cryptography

• Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson (1999)

  [8/10]

  "An excellent character-based novel, with fun technology thrown in. Far better and more satisfying than Snow Crash."

• Quicksilver (2003)

  [6/10]

  "I think much of the story line gets bogged down with the interesting things Stephenson found in his research. These elements might have a bearing in the second or third volumes, but distracted from the immediate enjoyment of the novel."

• U-571 directed by Jonathan Mostow (2000)

  [6/10]

  "Mostow has created a good action picture with cardboard characters and a cliched plot. He spends too much time in the first half of U-571 trying to show the realities of submarine life and neglects details that would make the audience care about the characters."

  Average score: 6.67