tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37393258543836016922024-02-07T05:16:40.933-05:00BLAECKFISKDevour.Unravel.Review.Repeat.Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-42175672612788524772016-05-13T08:59:00.005-04:002016-05-13T08:59:34.380-04:00B25: A Man Lies Dreaming By Lavie Tidhar<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Audacious. Gutty. Provocative and contentious. Four little words that sum up this incredible book about an alternate history of the life of Adolf Hitler. After "The Fall", Wolf is reduced to a private detective who now swims in much murkier, shallow waters than he is accustomed to. The setting is in London where the Communists have taken over, not Hitler's Nazis. Antisemitism still runs rampant around the city and boils hot under Wolf's skin. With that being said, he has no other choice but to take up a missing girl case from a Jewish woman looking for her lost sister. While scouring the bowels of the city, Wolf endures countless brushes of agony, expertly penned by Mr. Tidhar. He is beaten. And defiled. And reduced to the lowest scrap of a man you could imagine. No doubt, hypothetical punishment for the wretched stain on humanity he became in real life. Wolf reaches such a low point that you really can't help <i>almost </i>for feeling sorry for him. <i>Almost.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While many parts of this book with make you as a reader shudder, it is one of the best books I have read this year. Especially considering how it reminded me of an all time classic <i>The</i> <i>Metamorphosis, </i>by Franz Kafka. Along with the detective tale centered around Wolf, there are intermittent flashes to concentration camps, directly reminding us that of the despair that has wrapped its claws around the 1930's and 40's. It is not a light read, but one that is amazingly conceived and crafted and worth not only reading, but owning. </span>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-21778974140959469242015-12-21T09:11:00.002-05:002015-12-21T17:40:06.208-05:00B24: Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">"I treaded the carpet backwards from my parent's door, alone and awake, and I caught sight of the painting of the cowboys at sunsets, smoke rising from their campfire in the foothills, black and even as it sought the coming darkness."</span></b></div>
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This is a powerful little story from first time author John Darnielle. I find it really difficult to find a story that keeps my attention when told in the first person, but I had no trouble charging ahead and sometimes backwards and to the side with this book. It is expertly written and anyone who is a fan of unique prose and sharp technique will enjoy this book.<br>
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The story is centered around the life of Sean Phillips and takes us across several dimensions of his life. Most of what is discussed is post "accident" where something horrific has happened to Sean's face. We find out what happened in the middle of the book, which really helps shift into focus the surrounding events of Sean's life. The why is what really drives this book, so much so that we are left wondering up until the last page. More so than the "accident", the central theme in this book is the power of the human mind. After his life shattering event, Sean creates a mail-in-of-sorts role playing board game, helping him scrape out some sort of income. He often retreats to the corners of his mind when out in public, or being gawked at in therapy, planning out the next series of moves. The disposition he carries as a result becomes impressive as he copes with the reality of his life's trajectory. Sean literary creates a different world inside his head and is able to function in real life because of it.<br>
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I really loved this book and suggest picking it up. Obviously a work of fiction, Sean's story is one that will stick with me for awhile. Not too mention one amazing book cover. Read this one people.Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-41559725197792008582015-12-04T09:52:00.001-05:002015-12-04T09:52:27.355-05:00B23: California by Edan Lepucki<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>"All at once, sudden as a hiccup, they reached the end of labyrinth."</b></span></div>
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It feels good to be back. Not that there hasn't been a ridiculous amount of writing taking place, more on that later, but I just wrapped up an interesting book for anyone searching for something this side of dystopian. I have mixed feelings on this one but think it is definitely worth a read.<br />
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The story takes place in the not-so-distant-but-sort-of faraway-future and natural disasters have wrecked havoc on the United States. So much to the point that entire cities and social structures and civilized behavior has been forced into the wilderness. We soon meet Frida and Cal, a couple who is doing their best to maintain any shred of decent living in a forest outside of Los Angeles. They have not been too adventurous to this point, but between ennui and curiosity they start asking some interesting questions to the one man, a trader, they know to interact with others living beyond their camp. The pull to find out who else is out only grows and soon our happily married couple sets out to discover what and who is living beyond the beyond. The ringleader of what is out there will shake both Frida and Cal to the core.<br />
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I really enjoyed the setting and plot but where I think this author really shines is through her dialogue. It is both entertaining and witty and helps keep the story moving along its trajectory while keeping us wondering about the fate that is awaits our couple. This book makes you think of our future and touches on many current issues that we can only hope unfolded differently. I recommend stuffing someone's stocking with this story, they will be intrigued.</div>
Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-27589604455120147322015-01-27T14:04:00.003-05:002015-01-27T14:04:29.290-05:00F39: American Sniper-Directed by Clint Eastwood<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"It puts lightning in your bones and makes it hard to hold onto anything else."</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am not sure there will be a more talked about movie this year than American Sniper starring Bradly Cooper. This film is polarizing and has plenty of talking points, but let's start with a few words about the latest film by Mr. Eastwood. First of all, Bradly Cooper plays a solid, not spectacular role as Chris Kyle, Navy Seal. Watching the film you are convinced that the four tours that Chris went on over in Iraq did impact him greatly. Chris's PTSD forces a struggle in acclimating back to civilian life and Cooper plays out this part of his role really well. However, the acting around his character is sub par and I feel really short-circuits of much of the anticipated drama of the plot. Personally, I found the pace of the movie sluggish and American Sniper is missing a spark that is always the hallmark of a great war film (Hurt Locker/Lone Survivor). There was nothing I loved about the film, although I was entertained for most of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The real intrigue around this film is the dynamics with how the film is being seen. People came out in record droves and smashed box office records to watch a film that celebrates the most prolific sniper U.S. Navy's history. Of all the cinematic achievements in story telling ever created, a movie about a sniper now holds more than a dozen attendance records. About a sniper. Sniper's kill. A lot. Death. Shooting. Usually hidden from view. I'm amazed how even the subject has gotten people to the leave their homes and make it to the theater for the sake of being entertained. And while I do have a great deal of respect of what our armed forces do to protect everyday life in America, this film circles the wagons back to the question of what was really achieved fighting a war in Iraq in the first place. Several of the soldiers in the film clearly question their purpose abroad, but not the main character. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've read that many people have labeled this film as propaganda although I stopped short of taking it that way. In fact, I am still not exactly sure how I take this film on a level above entertainment. In that regard I guess it is a unique cinematic experience. During the ending credits the theater was silent and the air was thick with a deep sentiment that I haven't ever experienced before at a movie house. I did see the film with a British friend who commented after the film "You Americans love your heroes. The patriotism in that film, I have never seen anything like it." He was not being snippy but rather made some good points. American Sniper will strike a nerve with many different types of people and their reactions will all differ greatly. I applaud Clint Eastwood for creating something to talk about and shining the spotlight on a topic that the public can wrestle over. Like it or not, see this film and decide for yourself. 'Merica, F-ya!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer:<span style="color: #741b47;"> <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/americansniper/">http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/americansniper/</a></span></span><br />
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<br />Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-84332574784115867732015-01-05T10:51:00.001-05:002015-01-05T10:51:23.524-05:00F38: Exodus: God and Kings-Directed by Ridley Scott<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: magenta;">"You sleep so well boy, because you are so loved."</span></b></div>
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The story of the Exodus is one of the greatest stories ever told and Ridley Scott does a handsome job of bringing it to life with a modern slant that I am sure angered many. While the actual story of Moses and Ramses is well trodden and steeped in Biblical lore, Ridley develops the plot around the combustibly enduring relationship between the two brothers. We know the outcome, but this movie takes us all for a ride that we have not been on before, and it starts with Moses.<br />
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Gone is the staff. The bushy beard. The archaic preaching and striped robes. In their wake is a much more military minded Moses that we soon discover is devoid of any faith, Hebrew or Egyptian. While exiled, Moses suffers a head injury tending to his flock and begins to see God, who appears to him in the shape of a 10 year old boy. The kid is a curious approach by Scott, but ultimately I feel a very successful one. Israel literally translates into "he who wrestles with God" and Moses could be the poster child for this concept, constantly questioning what he is instructed to do. Even as the movie is drawing to a close we can feel this inner struggle with Moses over not just his life's purpose, but the legacy that he is leaving behind. I liked how this version focused more on how a single man can spark a revolution with his people and carry out arguably the largest migration of people in human history, rather than centering the plot around the mysticism of the plagues. Which, interestingly enough, were presented in an a logical order, pressing the issue of scientific possibility onto the screen.<br />
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Overall, I really enjoyed this film and recommend it to anyone who loves ancient history. I simply found the scope of what Egypt could have been like 4,000 years ago to be intoxicating and Ridley Scott did an incredible job of bringing the pages of history to life. Staying historical, this movie did have its shortcomings but breathes new life into an old epic tale and I feel is worth seeing.<br />
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Trailer: <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox/exodusgodsandkings/">http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox/exodusgodsandkings/</a>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-37002763706150140052014-12-10T10:12:00.000-05:002014-12-10T10:12:09.203-05:00B22: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage-By Haruki Murakami<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: lime; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"The past became a long, razor sharp skewer that stabbed right through his heart. Silent silver pain shot through him, transforming his spine to a pillar of ice. The pain remained, unabated."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another sterling read by sensei Murakami. If you have never picked up one of his works, you are really missing out. Murakami has an effortless style of writing that is both minimal and cognitively layered. His words create a clean yet searing image of the world around his characters, ultimately leading them down some version of the proverbial rabbit hole. This newest work is no exception. It is masterly written and unfolds like a forgotten memory. More so than any of his other books I have read, <i>Colorless</i> features a new empathetic protagonist, Tsukuru Tazaki that anybody who has experienced strong friendships during their high school years will be able to identify with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The plot is about friendship and the perpetual craters that they form along the ridge of a person's existence. Some are shallow, but other's can be much deeper and of much greater consequence. Tsukuru's group consists of two other boys and two girl. Five friends, emotionally connected who shared everything. At a time in their lives when personalities are galvanized and life path's are forged, the five friends were inseparable, each contributing to the group in their own way. As the reality of college drifts closer and closer, the group suddenly and inexplicably exiles Tsukuru, severing all contact. Tsukuru, fractured, is set a foot in a dark forest of uncertainty and wavers between extinction and reconstruction. He does manage to find his way out and years later meets a woman who refuses to progress their romance unless Tsukuru explores the painful reasons behind his expulsion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. We have all had friendships that have dissipated or morphed into something that we could never have conceived possible and this story is a simple reminder that life is ever changing. Relationships shift, flow and ebb and the only constant is that unforeseeable way that they will end up. But, that is have the fun of the game of life; not ever knowing what is next. Pick this book up and when done, pass it on to a friend. You will be glad you did. </span></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-8342003641377523392014-11-19T10:02:00.000-05:002014-11-19T10:35:59.580-05:00F37: Fury-Directed by David Ayer<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"Ideals are peaceful, but history is violent."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> History is without a doubt violent, as is this movie. But, boy was it awesome. I highly recommend seeing this new release starring the Pittster as a war hardened sergeant during WWII. For all the movies that have come out on the subject, it is really amazing how every year it seems, there is a new take or new glimpse into those dark years on the planet Earth. This movie packs a wallop as any good war movie should, with plenty explosions and mud and guns and grenades and body parts flying across the screen. It does do something different though that we have not seen, it profiles one of the most important tools that was used during the effort: The Sherman Tank. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WarDaddy (Pitt) is the commander of a group of misfits fighting hard to end the war. They have crossed over into Germany territory only to have one of their mainstays torn to shreds. His replacement comes in the form of an fresh out-of-training greenhorn, played expertly by Logan Lerman. The plot is pretty straightforward from there, with WarDaddy taking the new gunner under his wing and doing everything he can to toughen him up for survival's sake. This movie reminded me of a favorite book of mine <i>All Quiet on the Western Front</i>, which was written in 1929. It follows the path of a group of youthful soldiers, not unlike our tank pals from Fury and how they would actually prefer to stay together in harms way on the front line versus return home and go their separate ways. If anything, this film reminds us of the incredibly thick, elastic relationships soldiers share and how, despite the abhorrent nature of circumstances surrounding them, they would make any sacrifice asked of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See this movie. The shear scope of what you watch will blow you away. Brad Pitt's role teeter's on improbable, but the rest of the cast is marvelous. The tank on tank action scene is epic and I wouldn't be shocked to see Fury bag several awards. MACHINE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2713180/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2713180/</a></span></div>
Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-22660987233519882342014-11-07T11:32:00.003-05:002014-11-07T11:35:48.102-05:00F36: St. Vincent-Directed by Theodore Melfi<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"And you, my good sir can go f$#% yourself!"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I loved this new Bill Murray flick. Dark comedies are hard to find these days, but when you see a good one, they are definitely worth noting. Finding humor in tragedy is tough to do, but nobody does is better than Mr. Murray. Like a gobstopper, his character in this new release is ever changing. Is he a drunk? A down and out gamble-holic? A fatally loyal husband? A well respected war hero? The pieces of who Vincent truly is slowly shift into focus as his relationship with a new young neighbor begins to unfold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">12 year old Oliver and his mother, Maggie (played by Melissa McCarthy), have just moved to Brooklyn. They are fleeing from the toxic relationship with Maggie's ex husband and looking for a fresh start. Oliver one day gets locked out of his house and is forced to ask Vin for help. The two start to form and unlikely bond, with Vincent leading Oliver around town. Our dynamic duo hit the race track, the bar scene and the nursing hospital where Vincent's wife is living. Vincent teaches young Oliver how to throw a punch and the worst curse words imaginable. He is far from a perfect role model, but at his core, Vin teaches Oliver the true meaning of compassion for others. I strongly suggest going to see this movie, it is much more than advertised. If anything go see it to pay homage to one of our greatest actors, Bill Murray. He is in his element with this role and truly shines with the help of a fantastic soundtrack. You will laugh, maybe cry but ultimately marvel at the talent of Mr. Bill Murray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2170593/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2170593/</a></span></div>
Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-7686750140688226542014-10-07T14:48:00.000-04:002014-10-07T14:55:35.378-04:00F35: Gone Girl-Directed by David Fincher<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"I'd love to just unspool her brain and find out what she is thinking."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a hard time saying no to anything that Mr. Fincher works on and this new rendition of the popular book is a great example of his brilliance. His artistic way of storytelling is distinct and the lighting and brooding undertones are evident. As is my apparent appetite for this newest work. It was awesome. Like riding a long wave, there are plenty of curious moments and unexpected plunges in the story line. Not too mention the ending which will undoubtedly leave you buffaloed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nick and Amy seem to be the dream couple. Both are well educated, witty and full of charm. They meet at a party and quickly fall in love, ultimately getting hitched soon there after. Fast forward several years and our happy little couple is suddenly oh not so happy. They are forced to deal with issues that are common in marriages, resulting in the splintering of their core relationship. Fincher directs the action by weaving past and present time lines, teasing the story out as he goes. Suddenly, Amy (played exquisitely by former Bond girl Rosamund Pike) has gone missing and all leads inexplicably begin to shade in the direction of her husband Nick (Ben Affleck). Hairpiece or not, Affleck plays the alluring role of misunderstood-but am I really-maybe I killed her-maybe I didn't husband to a tee. His likable character is an achievement due to all the layers coating Nick's persona and how expertly his makes you believe that he is not acting and that Nick could be a real person. Amy on the other hand, is a few clicks away from likable, but I will let you make your own assumptions about her character. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overall, I highly recommend seeing this flick, it was great. Nice to hit a home run considering the last trip to the box office was months ago. Scored by Trent Reznor, this movie has some truly haunting undertones and is well worth your time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2583211289">http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2583211289</a></span></div>
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<br />Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-50809236323167086732014-05-21T10:01:00.000-04:002014-05-21T10:21:05.804-04:00F34: Godzilla- Directed by Gareth Edwards<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will tell you what is happening here. Godzilla is about to doggy paddle across the ocean and start ripping through cities in his quest for total monster domination. I really liked this reboot of the Godzilla franchise and was not disappointed. While the plot may be a little on the shaky side, who cares. It's Godzilla, King of the Monsters. I am not interested in crafty dialogue or character development; I'm here for the carnage. I loved these old pulp movies when I was a kid and still love them today. This version definitely has a old school feel to it and director Gareth Edwards' attention to detail is obvious and I appreciate how he did not just roll out some weak, lame version of our beloved monster (see, or rather do not see Godzilla 2000). Godzilla is big and bad and makes the same iconic piercing cry that we all loved in the originals. The epic budget for this movie is conservatively estimated at 160+ million and it does not take long for you to see why. Mostly shot in CGI, the effects are fiercely ridiculous and to quote the great Chazz Michael Michaels, some of the scenes are flat out "mind bottling". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A team of miners in the Philippians have been hard at work digging away looking for plutonium, when they make an unusual discovery. Two 4 story building sized fossilized eggs are buried deep underground and after an "accidental earthquake" at a nuclear reactor in Japan, one of the eggs is nurtured to term. Leave it to mankind to help the actual hatching of a giant rampaging, prehistoric creatures that needs to be stopped. The eggs are not those of Godzilla and conversely become his foes later on in the movie. I am pretty sure the monsters were inspired by different versions of the cult classics that G himself used to battle, but I digress. So, these new monsters hatch and start romping around the South Pacific, snatching up submarines and leaving a wake of utter destruction behind them. Before long, our old friend Godzilla emerges from the pits of the ocean to help restore "balance" to the universe, as only the ultimate apex predator could. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Godzilla is without a doubt worth seeing, especially in the movie house on the big screen. This modern update does a really good job of portraying Godzilla as he was intended and by the movie's end you will be rooting for him. I have read that due to the early success of the film, part 2 is already in early development stages and we can only hope that Edwards stays on to direct the project. I would say that my only complaint about the film is its length. It is understandable why it is so long though, as it must be hard to 86 scenes that cost several millions of dollars to make. Overall though, I strongly suggest seeing it. Also, love the shout out to BART and how the three main locations chosen for destruction all have personal significance to me; Japan, Hawaii and San Francisco. Cue the Blue Oyster Cult and commence utter destruction.</span></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-87696600806393771622014-04-03T10:58:00.000-04:002014-04-13T22:19:38.378-04:00B21: Annihilation-By Jeff VanderMeer (208 pages)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"The effect of this cannot be understood without being there. The beauty of it cannot be understood, either, and when you see beauty in desolation it changes something inside you. Desolation tries to colonize you."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Uncharted, dense jungle. Living breathing words. A heap of journals. Hypnosis. Spores. A beckoning lighthouse. Welcome to Area X. I have not read a piece of good sci-fi in some time and when I heard about this book, I picked it up right away. Much like the setting of the story, this book is not what it seems. It is scientifically fictional, yet is constructed through a dystopian prism that is constantly bending and shifting. What starts out as a sociological exploration of an abandoned stretch of coast, known as Area X, the events that transpire begin to frame more questions than answers. Being the first in a trilogy, the author does a great job of giving you a small taste of what could be, only to scamper back into the unknown. This book is <i>sneaky</i> good. If this first part is only taste of what is to come, I will be firing through the remainder of the series as soon as they are published, which I believe will be in May and August.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We begin with meeting our team of explorers. They have no names. And, they have no idea how they crossed over into Area X, only that they were recruited for the task of mapping out as much of the quarantined area as possible. All are women and all have a specialized set of skills; a surveyor, linguist, biologist and a psychologist. Our team is a part of what they think is the 12th expedition and we are taunted with a few fates of the previous teams. Complete amnesia. Mass Suicide. Terminal cancer. The story is told through the voice of the biologist and we </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">learn that her husband was a member of a previous expedition. She is pragmatic, focused and will soon become infected. Though she tends to lean on her scientific training, she is often at odds with what her senses are recording. Journeying into the unknown, the group comes upon a monstrous edifice that is buried beneath the ground. Is it a tower? A tunnel? A gullet? The ladies begin their research and after rounding several corners make a chilling discovery. Something has written biologically breathing script on the walls. Goodbye logic. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am really looking forward to solving the puzzle of this series and what ever the author was trying to do with this first edition, I swallowed hook, line and sinker. If you need a break from the everyday new stand fiction, I highly recommend this virulent little book. What it lacks in length, it more than make up with contrivance. Read it. </span><br>
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<br></div>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-72283780125175874902014-03-19T14:43:00.000-04:002014-03-19T14:43:27.618-04:00F33: 300 Rise of an Empire-Directed by Noam Murro<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"Seize your glory!"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh there will be blood. Oceans of it. While this second installment of 300 series was not quite as good as the original, it was still preposterously awesome. Back are the shredded abs of our Greek heroes, gone are the 300 Spartan troops that ultimately were annihilated by Xerxes' Persian army. Aesthetically, this movie is a ridiculous. It plays out like a living, breathing comic book. The style of how the action is filmed is terrifyingly beautiful as you can almost <i>feel </i>the whisper of arrows and swords gracing past your earlobes. Shot mostly against a green screen, the effects and fight sequences are gnarly and are definitely worth your $8.75.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leonidas is dead and the angry swarm Persian troops begins its march to Athens. This film serves as both prequel and sequel as the action begins with the monumental Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon. Led by the cagey general Themistokles, the Greeks stave off the mighty Darius in an unlikely victory against his voracious army. Witnessing the embarrassing defeat of his father is the adolescent Xerxes, whose gluttony for revenge and gold body paint bring him back to Greece years later to finish what Darius started. Although he is leading the charge, the real villain in this film is the ruthlessly Machiavellian Artemisia, a Greek herself whose sole passion is the utter destruction of Athens. Historically speaking, she was a Greek female naval commander and did exact a great deal of influence of the actions of Xerxes. I loved seeing this strand teased out and developed into her becoming the arch nemesis of Themistokles. Everything comes to a head at the battle of Salamis. And if you paid attention in class, the rest as they say, is history. Highly recommend seeing this, just make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. To victory!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqy21Z29ps">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqy21Z29ps</a></span></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-4248928312450857472014-02-26T13:29:00.000-05:002014-02-26T13:38:00.243-05:00F32: Dallas Buyer's Club- Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>"I swear it, Ray, God sure was dressin' the wrong doll
when he blessed you with a set of balls."</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">We have a winner. Several, hopefully. Packing the force of a
Mike Tyson right cross, this small 4 million dollar budgeted film is a force to
be reckoned with. 34 days of filming. 47 pounds shed. And just a shade over 20
years to rework a screen play that culminates in Matthew McConaughey<b>'</b>s
epic role as the mercurial Ron Woodruff. I flat out loved this movie. The
rawness. The grit. The assertive truculent way that the story unfolds. And then
you have the acting. Holy tornado is there acting. After 5 minutes into Dallas
Buyer's Club you forget you are watching a movie. You become swept up with the
events onscreen and feel like you are parked outside a bay window with
binoculars watching this man's life. There is something beautifully haunting
about watching a train wreck and this movie is no different. McConaughey is
cadaverously brilliant in his portrayal of a man who, faced with the grim
atonement for the plethora of poor decisions he made in his life, fights with
every fiber of his being for the chance of redemption.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ron Woodruff is a drifter. Foul mouthed, homophobic and derelict he works his
way through life at a break neck pace. Working at a rodeo outside of Dallas, in
Ron's world he has it all. A little cash in the pocket, a liter of Jack in his
belly and a legion of drugs crawling through his veins. His world unravels when
his mild headaches morph into episodes of seizure and unconsciousness. While at
the hospital he learns that he has HIV and is given 30 days to live. This death
sentence galvanizes Ron's life and ironically, finally gives him purpose. He
travels across the border to Mexico and begins smuggling untested, but
effective drugs back for redistribution amongst fellow HIV/AIDS patients.
Throughout his mission of reeducating people of how best to treat their illness
he meets Rayon. Played exquisitely by the musically inclined Jared Leto, the
two find comfort in their efforts and incidentally form the most improbable of
friendships. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Overall this film blew me away. After hearing about it for months, I was
finally able to squeeze it in before the big awards show this coming weekend.
With all the big budget movies it will be up against, I really hope that it
gets the recognition that it deserves. While the Academy awards are not the end
all for how successful a movie was, you just hope this movie gets what it
deserves. The commitment of McConaughy to lose that amount of weight is
astounding. He was on Actor's Studio discussing his role and how he stayed
inside for 4 months to achieve supreme paleness and what his diet consisted of.
Amazingly enough, he mentioned that despite all the muscle mass he lost, he
felt extraordinarily acute and hyper observant to everything happening around
him during filming. He felt like he became Woodruff and it definitely showed on
camera. If you have time this week, find your way to the box office or check
the In Theaters tab of your pay per view movie downloadables and watch this
amazing movie. You will not be disappointed.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-43831100834093731832014-02-12T12:56:00.000-05:002014-02-12T12:56:51.949-05:00F31: Monuments Men-Directed by George Clooney<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"Let's get outta here."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really wanted to love this movie, but it stunk. With a sterling cast including Matt Damon, John Goodman, George Clooney and Bill Murray, I had really high expectations for this film and it was a <i>major</i> disappointment. Historical drama is just about my favorite genre of film and this one plotted around the Nazi ransacking of Europe's most famous art treasures had the promise of being memorable. Memorable it was not. It had the feel of watching a M*A*S*H marathon, complete with a score that was abhorrently annoying. This biggest problem with Monuments of Men was that it lacked the gravity of what a picture on such a topic should have embraced. It was too fatuous, too disjointed and poorly edited. It was a collection of scenes loosely stitched together, set in entirely in different keys. Drama? Comedy? Thriller? Character study? Bollocks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Frank Stokes (Clooney) assembles a team of art enthusiasts to tromp around Nazi Germany in an attempt to reclaim over 1,000 years of high jacked culture. The biggest prize being the Madonna and Child statue of Bruges sculpted by Michelangelo. Our team of heroes bumble around unearthing caches of paintings and do everything they can to restore rightful ownership. With the war coming to a close and news of Hitler's Nero Decree to burn everything looming, the treasure hunt becomes a race against time. About the only positive thing that I can say about this film was how it made you think of how demonically unstable Hitler really must have been. Here is someone who loved painting and truly enjoyed an affinity for art, only to become hell bent on eradicating many of the world's greatest artistic treasures. Outside of that thought, stay away from this movie. Don't even bother renting it. Enjoy the trailer posted below and the unfulfilled promise of what could have been a great movie. C'mon Clooney, you are better than that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CreneTs7sGs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CreneTs7sGs</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-41237089532548750522014-01-30T11:14:00.003-05:002014-02-01T10:03:55.731-05:00B20: Occupy Nation by Todd Gitlin (320 pages)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"I was unprepared for their sheer sprawl and inventiveness. In rapid order or disorder,they produced a social phenomenon that did not feel like a fad, because a fad is a single style and Occupy was all kinds of movements at once, some more visible and some less."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Need an interestingly eloquent non fiction book that reeks of rebellion? Snatch up Occupy Nation by famed Sociology professor of Columbia University, Todd Gitlin. He tackles to chore of dispelling myths and misconceptions regarding the Occupy Wall Street movement. I really became obsessed with this protest after a heated discussion in one of my classes revolving around the Freedom of Speech. After a viewing a short informational video, link below, we dove into this protest, dissecting the parts that drove this ultimate demonstration of dissatisfaction. While its engine was flawed in many ways, the story of how it came together and what it hoping to achieve is definitely worth learning about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the late summer of 2011, anti-consumerist and pro environment magazine Adbusters ran a graphic initiating the call for a protest against the greed of Wall Street and economic inequality that seeps from the veins of America. "What is our one demand?" it beckoned. Occupy Wall Street it stated. Bring tent. And that ladies and gentlemen, is how a revolution is born. First amendment exercisers unite! What followed was a spectacular year in which media and social media were set ablaze with images and misgivings tied to this movement. Gitlin is very informative in his writing and charmingly pens an insightful account of what this explosive movement was all about. He sheds light on the fibers that held the movement together and more importantly how the OWS movement compares with other equally ebullient gatherings of people who are a little more than pissed off with their government. While the success of OWS is still being debated over, there is no debate on whether this book is worth your time. It is. After all, we are the 99%. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Video:</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2012/apr/13/occupy-seven-months-of-protest-video"> http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2012/apr/13/occupy-seven-months-of-protest-video</a></span></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-50332250469802074452014-01-13T08:23:00.000-05:002014-01-13T08:31:44.129-05:00F30: Lone Survivor-Directed by Peter Berg<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: lime; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"I've been around the world twice and talked to everyone once."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whole-lee sh#&. This movie was incredible. It may not quite be movie of the year, but Peter Berg should win director of the year hands down. The former director of Friday Night Lights, despite his talent, sometimes has a suspect picker when it comes to screen plays (Hancock/Battleship). Not so with his latest release centered around true events of a clandestine mission in Afghanistan that went sideways. From the title we go into this movie knowing the ending, but what is unexpected is how craftfully this story is told. This film is beautifully vicious and savagely touching on many levels. It is filmed through a truly artistic prism and is a must see. I am very fond of the band Explosions In the Sky and Berg again taps them to haunt the score of his scenes. The cinematography is refulgent, the acting superb and the sequence where the troops spill down the side of a shale cliff is staggering to say the least. Anyone can make a simplistic military movie that blows everything up and leaves everybody wounded, but Lone Survivor will leave you thinking about war on a much deeper level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The core of this story is the relationship of the team assembled to take out a top Taliban leader. These men have a passion for living and dying for each other and all parts are played incredibly. Leading the charge is Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) flanked by his right hand man Marcus (Mark Wahlberg). The team is stranded mountainside and faces a quandary when their position is stumbled upon by seemingly innocent goat herders. Taking the moral approach, the team cuts loose the herders and aborts the compromised mission. However, a quick extraction quickly dissipates when all communications are lost due to rugged Afghany terrain. Sure enough, the Taliban learns of their presence and all hell breaks loose. Literally. The quiet, serene mountainside transforms into a battlefield as a flood of enemy fire engulfs our heroes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Say what you want about war time situations, but I my opinion this movie is a reminder that the men and women fighting abroad are human beings and have a remarkably unbreakable bond between them. I am not going turn this entry into a soapbox for my own feelings toward war, but when watching this film, it just struck a cord with how deep these relationships run. Much like the classics Band of Brothers and All Quiet on The Western Front, this movie with be talked about and remembered for a very long time. Berg ends things in a touching way that humanizes the violence committed and pays an emotionally tribute to the lives lost during the mission. See this, stat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer: <span style="color: #999999;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoLFk4JK_RM</span></span>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-6304572059097134662013-12-13T09:52:00.000-05:002013-12-13T09:52:14.930-05:00F29: Philomena-Directed by Stephen Frears <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to
arrive <em>where we started</em> and know the place for the first time." </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I liked this movie despite the absence of mind swirling action. There are no car chases and zero explosions. The ending will not send a jolt of excitement through your veins. In fact this movie is quintessentially the complete opposite of the last movie that was reviewed. What this film lacks in sexiness it makes up in depth of character and plot. It is like having a warm cup of coffee in a rocking chair on the porch of your mountain cabin. There is a sharp chill in the air that is beginning to weave its way through the blanket wrapped around your shoulders. Quietly rocking, you look out over the tranquil landscape, and realize the allure of being trapped in this paradox. Beauty comes in different shapes and sizes and there are many wonderfully graceful moments to this picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the surface the it seems to be a stuffy little story about a young girl who had a little too much fun at a local carnival in Limerick, Ireland. She goes on the give birth to a baby boy, Anthony, while entrenched in the town's abbey. Her future looks bleak as the nasty nuns who run the convent also just happen to have a small side business selling the children of the poor girls who live there to foreigners. They appallingly get the girls to give up their maternal rights, brainwashing them into believing that it is proper atonement for their carnal explorations. Oh the glory of God. Fast forward to modern times and our thrill seeking protagonist, played marvelously by the iconic Judi Dench, has decided that after 50 years of silence she must know what became of her beloved Anthony. She sets out on a quest with a former controversial news journalist that will ultimately lead her to the capital of the United States and the office of Ronald Reagan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This film is quite simple and in that simplicity I found it to be rather enjoyable. With all the bulky budgeted films out there and the anxious directors concocting the next big twist, seeing a movie that essentially plays out from a-z was refreshing. There are a few turns in the story and a couple of bumps in the road, but the real triumph of this film is the acting; specifically the interaction between Sixsmith the journalist and Philomena. Look for Mrs. Dench to garner several best actress award nominations in the coming months as her performance was brilliant. </span></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-79626015717982296392013-12-06T10:34:00.000-05:002013-12-06T11:24:04.123-05:00F28:Catching Fire-Directed by Francis Lawrence<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By no means is this a historic achievement in film. It is however damn entertaining and quite thought provoking. The scope of the computer generated affects is imposingly alluring and the world that is created therein swipes your attention from the first majestic sweep of dismal District 12. You immediately get lost in the dystopian world that is Panem. Jennifer Lawerence is back as Katniss Everdeen for the second installment of the ground breaking series of young adult novels, The Hunger Games. <i>Young</i> adult novels. Distrust, revolution, butchery and carnage. What great material for the youth of our world. I know I spoke to these same ideas for part one of the series and yes, children are exposed to violence everyday, but having such an rabidly violent story thrust into the minds of young kids doesn't get any easily to swallow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The story has everything that would be captivating for a middle school student and <i>adults</i> alike. Action, adventure, suspense and a zest of romance. Having the privilege of working with this age group of humans, I can ascertain that the undercurrents of defiance and governmental brazenness are not recognized as being the crux of what this story is about. When I asked my classes about it, they mostly mentioned the romance and violent aspects as being what they savored the most. It is not that they are incapable of dredging out to central theme, its just that mechanism used to deliver it it too tantalizing for them to see past it. Much like Animal Farm and 1984, when read at the appropriate age, the kaleidoscope of intention surely will become clearer. I strongly encourage all my students after enjoying them now, to revisit these books later on in their literary careers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all know the story of the Hunger Games and if you don't, shame on you. Take a week and hammer through the series. If not for your own interest then to stay in the loop with what has already become a world wide phenomenum. I would say my favorite facet of these books/films is that is it getting our youth reading and thinking. Yes they are strong in content and revel in themes that may be beyond their reach, but kid's interest in reading them has reached a feverish pitch. Is it better to read violence or to not read at all? Also, I love that the protagonist is a strong willed, obstinate female. It is refreshing to have a heroine that the kids are conversing about in their inner circles. Overall, Catching Fire is a good movie and will jump in rank if you have read the series. I thought the director stayed true to the writing and I fancied the gritty approach to telling the tale of the Quarter Qwell. Philip Seymour Hoffman makes a nifty appearance as Plutarch Heavensbee, while Stanley Tucci's role as Caesar Flickerman is simply awesome. See for your self what everybody is talking about and watch this movie. The revolution will not be televised.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trailer: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9stT8tcwHZk"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9stT8tcwHZk</span></a></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-17169771956864396552013-12-01T10:57:00.001-05:002013-12-05T08:47:15.643-05:00B19: Seiobo There Below-By Laszlo Krasznahorkai<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>"...in this case music-comes into being, is born, unfolds but then it's all over, no more, what must come as has, the realm dies away and yet lived on in this divine form, for all eternity its echo remains, for we may evoke it, as we do evoke it to this very day and hall evoke it for as long as we can, even if as an ever more faint reflection of the original, a tired and ever more uncertain echo..."</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is more than a book. This is not just a collection of stories that seemingly wonder along a worldly landscape, ping ponging from country to country. Or just a shallow breeze that reminds you of an intricate plot twist, crawling with indelible characters. Seiobo There Below is a work of art. It is Picasso. And Dali. And Pollack. It is perfectly random and beautifully carved out of words that will resonate throughout your library for years to come. In fact this might just be the most exquisite book you will ever own. Owning it is a must, as the depths of its contents surely will morph and transform with life's passing moments. Very rarely have I come across a piece of literature that has moved me the way this book has and I highly recommend it. </span><br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Each chapter, numbered in the Finonacci sequence, tells a different story that connects to much bigger supposition. Determining what that abstraction is will vary from reader to reader; much like the interpretation of a fine work of art. Some will see tragedy, others triumph. All will grasp the value of the artist that is the main congruent vehicle throughout the book. In most cases, each of the independent stories are about something or someone that is laboring to create something. A heron struggling to sustain it's place in the food chain, a Japanese mask maker short on inspiration and a tourist blinded by the beauty of his life long dream to experience the Parthenon, to name a few. While each chapter is unique and has its own cultural backdrop, the stories are held together by hope itself. Anticipation of beauty can take many forms and does in this work.</span><br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Seiobo There Below is a challenge to read. The author's style uses essentially no periods and has the dream like feel of a single stream of thought. I found that reading a chapter then stopping helped me digest what my eyes were absorbing in the pages and I will be returning to re read certain chapters in the future. This book is packed with both a practical philosophy and a spiritual substance that is decidedly worth the journey. The title itself refers to a Japanese Shinto Goddess and her tree of immortality; appropriately named considering the lasting effect of reading this book. Holidays are right around the corner and this book will make for the perfect gift to anyone who loves erudition or has an infinity for thought provoking literature. Krasznahorkai has penned a true epoch and I feel fortunate that I was listening to NPR last month when it was mentioned in book releases. Shout out to the Motherland, Hungarians rule.</span><br>
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<br>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-34225787914701101362013-10-08T06:00:00.002-04:002013-10-09T06:17:51.089-04:00F27: Prisoners-Directed by Denis Villeneuve<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wow. I think I have lockjaw. You will sit on the edge of your seat, you will clench your teeth and your heart will race. Being a new dad, I figured that a movie in which two small girls are kidnapped would keep my blood pumping, but I was blown away by this movie. A hybrid of Winter’s Bone, Ransom and Seven, Prisoners is definitely worth seeing. Hugh Jackman’s sheer presence and intensity is unnerving. He was born to play the role of hell bent-daddyoh-where the hell did you hide my daughter. His rage bleeds through the screen on his mission to locate his kidnapped daughter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">It is Thanksgiving time in Pennsylvania and two girls have gone missing. They were last spotted playing around a conspicuously corroded RV. The motorhome has been located and the apparent owner, Alex Jones (Paul Dano) has been apprehended. With the IQ of 30, it is becoming increasingly clear that Alex was incapable of masterminding and executing such a terrible crime. He seems to know something though, and that something will head Keller Dover (Jackman) to take matters into his own hands. Jake Gyllenhaal plays the hardnosed Detective Loki assigned to finding the girls, a role that he nails.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Overall, the acting is stellar, the action it top rate and the ending is well…..fantastic. I loved all the twists and turns of this flick and strongly recommend it. Will the Wolverine find the girls before it is too late? How far will he go to get them back? Enter the maze of Prisoners and find out for yourself. Good luck trying to sleep after the show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">Trailer: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWhS0xN3C0g</span></span></span></div>
Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-52563402667597792552013-06-03T12:46:00.001-04:002013-06-03T13:02:53.710-04:00B18: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (371 pages)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>"I don't know, maybe your experience differed from mine. For me, growing up as a human being on the planet Earth in the twenty first century was a real kick in the teeth. Existentially speaking."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Chew-chew-chew, pppppprrrrruuugggg....passsssssssssshhhhhhhhh pauuuuurrrrrrgggg bachew. Bachew. Chew. Chew-chew chew chew. Chew. Chew-chew. You can practically hear the quarters kerplunk when you crack open this brilliant little work by new author Ernest Cline. Summer is just about here and summer is the season of the quick-short attention span book. Look no further than Ready Player One. I loved this book. As evidenced by the logo of the blog, I have a special place in my past for vintage video games and this book is practically an homage to my youth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The year is 2044 and life in the real world is a struggle. Earth has been over used and over populated and resources are scarce. A gray haze is draped across the landscape and danger is peeking around most city street corners. Neglect is king. The population spends most of their time plugged into a virtual simulation that allows them to become just about anyone, or anything they desire. Orcs, centaurs, super models, hydras, wizards and warriors. Nothing is off limits. Virtual schools exist in the OASIS program, educating 95% of world's youth. Power ups, quests and experience points are all that matter. Life is lived online. When the creator of OASIS dies, he leaves behind a mercurial testimony that turns the entire galactic universe on its ear. Locked away deep inside the program are three keys that open three gates; each containing a challenge that whomever completes first, score his entire fortune of several hundred billion dollars and the rights to run OASIS, Willy Wonka style. The best part being that Halliday was a rabid 80's fan and his entire challenge, known as The Hunt, revolves around circumventing 80's themed puzzles and vintage video games. Pacman. Q-bert. Ferris Bueller. Rush. Oingo Boingo. Voltron. Family Ties. Silver Spoons. Monty Python. The 80's are back and the quest is on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Read this book. Even if online servers, haptic gloves and interplanetary coding are not your bag. Read it. You don't need to be a geek to enjoy the chase and cheer for the lovably aloof Wade Watts, our hero. Start your summer reading list off right......chew chew ba chew. Chew chew chew chew chew chew. Paaaaaaaaarrrrrrwwwww! Chew chew. Paaaaaaaaaaaasssshhhhhhhhhhhhh-zzzzoooo! Chew chew chew. Chew. Chew chew.....</span>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-53197552201395282492013-05-21T16:02:00.001-04:002013-05-21T16:12:59.673-04:00F26: Iron Man 3-Directed by Shane Black<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>'What I am really wondering is when is my sandwhich going to get made."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Holy crow. What a ride. People go to the movies for all sort of different reasons, but to some degree everyone goes to escape from their own lives. Maybe you are dragged down to the movie house to endure a heart touching romance flick. Maybe a kooky indy psuedo-drama just came out by your favorite director. An international heist thriller, complete with killer car chase? Sure, sign me up. I have all types of different tastes in movies and really will watch anything. I enjoy em all. Some more than others, but I savor the metamophasis of ideas to words to eventual movement of everything that makes it to the screen and respect the process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let me say this, the third installment of the Iron Man franchise kicks ass. Major ass. This might be one of my favorite <em>ALL TIME</em> flicks. The plot is witty, the acting superb and the effects are ridiculously miraculous. It is unlike anything I have ever seen and it will blow </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">your mind. As my students would say, it is way boss and should not be missed. See it. See it again. Then rent it. When released, own that sucker. It is a true masterpiece and something I can't wait to someday sit down with my kids and watch. In all honestly, I was not really expecting too much after really disliking Iron Man 2, but seriosuly friends, it is awesome and a garaunteeed can't miss blockbuster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tony Stark is back and this time fighting an international terrorist known as the Mandarin. When an old rival genetic regurgatation company suddenly starts to parrellel the attacks of the Mandarin, Iron Man is forced to save the day. And does he ever. The comic book genre has been pretty saturated as of late, but this is right up there with the latest Batman installment, if not a slight shade better. Every scene seems to top the last one and what I keep coming back to is how this movie relentlessly gives its audience something it has never seen before. Run to the movie house and see this.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thank you Shane Black, well done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Trailer: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue43ALt_s-Y">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue43ALt_s-Y</a></span>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-72645830949109614952013-04-22T12:45:00.003-04:002013-04-22T13:06:50.955-04:00B17: Winter of the World by Ken Follett (938 pages)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>"Surprise gave him a few second's grace and he ran freely along the street toward the church. He felt the scorch of the midday sun on his face and heard the pounding of his men's boots behind him and noted with a weird sentiment of gratitude that such sensations meant he was still alive."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh, Ken Follett. If you are looking for a solid page tuner, albeit a long, long, solid page turner...check out the latest installment of the Fall of Giants trilogy, Winter of the World. While I really do enjoy Ken's ability to craft an interesting story, my favorite aspect of his books is the historical context he uses to paint and shape his plot. In this novel, the curtain rises in Europe during the tumultuous year of 1933. Hitler is on the on rise, a revolution is brewing in Russia and the United States of America is in the midst of some "slight" industrial changes of our own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Follett's equation for success may be a dash on the predictable side, but it works and well. Start with several families of different cultures. Sprinkle them out over a major historical event, having them unsuspectingly intersect here and there. Splash in some romance, knock off a couple characters, work in a truly despicable villain....and viola: BEST SELLER. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, his books may lack depth, but they certainly do not fall short on the entertainment side of matters. Reading his work is the equivalent of watching a reality show marathon on Bravo. It is not going to change the world or make you a better Earthling, but it will reel you in and sweep you up into the lives of these people he has penned. I would probably say get this one on your Kindle or iPad, as lugging around this little tank is less than optimal. So far it has been a very enjoyable series that has spanned both World Wars. I will be looking forward to finishing this series sometime next year when the last book is released, most likely staged around the events of the Cold War. It is a long haul, so you had better get started.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kaboom.</span>Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-6374176178247698592013-02-07T12:32:00.001-05:002013-02-07T13:41:13.474-05:00B16: Open City by Teju Cole (258 pages)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>"This strangest of islands, I thought as I looked out to the sea, this island that turned in on itself, and from which water had been banished. The shore was carapace, permeable only at certain selected points. Where in this riverine city could one fully sense a riverbank? The water was a kind of embarrassing secret, the unloved daughter, neglected, while the parks were doted on, fussed over and overused."</strong></span></div>
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I loved this debut novel by Teju Cole. It is written with an original voice and is built around the curious yet sometimes dubious interactions with everyday people that the main character encounters. There is a reason reality television is so popular, we as a culture are fascinated with people of all types and colors and sizes interacting with each other in an unexpected way that produces an organic sense of drama. This book follows Julius through the streets of New York and Brussels plotting out his encounters with the people around him. These streets take on a life of their own and force Julius to look deep into himself as he strives to become a more complete human. <br />
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Besides loving this book for its simplicity, it is masterfully written. If you are telling a story without there being a true story, you had better excel at capturing your audience with your ability to write. Teju Cole is a brilliant author and this book really feels like you are gazing a painting rather than filing through a stack of card stock. It is intelligent and historical. Radiant yet brooding. Soulful and simplistic. Floating through the streets of a new city is something I love to do and I have been to both NYC and Brussels. Cole captures the quintessence of both and brings them alive in his pages. This book is a vacation from most of what sits on the shelves of bookstores today and is something you want to check out. I'll be looking forward to his next trip.Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739325854383601692.post-48949839648493411252013-01-04T17:05:00.001-05:002013-01-04T17:09:35.728-05:00F25: Silver Linings Playbook-Directed by David O. Russell<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>"It's not my fault! Blame Ernest fu#$^&g Hemingway!"</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This film may have been slow at parts, but is worth seeing. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are both at their best and play fantastic characters with a slightly damaged mental compasses. This movie really comes down to being a unique take on the love story and is set in modern day Philadelphia. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pat (Cooper) has just been released form a mental hospital where he has been "rehabilitated" for his bi-polar disorder. We later learn that he has gone his entire life without being diagnosed, but after witnessing his wife and a co-worker playing patty-cake in the shower, Pat simply snaps. His character is charmingly focused on reconstructing his marriage now that he been released. Tiffany (Lawrence) is not far behind suffering herself from a tragic ending to her marriage and the two form an unlikely connection. The two begin to find comfort in each other's instabilities and off we go. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I did like this movie and thought that Cooper did a great job of making you believe that he was mentally ill. There were several scenes that were fantastic in which his character came apart at the seams. Not that I enjoy seeing the train come off the tracks, but Bradley Cooper's dynamic acting in this film is a big change from most of his other work (Hangover, The Words, Limitless) and his effort deserves some applause. Sprinkle in some vintage Robert De Niro as the OCD-Philadelphia Eagles worshipping father and you get a really enjoyable, albeit unorthodox, love story that I recommend checking out. Excelsior!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Trailer: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5_FhLaaQQ</span></span></div>
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Brettonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10230689676790871710noreply@blogger.com0