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.