Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

10/10

I loved the novel Push and wanted to see Precious. All the hype was justified. I loved the movie. It took the spirit of the novel and visualized that spirit of hurt and hope. The actors were fantastic at portraying characters with such deep troubles and sometimes disturbing actions. The acting was the best I have seen in awhile. Monique was able to play such a disturbed woman so well that you almost felt sorry for her. Please see this movie. It is sad and depressing, but it truly opens your eyes to the life of some people.

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles on Broadway

10/10

Recently, I went to the Neil Simon Theatre to see Rain on Broadway. I like the Beatles, and the person who accompanied me is obsessed with the Beatles. We both enjoyed the show; it was a great performance for
someone who enjoys the Beatles and enough like the real thing to impress the obsessed fan. The show blends the times with the music. It uses modern technology to project the show all over the theater, and
you feel as if you are being bathed in psychedelic colors and symbols at some points. I really enjoyed the trivia and sixty commercials that were shown during breaks and intermission. They kept the audience
entertained and were funny. The bandmates did a great job portraying the Beatles. I liked "Paul" the best. He sounded almost identical to the real Paul and mimicked his mannerisms throughout the performance. It
was highly entertained, and if you can see them on Broadway or on tour, I highly recommend it.

Angels and Demons

7/10

Surprisingly, Angels and Demons was an interesting and thought-provoking movie. I was expected an over-produced flop, but the script to the movie was well-done. The actors also did a good job. I was sucked in to the twist and turns of finding the cardinals. The twist in the ending was hinted at in hind-sight, but I did not foresee it. (I have not read the novel as of yet.) Overall, it was an enjoyable movie, and I would suggest everyone at least see it once.

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

9/10

This novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series is as interesting and exciting as the others. I really enjoyed the storyline of Eric losing his memory, and Sookie's relationship with this different Eric. It was interesting that at some points, she missed the cocky Eric. The fact that Sookie actually shoots a living person, though in self-defense, will be a great character development in the next few books. Another character development plot is Jason possibly being supernatural. We will see how Jason and Sookie react to that. Overall, this book lived up to the expectation and laid the groundwork for some fascinating character development.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally

9/10

This book is a very touching and compelling story. It is always sad to be reminded of the horrors of the Holocaust, but it is endearing at the same time to be reminded that there were brave individuals who tried to help. I liked that the author did not make Schindler this glamorous hero but portrayed his faults and short-comings. Schindler is still a hero in his own right and it is interesting to read his story.

Star Trek

8/10

As someone who watched Star Trek with her father as a kid, I was pleasantly surprised with the movie. I was half anticipating a crash and burn, but the movie was fresh but still familiar enough to keep you comfortable. It was nice having the multiple references to the original series. The actors did a great job with the characters, especially Spock. Kirk came off overly arrogant at times though. Overall, it was a very good movie that made this casual fan proud.

Babies

8/10

Babies was an extremely cute movie. It was cute watching all the babies as they stated talking, walking, and gaining personalities. It was also interesting to see how babies are raised differently in different places in the world, but the editors did a great job tying in that they are all babies doing the same things. It can be boring at times, and you would not like it if you do not like children. Overall, see it if you like babies and want to see them at their cutest.

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

9/10

I am really enjoying the Sookie Stackhouse novels, and Club Dead added to that enjoyment. It was very easy to read, and I had a hard time putting it down. The development of the characters is interesting, especially Sookie's personal conflicts and revelations. The reader really starts to see Bill in such a negative light; he is no longer the hero of Sookie's (or the reader's) dreams. I really enjoy Eric's snarkiness and like how Pam is portrayed. I also love the inclusion of Bubba, which adds so much humor to different scenes. This novel is a wonderful addition to the series, and I strongly suggest reading it.

P.S. I liked how the novel differed from Tru Blood in the Eric/Russell plot. I preferred the lightness of the novel's plot then the sad,obsessive plot in the third season. The absence of Bill purposely seeking Sookie in the novel was good also, because just betraying Sookie was enough in the novel to make Bill "evil" in the reader's eyes.

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne

8/10

Watching the movie before reading the book can be tricky. It can make you either hate the movie because you love what was written in the book; hate the book because the movie added more depth, or the movie and the book could go hand-in-hand adding the experience of the book. There could also be a mixture of two or all three. That is what happened to me with reading the Boy in the Striped Pajamas after watching the movie. I appreciated how the movie added to the character of Bruno; it truly made the 2 dimensions of the book become fully developed into 3D. Also, the movie went hand-in-hand with the story-telling of the book. The events of the book are very well-written and remembering how they were portrayed in the movie added more of an emotional response for me. Overall, the book is a great and sad tale in itself, but I suggest watching the movie also.

3:10 to Yuma

7/10

The movie was extremely well-casted, but unfortunately it dragged at multiple parts. The acting was supreme, but there was not much to work with. I also did not like the ending. The idea that Russell Crowe's character is deep down a good guy is painted throughout the movie, but it just seems strange that a career criminal would get on the train with practically no one to stop him. I know he was just going to escape anyhow, but it was weird. Basically 3:10 to Yuma is a good movie to watch with friends, so you have someone to talk to when the movie drags.

One Hour Photo

6/10

This dark Robin Williams film has all the makings of a good Robin Williams character but falls short. There does not seem to be any depth to the character; he seems to be floating through the movie. This could be an analogy to his life and how he is just living, but it does not make for a good film. You do not even have an idea of the motive until the end of the movie. I just expected more.

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

9/10

This novel was very similar to the second season of TruBlood. The book could have been a bit of an easier read like the first novel in the Sookie Stackhouse series, but it was very enjoyable. The maenad storyline seemed a bit like a sidenote and could have been developed more. Also, it did seem very weird that Sam was having "relations" with the maenad and seemed unaffected by her murdering all those people. In all, I am really enjoying the novels in the Sookie Stackhouse series and they are a fun, quick read.

SNL: The Best of Christopher Walken

8/10

I love Christopher Walken, and this dvd highlights alot of his most memorable SNL skits. I was laughing the whole time. He is such an interesting actor, and all his quirks are played up in these skits. Who does not love the Continental?

P.S. The Walken family reunion was too recent for this collection and is not included, which is disappointing. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

8/10

I thought that separating the last Harry Potter novel into two movies was just a money-making scheme. A large section of the book was just the three on the run, so I did not see how that could not be abridged. After seeing the movie, it all made sense. The whole book, especially the ending battle, would have been too much. The length and ending point of this movie worked out great. It is also interesting to see how the actors have developed over the years. The acting has gotten so much better! This movie also included a lot more of the humor of the books. It is one of  my favorite Harry Potter movies and suggest that people go see it.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

10/10

I love Tru Blood, and reading Dead Until Dark was as if I was reading the first season. I could not put it down. It was fast-paced and interesting. The characters are unusual yet common at the same time. It was well-written and an easy read. I highly recommend this book.

P.S. The writers of Tru Blood did a great job at translating this novel into a show. The characters and events are very similar which made reading novel like watching the show.

The Coming Plague by Laurie Garret

7/10

This "sequel" to the Hot Zone is more like a set of short complex stories compared to the interesting, easy-read of Hot Zone. Even though I am a scientist who is interested in public health, at times I found that the book dragged. I wish it was more compressed and at times included more story of what and how the "disease cowboys" were doing. It is a good read, but only to those who are interested in the material. What Laurie Garrett is trying to do is make this important material read by the masses, and the masses wouldn't read a 622 page book that at times reads like a high school biology book. If the story was more story and compressed, she could have accomplished that.

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

9/10

I enjoyed Mrs. Dalloway. Following someone through one day of their life is an interesting concept. The flashbacks were very plot-developing and intriguing. It is intriguing to show that as individuals, we think about the past multiple times a day, and the past shapes us. The other characters in the novel were very interesting and demonstrates how our lives intercept with so many others through the course of a day. Some characters were more interesting than others. I found Elizabeth to be a bit one-dimensional and felt that Clarissa was still a bit of a mystery after the novel. I wish there were more details and past stories, but overall, it is a well-written novel.

Clue

8/10

Clue is a bit of a cult classic. It is a funny movie though the humor is a bit predictable and slapstick at times. It is a fun watch, and who does not love Tim Curry?

Year One

2/10

The movie was not funny! There were many corny attempts at being funny, but they fell flat. I love Jack Black, but he did not save this movie. The writing was horrible. Basically, do not waste the time to watch Year One. There is not a redeeming quality to this movie.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

8/10

I recently read "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and loved the book.
Thus, I needed to see the movie. The movie, by itself, is very good.
Jack Nicholson does an amazing job and so does Louise Fletcher. The
one part where McMurphy should leave the ward after the party, but
sits down in the chair instead, was extremely well acted. It was as if
you could see McMurphy's inevitable fate, this realization, and his
"giving in" all through his facial expressions. I wish it was a bit
more like the novel though. It lost a lot of the detailing and emotion
invested into the minor characters. Alot of the chief's story and
character were lost when he was not narratoring the story. Also, Nurse
Ratched was much more demonized in the book. I missed the freakish
imagery of Chief Broom's schizonphedia. Overall, the movie was great
but I missed the imagery and details that I loved from the novel.

The Lesson of the Master by Henry James

7/10

I liked this short story much better than "The Turn of the Screw". The story had an interesting plot, and the characters were well-developed for a short story. The love triangle between St. George, Paul and Miss Fancourt was intriguing given the choice Miss Fancourt had: a well-established artist who was way past his prime artistically and an intelligent, poor up-and-comer. The ending is thought provoking. By taking St. George's advice, Paul loses Miss Fancourt to his "master" but gains a great novel. I think it is funny and ironic that Paul waits for St. George to produce a great, new novel. He waits for the "master" to triumph by getting the girl and the great novel. Overall, I would recommend reading this short story, though it was hard to read at times.  

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

4/10

I did not like "The Turn of the Screw". I was expecting a horror story, but this story had no horror to it. There were ghosts, but they did not seem that scary. I did not fear for the children or their governess. It seemed more like the governess was losing her mind then the ghosts were real. I also would have liked more backstory into the ghosts, and why they wanted the children. Overall, the book was not that scary for a horror story.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

6.5/10

I enjoyed Anna Karenina. It was set in a period of Russian history I did not know much about. It was nice to learn more about that time period. The story idea was so promising, but I felt something was missing. What was missing was Anna. Anna's character is so superficial in the novel. There is no inner-explanation at why she gave in to Vronsky and why she left her son. We know she was unhappy, but there is little inner-reflection for the title character. Even the turning points in their affair are only briefly mentioned. It is more a story about Levin then about Anna. Through Levin's character is interesting, Anna's character would have been more so. It was a good novel but would have been much better with a better three-dimensional character than an unhappy housewife.

Push by Sapphire

9/10

I have not seen the movie Precious yet in part because I wanted to read the novel first. It is a powerful and disturbing book. At times, I wanted to cry, scream, or both. I kept asking myself why was something not done when I read about the abuse. Why did the police or a social worker not take her away? Then I thought about all the people that the "system" does not save, and how they must be feeling all the same emotions of emptiness that Precious was feeling. It is wonderful that she found a place to feel safe and someone who cared about her enough to help her develop her confidence and self-worth. It is a depressing story since Precious had so much to deal with to get where she is and has a lot more to go through. My only complaint is that the novel is hard to understand at times. I know the author was writing at the grade level Precious could write at, but it made me have to re-read sections to understand them. Overall, Push is a moving novel that makes you feel and hope for the main character.

Greek

10/10

I just recently caught up with Greek up to Chapter 4. (Chapter 5 is not available on DVD yet.) I love Greek. It is an amazing show and a pretty accurate portrayal of college life. The show does a great job at showing the emotional and romantic struggles that college students face while living on campus. The characters are very well-written and well-portrayed. I love Cappie and his goofy yet philosophical moments. Everyone also knows a Frannie who had to finally let go of college, which is hard. Also as a former RA, I loved the first floor meeting with Max. The moment when Max pulls out the RA binder had me unable to stop laughing. Every RA had a similar binder filled with what to do in every crazy situation. I love the show Greek and can't wait for Chapter 5 to be available on DVD to catch-up for Chapter 6.

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

8/10

I really enjoyed Confessions of a Shopaholic. My favorite part was the main character, Rebecca, and her neurosis. Who has never thought, "hey if I won the lottery, I could quit my horrible job", as they past a
drug store. Then you buy it and hate yourself later. The author takes that "need" craziness we all have on some level and wrapped it into a character in a novel. It was also nice that though Rebecca saw the
error or her ways at the end of the novel, she did not completely change. Things are a work in progress. My only complaint is that the book seemed to drag in the beginning a bit. In general, it was a great
story featuring a relatable but extreme character.

Inglorius Basterds

4/10

I did not like this movie. It was hard to follow with all the new characters that were introduced. It was also extremely violent, though Quentin Tarantino is known to be violent. It was not the good, story-developing violence. Brad Pitt's character was funny, but therewas not enough of him. The Shosana character was also interesting but not very well-developed. Basically, I would not watch it again and wish I did not watch it in the first place.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

9/10

This book was an extremely interesting read, a compelling story and an entrance to an interesting mind. I loved that the story was through the eyes of a schizophrenic, and the characters are so interesting and added depth in surprising ways. The events are so comical yet deep, though they are very impractical. The ending was very emotional and you find yourself cheering as McMurphy attacks the nurse; the nurse who represents the cold people who we all interact. The people who need to hurt you to feel good about themselves. Then you stop, think and realize that he is performing something horrible, so you can no longer cheer. The book was a stellar read which makes you contemplate the society in which this novel reflects.