I have been doing a lot of reading lately. So I could write about any number of books for this review but I really want to talk about a book I actually read a while ago. I would have posted about it sooner but I've been so busy and then my internet was out. But here I am finally ready to review a fantastic book titled "Her Fearful Symmetry" written by Audrey Niffenegger. I read her first novel "The Time Traveller's Wife" many years ago, before anyone ever talked about a movie, and I really loved it. So seeing "Her Fearful Symmetry" when I was out book shopping one day I got pretty excited. I took a little while to read it but once I started it took me in and I read it in a couple of days.
The story begins with Elspeth Noblin dying in a hospital in England. Later after her funeral she comes to as a spititual blob in her flat unable to move or see anything and not really aware of anything. As time goes on she becomes more of a full formed ghost. Meanwhile in the suburbs of Chicago Elspeth's two nieces Julia and Valentina, mirror twins, get the surprise of their life when not only did their aunt die but she left them her flat in London and most of her estate. There were two stipulations however, one the twins had to live in the flat for an entire year together. And two their mother, Elspeth's twin Edie, and their father weren't allowed to set foot in the flat. Julia the stronger, more out spoken twin, jumped at the chance for a new adventure. Valentina the simpler, physically weaker of the two was hesitant, she wanted to stay in Chicago and go back to school. Julia being the more pushy of the two wins and the twins head to London and all the mysteries it holds.
Once they get there they discover more questions than answers in the flat and it's surrounding inhabitants. Julia meets their upstairs neighbor Martin who hasn't left his place for years due to his crippling OCD. And Valentina meets, after being there for months, their downstairs neighbor Robert (who was Elspeth's lover) and slowly the two of them begin learning to live life without the person they had depended on for so long. Valentina slowly begins to become independent of Julia and Robert learns to love once more. All the while Elspeth's ghost is there in the flat, watching Julia and Valentina fight, and love, and discover new things about each other. Trying all the while to find a way to communicate with the twins and for the rare moments he's in the flat with Robert. Finally breaking through their disbelief they find a way to communicate with Elspeth.
This is a book that has secrets hidden in every page and I don't want to give too much away. I will say that this book is incredible though. It is very well written full of imagery and poetry. It's part ghost story, part love story and all pure genius. If you are at all a fan of a dramatic beautifully crafted novel then this is a book for you. I truly wish that I could put into words what I felt as I read this book. Each page flowed into every other page flawlessly. There was nothing that seemed out of place in the book. It was a ghost story that felt real, nothing over the top or cheap to it. It is a fantastic read one that I highly reccommend to everyone. It really is something that I think could appeal to all types of tastes. I think that this is definitely worth it.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
A Mixed Bag
I have a few movie reviews to post but first I want to mention that recently I have read the 8th and final book of the Jaz Parks series. Although it is sad to see the end of Jaz, Vayl, Bergman, Cassandra, Cole and the other memebers of their trust, not to mention Jaz's many, many personalities I feel that they all went out with a bang. Jennifer Rardin brought to life one of the most vivacious and real bad creature hunters I've ever read about. Jaz Parks has become a favorite of mine and I will continue to go back and read her over and over again. If you are looking for a fun, whimsical, off kilter read pick up the first of the Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin "Once Bitten, Twice Shy." It's a laugh out loud, loveable take on the paranormal genre. Give it a try.
Movie time. I watched a couple of the new movies that are coming out this week and was pleasantly surprised. I watched "The Adjustment Bureau" the big thriller starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, "Unknown" the new Liam Neeson, and a sweet little drama called "HappyThankYouMorePlease." I went into watching all of them with no expectations and ended up being surprised by all three of them.
"HappyThankYouMorePlease" was written, directed and starred Josh Radnor. A group of friends living in New York just kind of exsist. Josh Radnor plays Sam Wexler a struggling writer trying to go from writing short stories to a full length novel. On his way to meeting with a publisher he meets Rasheen a young boy who has been seperated from his foster mother. When Sam takes Rasheen in hoping that he can help Rasheen get back to his foster family the dynamics of his life begin to change. As he keeps putting off taking Rasheen into child services Sam finds himself starting to grow up. The friends that he surounds himself with find that they need to grow up as well.
The stories are simple and just disjointed enough that it is almost vignette like. But at the same time they all fit together seamlessly. It's a quircky cynical yet sweet movie that I really liked. It's not a main stream movie at all. It's something that is just slightly off kilter and almost a sleeper. I know that I didn't go into much detail about the film but I think this is a movie that needs to be seen, the movie is made in such a way that the greatness is sort of folded in. I hope you go out and rent it. It's not something you see everyday. And with what has been coming out lately I find that to be a refreshing thing indeed.
"Unknown" starring Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger is a thriller that is slow to start. Actually for most of the movie the story is pretty slow. And though there is some action it seems forced and awkward, I find that Liam Neeson is starting to get a little old for high action sequences and yet he trudges on. Liam Neeson and January Jones play Dr. and Mrs. Martin Harris. Heading to Berlin for a conference the couple get seperated when Dr. Martin realizes he left his briefcase at the airport and hops in a cab to go get it. The cab gets into an accident and Martin wakes up in the hospital four days later. All he remembers is that his name is Martin Harris he is a botoanist and his wife is waiting for him. When he goes to his hotel and finds his wife she claims to not know him. Things go from weird to downright bizarre when Aidan Quinn shows up and introduces himself as Dr. Martin Harris.
Ostricized and alone in a strange city Martin begins searching for clues. Narrowly escaping death time after time he meets up with the woman, Gina, who was driving the cab he was in when he crashed. Together they race through Berlin trying to piece together who Martin really is and why all those who were once close to him have suddenly turned against him. The twists that begin to show were different then I thought they were going to be which was the pleasant surprise. As for the rest of the film it was the typical action/suspense that Liam Neeson has become so fond of doing. It's got a pleasant twist and mindless action so if that is the movie mood you are in go for it. It was well acted and well directed. Nothing super special and nothing that is going to blow anyone away but it wasn't bad at all.
"The Adjustment Bureau" I actually liked. It is based on a Phillip K. Dick story so it has a solid foundation right off. It is the story of David Norris, played by Matt Damon, a young politician from Brooklyn who on the night of his concession speech meets a fascinating woman in the men's bathroom. Although they hit it off she leaves without giving him her name or number and years go by before he sees her again. They meet again on a bus and once more hit it off amazingly. However after arriving at his new office with Elise's, played by the beautiful Emily Blunt, number in hand David stumbles upon a seen straight out of a science fiction movie. Frozen people and strange men walking around doing strange things. After being captured by them David discovers that they are the men that run the world. Not in a power play sense but literally they make the world work. They keep an eye on every human and the plan that has been laid out by "The Chairman." These men, 'The Adjusment Bureau' so to speak make sure that every person stays on his or her plan so that the world runs as it is supposed to. Although David has a hard time believing all of this they show him enough proof to make him wary. Then comes the kicker. They tell him that he was never supposed to be on that bus to get Elise's number, that in fact he was never supposed to see her again after that first night. They are not in each other's plans and therefore cannot be together no matter how much they want it.
At first they convice David to just leave well enough alone but they promise to keep an eye on him. But after accidently running into Elise again a couple years later David decides he's not going to let some phantom plan and a group of guys in hats stop them from being together. He is warned again and again that being with Elise could mess up both their lives but David feels that their connection is too strong to stop trying.
There is a little too much back and forth in the film, going from fighting David to giving up David back to fighting David and again back to giving up David. But the story was unusual and well thought out. Acting was superb and I found the cinematography to be captivating. The film had some great moments of suspense and action and was well written but it was a tad anti-climatic. I won't say why or how but I do want to put that out there. It's worth watching though. I thought it was a pretty good movie all in all.
Well there we have it. Yet another movie review. I think that although I am busy I will try posting a book review soon. Just finished a non-fiction that was a little mind blowing. Also I am still working on my AFI's Top 100 list. I have seen a couple more off the list and will write reviews on them shortly! Hope you find at least one movie out of this post that you find worth watching. Enjoy!
Movie time. I watched a couple of the new movies that are coming out this week and was pleasantly surprised. I watched "The Adjustment Bureau" the big thriller starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, "Unknown" the new Liam Neeson, and a sweet little drama called "HappyThankYouMorePlease." I went into watching all of them with no expectations and ended up being surprised by all three of them.
"HappyThankYouMorePlease" was written, directed and starred Josh Radnor. A group of friends living in New York just kind of exsist. Josh Radnor plays Sam Wexler a struggling writer trying to go from writing short stories to a full length novel. On his way to meeting with a publisher he meets Rasheen a young boy who has been seperated from his foster mother. When Sam takes Rasheen in hoping that he can help Rasheen get back to his foster family the dynamics of his life begin to change. As he keeps putting off taking Rasheen into child services Sam finds himself starting to grow up. The friends that he surounds himself with find that they need to grow up as well.
The stories are simple and just disjointed enough that it is almost vignette like. But at the same time they all fit together seamlessly. It's a quircky cynical yet sweet movie that I really liked. It's not a main stream movie at all. It's something that is just slightly off kilter and almost a sleeper. I know that I didn't go into much detail about the film but I think this is a movie that needs to be seen, the movie is made in such a way that the greatness is sort of folded in. I hope you go out and rent it. It's not something you see everyday. And with what has been coming out lately I find that to be a refreshing thing indeed.
"Unknown" starring Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger is a thriller that is slow to start. Actually for most of the movie the story is pretty slow. And though there is some action it seems forced and awkward, I find that Liam Neeson is starting to get a little old for high action sequences and yet he trudges on. Liam Neeson and January Jones play Dr. and Mrs. Martin Harris. Heading to Berlin for a conference the couple get seperated when Dr. Martin realizes he left his briefcase at the airport and hops in a cab to go get it. The cab gets into an accident and Martin wakes up in the hospital four days later. All he remembers is that his name is Martin Harris he is a botoanist and his wife is waiting for him. When he goes to his hotel and finds his wife she claims to not know him. Things go from weird to downright bizarre when Aidan Quinn shows up and introduces himself as Dr. Martin Harris.
Ostricized and alone in a strange city Martin begins searching for clues. Narrowly escaping death time after time he meets up with the woman, Gina, who was driving the cab he was in when he crashed. Together they race through Berlin trying to piece together who Martin really is and why all those who were once close to him have suddenly turned against him. The twists that begin to show were different then I thought they were going to be which was the pleasant surprise. As for the rest of the film it was the typical action/suspense that Liam Neeson has become so fond of doing. It's got a pleasant twist and mindless action so if that is the movie mood you are in go for it. It was well acted and well directed. Nothing super special and nothing that is going to blow anyone away but it wasn't bad at all.
"The Adjustment Bureau" I actually liked. It is based on a Phillip K. Dick story so it has a solid foundation right off. It is the story of David Norris, played by Matt Damon, a young politician from Brooklyn who on the night of his concession speech meets a fascinating woman in the men's bathroom. Although they hit it off she leaves without giving him her name or number and years go by before he sees her again. They meet again on a bus and once more hit it off amazingly. However after arriving at his new office with Elise's, played by the beautiful Emily Blunt, number in hand David stumbles upon a seen straight out of a science fiction movie. Frozen people and strange men walking around doing strange things. After being captured by them David discovers that they are the men that run the world. Not in a power play sense but literally they make the world work. They keep an eye on every human and the plan that has been laid out by "The Chairman." These men, 'The Adjusment Bureau' so to speak make sure that every person stays on his or her plan so that the world runs as it is supposed to. Although David has a hard time believing all of this they show him enough proof to make him wary. Then comes the kicker. They tell him that he was never supposed to be on that bus to get Elise's number, that in fact he was never supposed to see her again after that first night. They are not in each other's plans and therefore cannot be together no matter how much they want it.
At first they convice David to just leave well enough alone but they promise to keep an eye on him. But after accidently running into Elise again a couple years later David decides he's not going to let some phantom plan and a group of guys in hats stop them from being together. He is warned again and again that being with Elise could mess up both their lives but David feels that their connection is too strong to stop trying.
There is a little too much back and forth in the film, going from fighting David to giving up David back to fighting David and again back to giving up David. But the story was unusual and well thought out. Acting was superb and I found the cinematography to be captivating. The film had some great moments of suspense and action and was well written but it was a tad anti-climatic. I won't say why or how but I do want to put that out there. It's worth watching though. I thought it was a pretty good movie all in all.
Well there we have it. Yet another movie review. I think that although I am busy I will try posting a book review soon. Just finished a non-fiction that was a little mind blowing. Also I am still working on my AFI's Top 100 list. I have seen a couple more off the list and will write reviews on them shortly! Hope you find at least one movie out of this post that you find worth watching. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Newest of the New
This past weekend I actually sat down and watched a couple of full length feature films. They included a comedy "Just Go With It" and a drama called "Another Year." "True Grit" starring Jeff Bridges also came out this week but I had previously seen it so I skipped it. However there are a couple of reviews to come.
First I shall start with the comedy. "Just Go With It" starred Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, with a surprising cameo by Nicole Kidman. Basically it is the story of Adam Sandler's character Danny Maccabee a man who many years ago was hurt by his fiancee on his wedding day. After calling the wedding off he goes to a bar to drink his sorrow away, suddenly a gorgeous woman walks into the bar. And all these men begin hitting on her, saying lewd things and annoying her. She goes to sit next to funny looking Jewish Danny Maccabee who when she inquires about the wedding ring he's wearing stumbles across the perfect pick-up line. He invents a horrible wife earning him sympathy sex. And from that moment on his life changes. He becomes a plastic surgeon gets himself a new nose and begins life as quite the playboy.
His assistant Katherine, played by Jennifer Anniston, is a single mom with two kids who has become his best friend and the only woman in his life that he is honest with. Things begin to get complicated when he meets a woman he thinks he can actually fall in love with. When she finds his "wedding" ring and gets mad he tells her that he is in the process of a divorce. But she wants to hear it from her, his fictional wife, and so he enlists the help of Katherine. Things go from strange to weird when Katherine lets slip that she has kids and Palmer, played by Brooklyn Decker, wants to meet them. The whole thing culminates in the whole group heading to Hawaii for a bonding vacation.
The movie had some good highlights, funny moments that had me laughing. Other then the few moments of humor "Just Go With It" written by Allan Loeb and Timothy Dowling and directed by Dennis Dugan was your typical romantic comedy. Cute but nothing special, watch for light romantic movie time. I would give it a 7 out of 10.
The drama that I watched "Another Year" written and directed by Mike Leigh and starring Jim Boradbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville was a little bit of a let down. I had been seeing previews for what looked to be a very sweet british film all about Tom and Gerri and the people in their lives. Tom and Gerri are this very sweet adoring married couple who enjoys gardening and cooking for friends and family. I was hoping that the movie would be mainly about this really adorable couple and their day to day life, how they stay in love and crazy about each other even after all the years they had been married. I knew that we would meet a variety of characters that would be slightly off that were friends of Tom and Gerri but I figured it would be mainly about them. I was wrong. It was mainly about their very weird friend Mary who has a whole host of problems that she seems unwilling to deal with.
The movie was sweet in a way, mainly the scenes that were between Tom and Gerri. Other than that I didn't really enjoy it all that much. I went into it aware that it was going to be a slow, quiet movie so it wasn't that I was bored. It was just not all that I hoped it was going to be. The character of Mary really started annoying me and they never really explained why she was the way she was so it wasn't really about her either. It wasn't a bad movie. But it's not anything that I was jumping for joy about. I would probably give it a 5 out of 10. Well acted and some really tender, beautiful moments but it really wasn't that great.
First I shall start with the comedy. "Just Go With It" starred Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, with a surprising cameo by Nicole Kidman. Basically it is the story of Adam Sandler's character Danny Maccabee a man who many years ago was hurt by his fiancee on his wedding day. After calling the wedding off he goes to a bar to drink his sorrow away, suddenly a gorgeous woman walks into the bar. And all these men begin hitting on her, saying lewd things and annoying her. She goes to sit next to funny looking Jewish Danny Maccabee who when she inquires about the wedding ring he's wearing stumbles across the perfect pick-up line. He invents a horrible wife earning him sympathy sex. And from that moment on his life changes. He becomes a plastic surgeon gets himself a new nose and begins life as quite the playboy.
His assistant Katherine, played by Jennifer Anniston, is a single mom with two kids who has become his best friend and the only woman in his life that he is honest with. Things begin to get complicated when he meets a woman he thinks he can actually fall in love with. When she finds his "wedding" ring and gets mad he tells her that he is in the process of a divorce. But she wants to hear it from her, his fictional wife, and so he enlists the help of Katherine. Things go from strange to weird when Katherine lets slip that she has kids and Palmer, played by Brooklyn Decker, wants to meet them. The whole thing culminates in the whole group heading to Hawaii for a bonding vacation.
The movie had some good highlights, funny moments that had me laughing. Other then the few moments of humor "Just Go With It" written by Allan Loeb and Timothy Dowling and directed by Dennis Dugan was your typical romantic comedy. Cute but nothing special, watch for light romantic movie time. I would give it a 7 out of 10.
The drama that I watched "Another Year" written and directed by Mike Leigh and starring Jim Boradbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville was a little bit of a let down. I had been seeing previews for what looked to be a very sweet british film all about Tom and Gerri and the people in their lives. Tom and Gerri are this very sweet adoring married couple who enjoys gardening and cooking for friends and family. I was hoping that the movie would be mainly about this really adorable couple and their day to day life, how they stay in love and crazy about each other even after all the years they had been married. I knew that we would meet a variety of characters that would be slightly off that were friends of Tom and Gerri but I figured it would be mainly about them. I was wrong. It was mainly about their very weird friend Mary who has a whole host of problems that she seems unwilling to deal with.
The movie was sweet in a way, mainly the scenes that were between Tom and Gerri. Other than that I didn't really enjoy it all that much. I went into it aware that it was going to be a slow, quiet movie so it wasn't that I was bored. It was just not all that I hoped it was going to be. The character of Mary really started annoying me and they never really explained why she was the way she was so it wasn't really about her either. It wasn't a bad movie. But it's not anything that I was jumping for joy about. I would probably give it a 5 out of 10. Well acted and some really tender, beautiful moments but it really wasn't that great.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A Thin Line Between Fact & Fiction
I know that it has been quite awhile but I have had a lot going on. And yes there have been movies, as well as books that I probably should have posted about but I have decided to write about but I didn't. And though there are movies I should post about but I think I am going to post about a book. Not just any book and honestly not one that I have read recently, a little controversial I know, but a book that I loved reading. It is a non-fiction book, mostly, titled "The Devil In The White City" by Eric Larson.
In the author's notes in the back of the book he admits that in a few places he took artistic liberties due to no substantial record of certain conversations but the majority of the book is all fact. Anyway the book is about the World Fair which took place in Chicago in the 1800's. During the prep and building of the fair a man moved in to the city. A man named Dr. H.H. Holmes who turned out to be a serial killer. Dr. Holmes bought a building a short distance from the final sight for the fair. Because of the excitment of the fair the "doctor" was able to lure young, single, impressionable women to his "hotel" and slowly torture and kill them.
The book not only follows Dr. H.H. Holmes's exploits and interests but it follows the construction of the very large fair from the very first bid for Chicago to be the ultimate site to the very last ticket sold. It is a truly amazing feat that the architects and workers undertook. Many died due to fires, buildings collapsing and countless other mishaps that occured during the building of the fair. It was truly unbelieveable some of the things that these people had to do in order to put together what later became known as "The White City." The tales intertwine and throughout the book we meet many of the people that put together one of the greatest fairs ever seen. It's a true experience.
When it comes to non-fiction books I usually have a hard time sticking to reading just that. I have to have a fiction book to keep me interested. But this book was so full of intrigue and supremely interesting facts about construction. And it was written so well that I read through the book as if it were a fascinating fiction novel. I think it took me a week to read through the whole thing. Which considering how busy I am most weeks that's pretty fast. It combines mystery, drama, and facts perfectly. The whole thing written with great care to detail and at times even soaring poetry.
For any architecture buff or history lover, anyone that is morbidly curious about a serial killer who marred one of the US's greatest moments with death then the is the book for you. It's more than just a non-fiction book about the Chicago's World Fair it's a mystery that keeps you hanging on until the very end. I give "The Devil In The White City" a very high recommendation. I hope you all enjoy it as well.
In the author's notes in the back of the book he admits that in a few places he took artistic liberties due to no substantial record of certain conversations but the majority of the book is all fact. Anyway the book is about the World Fair which took place in Chicago in the 1800's. During the prep and building of the fair a man moved in to the city. A man named Dr. H.H. Holmes who turned out to be a serial killer. Dr. Holmes bought a building a short distance from the final sight for the fair. Because of the excitment of the fair the "doctor" was able to lure young, single, impressionable women to his "hotel" and slowly torture and kill them.
The book not only follows Dr. H.H. Holmes's exploits and interests but it follows the construction of the very large fair from the very first bid for Chicago to be the ultimate site to the very last ticket sold. It is a truly amazing feat that the architects and workers undertook. Many died due to fires, buildings collapsing and countless other mishaps that occured during the building of the fair. It was truly unbelieveable some of the things that these people had to do in order to put together what later became known as "The White City." The tales intertwine and throughout the book we meet many of the people that put together one of the greatest fairs ever seen. It's a true experience.
When it comes to non-fiction books I usually have a hard time sticking to reading just that. I have to have a fiction book to keep me interested. But this book was so full of intrigue and supremely interesting facts about construction. And it was written so well that I read through the book as if it were a fascinating fiction novel. I think it took me a week to read through the whole thing. Which considering how busy I am most weeks that's pretty fast. It combines mystery, drama, and facts perfectly. The whole thing written with great care to detail and at times even soaring poetry.
For any architecture buff or history lover, anyone that is morbidly curious about a serial killer who marred one of the US's greatest moments with death then the is the book for you. It's more than just a non-fiction book about the Chicago's World Fair it's a mystery that keeps you hanging on until the very end. I give "The Devil In The White City" a very high recommendation. I hope you all enjoy it as well.
Monday, May 2, 2011
"How Can You Tell The Dancer From The Dance?"
It has been a little while, mainly because I haven't really been watching that many movies (it's been mainly bad TV shows comfort watching!) and although I have read a couple of books that I might eventually review here I just watched a film that takes precedence over all. I want to say that the title of this post is a quote but not from the movie. It is from one of the books in a trilogy by Guy Gaverial Kay, a trilogy that I will review eventually, but it so perfectly describes the movie I want to talk about that I had to use it. So on to the review!
I truly enjoy the fact that I get to see the new movies the weekend before they come out for general release. I get to do this because I work at a video store, as I have said before, and being able to do so is usually a pretty great thing. But the movies that came out last week were nothing but c level movies and so I watched nothing. This weekend I was again prepared to watch nothing but I reconsidered when I found out about one film in particular. It was called "Mao's Last Dancer." A film based on the true story of a Chinese boy who was recruited as a ballet dancer. Taken from home as a young boy and brought to Beijing to live and study at a school for ballet with other boys and girls away from his family. His name was Li Cunxin. He was at first a reluctent student once telling one of his teachers that he didn't like ballet, that he didn't understand it. Until one day he sees a video of Mikhail Baryshnikov dancing and suddenly he understands. He begins training harder, gaining muscle and percision, wanting to fly.
He is not only learning to be a great ballet dancer he is also learning the Communist ways that goverened China at the time. Learning that through communisim China would become one of the greatest nations in the world, that they will have no poverty, no hunger, no greed, no classes. All will be equal and perfect. They learn that places such as America will corrupt them and turn them into mindless consumers. And so when the Houston ballet company asks the Chinese government to lend them a dancer they do so with hopes that whatever young dancer they choose will not only be able to stand against the evils of America but also do what they can to promote China and it's agendas. Li Cunxin is chosen. Soon he becomes the talk of the company even as just a student.
He meets a young beautiful dancer who is still trying to get accepted into the company named Liz. They form a tentative friendship that eventually blossoms into more. One night Li gets the chance of a lifetime when one of the principle dancers is injured right before a big performance. Li gets to step in and show what he is really made of. The crowd goes wild for him and he begins performing more and more as a principle dancer. Then when it is time to leave he finds he wants nothing more then to stay in America and dance there. The Chinese government refuses his request and so Li begins taking drastic measures. Measures that eventually leave him barred from ever going home.
This movie was incredible. Not only from the stand point of it being an great dance movie but as a whole the film was amazing. The strength that Li had in fighting for what he wanted and his true love of the dance was breathtaking. When they say that the movie is based on an incredible true story they are not exaggerating in any way. It really is an incredible story. And the movie itself was wonderful as well. Written by Jan Sardi and directed by Bruce Beresford the film captured all the elements of beauty, struggle, loss and joy that Li went through. Add in the insanely talented dancing that occured and you have a truly great film. I give this a ten out of ten and I highly reccomend it! I do warn that there are some subtitles but the movie is mainly in english. I say to thee go forth and watch you will not be disappointed!
I truly enjoy the fact that I get to see the new movies the weekend before they come out for general release. I get to do this because I work at a video store, as I have said before, and being able to do so is usually a pretty great thing. But the movies that came out last week were nothing but c level movies and so I watched nothing. This weekend I was again prepared to watch nothing but I reconsidered when I found out about one film in particular. It was called "Mao's Last Dancer." A film based on the true story of a Chinese boy who was recruited as a ballet dancer. Taken from home as a young boy and brought to Beijing to live and study at a school for ballet with other boys and girls away from his family. His name was Li Cunxin. He was at first a reluctent student once telling one of his teachers that he didn't like ballet, that he didn't understand it. Until one day he sees a video of Mikhail Baryshnikov dancing and suddenly he understands. He begins training harder, gaining muscle and percision, wanting to fly.
He is not only learning to be a great ballet dancer he is also learning the Communist ways that goverened China at the time. Learning that through communisim China would become one of the greatest nations in the world, that they will have no poverty, no hunger, no greed, no classes. All will be equal and perfect. They learn that places such as America will corrupt them and turn them into mindless consumers. And so when the Houston ballet company asks the Chinese government to lend them a dancer they do so with hopes that whatever young dancer they choose will not only be able to stand against the evils of America but also do what they can to promote China and it's agendas. Li Cunxin is chosen. Soon he becomes the talk of the company even as just a student.
He meets a young beautiful dancer who is still trying to get accepted into the company named Liz. They form a tentative friendship that eventually blossoms into more. One night Li gets the chance of a lifetime when one of the principle dancers is injured right before a big performance. Li gets to step in and show what he is really made of. The crowd goes wild for him and he begins performing more and more as a principle dancer. Then when it is time to leave he finds he wants nothing more then to stay in America and dance there. The Chinese government refuses his request and so Li begins taking drastic measures. Measures that eventually leave him barred from ever going home.
This movie was incredible. Not only from the stand point of it being an great dance movie but as a whole the film was amazing. The strength that Li had in fighting for what he wanted and his true love of the dance was breathtaking. When they say that the movie is based on an incredible true story they are not exaggerating in any way. It really is an incredible story. And the movie itself was wonderful as well. Written by Jan Sardi and directed by Bruce Beresford the film captured all the elements of beauty, struggle, loss and joy that Li went through. Add in the insanely talented dancing that occured and you have a truly great film. I give this a ten out of ten and I highly reccomend it! I do warn that there are some subtitles but the movie is mainly in english. I say to thee go forth and watch you will not be disappointed!
Monday, April 18, 2011
A Whole Mess Of Stuff
It has been awhile since I posted and even longer since I had a movie post. And so I am here to do just that. Last weekend I watched "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows Part 1" and this weekend I watched, "Rabbit Hole," "Gulliver's Travels," and "The Way Back." So I'm going to have to do a few mini reviews instead of a long review for each. Plus I'm a tad low on energy and am afraid if I try for long in-depth reviews they will come out sounding strange and not thought out. So here goes.
Firstly there was "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows Part 1." This is the first part of the seventh installment of the Harry Potter saga. For those out there who have read the books we already know the story. And for those out there simply skating by on watching the movies you at least have an idea of where the story starts. Harry, Hermione, and Ron aren't going back to Hogwarts, they are headed out to search for Voldemort's Horcruxes. While the war between the Order and the Death Eaters continues Harry and his gang camp atop mountains and in the middle of forrests, searching for any clue to finding the only weakness that Voldemort has, his Horcruxes. The film is full of adventure, drama, excitment and sorrow. While the movie is well done, definetly in keeping with the Harry Potter tradition, there are points that prove it's nearing the end of it's reign.
While the movie in itself is a darker part of the Harry Potter saga I thought that the lack of lighting was going a bit overboard. The movie was almost too dark to see which made it hard to watch. That was a disappointment. Now while I never go into watching these movies with any level of true expectations I have watched the last couple of films with more of a feeling that the actors should at the very least know their characters. I know that they are not the greatest actots, nor do I expect them to be. However they have now spent many years as these characters and should have grown into them by now. Rupert Grint, Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson, Hermione Granger have indeed done this. And of course the adults of the production know what they are doing. There is however a weak link and that unfortunately Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter, himself. He can't seem to grow into his role the way that the others have. It's a shame. Other than that and the lighting the movie was pretty good. It ended at the perfect moment to make me want to go and see the second part. So good there.
On to "Rabbit Hole." Starring the nominated Nicole Kidman, and Aaron Eckhart the movie is full of pain. It's all about these two people, a husband and wife who are trying to figure out how to go on with their lives after the death of their two-year-old son. It's eight months after their son's death and they are trying to find some sort of normal routine. They have been going to grief group and suddenly Becca, Nicole Kidman, decides she wants to quit. After that Becca and Howie, Aaron Eckhart, begin to live seperate lives. Becca has just found out that her sister is pregnant. And in the spirit trying to move on she goes to deliver Danny's, her son's, clothes to her sister. On her drive home, from eventually dropping the clothes off at Goodwill, she sees a young man in a school bus. She follows the bus to his stop and from that day on she continues to watch him. All the while Howie is going to group, making new friends, and trying to find a way to move on. Seperate lives going on.
The movie was well done in many respects. Superbly acted, beautifully written and directed. And though the film was nowhere near as heavy as "Precious" was it was still hard to watch. The pain of losing a child has to be the hardest thing that parents can go through. And that pain was wll played out in the movie. I do recommend this movie but with a disclaimer. You really have to be ready to experience the sadness and pain that is interwoven in the silences as well as every word spoken. But it is indeed a really good movie.
"Gulliver's Travels," was a fun flick. Starring Jack Black, Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt, Jason Segal and Billy Connolly. All in all a fun cast for a fun movie. Anyone who is familiar with the tale of "Gulliver's Travels" knows pretty much what the story is. Although this is a modern take on it. With iphones and Star Wars refrences the movie was full of odds and ends that made the movie silly and fun. For something that is light and funny and nothing too intense this is the movie. There were a few really nice laughs and some good old fashioned Jack Blackness so it made it worth it. I recommend it.
"The Way Back" based on an incredible true story about seven prisoners escaping from a Siberian prisoner in 1940 and how they survived until they got to India. Not all of them survived but the ones that did left behind an incredible story. Starring Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, and Saoirse Ronan (which is pronounced SEER-shuh RO-nuhn) the movie is full of talent. Though the story itself is a tough one it is also one filled with hope, and one of the things I liked best about it was that they escaped into the winter night, in Siberia, knowing that some would die but knowing that those that did would die free men.
It is a beautiful story of survival and hope and one that really makes you look at people differently. It made me realize that there really were some truly remarkable people in the world. The movie was a tad long and there were some weird time confusions that happened but it was a good movie. The story was incredible and a little mind blowing, the movie was good, well acted and intruiging. It's something that I would recommend though.
Anyway there they are, the movies that I watched in the last little while. Good ones, nothing that blew me away but good movies. Which is more then I can say for a lot of the movies in the past little while. It was a nice change to get some good movies rather then a whole bunch of nothing. Also I would like to note "The King's Speech," is out on dvd this week as well. So if you are local come buy the store and pick up a copy it is well worth it!
Firstly there was "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows Part 1." This is the first part of the seventh installment of the Harry Potter saga. For those out there who have read the books we already know the story. And for those out there simply skating by on watching the movies you at least have an idea of where the story starts. Harry, Hermione, and Ron aren't going back to Hogwarts, they are headed out to search for Voldemort's Horcruxes. While the war between the Order and the Death Eaters continues Harry and his gang camp atop mountains and in the middle of forrests, searching for any clue to finding the only weakness that Voldemort has, his Horcruxes. The film is full of adventure, drama, excitment and sorrow. While the movie is well done, definetly in keeping with the Harry Potter tradition, there are points that prove it's nearing the end of it's reign.
While the movie in itself is a darker part of the Harry Potter saga I thought that the lack of lighting was going a bit overboard. The movie was almost too dark to see which made it hard to watch. That was a disappointment. Now while I never go into watching these movies with any level of true expectations I have watched the last couple of films with more of a feeling that the actors should at the very least know their characters. I know that they are not the greatest actots, nor do I expect them to be. However they have now spent many years as these characters and should have grown into them by now. Rupert Grint, Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson, Hermione Granger have indeed done this. And of course the adults of the production know what they are doing. There is however a weak link and that unfortunately Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter, himself. He can't seem to grow into his role the way that the others have. It's a shame. Other than that and the lighting the movie was pretty good. It ended at the perfect moment to make me want to go and see the second part. So good there.
On to "Rabbit Hole." Starring the nominated Nicole Kidman, and Aaron Eckhart the movie is full of pain. It's all about these two people, a husband and wife who are trying to figure out how to go on with their lives after the death of their two-year-old son. It's eight months after their son's death and they are trying to find some sort of normal routine. They have been going to grief group and suddenly Becca, Nicole Kidman, decides she wants to quit. After that Becca and Howie, Aaron Eckhart, begin to live seperate lives. Becca has just found out that her sister is pregnant. And in the spirit trying to move on she goes to deliver Danny's, her son's, clothes to her sister. On her drive home, from eventually dropping the clothes off at Goodwill, she sees a young man in a school bus. She follows the bus to his stop and from that day on she continues to watch him. All the while Howie is going to group, making new friends, and trying to find a way to move on. Seperate lives going on.
The movie was well done in many respects. Superbly acted, beautifully written and directed. And though the film was nowhere near as heavy as "Precious" was it was still hard to watch. The pain of losing a child has to be the hardest thing that parents can go through. And that pain was wll played out in the movie. I do recommend this movie but with a disclaimer. You really have to be ready to experience the sadness and pain that is interwoven in the silences as well as every word spoken. But it is indeed a really good movie.
"Gulliver's Travels," was a fun flick. Starring Jack Black, Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt, Jason Segal and Billy Connolly. All in all a fun cast for a fun movie. Anyone who is familiar with the tale of "Gulliver's Travels" knows pretty much what the story is. Although this is a modern take on it. With iphones and Star Wars refrences the movie was full of odds and ends that made the movie silly and fun. For something that is light and funny and nothing too intense this is the movie. There were a few really nice laughs and some good old fashioned Jack Blackness so it made it worth it. I recommend it.
"The Way Back" based on an incredible true story about seven prisoners escaping from a Siberian prisoner in 1940 and how they survived until they got to India. Not all of them survived but the ones that did left behind an incredible story. Starring Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, and Saoirse Ronan (which is pronounced SEER-shuh RO-nuhn) the movie is full of talent. Though the story itself is a tough one it is also one filled with hope, and one of the things I liked best about it was that they escaped into the winter night, in Siberia, knowing that some would die but knowing that those that did would die free men.
It is a beautiful story of survival and hope and one that really makes you look at people differently. It made me realize that there really were some truly remarkable people in the world. The movie was a tad long and there were some weird time confusions that happened but it was a good movie. The story was incredible and a little mind blowing, the movie was good, well acted and intruiging. It's something that I would recommend though.
Anyway there they are, the movies that I watched in the last little while. Good ones, nothing that blew me away but good movies. Which is more then I can say for a lot of the movies in the past little while. It was a nice change to get some good movies rather then a whole bunch of nothing. Also I would like to note "The King's Speech," is out on dvd this week as well. So if you are local come buy the store and pick up a copy it is well worth it!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A Mythical Adventure
I recently read "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. I have a friend who has been recommending it to me for quite awhile now. I went to visit her and her boyfriend, they live in Portland and near Powell's bookstore, and naturally due to the fact that we are both kind of book freaks we got to talking books. And we of course went to Powell's. This is a dangerous place to be for book lovers, true book lovers. You have to be the type of book lover that literally can't get by for even a day without out SOMETHING to read. If you are that type of book lover Powell's is nirvana. The place that you could go and live and die happily. Anyway while there I started talking about how I really wanted something new to read. A new author, a new genre and my friend once again suggested Neil Gaiman's "American Gods." Seeing as I had already gathered quite a few titles I decided against getting it. However when I returned home and went to a used bookstore I picked it up. Then promptly forgot about it.
Eventually I started getting interested in the book. There it sat on my bookshelf staring me in the face. And I started talking about it with my friend and she urged me to give it a try. And so I did. I read it in a couple of days. I loved it. It surprised me, from the very beginning it swept me up and kept a hold on me. Now I'm not usually one for the fantasy genre but this just interested me from the beginning and kept me interested until the very last page.
The story begins with Shadow. An ex-con just getting out of prison, on his way home to bury his wife. A wife who died just a few days before he got out of prison. On the plane ride home he meets a man calling himself Mr. Wednesday. A man that at first seems harmless and then starts telling Shadow things that he shouldn't know. It scares Shadow enough that when they get to the airport instead of making his connection Shadow decides to rent a car and drive the rest of the way home. Somehow Mr. Wednesday catches up to him and offers him a job. After a few drinks Shadow agrees. What follows is an adventure that shakes Shadow to his very core and makes his soul soar to new heights.
He meets gods and goddesses and speaks to them as equals. Although he is at times thrown for a loop he learns to find his footing in this new world. The world of gods from the past and gods of the present. He dines with Thoth and Anubis, meets Bast, plays chess with a Russian god of darkness and is given the moon. It's a world that most of the time confuses him but one that he ultimately feels comfortable in. And one that I grew to love.
This was a great book, one that will stick with me always, one that made me want to read more of the fantasy genre. Something I know will make my friend happy, and one that makes me happy due to the fact that this opens up a whole new world for me. If you enjoy fantasy or are trying to break into that genre "American Gods" is a great place to start!!! I highly recommend it!
Eventually I started getting interested in the book. There it sat on my bookshelf staring me in the face. And I started talking about it with my friend and she urged me to give it a try. And so I did. I read it in a couple of days. I loved it. It surprised me, from the very beginning it swept me up and kept a hold on me. Now I'm not usually one for the fantasy genre but this just interested me from the beginning and kept me interested until the very last page.
The story begins with Shadow. An ex-con just getting out of prison, on his way home to bury his wife. A wife who died just a few days before he got out of prison. On the plane ride home he meets a man calling himself Mr. Wednesday. A man that at first seems harmless and then starts telling Shadow things that he shouldn't know. It scares Shadow enough that when they get to the airport instead of making his connection Shadow decides to rent a car and drive the rest of the way home. Somehow Mr. Wednesday catches up to him and offers him a job. After a few drinks Shadow agrees. What follows is an adventure that shakes Shadow to his very core and makes his soul soar to new heights.
He meets gods and goddesses and speaks to them as equals. Although he is at times thrown for a loop he learns to find his footing in this new world. The world of gods from the past and gods of the present. He dines with Thoth and Anubis, meets Bast, plays chess with a Russian god of darkness and is given the moon. It's a world that most of the time confuses him but one that he ultimately feels comfortable in. And one that I grew to love.
This was a great book, one that will stick with me always, one that made me want to read more of the fantasy genre. Something I know will make my friend happy, and one that makes me happy due to the fact that this opens up a whole new world for me. If you enjoy fantasy or are trying to break into that genre "American Gods" is a great place to start!!! I highly recommend it!
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