Tag: writing

Exploring Dean Potter: The Dark Wizard of Extreme Climbing

My dear readers. As a person who never walked, climbing was way out of reach. It is something that occasionally fascinates me. I’ll be honest, if I was able bodied, I wouldn’t risk it. I definitely wouldn’t free climb.

If you want to know how nutty people can be, then you need to watch this.

From the very first frame, The Dark Wizard Episode 1 grabs you with the raw, exhilarating energy of extreme climbing and never lets go. Titled “The Death Consequence,” this opening installment serves as a powerful introduction to the legendary—and often controversial—figure of Dean Potter.

It masterfully blends breathtaking footage of his daring feats with intimate glimpses into the man behind the myth, setting up what promises to be one of the most thought-provoking docuseries of the year.The episode opens by immersing viewers in Potter’s early years in Yosemite during the 1990s, where he bursts onto the scene as a fiercely talented, renegade climber. We see him forging new ascents, setting world records, and connecting deeply with a tight-knit community of like-minded adventurers who thrive on the sport’s intoxicating mix of freedom and adrenaline.

The cinematography is nothing short of spectacular—sweeping shots of towering granite walls, heart-pounding sequences of free soloing and base jumping, and slow-motion captures that make you feel the wind and the exposure. It’s viscerally exciting, the kind of footage that leaves you breathless and in awe of human potential.

What elevates this episode beyond a simple highlight reel of athletic achievements is its honest, unflinching exploration of Potter’s inner world. Friends and contemporaries, including Alex Honnold, share candid reflections on his restless energy and the darker undercurrents that drove him. One particularly poignant thread is how Potter used the “death consequence”—that razor-edge awareness of mortality during his most extreme pursuits—as a form of therapy to quiet his racing mind and battle personal demons. Journal entries come alive on screen, revealing a sensitive, introspective soul seeking clarity through emptiness and risk. Lines like “I need to quiet my mind” hit hard, transforming the narrative from pure adrenaline into a profound meditation on mental health, self-medication through danger, and the complex relationship between joy and struggle.

Five stars out of five. Just don’t copy him. A ticket to an early death.

Distant Love (Part 72)

Two cloaked figures walking on wet path near lit stone cottage during rain

“Oh God, come in! Your soaked. And Maeve, your not much better. Come on in the two of ye.” She gets a towel and starts patting him down.

“I’ll be okay,” Derek insists.

“It’ll be the death of ya. People get sick with a soakin’ ya know.” A deep now hung on her face. Then she continues. “I forgot to mention it earlier to either of you, there are a few people coming to meet Maeve later.”

“Who, auntie?” Maeve’s eyes open wide.

“Marcus and some of the others. They’ll be here in a couple of hours.”

The room goes silent.

“Who are they?” Derek enquired.

The older woman replied. “Oh friends of the family.” Both women looked knowingly at each other.

Derek thinks to himself. This is interesting. They must be resistance members that they are meeting, Best to play dumb.

He says, “Sure it will be good for me to meet your friends Maeve. It’s important that I get to know your circle.”

She looks at him with a smile. “Yes, it is. I hope you like them, they can be a raucous bunch. You won’t be seeing them that often anyway, they only come round every so often.”

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (v)

Human figure frozen in cryogenic chamber with frost and tubes in sci-fi lab

Within minutes, all the other troopers were in their pods.

Audrey shuffled herself forward in her chair and put on arm on the pod for support. “I’ll need your assistance, now.”

Brona supported her to stand and then to lay down into the pod. Her long hair draped over Audrey, she smelled of soap. Audrey felt a tingle run through her body.

Timothy would like her.

Pushing back her hair with her hand, she smiled. “Are you okay now?”

Feeling warm all over, Audrey smiled back. “That is fine. Go to your pod. When you wake, I will need your assistance once more.

Brona placed her hand on Audrey’s. Her hand was warm, soft. “I’ll be just over there.” Brona pointed to a nearby pod.

Audrey nodded, then pulled the translucent opening closed.

For a brief moment she wondered what awaited her on the other side. A strange new world full of horrible Sisters, no doubt Then her thoughts turned to Timothy, the love of her lfe and if she would ever see him again.

The pod turned cold. The hairs on her arm stood up and her breath became white. A few seconds later a white gas gushed over her body.

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (iv)

Three people inside illuminated futuristic cryogenic pods emitting mist in a sci-fi chamber

The bridge was small and difficult to drive the battle chair around. A man with long grey hair was standing in front of the viewport.

“Are you the captain?” Audrey enquired, her voice echoing around the deck.

He tuned around, adorned with deep lines across his forehead and crow’s feet. in a shabby, torn blue uniform. “Yes, I am. My name is Carthage. Sorry that the bridge is so cramped. Not very accessible. It’s not a priority where this ship is from.

Audrey shuddered. “Is there anything I need to know about it?”

He rested his hand on the captain’s seat for support. “It’s more of the shock when you come back, We will be travelling close to light speed. While you are in stasis much time will pass.”

Audrey swallowed. “I know. All in service to the Emperor.”

Carthage then continued. “Well then, you should go to your pod. When I next see you, we should have arrived.”

Audrey turned and went to the back of the ship where her pod was waiting for her. It was in the center, with row after row of other pods surrounding it.

“Enter your hibernation pods,” she bellowed.

Brona went to leave before Audrey hushed, “Not you.”

Wheelchair Wars 3 (iii)

Military officer in wheelchair inspecting lined-up armored soldiers in futuristic space station

“We have been given a mission of the utmost importance by our most beloved Emperor. At all times, your total obedience and loyalty are expected.”

With that, she watched her troops, a mixture of stern-faced men and women, walk up the long ramp to the ship.

A sound of feet clattering. Audrey turned to see one of her troops running towards her.

A young woman with long, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes spoke. She was trembling. “I’m so sorry for being late. There is no excuse.”

I should really punish her. Set a good example for the others.

Audrey looked behind her. All the other troops are inside.

However, I could use an assistant. And she does look good.

“What is your name, trooper?” Audrey asks in a softer tone.

“Brona,” she replies, standing upright.

“Well, Brona, as punishment, you will be my personal assistant for the mission.”

Bron’s eyes flicker towards her and then away. “Okay, as you wish.”

“Walk behind me at all times. Speak only when spoken to. Now come along.”

Audrey pushed her joystick forward, and they made their way up the rampway into the ship. Inside, the troopers were already readying their hibernation pods.

Audrey headed to the bridge to talk to the captain.

Magnus Carlsen’s Dramatic Face-off: A Netflix Review

Chess pieces on a board with a tornado and lightning storm in the background

My dear readers, as you may all have gathered by now, I love Chess. So when I saw Chess Mates on Netflix, I immediately watched.

It revolves around Magnus Carlsen, the undisputed greatest chess player of his generation, facing off against Hans Niemann, a brash young American talent who rose through online chess during the pandemic boom. What starts as a dramatic over-the-board victory quickly spirals into one of the most bizarre and talked-about controversies in modern sports history.

Magnus Carlson is convinced that the young Hans cheated. The first question that arises is how. They search for devices before each match.

It deals with the Carlsen-Niemann scandal with such intelligence, balance, and cinematic flair that it feels more like a high-stakes thriller than a standard sports doc. From the very first minutes, the film hooks you. It masterfully sets the stage:

The production quality is outstanding. Netflix spared no expense with crisp archival footage, sharp interviews, and smooth pacing that keeps the nearly 75-minute runtime flying by.

The directors weave together player interviews, expert analysis from grandmasters, journalists, and even some of the wild online speculation (yes, including the infamous “anal beads” rumors) without ever feeling exploitative. They let the story breathe while providing real context about the pressures of elite chess, the explosion of online play, and the challenges of proving (or disproving) cheating in a game where engines are stronger than any human.

I was particularly impressed by how even-handed the documentary feels. It gives both sides a voice — Carlsen’s deep frustration and skepticism, Niemann’s defiant personality and claims, and the broader chess community’s divided reactions. No cheap villain-making here; instead, it explores the human elements: ego, genius, paranoia, ambition, and the blurry line between intuition and suspicion at the highest levels.

The talking heads are excellent — thoughtful, articulate, and sometimes refreshingly candid. The way the film builds tension around key games, analyzes critical moments without drowning non-chess players in notation, and examines the aftermath (including the lawsuit and lingering bad blood) is superb. Even if you only have a passing interest in chess, the universal themes of rivalry, trust, and scandal make it incredibly accessible and entertaining.

Overall, I was more inclined to agree with Niemann. Carlson comes across as very smug to me. The fact that Niemann cheated online when he was 16, 17 hardly proves much. Lots of people cheat at that age I’m sure. At leasr he wasn’t on drugs, right.

This gets four out of five stars from me.

Oreus 2 (iii)

Soldiers in combat-ready wheelchairs strategizing around a holographic table in a wasteland bunker.

Oreus’ eyebrows raised on seeing them. Both suffered from some sort of paralysis or at least that was what they claimed.

The Mangans embraced the color red, sporting in on their chairs, jackets, and even dying their hair.

The Rangers were despised by all the other teams, as they took delight in torturing their victims slowly.

A stench entered the room. Oreus’ face twitched.

Roisin grinned. “He’ll doon be here.”

The Governor entered the room. He looked like death. “Ah, good, most of you are here.”

“You never informed me that this would be a Gathering!” The anger in Oreus’ voice was palpable.

“None of us were informed,” Brigid replied, staring right into his eyes.

“Stop it!” The Governor shouted. “There is no time for your squabbles. You will be quiet and your grievances aside for now.

He took a large breath. “There is an issue with the supply of grain to the planet. Prices are about to rise by fifteen percent. A percentage of the population, relatively small will starve. However, that concerns me not. There must be no disorder. A new enemy has entered the quadrant, and production must not be affected.”

After rubbing his nose, he continued, “That’s where the Wheelchair Wars come in.”

A Westmeath Man (Comedy)

A wooden rowing boat moored at a stone jetty on a calm, misty lake.

My dear readers, I was given the most terrible insult the other day, that I wasn’t a proper Westmeath man. Why, you may wonder? Well, I didn’t watch the Westmeath v Wexford match on TV about two weeks ago. Apparently, if I had then, maybe I could have willed Westmeath to victory with my special powers.

We’ll forget for now that I was born in Dublin, my parents grew up in Offaly, and a grandparent from Cork. Important facts when one of those counties is in with a chance of an All-Ireland.

And this grave insult came from my friend, who is known by the moniker BobDTraitor. Only on my phone, mind you. I’m not evil. How did he get such a name? Well, ladies and gentlemen, think back to that glorious day in 2004, when Westmeath won Leinster for the first and only time. Surely, you would want to celebrate with your people, not off at some random party with Dublin people. Poor life decisions, I’d say. And treachery.

What is it about Westmeath I love so much? Is it the people? The people from Kinnegad with their funny accents, those squinting windows in Delvin, or even people from Athlone, who lack souls according to the good people of Mullingar.

This is about pride of place, I reckon. I’ll be friends with people from all over the world, even from far-off places like Nigeria, Meath, Poland, and Monaghan. We’re all humans.

So maybe it’s the great wilderness in the County, you know, out there by Castlepollard. Or what we call the Great Lakes, midlands, and Irish style.

Maybe to be a Westmeath man, you have to be just like me.

And to the Westmeath football and hurling teams – I’ll try better next time.

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Epic Review of 2012: A Disaster Movie Masterpiece

Skyscrapers collapsing into a fiery lava-filled chasm under a dark, stormy sky with lightning.

I watched this old blockbuster yesterday. Okay, I admit it. I only recalled watching it years ago, about halfway through.

2012 (2009), directed by Roland Emmerich, stands as one of the most exhilarating and ambitious disaster films ever made—a true spectacle that delivers non-stop thrills, jaw-dropping visual effects, and an unapologetic celebration of human resilience in the face of apocalyptic chaos. If you’re looking for a movie that turns the end of the world into an edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride, this is it. Emmerich, the master behind classics like Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, outdoes himself here with a film that prioritizes pure cinematic excitement over subtlety, and it succeeds brilliantly on those terms. The car driving along while all the buildings collapsed on either side was particularly memorable.

At its core, 2012 follows a diverse group of characters as they race against time to survive a series of cataclysmic events triggered by massive solar flares that destabilize Earth’s crust. John Cusack stars as Jackson Curtis, a struggling writer and divorced dad who becomes an unlikely hero, desperately trying to save his family amid the unfolding global nightmare. Amanda Peet plays his ex-wife Kate, Chiwetel Ejiofor brings gravitas as a dedicated scientist working for the U.S. government, and Woody Harrelson adds memorable eccentricity as a conspiracy theorist who sees it all coming. The ensemble cast handles the mix of personal drama and high-stakes action with sincerity, making you genuinely care about their fates even as the planet crumbles around them.What truly elevates 2012 is its breathtaking scale and groundbreaking visual effects. This is Emmerich at his most extravagant: entire cities like Los Angeles are torn apart by massive earthquakes, with roads splitting open, buildings collapsing in domino fashion, and cars desperately navigating collapsing freeways in one of the most intense opening sequences in cinema history. Yellowstone erupts in a fiery cataclysm, mega-tsunamis swallow landmarks worldwide, and iconic sites—from the White House to the Vatican—meet spectacular ends.

The CGI, which was cutting-edge for its time and still holds up remarkably well, creates immersive, awe-inspiring destruction that feels both terrifying and exhilarating. Scenes like the family’s frantic escape through crumbling Los Angeles or the desperate boarding of massive “arks” designed to save humanity are pure adrenaline, blending practical stunts with seamless digital wizardry to deliver one jaw-dropping set piece after another.

Beyond the spectacle, the film taps into a universal theme of hope and survival. Despite the overwhelming odds, 2012 never descends into pure nihilism. It balances the chaos with moments of heart—family reconciliations, acts of selflessness, and a quiet optimism that humanity can endure even the worst.

The screenplay cleverly weaves in real-world inspirations from the Mayan calendar prophecy (popular at the time) while keeping the focus on character-driven stakes. At nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes, it gives ample time for both intimate emotional beats and globe-spanning devastation, ensuring the pacing rarely lets up once the disasters begin.Critics may sometimes dismiss it as over-the-top or cheesy, but that’s missing the point—2012 knows exactly what it is and embraces it wholeheartedly. It’s big, loud, and unpretentious fun that prioritizes entertainment value above all else.

The sound design amplifies every rumble and crash, pulling you deeper into the experience, while the score heightens the emotional and epic tones. For fans of disaster movies, it’s a standout: more intense and visually ambitious than many of its peers, with a sense of wonder amid the wreckage. In the end, 2012 is a triumphant blockbuster that reminds us why we go to the movies—to witness the impossible, feel the rush of adventure, and emerge with a renewed appreciation for the fragility (and strength) of life.

If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and experience it on the biggest screen possible. It’s a wild, unforgettable ride that delivers pure cinematic joy through destruction. Highly recommended for anyone who loves epic scale, heartfelt moments, and the sheer thrill of watching the world (almost) end.

Five stars for sheer spectacle and entertainment value from me! I caught up with it on Disney+

Animal Kingdom Review: A Gripping Crime Drama on Netflix

Hello readers, I do hope you are all keeping good. A nice series for you on this Monday afternoon. It’s called Animal Kingdom, and currently available on Netflix.

It’s one of those rare television series that grabs your attention from the very first episode and never lets go. Animal Kingdom is an American crime drama television series developed by Jonathan Lisco. It is based on the 2010 Australian film of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the criminal Pettingill family. The series was produced by David Michôd, who wrote and directed the original film.

The series centers on Joshua “J” Cody who, after the death of his mother when he was 17 years old, moves in with his estranged relatives, the Codys, who run a criminal family enterprise set in Oceanside, California, that is governed by the respected matriarch Janine “Smurf” Cody.

What makes the show truly exceptional is how it balances high-stakes criminal activity with rich emotional storytelling. The family’s heists are thrilling and expertly staged, but the real drama comes from the relationships within the family—loyalty, betrayal, jealousy, and the constant struggle for power.

The writing throughout the episodes I’ve seen (First seven episodes of first series) is consistently sharp and layered. Each episode builds tension in a natural way, developing long-term storylines while keeping the pace gripping. The characters evolve significantly over time, which makes the journey feel authentic rather than repetitive. You genuinely feel the consequences of their choices, and the show never shies away from the darker sides of its characters.

The performances are outstanding across the board. Ellen Barkin delivers a magnetic portrayal of Smurf, creating a character who is both intimidating and strangely charismatic. The younger members of the Cody family are equally compelling, each bringing their own personality and internal conflicts to the story. Their dynamics—sometimes supportive, often volatile—create the emotional core of the series.

Another strength of the series is its realism. The criminal world is portrayed with grit and consequence rather than glamor. Every heist carries risk, and every decision has repercussions that ripple through the family. This grounded approach makes the drama feel far more impactful than many typical crime shows.

Drawbacks –

It is unclear how Smurf maintains control. She threatens them with being out of the family, never physically. It’s unclear why she cannot simply be bypassed.

Not much violence. A cop has been accidentally killed so far.

So far, I give the show 3 and a half marks out of five.

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

I’ll be back when I get through the six seasons.