So I've been remiss in posting, but I have still been watching movies. Lots of movies. Loads of movies! So, instead of giving a long review for each one, which would take me forever and I would never catch up, I've decided to just list them and give them a grade between D minus and A plus. I will only put comments for those that have something special about them, either good or bad. So here goes...
Kinky Boots (2006) A
Hysteria (2012) A+ . A hilarious movie about feminism and how repressed Victorians were. Not for those with delicate sensibilities.
Amazing Grace (2007) A+
Meet Dave (2008) C+
Minions (2015) A . The only reason this didn't get an A plus is that it didn't last long enough...
Zookeeper (2011) B
Chaplin (1992) A. Boy does Robert Downey Jr. look young in this!
Captain America: The Winter Soldier( 2014) A
Boyhood (2014) A+. Beautiful movie, fascinating to watch the main characters literally grow up in front of us. For some strange reason, I keep thinking about Seinfeld though, and his 'show about nothing'. This was and wasn't like that, a movie where nothing too dramatic happens, an ordinary life. But seeing it, you realize it is also an extraordinary one.
Thor: The Dark World (2013) B+
Pride (2014) A+. Based on a true story of the Miners strike during the Thatcher era, and the Gays for Miners support group that arose. A very moving story.
From Up on Poppy Hill (2012) A+. Miyazaki does it again!
Young Triffie (2006) B+. Based on a play, featuring a familiar face from Corner Gas.
Transformers (2007) B
Maleficent (2014) B. Disappointed in the lack of substance of this movie.
Pan's Labyrinth (2007) A-. Only reason for the minus is the depressing aura of the film.
Watchmen (Director's Cut) (2009) A-. Again, depressing, but magnificently done.
Into the White (2013) A. Based on a true story from WWII.
Hancock (2008) B+
Home (2015) A+ .Be warned, there are some tearjerker moments in this one, for real!
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)A+. You know it's a good movie if I endorse a Tom Cruise film!
Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013) A
22 Jump Street (2014) B+
Monday, 26 October 2015
Saturday, 24 October 2015
Graphic Novels and Young Adult Novels
First up is a fun graphic novel called Night Powers: The Adventures of Dr. McNinja by Chris Hastings (2011). Now, right in the title you see the reason why I picked it up. I mean, honestly, how can I not read something with a character named Dr. McNinja? This is a color version of the web comic Adventures of Dr. McNinja. I had not come across this web comic before, but I will be looking it up as soon as I have a chance, because this is definitely a keeper!
Dr. McNinja comes from a family of - what else - ninjas. Both his parents and brother are ninjas and proud of it, but he, for reasons not explained in this book, decided that he would become a doctor. And he does practice medicine, when his office is not being bombed by King Radical's minions of course. Dr. McNinja's sidekick is Gordo, the mustached boy, riding his tame dinosaur. His secretary is a gorilla. That tells you the level of absurd in this comic.
This reminds me a lot of Axe Cop, but with more plot continuity and a bit more of a planned approach. I really liked the silliness mixed with intensity of the character's emotions. They take it so seriously. It's frankly hilarious.
Next, A Young Adult novel called simply Flip, by Martyn Bedford (2011).
This page turner follows Alex, who is fourteen years old and in a bit of a pickle. He just woke up in somebody else's body, with no idea what happened. Alex is now Phillip, or Flip to his friends. Flip is everything Alex is not: popular, athletic, and a player. Alex tries to adapt to his situation while he tries to figure out what has happened to him. He eventually finds out that his situation has a name: Psychic Evacuation. Somehow, his soul has left his body and entered Phillip's. And Alex's own body is still alive.
The suspense and unpredictability of this story means that I could hardly put it down while I was reading it. If you like the supernatural, the unexplained, and body swapping stories, this book will interest you.
Saga
A visceral an gripping series about an intergalactic war, and an inter-racial love story told from the viewpoint of the lover's child. If you love graphic novels, and you like science-fiction epics, and you don't mind a bit of ultra-violence in your tea, this is for you. two thumbs up.
Here are a few must read novels for the LGBTQI crowd, or anyone who is interested:
FreakBoy
what do you do if you don't want to wear a dress, but you also don't always feel comfortable as a guy? Interesting writing style.
Geography Club (2003) by Brent Hartinger
For teens who aren't out, but who want to talk to like minded teens, there's the Geography club. Geography knowledge is not mandatory.
When Love Comes to Town
A look at how things were for gay teens in Ireland in the 90s. Big culture shock.
Fan Art
A look at how things are for gay teens in North America in the current day. With bonus mini comic!
Dr. McNinja comes from a family of - what else - ninjas. Both his parents and brother are ninjas and proud of it, but he, for reasons not explained in this book, decided that he would become a doctor. And he does practice medicine, when his office is not being bombed by King Radical's minions of course. Dr. McNinja's sidekick is Gordo, the mustached boy, riding his tame dinosaur. His secretary is a gorilla. That tells you the level of absurd in this comic.
This reminds me a lot of Axe Cop, but with more plot continuity and a bit more of a planned approach. I really liked the silliness mixed with intensity of the character's emotions. They take it so seriously. It's frankly hilarious.
Next, A Young Adult novel called simply Flip, by Martyn Bedford (2011).
This page turner follows Alex, who is fourteen years old and in a bit of a pickle. He just woke up in somebody else's body, with no idea what happened. Alex is now Phillip, or Flip to his friends. Flip is everything Alex is not: popular, athletic, and a player. Alex tries to adapt to his situation while he tries to figure out what has happened to him. He eventually finds out that his situation has a name: Psychic Evacuation. Somehow, his soul has left his body and entered Phillip's. And Alex's own body is still alive.
The suspense and unpredictability of this story means that I could hardly put it down while I was reading it. If you like the supernatural, the unexplained, and body swapping stories, this book will interest you.
Saga
A visceral an gripping series about an intergalactic war, and an inter-racial love story told from the viewpoint of the lover's child. If you love graphic novels, and you like science-fiction epics, and you don't mind a bit of ultra-violence in your tea, this is for you. two thumbs up.
Here are a few must read novels for the LGBTQI crowd, or anyone who is interested:
FreakBoy
what do you do if you don't want to wear a dress, but you also don't always feel comfortable as a guy? Interesting writing style.
Geography Club (2003) by Brent Hartinger
For teens who aren't out, but who want to talk to like minded teens, there's the Geography club. Geography knowledge is not mandatory.
When Love Comes to Town
A look at how things were for gay teens in Ireland in the 90s. Big culture shock.
Fan Art
A look at how things are for gay teens in North America in the current day. With bonus mini comic!
Thursday, 24 September 2015
For Little Kids and Big Kids
The Book of Life (DVD 2014)
This was a wonderful movie, I urge everyone to watch it. Manolo and Joaquin are both in love with Maria. When Manolo is tricked into dying before his time so that Xibalba (ruler or the land of the Forgotten) can win a bet with la Muerte (who rules the land of the Remembered), he vows to return to life and find Maria again. What follows is the most colorful, magical and musical movie I've seen in a long time. The music is so addictive that you'll find yourself humming the tunes long after the movie is over. The Mexican underworld is so colorful and different to what we are used to, truly a feast for the eyes and the heart.
Boxtrolls (DVD 2015)
What happens if a baby is found and raised by trolls who disguise themselves as boxes? Apparently, you get a well adjusted youth with a slight lisp. And that is not a bad thing; although there are obvious plot holes, they seem to be intentional in order to give a sense of childlike innocence to the storytelling. The world of the boxtrolls is stuck in a quasi-Victorian steampunk era, where leadership is determined by how well one runs the cheese board. The villain of the story is an ambitious pest control officer who has designs on the white hat of the ruling class, and who is not above blackmail and sabotage to get it. Enter Eggs, a young boy raised by the boxtrolls since infancy, who is dismayed to learn when he encounters humans that his friends are being hunted like beasts! A fun flight of fancy that brings classic Claymation technology to new heights. I found it enchanting, especially the villain's unusual disguise. A good laugh for anyone who likes fantasy.
Jedi Academy - Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown(JF 2014)
This is a great series for kids who enjoy all things Star Wars and like to imagine life if they were Jedi. Our young Padawan, as the title states, returns to the Jedi Academy for the second year of school. How will he do in class? Will he avoid falling to the dark side? Will he find out what is in the mystery meat?
Minions (2015)
If you're a fan of Despicable Me, you'll love this movie. I went to see it in 3D in theaters, and although 3D always makes me nauseous, it was still worth seeing. We finally get to see more of the origins of our loveable yellow henchmen, and the origin of their language is clarified thanks to the opening sequences of the movie. The new villainess is also a hoot, with just the right mix of allure and meanness. For those patient enough to stay seated until the end of the credits, there are also plenty of bonus scenes. With the 3rd Despicable Me movie scheduled to come out in a while, one wonders if Minions has the sown the seeds of a few interesting plot points. Long lost relatives of some character(s), perhaps? In any case, this movie is great for the kid, and the kid in you!
This was a wonderful movie, I urge everyone to watch it. Manolo and Joaquin are both in love with Maria. When Manolo is tricked into dying before his time so that Xibalba (ruler or the land of the Forgotten) can win a bet with la Muerte (who rules the land of the Remembered), he vows to return to life and find Maria again. What follows is the most colorful, magical and musical movie I've seen in a long time. The music is so addictive that you'll find yourself humming the tunes long after the movie is over. The Mexican underworld is so colorful and different to what we are used to, truly a feast for the eyes and the heart.
Boxtrolls (DVD 2015)
What happens if a baby is found and raised by trolls who disguise themselves as boxes? Apparently, you get a well adjusted youth with a slight lisp. And that is not a bad thing; although there are obvious plot holes, they seem to be intentional in order to give a sense of childlike innocence to the storytelling. The world of the boxtrolls is stuck in a quasi-Victorian steampunk era, where leadership is determined by how well one runs the cheese board. The villain of the story is an ambitious pest control officer who has designs on the white hat of the ruling class, and who is not above blackmail and sabotage to get it. Enter Eggs, a young boy raised by the boxtrolls since infancy, who is dismayed to learn when he encounters humans that his friends are being hunted like beasts! A fun flight of fancy that brings classic Claymation technology to new heights. I found it enchanting, especially the villain's unusual disguise. A good laugh for anyone who likes fantasy.
Jedi Academy - Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown(JF 2014)
This is a great series for kids who enjoy all things Star Wars and like to imagine life if they were Jedi. Our young Padawan, as the title states, returns to the Jedi Academy for the second year of school. How will he do in class? Will he avoid falling to the dark side? Will he find out what is in the mystery meat?
Minions (2015)
If you're a fan of Despicable Me, you'll love this movie. I went to see it in 3D in theaters, and although 3D always makes me nauseous, it was still worth seeing. We finally get to see more of the origins of our loveable yellow henchmen, and the origin of their language is clarified thanks to the opening sequences of the movie. The new villainess is also a hoot, with just the right mix of allure and meanness. For those patient enough to stay seated until the end of the credits, there are also plenty of bonus scenes. With the 3rd Despicable Me movie scheduled to come out in a while, one wonders if Minions has the sown the seeds of a few interesting plot points. Long lost relatives of some character(s), perhaps? In any case, this movie is great for the kid, and the kid in you!
Friday, 3 July 2015
Movies Galore
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Simon Pegg has done it again! Every movie I've watched starring this guy, I've loved. Pegg stars as officer Nicholas Angel, a big city cop in London who is unbeatable. Angel's arrest record is pristine, in fact he's so good at his job that he makes every other cop in London look bad. This culminates in him being redeployed in Sandford, a quiet village in the country where nothing ever happens. Or does it? Has officer Angel discovered a sinister plot, or is he just paranoid? This being a buddy cop parody comedy, there are of course gruesome murders, plots and car chase scenes. I found this an excellent movie to watch when you're in the mood for a bit of comedy with your action, but are tired of American style. A definite A+ to this movie. And if you like it, look up Shaun of the Dead, and The World's End.
City of Ember (2008)
One of these days I will read the book, then watch the movie. Based on the children's novel of the same name, this movie is a visual treat for the eyes. The action takes place in the city of Ember, deep underground many centuries after a cataclysm has supposedly destroyed mankind. The city has been experiencing blackouts, the generator sustaining it suffering from age strain and ready to give out. Lina and Doon are two young people just coming of age in the city, and have been assigned their new jobs to contribute to society. Amid the uncertainty of a failing generator, Lina finds a mysterious box containing instructions left by the city's Builders. Could it be the solution they're looking for?
The set designs in this movie were beautiful, very steampunk and different. Although the plot was a bit simplistic, it was well executed and held up pretty well to scrutiny.
Ghost Town (2008)
Ricky Gervais is not who I usually think of as the male lead for a rom com, yet he acquits himself well in this movie. Playing the role of an antisocial dentist, Bertram Pincus, who finds out after the fact that he had died for seven minutes during a routine surgery. How did he find out, you ask? Well, by starting to see ghosts! From the moment he wakes after surgery, Pincus is stalked by the deceased in search of a resolution to their unfinished business. Pincus wants none of it. Until he meets Frank's widow, that is. Frank is a hot air blowing, grandstanding jerk, and he's dead. He enlists Pincus's help in breaking up his widow's current romance, and things tumble on from there.
Gervais plays the misanthrope to a T. Every nuance of body language is fine tuned to perfection, and one can't help but feel put off by his actions. He only thaws out once he realizes that he is missing out on things in life. A good movie overall.
Rio 2 (2014)
The birds are back and they're going on a family vacation! Blue and his family go to the rainforest when they find out their human friends have found more blue macaws in the wild. Time to meet the in-laws! This was a good family movie, even script and of course beautiful music throughout. The character that stole the show this time is a small, poison dart frog; her operatic daydream is sublime. I highly recommend it.
The Simpsons movie (2007)
In true Simpsons fashion, the movie gives you ups and downs, but ultimately ends up with the family sticking together, with everyone having learned a lesson in why trying to get rid of the Simpsons never works... I give it a B overall, mainly because the movie didn't deviate much from the formula used in the show, so it didn't really feel like it deserved to be called a movie. It was more like three back to back episodes following one storyline. Alright for when you just want to veg in front of the tube.
My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
While I admire a movie starring a female hero, the effect is ruined by the double standards illustrated by the movie's main storyline. An everyday joe meets with and starts dating a woman, but finds her too clingy and decides to dump her. Unfortunately for him, she has superpowers and is not taking no for an answer! I found this movie only mildly funny, and the justifications used by the characters for their violent tendencies insufficient. If the superhero in this movie were a man, would his use of force to abuse and try to kill an ex be accepted as funny? no! Being bitter because a former crush became your enemy is not a good reason for it! If the genders of the characters were reversed, not only would the main character have been labeled a criminal abusive man, but the movie would have never been made. But because the hero is female, it's somehow seen as funny that she's beating up and trying to kill this poor man. Not only that, but she's not arrested or punished in any way for her actions at the end of the movie! In fact, she's even rewarded. Don't watch this movie if you have any respect for women, or abuse victims.
The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
I knew what was coming, I've read the book, and I still was shocked and moved when the deaths of certain characters happened in this movie. If you haven't been living under a rock you know who I mean. The landscapes were spectacular as usual, and the epic scale of the battle scenes were breathtaking, but it was the more intimate scenes, and the heartbreaking losses that makes the movie worth watching. That said, I have no clue how Bilbo wasn't still crying at the end of the movie. I will have to re-watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy just to cheer myself up; is that what you call irony?
Simon Pegg has done it again! Every movie I've watched starring this guy, I've loved. Pegg stars as officer Nicholas Angel, a big city cop in London who is unbeatable. Angel's arrest record is pristine, in fact he's so good at his job that he makes every other cop in London look bad. This culminates in him being redeployed in Sandford, a quiet village in the country where nothing ever happens. Or does it? Has officer Angel discovered a sinister plot, or is he just paranoid? This being a buddy cop parody comedy, there are of course gruesome murders, plots and car chase scenes. I found this an excellent movie to watch when you're in the mood for a bit of comedy with your action, but are tired of American style. A definite A+ to this movie. And if you like it, look up Shaun of the Dead, and The World's End.
City of Ember (2008)
One of these days I will read the book, then watch the movie. Based on the children's novel of the same name, this movie is a visual treat for the eyes. The action takes place in the city of Ember, deep underground many centuries after a cataclysm has supposedly destroyed mankind. The city has been experiencing blackouts, the generator sustaining it suffering from age strain and ready to give out. Lina and Doon are two young people just coming of age in the city, and have been assigned their new jobs to contribute to society. Amid the uncertainty of a failing generator, Lina finds a mysterious box containing instructions left by the city's Builders. Could it be the solution they're looking for?
The set designs in this movie were beautiful, very steampunk and different. Although the plot was a bit simplistic, it was well executed and held up pretty well to scrutiny.
Ghost Town (2008)
Ricky Gervais is not who I usually think of as the male lead for a rom com, yet he acquits himself well in this movie. Playing the role of an antisocial dentist, Bertram Pincus, who finds out after the fact that he had died for seven minutes during a routine surgery. How did he find out, you ask? Well, by starting to see ghosts! From the moment he wakes after surgery, Pincus is stalked by the deceased in search of a resolution to their unfinished business. Pincus wants none of it. Until he meets Frank's widow, that is. Frank is a hot air blowing, grandstanding jerk, and he's dead. He enlists Pincus's help in breaking up his widow's current romance, and things tumble on from there.
Gervais plays the misanthrope to a T. Every nuance of body language is fine tuned to perfection, and one can't help but feel put off by his actions. He only thaws out once he realizes that he is missing out on things in life. A good movie overall.
Rio 2 (2014)
The birds are back and they're going on a family vacation! Blue and his family go to the rainforest when they find out their human friends have found more blue macaws in the wild. Time to meet the in-laws! This was a good family movie, even script and of course beautiful music throughout. The character that stole the show this time is a small, poison dart frog; her operatic daydream is sublime. I highly recommend it.
The Simpsons movie (2007)
In true Simpsons fashion, the movie gives you ups and downs, but ultimately ends up with the family sticking together, with everyone having learned a lesson in why trying to get rid of the Simpsons never works... I give it a B overall, mainly because the movie didn't deviate much from the formula used in the show, so it didn't really feel like it deserved to be called a movie. It was more like three back to back episodes following one storyline. Alright for when you just want to veg in front of the tube.
My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
While I admire a movie starring a female hero, the effect is ruined by the double standards illustrated by the movie's main storyline. An everyday joe meets with and starts dating a woman, but finds her too clingy and decides to dump her. Unfortunately for him, she has superpowers and is not taking no for an answer! I found this movie only mildly funny, and the justifications used by the characters for their violent tendencies insufficient. If the superhero in this movie were a man, would his use of force to abuse and try to kill an ex be accepted as funny? no! Being bitter because a former crush became your enemy is not a good reason for it! If the genders of the characters were reversed, not only would the main character have been labeled a criminal abusive man, but the movie would have never been made. But because the hero is female, it's somehow seen as funny that she's beating up and trying to kill this poor man. Not only that, but she's not arrested or punished in any way for her actions at the end of the movie! In fact, she's even rewarded. Don't watch this movie if you have any respect for women, or abuse victims.
The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
I knew what was coming, I've read the book, and I still was shocked and moved when the deaths of certain characters happened in this movie. If you haven't been living under a rock you know who I mean. The landscapes were spectacular as usual, and the epic scale of the battle scenes were breathtaking, but it was the more intimate scenes, and the heartbreaking losses that makes the movie worth watching. That said, I have no clue how Bilbo wasn't still crying at the end of the movie. I will have to re-watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy just to cheer myself up; is that what you call irony?
Thursday, 21 May 2015
confusing novels and strange movies
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu (2010)
This book was surprising in that as I was reading it I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. I like the idea behind the plot, that is that the main character lives in a science fictional universe, and is cognizant of that fact. I did not like the writing style as much, which consisted of overly long run-on sentences where the author used every conceivable permutation of an idea, every hyperbole, every simile, every comparison possible to get across his thoughts, his ideas, his thought processes. (much as I have just done in this last sentence). The main character is by turns sympathetic and depressing. He seems depressed and disillusioned by his life, and is reluctant to live it fully. He is so reluctant in fact that he has spent most of his time in the past 10 years of his job as time machine repairman parked in the Indefinite Present, just so he could avoid moving forward in time. And now the unthinkable has happened. He is now stuck in a time loop, and unless he can escape it he will undoubtedly die.
I found that the book read as a metaphor for regret. Regrets about one's life, and one's relationships with others. It also had a lot to say about memory, how it works, how it fails, how subjective it is. I'm not certain if the ending was happy or just bittersweet, but it was well written. I think the part of this book that annoyed me was the writing style. Although it had quality prose, I just don't enjoy reading someone take a paragraph to say something that at most should have taken one sentence. I give this book an A- , because despite the style and the milquetoast main character, it is a very good book. And if you like this one, a book that I found similar in tone was Super Sad True Love Story.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
This is a very touching movie, if you let yourself feel for the protagonist. The premise is quite a strange one; Lars lives in the garage next to his parents' house, where his brother and sister-in-law now live. Lars is very reserved, even standoffish with everyone in his life. His sister-in-law, who is pregnant with her first child, worries for his state of mind constantly. When Lars comes over with his first female friend, her fears prove well founded. Because Lars's friend is a life sized anatomically correct doll. What follows is a heartwarming story of a community coming together to help heal one of their own, despite their misgivings. I was skeptical about this movie at the start, thinking from the summary that it was some type of comedy. Instead I was treated to a message of acceptance and the healing power of community in the face of mental illness and grief. I found myself moved to tears by the end of the movie, but I won't give you any spoilers. If you enjoy movies such as Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close or The Silver Linings Playbook, then chances are you will like this one.
Bourne Legacy (2012)
I quite enjoy the Bourne series of films, and this one was no exception. This movie takes place at the same time as Bourne Ultimatum, though Jason Bourne is only seen in photographs during this film. Instead we follow another agent, Aaron Cross, who is part of a black ops experiment called Operation Outcome. Cross is genetically enhanced thanks to a drug he has to take every day to keep the effects going. When a whistleblower threatens to expose the operation, Aaron Cross and all other members of Outcome are slated for elimination. Cross escapes, and decides to track down the source of the enhancing drugs with the help of a former scientist who worked on them. The movie has a pretty satisfying ending, although I felt some parts were rushed. I enjoyed the action scenes, and although they were fast they didn't suffer from as much of the blurriness I often notice with high speed martial arts fights. All in all a very good action film. I recommend watching Bourne Ultimatum either before or after to clarify some of the plot points.
Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
My advice about this movie: if you lived through the 70s and hated it, you might not be able to tolerate this movie. Anchorman takes everything that was tacky, bad, chauvinistic about the 70s and puts it all in one place. This movie is filled to the brim with references to iconic 70s movie tropes, such as the gang fight, office romance, and cheesy 'romance' music. If it weren't making fun of itself pretty clearly, this movie would not have been watchable. They went out of their way to make the characters act offensively towards women, as a nod to the hostile work environment faced by women in that decade. Although this movie is meant as a parody, I was disappointed when the female lead decided to get into a romance with one of the chauvinistic males. It seems she was betraying all her ideals when she did that. I don't know if that was meant as again parodying the 70s mentality, but I would have preferred if the female lead had stuck to her guns and foregone the romance altogether. If you like Will Ferrell movies, you will probably like this one. I give it a B- overall. It was ok, but it's not what I would choose again.
This book was surprising in that as I was reading it I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. I like the idea behind the plot, that is that the main character lives in a science fictional universe, and is cognizant of that fact. I did not like the writing style as much, which consisted of overly long run-on sentences where the author used every conceivable permutation of an idea, every hyperbole, every simile, every comparison possible to get across his thoughts, his ideas, his thought processes. (much as I have just done in this last sentence). The main character is by turns sympathetic and depressing. He seems depressed and disillusioned by his life, and is reluctant to live it fully. He is so reluctant in fact that he has spent most of his time in the past 10 years of his job as time machine repairman parked in the Indefinite Present, just so he could avoid moving forward in time. And now the unthinkable has happened. He is now stuck in a time loop, and unless he can escape it he will undoubtedly die.
I found that the book read as a metaphor for regret. Regrets about one's life, and one's relationships with others. It also had a lot to say about memory, how it works, how it fails, how subjective it is. I'm not certain if the ending was happy or just bittersweet, but it was well written. I think the part of this book that annoyed me was the writing style. Although it had quality prose, I just don't enjoy reading someone take a paragraph to say something that at most should have taken one sentence. I give this book an A- , because despite the style and the milquetoast main character, it is a very good book. And if you like this one, a book that I found similar in tone was Super Sad True Love Story.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
This is a very touching movie, if you let yourself feel for the protagonist. The premise is quite a strange one; Lars lives in the garage next to his parents' house, where his brother and sister-in-law now live. Lars is very reserved, even standoffish with everyone in his life. His sister-in-law, who is pregnant with her first child, worries for his state of mind constantly. When Lars comes over with his first female friend, her fears prove well founded. Because Lars's friend is a life sized anatomically correct doll. What follows is a heartwarming story of a community coming together to help heal one of their own, despite their misgivings. I was skeptical about this movie at the start, thinking from the summary that it was some type of comedy. Instead I was treated to a message of acceptance and the healing power of community in the face of mental illness and grief. I found myself moved to tears by the end of the movie, but I won't give you any spoilers. If you enjoy movies such as Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close or The Silver Linings Playbook, then chances are you will like this one.
Bourne Legacy (2012)
I quite enjoy the Bourne series of films, and this one was no exception. This movie takes place at the same time as Bourne Ultimatum, though Jason Bourne is only seen in photographs during this film. Instead we follow another agent, Aaron Cross, who is part of a black ops experiment called Operation Outcome. Cross is genetically enhanced thanks to a drug he has to take every day to keep the effects going. When a whistleblower threatens to expose the operation, Aaron Cross and all other members of Outcome are slated for elimination. Cross escapes, and decides to track down the source of the enhancing drugs with the help of a former scientist who worked on them. The movie has a pretty satisfying ending, although I felt some parts were rushed. I enjoyed the action scenes, and although they were fast they didn't suffer from as much of the blurriness I often notice with high speed martial arts fights. All in all a very good action film. I recommend watching Bourne Ultimatum either before or after to clarify some of the plot points.
Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
My advice about this movie: if you lived through the 70s and hated it, you might not be able to tolerate this movie. Anchorman takes everything that was tacky, bad, chauvinistic about the 70s and puts it all in one place. This movie is filled to the brim with references to iconic 70s movie tropes, such as the gang fight, office romance, and cheesy 'romance' music. If it weren't making fun of itself pretty clearly, this movie would not have been watchable. They went out of their way to make the characters act offensively towards women, as a nod to the hostile work environment faced by women in that decade. Although this movie is meant as a parody, I was disappointed when the female lead decided to get into a romance with one of the chauvinistic males. It seems she was betraying all her ideals when she did that. I don't know if that was meant as again parodying the 70s mentality, but I would have preferred if the female lead had stuck to her guns and foregone the romance altogether. If you like Will Ferrell movies, you will probably like this one. I give it a B- overall. It was ok, but it's not what I would choose again.
Thursday, 23 April 2015
When in ancient Rome... become a detective?
Hi all!
I thought I would write about one of my favorite series of books, by Ruth Downie. She writes the Gaius Petreius Ruso novels set in ancient Rome, right around the era of Emperor Hadrian. The first novel is titled Medicus, and was published in 2006. It introduces the central characters of the series, the medicus - Latin for doctor - Ruso and the native British woman Darlughdacha, otherwise known as Tilla. The latest novel, which came out just this year, is titled Tabula Rasa, and is not yet available in libraries (I had to go out and buy it). There are 6 books so far, the last two of which are not in NB libraries, though book five can be obtained through interlibrary loan.
What attracted me to this series is the main protagonist, Gaius Ruso. He is a plain, honest, overworked doctor, just trying to do his job as medicus with the 20th Legion while they are posted in Britain. His main character flaw, which is also how he ends up embroiled in so much trouble, is that he just cannot let a mystery go. He is like a dog that has scented a trail, following every little clue to the bitter end, no matter the consequences to himself or his career. Ruso knows this is his flaw, but seems unable to let matters lie when he knows that something is wrong.
I have tried to think of who his character reminds me of, but so far I haven't been able to decide. He seems to have the same bad luck as Jackson Brodie from Kate Atkinson's series. He also reminds me a bit of Martin Freeman's portrayal of John Watson, in his exasperation over the behaviors of his friend and flatmate.
Overall, I think I'm just charmed by the portrayal of ancient Rome as filled with people, just like us. They may have had different habits, social customs and the like, but they were still people trying to make a living and find happiness. The mysteries are also usually not so clear to unravel as you find in some detective novels. The clues left by the author are subtle, and I am often as baffled by it all as Ruso is.
Anyway, I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes a good mystery, or a good historical fiction. Or even a good romance, as this book has that too!
I thought I would write about one of my favorite series of books, by Ruth Downie. She writes the Gaius Petreius Ruso novels set in ancient Rome, right around the era of Emperor Hadrian. The first novel is titled Medicus, and was published in 2006. It introduces the central characters of the series, the medicus - Latin for doctor - Ruso and the native British woman Darlughdacha, otherwise known as Tilla. The latest novel, which came out just this year, is titled Tabula Rasa, and is not yet available in libraries (I had to go out and buy it). There are 6 books so far, the last two of which are not in NB libraries, though book five can be obtained through interlibrary loan.
What attracted me to this series is the main protagonist, Gaius Ruso. He is a plain, honest, overworked doctor, just trying to do his job as medicus with the 20th Legion while they are posted in Britain. His main character flaw, which is also how he ends up embroiled in so much trouble, is that he just cannot let a mystery go. He is like a dog that has scented a trail, following every little clue to the bitter end, no matter the consequences to himself or his career. Ruso knows this is his flaw, but seems unable to let matters lie when he knows that something is wrong.
I have tried to think of who his character reminds me of, but so far I haven't been able to decide. He seems to have the same bad luck as Jackson Brodie from Kate Atkinson's series. He also reminds me a bit of Martin Freeman's portrayal of John Watson, in his exasperation over the behaviors of his friend and flatmate.
Overall, I think I'm just charmed by the portrayal of ancient Rome as filled with people, just like us. They may have had different habits, social customs and the like, but they were still people trying to make a living and find happiness. The mysteries are also usually not so clear to unravel as you find in some detective novels. The clues left by the author are subtle, and I am often as baffled by it all as Ruso is.
Anyway, I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes a good mystery, or a good historical fiction. Or even a good romance, as this book has that too!
Thursday, 16 April 2015
Remakes, why is it always remakes...
I recently watched the newest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie (2014 version), directed by Jonathan Liebesman. Now, I grew up on the TMNT; I saw the three movies, watched the first cartoons, and a bit of some subsequent versions, and read both the original and the rebooted comics. I love the turtles, and I don't begrudge their commercial potential for toys and other marketable products. That said, I like the original movies, and recently re-watched them for nostalgia.
Well, let me say, this reboot pales in comparison! Now don't get me wrong, the special effects are light-years ahead of what they had back then, for sure. And the martial arts aspect is not lacking, it's well choreographed. But the plot... oh, the plot. The movie starts with a monologue by splinter. A corny, cliché, horrible monologue. The dialogues between characters are stilted, cliché, and seem like they're only there as garnish for the action scenes. The motivations for their actions are one dimensional, when they're not out and out nonsensical (Hello, April, priorities much?). The new character, April O'Neil's cameraman, could have been a well developed, interesting character. Instead he's the chauffeur, and the butt of all the jokes. pity.
And don't get me started on the turtles. One word: nostrils! The pseudo science, which I'm usually a bit forgiving of because blockbuster, is just going to ridiculous lengths. The number of times the characters should have died is astounding, and they bend the laws of physics every five minutes, when they're not just outright ignoring them.
As for the commercialism, there is one thing I noticed, other than the action figure potential, is that if you put all the action scenes where the turtles are moving at a good clip from one place to another, you get a pretty good amusement ride. Orlando, or Disneyland, I wonder?
Anyway, that's it for my rant. If you want to watch this movie, I won't stop you. My six year old liked it. She said it was awesome. Even if I had lots I disliked about this movie, I still watched it from beginning to end. And I didn't even leave the room once.
Well, let me say, this reboot pales in comparison! Now don't get me wrong, the special effects are light-years ahead of what they had back then, for sure. And the martial arts aspect is not lacking, it's well choreographed. But the plot... oh, the plot. The movie starts with a monologue by splinter. A corny, cliché, horrible monologue. The dialogues between characters are stilted, cliché, and seem like they're only there as garnish for the action scenes. The motivations for their actions are one dimensional, when they're not out and out nonsensical (Hello, April, priorities much?). The new character, April O'Neil's cameraman, could have been a well developed, interesting character. Instead he's the chauffeur, and the butt of all the jokes. pity.
And don't get me started on the turtles. One word: nostrils! The pseudo science, which I'm usually a bit forgiving of because blockbuster, is just going to ridiculous lengths. The number of times the characters should have died is astounding, and they bend the laws of physics every five minutes, when they're not just outright ignoring them.
As for the commercialism, there is one thing I noticed, other than the action figure potential, is that if you put all the action scenes where the turtles are moving at a good clip from one place to another, you get a pretty good amusement ride. Orlando, or Disneyland, I wonder?
Anyway, that's it for my rant. If you want to watch this movie, I won't stop you. My six year old liked it. She said it was awesome. Even if I had lots I disliked about this movie, I still watched it from beginning to end. And I didn't even leave the room once.
Thursday, 9 April 2015
Book reviews
Now that the movie reviews are under control, here are a few book reviews!
Here are a few really great titles:
Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel (2014)
This book. Seriously, go read this book! In an era when every other book boasts depressing portrayals of the future and sad endings, this book is a refreshingly delicious change. The prose is gorgeous, the words simply leaping off the page and into your brain where they paint a vivid portrait of the characters and settings, and you find yourself at 1 am simply unable to put the book down. Centered around the end of our civilization as we know it, and the events that precipitate it, this story tells us about the resilience of the human spirit, and how hope can survive through the arts. I cannot under-stress this: go read this book now!
The Martian by Andy Weir (2014)
Another near future novel, but this one will cater to everyone's cravings for the Mars space race. The first thing that came to mind when I read this book is 'wait a second, this seems familiar...'. It feels like the modern day version of that good old classic, Robinson Crusoe. On Mars. Seriously! Our main character literally wakes up on the rusty red ball of dirt alone, an astronaut presumed dead after a catastrophic aborted mission. His only hope of survival is to make it to a location many miles away, where some supplies were dropped for future planned missions, including a radio link to earth. I simply devoured this book, and I think the Crusoe analogy works well to determine if you will like it. If you like the 'lone man against nature' format, you will enjoy this book.
I am not a serial killer by Dan Wells (2010)
This was a disturbing book, but a very engrossing and enjoyable one. The main character has a psychological profile which has been somewhat popular in the media these last few years. He is qualified as a sociopath, or a person who has difficulty empathizing with others and is focused on their own wellbeing first. He is also a young teenager struggling with his baser impulses, and keeps telling himself the same thing: I am not a serial killer. Then, improbably, he encounters a real serial killer, and decides to stalk and kill the criminal. The book contains a twist that changes the genre of the book somewhat from straight thriller, though I won't tell you what. I found that this book was well written, and the characters were well rounded and engaging; however, I did find that the main character's personality might not accurately portray a true sociopath's decision making process and reactions. Whether this was intentional to bring more sympathy for the character, to imply that he was misdiagnosed, or the author simply did not have the information necessary for an accurate portrayal I do not know. This doesn't change the fact that this is a good read, and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good suspense thriller.
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (2003)
I found this book a very good read in the supernatural thriller genre, as well as the detective/murder mystery genre. It revolves around Odd Thomas, who other than a strange name has the ability to see, though not hear, the dead. He encounters something malevolent in his hometown, and decides that he will investigate it, in between his shifts as a fry cook. I found that I could only take this book in bits at a time, as it has an overall gloomy atmosphere to it. It reminded me of the Anita Blake novels in a way, just getting a bit more depressing at a time, with a slight downer at the end of the book. That said it was quite good and I will be picking up the sequel one of these days.
Genesis by Bernard Beckett (2006)
This is one of my favorite under appreciated gems, and I feel saddened that our library system doesn't have more books by this author, despite him having written more. The book takes place in the far future, where a student is submitting her subject for examinations, concerning the life of a long dead hero of humankind, Adam Forde. As she studies her subject, she uncovers shocking truths that had long been buried by the authorities. Who exactly was Adam Forde? I simply love this book, and believe it would rightly belong in any list of classic science-fiction.
Machine Man by Max Barry (2011)
This story is about one man's mission, nay, obsession with 'improving' himself. I'm not talking about self-help books here, but over the top, intense body modifications. Starting innocuously enough with an accident at work, our protagonist finds himself missing a leg. Dissatisfied with the currently available prosthetics, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Concluding that the human model is inherently flawed, he takes the unorthodox and alarming view that in order to get a truly good performance out of any prosthetic he can design, he will simply have to get rid of the other inferior limb. Thus starts a truly alarming trip into the depths of amoral mega corporations and man's obsession with making things better. Also, this strangely is a love story. In my top titles of science-fiction.
(JF) The Hero's Guide series by Christopher Healy (2012-2014)
Here is one example of books that transcend their intended audience. This series of three books - The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom, [...]To Storming The Castle, and [...]To Being An Outlaw - follows the adventures of Prince Charming. All four of them. The princes are tired of being called charming; they have names you know! But apparently trying to get those pesky bards to remember that is impossible. The disgruntled royals end up meeting up when they uncover a plot by a sinister party to take over their kingdoms. This, they think, is their chance to set the stories straight, and get songs sung about their true heroic deeds and not just a sidebar in some princess's story. Ah, if only it was so simple... I have to say that I don't understand how this series is not on everybody's must read list. Not only is the prose of outstanding quality, but the plot is complex, layered and filled with surprising twists that defy all fantasy genre clichés. And the characters are truly memorable! Reading the first book, I constantly found myself thinking what a fantastic movie this series would make. I could practically see the camera work scene by scene in my head...
(JF) The Incorrigible children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood (2010- )
Another example of books that should be read by everyone, not just children. Miss Penelope Lumley has just graduated from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, and she is ready to enter the workforce. She is hired by an affluent man, Lord Ashton, to raise three young children who have been found living on his lands, supposedly raised by wolves. Despite their unconventional upbringing, Miss Lumley finds herself getting attached to her charges. This is when strange things start to occur at Ashton Place, which imply a mysterious link between the children, the Ashtons and Miss Lumley herself. Just what is going on here? I found that these novels, despite being written for a younger crowd, do not skimp on vocabulary or complexity of plot. Although the author does make some of the mystery a bit more obvious for the older crowd, it does not detract from its readability. Highly recommended. The first book in the series is titled The Mysterious Howling.
(YAF) Every Day by David Levithan (2012)
What would you do if every day, you woke up as someone different? For A, it's not a thought exercise, but a fact of life. A has been coasting along for the first sixteen or so years of 'his' life, and is getting along pretty well, considering. A doesn't like making waves, goes with the flow, tries not to be noticed. Until A meets her, and is no longer content with being invisible. A wants to be seen.
I truly loved the premise of this novel, how one can retain an identity when everything changes from day to day, how love and goodness are even possibilities, is remarkable. I found the ending of the story bittersweet, and I am torn as whether a sequel would add or detract from this novel. It just seems like there should be a reckoning for the story's antagonist, as our protagonist just ends up... but that would be telling. Suffice it to say, very good read.
That's it for this post; next time I will post some more Young Adult novels, favorite titles, and a few graphic novels too!
Here are a few really great titles:
Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel (2014)
This book. Seriously, go read this book! In an era when every other book boasts depressing portrayals of the future and sad endings, this book is a refreshingly delicious change. The prose is gorgeous, the words simply leaping off the page and into your brain where they paint a vivid portrait of the characters and settings, and you find yourself at 1 am simply unable to put the book down. Centered around the end of our civilization as we know it, and the events that precipitate it, this story tells us about the resilience of the human spirit, and how hope can survive through the arts. I cannot under-stress this: go read this book now!
The Martian by Andy Weir (2014)
Another near future novel, but this one will cater to everyone's cravings for the Mars space race. The first thing that came to mind when I read this book is 'wait a second, this seems familiar...'. It feels like the modern day version of that good old classic, Robinson Crusoe. On Mars. Seriously! Our main character literally wakes up on the rusty red ball of dirt alone, an astronaut presumed dead after a catastrophic aborted mission. His only hope of survival is to make it to a location many miles away, where some supplies were dropped for future planned missions, including a radio link to earth. I simply devoured this book, and I think the Crusoe analogy works well to determine if you will like it. If you like the 'lone man against nature' format, you will enjoy this book.
I am not a serial killer by Dan Wells (2010)
This was a disturbing book, but a very engrossing and enjoyable one. The main character has a psychological profile which has been somewhat popular in the media these last few years. He is qualified as a sociopath, or a person who has difficulty empathizing with others and is focused on their own wellbeing first. He is also a young teenager struggling with his baser impulses, and keeps telling himself the same thing: I am not a serial killer. Then, improbably, he encounters a real serial killer, and decides to stalk and kill the criminal. The book contains a twist that changes the genre of the book somewhat from straight thriller, though I won't tell you what. I found that this book was well written, and the characters were well rounded and engaging; however, I did find that the main character's personality might not accurately portray a true sociopath's decision making process and reactions. Whether this was intentional to bring more sympathy for the character, to imply that he was misdiagnosed, or the author simply did not have the information necessary for an accurate portrayal I do not know. This doesn't change the fact that this is a good read, and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good suspense thriller.
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (2003)
I found this book a very good read in the supernatural thriller genre, as well as the detective/murder mystery genre. It revolves around Odd Thomas, who other than a strange name has the ability to see, though not hear, the dead. He encounters something malevolent in his hometown, and decides that he will investigate it, in between his shifts as a fry cook. I found that I could only take this book in bits at a time, as it has an overall gloomy atmosphere to it. It reminded me of the Anita Blake novels in a way, just getting a bit more depressing at a time, with a slight downer at the end of the book. That said it was quite good and I will be picking up the sequel one of these days.
Genesis by Bernard Beckett (2006)
This is one of my favorite under appreciated gems, and I feel saddened that our library system doesn't have more books by this author, despite him having written more. The book takes place in the far future, where a student is submitting her subject for examinations, concerning the life of a long dead hero of humankind, Adam Forde. As she studies her subject, she uncovers shocking truths that had long been buried by the authorities. Who exactly was Adam Forde? I simply love this book, and believe it would rightly belong in any list of classic science-fiction.
Machine Man by Max Barry (2011)
This story is about one man's mission, nay, obsession with 'improving' himself. I'm not talking about self-help books here, but over the top, intense body modifications. Starting innocuously enough with an accident at work, our protagonist finds himself missing a leg. Dissatisfied with the currently available prosthetics, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Concluding that the human model is inherently flawed, he takes the unorthodox and alarming view that in order to get a truly good performance out of any prosthetic he can design, he will simply have to get rid of the other inferior limb. Thus starts a truly alarming trip into the depths of amoral mega corporations and man's obsession with making things better. Also, this strangely is a love story. In my top titles of science-fiction.
(JF) The Hero's Guide series by Christopher Healy (2012-2014)
Here is one example of books that transcend their intended audience. This series of three books - The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom, [...]To Storming The Castle, and [...]To Being An Outlaw - follows the adventures of Prince Charming. All four of them. The princes are tired of being called charming; they have names you know! But apparently trying to get those pesky bards to remember that is impossible. The disgruntled royals end up meeting up when they uncover a plot by a sinister party to take over their kingdoms. This, they think, is their chance to set the stories straight, and get songs sung about their true heroic deeds and not just a sidebar in some princess's story. Ah, if only it was so simple... I have to say that I don't understand how this series is not on everybody's must read list. Not only is the prose of outstanding quality, but the plot is complex, layered and filled with surprising twists that defy all fantasy genre clichés. And the characters are truly memorable! Reading the first book, I constantly found myself thinking what a fantastic movie this series would make. I could practically see the camera work scene by scene in my head...
(JF) The Incorrigible children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood (2010- )
Another example of books that should be read by everyone, not just children. Miss Penelope Lumley has just graduated from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, and she is ready to enter the workforce. She is hired by an affluent man, Lord Ashton, to raise three young children who have been found living on his lands, supposedly raised by wolves. Despite their unconventional upbringing, Miss Lumley finds herself getting attached to her charges. This is when strange things start to occur at Ashton Place, which imply a mysterious link between the children, the Ashtons and Miss Lumley herself. Just what is going on here? I found that these novels, despite being written for a younger crowd, do not skimp on vocabulary or complexity of plot. Although the author does make some of the mystery a bit more obvious for the older crowd, it does not detract from its readability. Highly recommended. The first book in the series is titled The Mysterious Howling.
(YAF) Every Day by David Levithan (2012)
What would you do if every day, you woke up as someone different? For A, it's not a thought exercise, but a fact of life. A has been coasting along for the first sixteen or so years of 'his' life, and is getting along pretty well, considering. A doesn't like making waves, goes with the flow, tries not to be noticed. Until A meets her, and is no longer content with being invisible. A wants to be seen.
I truly loved the premise of this novel, how one can retain an identity when everything changes from day to day, how love and goodness are even possibilities, is remarkable. I found the ending of the story bittersweet, and I am torn as whether a sequel would add or detract from this novel. It just seems like there should be a reckoning for the story's antagonist, as our protagonist just ends up... but that would be telling. Suffice it to say, very good read.
That's it for this post; next time I will post some more Young Adult novels, favorite titles, and a few graphic novels too!
Thursday, 19 February 2015
Movie Reviews, part Deux
Here are some more reviews!
Albert Nobbs (2011) This one is a real tearjerker. The main character is Albert Nobbs, a valet in a well frequented hotel in the Victorian era, who likes to keep to himself. Albert has a secret you see. Albert is a she. A masterful performance by Glenn Close, I recommend this movie to anyone who likes Downton Abbey, Dickens and movies that require a handkerchief.
Monster House (2006) This 3D animated movie tells the story of a young boy who stays home while his parents are away for a few days, and discovers something not quite right about the house across the road... The plot in this movie is well done, the characters likeable, and even the 'monster house' has a bittersweet story to tell. I find this a perfect Halloween movie; my 5 year old watched it over and over again, even after Halloween was over. A note of caution for the sensitive kids, there are some scary scenes in the movie, so you may wish to view it before deciding if it's right for your children.
Saving Mr. Banks (2014) This movie tells the story behind Disney's making of Mary Poppins, and it's creator, P. L. Travers. This is a charming and thoroughly heartbreaking look at Ms. Travers' past, as she tries to come to terms with all aspects of her book's translation to movie, and the difficult task of working with the indomitable and tenacious Walt Disney. This is based on real persons, and the movie's makers used recording's of P. L. Travers' meetings with Walt and his crew as a basis for her portrayal. Another great movie I would recommend to anyone.
Case Histories (s. 1 2011, s. 2 2014) This is actually not a movie, but a tv series based on the books by Kate Atkinson. Jackson Brodie is a former police officer, now a P. I. in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jackson has the worst luck for an investigator. Whenever he finds himself investigating what promises to be a paying case, it invariably turns into a complicated, personally draining, person endangering mess. And Brodie takes the brunt of it. I love how his character is portrayed, with such a sad, hangdog face, but so loyal and stubborn. If Jackson Brodie decides to help you, he puts everything on the line, including his own happiness, to ensure that things end well for you. Because you see, once upon a time, things didn't end so well for him... A top notch detective series.
Elysium (2013) This futuristic science fiction thriller looks at a very possible near future, where the planet has become drastically impoverished and overpopulated, and people are controlled by androids sent down from Elysium, an orbiting habitat for the super rich. On Elysium, an revolutionary medical device can cure any disease within minutes. But only if you are a 'citizen', and those on earth are not. When our main character, played by Matt Damon, gets a deadly dose of radiation, he decides that he will be getting a cure, come hell or high water.
I really enjoyed this movie, even though it was more hard core science fiction and action than I usually watch. The action was fast paced, and the characters were likeable enough with a good background plot to make it believable. I also found the ending to be quite good, bringing the movie to a higher emotional peak than it would have reached had the story gone in a different direction. Some gory bits in this film, so I definitely recommend following the ratings on this one.
Le Jour des Corneilles (2013) And to finish off this post, a French movie review! I will put this review here in English, but will be putting it up in French in another later post when I have more French reviews gotten together.
This is an animated children's movie about a young boy who lives alone in a forest with his father. The boy, who can see forest spirits, is content with his life and wishes for nothing more, until one stormy night when his father is injured and rendered unconscious by a bad fall. Not knowing what to do and without much choice, the boy drags his father into the nearby village, where he is taken in by the local garrison's doctor and his young daughter. The village people are not too thrilled with his arrival, as they still remember his father and dreadful stories circulate about him and his child.
I found this a very moving story about love and grief, and how families can break apart and remake themselves in strange ways. The animation style is beautiful, and the forest spirits of the dead are charming and magical in their own way.
Albert Nobbs (2011) This one is a real tearjerker. The main character is Albert Nobbs, a valet in a well frequented hotel in the Victorian era, who likes to keep to himself. Albert has a secret you see. Albert is a she. A masterful performance by Glenn Close, I recommend this movie to anyone who likes Downton Abbey, Dickens and movies that require a handkerchief.
Monster House (2006) This 3D animated movie tells the story of a young boy who stays home while his parents are away for a few days, and discovers something not quite right about the house across the road... The plot in this movie is well done, the characters likeable, and even the 'monster house' has a bittersweet story to tell. I find this a perfect Halloween movie; my 5 year old watched it over and over again, even after Halloween was over. A note of caution for the sensitive kids, there are some scary scenes in the movie, so you may wish to view it before deciding if it's right for your children.
Saving Mr. Banks (2014) This movie tells the story behind Disney's making of Mary Poppins, and it's creator, P. L. Travers. This is a charming and thoroughly heartbreaking look at Ms. Travers' past, as she tries to come to terms with all aspects of her book's translation to movie, and the difficult task of working with the indomitable and tenacious Walt Disney. This is based on real persons, and the movie's makers used recording's of P. L. Travers' meetings with Walt and his crew as a basis for her portrayal. Another great movie I would recommend to anyone.
Case Histories (s. 1 2011, s. 2 2014) This is actually not a movie, but a tv series based on the books by Kate Atkinson. Jackson Brodie is a former police officer, now a P. I. in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jackson has the worst luck for an investigator. Whenever he finds himself investigating what promises to be a paying case, it invariably turns into a complicated, personally draining, person endangering mess. And Brodie takes the brunt of it. I love how his character is portrayed, with such a sad, hangdog face, but so loyal and stubborn. If Jackson Brodie decides to help you, he puts everything on the line, including his own happiness, to ensure that things end well for you. Because you see, once upon a time, things didn't end so well for him... A top notch detective series.
Elysium (2013) This futuristic science fiction thriller looks at a very possible near future, where the planet has become drastically impoverished and overpopulated, and people are controlled by androids sent down from Elysium, an orbiting habitat for the super rich. On Elysium, an revolutionary medical device can cure any disease within minutes. But only if you are a 'citizen', and those on earth are not. When our main character, played by Matt Damon, gets a deadly dose of radiation, he decides that he will be getting a cure, come hell or high water.
I really enjoyed this movie, even though it was more hard core science fiction and action than I usually watch. The action was fast paced, and the characters were likeable enough with a good background plot to make it believable. I also found the ending to be quite good, bringing the movie to a higher emotional peak than it would have reached had the story gone in a different direction. Some gory bits in this film, so I definitely recommend following the ratings on this one.
Le Jour des Corneilles (2013) And to finish off this post, a French movie review! I will put this review here in English, but will be putting it up in French in another later post when I have more French reviews gotten together.
This is an animated children's movie about a young boy who lives alone in a forest with his father. The boy, who can see forest spirits, is content with his life and wishes for nothing more, until one stormy night when his father is injured and rendered unconscious by a bad fall. Not knowing what to do and without much choice, the boy drags his father into the nearby village, where he is taken in by the local garrison's doctor and his young daughter. The village people are not too thrilled with his arrival, as they still remember his father and dreadful stories circulate about him and his child.
I found this a very moving story about love and grief, and how families can break apart and remake themselves in strange ways. The animation style is beautiful, and the forest spirits of the dead are charming and magical in their own way.
Reviews, reviews and more reviews
Back after an extended hiatus, with more reviews for you!
I took careful note of which movies and books I watched and read while not posting, but of course that is all scattered on little bits of paper. So I will have to try to do this from memory. ^_^ Here is a baker's dozen to start with.
First, a Christmas movie. Nativity! (2009) is a top notch holiday film, starring Martin Freeman as a depressed failed actor turned primary teacher who gets saddled with a wacky teacher's assistant, and told to run the school's nativity play. 10 out of 10, watch this every Christmas, folks!
Star Trek (2009), the new reboot by J.J. Abrams. I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I thought I would roll my eyes the whole way, as all I'd heard about it was vague comments about lens flare. Thankfully it was pleasant to watch, indulged in lots of fanboy references without going overboard, and had a well thought out scenario that doesn't stretch credibility too much. I won't give any spoilers, but it does have a guest star or two.
The World's End (2013), starring the creator of Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg. A washed up do-nothing (Pegg) decides to gather up his old high school buddies to recreate their last epic drinking night, by completing their town's legendary pub crawl route. But not all is as it seems in the town. Yes, aliens are in this film. I recommend this film to anyone who likes a good alien butt-whopping film.
Tropic Thunder (2008). What can I say about this film... except damn, Robert Downie Jr. was totally unrecognizable! And I mean that in an awesome makeup job kind of way. The acting was zany, the plot of film within film worked well, and the actors seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves. I'll even forgive Tom Cruise's presence, as he plays the awful media mogul to a T. Not for young kids, as there's abundant swearing and the fake war movie violence is still pretty gory.
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug (2013). Once again an impressive movie, both visually and through the acting. Since it's been a long time since the last time I read the Hobbit, I can't comment much on the insertion of both Legolas and the original female character, except that they both fit in very well, and added some elvish fun to the fight scenes. I can understand adding a female to the cast, as otherwise there is nary a one to be seen, except as background characters. Overall left me wanting for more at the end.
I am Legend (2007) Will Smith does a good job in this low dialogue post-apocalyptic flick about a genetically engineered virus gone wrong. The visuals of an empty city being overtaken by nature are quite mesmerizing, and the science side of the plot is not too fuzzy. At least not until the last second miracle cure needs to be produced during a big action scene, of course. Tearjerker alert for animal lovers.
Looper (2012) This movie is about what happens when time travel falls in the hands of the unsavory crowd. Some iffy science behind the 'it happens in the future, then happens in the present' scenes, but since we don't have a way of knowing how it really works, it's an interesting theory behind the mechanics of time travel. Bruce Willis shares the starring role with his younger counterpart, played by Joseph Gordon Levitt. Also try to ignore the ugly hair in some Willis scenes. You'll know which ones I mean.
The Specials (2000) A Big Brother style look at a D-List team of dysfunctional superheroes, as they hire a new member and await the unveiling of their toy line. I found this movie interesting, but the overall plot was a bit unfinished and left you hanging at the end.
The Informant (2009) This movie is proof that good directing can make even pathological liars sympathetic and interesting. Matt Damon plays an employee of a large agribusiness who decides to blow the whistle on price fixing between several countries. Of course, he can't help himself from embellishing a few things... and lining his pockets, all under the noses of the dismayed FBI agents in charge of his case. I must point out that this movie is based on a true story, making it more fascinating. I admit I was quite confused by the corporate aspects of the movie, which made it less enjoyable, but the sheer chutzpah displayed by the main character kept me watching till the end. Guest Starring Scott Bakula as one of the FBI agents.
Lone Ranger (2013) I can't comment on the original Lone Ranger, as I never watched it, but I found this version quite watchable, and the themes of greed and vengeance seen in many of the characters added depth to an overall solid action flick. I found Johnny Depp's performance as Tonto to be top notch, as with most of his roles. Armie Hammer as the naïve John Reid also gave a solid performance. I would put this in the same category as Will Smith's Wild Wild West, a good old/new fashioned western adventure.
The Eagle (2010) So I did what they tell you not to do; I watched the movie before reading the book. I know, I know! Working in a library means I should know better. In my defence, I did try to read the book first, I just found that first chapter a really slow start, and about as dry as that first part of Lord of the Rings that's all about the Shire (admit it, most of you thought the same thing the first time you picked up LOTR). My husband, who has read the book, thinks that other than a few plot deviations the movie does the book credit. So what is it about? The Eagle refers to the Eagle of the Ninth, the standard of the Ninth Legion which was lost in Britain years before, bringing shame to the missing legionaries. The son of one of these legionaries returns to Britain as a Centurion to try to bring back honor to his father's name. Things go pear shaped from there. A great historical action movie.
St. Trinian's (2007) This movie is an irreverent look at all girl catholic schools, and what they'd look like if they ran amok. A new student arrives at St. Trinian's expecting the usual bullies, cramming and loneliness, but is instead ambushed by pint sized demolitions experts, catty call girls, illegal traffickers, and out and out con artists in skimpy dresses. And finds that she fits right in after all. I found this movie charming in it's disregard for rules, and although I of course do not condone breaking the law, these young delinquents will charm the pants off anyone. And probably their wallets. ;p
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) Based on the cartoon of the same name, I found this to be a charming kid's movie, and an interesting romp through various historical events. My five year old, however, found the movie too long in bits. So if you're looking for something to entertain fidgety kids, this is probably not the right movie. If you're borrowing it for yourself though, enjoy!
I took careful note of which movies and books I watched and read while not posting, but of course that is all scattered on little bits of paper. So I will have to try to do this from memory. ^_^ Here is a baker's dozen to start with.
First, a Christmas movie. Nativity! (2009) is a top notch holiday film, starring Martin Freeman as a depressed failed actor turned primary teacher who gets saddled with a wacky teacher's assistant, and told to run the school's nativity play. 10 out of 10, watch this every Christmas, folks!
Star Trek (2009), the new reboot by J.J. Abrams. I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I thought I would roll my eyes the whole way, as all I'd heard about it was vague comments about lens flare. Thankfully it was pleasant to watch, indulged in lots of fanboy references without going overboard, and had a well thought out scenario that doesn't stretch credibility too much. I won't give any spoilers, but it does have a guest star or two.
The World's End (2013), starring the creator of Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg. A washed up do-nothing (Pegg) decides to gather up his old high school buddies to recreate their last epic drinking night, by completing their town's legendary pub crawl route. But not all is as it seems in the town. Yes, aliens are in this film. I recommend this film to anyone who likes a good alien butt-whopping film.
Tropic Thunder (2008). What can I say about this film... except damn, Robert Downie Jr. was totally unrecognizable! And I mean that in an awesome makeup job kind of way. The acting was zany, the plot of film within film worked well, and the actors seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves. I'll even forgive Tom Cruise's presence, as he plays the awful media mogul to a T. Not for young kids, as there's abundant swearing and the fake war movie violence is still pretty gory.
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug (2013). Once again an impressive movie, both visually and through the acting. Since it's been a long time since the last time I read the Hobbit, I can't comment much on the insertion of both Legolas and the original female character, except that they both fit in very well, and added some elvish fun to the fight scenes. I can understand adding a female to the cast, as otherwise there is nary a one to be seen, except as background characters. Overall left me wanting for more at the end.
I am Legend (2007) Will Smith does a good job in this low dialogue post-apocalyptic flick about a genetically engineered virus gone wrong. The visuals of an empty city being overtaken by nature are quite mesmerizing, and the science side of the plot is not too fuzzy. At least not until the last second miracle cure needs to be produced during a big action scene, of course. Tearjerker alert for animal lovers.
Looper (2012) This movie is about what happens when time travel falls in the hands of the unsavory crowd. Some iffy science behind the 'it happens in the future, then happens in the present' scenes, but since we don't have a way of knowing how it really works, it's an interesting theory behind the mechanics of time travel. Bruce Willis shares the starring role with his younger counterpart, played by Joseph Gordon Levitt. Also try to ignore the ugly hair in some Willis scenes. You'll know which ones I mean.
The Specials (2000) A Big Brother style look at a D-List team of dysfunctional superheroes, as they hire a new member and await the unveiling of their toy line. I found this movie interesting, but the overall plot was a bit unfinished and left you hanging at the end.
The Informant (2009) This movie is proof that good directing can make even pathological liars sympathetic and interesting. Matt Damon plays an employee of a large agribusiness who decides to blow the whistle on price fixing between several countries. Of course, he can't help himself from embellishing a few things... and lining his pockets, all under the noses of the dismayed FBI agents in charge of his case. I must point out that this movie is based on a true story, making it more fascinating. I admit I was quite confused by the corporate aspects of the movie, which made it less enjoyable, but the sheer chutzpah displayed by the main character kept me watching till the end. Guest Starring Scott Bakula as one of the FBI agents.
Lone Ranger (2013) I can't comment on the original Lone Ranger, as I never watched it, but I found this version quite watchable, and the themes of greed and vengeance seen in many of the characters added depth to an overall solid action flick. I found Johnny Depp's performance as Tonto to be top notch, as with most of his roles. Armie Hammer as the naïve John Reid also gave a solid performance. I would put this in the same category as Will Smith's Wild Wild West, a good old/new fashioned western adventure.
The Eagle (2010) So I did what they tell you not to do; I watched the movie before reading the book. I know, I know! Working in a library means I should know better. In my defence, I did try to read the book first, I just found that first chapter a really slow start, and about as dry as that first part of Lord of the Rings that's all about the Shire (admit it, most of you thought the same thing the first time you picked up LOTR). My husband, who has read the book, thinks that other than a few plot deviations the movie does the book credit. So what is it about? The Eagle refers to the Eagle of the Ninth, the standard of the Ninth Legion which was lost in Britain years before, bringing shame to the missing legionaries. The son of one of these legionaries returns to Britain as a Centurion to try to bring back honor to his father's name. Things go pear shaped from there. A great historical action movie.
St. Trinian's (2007) This movie is an irreverent look at all girl catholic schools, and what they'd look like if they ran amok. A new student arrives at St. Trinian's expecting the usual bullies, cramming and loneliness, but is instead ambushed by pint sized demolitions experts, catty call girls, illegal traffickers, and out and out con artists in skimpy dresses. And finds that she fits right in after all. I found this movie charming in it's disregard for rules, and although I of course do not condone breaking the law, these young delinquents will charm the pants off anyone. And probably their wallets. ;p
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) Based on the cartoon of the same name, I found this to be a charming kid's movie, and an interesting romp through various historical events. My five year old, however, found the movie too long in bits. So if you're looking for something to entertain fidgety kids, this is probably not the right movie. If you're borrowing it for yourself though, enjoy!
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
23 Things
So here we are, the end of the road. It's been quite an interesting journey, with lots of things learnt.
Thing 23, StumbleUpon, was quite pleasant to use. I suspect that it will become a first rate time-user-upper, much like Facebook, ICanHasCheezburger, and other news aggregate and picture posting sites. It was fairly easy to figure out, although the picture posted on the 23Things blog did not match up with the website's setup on my web browser. I'm not sure if that's an upgrade of the site or just a difference in web browsers, but I eventually figured it out where the settings was.
I have to say, I was surprised to find that my favourite part of this whole process is this blog. I was dragged into it kicking and screaming, but once I got started (after deleting 3/4 of what I wrote for my first post before publishing it), I found it surprisingly easy to write. There is something liberating about putting your words in writing, and being able to speak without being interrupted!
The most useful of the things we learnt about for me is Pinterest, simply because of the wealth of ideas I can find for displays and children's programming, and even ideas of books to read!
I was surprised at how difficult it was to navigate the Creative Commons images, as I hadn't realised how different rules for images from different countries are.
As for how I plan on using what I've learnt, I will probably continue on with this blog and use it to post book and movie reviews, as that seems to be what I enjoy using it for the most. Perhaps I'll expand that further in the future to write about other things that interest me. I will continue on with Pinterest, as it is something I was already using for work, though less so for home use. I don't know if I will keep up with Scoop.it or StumbleUpon, though they seem interesting they do take a lot of time to browse through, and that's something that must be used judiciously when at work. I may just migrate them to home use instead... Wordle was OK to use, but I remember seeing a different word cloud generator previous to the training that seemed like it had more versatility. I may try to find it again to use in some display ideas in the future. Vision is something I use already, so that has not changed, though I may look into GoodReads more in the future. I don't know that I will use podcasts much in the future, and I probably won't be posting many youtube videos, although you never know! I can't say much about Apps at the moment, since I don't have an app enabled device, but if I do in the future I will revisit that. As for Twitter, although it was easier than I thought to use, it's format and uses don't really fit in with my lifestyle at the moment. I will have to revisit that in the future as well.
All in all, exploring these different facets of the web was enlightening, and wasn't as hard as I though. I am hoping that this will make me more open to trying new things in the future, though I know that I will probably remain more of a real world girl than a virtual world one. But at least now I know what people are talking about when they mention Scoop.it or Twitter!
Thing 23, StumbleUpon, was quite pleasant to use. I suspect that it will become a first rate time-user-upper, much like Facebook, ICanHasCheezburger, and other news aggregate and picture posting sites. It was fairly easy to figure out, although the picture posted on the 23Things blog did not match up with the website's setup on my web browser. I'm not sure if that's an upgrade of the site or just a difference in web browsers, but I eventually figured it out where the settings was.
I have to say, I was surprised to find that my favourite part of this whole process is this blog. I was dragged into it kicking and screaming, but once I got started (after deleting 3/4 of what I wrote for my first post before publishing it), I found it surprisingly easy to write. There is something liberating about putting your words in writing, and being able to speak without being interrupted!
The most useful of the things we learnt about for me is Pinterest, simply because of the wealth of ideas I can find for displays and children's programming, and even ideas of books to read!
I was surprised at how difficult it was to navigate the Creative Commons images, as I hadn't realised how different rules for images from different countries are.
As for how I plan on using what I've learnt, I will probably continue on with this blog and use it to post book and movie reviews, as that seems to be what I enjoy using it for the most. Perhaps I'll expand that further in the future to write about other things that interest me. I will continue on with Pinterest, as it is something I was already using for work, though less so for home use. I don't know if I will keep up with Scoop.it or StumbleUpon, though they seem interesting they do take a lot of time to browse through, and that's something that must be used judiciously when at work. I may just migrate them to home use instead... Wordle was OK to use, but I remember seeing a different word cloud generator previous to the training that seemed like it had more versatility. I may try to find it again to use in some display ideas in the future. Vision is something I use already, so that has not changed, though I may look into GoodReads more in the future. I don't know that I will use podcasts much in the future, and I probably won't be posting many youtube videos, although you never know! I can't say much about Apps at the moment, since I don't have an app enabled device, but if I do in the future I will revisit that. As for Twitter, although it was easier than I thought to use, it's format and uses don't really fit in with my lifestyle at the moment. I will have to revisit that in the future as well.
All in all, exploring these different facets of the web was enlightening, and wasn't as hard as I though. I am hoping that this will make me more open to trying new things in the future, though I know that I will probably remain more of a real world girl than a virtual world one. But at least now I know what people are talking about when they mention Scoop.it or Twitter!
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Things 20 to 22
It seems that I will have problems participating in week 9's things, as I don't have access to an app device at the moment. I own a first generation Kobo, but I don't believe I can install apps on it as it doesn't have Wi-fi or internet browser capabilities. I also don't have a cell phone, wonder of wonders!
I'm sure I'm not the only library clerk without one, so perhaps a group workshop for those of us without devices would be a good idea. I will certainly try the Overdrive version for my PC and download then return an ebook to my Kobo through that in the meantime.
update: I tried out downloading Adobe Digital Editions for my PC and Kobo (the program reccomended for it rather than Overdrive). I seemed to manage downloading ADE to my PC well, but when it came to Authorizing my PC and eReader with an Adobe ID, things did not go as predicted in the instructions. There was no Digital Setup Assistant window, the ID setup asked me which ebook vendor to use, something which was not listed in the instructions. Also, when I finally got to the step of authorizing my Kobo, Adobe would not let me! Since during this process it seemed as if I had tried to do the setup in the past (an ID already existant with one of my email addresses), I thought that it would work ok. But for the checkout and download step, I was not sure where to download the book (it did not say anything about that on the website), and when I tried to find it with ADE and on my Kobo, I was unable to locate it.
Maybe it's easier to use with the App, I'm not sure. All I know is that currently I can't seem to borrow ebooks from the library, which is a real shame. Perhaps I will eventually figure out how to do it.
I'm sure I'm not the only library clerk without one, so perhaps a group workshop for those of us without devices would be a good idea. I will certainly try the Overdrive version for my PC and download then return an ebook to my Kobo through that in the meantime.
update: I tried out downloading Adobe Digital Editions for my PC and Kobo (the program reccomended for it rather than Overdrive). I seemed to manage downloading ADE to my PC well, but when it came to Authorizing my PC and eReader with an Adobe ID, things did not go as predicted in the instructions. There was no Digital Setup Assistant window, the ID setup asked me which ebook vendor to use, something which was not listed in the instructions. Also, when I finally got to the step of authorizing my Kobo, Adobe would not let me! Since during this process it seemed as if I had tried to do the setup in the past (an ID already existant with one of my email addresses), I thought that it would work ok. But for the checkout and download step, I was not sure where to download the book (it did not say anything about that on the website), and when I tried to find it with ADE and on my Kobo, I was unable to locate it.
Maybe it's easier to use with the App, I'm not sure. All I know is that currently I can't seem to borrow ebooks from the library, which is a real shame. Perhaps I will eventually figure out how to do it.
Friday, 7 March 2014
Movie review
Just watched an interesting movie last night, so I thought I would review it. It's called Man with the Screaming Brain, starring Bruce Campbell.
If you know Bruce Campbell movies, you'll know that they tend to be tongue in cheek, cheesy, B-movies that are so interesting that they deserve an A-rating. In this case, the plot of the movie centres around a rich American who comes to Bulgaria with his wife on business, and gets embroiled with a taxi driver and his psycho Gypsy ex-girlfriend. And I do mean that, she tends to stab first and ask questions never.
And here comes the requisite sci-fi twist. A Russian neuroscientist has been working on an inhibitor serum that has the potential to allow any donor to be matched with any receiver, without risk of rejection. I'll let the movie's title tell what happens next, and the rest to your imagination.
I highly recommend this movie if you enjoy campy sci-fi action movies!
If you know Bruce Campbell movies, you'll know that they tend to be tongue in cheek, cheesy, B-movies that are so interesting that they deserve an A-rating. In this case, the plot of the movie centres around a rich American who comes to Bulgaria with his wife on business, and gets embroiled with a taxi driver and his psycho Gypsy ex-girlfriend. And I do mean that, she tends to stab first and ask questions never.
And here comes the requisite sci-fi twist. A Russian neuroscientist has been working on an inhibitor serum that has the potential to allow any donor to be matched with any receiver, without risk of rejection. I'll let the movie's title tell what happens next, and the rest to your imagination.
I highly recommend this movie if you enjoy campy sci-fi action movies!
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Things 18 and 19
Here's another book review:
Raising Steam, by Terry Pratchett
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11275323-raising-steam
This is book 40 of the Discworld series, and it stars Moist Von Lipwig, as well as Lord Vetinari and a few other new and recurring characters. Ankh-Morpork is taken by storm, or by steam, by a brand new invention called a locomotive. The good citizens rush forward to take advantage of this novelty, and Moist is at the forefront as usual. Just as the clacks have changed things, so does the steam engine bring new opportunities, and new dangers to Ankh-Morpork. Dwarf terrorist attacks, goblin's improvements, and the possible creation of a new goddess are just a few things you'll find in this book. As always Pratchett's writing kept me reading avidly. I did find that the pacing of this novel was perhaps a bit choppier than in the past, but maybe that is intentional, or perhaps a side effect of Mr. Pratchett having to use voice recognition and dictation software, as well as using human assistants... Somehow this novel had a bit of a melancholy tone to it. It wasn't overtly so, in fact it was as enjoyable and entertaining to read as ever. But I found that I came away with the feeling that the author was trying to tell us something. To say that all things change, and change is good. And that sometimes you have to let go of things, let go of the past to move forwards. I don't know if Mr. Pratchett is planning on wrapping up the Discworld series soon, but it seems like he's trying to pave the way with his writing, to prepare his readers, if you will. Hopefully he will continue to entertain us with his prose for a while yet.
Raising Steam, by Terry Pratchett
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11275323-raising-steam
This is book 40 of the Discworld series, and it stars Moist Von Lipwig, as well as Lord Vetinari and a few other new and recurring characters. Ankh-Morpork is taken by storm, or by steam, by a brand new invention called a locomotive. The good citizens rush forward to take advantage of this novelty, and Moist is at the forefront as usual. Just as the clacks have changed things, so does the steam engine bring new opportunities, and new dangers to Ankh-Morpork. Dwarf terrorist attacks, goblin's improvements, and the possible creation of a new goddess are just a few things you'll find in this book. As always Pratchett's writing kept me reading avidly. I did find that the pacing of this novel was perhaps a bit choppier than in the past, but maybe that is intentional, or perhaps a side effect of Mr. Pratchett having to use voice recognition and dictation software, as well as using human assistants... Somehow this novel had a bit of a melancholy tone to it. It wasn't overtly so, in fact it was as enjoyable and entertaining to read as ever. But I found that I came away with the feeling that the author was trying to tell us something. To say that all things change, and change is good. And that sometimes you have to let go of things, let go of the past to move forwards. I don't know if Mr. Pratchett is planning on wrapping up the Discworld series soon, but it seems like he's trying to pave the way with his writing, to prepare his readers, if you will. Hopefully he will continue to entertain us with his prose for a while yet.
Thing 16 and 17
I'm a bit behind for week 7, but here it is at last.
For thing 17, I listened to the podcast from Q, the Read on Libraries - is this the end of Libraries as we know them? (the podcasts listed in the Booklist webinar archive seemed to be missing except for the 3 most recent)
I found that although I could understand the argument of John about the potential that the libraries might be giving up their collections in order to provide more social space, I don't agree with his fears that the library will become nothing more than a hyped up Internet café. I don't think that libraries see the issue as being Internet vs. Books, or Social space vs. Research Library. It seems that, at least in this situation with the New York library and other American libraries, the issue is with membership and usage of the libraries, and keeping funding. Although moving 2 million books into storage seems shocking to some people, what I'm wondering is what type of situation it really is. Will there be electronic scans done of the stored books to provide access to them? Can a patron order the books from storage in order to use them? Which books are being moved? Is the storage location meant to be permanent, or will the collection be eventually moved again to another research library? In the podcast John seemed to have this fear that books were being threatened, like in Fahrenheit 451 perhaps? I think the discussion was very good, though Chris and Jian Ghomeshi did not seem to address the underlying issue that seemed to concern John. Chris's view that making libraries more accessible and welcoming to patrons will increase library usage is a very good point, but I think he probably did not see books as being the most important carrier of information that John seemed to. In any case, it was a very interesting debate, and if I have time I will look for further debates on the subject.
For thing 16, here is a video on the origins of the words geek and nerd. I thought it was interesting, though I'm not sure which category I would fall into :).
For thing 17, I listened to the podcast from Q, the Read on Libraries - is this the end of Libraries as we know them? (the podcasts listed in the Booklist webinar archive seemed to be missing except for the 3 most recent)
I found that although I could understand the argument of John about the potential that the libraries might be giving up their collections in order to provide more social space, I don't agree with his fears that the library will become nothing more than a hyped up Internet café. I don't think that libraries see the issue as being Internet vs. Books, or Social space vs. Research Library. It seems that, at least in this situation with the New York library and other American libraries, the issue is with membership and usage of the libraries, and keeping funding. Although moving 2 million books into storage seems shocking to some people, what I'm wondering is what type of situation it really is. Will there be electronic scans done of the stored books to provide access to them? Can a patron order the books from storage in order to use them? Which books are being moved? Is the storage location meant to be permanent, or will the collection be eventually moved again to another research library? In the podcast John seemed to have this fear that books were being threatened, like in Fahrenheit 451 perhaps? I think the discussion was very good, though Chris and Jian Ghomeshi did not seem to address the underlying issue that seemed to concern John. Chris's view that making libraries more accessible and welcoming to patrons will increase library usage is a very good point, but I think he probably did not see books as being the most important carrier of information that John seemed to. In any case, it was a very interesting debate, and if I have time I will look for further debates on the subject.
For thing 16, here is a video on the origins of the words geek and nerd. I thought it was interesting, though I'm not sure which category I would fall into :).
Thursday, 13 February 2014
Things 13 to 15
Here is another book review for this week. I just finished reading the excellent book The Golem and The Jinni, by Helene Wecker. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15819028-the-golem-and-the-jinni
This is Ms. Wecker's first novel, and it's a brilliant debut. I was entranced by the rich background of late 19th century New York's Little Syria and Jewish neighbourhoods, as well as the vivid characters that were brought to life on the page. Chava and Ahmad, the main characters of this story, are poignantly estranged from the world around them. One is a golem, built to be a bride but widowed and adrift before she was even a few hours old. The other is a Jinni, a creature of fire from the arid desert who finds himself flung a thousand years forward into a world he doesn't know full of puzzling humans. Together they timidly enter this new world. This is a truly unusual story, not a passionate romance but a patient taming of the smallest embers, but what a bonfire it lights for the reader! The book left me with that fabulous feeling you get from those marvelous tales such as Scheherazade might tell. I'm going to be thinking about this book for a good while, continuing to assimilate the fantastical myths that the author has brought to life for me.
Wednesday, 5 February 2014
Things 11 and 12
For Things 11 and 12, I thought I would use a subject that has recently piqued my interest, the steampunk culture. I've always had an interest in science-fiction and fantasy, but I find myself gravitating more and more towards the romanticism of the steampunk movement. Something about the brass and copper pipes,gears, and the beautiful Victorian inspired language inspires me.
I found that locating a Creative Commons image was a bit harder than I thought. A lot of the images I found were either of the Public Domain, or other copyright types and had multiple exceptions. I'm sure there are many places to find more specific CC images, but Wikimedia Commons does have a lot to offer, for one who's willing to put the time in.
The image I chose is a photograph posted by the author, which is of Steampunk cosplayers taking a look at the steampunk exhibition at Utopiales 2011 (Nantes, France). This seems to be a convention, which I would love to attend if I ever had the chance.
By Ceridwen (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
As for Thing 12, Wordle was OK to use, but it is time consuming to type or paste the words into the categories. I used the advanced function so I could put the 'weight' to the words I wanted emphasised. The site is a bit too randomised for my taste, as if you switch between two settings and then back again you won't get the same result twice. There are probably other word cloud sites which have more customisable settings than this one, but it's OK for a beginner. After much head scratching, I finally figured things out, so here is my word cloud:
I found that locating a Creative Commons image was a bit harder than I thought. A lot of the images I found were either of the Public Domain, or other copyright types and had multiple exceptions. I'm sure there are many places to find more specific CC images, but Wikimedia Commons does have a lot to offer, for one who's willing to put the time in.
The image I chose is a photograph posted by the author, which is of Steampunk cosplayers taking a look at the steampunk exhibition at Utopiales 2011 (Nantes, France). This seems to be a convention, which I would love to attend if I ever had the chance.
By Ceridwen (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
As for Thing 12, Wordle was OK to use, but it is time consuming to type or paste the words into the categories. I used the advanced function so I could put the 'weight' to the words I wanted emphasised. The site is a bit too randomised for my taste, as if you switch between two settings and then back again you won't get the same result twice. There are probably other word cloud sites which have more customisable settings than this one, but it's OK for a beginner. After much head scratching, I finally figured things out, so here is my word cloud:
Friday, 31 January 2014
Things 7 through 10
I thought I would do a few movie reviews this time, as I haven't read much in book format the past few weeks, but have watched a few movies.
First, the good review: The Fall, a 2006 movie by Tarsem Singh. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie, but it seemed an interesting premise: A 1920s stuntman is in hospital and meets a young girl, for whom he starts telling an epic story. The movie was visually stunning, and made me think of the Arabian nights tales, or Gulliver's travels. The girl of course brings her own touches to the story, so that it morphs around the teller and the listener into something that brings them together. There is a darker undercurrent that becomes apparent early in the movie, but I won't tell what it is so as not to ruin the surprise, but suffice it to say that there are quite a few tear-jerker scenes here. Some of the scenes could be seen as unsettling, since the main character is telling a story to a very young child with quite a bit of violence in it, but as it is a main part of the plot I don't think it would detract from the movie, but rather adds realism to it. It's a must see in my opinion.
Now, the ambivalent review: Nightwatching, a 2007 movie by Kees Kasander.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446750/?ref_=nv_sr_1
I'll admit it, I only got this movie out because the main role is played by Martin Freeman, the actor who plays John Watson in BBC's Sherlock. I was expecting something historical, somewhat romantic, and with some intrigue from what I saw on the back of the cover. What I got was something else. The movie is set up quite like a play, with the actors advancing on stationary sets and the camera mostly moving in and out from the characters when a closer shot is required. The language the actors use is contemporary, and by that I mean more street language than Shakespeare, though I expect the effect is meant to resemble a contemporary version of what Shakespeare would have written on this subject. The main plot of this movie revolves around Rembrandt's painting of members of the militia, where he discovers various plots and schemes and decides to incorporate them into the painting in retaliation, as a form of vengeance for the victim of the main plot.
Now while that all sounds like the makings of a great movie, there was a major element of the film that detracted from my enjoyment. I found that virtually all the characters had a crude enjoyment in gossiping about sordid deeds of their neighbours and contemporaries, which we would today call horrible crimes which we would report to the authorities. The fact that in those days there were no authorities to speak of does not detract from the fact that the characters, Rembrandt included, are absolutely phlegmatic and unemotional about the plight of the victims. I don't feel that this element of the artist's time should have taken such a large part in the movie's plot, but the directors and producers felt different. So most of the movie is spent in sordid gossip, political blackmailing and backstabbing, foul language, and sexual escapades. While there were some moving moments in the movie, the overall effect for me was more depressing than anything else. Overall excellent acting, but very dark subject matter. Perhaps someone of a more cerebral taste will enjoy this movie more than I did.
First, the good review: The Fall, a 2006 movie by Tarsem Singh. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie, but it seemed an interesting premise: A 1920s stuntman is in hospital and meets a young girl, for whom he starts telling an epic story. The movie was visually stunning, and made me think of the Arabian nights tales, or Gulliver's travels. The girl of course brings her own touches to the story, so that it morphs around the teller and the listener into something that brings them together. There is a darker undercurrent that becomes apparent early in the movie, but I won't tell what it is so as not to ruin the surprise, but suffice it to say that there are quite a few tear-jerker scenes here. Some of the scenes could be seen as unsettling, since the main character is telling a story to a very young child with quite a bit of violence in it, but as it is a main part of the plot I don't think it would detract from the movie, but rather adds realism to it. It's a must see in my opinion.
Now, the ambivalent review: Nightwatching, a 2007 movie by Kees Kasander.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446750/?ref_=nv_sr_1
I'll admit it, I only got this movie out because the main role is played by Martin Freeman, the actor who plays John Watson in BBC's Sherlock. I was expecting something historical, somewhat romantic, and with some intrigue from what I saw on the back of the cover. What I got was something else. The movie is set up quite like a play, with the actors advancing on stationary sets and the camera mostly moving in and out from the characters when a closer shot is required. The language the actors use is contemporary, and by that I mean more street language than Shakespeare, though I expect the effect is meant to resemble a contemporary version of what Shakespeare would have written on this subject. The main plot of this movie revolves around Rembrandt's painting of members of the militia, where he discovers various plots and schemes and decides to incorporate them into the painting in retaliation, as a form of vengeance for the victim of the main plot.
Now while that all sounds like the makings of a great movie, there was a major element of the film that detracted from my enjoyment. I found that virtually all the characters had a crude enjoyment in gossiping about sordid deeds of their neighbours and contemporaries, which we would today call horrible crimes which we would report to the authorities. The fact that in those days there were no authorities to speak of does not detract from the fact that the characters, Rembrandt included, are absolutely phlegmatic and unemotional about the plight of the victims. I don't feel that this element of the artist's time should have taken such a large part in the movie's plot, but the directors and producers felt different. So most of the movie is spent in sordid gossip, political blackmailing and backstabbing, foul language, and sexual escapades. While there were some moving moments in the movie, the overall effect for me was more depressing than anything else. Overall excellent acting, but very dark subject matter. Perhaps someone of a more cerebral taste will enjoy this movie more than I did.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Things 4, 5 and 6
So when I saw that week two was about Twitter, I was apprehensive. I understand how it can be useful, and I even read the storm watch site's tweets about local cancellations, and others that are embedded in sites that I use. But I don't find I have much to say to the world at large, or at least not in 140 characters.
That said, I found that the page layout for twitter was easier to follow than the one for blogger, as far as changing settings is concerned. I prefer to change the privacy settings to the most private available when I create a new account on any site, though I refrained in this case so that my tweets would be readable by others in the course of this exercise. Perhaps I'll find it worthwhile once I get used to it; I will try checking twitter once in a while and see if what crops up is interesting.
A few negative aspects I found about twitter are first when you create the account, they prompt you to add 5 people to follow, then 5 more, then more, and I did not realise there was a 'skip' button at the bottom to go to the next step, since this button is pale grey and very small, very difficult to notice. I would have liked that button to be at the top, so that I could choose not to follow 'well-known people' or 'people you know' and just make my own choices. The unfollow function is very easy to use to mitigate that little irritation. The other negative aspect is that it seems that people or organisations tweet either too much or too little. When I saw what tweets were on my page I was dismayed that there were sometimes 20 or more tweets by one individual in a row, and very few by any others. I find this would make it difficult to find a variety of information from different sources, though maybe I'll discover a setting that changes that.
As for tweeting, I did post one, but I had difficulty finding something to post, and finally settled on one of my favourite quotes as a starter. Perhaps I'll get a liking to it later, but for the moment the jury is still debating.
That said, I found that the page layout for twitter was easier to follow than the one for blogger, as far as changing settings is concerned. I prefer to change the privacy settings to the most private available when I create a new account on any site, though I refrained in this case so that my tweets would be readable by others in the course of this exercise. Perhaps I'll find it worthwhile once I get used to it; I will try checking twitter once in a while and see if what crops up is interesting.
A few negative aspects I found about twitter are first when you create the account, they prompt you to add 5 people to follow, then 5 more, then more, and I did not realise there was a 'skip' button at the bottom to go to the next step, since this button is pale grey and very small, very difficult to notice. I would have liked that button to be at the top, so that I could choose not to follow 'well-known people' or 'people you know' and just make my own choices. The unfollow function is very easy to use to mitigate that little irritation. The other negative aspect is that it seems that people or organisations tweet either too much or too little. When I saw what tweets were on my page I was dismayed that there were sometimes 20 or more tweets by one individual in a row, and very few by any others. I find this would make it difficult to find a variety of information from different sources, though maybe I'll discover a setting that changes that.
As for tweeting, I did post one, but I had difficulty finding something to post, and finally settled on one of my favourite quotes as a starter. Perhaps I'll get a liking to it later, but for the moment the jury is still debating.
Friday, 17 January 2014
Things 1, 2 and 3
You know when you're having a conversation with someone, and they start talking about something technical, and you have no idea what they're talking about, but you just nod and pretend you understand what they're saying? That's a bit how I am with new technologies. I'm not a complete Luddite, I get along fine with surfing the net, and doing bits and bobs on Facebook and whatnot when I want to. And if you give me a Popular Science or Maker magazine, I'll be ecstatic. But trying to convince me to adopt new online habits is a sure way to get my eyes to glaze...
I'm hoping that this training will get me a bit more comfortable with the wider online world. I may not adopt everything I learn here for my own, but I hope to know enough by the end to figure out what I like and don't like and why.
About myself, I'm the mother of an energetic preschooler, an avid reader, an amateur do-it-yourself-er, and a Jack of all trades when it comes to geekdom. If you name a fandom to me, if I'm not into it I will probably know someone who is. I quite enjoy the pride and open acceptance that geekiness and fans have been enjoying in the last couple of years, and my hope is that someday everyone can be geeky in any way they choose without being looked at weirdly by anyone. Even if they choose to dress in costumes when it's not Halloween.
Just to add a bit of librarian-ness to this post, here are a few book recommendations:
In the fiction category, I've recently read Mrs. Queen takes the train, by William Kuhn. It's a fictional look inside the life of our beloved British Monarch, and some of the thoughts and feelings hiding behind the formal façade. In this novel, the Queen decides to take an impromptu trip, which sends members of her household desperately scrambling about, fearing for the worst. Of course her Majesty is in no real danger. After all, they can't target her if they can't recognise her, right?
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13571784-mrs-queen-takes-the-train
In the non-fiction category, Below Stairs, an autobiography by Margaret Powell. She writes about her youth as a kitchen maid, later graduating to a cook in the 1920s. It's a glimpse into the lesser known facts about domestic service in the post-Victorian era, when the recovery from the first world war and the emergence of the flapper era was creating great changes in the world. It's a slim volume which garnered huge success when it was first published, and there is a follow up book titled Climbing the Stairs about Mrs. Powell's ultimately successful efforts to leave domestic service behind.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11966836-below-stairs
I'm hoping that this training will get me a bit more comfortable with the wider online world. I may not adopt everything I learn here for my own, but I hope to know enough by the end to figure out what I like and don't like and why.
About myself, I'm the mother of an energetic preschooler, an avid reader, an amateur do-it-yourself-er, and a Jack of all trades when it comes to geekdom. If you name a fandom to me, if I'm not into it I will probably know someone who is. I quite enjoy the pride and open acceptance that geekiness and fans have been enjoying in the last couple of years, and my hope is that someday everyone can be geeky in any way they choose without being looked at weirdly by anyone. Even if they choose to dress in costumes when it's not Halloween.
Just to add a bit of librarian-ness to this post, here are a few book recommendations:
In the fiction category, I've recently read Mrs. Queen takes the train, by William Kuhn. It's a fictional look inside the life of our beloved British Monarch, and some of the thoughts and feelings hiding behind the formal façade. In this novel, the Queen decides to take an impromptu trip, which sends members of her household desperately scrambling about, fearing for the worst. Of course her Majesty is in no real danger. After all, they can't target her if they can't recognise her, right?
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13571784-mrs-queen-takes-the-train
In the non-fiction category, Below Stairs, an autobiography by Margaret Powell. She writes about her youth as a kitchen maid, later graduating to a cook in the 1920s. It's a glimpse into the lesser known facts about domestic service in the post-Victorian era, when the recovery from the first world war and the emergence of the flapper era was creating great changes in the world. It's a slim volume which garnered huge success when it was first published, and there is a follow up book titled Climbing the Stairs about Mrs. Powell's ultimately successful efforts to leave domestic service behind.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11966836-below-stairs
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