Page 6 May 4, 2017 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Entertainment Film Review Check It Out The Watchmaker of Filigree Street By Natasha Pulley Reviewed by Kristina Kora-Beckman, Librarian I, El Segundo Public Library If you are in the mood for a magical, whimsical book that incorporates elements of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus as well as Sherlock Holmes and Phillip Pullman’s works, give Natasha Pulley’s wonderful novel The Watchmaker of Filigree Street a try. Set in Victorian London, the book has a little for everyone--mystery, time travel, romance, and even fantastical clockwork devices with minds of their own. The story opens with Thaniel Steepleton, a young British clerk, who mysteriously receives a watch that warns him of an impending explosion. Tracing down the watchmaker leads him to Mori, a Japanese watchmaker with a mysterious past who can see the future. Mori predicts Thaniel will meet Grace--an Oxford-trained physicist, who also receives a Mori-made timepiece. This debut novel by Pulley is wildly inventive and includes many interesting twists and turns that left me wondering where the reader would end up. I also found the characters charming and complex in their flaws. Throughout the story, the characters’ lives intersect in beautiful but also heartbreaking ways when mistrust, loyalty issues and social mores of the day rise up to complicate matters. To check out The Watchmaker, or browse our extensive fiction collection, please visit the library to apply for your free library card. For further assistance including helping to discover your next great read, please contact the reference staff. • The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. Kristina Kora-Beckman. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 a Fresh Take on Familiar Storyline By H. Nelson Tracey for www.cinemacy.com We are nearing the 10th anniversary as well as the rumored end of Robert Downey, Jr.’s breakout role in Iron Man, and the aftermath has proven that there are essentially two types of people: those who are going to see every Marvel feature no matter what, and those who lost interest sometime during the past 14 movies (with eight more scheduled over the next three years). Indeed, with so many sequels, characters and connecting storylines, it now seems so long ago when The Avengers (2012) was one of my favorite films of the year. Yet at this point, like a multi-season TV show, I’m far enough into the Marvel Universe that I plan to stick it out until the finale scheduled for 2019. Despite all of these different subsets of films, Guardians of the Galaxy is arguably able to distance itself as the one that has cultivated its own identity. Playing more like a superhero version of Star Wars, Guardians spins separately from the Avengers characters by Karen Gillan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper & Dave Bautista. Courtesy of Marvel Studios. making their own rules while still under the Marvel umbrella. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 catches us up to speed with all the characters we met in the original. If you liked Vol. 1, you will certainly like this one. It’s a comforting return to form with all the signatures: zany aliens, jabbing banter and a great soundtrack. But I’m happy to say that unlike other Marvel sequels, which retread their characters entirely, writer/ director James Gunn has found interesting ways to develop each character a bit further. There’s a great rivalry between the heroic Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and her mostly villainous sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) that is more at the center of this film than the previous one. Drax (Dave Bautista), a standout from the first film, continues his same brand of humor but with a little more self-awareness. And Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) is impossible not to love. It’s impressive that within this ensemble, each actor brings a freshness to the role while developing their respective character. Another praiseworthy note is that this universe has a great sense of color. Every alien comes in a variety of bright yellow, blue and other eye-catching hues, making for a stunning visual much richer than a comparable action/ adventure movie. The CGI is present, but there are plenty of characters in full make-up and practicals rather than being entirely artificial- -and this combination works seamlessly here. While I was annoyed that the trailer announced Kurt Russell as being Star-Lord, aka Peter Quill’s (Chris Pratt) father, Emperor J’son (a fact that seemed like a spoiler), it actually proved more enticing in taking the audience on the journey of the new relationship as a father and son. Like the rest of the ensemble cast, Star-Lord and J’son are given challenges that enhance and further develop their characters. As formulaic and familiar as it all may seem, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is fresh enough for those invested in the Marvel universe. After seeing this installment, I am eagerly anticipating the next time these characters mesh with The Avengers on the big screen. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is rated PG-13. 121 minutes. Opening this Friday in theaters everywhere. • Rams from page 5 Eagles from page 5 Alumni Baseball Game The annual Alumni baseball game is set for Saturday, May 13 at Stevenson Field with the game starting at noon. Open to all former players, this game has become another fun day for alumni and friends. For more information please contact Craig Cousins at 310-413-1090. Boys Volleyball The Eagles were in prime position to share the Ocean League title with Santa Monica. To do it, they would have to defeat the Vikings on Tuesday at home. The Eagles had won eight in a row going into the match with the Vikings. The first time these two teams met, the Eagles fell in five games. Only a second game letdown, when the Eagles scored just nine points, stood in the way of knocking off the fifth-ranked Vikings. Softball Team After falling to Santa Monica 11-2, El Segundo continued play in its own tournament. The Eagles dropped into the consolation bracket when they fell to Harvard Westlake 5-2. They took out their frustrations on Westlake by hammering the Warriors 10-4. Julia Chavez led the 11-hit attack by hitting two home runs, including a grand slam in the seventh inning. The Eagles then faced the Port of Los Angeles Bears in their final game of the tournament. Facing Analise Delarosa, arguably one of the Southern Section’s top pitchers, the Eagles would need to play a clean game. But on the mound for El Segundo was Monique Benjamin, one of the South Bay’s top pitchers. This ended up being a pitcher’s duel, as promised. POLA loaded the bases with three consecutive singles with one out in the third inning. Benjamin then caught a line drive and completed a double play to end the inning. In the Eagles’ half of the inning, Bailey Ernest walked and Taylor Stevens followed with a single. Cierra Kessler’s sacrifice moved the runners over, but Delarosa, who struck out 14 on the night, struck out two in a row to end the inning. In the fifth inning, El Segundo took a 1-0 lead. Ernest, Stevens and Kessler each had infield singles. Monique Benjamin then bunted home Ernest to give the Eagles the lead. The rally was cut short when the next three hitters went in order. In the sixth inning, the Bears came up with an unearned run with two outs to tie the game. In the seventh inning the Bears built on their lead by scoring two more runs, but only one earned. The Eagles host North Torrance Friday night at 6 p.m. in a non-league game. The Eagles host Santa Monica next Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the final regular season game. • was hoping to become elite overnight, this draft certainly did not do the trick. It did, however, add a couple of pieces in the later rounds that may turn out to be positive additions for Goff and the offense at some point down the line. Only time will tell what will happen with Goff, the offense and the rest of Los Angeles’ roster. With Seattle, Arizona and even an emerging San Francisco team in the same division, though, the playoffs remain nothing more than an afterthought and a wish for the future of a franchise still trying to find its bearings in L.A. – Asixlion@earthlink.net alone aloI linve e FREE Saving a life from a potential catastrophe EVERY 10 MINUTES! but I’’I’m m never alone. I have Life Alert.® One touch of a button sends help fast, 24/7, can’t • medical • fall • fi re • invasion • CO gas emergencies. For a FREE brochure call: Medical Alert Medical Alert Industry Leader Industry Leader Since 1987 Since 1987 No landline? No problem! SHIPPING! I live even when you can’’t reach a phone for: AS SEEN ON TV 1-866-591-7844
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