Bite-Size Movie Reviews

Nowadays, many of the movies I see don’t make it onto the blog because I don’t love them enough or consider them of enough account. Besides, movie reviews usually take longer to write. But here and there throughout the past few months, I’ve encountered a movie or TV show that needs to be mentioned. So here they are, in the same bite-size manner.

TV Series: Sherlock (season 1) – 9

Everyone always said I’d enjoy it – everyone was right. I did indeed quite love Benedict Cumberbatch as a modern and witty Sherlock, and Martin Freeman as his delightful side-kick! The mysteries were engaging, there were funny quirks and lines in each episode, and I was entirely obsessed – the three episodes flew by way too fast. I can’t wait to watch the other seasons of this wonderful show. The only drawback I would mention is that each episode contained some reference to homosexuality, which I really didn’t appreciate. Other than that, it was most delightful!

Movie: Avatar – 7

The only reason I decided to review this one was because of the graphics. As far as the story goes, it wasn’t amazing. I didn’t fall in love with the giant blue creatures, nor did I form a huge connection with any of them. I’m glad I watched it, if primarily for the reason that now I can say I did. The graphics were absolutely amazing and that’s what scored this movie a 7 from me.

Movie: Jack Reacher – 8.5

I think I originally stumbled across this movie because it starred Rosamund Pike (who was Jane in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice). Somewhat to my surprise, I greatly enjoyed it! The action sequences were fast, the mystery compelling, and Rosamund (as Helen) was delightful to watch. Such a different role from Jane, but wonderful none-the-less. Finally seeing the famed Tom Cruise was also delightful. Good movie!

Movie: Captain America: the Winter Soldier – 9.5

Yay! Captain America is back on the big screen! I really enjoyed this movie. Pulled me in from the start and I was glued to the screen. Captain America is a delight to watch once again…ah, I do love that guy. Scarlett Johansson was a great heroine – full of impressive crazy stunts and the like. Captain America is such a wonderful soldier and superhero. Love. I can’t wait to watch this one again on DVD!

TV Show: Castle (season 1) – 8.5

After getting hooked on this show in season 5, I knew I wanted to go back and see the original meeting of Beckett and Castle. So as soon as the library got season 1 on reserve for me, I settled in to watch – and was not disappointed. Watching the beginning of Kate & Richard’s relationship after seeing it in maturity in the later seasons was delightful! This is one series I’m eager to watch through. Castle is incorrigible, Beckett is adorable (and a great cop), and the whole show is a favorite of mine.

Movie: The Host – 7.5

I was disappointed. After reading and enjoying the book, I hoped the movie would be something I would enjoy just as much and was thrilled to discover it checked-in at my local library. But sadly, I didn’t. My main problem with it was character development – I know, converting an 800 page book packed with detail in a two hour movie is a gigantic challenge. But after how I fell in love with the book characters, I felt like they were all woefully misrepresented in the movie. I’m not sorry I watched it, but I don’t think I would watch it again.

Movie: White House Down – 9

This movie has been on my to-see list for over a year, and finally getting to see it – well, it did not disappoint! Primarily because really – who could protest watching Channing Tatum for two hours? But better than that, the plot was riveting and full of surprise twists. The chases and suspense were fascinating and I couldn’t stop watching. A great movie!

TV Show: The Bible (season 1) – 8

This was so interesting. What to say? All in all, it wasn’t entirely Biblically accurate, and that bugged me. I think where the Bible says one thing, that’s how it should be portrayed, whether in movie or book. But for people who are grounded in the Bible and know the stories well, I would recommend this as an interesting visualization of the places and people. It also gives interesting perspective on some of the stories.

Movie: Much Ado About Nothing – 8.5

I went into this one not sure what I was going to think. Here’s the gist of it: (1) It’s set in present day; (2) It’s filmed in black and white; and (3) They use all their lines directly from Shakespeare (though I believe a few of them may have been slightly changed). To my surprise, I quite enjoyed it and was amazed by the dexterity with which the actors pulled the clunky lines into present day smoothness. I loved seeing Castle (from the show of the same name) and Agent Coulson (from Agents of SHIELD) in this too! So cool. While some parts were a little confusing and it took me a little bit to get my bearings, overall I enjoyed it! If you’ve enjoyed this story by Shakespeare or if you’re a sucker for interesting films – this is a must-see.

Movie: Alex Cross – 7

Disappointed. I had hoped for an action movie that I would fully enjoy, as this has recently become a favorite genre of mine. While this one wasn’t bad, I didn’t enjoy it fully. It was a little more disgusting than some films, and that definitely docked my rating. There were some great fight scenes and some brilliance, both from the criminal and the others. But all in all, not one I’ll watch again.

Movie: Oz the Great and Powerful – 7.5

Admittedly, I did like this one more than Alex Cross and I wouldn’t mind allowing my siblings to see it. However, it wasn’t my new favorite. That being said, it was creative and had an interesting story and colorful characters. I neither loved nor hated it.

Movie: Maleficent – 8.5

As I headed into the theater to see this one, I didn’t know what to expect. But I enjoyed it! It was easy to empathize with Maleficent herself. The animation was stunning, where it was used. The whole story was almost predictable (due to being a classic fairy tale) – but then not quite. It was always take some turn or other that was liable to surprise. The dragon was a nice touch, and most impressive. All in all? A good movie that I’ll watch again on DVD.

Bite-Size Book Reviews

As the spring ended and I am preparing to head to Montana for the summer, I discovered that, while I had time to read several books, full size reviews weren’t coming to me. So I decided to steal an idea I’ve seen used on other blogs and write one post with bite-size reviews instead – and here it is. Enjoy!

In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer – 9

I had anticipated reading this one ever since loving My Heart Remembers several years ago. And now that I finally obtained the book and had the time to sit down and dive in, I was naturally delighted. While it didn’t reach my “favorite books” list, it was a delightful story from Kim and one that will stay on my shelves. Colorful characters and a unique setting (college in the late 1800s or early 1900s) made it a great book.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer – 8.5 high

This book got the “high” added onto the rating for one simple reason – it’s 829 pages long and I was hooked for every single one of them. Now, first of all – I can tell you’re looking at me with horror because of the fact that I read a book by Stephenie Meyer. I was reluctant to pick it up, and prepared to put it down – but I couldn’t. It’s well-written, an engaging story, main characters who I really connected to, and great creativity. I recommend it, despite the first person tone. (Take heart, I am still violently opposed to Twilight, books AND movies.)

Petra: City in Stone by T. L. Higley – 8.5

I am rapidly reading every book by Higley that I can put my hands on! She has become one of my favorite authors. Her Biblical and historical fiction is excellent. This last semester in college, I took a New Testament Archaeology class, which included a brief overview of Petra. So reading about it here jolted details in my mind, so to speak – Higley was historically and geographically accurate through-out in a most impressive manner. I really appreciated that. A delightful read!

Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer – 9

Yet another delightful book from Kim! This isn’t your stereotypical Christian romance in one major way – the characters aren’t 20. A few years adds good maturity to both Lydia and Micah. Besides that, Lydia has a son who unwittingly bring them together. A surprising but heart-warming redemption story rounds this book out. The characters (and I’m thinking especially of Lydia’s father and Micah) were so vivid to me – my mental images of them are still clear, weeks after finishing this read. Again, I can do nothing short of highly recommending this book!

The Irish Healer by Nancy Herriman – 8

 A sweet book and worth a one time read, but I’m not sure that it made my (over-flowing) keeper shelf. While I liked the people of the story and the setting, it didn’t grab as much as some others that I read recently. However, I still think it was a good book, if not worth buying.

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson – 8.5

I’m not sure either (a) why I picked this book up at the library or (b) why I haven’t read anything by Dee before. I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be reading the O’Malley series as soon as I have time! Kate and Paul drew me into their world from the first page, and I read this one almost obsessively. The story is so complex (yet clearly explained) that I am amazed by Dee’s skill here. I really loved the first 2/3 or 3/4 of the book. After that, it wasn’t as much of a favorite of mine as it had been previously. I’m not sure why – just didn’t grab me as much. That’s what pulled the rating to an 8.5 instead of a 9. But all in all? I greatly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

Movie: Great Gatsby

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Life…?

Primary actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan

Length: Almost 2 ½ hours

Based on: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Time period: 1920s

Quote: “Old sport” – catchy!

Rating: PG-13

Year it came out: 2013

My overall opinion: Well! I went back and forth about whether or not to review this one – and decided I would, as I think my readers will find it interesting. But reviewing it means I have to at least attempt to organize my thoughts on it, and that is a challenge.

So why did I go for an 8? Because I enjoyed it…I think. At any rate, I found it fascinating and impossible not to finish watching. But I also don’t whole-heartedly recommend it, nor do I agree with the basic concept/morals that were conveyed in it.

Be advised: I’m not trying to avoid spoilers, not really, so look out – there probably are some.

What did I like? It was impossible not to like, or at least feel empathy for, Jay Gatsby himself. I don’t approve of what he did or how he lived. Sure, he might have loved Daisy, but pursuing a married woman like he did is wrong. But at the same time, I felt like DiCaprio did a good job with the role and you couldn’t help but empathize with him a little.

And then the fashion of the time! I once wrote a paper about fashion in the 1920s, and it was really interesting to research. That whole time-period is just fascinating to me, so I really enjoyed that aspect of this movie – seeing their fashion, vehicles, houses, and way of life was amazing. I was also a little horrified by how utterly pointless their lives were…nothing but endless parties. It was disturbing.

And then what I didn’t like. I wasn’t overly fond of Daisy at all. Actually, I loved her looks (wow, that sounds awkward…). Like, her bobbed blond hair and brown eyes were adorable. But I didn’t like her as a person. Besides which, her behavior as a married woman was wrong. Just plain wrong. Be advised, there are a few somewhat objectionable scenes – keep that in mind before you watch it.

So all in all, what did I think? I’m not quite sure. Will I watch it again? I don’t know. I think the only movie I’ve been more confused about was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I think I’m glad I watched this, or at least, I don’t entirely regret it. Good movie? Not sure. Bad movie? Not all. But yeah – there’s my thoughts in brief.

The Governess of Highland Hall

Author: Carrie Turansky

Genre: Romance

Series: Edwardian Brides

Number in series: 1^st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 324

Time period: 1800s

Publisher and price: Multnomah, $14.99

My overall opinion: A good read. It really did remind me of Downton Abbey, as it focuses (obviously) on a governess. Some of the scenes with the maids and other servants were very much like in Downton Abbey. The governess side of things had some definite similarities to Jane Eyre as well. All in all, good for a one time read, but not a book I’d buy.

Movie: Quantum of Solace

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Action

Series or set: James Bond 007

Number in series: You can watch James Bond in any order you like!

Primary actors: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench

Length: About two hours

Time period: Present

Rating: PG-13

Year it came out: 2008

My overall opinion: Yet another James Bond movie in which Daniel Craig steals my heart! Okay, he’s actually way too old for me. But if I was…25 years older, I would be head over heels in love. He is seriously a great hero dude in these movies. My favorite thing about this movie? It included epic chases by plane, by boat, AND by car. Like I said, I once again really loved Daniel Craig’s performance as James Bond, and if you’re a fan of Craig, Bond, action movies, chase scenes, or action - this movie is a must-see!

A Whisper of Peace

Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer

Genre: Life

Series: Heart of the Prairie

Number in series: 7^th

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 349

Time period: 1800s

Publisher and price: Bethany House, $14.99

My overall opinion: Sadly, this book didn’t grab me as much as some of Kim’s have. She’s had some books (like Courting Miss Amsel) that I’ve absolutely loved. This wasn’t one of them, but I don’t regret reading it. For one thing, I absolutely loved the Alaskan setting! Right in the shadow of Denali (aka Mt. McKinley). It was awesome – cause I’ve been there! All in all, this was a good book, just didn’t grab me as much. Definitely worth my one-time read though.

Movie: A Beautiful Mind

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8…I think…see my review below.

Genre: Life

Primary actors: Russell Crowe (the reason I watched it) and who else matters?!

Length: Just over two hours

Based on: I think there’s a book? At any rate, the main character was a real guy. Way back when.

Time period: 1950s, I believe

Rating: PG-13

Year it came out: 2001

My overall opinion: I didn’t really like this one and was gonna go for a lower rating, but then I remembered – I didn’t dislike it. And despite these slight misgivings, it kept me watching for the whole movie. Time flew. The plot is intricate, but not hard to understand. You will empathize with this guy! It’s an amazing story. I can’t say much, because you’ll be more interested if you don’t know what’s going on (same as me), but this movie – watch it. It’s worth a view. Seeing Russell Crowe here was a delight! Recommended for fans of his. Anyone looking for a unique drama – try this!

Bethany House Blog Tour: A Match Made in Texas

Authors: Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, Carol Cox

Genre: Romance

Series: A Novella Collection

My rating on a 1-10 scale: I’m going to rate each novella individually

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 379

Time period: 1800s

Publisher and price: Bethany House, $14.99

My overall opinion: This, as you have probably deduced by now, is a novella collection. Four short stories by four wonderful authors! I decided the simplest way to review this was to do each novella individually, so here we go.

A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer – 9: The first words that came to mind as I considered how to best describe this book were sweet, funny, creative, and romantic! I loved seeing a character from some of Karen’s previous books. This book was so enjoyable! A delight.

An Unforeseen Match by Regina Jennings – 8: Even the title in this one is a play on words, since the heroine is partially blind! The characters were engaging and the story was unique and enjoyable. Especially the hero was admirable.

No Match for Love by Carol Cox – 8.5: There was some great mystery in this, masterfully presented for such a short story! It was a refreshing addition to the romance. The characters were especially lovable here.

Meeting Her Match by Mary Connealy – 9: I really loved the humor in this one! Definitely a unique story and unique characters. It made me laugh, and I always love that! Quite a superb book. So good!

All in all? This is a unique and delightful collection of short romances by wonderful authors. If you’re already a fan of one (or more) of these authors, I think you’ll definitely enjoy this collection!

**Bethany House sent me a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. I wasn’t required to review it positively, nor was I recompensed for my review. All opinions are my own. **

Litfuse Blog Tour: Where Courage Calls

Author: Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

Genre: Life

Series: Canadian West

Number in series: 7^th

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 329

Time period: 1800s

Publisher and price: Bethany House, $14.99

My overall opinion: Janette Oke was one of my favorite authors many years ago when I first started reading Christian romance, and she has remained an author whose books I enjoy. So when the opportunity to review this one came up, I jumped at it! While Goodreads categorizes this book as 7^th in the Canadian West series (and I copied that), it could be read as a stand-alone and it could serve as a lovely beginning to a new series. That being said, I enjoyed seeing (or at least hearing about) characters from some of Janette’s earlier series. The end leaves it open for a sequel, most certainly! The story in this particular book is almost predictable, but a few surprises make sure that it’s not quite. A good read! Contrary to what you may think, it’s not primarily a romance, though it has some romance within. It’s easy to enjoy. Heartwarming!

Go here to learn more about Janette Oke: http://litfusegroup.com/author/joke

**Litfuse sent me a free copy of this book for review. I wasn’t required to post positively or paid in any way for this review. All opinions are my own. **

Bethany House Blog Tour: The Spiritual World of the Hobbit

Author: James Stuart Bell

Genre: Christianity, faith, Hobbit (yes, it’s a genre!)

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Non-fiction (about a fictional book…but also about God and the Bible, so…)

Number of pages: 234

Publisher and price: Bethany House, $13.99

My overall opinion: This was definitely a good book! First thing to note? It’s not a devotional. I had to re-orient my mindset a few times, as I went into this one thinking “devotional” and that’s not really at all what it is. I was very impressed by the amount of research that Bell put into Hobbit and Lord of the Rings – he clearly knew what he was talking about. He draws valid points, without trying to dig too deep or pull in things that aren’t there, and he wasn’t too preachy. I especially liked the character profiles of Gandalf and Elrond – informative and interesting. Good background info there, I thought. All in all? This was an enjoyable book that I learned from and found interesting. Read it in conjunction with The Hobbit!

**Bethany House sent me a copy of this book in return for my honest review. I wasn’t obligated to review it positively, nor was I recompensed in any other way for this review.**

Movie: The Terminal

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Comedy, life

Primary actors: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Length: Two hours

Time period: Present

Rating: PG-13 (though IMHO, it deserves more of a PG rating)

Year it came out: 2004

My overall opinion: It’s a heart-warming movie, that’s meant to be a comedy but is a little too heart-touching to be that! It really ambles along quite peacefully, sprinkled well with humor and moments to make your heart smile. There is a little swearing, hence the rating, but for the most part, I’d recommend this one if you need a relaxing, easy-to-watch film.

Movie: The Lucky One

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Chick flick, life, family, romance

Primary actors: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling

Length: Two hours

Based on: the book by Nicholas Sparks, I think

Time period: Present

Rating: PG-13

Year it came out: 2012

My overall opinion: Not bad! Hmmm. I guess what struck me most was the way Zac walked – it was kinda weird. But that’s probably just me. Overall? I liked it, other than a few scenes. The ending was a little melo-dramatic, I thought, but it was a sweet story and moved along at a good pace, while still being laid-back and peaceful. A good movie for filling an extra evening.

Movie: Becoming Jane

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Period drama, biography, life

Primary actors: Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, Anna Maxwell Martin, Maggie Smith

Length: About two hours

Based on: Jane Austen’s life

Time period: 1800s

Rating: PG

Year it came out: 2011

My overall opinion: I enjoyed this movie rather more than I expected to! Anne Hathaway wasn’t bad as Jane, though younger and prettier than the real Jane, I think. And James McAvoy as the main guy! Never did decide exactly what I thought of that. It was certainly a very interesting casting choice. I just know him as Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe so. The movie seemed well-filmed and moved along at a good pace – kept me watching. Not riveting, but. Unfortunately, due to a problem with my ear-buds and my DVD player, I had trouble hearing – the music way overpowered the dialogue. I didn’t realize this problem was fixable until quite a bit later. This hampered my enjoyment. Thus the very average rating. There was, as is warned about, brief nudity – not sensual, just a bit awkward. All in all? I’ll watch it again so I can hear the dialogue. Didn’t love, didn’t hate.

Movie: X-Men: First Class

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Superhero, adventure, fantasy

Series or set: X-Men

Number in series:  Well, this one goes way back to the beginning…I know that…

Primary actors: James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, January Jones

Length: A little over two hours

Based on: the Marvel comics.

Time period: 1960s…ish…I think…

Rating: PG-13

Year it came out: 2011

My overall opinion: Well, here’s the problem of the day – I watched this on TV. Which for me? Is weird because I never watch movies on TV. Because I was watching with a lot of people, I was also slightly distracted. So. I know I watched this movie and enjoyed it. However, I couldn’t give you much of a storyline…just didn’t pick up on that. However. Having given that disclaimer, I’ll admit that I thought it good! Note that it is PG-13...check imdb.com for reasons why. Again, the visual effects were stunning, the action was constant and riveting, and it was an enjoyable film. And also. I'm super excited for X-Men: Days of Future Past. :D May 2014!

Movie: Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, & Blonde

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Chick flick

Series or set: Sequel to Legally Blonde

Primary actors: Reese Witherspoon, Sally Field

Length: Two hours

Time period: Present

Year it came out: 2003

My overall opinion: Way too much pink. That’s what I think. An interesting story, though I enjoyed the first more. But this one…I was feeling a little over-pink by the end of it all. Because EVERYTHING was pink. I’m not that fond of pink to begin with…and definitely not by the end. BUT. That being said. Not a bad sort of movie. I watched the whole thing and enjoyed it for the most part.

Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Genre: Chick-flick, family (yeah…this movie has a lot of family…just sayin’), comedy

Primary actors: A lot of Greek people…

Length: Two hours

Time period: Present. Or maybe the 80s? Or 90s? Hereabouts.

Year it came out: 2002

My overall opinion: I had very high hopes for this movie considering how popular it is, but was a little disappointed. The comedy wasn’t bad, indeed, the movie overall wasn’t bad. But I didn’t LOVE it or find it super outstanding. It was good. It wasn’t awesome. And I don’t desperately want to watch it again. However, I’m glad I did see it once – and while I’d say that you don’t really need to see it, you probably won’t hate it. Unless you hate chick-flicks. Then, never mind.

Movie: She’s the Man

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8 high

Genre: Chick flick 

Primary actors: Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey

Length: Two hours

Based on: Very loosely on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night – if you read that, then watch this, there are some similarities in names and such.

Time period: Present

Year it came out: 2006

My overall opinion: So interesting and brilliant! There are a few times when inappropriate things are mentioned, but for the most part, I really enjoyed this fascinating and unique movie. Like I said, it’s loosely based on Twelfth Night. I watched 2/3 of this, read Twelfth Night for my English Lit class, then finally had time to finish this – and was happily surprised by the clear parallels. For a chick flick? Not bad at all. Good comedy, good story.