tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3557837424508180272024-03-12T21:34:27.735-07:00The Media MomMike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-65811298167342073692017-03-02T18:17:00.000-08:002017-03-02T18:20:40.834-08:00Disney Films: Zootopia- The Persistent Problem of a Perfect WorldFor decades, nay centuries, mankind has sought a perfect world where we can all live in peace with one another. Where we all get along, look out for each other's best interests, and appreciate each other's differences.<br />
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Turns out, humans aren't the only ones interested in a utopia. Animals are, too. At least, they are in the Disney fantasy world that lives in Zootopia. In this computer animated dimension completely devoid of humans, animals (or more specifically, mammals) have developed a city where predators and their former prey live civilized urban lives in a shining metropolis.<br />
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It's always been a dream of young rabbit Judy Hopps to leave her small rural carrot farming town and become a cop to help make the world a little safer in the best city on earth, where "anyone can be anything". Where even a bunny can be a cop.<br />
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Not that that's ever happened before. But thanks to, uh...affirmative action on behalf of Zootopia's lion mayor, Judy gets her chance. And she uses all the years of racist...erm...speciesist oppression that's been dumped on her since childhood as fuel in her passionate fire to graduate top of her police academy class.<br />
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Sadly, in Zootopia, anyone <i>can't</i> really be anything. Judy may officially be a cop, but her department chief doesn't have time to babysit a tiny rookie bunny in his department full of bears, rhinos, elephants, and other giant mammals. So he sticks her on parking duty, where she can do the least amount of damage to herself and the department's reputation, and he can get back to his 14 missing mammal cases.<br />
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While Judy struggles to come to terms with being less than the officer she dreamed of being, she's forced to deal with some of her own internalized racis....um...species-ism when she suspects a fox of shady dealings. At first, Judy berates herself for thinking less of Nick Wilde when he seems to be a decent father just trying to care for his son. But she comes to find out her stereotyping was spot on. Nick is up to some shifty business and Judy is humiliated at having been duped by his nice-guy routine. But when Judy makes a deal with Chief Bogo to solve one of the missing mammal cases in 48 hours or resign from the force entirely, she's forced to team up with Nick as he's her only lead to the victim's last-known whereabouts.<br />
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Can Judy overcome the expectations of others and finally be taken seriously as a cop? Is Nick conning Judy yet again? Can a leopard...or a fox...really change its spots? And is a utopia, animal or otherwise, ever possible?<br />
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The short answer is: no. Emphatically no. Utopia, Zootopia, whatever you call it, isn't possible on this earth. At least, not under the current circumstances. But more on that later.<br />
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I suppose the first thing I was really surprised by was how adult this film is. Not in violent or sexual ways. Though...it's not completely devoid of that. After all, this is basically a buddy cop movie for kids, with underworld contacts, mafia families, drug deals, political corruption, and following a lead to a nudist colony. For animals, of course, but still.<br />
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But it also touches on a lot of very current adult issues. The distrust between cops and civilians, racism, affirmative action, tokenism, and mass protesting. And it really manages to hammer home that you can never judge a book by its cover.<br />
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On the one hand, Nick, for all his shadiness, has only become so after becoming disillusioned with life thanks to prejudice against his predator status as a fox. "If the world's only going to see a fox as shifty and untrustworthy, there's no point in being anything else." He's got a good heart. He just let circumstances dictate his personality for far too long. It takes Judy's naïve innocence and passion for justice to draw him out of his callous shell.<br />
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On the other, seemingly sweet Assistant Mayor Bellwether is tired of being treated like the sheep she is. Well, she's not cowering in a herd anymore. She's out for revenge against all predators, and she'll take out anyone that gets in her way, even fellow prey animals like Judy.<br />
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In spite of all that heavy artillery, though, the movie manages to come off as lighthearted and fun. My favorite bits center around Nick and Judy's witty repartee and all of the scenes dealing with Flash, the sloth who works at the DMV. (Odd that a movie that bashes stereotypes also thrives on laughable stereotypes.)<br />
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At the end of it all, Judy confesses that while Zootopia isn't the utopia she thought it was, it's still a pretty nice place to live. There will always be bad guys who don't want peace and harmony so much as they want power, money, revenge, or just to hurt others. But there will always be good guys out there to try and stop them, restoring some semblance of balance and justice. Even Chief Bogo confesses this in one of Judy's darkest hours.<br />
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"I came here to make the world a better place, but I think I broke it," Judy laments. Her boss replies solemnly, "Don't give yourself so much credit, Hopps. The world has always been broken, that's why we need good cops. Like you."<br />
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Indeed, the world has always been broken. At least, since a couple God placed in a garden decided they wanted to become gods themselves. But must it always be broken? Can we tap into the goodness in all of us and bring about the utopia we've been craving for ages? Disney bravely answers that question with, "No." And once again, coming from Disney, that's a real surprise. Like I said in my <a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2015/11/feeeeeeeelings.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Inside Out review</b></span></a>, Disney thrives on their "happiest place on earth" code. They strive to make their theme parks as perfect a place as you can find. But the healthy dose of reality contained in this film is refreshing.<br />
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Life can be a mess. And sometimes, you just have to make the best of a bad situation. You cling to truth and justice. You don't judge without knowing all the facts. And you work to live beyond the expectations of others to make the world a slightly better place. But there is no perfect world. And there never will be.<br />
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Well, not quite. Our human efforts can never eradicate the sin in the world, but there will come a utopia one day. A day when all will live in unity and the lion will lie down with the lamb. But only when the Lion who <i>is</i> the Lamb sits on the throne of eternity. Then, and only then, will every knee bow before Him. Then, and only then, will there be peace.<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-79606688123238957522016-10-18T16:40:00.001-07:002016-10-18T16:40:27.415-07:00Book Review: Courage to Change by Elizabeth MaddreyIf you read my previous review of Elizabeth Maddrey's <a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-wisdom-to-know-by-elizabeth.html" target="_blank"><i>Wisdom to Know</i></a>, then you know that, while the book was decent in and of itself, the ending left a bit to be desired.<br />
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I'm thrilled to say...the second book more than makes up for it. <br />
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<i>Courage to Change</i> shifts focus from the main couple of the original book, Lydia and Kevin, to Kevin's long-time attorney friend, Allison. She has a secret crush on her law firm partner Phil. But Phil comes with some pretty heavy baggage: a psychotic ex-wife. It's a part of his life he doesn't talk about much. Since getting saved and leaving the hard partying lifestyle they shared, Phil tried everything he could to salvage his marriage to Brandi. But Brandi would have none of it. She walked out on him and he was left with the stigma of divorce, a condition he believes makes him ineligible for remarriage.<br />
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When Allison finally works up the courage to even hint at the beginnings of a relationship, Phil quite literally runs away. Allison is left wondering what it is about her that seems to drive men away. After all, she's 27. Her parents expected her to be married and settled by now. Even her friends are beginning to mock her for holding onto her purity for so long instead of playing the field and having a little fun.<br />
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But Phil and Allison will be forced to draw closer together when they begin working with a client in some pretty extreme circumstances. Can Phil overcome the problems of his past? Can Allison overlook the emotional baggage that comes with loving a divorcee? Or will disapproving parents and a vengeful ex-wife tear them apart for good?<br />
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I really liked this book. It has a lot of the punch and drama that the first one was missing. Every other chapter has a new twist or angle to keep your interest. I actually listened to the audiobook version (because when you have 2 small kids, you can't take your eyes off them for a second) and found myself loath to turn it off whenever I got interrupted. Every time I thought I knew where the book was going, it would shift directions on me and keep me guessing.<br />
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I love the characters. They have so much personality and I feel as though I actually got to know them rather than just know about them. I did think Phil's belief of not being able to remarry was just a tad out of character for him. He is an attorney after all. I get the feeling the first thing he'd do after becoming a Christian would be to research everything to learn what is and isn't allowed. But I suppose I can chalk that one up to his brains running off with his emotions.<br />
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We do get to hear more about Lydia and Kevin as they plan their wedding. Lydia seems to have mellowed and matured a bit since the last book (a welcome change). And I really liked getting to know Lindsey, the pregnant teen that Phil and Allison are working with.<br />
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Not only does her portrayal give an accurate description of teenage pregnancy (fathered by a much older man, which is something my family actually knows a bit about) but it shows just how wonderful and beautiful adoption can be. As a friend to several women who either adopted children or were adopted themselves, and as a mother who hopes to adopt some day, it really does my heart good to see it shown in such a positive yet realistic light. It can be messy. It can certainly be painful. But it's almost always worth it. In a world where children are treated like disposable accessories, I'm glad there are authors out there willing to show that giving life is far more heroic than taking it. I almost found myself wanting to know more about Lindsey and her journey after the book ended. Maybe she'll get her own book some day. (Hint, hint!)<br />
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All in all, it was well written, action-packed, realistic while still being romantic (a tough balance to pull off), and a beautiful story about how a person's past may affect who they are, but it doesn't have to define or limit what they can become. An excellent read through and through.Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-564460457573114402016-10-06T05:00:00.000-07:002016-10-06T05:41:36.086-07:00Once Bitten, Twice Shy Cover RevealTime for another great cover reveal from the amazing Kelly Martin. I've not read this one yet, but you can bet I'll be publishing a review once I do!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is the official cover reveal for the very last Love in the 80s book from WaWa productions! 1989 finished out the decade in style, as does Kelly Martin's scandalous ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Nancy Corbin makes a living screwing with the minds of Nashville's less than upstanding men.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">As the owner of the underground business, Once Bitten, Nancy makes it her mission to give scorned women the justice they deserve. She lures in the man who has wronged her client, flatters him with her considerable charms, then strikes. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">It's only business.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Until the ex-girlfriend of tabloid-proclaimed Romeo, Chad Harris, comes in. According to the ex, Chad is the worst Nancy has ever had the pleasure of manipulating. However, after their first encounter, Nancy isn't so sure.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">As business becomes pleasure, will Nancy be able to finish the deal? Or will Chad prove to be more of a challenge than she ever realized?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY by Kelly Martin is on pre-order!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get it for 99 cents for a limited time!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book release: October 28th, 2016</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once Bitten, Twice Shy is a standalone story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">PRE-ORDER on Amazon</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;">:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/1989-Once-Bitten-Twice-Love-ebook/dp/B01LYQGWQD/">https://www.amazon.com/1989-Once-Bitten-Twice-Love-ebook/dp/B01LYQGWQD/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">PRE-ORDER will be on all online retailers soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bio:</b> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; text-align: left;">Kelly Martin loves paranormal books, villainous characters, and the dark... but she can't sleep without a nightlight. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When Kelly's not writing, she loves taking picture of abandoned houses, watching horror gamers on YouTube-- even though she's a huge wimp-- and drinking decaf white chocolate mochas. She's a total fangirl, loves the 80s and 90s, and has a sad addiction to Netflix.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111;">If you ever have a question or comment, feel free to email her at <a href="mailto:kelly@kellymartinbooks.com"><span style="color: #351c75;">kelly@kellymartinbooks.com</span></a> ♥ You can follow her writing adventure at </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75;"><a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.com/">http://www.kellymartinbooks.com/</a></span></span><br />
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-75337166993041905242016-09-15T17:37:00.002-07:002016-09-15T17:37:51.938-07:00Top 10 Movie Soundtracks (Non-musicals)Since I'm between books at the moment and was at a total loss for what movie to review (my days have largely been consumed by preschool programming, courtesy of my 3 year old son) I decided I needed to take a break from visuals and focus on the auditory. (I have to get that "Three Special Steps" song from <i>Special Agent Oso</i> out of my head somehow!)<br />
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So, I'm going to share my top 10 movie sounds tracks. This is going to be specifically from movies that aren't explicitly considered musicals (because, let's face it, they'd dominate the list) so any movie where characters dance about and burst into song is excluded (sorry, <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> and <i>Prince of Egypt</i>).<br />
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10. Kung Fu Panda 2</h4>
Not the last time DreamWorks will be on this list. I specifically chose the sequel because while the original did have some nice bits, the sequel really shines in it's musical quality. DreamWorks upped their game from the first one and took what was originally a remarkably silly concept (a fat dorky panda learning martial arts) and turned it into a genuine story that's almost adult in its maturity. And boy does it have a score to match! This is the kind of music I'd expect in an actual Chinese kung fu movie. With a distinctly Asian flavor throughout and a general feeling of enormous size and weight, it's a joy to listen to even if you've never seen the film.<br />
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9. The Incredibles</h4>
Not the last time Pixar will be on this list, either. If you love the thrill of first generation Bond-era spy flicks, not only will you love this tenderhearted thriller, but you'll love the score that accompanies it. The music is fast paced and frantic, conveying all the energy and excitement that a superhero movie should. It's not so light that you can't take it seriously, but not so heavy that it doesn't have a fun quirkiness to it. Composer Michael Giacchino infused 60s jazz with so much enthusiasm and action, you can't help but call it <i>incredible</i>.<br />
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8. Brave</h4>
Told you Pixar would be back. This Celtic flavored gem accompanied a mediocre (by Pixar standards) film, but it many ways it far outshines its source. The first few songs and a couple later in the album are lyrical and the rest is instrumental score. But all of it is positively gorgeous. Julie Fowlis's vocals are simply stunning to listen to. I could hear "Touch the Sky" again and again and still want to get up and dance a jig every time. I just hear this soundtrack and picture myself running through green picturesque glades chasing will-o'-the-wisps under a bright blue sky.<br />
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7. Guardians of the Galaxy</h4>
I know what you're thinking: 'Finally, a movie that isn't animated!" What can I say? I like what I like. And what I like...is 70s music. Ok, I like a lot of decades. Blame it on being raised by 2 generations of people. The movie's now-famous Awesome Mix was even released on LP vinyl and audio cassette (when's the last time you saw one of those?) and still managed to sell over 2.5 million copies. Whether you're rocking to "Cherry Bomb", grooving to "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", or jamming to "Hooked on a Feeling", I can almost guarantee that if you don't love this album...your parents probably will.<br />
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6. Home Alone</h4>
Yeah, the soundtrack is probably not the first thing you think of when it comes to this movie. Odds are you just picture a deranged psychopathic child inflicting untold pain (<a href="https://youtu.be/8WKgNyvsNDM" target="_blank">enough to kill his victims multiple times over, I might add</a>) on a pair of bungling burglars. But if I played you the soundtrack and didn't tell you where it was from, you'd probably never guess until you got to the track "Somewhere In My Memory"...a song that will surely make you misty-eyed if you hear it around the holidays. Especially if you, yourself, happen to be home alone at Christmas.<br />
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5. Fireproof</h4>
An indie Christian film that most mainstreamers have probably never heard of or watched, <i>Fireproof</i> is more than just the story of one man's quest to become a better husband. It's also a movie with some really kickin' songs in it. Aside from the score, which is decent enough, there are some great songs you'll want to sing along to by some bands you probably already enjoy. Third Day's "This Is Who I Am", Casting Crowns' "Slow Fade", John Waller's "While I'm Waiting", Grey Holiday's "You Belong To Me" and Warren Barfield's "Love Is Not A Fight" will probably all find their way on to your favorites list by the time the credits roll. Sherwood Baptist's earlier film <i>Facing the Giants</i> might have had a good album, but <i>Fireproof</i> upped the ante and did it 10 times better.<br />
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4. Fantasia</h4>
Some of you may complain that this is technically a musical, but since no one gets to sing anything, I'm allowing it. <a href="https://themediamom.blogspot.com/2014/03/disney-films-fantasia-revolutionizing.html" target="_blank">I've already talked plenty about this movie previously</a>, so I won't rehash it here. Suffice it to say, if you love classical music, you'll love this.<br />
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3. Back to the Future</h4>
I'm an 80s kid. So I'm naturally a bit biased about this particular film. My father wouldn't let Keith marry me until he'd seen all three films. It's a pretty big deal in our family. And the soundtrack accompanying the film just oozes 80s nostalgia. I remember the first time I felt really old in my life was when I was at a doctor's office and they were playing Huey Lewis and the News singing "Power of Love"...on the <i><b><u>oldies</u></b></i> station. I wanted to cry. Most of the rest of the lyrical songs are good, too. "Earth Angel" and "Johnny B. Goode" are classics of course. But the movie's theme itself is something else. This score just makes you want to go on an adventure. That's really the only way to describe it. It's fun, it's exciting, and it just reeks of adventure. If ever I see a DeLorean go by, this song is all I'm going to think of.<br />
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2. Pride and Prejudice</h4>
<a href="https://themediamom.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-media-mom-after-dark-pride-and.html" target="_blank">Another film I've talked about before</a>, so I won't take too much time on it. If you want a soundtrack to take a long tub soak in...this is it. Enjoy those bubbles and a good book while you listen.<br />
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1. How to Train Your Dragon</h4>
This is by far and away my favorite non-musical movie score. I could listen to it over and over and over again. I literally never get tired of it. When I had a day job and felt like time was crawling, I put this album on and I was suddenly a LOT more motivated. It's got action, it's got danger, it has wonder and mystery...it's just awesome. The score just feels so huge and epic. There are pennywhistles and bagpipes and drums and just...gah! It's freakin' gorgeous! If you don't want to listen to the entire thing (and there's no reason on this planet why you shouldn't!) you should at least listen to the tracks entitled "Forbidden Friendship", "Test Drive", and "Romantic Flight". They're easily the most magical in the film.<br />
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And that's it! My top 10 non-musical movie soundtracks. I'll probably do one strictly for movie musicals down the road (bet you can all guess what #1 will be!) but this should tide you over for now. Enjoy the music and dance like you mean it!Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-48789870653441711222016-09-01T17:32:00.000-07:002016-09-01T17:33:10.732-07:00Book Review: The Glass Coffin by Kelly MartinOK, so, we come to the end of Kelly Martin's Shattered Fairy Tale series (or is it...?) and it's...ok. Yeah, just...ok. I'll get to why in a minute, but first, let's get the formalities out of the way.<br />
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So, we started hearing about Gertrude "Trudy" Dodsworth all the way back in <b><span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-betraying-ever-after-by.html"><i>Betraying Ever After</i></a></span></b>, but at the time she seemed like a throwaway character; she was just someone for Emma to bounce off of. But now, she gets her own book. We get to find out where she disappeared to and why William Haddington (Vaughn's BFF) was acting so strangely at the ball where Emma and Vaughn met. Seems old Frederick Dodsworth turned Trudy and her mother out of the house in order to continue exacting his nefarious revenge on some former "friends" who wronged him...or at least that's how he sees it. To go into all the whys would probably spoil a good chunk of the book (and the series as a whole, really) so we'll just have to leave his reasoning at that. Trudy and her mother have taken up residence in Everdale...which is unfortunately the same town where William has also drifted to. Only neither of them are the same person anymore.<br />
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Trudy has become engaged to the haughty and borderline abusive Lawson Stockwell, a wealthy earl, for the sake of her ailing mother. And William? Well, he's done unspeakable things. Become an alcoholic. Lost his virtue. Oh, and set the fire that disfigured Nicholas Wellington, Duke (or Beast, depending on whom you ask) of Ravenston. It was never Will's intention to harm anyone. He just wanted to spite Dodsworth for refusing his suit to Trudy. But that worked out all the better for Dodsworth, who used that knowledge to help accomplish his evil schemes. Will was hoping to start over, live out a quiet life in solitude.<br />
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But when he sees Trudy and Stockwell arm in arm, his bitterness gets the better of him, and he does...some of the stupidest things out of any of the male leads in the series. But more on that in a minute.<br />
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To complicate matters, Nicholas (thanks to Dodsworth's intervention) is hot on Will's trail, seeking his own revenge. Of course, he 's torn, too. In his thirst for vengeance, he may very well lose Elizabeth, the woman he's come to love. But still he doggedly pursues William and decides that what Elizabeth doesn't know won't hurt her. And he'll make sure she never knows.<br />
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Can William redeem himself enough for Trudy to forgive him? Can Trudy escape a lifetime of potential abuse and mistreatment by a man she doesn't really love? Or will Nicholas satisfy his bloodlust and destroy everyone's happiness? Well, everyone but Dodsworth's, that is.<br />
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I....wanted to like this book more than I did. It had a lot of good moments (the finale was EXTREMELY satisfying for...reasons. #DodsworthGetsHis) but it also had a lot of cringe-worthy moments. I get that William is dealing with a lot of guilt, and guilt (and booze) clouds your judgment, but dang. For a guy who was once so upstanding, he really lets himself go. I honestly don't think even Vaughn would stoop so low. Love 'em and leave 'em, maybe. But William positively slums with the lowest of women (sometimes more than one at a time) and lives in the bottle. I wanted to reach into the book and slap the guy.<br />
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Trudy's plight is rather more sympathetic. She's spent her entire life under her father's thumb and she's only trying to do what's expected of her. At least her motivations were selfless. She's still woefully naive, but at least there's justification for it.<br />
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Perhaps the biggest disappointment in the book is that it doesn't really follow the formula much. I mean, it's obvious that the first book was Cinderella and the second was Beauty and the Beast. It's rather unfortunate that a book that is supposed to reflect Sleeping Beauty, at least a little, really didn't fit with that concept. I mean, it tied all the ends up nicely enough. And it sort of picks up on the original story at the tail end. I guess I just expected it to be tied to the source material a bit better. It felt kind of shoehorned in at the end.<br />
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That being said, there's still a LOT to like here. Everyone has their own personal struggles to deal with. None of the characters are one dimensional or boring. Mr. Everett and Mrs. Bea were positively ADORABLE and I would have liked to see more of them. But I suppose they came into the story at just the right time and stayed only as long as they needed to. As I've said, the ending is very satisfying, they bring back basically all of the characters from the rest of the series, and...you'll never look at a stable the same way again.<br />
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I'm not gonna lie. As hot as the library scene was in Beast of Ravenston...that stable scene was <i>en fuego</i>. They never cross the line into actually having sex...but they dance on that line. <i>Vigorously</i>. So if you're sensitive to that kind of thing...you may need to skip a couple chapters.<br />
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All in all, it was a decent book and did a nice job of tying up everything with a nice bow. Could it have been better? Eh...yeah. But it definitely could have been a lot worse. Besides...it's hard to top <span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-beast-of-ravenston-by-kelly.html"><i>Beast of Ravenston</i></a></b></span>. ;)<br />
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For more of Kelly Martin's books, check out her website at <span style="color: #351c75;"><b><a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.com/">www.kellymartinbooks.com</a></b></span>.
You'll find info on her, her books, links to all her social media
(which you should subscribe to all of them, just so you can bask in her
epicness in every possible forum), and all that other fun stuff.<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-11971370957604161512016-08-15T18:29:00.000-07:002016-08-15T18:29:35.669-07:00Where in the World is Carm-...I mean, The Media Mom?You're probably wondering why the blog went dark a few months ago. (Or no one actually reads this thing and I'm just talking to myself. In either case, HI!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know I've been as elusive as the infamous thief. But I can explain. Really!</td></tr>
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To make a long story as short as possible, we sold our house (literally within 72 hours of listing it), packed up all our earthly goods, and moved a thousand miles away. That's not an exaggeration. It literally is a thousand miles away. That's right! This Florida city chick is now a certified North Carolina country girl. I mean, we got deer and everything.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxt2W9y7ES9xCoAOqyXlDDDxHQcDFl42dcwgweTWoXQ_kzYfoPgiol62I-BDPNep04BiTc_ES_3CTr9klcQuRVVdnz8XpW48rYjynBbiOgVLjYUaFkh2HbTvtdaOI99gTjgnsF77RiwE/s1600/13876451_895856949038_4086617846729752452_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxt2W9y7ES9xCoAOqyXlDDDxHQcDFl42dcwgweTWoXQ_kzYfoPgiol62I-BDPNep04BiTc_ES_3CTr9klcQuRVVdnz8XpW48rYjynBbiOgVLjYUaFkh2HbTvtdaOI99gTjgnsF77RiwE/s320/13876451_895856949038_4086617846729752452_n.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my yard, no less!</td></tr>
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Obviously with packing a house, moving across country, unpacking a house, updating all the necessary stuff, and potty training a preschooler (yay, me), watching movies and reading books and writing about them totally got put on the back burner. And it took ages to find all my computer parts because in my rush top pack everything, some of it may have gotten disorganized. I still don't have speakers.<br />
<br />
But, I'm back, the boys are on a (somewhat) normal schedule, and I even have a little time for pleasure reading again. (Not much, but some.)<br />
<br />
So I'll definitely have all sorts of goodies coming down the pike for you. I still have to do a review of Kelly Martin's third Shattered Fairy Tale <i>The Glass Coffin</i> and I've got a few other posts in the works. Just bear with me as I try to put my life (and my PC) back together after so much upheaval. Your patience will be rewarded.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBo5ciKM3Yai8O2oS2epjqtHq-vj4zP2oevNpZFs7umpYaC71Hd_gWh3V5x5OdXbRZjUcTr5n0VRPnT-fuWdpzUio25gC53jjGDIr3vDn46OtLbHtZWYav2s_67pNnqJrhK_w0jX4zQw/s1600/Patience-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBo5ciKM3Yai8O2oS2epjqtHq-vj4zP2oevNpZFs7umpYaC71Hd_gWh3V5x5OdXbRZjUcTr5n0VRPnT-fuWdpzUio25gC53jjGDIr3vDn46OtLbHtZWYav2s_67pNnqJrhK_w0jX4zQw/s400/Patience-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because what <i>isn't</i> made better with an Alton Brown meme, amiright?</td></tr>
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-67624487701421812422016-05-16T15:01:00.000-07:002016-05-16T15:01:02.919-07:00Book Review: Wisdom to Know by Elizabeth Maddrey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAZpybeNkwMoS0RYtZ9dfaOz-vvJn95k5z3Kl8auC1an7BC9xYIuu3azDVdW_m8vvhxdkq12eJp6ePNXBIaMoNp9BVvRWighSu8RuiCU6kWm9MCcyHnexJlNu-ZGHQDb5-Rzd_B-bjQc/s1600/51albT-YjOL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAZpybeNkwMoS0RYtZ9dfaOz-vvJn95k5z3Kl8auC1an7BC9xYIuu3azDVdW_m8vvhxdkq12eJp6ePNXBIaMoNp9BVvRWighSu8RuiCU6kWm9MCcyHnexJlNu-ZGHQDb5-Rzd_B-bjQc/s1600/51albT-YjOL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAZpybeNkwMoS0RYtZ9dfaOz-vvJn95k5z3Kl8auC1an7BC9xYIuu3azDVdW_m8vvhxdkq12eJp6ePNXBIaMoNp9BVvRWighSu8RuiCU6kWm9MCcyHnexJlNu-ZGHQDb5-Rzd_B-bjQc/s400/51albT-YjOL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="265" /></a>When a pastor's daughter goes completely off the rails, she feels as though she's ruined her chances at life, love, and forgiveness. But God has a way of bringing His own back to Him, and sometimes He uses tough love to do it. The road back for a prodigal is never easy, and it's never a journey that can be completed alone. This is a lesson that Lydia Brown, her family, and her friends are going to learn firsthand.<br />
<h4>
*SPOILERS ABOUND* </h4>
When Lydia goes on a quest to marry the perfect guy (while completely ignoring the one right in front of her) she compromises her convictions and convinces herself that it was a worthy sacrifice if she ends up married to a powerful political hopeful. But when her pseudo-fiancé severs all ties afterward, and Lydia ends up pregnant, it seems there's only one option: abortion. It's an idea she's fought against her entire life. And now, it seems to be her only way out. If her friends and family knew she wasn't really the perfect Christian girl they all imagined her to be, they'd reject her for sure. And so she goes and does the most detestable thing she's ever done. It's the first of many compromises on a downward path to destruction.<br />
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Through it all, her best guy friend Kevin (who's only been hopelessly in love with her for practically forever) can't seem to figure out why Lydia is growing more and more distant. He's felt for ages that God had meant for them to be together. He's waited patiently as she's gone through boyfriend after boyfriend. But Lydia shows no signs of pursuing Kevin. And Kevin's all but given up pursuing her in return. Little does he know, he may be the only one able to bring her back from the brink.<br />
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Can Kevin ever forgive Lydia if he finds out her secret? Can Lydia ever forgive herself? Is there any sin so great that even God cannot forgive?<br />
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This book speaks to me on a lot of very personal levels. Primarily it is a book about one woman's recovery from the horror of abortion. But part of that process involves running away from life and burying herself in drug addiction. This hit very close to home for me, since my own father had been a drug addict for a number of years. Like Lydia, prescription narcotics was his drug of choice at one point. Many people talk about what the addict haS to deal with during withdrawals. But few touch on what the family has to deal with. The disappointment, constant worry, and fear that one false move could end a life weigh heavy on our minds. I think the book captures that essence brilliantly.<br />
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The book is also very accurate to the abortion recovery process. Having worked closely with a few pregnancy resource centers, I know full well the mental and physical consequences of abortion on a woman. Recovery is a tough road. But praise be to God, it is a possible one. There truly is no sin so great that our Father cannot forgive, if only we would ask.<br />
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And forgiveness has to come from more than God. On the one hand, family and friends must be willing to forgive. Of all Lydia's allies, Kevin struggles the most with the concept. It's understandable. After all, he's had Lydia on a pedestal for most of his natural life. It takes courage to step back and accept her as a flawed human being just as in need of love and forgiveness as any other. And such courage doesn't develop overnight. But Lydia, too, must come to forgive herself. And when you don't feel worthy of forgiveness, it's a bitter pill to swallow.<br />
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This is another area that hit very close to home. While I never had as severe a problem as drug addiction or an abortion, I did struggle with an addiction to perfectionism for years. Thinking that I was unworthy of forgiveness drove me into a deep depression, to the point of more than one suicide attempt. It took the Spirit of God to save me from myself and teach me what grace really was all about. I was right, of course. I was unworthy of forgiveness. But worthy or not, God was offering it to me anyway. Once I finally embraced that in my heart, I came to realize a very important thought: who am I to deny myself forgiveness if God doesn't deny it? Am I better than God? Why then should I presume to know better than He about who should and shouldn't be forgiven? That thought has made a world, nay, an eternity of difference in my life.<br />
<br />
As interesting as Lydia's and Kevin's respective journeys are though...the most interesting couple in the book was their best friends Matt and Laura. I found myself wanting to read more about <i>them</i>! Their relationship history is only hinted at here and there throughout the book, but I'd seriously love a spinoff book about those two. It's rare to find such a true-to-life married couple in a work of fiction, and they were just oozing chemistry. They remind me very much of myself and my husband.<br />
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I do have one gripe, though. While the emotions portrayed in the book are very strong...the ending isn't. The last few chapters feel so rushed and predictable, I could see the ending long before I even got there. For a book that's supposedly all about drama and conflict,<i> </i>I was expecting the ending to have more drama than it did. As it stands, it's extremely anticlimactic. And that's a real shame. The finale had the potential to be something spectacular, but it just sort of fizzled out and came grinding to a halt. If I had my druthers, I'd rewrite the ending almost completely. It's a huge dent in what was an otherwise very good book.<br />
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Criticisms aside, though, if you're looking for a book that gives a painfully real exploration on what the after effects of abortion can be like, I recommend giving it a read.<br />
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For more books by and information about Elizabeth Maddrey, you can check out her website at <a href="http://www.elizabethmaddrey.com/"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">elizabethmaddrey.com</span></b></a>. And don't forget to stalk her (virtually, of course!) on <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Facebook</b></span>.<br />
<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-22163308203016492532016-04-21T20:00:00.001-07:002016-04-21T20:00:19.044-07:00The Prince of Egypt: An Underrated ClassicWhether you're a Christian, a Jew, or some other faith completely, odds are you've at least heard the Exodus story. It's been portrayed in everything from a cinematic epic to a Rugrats episode to an animated musical.<br />
<br />
I know what you're thinking. Death. Destruction. Large-scale natural disasters. Hardly Disney-esque animated musical fodder. (Then again, have you seen <i><a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2014/08/disney-films-bambi-mankind-is-scum-and.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Bambi</span></b></a></i>? Yikes.) But when fledgling DreamWorks animation decided to make their very first (well, technically second, but the actual first one is a rather long story for another post, so suffice it to say, their first <i>original</i>) animated film, that's the subject matter they chose. It was a bold risk. But did it pay off?<br />
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Did. It. Ever.<br />
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The result was nothing short of a breath-taking artistic masterpiece, and one that I feel is grossly under appreciated. So, just in time for Passover (this weekend, y'all), let's dive in to <i>The Prince of Egypt</i>.<br />
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If you've read the book of Exodus (or seen <i>The Ten Commandments</i>), you know the story. But I'm gonna rehash it again anyway. Because it's my blog, that's why. And because it's a story that's always worth telling again.<br />
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Pharaoh of Egypt feels threatened by the growing Hebrew population, so he sentences all the Hebrews to slavery and all their baby boys to death. But one mother saves her child by setting him adrift in a basket in the river. The boy is adopted by Pharaoh's daughter...or...wife, I guess, in this version. (The film has some glaring historical inaccuracies, for sure. Would I have appreciated having a more accurate film? Yeah. But... I'm not gonna chuck out the baby with the bathwater on his one. The left-out bits, slight truth fudges, and over exaggerations aren't enough to distract from the spirit of the story.) And Moses grows up in Pharaoh's household as a prince of Egypt, second to Rameses, his older brother.<br />
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As they come of age, Rameses is having difficulty gaining his father's approval while Moses seems content to be a care-free goof-off pulling pranks and getting into mischief. But despite his immaturity, Moses does truly want to see his brother succeed. They have a close bond. And even though Moses always ropes Rameses into his trouble, he's always around to get them out of it again.<br />
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But a chance encounter with Moses' biological siblings Aaron and Miriam reveals Moses' true heritage. He's not a prince of Egypt at all, but the son of Hebrew slaves. Moses flees to the palace but in the midst of his identity crisis discovers that it's all true and that the man he calls father really did order the slaughter of countless baby boys- a number Moses should have, by all accounts, been part of. Later, as Moses witnesses an Egyptian officer beating a Hebrew slave, Moses attacks and kills the official (by accident in the film, very much deliberately in real life). Fearing for his life, and convinced he could never really belong to the royal line given his ancestry, Moses opts to run away. He doesn't exactly know where he's going. He just sort of races into the desert.<br />
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Eventually he comes across the Midianites where he meets up with Tzipporah, a woman he had previously been introduced to in Egypt. She had been meant as a concubine for him, but he opted to let her escape, impressed by her fierce independence. He's accepted into the Midianite clan and becomes friends with Jethro, priest of Midian and Tzipporah's father. Jethro makes Moses into a shepherd, he and Tzipporah eventually develop a relationship and marry, and Moses settles into a quiet humble life with just his wife and his flock.<br />
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But Moses can't retire just yet. While watching the sheep one day, Moses encounters God. Not any Egyptian god, but the God of his ancestors. The Creator of the Universe. The Great I AM. True, at the moment...He looks an awful lot like a flaming bush. But stranger things have happened. God tells Moses that He has heard the cry of the Hebrews and is sending Moses to speak to Pharaoh and demand their freedom. Moses isn't too keen on the plan, but how do you say no to God?<br />
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And so Moses packs up his family, heads back to Egypt, and prepares for a confrontation with the man he once called brother. The most powerful man in the known world. Rameses.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's quite a literal face-off.</td></tr>
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I'm assuming you know how this story ends, but for the 1 person in the universe who hasn't heard it... oh, good grief! Just go read the book of Exodus and come back. All caught up? Yes? Good.<br />
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The two men who were once brothers are now forced to become bitter enemies. Moses is doing the work of God in trying to free his people. Rameses is trying to live up to his father's legacy of strength and unyielding power. It's a perfect standoff of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. But unlike the dead gods of Egypt, the God of the Hebrews can move mountains. And turn rivers into blood, flood the earth with frogs and flies and lice and all sorts of other nasties...heck, He can even make it hail fire. Let's see Ra pull that one off, eh?<br />
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Through all these plagues and more, Rameses hardens his heart and refuses to grant the Hebrews their freedom. But there's another plague coming. And this one hits very close to home. Just as Seti ordered all the Hebrew boys to die, the first born son of all the Egyptians will die. The Hebrews are charged to slaughter a lamb and paint their doorposts with its blood as a sign to the angel of death to pass over them. No one is safe unless they are covered by the blood (sound familiar, hmm?) even Rameses. Despite Moses' pleading with Rameses to surrender and prevent this horrible tragedy, Rameses holds his stance and determines that because of Moses' meddling, maybe Seti didn't go far enough with the slaughter of the Hebrews. Moses resigns himself to the fact that the catastrophe that follows is Rameses own doing.That same night, all the unprotected firstborns die. When Moses goes to see his grieving brother, who is mourning the death of his own son, Rameses bitterly tells Moses to take his people,leave Egypt, and never come back.<br />
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This should be a moment of celebration and victory of Moses. But it isn't. He's heartbroken that his brother has brought such destruction on himself and countless others and wishes he could have convinced Rameses otherwise before it came to this. He's frustrated that his brother's own stubbornness has caused such mass suffering. And he misses the heart of the best friend he once knew- a heart that has now turned cold as ice in hatred toward him.<br />
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The Hebrews gather their few belongings and make their way to the seaside for a brief respite. But it is not to last. Rameses has once again had a change of heart. Content to no longer simply let them be, he seeks vengeance. The Hebrews are helplessly trapped between Rameses' army and the sea.<br />
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I say helplessly. But that isn't true. For God is always a helper to His people. He blocks the army with a pillar of fire and parts the sea clear down the middle, allowing the Hebrews to pass over on dry ground. But it isn't long before the army is on their heels. As the Hebrews reach the other side, the walls of water begin to cave in. The army is drowned, and Rameses is thrown back against the opposite shore. With no more army and no more slaves, he has witnessed the downfall of the greatest empire the earth had known to that point. All he can do is curse Moses' name to the heavens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just wanted top put this gif here because it's awesome.</td></tr>
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For his part, Moses' journey is far from over. He may have escaped the wrath of Rameses, but he still has several million people to lead through a desert to the promised land. He leaves his heart for his brother at the seaside and continues onward to a mountain where God Himself writes down some very specific instructions. Moses comes down from the mountain to deliver God's message to his people. But that's another film entirely. (One they'll never make, I'm afraid. Which is a shame because I'm sure given the nature of what really happened...and modern society's thirst for violence and irony, it would make a great movie. As far as Israel's history goes, the next 40 years would be repetitious as heck. Ok, more like the next 400 years, but who's counting?)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, yeah. And...there's that.</td></tr>
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There is so much to love about this film. It was an ambitious project from the get-go. The last time it had even been attempted on this scale was Cecil B. DeMille's classic <i>The Ten Commandments</i>. And that movie was huge, even by today's standards. To try and make an animated musical out of it...it took some serious guts. But the end result was brilliant. Like I said...there were some inaccuracies. The entire part of the story where Moses is nursed by his own mother thanks to Miriam's intervention was completely dropped, Moses' son was written out. His conversation with God was very abbreviated, as were his conversations with Rameses. But, on the whole, the message was still there. That God looks out for His people and can use anyone, even a man like Moses, who was likely spoiled, a murderer, a fugitive, and all-told, a bit of a screw-up. A man slow of speech and short of temper (it may not have shown in the film, but real-life Moses was VERY short-tempered. In fact, it was that very temper that prevented him from entering the promised land he'd worked so hard to get to. But that's another post.). And he became the most significant prophet the Jews ever had. (At least until a guy named John shows up a thousand-ish years later. But that's also another post.)<br />
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Aside from the story, the acting is great. Well...most of it. Val Kilmer and Ralph Fiennes both blow everyone else out of the water in this film. And Val not only had to play Moses, but God, too! Some of the rest of the cast...eh. I get that they were trying to bring a lot of A-listers to the table. But Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Stewart, Steve Martin and Martin Short....tried. You can tell they really did. But they just didn't seem to fit. They didn't "become" the character (which is particularly shocking since both Stewart and Bullock are GREAT at that in live action films). This is one reason why I much prefer to leave voice acting to the voice actors. They know how to wear a character vocally, a task not always easy to do, especially if you're used to acting on stage or screen, playing off of other actors, not recording your lines in a booth by yourself. People with acting experience know what I'm talking about. But their performances aren't enough to kill this film completely. It's a minor distraction. That's all.<br />
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The art in this film is positively stunning. I mean even the layouts are fantastic. It may be hand drawn animation...but it feels like an epic. Just look at the size and grandeur of this thing!<br />
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A real feast for the eyes. It takes a lot of talent to make ink and paint on a piece of paper look this huge.<br />
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But perhaps the most amazing thing about this entire film is the music. It is my second-favorite movie soundtrack. (The other, oddly enough, also belongs to another DreamWorks film. But that's another post.) First of all, they actually have real Hebrew in some of the songs which truly adds an authentic flavor to the music. The fact that Ofra Haza, an actual Israeli singer, plays Yocheved just adds to that fact. But everything from the opening chorus number "Deliver Us" to the joyous celebration that is the song "Heaven's Eyes" to the point-counterpoint of "Let My People Go" just fits perfectly within the frame of the story. Even the orchestral theme they use for God is sort of out-of-this-world. A mix of mystery, majesty and wonder. Usually whenever I watch the film, I can't get it out of my head for several days. So I'll pass that joy on to you. You're welcome.<br />
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All told, minor issues aside, this film is a classic. At least, it is to me. The music is great, the story is great, even the art is great. If you're not going to a Seder this Passover, or heck, even if you are, gather the family around and give it a watch. It's a great reminder that there can indeed be miracles when you believe, and sometimes, even when you don't. Because we serve an awesome God. And He can do anything.<br />
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Oh, and Pesach Sameach. (That's "Happy Passover".)Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-89558944019251644732016-04-08T20:07:00.001-07:002016-04-08T20:07:50.470-07:00Culture Countdown: Top 10 Classic booksApologies again for the delay in posting. Nature seems to be against it for some reason. First, an electrical storm fried our modem, then I threw my back out and had to be on bedrest virtually immobile for several days.<br />
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When one is laid up with nothing else to do, one finds oneself with a significant amount of free reading time. If you so happen to be in that position, have I got a list for you! While there are many, many, MANY modern authors that have written fantastic books over the last 50 years or so, there's nothing quite like a literary classic. A dusty old book that simply smells of adventure. So grab your library card and prepare for a journey through my favorite books/series that are currently considered "classics".<br />
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10.Les Miserables by Victor Hugo</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">In addition to being a big fan of the musical (again, another review for another time), I actually read the entire unabridged version of this book (all 1500+ pages of it) in high school. Because I felt like it. Yeah, I was <i>that</i> kid. If you don't have that kind of time (or fortitude), you can settle for the abridged version (a scant 300-ish pages) but a lot of the nuance will be lost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">In his tale of the life and trials of one Jean Valjean, a convict freed from prison, Hugo weaves a fantastic tale of one man's journey to redemption and forgiveness, first of himself, and then to others. Along the way, a neatly interwoven group of people come in and out of his life, all of them very much connected with one another...whether they realize it or not. There's also, to be honest, a LOT of historical exposition, so if you've ever wanted a history lesson on the Napoleonic Wars, this is probably a good place to start. Oh, and propaganda. Lots and lots of propaganda. But that's kind of what Hugo was famous for anyway. I mean, have you read <i>Notre Dame de Paris</i>? Yikes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Political leanings aside, though, it's still a fantastic book, with descriptions so realistic, you'll feel as though you are actually there. Rumor has it that when Hugo sent the book to his publisher, he followed up with a telegram asking what the publisher thought of it. But he was short on cash at the time and so condensed his telegram to a single "?". The publisher responded only with "!". And that single punctuation pretty much says it all. </span><br />
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9.The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I picked up my copy of <i>The Count of Monte Cristo</i> at a library sale for a nickel. The cover was half missing and the pages were dog-eared. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Best 5 cents I ever spent. That book kept me entertained for a whole summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Alexandre Dumas (yeah, the same guy who wrote <i>The Three Musketeers</i>) tells a brilliant story of Edmond Dantes. Like Valjean in <i>Les Miserables</i>, Dantes also goes to prison, but unlike Valjean, he is a complete innocent betrayed by his best friend so as to steal Edmond's fiancee. He eventually escapes prison, uncovers a fortune in buried treasure, and starts life under a new name. Dantes uses his wealth and power to exact revenge on the men involved in the conspiracy to imprison him. But when his revenge goes too far, Dantes must atone for his sins and use his position and power to help others while at the same time learning to let go of the past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">The book is filled with so many memorable characters, twists, turns, and subplots, it's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.</span><br />
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8.Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Written by a man in prison (I'm starting to notice a theme, here), <i>Pilgrim's Progress</i> is an allegory that chronicles the life of Christian as he journeys from the City of Destruction to The Celestial City. It starts with him receiving the gospel, seeking to know more, and finding his way to salvation. But the story doesn't end in salvation, particularly in real life. The Christian life is one of trials, temptations, and tribulations. And just as we do daily, Christian faces Despair, Vanity, Wordly Wisdom, Demons, and even Death itself among many other troubles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">It's a bit difficult of a read because a large portion of it uses archaic language. If you can find an study version, it usually has footnotes and definitions of words and phrases we no longer use to help you get a better sense of context. But I can almost certainly guarantee that it has something for everyone, no matter what you're currently going through in your life.</span><br />
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7.Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace</h4>
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Another story of a man wrongfully imprisoned (maybe I should have just called this the Top 10 List of Prison Books?), Judah Ben-Hur is a one-time Jewish prince betrayed by his childhood friend, the Roman Masala. After his assets are seized and his family is imprisoned, Judah is sent to work as a slave on a Roman warship. Eventually, his fortunes change, he becomes the adopted son of a wealthy Roman, and learns the arts of fighting, business, and chariot racing. He uses his newfound situation to learn the fates of his mother and sister and get revenge on Masala. But along the way, he meets a very particular Man. They cross paths several times during Judah's life. But it is their final meeting that really changes everything and helps Judah discover that if a man is to forgive his bitterest enemy, he's going to need a little (or a lot) of Heavenly help.<br />
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This is a book you really want to read. Don't just cop out and watch the movie (excellent though it may be, but that's another review for another day; and since they're remaking it, will probably be a Take Two review) but actually sit down, read, absorb, and digest this one. The very act of writing it changed the author's life. Who knows what it can do for you?<br />
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<br />6.Silas Marner by George Eliot (the pen name of Mary Ann Evans)</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm not gonna lie. When I first started reading this book, I hated it. I was forced to read it for my high school literature class, and it was boring, boring, boring! And then, somewhere around chapter six, it got better. A lot better. A <i>whole</i> lot better. Once I finished reading all the way through, I went back and reread the first 5 chapters, and they suddenly made a lot more sense.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Silas Marner is a weaver in the small town of Raveloe. He's a loner and a miser, with his golden guineas as his only friend. Betrayed by his former religious order, he has taken to shunning everyone, marginally satisfied to live out his life in solitude, weaving and selling his fabric by day and counting his gold at night. But when a series of circumstances force him to become more familiar with the local townspeople, he finds the love of friends and a family that he never thought he would have. If you can muscle your way through the first 6 chapters or so, I promise, you won't be disappointed. It's a book you'll want to read again and again.</span><br />
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5.A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Speaking of misers, if there any miser more famous than Ebenezer Scrooge? I'll keep this one short because I've already said so much about it in the </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-favorites-christmas-carol.html" target="_blank">two </a><a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-favorites-muppet-christmas.html" target="_blank">reviews</a></span></span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">I've done of the movie versions. But nothing beats the original. The novel is very short, so it wouldn't take long to read in a single sitting. If you've seen the many movie versions but never actually sat down to read the book, you're missing out. A lot of the best parts of the story are actually in Dickens' quaint and quirky descriptions and asides.</span><br />
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4.The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Although it was originally meant to be a book for children, I think there's quite a bit for adults in <i>The Secret Garden</i>. The story is as much about Lord Craven and his inability to deal with his grief as it is about Mary Lennox and her quest to open the titular garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">After a terrible disease leaves her orphaned, Mistress Mary is forced to leave her home in British-occupied India and seek a home at Misslethwaite Manor (the home of her uncle Archibald Craven) in the moorlands of Yorkshire. There she discovers secret after secret. There are things (and people) that the servants aren't meant to talk about. But Mary is a stubborn child used to having her own way, and if they won't tell her what's going on, she'll find out for herself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">As interesting as the main character is, my favorite characters are actually Mary's servant Martha Sowerby and her mother. They are just two plain and simple Yorkshire women who teach Mary much about life, God, and the simple joys of being a child (something that grave and dour Mary knows nothing about), but their impact on Mary is earth shattering. While Mary is used to the luxurious, exotic finery that the British elite experienced in India, Martha teaches her to be content with simple pleasures like sewing, gardening, and skipping rope. It's also a wonderful book for encouraging young children to get outside and play. In an age where kids reportedly don't get enough exercise, I think that alone makes it worth the read.</span><br />
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3.Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Another book I've already talked about in the </span><a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-media-mom-after-dark-sense-and.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">movie review</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">, I'll keep this one short as well. As I said, it's often overshadowed by its author's more popular book, <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, but I think <i>Sense and Sensibility</i> is equally as good if not superior. Whether you're a hopeless romantic or more reserved in your emotions, you'll identify with either of the two protagonist sisters.</span><br />
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2.The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">What is better than a mystery? Why a dozen of them, of course! While I could have gone with Doyle's original novel <i>A Study in Scarlet</i>, I decided on his first anthology of Sherlock Holmes short stories for this list. <i>Scarlet</i> has some pacing issues that I didn't care for, and the sequel <i>The Sign of Four</i> was just all over the place in terms of plot. So...Doyle wasn't the greatest novelist. But he was a master of the short story (much like Leo Tolstoy, but that's another post) and none of his collections quite shines like his first. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Whether he's matching wits with Irene Adler in "A Scandal in Bohemia", battling wild animals in "The Speckled Band", or solving a Christmas mystery in "The Blue Carbuncle", Sherlock Holmes is always on the case! With his faithful friend and chronicler Dr. Watson at his side, there's no mystery he can't solve, no case he can't crack, and so suspect he can't catch (well, maybe one...). So grab a copy and a cup of tea and take a trip back to Victorian London. (And just imagine it's Benedict Cumberbatch, if you must.)</span><br />
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1.The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis</h4>
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I know, I'm kind of cheating because this is a whole series and not just one book, but I can't help it. I can never, ever say enough good things about this series. If you're going to read them (and I know purists will give me hell for this) I suggest reading them in chronological order (the order Lewis preferred) rather than the order in which they were published. This means reading <i>The Magician's Nephew</i> before <i>The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe</i>, Suck it up, buttercup. You'll be ok. </div>
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These books are simply magic. I go back and reread them every year or so, and I always get something new out of them. From Narnia's creation to its very last day, there is wonder, excitement, and adventure to be had. A little myth, a little magic, and a whole lot of awesome make this book series a true escape to another world. I still cry every time I read the last page of <i>The Last Battle</i> because it gives us such hope of the Kingdom that is to come, so clearly you can almost see it with your own eyes. Read them with your kids, read them by yourself, however you choose, just read them. Over and over and over again.</div>
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And that's my list of my 10 favorite classic novels. Were there any you felt should be on the list? Let me know in the comments. Maybe I;ll review them in future. Besides, I'm always looking for a good book to read!</div>
Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-39036457013323203462016-03-18T19:59:00.000-07:002016-03-18T19:59:13.699-07:00Book Review: The Beast of Ravenston by Kelly MartinWhen I said the sequel to <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-betraying-ever-after-by.html" target="_blank">Betraying Ever After</a></span></i> was even better than the first book, I was being honest. It's a better book thematically, stylistically, and technically. But, I was also being a bit biased. See, it's based (loosely) on <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>. Which is my absolute favorite movie of all time. I don't care if it's a kid story. I don't care if the notion of Stockholm syndrome is the one thing everyone cites as a reason for the romance. I just flipping love it. The message that it's who you are not what you look like that matters is important to me because...well...I'm kinda homely. And I figure, if there's hope for the beast...there's hope for me. I guess I was right. I mean, I've been happily married for nearly a decade.<br />
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Besides. Who doesn't want that library, amiright?<br />
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But that's another review for another time. Today, we're all about the beast of a man living at Ravenston Castle in a book that's part <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>, part <i>Phantom of the Opera</i>, and part...<i>The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton</i>?<br />
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Master blackmailer Mr. Dodsworth makes good on his threat to send Elizabeth to serve Nicholas Wellington, the Beast...erm...Duke of Ravenston. In exchange for making Miss Beth's life a living hell, Dodsworth will reveal to Nicholas the identity of the man who set the fire that left his face permanently scarred. Nicholas is more than happy to agree since a) he wants revenge and 2) he always took a bit of pleasure in manipulating and intimidating people. It's why he was known as the Beast LONG before the fire.<br />
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But Ravenston Castle is full of secrets. The Duke is full of secrets. The servants (well, servant) is full of secrets. And Miss Beth? Well, as terrified as she is of the Duke, she's got some secrets of her own. When all of the secrets threaten to collide head on, pasts are revealed and futures are compromised. Will Beth survive a week with the Beast? Will Nicholas get revenge? And will Dodsworth be able to to deal with his plan backfiring in his face?<br />
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I. Flipping. Love. This. Book.<br />
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I want to see a movie of this.<br />
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Maybe it's my bias talking. But I didn't want to put this sucker down.<br />
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Beth is an amazing character. I kinda disliked her in <i>BEA</i> because I felt like she was a bit too delicate. I understand her situation. But even Emma had more of a spine than she did. Whatever happened between that book and this one, she grew a spine and then plated it with armor. True, she starts out the first couple of pages terrified of Nicholas. But that does not last long. Once she's settled in, her determination gets the better of her and she strives to make lemons into lemonade. Which is something Nicholas won't stand for.<br />
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His attempts at making her life miserable do succeed, to a point. They break her body. But not her spirit. Even in a fit of fever, while she's freakin' hallucinating and talking to people who aren't there, she's determined to do her job or die trying. And she very nearly does. Call it madness. Call it stupidity. I call it defiance in the face of the devil himself. And that takes tremendous courage.<br />
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It isn't long before the duke's more tender side comes out (and yes, there apparently is one in there somewhere) and he begins to care for the woman who is essentially his slave. Granted, it didn't start that way. It was all lust and anger and frustration. In some ways, a bit more risque than I like my romances, but expected considering the nature of the story.<br />
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Nicholas, for his part, reminded me very strongly of the Phantom of the Opera...if the Phantom had an even more tragic backstory than he already does. I've no idea what possessed him to do what he did to his first wife. Maybe it was his misguided attempt to spare her from pain. But regardless, it was a big, life altering, universe shattering mistake. He has no one to blame but himself for the aftermath. And blame himself he does. But then, that self-loathing projects on to everyone else until no one can stand to be around him. It just makes you want to reach into the book and give him a hug. And, uh...<br />
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Once again, Dodsworth is the villain you love to hate. Only this time, there was no satisfaction of cold cocking him near the end of the book. Instead, the obsequious weasel gets everything he wants and more, for the most part. True, he can't stop them from falling in love. But he can destroy their happiness by appealing to Nicholas's thirst for vengeance, something he knows Beth would most certainly hate. Things may not go exactly as he planned, but hey. As long as he gets his way in the end, who cares how he gets there?<br />
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The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm salivating while awaiting book 3, which is due out later this month (by the grace of God).<br />
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If you haven't started this series yet, for goodness' sake, what are you waiting for? Get yourself a copy and get to reading.<br />
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Oh, and keep a fan around for chapter 16. You're gonna need it.<br />
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For more of Kelly Martin's books, check out her website at <span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.com/">www.kellymartinbooks.com</a></span>.
You'll find info on her, her books, links to all her social media
(which you should subscribe to all of them, just so you can bask in her
epicness in every possible forum), and all that other fun stuff.<br />
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-37799000200879370282016-03-02T18:49:00.000-08:002016-03-02T18:49:59.833-08:00Book Review: Betraying Ever After by Kelly MartinI wasn't sure if I wanted to review the whole trilogy all at once on this one, or if it would make more sense to do each one individually. But since a) the third book isn't out yet and 2) I didn't have time to write a movie review this week (we're busy planning a trip out of town for a friend's wedding and we've all got the stomach bug, to boot) I decided to just take the books one at a time. So, without further ado...<br />
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When baron's-daughter-turned-charwoman Emma is dolled up and sent on a mission to a ball to make excuses for an ailing debutante, it's supposed to be a simple task. Get in, deliver the message, get out. She had no intention of drawing any attention to herself, least of all the attention of the city's most notorious playboy. Vaughan is a ladies' man, man's man...honestly, he's anything BUT a man. He's an immature man-child who now suddenly has his late father's title to live up to. And that includes selecting a wife of title and propriety. He doesn't know the first thing about Emma. He just knows she's caught his eye. Neither one of them knows that their mutual infatuation is all part of a carefully planned means to an end, and that a dark master is pulling all the strings for his own nefarious purposes.<br />
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If Cinderella had been a true-to-life story, I imagine it might have gone something like this. Gone are the fairy godmothers, pumpkin coaches and animal friends of the story you grew up with. What remains is a twisted tale that's almost as equally about the antagonist as it is our heroine. And, I gotta say...as far as antagonists go, Mr. Dodsworth is an incredibly complex and multi-faceted one. A singular man who forges a reputation as a master blackmailer and refuses to let go of a long-held grudge, he'll make you want to knock every one of his teeth out before the book is over. Like Loki in the Marvel universe, he's the villain you love to hate. And I can't get enough of him.<br />
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But this is Emma's story, obviously. Emma may not be as deep as Dodsworth, but she's still a likeable character with quite a bit of personality. Content to make the best of a bad situation, her optimistic outlook is a refreshing contrast to Dodsworth's own personal darkness. Of course, little does she know how directly that darkness will influence her...and how much she influences it. While her pluck got a little *too* altruistic at times, it wasn't enough to make her unbelievable. She's a grounded girl with hopes and dreams, and she'll be darned if she doesn't indulge in a selfish desire or two along the way. She is, after all, only human.<br />
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Vaughan...What can I say about him? I like him...ish. It's not that he's a bad character. He's pretty well-rounded, too. Kinda. But, as this is a "Cinderella story", he falls in love at first sight and, frankly...I've never been much a fan of the idea. It's just a personal preference. He's a shallow, callous playboy who takes to the straight and narrow, not for noble motives, but because his position basically forces him to. And while he does show some scruples before the book is over...I feel like his transformation needed a bit...more. More time. More detail. More...something. Can't quite place my finger on it. It just kind of happened so fast, and I'm not entirely convinced that a beautiful girl is enough to make a guy do a 180. But then, I suppose I've known too many jerky guys to think such a major change could happen, quite literally, overnight.<br />
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That being said, it's still a cute book. Well written. Well planned out. And a great start to a trilogy. Which is saying a lot because the second book is even better. :)<br />
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For more of Kelly Martin's books, check out her website at <a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.com/">www.kellymartinbooks.com</a>. You'll find info on her, her books, links to all her social media (which you should subscribe to all of them, just so you can bask in her epicness in every possible forum), and all that other fun stuff.<br />
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Stick around for more book reviews. They'll be coming less frequently than my movie reviews just because it takes longer to read a book than watch a movie (duh). But I'll try to do at least one a month (God willing and the crick don't rise).Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-32850985185886674682016-02-23T20:43:00.003-08:002016-02-23T20:47:03.207-08:00The Media Mom After Dark: SerendipityWe round out our romantic movie month with a film that's less lighthearted and fluffy and more about asking existential questions regarding the nature of the universe. Namely, are we all just floating about the universe willy-nilly? Or is there really such a thing as destiny?<br />
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A chance encounter over a pair of black gloves in a busy New York department store at Christmas time brings Sara Thomas and Jonathan Trager together. But...is it really chance? Sara believes in serendipity, a word that means a "fortunate accident". Some might call it fate. But fate can be a fickle thing. After all, both Sara and Jonathan are seeing other people. After Sara offers to buy Jonathan dinner in exchange for letting her purchase the last pair of gloves on the rack (which he had planned on buying for his own girlfriend), Sara explains that she believes that the universe is constantly sending us little signs to guide us to our destiny and how we interpret and follow the signs determines whether we're happy or not.<br />
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They both start to go their separate ways, only to meet back at the restaurant when Sara forgets the gloves and Jonathan forgets his scarf. The couple then decides to spend an evening ice skating in Central Park. As the night wears on, they learn about each other. Their likes and dislikes. Their histories. One might call it a date. Against her better judgment, Sara offers Jonathan her phone number, but it's immediately blown away by a passing truck. Sara takes it as a sign to back off of having a relationship with him. When Jonathan argues that if fate wanted them to back off, they wouldn't have met up in the first place, Sara then hits on a brilliant idea. Jonathan writes his name and number on a five dollar bill and then purchases a pack of mints with it. She says if the bill comes back to her, then they're meant to be. Meanwhile, Sara promises to write her name and number in a copy of the book <i>Love in the Time of Cholera</i> and sell it to a used bookstore the next day. If Jonathan finds the book, then the universe will have spoken. They then go their separate ways, content to let fate take its proper course.<br />
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Fast forward several years later, and Jonathan and Sara are engaged...to two different people. Jonathan is marrying Halley in New York. At the same time, Sara, who has moved to San Francisco, is engaged to Lars, an Eastern musician. Neither one has ever truly forgotten that one magical night, however.<br />
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Jonathan enlists the help of his friend, Dean Kansky, who works for the <i>New York Times</i>. After getting involved with an infuriating extortionist store clerk (played comically by Eugene Levy), they manage to track down an old credit card application. Sara's last name is illegible, but they have her previous address. They follow a trail of clues around New York to her old apartment's leasing office, her former roommate, and eventually, the roommate placing service only to find it long since shuttered...and replaced with a bridal shop. With only 1 day remaining before his wedding, it seems like Jonathan has run out of time to find out if Sara really was his soul mate, or just destined to be a fond memory of a New York moment.<br />
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Meanwhile, Sara has enlisted the help of her friend Eve to go on a trip to New York to try one last chance at finding Jonathan before walking down the aisle herself. Rather than using detective-like resources, however, she just follows gut feelings that take her from the Waldorf Astoria to a driving range to various other spots around the city, where she and Jonathan have many near misses. Just as one leaves, it seems, the other arrives. That's not the only arrival, either. Lars has shown up to apologize for giving Sara less than the attention she deserves as he's been busy planning his European concert tour. The apology is short lived, though. On a romantic carriage ride, Lars becomes engaged once again in planning his tour, forgetting all about Sara in the process.<br />
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At their wedding rehearsal at the Waldorf Astoria, Halley is upset with Jonathan for not giving her enough attention, either. He's been so busy trying to find Sara, he's been neglecting his own fiancee. Just when Jonathan seems to be resolved in giving up his quest, a major clue to finding Sara comes his way. He and Dean book a red eye to San Francisco to try and find her before his wedding, even if it's just to convince Jonathan that Halley really is the girl for him. At least, he reasons, he'll finally have closure.<br />
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With Jonathan in San Francisco and Sara in New York, will our star-crossed lovers ever get together? Or are they simply pawns in fate's malicious chess game with the universe? (There really aren't any spoilers from here on out, so you get a pass....this time...)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe the absence of spoilers is a spoiler...</td></tr>
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This film spends a lot of time asking questions. Serious questions. It also makes some rather interesting observations about life, relationships, and human nature. Most of those observations come, not from our lead couple (portrayed brilliantly by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale), but from their two close friends Dean (Jeremy Piven) and Eve (Molly Shannon).<br />
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"If you're smart enough, you learn from your mistakes. You figure it out. You... you think. You realize that life isn't some elaborate stage play with directions for the actors. Life's a mess, Sara. It's... it's chaos personified," Eve notes to her pal. And, in many ways, she's right. Relationships with other human beings are dynamic. There are so many variables and moving parts and little nuances that it can, at times, look very much like chaos personified. The very same things that may work in one relationship might not work in another. This is because we are all unique individuals, with our own histories, experiences, and feelings. The little random things that drive us to or away from people or situations are often so minute that we just chalk them up to chance.<br />
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On the other hand, Dean (who is actually a rather profound writer) states that "...life is not merely a series of meaningless accidents or coincidences. Uh-uh. But rather, its a tapestry of events that culminate in an exquisite, sublime plan." And in a lot of ways, this is true as well.<br />
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Where I draw a dividing line from the movie, though, is in the origin of this tapestry. Rather than leave such a complex and intricate thing to something as impersonal and whimsical as fate or destiny, I recognize that life is forged by the hands of an omniscient, omnipresent, almighty God. Our loving Father is a detailed author. He has a remarkable plan for every one of our lives. Now, rather than force us to follow His plan, He gives us the freedom to choose. Rather than send vague signs, He speaks clearly to our hearts.<br />
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I'm guessing that by looking back on your life, you can see the threads of His tapestry for you. Things that seemed so insignificant at the time, in hindsight take on such extreme importance. Like a line of dominoes, you can see how events were organized to bring you where you are and make you who you are today. Not all of those events may have been pleasant. But how we react to difficulties reveals us to ourselves. Every human interaction, for good or ill, shapes our lives in some way, however insignificant.<br />
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In my own life, looking back, I can say a good many things that seemed unimportant ultimately changed my life. Had I not decided to go to the private school that I attended, I wouldn't have met the secretary. Had I not met her, I wouldn't have babysat her kids. Had I not babysat her kids, we might not have gotten to be friends. Had we not become friends, I would never have dated her son. Had I never dated her son, I wouldn't have gotten married and had my 2 boys. And all of this hung on the decision of changing schools. Some might say that I simply got lucky. Others might say that it was fate. But having prayed for my husband since I was 4 years old, I know exactly what it was. An answer to prayer. God organized all of it. All I had to do was listen for His will, obey, and trust that my Father wants only the best for me (as any loving father would).<br />
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Existential questions aside, the film is another one of my favorites. It has brilliant writing and decent acting. My only caveats are the foul language (there's quite a bit) and a few sex jokes, as well as one shot of a couple making love as seen through a window (nothing you'd call explicit, though). So, definitely not one for the kiddies. But for adults looking for an otherwise sweet romance that's sure to spark some very deep conversations, it's worth the watch. If you've never seen it before, then you might just call reading this review an act of serendipity. Or maybe, just maybe, God was planning it all along.<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-6976842873221057672016-02-17T19:19:00.003-08:002016-02-17T19:23:09.453-08:00The Media Mom After Dark: The Decoy BrideValentine's Day may have come and gone, but that doesn't mean the romance has to stop. There's always time for a movie about luuuuuuurrrrrve. Especially if you're, well...me.<br />
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What do you get when you mix <i>Ugly Betty</i>, Pixar's <i>Brave</i>, and <i>Doctor Who</i>? Why, the cast of <i>The Decoy Bride</i>, of course!<br />
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Hollywood starlet Lara Tyler is finally getting her dream paparazzi-free wedding. Or, at least, she thinks she is. But when shutterbug Marco disrupts her nuptials to James Arbor (her favorite novelist) yet <i>again</i>, she's determined to have a private ceremony if it kills her. Her publicist stumbles upon on idea: to have the wedding on the remote island of Hegg, which is the setting for James's first (and so far, only) novel, <i>The Ornithologist's Wife</i>.<br />
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James himself is a mediocre writer who relies far too heavily on sappy dialogue, verbose descriptions, and weak plot lines. He intentionally wrote the book so long that he didn't think anyone would ever read it. Much to his chagrin, many people have. And they're eating it up. But now, James is struggling to write another book. It seems he poured all the creative juices he had into that one saccharine excuse for a novel. It really is pathetic. After all the Hegg Book Club only rated the book a 4 out of 10.<br />
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Everyone on Hegg has read the book, of course. After all, there are only 75 people on the island, most of whom <i>are </i>75...or older. And then, there's Katie. Katie is the island's last remaining bachelorette. She's 32, has no prospects (what with the last eligible bachelor on the island recently marrying), and is dreaming of a better life as a writer somewhere far away from the tiny island she calls home. Her last gig at the trouser catalog didn't end well. She ran out of ways to describe pockets. Katie lives at the island's only B&B with her dying mother. She's not even certain why the island has a B&B. No one ever visits. But then, a marketing conference is held in the island's ancient castle ruins,the main setting of Arber's novel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He may have slightly exaggerated its condition in the book, though...</td></tr>
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The marketing conference is all a facade, of course. It's actually the crew setting up for the Arber/Tyler wedding. But they're not letting anyone know that, lest the paparazzi descend and ruin yet another ceremony. Quite by chance, Katie and James meet in the island's public restroom, which is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a cow. After an awkward exchange, they part ways. While Katie's been unknowingly chatting it up with the celebrity groom however, Katie's mother Iseabail has figured the whole thing out and leaked the story to the press for money so she can travel the world before she dies.<br />
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Frustrated at having their wedding interrupted again, Lara takes off in a rage. Her publicist however, decides to stage a fake wedding for the cameras so the press can finally leave and Lara can have her dream wedding in peace. All they need is a decoy bride. And it seems Katie is the only viable choice.<br />
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Will Lara and James finally enjoy their wedded bliss? Will Katie ever find true love? Or at the very least, a way off this stupid island?<br />
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This film is rampant with quirky charm. Its awkward humor, sweet innocence (sans a few curse words and a small sex joke), and predictable yet enjoyable plot makes for a fun romp that you'll want to view more than once.<br />
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Katie (portrayed by the alarmingly talented yet severely underrated Kelly Macdonald, the voice of Merida from Pixar's <i>Brave</i>) is portrayed as a very rounded character. A lot of romance films have very cardboard leading ladies with very stereotypical backgrounds: They're pretty, smart, but otherwise bland with very little uniqueness about them. In a world of dull Bella Swans, Katie is a true shining gem with a genuine personality. Yeah, she hates her pathetic little life on the pathetic little island. But she doesn't moan and wail about it. She embraces her less that ideal state in life with an oddball sense of humor and instead of sulking or giving up, decides at her boss's suggestion to write a travel guide for Hegg. She knows darn well no one will probably ever read it, but she throws herself completely into it all the same, narrating the island's features with warmth and a sharp wit.<br />
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James (played by the brilliant and inimitable David Tennant, who surprisingly does not use his natural Scottish accent in a film set in Scotland) is his own worst critic, and with good reason. <i>The Ornithologist's Wife</i> truly is awful, and he knows it. Whenever Lara starts quoting part of the book to him, he sneers in disgust at the melodramatic drivel. But at the same time, he struggles to find his identity as an author. It comes as no surprise then to learn that quirky Katie helps him find his muse and write a second book. And this one is actually good. But, as I've stated, Katie is such a well-rounded character, he really couldn't help but write a well-rounded novel. The movie is as much a story of self-discovery for him as it is a romance between the two leads.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plus...it's David Freakin' Tennant. *le sigh*</td></tr>
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The rest of the cast are mostly British television stars in some form or other, with perhaps the only exception being Michael Urie from the American show <i>Ugly Betty</i>. All told, though, the whole cast does a fantastic job of bringing to like the odd little characters who live on the island, and Lara Tyler's poor overworked management team.<br />
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The ending is a sweet and touching one. We learn that Iseabail eventually did die from her illness, but was given the opportunity to travel by a much-matured Lara Tyler who learned some humility and humanity from the ailing woman and eventually became not just a better person, but a better actress because of it. It's a nice twist that brings depth to what I have already said is a predictable ending. But predictable or not, it's still flippin' adorable.<br />
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This quaint little film, with a breathtaking setting, is the art deco bracelet at the pawn shop. The shapes are a bit too clunky. The colors are a bit too loud. Just sitting in the display case, you'd swear it's something you'd never be caught dead in. But then, for some unknown reason, you feel the urge to try it on. And once the clasp is set, everything just fits. It suddenly has a whole new personality and you find yourself never wanting to take it off. That's how this film works. You see it in your Netflix queue. You read the description. It sounds either too far fetched or too cliche to be any good. But you press play anyway, and when the credits roll, you add it to your favorites list. It's just cute, perky, and fun. And who doesn't love a movie like that?<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-84392184284203646932016-02-11T19:45:00.003-08:002016-02-11T19:45:53.373-08:00The Media Mom After Dark: Pride and PrejudiceWe continue our February romantic movie month with another Austen classic, <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>. I could have done a Take Two comparing the Colin Firth miniseries with the Keira Knightly movie, but opted not to (at least for now) since one is substantially longer than the other and it would almost be like comparing apples to oranges. So, we'll just stick with the 2005 movie version for the time being.<br />
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I normally save the spoilers for later in the review, but this story is so complex and involved, there's really no way to do this without having spoilers all the way through. So...</div>
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The story revolves around the Bennet girls, five daughters of a cash-poor land owner in Georgian England. Jane, the eldest, is the shy beauty, a delicate flower of a woman who is so sweet and kind, she can never think ill of anyone. Next is main protagonist Lizzie. Her father's favorite child, Lizzie is a strong, stubborn, but well-meaning spitfire with a sharp wit. The classic middle child is Mary, the plainest of the daughters, who is studious, pious, and a bit self-righteous at times. Kitty might be the older of the remaining two, but she often follows youngest daughter Lydia's lead when it comes to mischief. Both girls are silly, flirtatious, and immature with no sense of propriety or decorum.</div>
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Mrs. Bennet, the matriarch of the family, is nearly as silly and improper as her youngest daughters, and only thinks of marrying them all off to wealthy, handsome men. Mr. Bennet, well...he just wants peace. He spends a good deal of time holed up in his study trying to avoid the antics of his overbearing wife, but also failing to properly discipline his daughters.<br />
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The entire family is turned upside down when Mr. Charles Bingley moves in to a neighboring estate. Bingley is wealthier than anyone else in the county...and he's <i>single</i>. Instantly, Mrs. Bennet determines that Bingley is going to marry one of her daughters, he just doesn't know it yet. At the next public ball, Mrs. Bennet practically throws Jane (the family beauty) at him. Fortunately for everyone, Bingley takes a shine to Jane almost immediately. They have very similar temperaments and Bingley is nearly as shy and reserved as Jane is. But he's also easily influenced by the opinions of his closest friend Mr. Darcy. And Darcy is not easily impressed. He does, after all, own half of Derbyshire, making him far richer than even Bingley. And Darcy isn't the only person non-plussed at this party. Charles's sister Caroline wants nothing to do with these simply country folk, who may have some property and title, but are a far cry below the nobility she's used to rubbing elbows with.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Caroline...judging you.</td></tr>
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Jane may be a beauty, but her family is hardly suitable to be united with a man of status such as Bingley. All except...Lizzie. For some reason, Darcy can't shake the woman from his mind. And that will never do. In an effort to try and dismiss the notion of any redeeming qualities about the Bennet family, Darcy insults Lizzie to Bingley's face. Unbeknownst to him, though, Lizzie has overheard every word and has a few verbal barbs of her own to hurl at this proud, pompous man. It's hardly the beginnings of an amicable relationship.<br />
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In time, life gets even more complicated. Lizzie soon finds herself in the early stages of a relationship with Mr. Wickham, a soldier currently stationed in town with the rest of the militia. It seems ideal. Wickham despises Darcy as much as Lizzie does. Darcy and Wickham grew up together and Wickham regales Lizzie with a tale of misfortune at the hands of Darcy that left him forced to join the military to support himself.<br />
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At the same time, the Bennets are being visited by Mr. Collins, a preacher, and Mr. Bennet's closest male relative, making him the future heir of the estate. Collins is an awkward man, who weasels his way into the good graces of others to try and elevate his status. He's come to select one of the Bennet girls as a wife in an effort to keep the girls on the family estate when he inherits it. After being steered away from Jane, who has already formed a close attachment with Bingley, he selects Lizzie as the object of his, erm...affections. After a bungled proposal, Lizzie refuses his advances, and Collins opts instead to marry Lizzie's best friend Charlotte, who is already on the verge of becoming an old maid.<br />
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Before long, Jane receives news that Bingley has vacated his residence and returned to London, possibly for good, with little to no explanation as to why. Lizzie surmises that Bingley is being manipulated by Caroline and Darcy and sends Jane to visit her aunt in London to try and win Bingley back.<br />
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Soon afterward, Lizzie goes to visit the newly married Charlotte Collins. The rectory that she and Mr. Collins lives on is part of the property of Lady Catherine, a haughty, proud socialite...and Mr. Darcy's aunt. Darcy and Lizzie spend most of their time verbally sparring with one another, until one rainy day, Darcy declares his love for Lizzie and proposes. Lizzie is horrified and summarily rejects him by throwing his past transgressions at him: separating Bingley and Jane and ruining the life of poor Wickham.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, your timing could not be worse, dude...</td></tr>
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Later Darcy comes to leave her a note explaining his actions: he truly believed Jane to be indifferent to Bingley because she is so shy she never showed any strong attachment to him. He recognizes now, thanks to the passion of Lizzie's words, that that was a mistake, but still stands by his actions as he was only protecting his friend. And as for Mr. Wickham...well, let's just say the story he told Lizzie is far from true. Wickham turns out to be a fraud and a scoundrel.<br />
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As Lizzie starts to reconsider her prejudice against Mr. Darcy, Jane returns from London having not seen Bingley at all, but putting on a brave face and declaring herself "over him" so as not to worry her sister. Lydia is invited by some friends to go to the seaside and Lizzie is invited by her aunt and uncle to visit Derbyshire. While there, Lizzie again meets up with Darcy, this time on much friendlier terms. But their visit is cut short by news that Lydia has disappeared... with Wickham!<br />
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Will the Bennets find Lydia before she ruins the family reputation for good? Will Jane ever be reunited with Bingley? Will Darcy and Lizzie ever overcome their pride and prejudices against one another? (Well, I can't spoil <i>everything! </i>You're lucky I told you this much!)<br />
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I love this movie. It's one of my favorites. And surprisingly enough, it's one of my <i>husband's</i> favorites. He likes the witty repartee between Lizzie and Darcy. He likes the soundtrack. It's not often you get a guy to like a chick flick. My husband's the kind of guy who isn't happy unless something's exploding. So for him to like this film as much as he does is a pretty big deal.<br />
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The film itself doesn't deviate too much from its original source material. A few secondary plot lines and characters are dropped, but it does nothing to alter the overall story.<br />
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The chemistry between Knightly's Lizzie and Matthew McFadyen's Darcy is strong. You spend the entire film just waiting for them to get over themselves and get together already, and the many near-misses keep that good tension going.<br />
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All of the acting is superb, but I feel the need to call out two in particular. I can't picture a better Mr. Bennet than Donald Sutherland. I'm not normally a big fan of his acting, but he straight up owns this character. And as far as Lady Catherine...Is there anyone better at playing uptight, cranky British aristocrats than Dame Judy Dench? I would say no. Emphatically.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Lady Catherine...also judging you.</td></tr>
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The soundtrack to this film is gorgeous. I don't often focus on a film's score, unless we're talking about an actual musical, so for me to praise it is a special thing. Seriously, if you need some music to listen to while you study or read a book, or heck, even clean the house, I'd recommend adding this one to your playlist.<br />
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All told, what we have here is a perfect little period piece that, like <i>Sense and Sensibility</i>, is as chaste as can be, so no worry about watching it with your teens. There's a kissing scene right at the end, and the only other physical contact in the whole film is one particularly sexy hand-holding.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> How's that for 18th century puritanical values? Hand-holding is <i>hot</i>.</td></tr>
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If you haven't watched it before now, good grief, what are you waiting for? Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Get yourself a copy, snuggle up with your man, and enjoy what many have called the most romantic novel ever written. And if you have seen it...you know you're gonna watch it again. No one watches this movie just once. When I got the DVD, I watched it 5 times that week. That may sound foolish to some, but, as Charlotte observed, "We are all fools in love."</div>
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-66053942499521597122016-02-06T20:02:00.000-08:002016-02-06T20:02:14.817-08:00The Media Mom After Dark: Sense and SensibilityApologies for the delay in posting. My family and I were fighting the Cold That Wouldn't Die. Difficult to write when you can barely see the keyboard due to coughing so much.<br />
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This being February I thought I might review some of my favorite romantic classics. And I had planned to post the first one last week in tribute to the late, great Alan Rickman. Not a man one would normally associate with romance (what with frequently playing villains and all), Rickman still managed to pull off at least one performance as a romantic lead. And it is, perhaps, one of the most underrated and under-appreciated performances of his career. I speak of course of the Jane Austen classic, <i>Sense and Sensibility</i>.<br />
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The story begins as any good romance should- with death. John Dashwood's father is dying. And before he does, he bequeaths his entire (rather extensive) estate to his only son. Legal entanglements prevent the fortune from being split up, and so John is charged to care financially for his step mother and three half-sisters: Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. At first, John means to give them a sizable living. But his own greed, and the cold, callous, haughty nature of his wife Fanny eventually whittles the generous intention down to bestowing the ladies with little more than pittance to live on. They swoop in to take possession of the family manor, and Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters are reduced to being guests in their own home.<br />
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While the Dashwood ladies are trying to find new accommodations, Fanny's brother Edward Ferrars comes for a visit. His shy, humble nature eventually wins the heart of equally modest and reserved Elinor. But Fanny and her controlling mother have higher ambitions for Edward (whether he likes it or not) and make very plain their displeasure at the potential match. Before long, the ladies have found a modest house to rent, thanks to the charity of Mrs. Dashwood's caring but socially inept cousin Sir John Middleton.<br />
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It is Sir John's closest friend Colonel Brandon who is quickly smitten by beautiful, passionate Marianne. But after a chance meeting, Marianne's head is turned instead by the dashing John Willoughby. He is a man with a roguish grin and a sharp wit...and a sizable fortune of his own. With the two elder Dashwood girls pining away after their respective loves, it seems only natural that one or both should marry before long.<br />
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But this is a Jane Austen novel. And love is never straightforward in Austen's world. Secrets are revealed about both men that could ruin both relationships permanently. Will Elinor and Edward manage to overcome Fanny's shallow disapproval (and Edward's duty to an old promise) and find true love? Will Marianne and Willoughby run off in a whirlwind of passion? And what of poor Colonel Brandon? Can a thrity-five year old man charmed by Marianne's beauty but as modest and reserved as Elinor find love with either one, or even at all?<br />
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This film is a masterpiece of story telling. To be honest, the book was, too. It's often forgotten in the wake of Austen's more popular novel <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> (another review I plan on doing this month) but it's equally worthy of praise and admiration, especially considering the strong messages it conveys.<br />
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Elinor is a woman of practicality, duty, and honor. Love, in her mind, can only thrive in the proper environment: social and familial acceptance, compatible temperaments, and mutual affection and dedication. While she dearly loves Edward, she knows it wouldn't do to let her head run away with her heart. One must be stable, calm, and reasonable about such things. And when an old promise takes precedent over her claim on Edward, she realizes the honorable thing to do is to step back, even though it will destroy her own happiness.<br />
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Marianne, meanwhile, is red blooded, hot headed, and free spirited. Perhaps a bit too much so. She's all passion and romance, especially when it comes to Willoughby, but at the cost of her self-control and good judgment. And when dark secrets come up from Willoughby's past, her immature response quite literally almost gets her killed.<br />
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The title <i>Sense and Sensibility</i> doesn't carry quite the same meaning now that it did in Austen's day. We often equate the two as being related. But a more archaic use of the word sensibility relates to one's ability to feel. Your "sense ability" as it were. In light of that, it's easy to see that Elinor is all sense (that is, reason) while Marianne is all sensibility (that is, emotion).<br />
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Austen herself encountered quite a bit of controversy when she published the book. Some argued that, since Elinor eventually did marry Edward, it would seem that sense triumphed over all. But many modern scholars have speculated that it was never Austen's intention that one be considered better than the other. Rather, it was an indication that balance between the two in any relationship is paramount. Marianne's sensibility overpowered her good sense and her consequences were obvious. But Elinor's overbearing sense of duty caused her to bottle up her feelings in unhealthy ways and she spent a great deal of time carrying unnecessary emotional burdens.<br />
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Besides the messages, though, the acting and writing is phenomenal. Emma Thompson (who not only portrayed Elinor in the film, but also wrote the screenplay) simply soars in this film. I've always been a fan of her acting ability, and this film is definitely one of her best. Kate Winslet (who played Marianne and is an actress I've never particularly cared for) actually does a very good job playing her part, as well.<br />
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The rest of the cast is fairly decent. Not spectacular, but not awful. With two exceptions. One is Hugh Laurie's Mr. Palmer. I've always liked Laurie as a comedic actor. I was a big fan of his when he worked with Stephen Fry on their skit show, <i>A Bit of Fry and Laurie</i>. Mr. Palmer may not have much of a role in this film, but for the short time he's on screen, Laurie milks the character for all he's worth. It's a welcome relief throughout the film.<br />
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The other is Alan Rickman's Colonel Brandon. Rickman, who hadn't really played a romantic lead up until this point (and to my knowledge, never did again) straight up owns this character. He's quiet, sober, and obviously lonely. He's a man who's had his heart broken once before, and who guards it ever more vigilantly now. I almost felt as if he deserved better than Marianne, and had it not been for Edward, I'd have thought he and Elinor would have made a smart match. But opposites do attract, and in many ways, he and Marianne complement one another. His sober-mindedness is just what she needs to keep her grounded in reality. Her carefree spirit is enough to breach the walls he's built around his heart and let him love again. It is, without doubt, one of his best performances. I only wish he'd been given the chance to play a romantic lead more often. He was truly a remarkable and versatile actor and will be sorely missed.<br />
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In all, it's a great classic, and as a bonus the film is completely chaste so there's nothing your teens would be embarrassed to see. So, if you're thinking of having a movie night with your teenage daughters, this is definitely tops on my recommended list. They'll be absorbing the culture associated with the classic novel and you'll have fodder for plenty of after-movie conversations about how exactly they should approach their romantic relationships when pursuing marriage. Win-win!<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-28830382202501959802016-01-18T06:55:00.001-08:002016-01-18T06:55:39.821-08:00Special Guest Post: Heartless by Kelly Martin<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">You may recall that in my <a href="http://themediamom.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-media-mom-after-dark-phantom-of.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Phantom of the Opera review</span></a>, I mentioned I was inspired by my good friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KellyMartinAuthor" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Kelly Martin</span></a>. What you may not know is that Kelly is a brilliant author! She's written more books than I could ever even dream of writing (almost 20!) and she has a brand new book that was just released. For my bi</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">rthda</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">y, even! Almost like she planned it that way...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">'ve read the fir</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">st fe</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">w chapters. I'm hooked. You can bet I'll be writing a review of it when I'm finished (which may take</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> a while. Kid</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">s, you know...) but for now, here's Kelly herself to tell you a thing or two about the book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">When I was younger, I had a recurring nightmare...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Well, I suppose it depends on what you call a 'nightmare'.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I dreamed that it was Christmas, and I was at my mother's house. Everybody was there. I, being largely pregnant with triplets, sat on the couch. I could hear the backdoor open and see a bag of presents. I knew it was my husband. But I never saw his face.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Never.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Not in the entire 15 years I had that dream on and off.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I never saw his face.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I suppose it slightly came true. I have 3 kids (not triplets, but the number is right). And my husband does bring presents in a big bag to my mother's on Christmas-- except now I can see his handsome face.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Recurring dreams are weird. I should just get that out of the way.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I also have this recurring dream where I live in a house, a HUGE house. Like massive house. Half of it is sealed off and is haunted, but for some reason, I always end up on that side of the house. There is a rose bedroom where the bathtub fills up itself, the faucets come on, and you can always smell lavender. Also, the door won't stay open. It always shuts when I go inside-- in my dream of course.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I have no idea what that one means, but I know it's not my favorite. It is a FREAKY house with freaky furniture and the ghosts... oh the ghosts. #shivers</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I've said all of that to say this--please tell me I'm not alone in my recurring dream quirk. Do you have them? Do you think they mean something? Leave a comment and let's chat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I think that's where I got the idea of Gracen having these dreams in Heartless. I don't have 'demons' in my dreams torturing me but... GHOSTS! #homoijwnoijaniewanusudnah #thud</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">I think the idea of dreams, inception dreams, recurring dreams are facinating. Who knows why we dream? Or why we dream what we dream? I love that part of Heartless too. Gracen knows she's dreaming, but when her dreams start spilling out into the real world is when she freaks out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">If I ever get stuck in a haunted house with a rose bedroom--or pregnant with triplets--please, come help me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So there you have it. I hope you're looking forward to reading it as much as I am. This girl has got some epic talent and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I'll be posting a bit more about her below so you can check her out, buy her books, virtually stalk her (please, just virtually. Don't hang outside her house hiding in the bushes late at night. Unless your name is Jared Padalecki or Jensen Ackles. In which case, please do.) You keep on writing, Kelly! I promise not to fangirl too hard when I actually meet you some day. But bring the smelling salts. You know...just in case....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About Kelly Martin:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kelly Martin writes paranormal, contemporary, historical, and YA fiction. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When she's not writing, she loves taking pictures of abandoned houses, watching horror gamers on YouTube-- even though she's a huge wimp-- and drinking decaf white chocolate mochas. She's a total fangirl, loves the 80s and 90s, and has a sad addiction to paranormal TV shows. {Basically, she likes creepy stuff.} Her favorite characters are the very flawed 'good guys'--and 'bad guys' who don't know they are evil. She loves giving her readers books with unexpected twists and turns, but (here's a hint) most of her books have the ending spelled out in the first chapter. See if you can figure it out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you ever have a question or comment, feel free to email her at kellymartin215@yahoo.com ♥</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can follow her writing adventure at <a href="http://www.kellymartinbooks.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">www.kellymartinbooks.com</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Links:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/kellymartin215/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">https://instagram.com/kellymartin215/</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Newsletter: <a href="http://kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/p/subscribe-to-our-newsletter.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">http://kellymartinbooks.blogspot.com/p/subscribe-to-our-newsletter.html</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nerd" group on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1451773008377850/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/1451773008377850/</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Martin/e/B009O5CZL4/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Martin/e/B009O5CZL4/</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KellyMartinAuthor"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">https://www.facebook.com/KellyMartinAuthor</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/martieKay"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">https://twitter.com/martieKay</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tumblr: <a href="http://martiekay.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">martiekay.tumblr.com</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/KMBooks"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">https://www.pinterest.com/KMBooks</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6552501.Kelly_Martin"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6552501.Kelly_Martin</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSQGJ5gViQ-0ajHRvWUqaA"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSQGJ5gViQ-0ajHRvWUqaA</span></a></span><br />
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-4556071369104115032016-01-06T19:14:00.000-08:002016-01-06T19:16:45.589-08:00The Media Mom After Dark: The Phantom of the OperaSince my good buddy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KellyMartinAuthor" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Kelly Martin</span></a> mentioned not having seen POTO the other day, I thought it only apropos that I do a review to try and get her hooked. Because what are friends for if not to suck you into their obsessions, amiright?<br />
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I should probably begin by saying I have a rather long and tumultuous history with this particular musical. Having spent 7 years of my life in drama class, I suppose it was inevitable that I would encounter it. Actually, my first impression of it was rather negative. I hadn't seen the play. Truth be told, I still technically haven't. Not on stage in person, anyway. But more on that later. I was sleeping over at a friend's house and she was playing the soundtrack. I suppose if you have no context on who these characters are or why they're singing, it's easy to write it off as uninteresting. I certainly did at the time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or a musical by its soundtrack</td></tr>
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Then, my drama class had the opportunity to see the stage play, and I began to get more interested. I researched what the play was about and even found a fan-made libretto so that I could more clearly understand the lyrics as well as the plot surrounding the music. I borrowed a copy of the soundtrack from the library, and after giving it a thorough listening, I was hooked. Very much so. It wasn't long before I could sing the entire thing from beginning to end. Now I was more than eager to attend the play with my class. Unfortunately, that opportunity fell through at the last minute. We did eventually go see a stage play, <i>Les Miserables</i>. But that's another review for another time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One I'm not looking forward to writing.</td></tr>
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Finally, after years of waiting to see the actual story unfold before my eyes, the movie version came out. My hubby (boyfriend at the time) took me to see it for my birthday. I've been told by a good many people that the film version isn't nearly as good as the stage play, but, having never seen the stage play, I have nothing to compare it to. So, I'm going to review the movie on its own merits.<br />
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The movie starts in 1919 at an auction in the long-abandoned <i>Opera Populaire</i>. Among the items being auctioned off are old props, performance posters, and a very particular music box. The box is won by the aged Vicomte de Chagny, Raoul. The next lot up for bid? A chandelier in pieces. It seems there is a myth surrounding the shattered chandelier involving the mysterious Phantom of the Opera. The chandelier has been repaired and fitted with electrical wiring. As it's unveiled, the chandelier rises, turning back the clock and restoring the opera house to the height of its former glory in 1870.<br />
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During those days, the opera was flourishing. Star diva Carlotta dominated the stage. The current owner of the opera house has sold it to two enterprising but naive men, Mssrs. Firmin and Andre and is retiring to Australia- far, far away from demanding divas and a mysterious man who lurks in the shadows and controls all of the goings-on within the theater's walls. The men aren't too worried about their future, though, having acquired the Vicomte de Chagny as their new patron.<br />
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After disaster disrupts rehearsal, Madame Giry, the dance instructor and choreographer gives the new owners a rundown of the rules. The Phantom is in charge, he gets exclusive use of Seating Box 5, and is paid a salary of 20,000 francs every month. Firmin and Andre declare that they have no intention of taking orders. In the midst of all this, Carlotta storms out in a rage, livid that the Phantom hasn't been dealt with yet and the show is left with no star. Madame Giry announces that Christine Daae, one of the chorus girls, has been taking voice lessons from a great teacher. Christine wows everyone with her spectacular singing, and the show opens as planned.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing a costume that probably weighs more than me. While singing a high E flat. #MadSkillz</td></tr>
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During the opening performance, Raoul recognizes Christine as an old childhood sweetheart- one he still carries a torch for. They reconnect afterward in her dressing room, but when he goes to fetch his carriage, Christine's music teacher, the Phantom himself, shows up to whisk her away to his secret lair under the opera house. It seems he's fallen for her himself, and no pesky old flame is going to stand between him and the woman he loves. Even if it means abducting her. For her part, Christine believes the Phantom is actually an angel, sent to her by her deceased father to look after her and guide her to her destiny.<br />
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There's another hitch in the Phantom and Christine living happily ever after, though. The Phantom has a horribly disfigured face that he covers with a mask. Ultimately, his appearance becomes an obsession and causes him to be extremely bitter. It's the reason he's a recluse. When Christine works up the courage to remove his mask, the Phantom lashes out in a rage and returns her to the opera dormitories above. He isn't finished with Christine, though. Not by a long shot.<br />
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With Christine rocketing her way to stardom, a jealous Carlotta is beginning to accuse the owners of playing favorites and Raoul of sleeping with Christine. Raoul is just trying to figure out where Christine keeps vanishing to and who this mysterious teacher is. Amidst the chaos, the Phantom is making casting demands on an upcoming performance, once again giving Christine a starring role and assigning Carlotta a role with no lines whatsoever. A casting which he calls "ideal".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's right, Carlotta. Shut it.</td></tr>
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The managers refuse his demands, both out of pride and to appease a furious Carlotta. It turns out to be a serious error in their judgment, though, as the Phantom ruins Carlotta's voice mid-performance, and then strangles a stagehand, dropping his body onto the stage in front of a packed audience. In the ensuing panic, Christine and Raoul head for the rooftop where they confess their mutual love. They're not alone, though. The Phantom has overheard everything. Heartbroken that his beloved Christine would choose a snobby rich brat over his musical genius, the Phantom declares war on them both.<br />
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Will Raoul and Christine ever find happiness together? Or will the Phantom win over the heart of his ingenue with the power of music?<br />
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From here on in, there be spoilers!<br />
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I love this film. I know it gets a lot of flack for not being as good as the stage play. And I was disappointed that they cut out a few songs and reprises, as well as rearranged some scenes. But, for what it actually is, it's a great film that carries well and stands on its own.<br />
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I love Emmy Rossum's Christine. She gets put down a lot for not being Sarah Brightman. But having heard the original soundtrack, I actually like Emmy's performance better. Sarah's Christine always sounded way too pitchy and mature to me. Christine is supposed to be young. Emmy was only 17 when she made this film. She's young, pretty, and has a voice clear as a crystal bell.<br />
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The rest of the casting is ok. Minnie Driver's Carlotta probably would have been better if they'd actually let Minnie sing. She's a very talented singer and actually performs the song that plays over the closing credits. But maybe that was the point. We're not supposed to like Carlotta. Perhaps Minnie's singing was <i>too </i>good.<br />
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The only casting I really had a problem with was the Phantom himself. Don't get me wrong. I love Gerard Butler. He's a great actor. He's hunky. But...he's not meant to sing. His performance gave the Phantom's voice a gravelly rock star quality to it that just didn't belong. I give the guy credit. He tried. He really, really did. It was just bad casting. But it's not gonna stop me from liking the film.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's ok, G. You're still smokin' hot.</td></tr>
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I was a wee bit disappointed that they moved the chandelier sequence to the end of the film instead of the middle at the end of Act 1. But I guess they wanted to save all the spectacle for the finale. I can't really blame them. It is the most iconic moment in the play.<br />
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My other main gripe was the added scene. The one in which Madame Giry gives the Phantom a tragic back story. I appreciate the effort, but part of what makes Phantom so alluring is the fact that we know nothing about him. Is he a man? A demon? An angel? Or something else entirely? The play never says. And maybe that's for the best. I was also disappointed to find out that they added this scene into the play version for the Royal Albert Hall production (the closest I've ever come to watching the stage play). Eh, well. Time marches on, I suppose.<br />
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If there's one thing I love about musicals besides the actual music, it's the design. And this film does not disappoint! The costumes are amazing. The set design is amazing. The choreography was... a bit wooden, but still pretty amazing. I'm not gonna lie, I would have liked to have seen them move about a bit more. The actors are lip syncing to the soundtrack, after all. It's not like they're gonna get winded if they dance about a bit more.<br />
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I also really enjoyed the way they tied the film together with the bookend scenes set in 1919. The play version starts out in the future, goes back to the past, but never returns to where it began. The film brings the whole thing full circle, with a nice little touch at the end of the rose left at Christine's grave. I think it was a moment of redemption for the Phantom that he wouldn't have had otherwise.<br />
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If I were grading it, I'd probably give it a B. Not spectacular, at least, not by Broadway's standards, but certainly enjoyable and worth watching more than once. If you've never seen the play, it's a good place to start. If you have seen the play, well....it may not live up to your expectations. But that doesn't mean you can't sing along.<br />
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-72073450821146877242015-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:002015-12-25T05:00:00.781-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 25- "Christmas With a Capital C" by GoFish, featuring Brad StineAnd so I end this list the way I began it- by offending people. Lest we forget the true meaning of the holiday, remember this is CHRISTmas, with a capital "C".<br />
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And here is your Christmas present! A second song to enjoy. Christmas is about many things. But ultimately, it's about the cross of Christ. Were it not for Christmas, there would be no Easter. And were it not for Easter, there would be no salvation for you and me. Remember that as you spend time with your families and recall how the greatest Christmas present of all has already been given: Jesus Christ.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Merry Christmas, everyone!</u></b></span></div>
Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-9038215557241554582015-12-24T05:00:00.000-08:002015-12-24T05:00:00.551-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 24- "One More Sleep Till Christmas" by The MuppetsI play this every Christmas Eve. It always seems to get me in the spirit. Merry Christmas, everyone!<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-35840375992421898202015-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:002015-12-23T05:00:00.201-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 23- "The Chimney Song" by Bob RiversPossibly my favorite Bob Rivers Christmas song. Another ear worm. Try not to be weirded out. :)<br />
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-1421736108404909142015-12-22T05:00:00.001-08:002015-12-22T05:00:00.804-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 22- "Redneck 12 Days of Christmas" by Jeff Foxworthy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Perhaps the biggest redneck Christmas song since Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. :D</div>
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-72404430666036841532015-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:002015-12-21T05:00:00.050-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 21- "Christmas Can-Can" by Straight No ChaserAnother Straight No Chaser hit. Try getting this one out of your head!<br />
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-91510358626499738402015-12-20T05:00:00.000-08:002015-12-20T05:00:01.486-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 20- "Oh Santa" by VeggieTalesAnother VeggieTales silly song classic. I would LOVE some cookies. :)<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-29070621543850243272015-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:002015-12-19T05:00:00.610-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 19- "Avengers Christmas Carols" by The Avengers (and the still amazingly talented James Covenant)James has done it again! Enjoy everyone's favorite Marvel characters singing a few Christmas ditties. (Also, his game Black-White is still in development, but it still looks pretty awesome.)<br />
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<br />Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355783742450818027.post-4506672370833736372015-12-18T05:00:00.000-08:002015-12-18T05:00:00.664-08:0025 Days of Christmas Songs: Day 18- "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" by Gayla PeeveyWell, if you return all the gifts like Allan Sherman suggested yesterday, maybe you can afford a hippo for Christmas? Definitely an old song. And certainly a strange one. But hey. If hippos float your boat...go wild!<br />
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Mike, Summarizer of Animehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18334736028141714644noreply@blogger.com0