Patch Adams

Patch Adams (1998) Drama/ Comedy 10/10

This movie warms the heart in so many ways, gives you lots of laughs and has you go through the emotion spectrum. The cast has a few big names but not being a total barrage of famous actors is another reason that this film excels. Robin Williams is of course the title role of Patch Adams, a gentleman who wants to use his positive attitude and bedside manner to improve the American Healthcare system. When thinking about this, a person may be distraught because most health systems are a mess but not only that the doctors often lack compassion and the ability to relate. Patch starts with the HELLO experiment to prove to a fellow classmate that there is a way to reach people. Patch takes on many other ways of connecting to people, ie. When a doctor is giving the run down on a patient, they often say “The Patient”. Patch makes the effort to find out what the patient's name is and the other residents are astounded (and afraid of the forsaken happening of 'transference'). Patch goes the extra mile to make people's final wishes come true so they can pass with a calm mind and heart. He believes that laughter is the best medicine and he can cite all the medical facts on its benefits. When you see at the beginning of the movie that it is based on a true story it makes you feel good to know that there is someone watching out for the sick/old/under privileged and whatever other categories there may be. This is another fine example of Robin Williams doing what he does best, acting, but I secretly believed when he was filming that it was more than just acting to him. When Williams takes on a role, he is an actor that truly embraces everything about the character, whether it's flaws, habits, oddities or what have you. He wants to give the audience an authentic and heart felt experience and this movie is right in his wheel house.

Note – the movie is based on a true story and Patch Adams is a real doctor that created the Gesundheit institute in West Virginia to venture on the journey to change the American Health Care system. Here is the link to his website and you can find all sorts of information and interesting things that Patch has done. http://www.patchadams.org/

Patch Adams Trailer

Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward (2000) Drama/ Romance 10/10

This movie has a fairly good cast. There are lots of actors/actresses that appear or have a decent portion of the film. Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment.. This is after Haley Joel Osment sees dead people in the Sixth Sense (M. Night Shyamalan). Spacey is the teacher of a grade 7 class. He gives the class a challenge “Think of an idea for world change, and put it into action”. This sounds like a daunting task and who would think a 12 year old kid would be able to make change in the world... BUT then there's Trevor (Osment). His mum's an alcoholic, working two jobs and never sees her son. He resents the fact that she is never around and decides that he is going to take matters into his own hands. He comes across the Pay It Forward model, which is something that he modifies so that he can make a change in the world. The model is a pyramid style but the goal is to make a significant change in 3 peoples lives. Trevor ponders and experiments with people that he can help or make a difference for. There are many trials and tribulations but Trevor's teacher, Spacey, is amazed by his determination to complete the challenge and also leave an impact on the world. Trevor does just that and makes his challenge come to life and work. This movie definitely got myself thinking because I somewhat feel like I partially do this challenge every day. Every day I try to do something nice for someone no matter what. Whether it's holding a door, making someone smile, helping someone in a certain way... there is always something you can do without having it cost you a million dollars (BUT if you have a million dollars and want to do something with it, GO RIGHT AHEAD!). This is a little bit more like random acts of kindness and the fact that I help/ do something every day doesn't mean that I am trying to make a significant change in a persons' life but I am doing something to help/ give hope for humanity. In a world where self-entitlement is running rampant, you need to be the change you want to see in the world AND every little bit counts. Below is the model of how the Pay It Forward model works.

 

Pay It Forward Trailer

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) Drama/ Comedy 10/10

This is a cult classic because you get to witness Robin Williams at his best. He portrays a dad that is absolutely in love with his kids. He will do anything to make sure that they have the best time ever... and then Miranda (his wife played by a young Sally Field) comes in and has to be the 'heavy'. Miranda gets tired and says it's time for a divorce and puts Williams in the hole and tries to take the kids away from him. Enter Mrs. Doubtfire, a woman with a heavy British accent that becomes the nanny/housekeeper for Miranda and the kids. Williams goes through hoops to create a character that will entice Miranda and make her want to have Mrs. Doubtfire take care of her children. Little does Miranda know that there is a hitch with Mrs. Doubtfire. Robin Williams does so many voices and ad lib characters that he should get all the credit in the world. He paints the picture that he will go to ANY lengths to be with his kids. His stance is “I've been with them since day one and to take that away from me and them is just plain cruel” (paraphrased of course). It's amazing how much he loves being a dad, it's like people need to take a page out of his character's book and learn the importance of love and having 2 parents that are willing to go to the ends of the earth. The make up is fantastic and the comedic relief is always present, even in the emotional times. Even though Robin Williams passed away, we need to honour his memory and contribution to the film industry because he was one of the greats.

Mrs. Doubtfire Trailer

G.I. Jane

GI Jane (1997) Drama/ Action 10/10

This is one of my favourite movies in the War/Military genre. I will say that if you are watching the dubbed version that is aired on TV it definitely takes away from the swearing moments because the words they use to fill in the 'bad' words are ridiculous ie. Suck my dick ----> Suck my stick. If you can get your hands on a version that isn't dubbed, this is one of those movies where the swearing is necessary. The cast is fairly decent with Demi Moore being the lead role, Viggo Mortensen being the Master Chief, Anne Bancroft as Senator Lillian DeHale and there are a couple other decent actors that hadn't quite peaked in their career (Jim Caviezel, Morris Chestnut, Jason Beghe, John Michael Higgins). This is the movie where Demi Moore does her infamous head shaving scene and she actually did have a shaved head in regular life, which was a testament to how committed she was to the role of Jordan O'Neill. This follows her through her journey through Seal Training and then eventually active duty. I cannot say for sure how real the drills were that they were putting the team through, but I know I sure as hell would not want to be signing up for that and I definitely would not be even remotely able to withstand the physical demands or mental ones for that matter. I will also state that this is one of the few movies that my Dad can watch over and over, he often forgets the last time he watched it but he LOVES this movie (and my Dad is not a repeat watcher for many movies). There's guns, PT training that is INSANE, combat/ fighting scenes, political moonlighting, and becoming a part of a team where you aren't necessarily wanted. There are a couple points that the movie drives home, the most prominent being that men couldn't stand seeing women blown up or injured in the field and it would cloud their judgment. I think this is a valid point and I'm sure at one time it was a very real problem but integration has happened and women are in various parts of the military as long as they can hack it and don't receive special treatment. This movie touches on so many situations and issues that are hot topics that I'm a sucker for it and LOVE it. Can't rave about this movie enough. If you haven't seen it, check the trailer below and see if it's the film for you!

G.I. Jane Trailer

Only the Brave

Only the Brave (2017) Drama 10/10

This film is based on the Granite Mountain HotShots that operated with the Prescott Fire Department in Prescott, AZ. (FYI – it is pronouced Pres-kitt, instead of Pres-Scott). This was another eye opening film for myself because I really didn't know the different levels of forest fire fighters and how insane it is to get certification. Josh Brolin gives an excellent performance and has a uncanny likeness to his character Eric Marsh, in fact majority of the actors that played their characters looked very much like them. The training for this film had to be super, duper because the realness that this film brought was incredible. The CGI images of the fires were amazing alone. The one thing that really impressed me was that when people are a part of such a team the idea is re-enforced by everyone in the station/fire house that everyone on the team is family. Family to call when your baby is sick and you don't know what to do. Family to share good times and bad with. Family there to support each other when the going gets rough. Miles Teller did an amazing job of playing 'Doughnut' Brendan McDonough. Preparation for forest fire fighting seemed to be just as, if not more, strenuous than a regular fire fighter aka Structural Fire Fighter. With wildfires burning in Canada (Northern Ontario, British Columbia), the US (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washingtom and Wyoming). These statistics are as current as August 12, 2018. Some of these states with fires are not severely in danger but the list was relating to states that are currently reporting large fires. (Here is the link for the information https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm). The website link also gives detailed information as to where in the individual states the fires are and whether they are new or contained plus how much acreage is being eaten by the fires. This film sheds light on what can be a forgotten and recognized part of the fire fighting industry and the HotShots deserve every bit of recognition they can get.

Only the Brave Trailer

Dr. Strange

Dr Strange (2016) Fantasy/ Sci Fi 4/10

This movie did absolutely nothing for me. There were only three things that I found interesting and they were: I really liked Tilda Swinton as the master teacher (or whatever she was), I liked the images when they were creating the time portals and stuff AND of course it had one of my favs, Mads Mickkelsen (Hannibal the Series). The images of the time portals, etc. were so cool and trippy while at the same time... magical. As for this being part of the Marvel franchise, I thought that it would be a good idea to watch it so that I knew the powers that Dr. Strange had and what his tie in to Avengers: Infinity War was. The rating is a 4 because there wasn't enough to bring it to a 5 and the story was BORING. I know true Marvel fans are going to give me shit or send nasty comments or mail but that's what I thought. That's the point of this blog, to voice my opinions/thoughts/ ideas regarding movies and books at this time.

Dr. Strange Trailer

Avengers : Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) Sci Fi/ Action 7/10

This movie is of course part of the Marvel franchise. This is the second movie in the Avengers part of the franchise. You get to see Thor with his witty comments, Captain America with his sense of unity and keeping the group together. This is the first movie where Tom Holland plays Spiderman (which I disagree with greatly). The battle is interesting and it has you shouting for different characters at different times. With the fourth instalment of the Avengers coming together to save the world after the Infinity War with Thanos, you really need to get your Avengers movies in check so that you don't miss anything with character relationships and delegation. If you can't pin the voice of the actor who is Ultron, I will skip to the chase and let you know it's James Spader. There's always something about Ulton's voice, I'm not sure if I find it soothing or what but it definitely doesn't sound crazy and diabolical. Maybe that's the thing, is it sounds so calm but then Ultron is trying to destroy and conquer the world. You get to meet Wanda and her brother for the first time. Wanda shows up in later Avengers films and you also get to find out her back story as to how she becomes an Avenger. This film is also the first mention of Thanos, which is a good starting point. The cast is stacked, the fighting/combat scenes are great, the witty humour and one- liners are there. All the makings of a decent superhero movie.  

Avengers : Age of Ultron

Mr. Holland's Opus

Mr Holland's Opus (1995) Drama/Family 8/10

This is a very good movie but it is a little too close to home for me because I had a music teacher that was just like Mr. Holland and he could turn in to an asshole in the blink of an eye. Craziness to the point of throwing batons, chucking music stands and verbally obliterating people. This was probably why I didn't take music after public school. Richard Dreyfuss plays the infamous Mr. Holland and Glenne Headley (Rip) plays his wife, Iris. They have a son but due to a strange account of events, Mr. Holland completely forgets his relationship with his son and continues to put his job and students first. He will go to any length to prove people wrong or try to get a point across. The ending is the best part and it really rounds out the movie well. 8/10 is what this movie gets for casting, story line, character development and the importance of family.

Mr. Holland's Opus Trailer

The Guardian

The Guardian (2006) Drama/Action 10/10

This movie is another one where every time I watch it I have issues because I always think the evacuation crews don't do enough to ensure the helos are in good condition to perform rescues and the ending gets me every time. The dynamic between Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher is great. The ability to believe in someone so much that you are willing to push them to continue and better everything they do is so powerful and this is demonstrated consistently with Costner and Kutcher. Both have pasts that have tainted their view on life or the demands of their job/ training. The meaning of TEAMWORK/ TEAM MATE is critical in having a successful rescue team. One thing that I found really interesting is the first time I watched it was I had no idea the training, practice, endurance and work it takes to be on the US Coast Guard Rescue division. Going in to crazy places like the Bering Sea where (if you watch the Deadliest Catch) it can be one crazy bitch to deal with. The craziness is kind of like The Perfect Storm but from a different angle, the rescuer and the victims/ people that need saving. This movie really hits home when it comes down to the choice of who you can save and who you can't. While you think this is an easy decision, there are questions and factors taken in to consideration to determine who is getting saved and who must be left behind. While this is not a true story or based on true events, EVERYTHING in this movie is a possibility and may happen in real life. This movie earns it's 10/10 status every time, and gives you an appreciation for what the US Coast Guard does and the lengths they go to.

The Guardian Trailer

Lady In The Water

Lady in the Water (2006) Fantasy/ Thriller 6.5/10

This is a very magical tale, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Shyamalan created this story as a tale to tell to his daughters and changed it every so often. The story is now published and in the Young Readers section on GoodReads and hard copies are available. I always enjoyed this film because it brought a 'community', residents in a housing complex, together and helped to get the narf, Story, back home. Narf is the term for a sea nymph and a scrunt is a wolf-like creature made out of grass and greenery with red eyes (picture above). The scrunt is trying to keep Story from getting home and there is a certain time window when the Eagle will come to pick Story up and return her safely. The cast is a bunch of B and C listers with Paul Giamatti being Mr. Cleveland Heep and Bryce Dallas Howard as Story and M. Night Shyamalan casts himself in the movie also. This movie is not comparable to other hits that Shyamalan has such as Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Split but it's very magical which gives me a special feeling about it. It's not the best movie I've ever seen but it's also not the worst. I feel that a 6.5 is a fair rating.

Lady In The Water Trailer

Norse Mythology

This book was a pleasant surprise. I have always been a fan of mythology (Greek and Roman) since I was a little kid. I never knew anything about Norse mythology because it was never taught in school. I knew about Valhalla but that is more of a Viking concept although it did pop up in this book once. This book is a collection of stories, which is a nice break as you read a few pages and there is a different tale in the next few pages. The main players in Norse mythology are Odin, Thor, Loki, Heimdall, and plenty of other characters that have names that I wouldn't dare try to say. If you have watched any Thor movies you will see the characters but they are quite different than what you see. Thor, for lack of a better word is a DICK. He has this “I'm so special, I'm so great, I'm ready to obliterate!” attitude. Loki is a brother to Odin, where as in the films he is a partial brother to Thor. Loki is much more of a trickster in the tales than in the movies. Heimdall is the same and the BiFrost is under his watch. Essentially the mythology is the same as Greek and Roman, there is just different people and characters but they emulate the traditional Greek and Roman mythology. Ie. The fate of the humans and gods are determined by the Fates, the idea of Ragnorak which is similar to the end of days. I found this book so interesting and an easy read, therefore giving it a 4 star review. The book I read by Neil Gaiman previously (Coraline) was horrible and couldn't stand it, so I gave this book a try to see what he had to offer. I was really happy that his writing and subject matter gave him a second chance/ a chance at redemption.

Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined

Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined by Danielle Younge-Ullman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

WARNING – This books contains issues that may be triggering for some people. The issues for this book are bullying, sexual assault, and suicide.

I have to say, there are mixed feelings with this book. While part of me really liked the Peak Wilderness adventures, I didn't really care for the rest of the book. I didn't dislike it enough to quit it (as it filled the dual-timeline portion for the 52 book challenge and another spot in the Book Bingo challenge), but when it got to certain parts I was just like “Yeah, so... This happens and it sucks but it does happen to other people.” Also, I will admit that the concept escaped me until the last pages of the book. I'm not sure if that was because I had missed information or details or the regular parts weren't jiving with me. The Peak Wilderness adventures, damn... they were the best parts and they were so detailed and described as if you were watching a movie. I loved those parts and lived for those parts, lucky for me they were the majority of the book. I give props to Ingrid because I would not have completed the camp and would have acted like a dick so that I could go home asap. Her tenacious attitude to tackle the challenge was commendable and inspirational. I will apply that attitude to things that are more my style but camping and being out in the woods is definitely not one of them. Overall, I would give this book a 2.5 because the mixed feelings aren't enough to sway me but I'll be generous and give it a 3 on GoodReads. The premise was interesting but figuring out the backstory as to why it was just didn't explain it quick enough.


View all my reviews

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Fantasy/Sci Fi 10/10

WOW.... one word description is WOW! I have already watched it 2 times and am going to watch it a few more. I have not watched all the Marvel movies so I have to add Guardians of the Galaxy and Dr Strange to inform myself of their back stories. This movie was incredibly awesome. It brought absolutely every part of the franchise together (The Avengers/ IronMan/ Dr Strange/ Thor/ Guardians and Black Panther) to fight the ultimate force known as Thanos who is in search of the Infinity Stones to make his gauntlet the most powerful thing on Earth and any other planet. I did do some research to find out what was the back story of Thanos and what direction the next Avengers Infinity War saga could take. Please note = I am not a comic book reader so I wanted to know where Thanos came from and why he was so desperate to destroy and control everything. From my research I learned that the movie is only taking parts from the comics, there are no direct ties to the story lines, therefore making the next movie completely unknown as to what direction the franchise will take it. Majority of the characters in the movie were in the comic but of course the outfits and stuff are way better in the movie. The CGI and other computer generated things relating to the Hulk and Thanos were totally mind blowing. For Thanos, I thought Josh Brolin did a great job and best of all you got to see his eyes in the Thanos character. I find character's eyes are very important bc when you start putting post and other items in the eyes to change things it often takes away from the emotion that can be expressed in the eyes. The Hulk was the best I have ever seen him and while he turns into the Green Smashing Machine you could definitely see Mark Ruffalo's human qualities partially shine through which is a huge positive compared to the other Hulk movies. Thor comes in with his wise cracks, StarLord is dropping wise cracks (which if you never have seen Guardians, it's like Chris Pratt being his nerdo self). There are several parts in the movie that will have yourself giggling. The dialogue was written very well and the zingers really gave it that Avengers/Thor franchise the continuity of the other movies. ScarJo of course has a different hair style, I don't think she has kept the same hair style in any of the movies (this is related to her being on the run and not wanting to keep the same look). A continuity issue would be with Wanda and Vision. In Age of Ultron you meet Wanda and she has an Eastern European accent, discussions conclude that Wanda is on the run and trying to blend in so losing a distinguishing accent would be necessary. (There are other characters that experience these 'blend in with society measures' such as Steve Rogers = Captain America). The franchise has been going strong for 10 years, it's bound to happen that little things like that, that most people wouldn't pick up on, are going to evaporate. Even still, GREAT/FANTASTIC/AMAZING movie for so many reasons. 10/10 is well earned for this type of film.

Trailer Here

Jurassic World : Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) Sci Fi/ Action 10/10

This was one of the movies I was dying to see and it did not disappoint. Anyone who knows me or follows me knows I LOVE dinosaurs. I watch everything about them. I know a lot about them AND the Jurassic Park/World franchise is one of my favourites. With the Jurassic World movies enlisting Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard to run the gamut there are surprises of old characters popping up or making an appearance. What I appreciate the most about this franchise is that they went the extra mile to show a variety of dinosaurs (not just the ones that would be the best movie factor) and they are very true to what they would be like. Down to the colours, the scales, even the personalities... it's so fascinating and awesome and there's cool dinosaur movies available for generations to follow which I think is great. To imagine a world without dinosaurs is like imagining a world with out books. I love both and would be a giant sad sack if I couldn't have either. The ending of this movie is promising and will hopefully enlist the above actors to run the gamut some more. There can't be an ending to this franchise yet, it's so good!

Trailer Here

9 1/2 Weeks (1986)

9 1/2 Weeks (1986) Drama/ Melodrama 10/10

This is one of my favourite movies of all time. It's Mickey Rourke pre any of the body modifcations and surgeries he had. I had a friend who would have looked exactly like Mickey Rourke if he had lived long enough and I am always reminded of him when I watch this movie. The movie is very sexual and there's a lot of different roles played by both of the main characters in their relationship. The more times I watch the movie the more I think the ending is going to be different but it never is. I will say that Kim Basinger is very annoying in this movie and she has this hat that she wears all the time but it makes her look like a knob. 10/10 AND bonus points for young Mickey Rourke.

Machete (2010) & Machete Kills (2013

Machete (2010) Thriller/Action & Machete Kills (2013) Sci-fi/ Thriller 6/10

I love Danny Trejo so therefore these movies are on my list. He's a great actor and is very diverse with his roles BUT they still give off the Danny Trejo vibes so it's a 50/50 split as to whether he chooses films that are going to be in his wheelhouse and whether the film makes him work! The Machete series is the typical 'guy' movie. The story line is easy to follow and very basic. There are hot chicks, guns, cars, explosions and hand to hand combat/fighting scenes. If you are looking for a film that has violence and a variety of weapons with the bonus of hot chicks, this would be your film. I would give both films a 6/10.

Machete Trailer

Machete Kills Trailer

Tully (2018)

Tully (2018) Drama/Comedy 7/10

It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to say about this film. There is a fight club quality to it, which I won't be giving away but making you aware of. Charlize Theron does a great job as mum Marlo who just has her 3^rd kid and has a special needs son and highly active daughter. Her hubs is often working so she is left on her own with the kids and he rarely helps when he is as at home. He's an obsessive gamer. Tully comes in as a night nurse to help Marlo. She's quirky, has lots of 'useless' knowledge, wants to help out in any way that she can. She goes the distance to make some of the expectations, that Marlo has laid for herself, happen. Ie. Being the mum that brings cupcakes for the class, making awesome dinners, allowing Marlo to sleep and get up when baby needs to be fed and then go back to sleep without interruption. Tully is like this wonderful superhuman that is caring and compassionate and all the things in between. Marlo becomes quite attached to Tully BUT all good things must come to and end. I would give this movie a 7/10 for the fact that the story has been done before and there were some twists to make it different but it wasn't anything to drop everything you're doing to watch this film. Charlize Theron gained 50 pounds to play this role and then lost the weight quite quickly to do promo for the movie. It takes a very dedicated person to do that to their bodies when putting a prosthesis on would be so much easier, so she definitely earned a point for that.  

Trailer Here

Heat (1995)

HEAT (1995) Crime/Drama 10/10

This is another one of those movies that are in my all time favs. Gets a 10/10 every time and it's well earned and deserved. All star cast – Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo, Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, Hank Azaria, Wes Studi (one of my fav actors of all time), Val Kilmer, and many more. Bank heists, robbing bank trucks, master planning, and my fav... ONE OF THE BEST GUN fights ever in a busy metropolis. The characters are well developed and it's a very interesting game of cat and mouse between the robbers and the policeman leading the charge to apprehend them. It's an older movie but I consider it a classic because it was one of the first movies that successfully pulled off the busy city gun fight. It was real. There were bullets flying everywhere. Cops dying left, right and centre. The robbers are slowly getting picked off by a bullet that hits in the right place so that they can sort of function before they die. Then they die in mid run. Some of the best acting ever!

Trailer Here

Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club (1999) Drama/ Black Comedy or Dark Comedy 10/10

This is a movie based on the book Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Another Edward Norton film on the list. Brad Pitt in one of his sexiest but roughed up phases (yeah, I just said that, I'm trying to keep this whole hot actor/actress thing out of it but sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade). This movie definitely needs to be watched 2 or more times to fully grasp the concepts and the meanings. I know when I first watched I was like, “Man, that's fucked up” but after the 2^nd, 3^rd, and more and more there's a kind of dark beauty and metaphorical meaning that begins to shine through. If you just listen to the voices in the film they are very soothing and with the variety of 'groups' you even get some guided meditations. Meatloaf stars as the infamous Bob with the Bitch Tits. There's also Helena Bonham Carter's character of Marla, with that punky type of hair style and the 'who gives a shit' attitude. Tyler Durden is the man that holds all the cards and as he slowly plays out the hand things start to become different than what they seem. It's a cult classic and it rightfully defends the title. 10/10

Trailer Here

American History X (1998)

American History X (1998) Crime Film/ Coming of Age 10/10

Another one of my favourite movies ever. This film says so much and in today's political climate in the United States it's even more relevant. Places divided by race, colours being more prominent then ever before. Everything on the colour scale from the white end of the spectrum to the black and all the rainbow in between. This is definitely a 'think piece' (to quote the movie Almost Famous) but it's a piece that grabs your heart and ties it in knots and even turns it into a pretzel. I'm not going to divulge the ending of the film but it rips my heart out every time and even gets me tearing up, it's that powerful. This movie will forever get a 10/10 in my books and it's definitely in my list of favourites. It makes me think about the past, present and future. “Be the change you want to see in the world” a wise person once said.  

Trailer Here

Four Weddings and A Funeral (1994)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) Drama/Romance 4/10

I watched this film years ago when I was young, like 12 or something and I thought it was really funny and a decent film. Today I watched it and I guess bc I don't think Hugh Grant is a good actor, it didn't really help the film's case at all. The comedy was lame and Andie McDowell was a loser. Her character just floats around and expects to get what she wants and then when Graham's character starts to move on she re-appears and wants to be with him. 2 very self-centred individuals at work. That's why I'm not a huge sucker for the romantic movies bc I come to the point where I think the people are so 'blinded' by love that they hurt others and do stuff that just doesn't make sense. This movie barely gets a 4/10 but that's what I will give it. The few characters that I did like were Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas), Gareth (Simon Callow), Matthew (Jack Hannah), David Hugh Graham's characters' brother (David Bower). Those members alone have made up the few stars that I am giving the film. There were sparse moments that humour peaked but not enough to save it.  

Trailer Here

Dangerous Minds (1995)

Dangerous Minds (1995) Thriller/Drama 7/10

So I decided to watch this film after Stand & Deliver. It's pretty much the same story line etc, except the teacher is a white woman, who is an ex marine, going in to an under privileged school. While the story is similar in so many ways there are several differences. This particular film was about English and Poetry and it had more of a gang presence within the characters. Michelle Pfieffer tries to pull off this lousy American accent which she should have just chose not to do (as it didn't affect the story at all). So take off points for the lousy accent, the unbelievable story that she would reward the kids with stuff that was totally unfeasible (esp on a teachers salary), and it's a partial copy.... Therefore, I would give this film a 7/10, which I think is considerably fair.

Trailer Here

Stand and Deliver (1988)

Stand and Deliver (1988) Drama 10/10

This was the movie before Michelle Pfieffer in Dangerous Minds. The inspiring story of a group of kids that are pegged as losers and never going anywhere BUT with the help of their dedicated teacher Mr. Escalante they achieve greatness. One of my all time fav movies ever. 10/10 every time I watch it and even though I know the story backwards and frontwards, it's just as refreshing as watching it for the first time. Not only is this film about triumph and changing stereotypes but it's also a great moral/values film that shows if you work hard there will be great rewards. Great actors and a lot of them are when they were young, ie. Lou Diamond Phillips, Andy Garcia.

Trailer Here

What Lies Beneath (2000)

What Lies Beneath (2000) Thriller/ Drama 7/10

This isn't the first time I've watched this but it was in the 50 Best Ghost Movies list on ImDb. Michelle Pfieffer and Harrison Ford are the couple to keep your eye on. Right from the get go Pfieffer is having bad luck and doing weird shit. Her daughter's leaving the nest and the abusive neighbours next door are both distractions weighing heavily on her mind. I have to say seeing Michelle Pfieffer who has had such strong roles (ie. Catwoman, etc), she plays this desperate housewife who is clinging to something, anything to save her tanked marriage. Ford is a manipulative husband doing so much to cover his ass and his past and his main thing is “Should I have sacrificed our marriage, my work, our lives?” When the glass house they live in comes crashing down, there's a whole lot of shit to deal with. (HINT – it's all in the eyes, keep a look out for the colour of her eyes). I give this movie a 7/10.

Trailer Here

A Quiet Place (2018)

 A Quiet Place (2018) Drama/Sci Fi 9/10

I'm not usually one for alien or bizarre creatures but this movie had me so engaged. The creatures were very well done (they kind of looked like a version of Slenderman mixed with a Demogorgon). There was hardly any dialogue but there was a lot of sign language. I have no idea how John Krasinski came up with this story line but it is something else (in a good way). Living in a town that has been ravaged by these creatures that attack sound, a family is left to live in silence for their safety. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are husband and and eventually a prego wife in the movie and they play off each other in such harmony. The kids are a boy and a girl and the boy is afraid of everything (he ends up man'ing up) and the girl wishes her father would take her on the survival trips. This movie gets a 9/10 and it deserves it to the fullest extent. Bravo!

Trailer Here

When Breath Becomes Air

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Note – For those interested in seeing what Paul Kalanithi was like and hearing his voice this clip from Youtube provides and excellent visual and you can hear him talking about his beliefs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5u753wQeyM

Note – Note this is a Ted Talks by Paul's wife Lucy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5-yBjKKicA

This book was nothing like I expected. I've read a few medical books, that I have posted about, that discuss the authors adventures on combating illnesses that turn them inside out BUT this book was completely different. When the book starts, Kalanithi is working his way through grad school to become a fantastic neurosurgeon, a tasks that takes a considerable amount of time and dedication. He starts out with the attitude that patients are like 'paper'. As he gets diagnosed and becomes a patient his values and beliefs change drastically. He learns the art of bringing people at ease with a not so pleasant ending, he has to plan for his future and he has to challenge his thinking regarding the force known as death. The book is scattered with lovely quotes and mantras from various people/places (I'm a quote and saying lover, so this was a very lovely touch within the book). It brings a sense of peace around the whole notion of death. This book was an eye opening read for myself. I did not like the afterword of the book as I found his wife did not carry on his style of writing very well and was often repetitive to no end. The hero does die in this one but it's not as bad as people like to think. There's a bitter-sweetness to it that makes you take an easy exhale when finished reading the book. This book gets all 5 stars and a bonus because it was that good and that rewarding to read. Through the suffering and pain there is a magical beauty of learning and peace to it all.


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The Pain Eater

The Pain Eater by Beth Goobie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WARNING – This book contains issues that may be triggering such as rape, bullying, self harm.
Note – If you are curious look up the name REHTAEH PARSONS
Note – This book is written by a Canadian author

This book was recommended to me by a lady at the library who does several book clubs, does reading for the White Pine accreditation in Ontario and the list goes on (... and she has great taste in books). I chose to use this book for my G/r Top 100 YA because I didn't like any of the books that were listed and so I subbed this one in because it was YA. I'm going to start off by saying that I have never read a book like this and that was so REFRESHING. The concept of the book was interesting in that the main idea was for a class to work together and make a compiled novel by each classmate writing a chapter. The astounding thing was, I have no idea (absolutely none) how they chose the subject of the book and it for the most part flowed very well. Other topics come up in the book that I mentioned in the warning notice above. I don't want to give anything away. I will say that Goobie gave these issues deeper meaning because when you are reading the book you are right there. You are a witness, a player, a victim and a bystander. Also, for a person that is curious as to why people self harm, this book provides a very good example that is 'easy' to understand for those that cannot even grasp the idea of why or how people can do that to themselves. This book deserves all 5 stars and maybe even an extra for good measure, it was that good a story line/ plot and well written. I am definitely going to be checking out other Goobie books.


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Midnight At the Electric

The Museum of Extraordinary Things

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman


I could not get in to this book. It literally kept putting me to sleep. So instead of wasting my time, I decided to pass on it and try and pick something else that could fit that category. I know this seems ridiculous but the first bit that I read was all in Italics font and it just didn't jive with me. I didn't like the main character, she was a child and didn't really have me wanting to read more about her. I kind of thought it would be a bit like the Ms. Peregrine's with the pictures and stories of the kids. I loved that and haven't read anything like that.

DID NOT FINISH READING


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52 Books in 52 Weeks

52 books in 52 weeks

The 2017 List

1. A book from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2016 
2. A book with at least 2 perspectives (multiple points of view)
3. A book you meant to read in 2016
4. A title that doesn't contain the letter "E"
5. A historical fiction

6. A book being released as a movie in 2017 
7. A book with an animal on the cover or in the title
8. A book written by a person of color
9. A book in the middle of your To Be Read list
10. A dual-timeline novel
11. A category from another challenge
12. A book based on a myth
13. A book recommended by one of your favorite authors
14. A book with a strong female character
15. A book written or set in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland)
16. A mystery
17. A book with illustrations
18. A really long book (600+ pages)
19. A New York Times best-seller
20. A book that you've owned for a while but haven't gotten around to reading
21. A book that is a continuation of a book you've already read
22. A book by an author you haven't read before
23. A book from the BBC "The Big Read" list  
24. A book written by at least two authors
25. A book about a famous historical figure
26. An adventure book –
27. A book by one of your favorite authors
28. A non-fiction
29. A book published outside the 4 major publishing houses (Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Penguin Random House; Hachette Livre) - check all the editions
30. A book from Goodreads Top 100 YA Books  
31. A book from a sub-genre of your favorite genre –
32. A book with a long title (5+ words, excluding subtitle)
33. A magical realism novel
34. A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere
35. A book where one of the main characters is royalty
36. A Hugo Award winner or nominee 
37. A book you choose randomly
38. A novel inspired by a work of classic literature
39. An epistolary fiction
40. A book published in 2017
41. A book with an unreliable narrator
42. A best book of the 21st century (so far)
43. A book with a chilling atmosphere (scary, unsettling, cold)
44. A recommendation from "What Should I Read Next" 
45. A book with a one-word title
46. A time travel novel
47. A past suggestion that didn't win  
48. A banned book
49. A book from someone else's bookshelf
50. A Penguin Modern Classic 
51. A collection (e.g. essays, short stories, poetry, plays) 
52. A book set in a fictional location

Note -  Some people aren't on GoodReads so they can just substitute something that relates to the category or do whatever they like. Let me know how you get on with this challenge. It's pretty daunting for me BUT I have persevered and am almost done. 

Book Bingo/ Reading Challenge

Book Bingo/ Reading Challenge

This is a table that the library I go to created so that people could do a reading bingo. I of course am going for a full card because it widens my horizons for reading. See if you can complete the challenge or just get a line and let me know what you enjoyed or didn't enjoy. I would love to hear from you 

A book published in the last year	A book by a female author	A memoir OR biography	A book set in the past	A book with a one-word title
A book based on a true story	A book with a blue cover	A book with over 300 pages	A book by an author you've never read	A book set outside Canada
A book made into a TV Show OR movie	A book with a number in the title	Bingo	A book that makes you laugh	A book that has won an award
A book with a female main character	A book set in Canada	A book by your favourite author	A book with a red cover	A book that is part of a series
A book you've re-read	A book set in the future	A book with an illustrated cover	A book a friend told you about	A non-fiction book

Chocolat

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book deserves 5 stars for the descriptions alone. Everything is so detailed it's like you are a fly on the wall hanging out and listening and watching the characters. The food descriptions were high quality and made me feel warm and fuzzy. The items were made with such love that you could feel it exuding from the pages. I find the descriptions of the characters are very intense and they give you a perfectly clear picture of what that character is supposed to be like in looks and mannerisms. There is a lot of continuity issues if you are comparing the book and the movie. Things happen in the book in a different order and certain things happen that don't in the movie, ie. Pantoufle in the book is a rabbit and in the film he's a kangaroo. I prefer the kanga than the rabbit for Pantoufle as I can see him being a way cooler animal bopping around with Anouk. There were certain situations that were handled way better in the book than the the movie. I will say though, after reading both the book and the movie, there is a more well rounded picture of how things happen (Like Ted Chiang's The Story of Your Life and the movie Arrival dove tail completing the meaning and plot). I am currently looking in to other literature that will be doing this so that I can see if there are any books that have the connection like these two did. 5 Stars.... I feel like I haven't given that out in a very long time.


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Harvest

Harvest by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book didn't disappoint BUT there is never a time when Tess Gerritsen disappoints. Her drama/ thriller/ mystery type of writing littered with medical jargon is a like gold. I love the jargon and if I don't know what it means (rarely) it's something to research and learn about. The gritty, bloody descriptions are my fav as Gerritsen doesn't let anything slip away or make it less gross. I live for gritty writing and that's probably one of my favourite things to read. I think this particular book would make a great idea for a film and I think it would do way better than the Rizzoli/Isles books. 5 Stars, can't go higher than that.

REVIEW FROM October 11, 2011
This book was absolutely fabulous. I was looking for something gritty when I went to the book store and the people were suggesting stuff BUT I decided to take this book. Then I started reading it and it was even better then what I had hoped for. For all those people who like their medical dramas, ie. ER, chicago hope, grey's anatomy, this book is 10 times better then those shows will ever be, even when they are in their peak air times. This book is down right dirty. Surgeons using words like 'cut' when opening somebody's body cavity during surgery, harvesting organs for transplants, medical jargon supreme. And another twist to this book, I didn't once figure out who was behind the crime, therefore making it even more fab! Tess Gerritsen hits this one out of the park and gives herself a chance at two home runs instead of the proverbial one. LOVED IT (even minute, every heart beat!)


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Long Hard Road Out of Hell

The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to say when reading this book it was like Marilyn Manson was telling all these stories directly to me. I realize that Neil Strauss is a co-author but it was a very personal way of writing the book. Sadly the book ends before Marilyn gets involved with Rose McGowan or my personal fav Dita Von Teese. There are a few sporadic pictures at the end but nothing with Dita. I would have liked to read about is marriage to Dita but I'm sure there is more than enough material to write another book. One thing that Marilyn included was the legal actions brought against him by various activists saying he was performing lewd contact/acts on stage, killing live animals and also brutalizing band members and women that were on stage (This is at the end of the book) AND in the beginning of the book he actually states what he did during those times that were speculated by the activists and the people complaining, concluding that they were making assumptions and using false information. I found the part about Satanism very fascinating as it is not really about worshipping the devil it's about making choices and that people choose their path (at least that's what I gathered from what I read). Marilyn Manson is extremely bright and probably on the level of being a genius. He is very creative and wants to make people think while using his craft in ways different than the cultural norms. The book was well written and I enjoyed reading every bit of it. I would give it a 4.5 but I'm going to give a solid 4 as I don't quite think it's a 5 star book.


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Hands of My Father

Hands of My Father: A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love by Myron Uhlberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had really mixed feelings about this book. My heart went out to Myron because he was the interpreter for his deaf parents and it often put him in an awkward situation, ie at the deli or when his father's co workers were asking how he turned out to be 'normal'. He got to learn sign language and use it fluently, and he really cherished when he got to speak and communicate with the hearing. A major point was that deaf people tend to colonize in certain areas or times. For example, the parents and kids of multiple deaf families would go to the beach and sit in a circle together and different people would be communicating across what would be a conversational line. Another important point was, that during that time, not many people communicated using sign language and interpreters were not readily available at hospitals to help the deaf. Luckily for Myron's father, there was Myron BUT even then there were things said that Myron chose not to say to his father bc of the type of comments that were made.


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Weekends At BelleVue

Weekends at Bellevue: Nine Years on the Night Shift at the Psych E.R. by Julie Holland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book but it was more like a collection of stories/incidences that Julie Holland went through or had to deal with. Her perspective as a Doctor on the admission end of a psychiatric facility was quite intriguing bc not only did they take mental health patients but they also took police captures/ people that were considered possibly a threat so that they could keep them in isolation in a ward or they could take them to holding at the police station. A very high stress job but she worked 2 1/2 to 3 days but sometimes went in to help during crisis times. The division of the floors was very interesting and also the 'tests' they used to judge how much of a risk patients were and whether they could out in the world with some guidance or be 5150'd (which is an involuntary confinement of the patient). There was medium medical jargon, which was ok but I would have liked to see more as I love reading medical stuff and learning new facts, situations, and trials/tribulations. Julie was a great help and mentor to those that were her following, which is really hard to find. She treated her interns like people and not slaves. Good book but not fantastic, there for 3 stars.... not enough for 3.5 or a 4.

Homer's Odyssey

Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Note - This book is a re-read. Date Finished March 25, 2018

I have been reading a lot of books about people lately and I wanted something different. I wanted to break free of the dramatic saga known as life. So I chose this book. The picture on the front cover of the book looks like a cat with it's eyes closed, as you learn about Homer's story you find out that he is blind. Homer gives hope to everyone and proves that he is more then just a blind cat. He's the comic character of Daredevil in a pint size version with a furry coat. He's a Wonder Cat that has no boundaries. Most of all Homer is an inspiration to not only his owner(s) but to everyone that he meets, whether they are a cat lover or not. After a meet and greet with Homer people become cat lovers! When Cooper moves to New York City to get a job and take charge of her life she packs her 3 cats in carriers and takes them with her. Things are going great until........the horrible day of September 11 occurs. Cooper's patience and love for her feline friends is tested. She has to jump through many proverbial hoops to save her cats. In the end the cats are fine but they have been rattled by being separated from their owner for several days without any warning. (As a sidebar - it was refreshing to hear how the ASPCA was willing to help many pet owners be re-united with their pets after such a devastating occurrence. It truly shows that in desperate situations humanity will band together and help each other.)The book also tells the tale of Cooper falling in love and marrying her best friend. A dream that so many of us wish would come true. Overall the book was fantastic and really brought to light that even animals with disabilities can live a worthwhile and happy life. This book gets 5 stars for being a great story as well as a true tale of how sweet life can be. I found myself finishing the last few pages off with a smile and that alone was well worth it!

NOTE - Above Review has a date finished of December 26, 2012

Quiet Journey

Quiet Journey: Understanding The Rights Of Deaf Children by Joanne S Cripps
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it here or not but I have taken up learning American Sign Language. I go every Sunday and meet with a study group and we are helping and learning from each other. As we were talking one day about Deaf culture, I was very saddened to hear how isolated a community they are. I thought it would be interesting to learn about Deaf Culture through a variety of resources. This was the first book that I read. It isn't quite textbook style but it is formatted like a textbook in that is has different chapters relating to different areas ie. School, family life, resources in the community etc. The main point that was scattered throughout the book was that Deaf people and their families,etc need to be aware of their rights as well as the importance of learning sign language. This book was written by a Canadian author from Ontario and at the time in early 2000, there were only 3 Deaf schools in Ontario. I found this appalling... I thought there has to be Deaf people everywhere, not just in the areas of these 3 schools. It turns out there are Deaf people everywhere but they tend to be together in communities and are very protective of said communities. Since sign language is really taught as another language option in school, and not all schools either, the amount of people that are hearing and can communicate fluently in sign is very limited. So while I am on my signing journey, I am going to immerse myself in Deaf culture. I want to read about families that are both Deaf and hearing. I want to read about the do's and don'ts when talking or being around Deaf people. I want to hear personal trials and tribulations and successes regarding sign language and Deaf culture. I want to learn so much about this language because I have wanted to do so for a very long time but was unable to teach myself for reasons you may understand. I watched the series Switched at Birth and there is TONS of signing in that show and it was a really great show. I also find sign language such a beautiful language. When you can watch people signing together and having a full out conversation it's such a beautiful thing and there's so much emotion AND sign language is very blunt and to the point. There's no skirting around things, people who sign just tell it like it is and I love that because that's how I live my life. While I am working on finishing the 52 book challenge from time to time you will see a book review about Deaf culture and it's really quite interesting... maybe it will spur your interest to take time to learn something new! Happy trails guys and a HUGE thank you to the people that come back every month and read my reviews on various items. Being accountable to you guys means a lot to me and definitely gives me a purpose.