Movie Review – Fantastic Voyage (1966)
Imagine if medical science advanced to the point where surgeons could operate on a person from *inside* of their body.
That’s basically the premise behind 1966’s hit science-fiction film, Fantastic Voyage.
In Fantastic Voyage, a team of surgeons is miniaturized inside of a special submersible that is sent inside of a scientist’s body. It’s a race against time to not only battle the hostile environment of the human body, but to also reach the critical injury and repair it, all while racing a clock as well as dealing with somebody sabotaging the mission.
Fantastic Voyage (1966) – movie poster
Directed by Richard Fleischer, Fantastic Voyage stars Stephen Boyd as Charles Grant. Supporting him in the film are Raquel Welch as Cora Peterson and Donald Pleasence as Dr. Michaels.
Fantastic Voyage (1966) – (c) 20th Century Fox
Fantastic Voyage begins with scientist Dr. Jan Benes (Jean Del Val) fleeing from the Soviets and eventually reaching the United States. However, just after he arrives in the U.S, Benes’s car is attacked by assassins, and Benes is critically injured. He quickly develops a dangerous blood clot inside of his brain, and the condition will kill him if it’s left untreated. The only problem is that the type of surgery required to remove the clot is incredibly dangerous. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: miniaturization, movie review, sci-fi
Book Review – James Rollins’ “The Judas Strain”
Today we’re taking a look at The Judas Strain, the fourth book in James Rollins‘ thrilling SIGMA Series novels.
Released in 2007, The Judas Strain takes readers on an adventure as a team of specialized scientists and warriors tracks the origins of a deadly plague. It’s a quest that circles around the world and dates back to the travels of one of Europe’s most celebrated explorers — Marco Polo.
James Rollins — The Judas Strain
The Judas Strain begins with a brief prologue in the year 1293. On the island of Sumatra in southeastern Asia, a terrifying disease wipes out most of Marco Polo‘s crew and companions. It’s a disease so horrifying that its discussion was carefully removed from Marco Polo’s journal after he returned to Italy two years later.
Fast forward to today.
SIGMA Commander Gray Pierce is spending some time in Maryland with his parents when he’s suddenly paid a visit by a dangerous advisory from his past —- Seichan, a member of The Guild, a dangerous international terrorist organization. She’s been shot, her pursuers are still in the area, and Seichan is carrying a very important artifact, an artifact that has already cost a person his life back in the Vatican.
Gray is forced to allow his parents to join him as he tries to drive Seichan to a safe area. Their car is pursued by Seichan’s attackers, but Gray is able to lose them in a forest. He takes them to a SIGMA safe house in the nearby area. Things aren’t what they seem as The Guild (disguised as an ambulance crew) tries to ambush the gang. Gray, Seichen, and SIGMA operator Joe Kowalski are forced to flee as Gray’s parents are captured and taken prisoner. Read more…
Categories: book reviews Tags: book review, James Rollins