Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Cinderella Man

Russell Crowe stars as boxing champ Jim Braddock in Cinderella Man. As the film opens, Braddock, like America, is in his hay-day. Money's flowing, he's winning, and his family loves him.

Flash forward a few years and we're into the Great Depression. Renee Zellweger plays his wife, Mae who is doing all she can to keep her children moving forward. Braddock hasn't done so well in the ring (never being knocked out however) and can't find a job.

When he loses his boxing commission, the couple looks to the worst.

But then his manager, played by Paul Giamatti, gets him a fight at the last minute. The up and coming champ needs a fighter and Braddock is just the man. Thinking this is just a final fight for him, Braddock accepts the fight because the money is so good. And he ends up winning the fight! This sends him on a one-way trip to the top in a match against the heavy-weight champ Max Baer. Baer has killed at least 2 guys in the ring.

With America cheering for him, Braddock steps into the ring for this huge fight. It's like Rocky, only real life.

This movie was fantastic. The acting was phenomenal. The only downside would have been Giamatti's character had to swear just about every time he spoke. But, incidentally, the swearing added to the humor of the scene.

Go out and get this movie. You'll be glad you did.

..Unless you don't like to feel good...

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Kung Fu Panda

I really enjoyed watching Kung Fu Panda.

Rated PG, so it's safe for kids, the film is your typical underdog-to-hero movie. Jack Black stars as Po, the panda who is chosen as the Dragon Warrior to defend the Valley of Peace from an evil Tiger (voiced by Ian McShane) who seeks the secrets of the Dragon Warrior.

Coming along for the ride are kung fu warriors voiced by Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and Lucy Liu led by their master (Dustin Hoffman).

Stellar voice cast, simple story, family-friendly - who could ask for anything more? This film is worth the rent.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

Easy reading. I think that's what helps people like me continue to read New Moon and books like it. It has the same qualities as the Left Behind series in terms of writing.

This is the second book in the Twilight series and the main character, Bella, continues to be the simple teenager who has some major, complex and destructive issues to deal with.

She has this dream to become a vampire so she can be with her vampire-boyfriend, Edward, forever.

The story begins with a birthday party where Bella gives herself a paper cut and the vampires go nuts over her blood. In order to keep her safe, they move away from the area. (Begin chapter after chapter of Bella being little more than a wet noodle) But, who am I to judge the mental state of a teenager in love, right?

So that's the end of the vampires - until the end of the book. What's Bella to do? Befriend a young boy who, it turns out, is changing into a werewolf. That's right. You can't have a vampire story without werewolves and they have to be arch rivals. LAME! What's in store for me when I read the third novel, Frankenstein? Maybe Stephanie Meyer could write a remake of The Louis and Costello meet Frankenstein movie. It has vampires and werewolves.

But back to this book, Bella is so in love with Edward, but as she spends all of her time with Jacob (werewolf boy) she finds that she begins to have feelings for him. Hold a second! She really is just using Jacob so she can hear Edward's voice whenever she does crazy life-ending stuff.

Really, these Twilight books are an easy read and you can find yourself enjoying the characters, but then we get to spend two or three chapters of Bella and Edward blaming themselves for the other's problems, begging the other not to leave, and moaning about how they can't love each other to0 much.

Maybe the Loch Ness monster will show up and eat them all and we'll have a great climactic story!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Kiss by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy

Like most of Ted Dekker's books, I blitzed through Kiss. It's another team-up for Ted but this time he's working with his editor.

After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion.

Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged. Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it.

In this blind game of cat and mouse that stares even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.

In typical Dekker style, this thriller is fast paced and contains twists and turns. (who can you trust?-type of characters) Not in typical Dekker style is the focus on building character. This comes in the form of Erin Healy. She brings a new voice to the main character, a woman, that Ted has never delved into.

This story in more along the lines of Blink of an Eye than say, Sinner. The tag says, "Heart pounding meets heart warming." There are some romantic scenes, but nothing like Twilight...bleh!


I can't wait for Dekker's next novel, Boneman's Daughters!

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Unseen by T.L. Hines

There is someone watching you as you work.

He is there in the ceiling above you at your desk, he's behind the wall as you go to the bathroom.

His name is Lucas and he's a creeper.

I'm a big fan of T. L. Hines. His first two novels, and Waking Lazarus and The Dead Whisper On were great stories. His work is considered Noir Bizarre.

In The Unseen, Lucas spends his life, observing people in public places. However, Lucas is behind the walls and ceilings of buildings. He never goes into a private residence until he meets the members of The Creep Club.

These members, set up video cameras and record the inside life of their "projects".

Once Lucas meets The Creep Club, things go downhill. Suddenly there are people trying to kill him and he doesn't know who to trust.


This is Hines' first work with a new publisher, Tommy Nelson. The book is much longer than the others and I think it hurts the story.

There are so many characters that come in and out of the plot. He tried to make this a twist-and-turn surprise thriller but it ended up being a confusing, "who really cares" story.

I think it would be better for the editors to slim down the next novel. Keep to telling these stories, just shorten them up a bit.

3 out of 5 stars

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Essential Spider-Man vol. 4

Continuing the Spider-Man comics saga in volume 4, we find Peter Parker up against new foes as well as the classics.

In this set, Gwen Stacey's father begins to have his suspicions that Parker and Spider-Man have a deep "connecting" secret.

You'll find these titles inside volume 4:

"Mission: Crush the Kingpin!"
"Spider-Man: Wanted!"
"The Speedster And The Spider!" (featuring Quicksilver)
"Rocked By.. The Shocker!"
"The Web Closes" (part 1 of the secret tablet saga)
"If This Be Bedlam!" (part 2 of the secret tablet saga)
"Death Without Warning" (part 3 of the secret tablet saga)
"Lizard Lives!" (part 1)
"In The Blaze Of Battle!" (part 2)
"The Night of the Prowler!"
"To Prowl No More!"
"On The Trail Of... The Chameleon!"
"The Coming of the Kangaroo!"
"And Then Came Electro!"
"The Schemer!" (part 1)
"The Kingpin Strikes Back!" (part 2)
"And Now... The Secret of the Schemer!" (part 3)
"Beware... the Black Widow"
"Unmasked at Last!"
"The Arms of Dr. Octopus!"
"Doc Ock Lives!" (part 1)

Monday, January 5, 2009

The Shack by William Young

Finished The Shack over the holidays and it is the best book I've read in 2009.

If you know next to nothing about this book, it's about a man named Mack and his encounter with God.

The first part of the book deals with what the author calls The Great Sadness. While Mack and his children are camping, his youngest daughter, Missy, is kidnapped and brutally murdered. The only evidence found is a bloody dress inside a shack. Three years later, Mack receives a note in his mailbox inviting him to return to the shack.

Mack decides to go back to the shack and the experience that follows is phenomenal.

I've been hearing that there are concerns and objections to this encounter. But I have to tell you, this book is quite fulfilling. Before you pass judgment, pick The Shack up at your library and read it. Then you'll want to share your thoughts - good or bad.

You can learn more by going to this website.

5 out of 5 stars!