” quite like him.

The one thing that doesn’t come off is the kiss between Rey and Kylo Ren or Ben at that stage. It comes out of nowhere, and to be frank, brothers and sisters have had more sexual chemistry in this saga.

The supporting cast brings warmth, humor, and that classic Star Wars camaraderie. Finn is earnest and heroic, Poe is charmingly reckless, and their banter gives the movie a breezy, adventurous feel—even when the fate of the galaxy is, once again, hanging by a very thin thread. New characters slide in with confidence, while familiar faces return like old friends who immediately start helping you move furniture without being asked.

Visually, the movie is a feast. Lightsabers glow dramatically, starships collide with operatic flair, and the Force has never looked so… forceful. Every frame feels designed to be replayed, paused, and pointed at while someone says, “Okay, but that part was actually really cool.”

And yes—this film is emotional. It wears its heart on its Jedi sleeve. Themes of hope, legacy, redemption, and chosen family run through the story like the Force itself. It reminds us that the past matters, but it doesn’t have to define us—a message that feels very Star Wars and very earned.

This is a film for all ages that leaves you feeling all warm inside.

Four stars out of five from me. My ten-year-old self gives it a million.

Why The Last Jedi Stands Out in Star Wars Saga

Believe it or not, it turns out that I missed some of the Star Wars films. And, perhaps you have too. They don’t appear on anything, except Disney, so they are easily missed. At least, I had two good films to watch. Always look on the bright side of life, eh.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the cinematic equivalent of showing up to a family reunion and discovering that Uncle Luke has undergone a profound philosophical transformation, dyed his hair gray, and now has very strong opinions about the Jedi Order. And honestly? It’s not the best part of the film. Uncle Luke is a bit too entrenched for my liking.

Visually, the movie is absolutely gorgeous. Every frame looks like it was designed to be someone’s desktop background. The red-and-white battlefield on Crait is striking, the space battles are inventive, and the quieter moments are given room to breathe. From an Irish perspective, the scenes on Skellig Michael are fantastic. We’re going to have yanks visiting these shores for many years to come.

Rey and Kylo Ren are the central characters of this film, and it is clear that this is their trilogy. Good versus evil, the light versus the darkness. Except, there is a bit of grey in both of them, leaving you unsure what way things are going to end up.

Most of all, this film is great entertainment for all ages. I give it four stars out of five.

Have you seen it? Let me know what you think.

Exploring _The Salt Path Scandal_: A Review

Well, readers, I watched this gem on Sky earlier. The first few minutes revisit what had been a best-selling book, later turned into a starring Gillian Anderson.

The show lulls you into a tranquil daze. There are drone shots of cliffs that look like they’ve been photoshopped by the concept of serenity itself. Gentle strings hum. Someone says something earnest about “healing.” You exhale. It’s about a 650-mile walk you can do in the South West of England as told by Raynor Winn. She had just lost her house, and her husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The walk was transformative.

And then—record scratch—a talking head appears to ask a question so sharp it could open tinned beans: “But did that actually happen?” From there, The Salt Path Scandal becomes less a journey and more a brisk hike through footnotes.

The documentary’s true star is its tone, which can best be described as polite British skepticism wearing a fleece. Nobody yells. Nobody lunges. Instead, the filmmakers deploy the deadliest weapon in the national arsenal: calm, persistent follow-ups. “Just to clarify,” a narrator says, with the menace of a librarian about to revoke privileges. Every “just to clarify” lands like a small pebble in your shoe—annoying, impossible to ignore, and increasingly painful over time.

You see, the book claimed to be a memoir. Like, it was supposed to be true. But once, a journalist, Hadjimatheou, probed a bit. Well, there were reasons to be skeptical.

Structurally, the series is a masterclass in pacing. Each episode introduces a claim, lets it bask in sunlight, then quietly rotates it to reveal a price tag, a date discrepancy, or a witness who remembers things… differently. It’s less gotcha journalism and more hmm, interesting journalism,

By the finale, you’re left amused, mildly scandalized, and deeply suspicious of any memoir. The truth is out there somewhere.

It gets four stars out of five from me.

Have you seen it? Let me know what you think.

Distant Love (Part 55)

Rosemary’s proves to be everything he hoped for. It is crowded, but not so much that he can’t move around in his wheelchair. The latest music from Earth, a strange electric form, is playing. Strobe lighting is going back and forth. Now, what to order? It had been some time since his last one.

A gender neutral bartender, with bright purple hair and a blue latex suit, approached. “What can I get you, sir?

“Any recommendations?”

“Well, my favorite is the Lunar Dicer. How about that?

Derek smiled. “Yeah, let’s give it a go.” He has no idea what’s in it. But that’s what he wants today, a change in the drudgery of his day-to-day, that seems to have gone on forever.

A moment later, the drink is beside him and within reach of his mouth with a straw. He takes a sip as he watches scantily clad women dance in the distance. The taste is strong, like that of cognac.

After another few sips, he starts to move to the music.

“Eh, you have some nice moves there, you should bring your chair out onto the dancefloor!”

It takes a second over the din of the music for Derek to realize that the woman at the next table was talking to him.

Distant Love (Part 54)

Derek spends hours more going from moon to moon after that. A siren goes off for a few seconds. It’s a warning that the fair is coming to a close.

Damn, I haven’t even seen Jupiter itself yet!

He powers over to the huge planet. There are no human settlements in its atmosphere to admire. Not yet, anyway, plans have been drawn up. He concentrates on its great red spot, a giant perpetual storm, and the differing colors of its clouds.

Feeling a pang of sadness, he turns around to look at the crowd around. Everyone else is either with their partner or with friends.

He shakes his head. Thinking like that will get him nowhere. Yes, it would be nice to have a girlfriend to share days such as these, but he needs to be realistic. The closest thing he had to one was Maeve, and he’d probably never actually meet her.

It had been a good day. That is what he needed to concentrate on.

Now, for the final part of his plan. A nice pint of ale in Rosemary’s. He had never been there before, but it looked like an interesting place to go, and most importantly, it was close by.