The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

Just finished this book for the second time. I think I read it in college in one of my promotions classes b/c I immediately remembered the first part of the book when I started reading. But I can't remember now if I ever finished it the first time b/c I didn't remember the end. It's not like me to not finish a book though so maybe I just don't have a good memory.

Overall good book. In my head the dad ended up beatin' the killer up, but I guess I just make up happy endings in my memory. Interesting. But the book did end happy so maybe I just wanted some revenge for the dad. I feel like Harvey deserved a worse punishment for what he did. I liked how everything seemed normal on the outsides of the houses but so much was going on inside. I thought Ray and Ruth were good characters, and I loved how everyone came together at the end. They were all so different but connected.

And now for the quotes - These were my favorites from Lovely Bones.

Pg. 63 "Monkeys! - and he began on the rippling path to forgetting for one more day. The shadow of years was not as big on his small body. He knew I was away, but when people left they always came back." - It's funny to me that they spent so much time protecting Buckley when he didn't mind as much as the others. He was "with" his sister longer than most of the people in the book. In a way he was more comfortable with her being gone than the older people in the book.

Pg. 120 "I did begin to wonder what the word heaven meant. I thought, if this were heaven, truly heaven, it would be where my grandparents lived. Where my father's father, my favorite of them all, would lift me up and dance with me. I would feel only joy and have no memory, no cornfield and no grave." - Nice to see she got her heaven later on.

Pg. 125 " 'How to Commit the Perfect Murder' was an old game in heaven. I always chose the icicle: the weapon melts away.' " FINALLY - I get the reference to the icicle from the movie. I was totally confused. Eh..not my favorite.

Pg. 280 "His love for my mother wasn't about looking back and loving something that would never change. It was about loving my mother for everything - for her brokenness and her fleeing, for her being there right then in that moment..." - This is really pretty. If it had that funny old style, it would sound like something out of one of Jane Austen's novels.

Pg. 316 "I now saw that drinking was part of what made her who she was. If the worst of what she left on Earth was a legacy of inebriated support, it was a good legacy in my book." - I like this. Accepting people for who they are "flaws" and all.

Pandorum

I definitely did not expect what I got with this film. It was so much freakier than I imagined, and the twists in the plot were really good ones. I figured out what the first major plot twist was before it was revealed, but I couldn't be sure I was correct about it until everything actually unfolded...so I wouldn't say that this movie was predictable.

I like sci-fi thrillers, and this fits that category perfectly. Ben Foster was super as the character Bower. I'm glad he got to be a good lead. I haven't seen him play a decent character in a while. The other minor characters are good, too, but they were kind of forgettable after the movie was over. Dennis Quaid was adequate in his role.

The special effects were fantastic, and the monsters were extra creepy-looking with their fast walking and jerky movements. The first instant I saw the enemy monsters, I thought the movie might turn sour and go downhill from there, but it only got better and more intense. I was on the edge of my seat at times, and I was glad to be. I didn't expect that from the previews. The ending was satisfactory, and I'd definitely watch this again.

Bluray quality was excellent!

The Blind Side

Great feel-good family movie. There were some tear-jerking moments, and there were alot of laugh out loud parts, too. I think the whole cast was well appointed, and I especially liked the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. I think Sandra Bullock definitely deserved the Oscar she won for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy in this because she really nailed it with the sassy attitude, the accent and just the way she carried herself overall. You can get the sense of who her character is just from the way she walks.

The fact that this movie is based on a true story really makes the movie touch my heart on a whole other level. We need more Tuohy families in the world.

Priceless

Aw, I loved this movie. It was fun, funny, romantic and so sweet. Audrey Tautou is one of my favorite foreign film stars, and Gad Elmaleh is on my list now, too. He reminds me of Aidan Quinn...similar facial features and huge blue eyes. I'm a totally smitten kitten with him and his character in this movie, Jean. How can you not like a guy who's a hopeless romantic willing to do anything and pay anything to win over the woman he loves no matter how many times she rejects him? Especially one with his charm and boyish grin. He does a good job of feigning love on screen. I had to rewind a few times to read the subtitles because I was busy watching him watch Tautou's character.

This French love affair is perfect for a girls' night in or if you're just in a feel-good mood. Reminds me a little of French Kiss and Heartbreakers mixed together. I think I'm going to buy it. Heather, you should watch it with me when I get it. It's just oh so sweet!

Easy Virtue

Based on the play by Noel Coward, this is an updated version from the 1927 silent film of the same name. I didn't read the play or watch that silent version Alfred Hitchcock directed. I don't know if this update is an improvement on that either, but most of this was a little bland aside from the scenes with Colin Firth and Jessica Biel together. I knew the way the story would end right from the moment Larita (Jessica Biel) met John's (Ben Barnes) family and Jim (Colin Firth). Jim is John's father, but he seems just as much a stranger to the family as Larita. I wasn't that interested in the first fifteen minutes, but I kept watching to see if I was right about who would end up together and because I adore Colin Firth.

The movie improved only slightly, and there were some funny moments, and some weird ones. There was also extremely light flirting between the ultimate end couple, whom I paired together correctly. The end was mostly satisfying, but there was no last kiss at the calm yet climactic ending. I was so hoping for at least one peck of the lips...even a loving stare would have sufficed. Alas, I wouldn't recommend renting this and definitely not buying it, but if you can watch it instantly over the internet like I did then do that instead.

Little extra - I liked all of Jessica Biel's costumes, and, again, I adore Colin Firth. :o)

Under the Greenwood Tree

I recommend this to those who love romantic dramas with a touch of fun and flirting. It was a nice surprise period piece. I'm glad Netflix had this available to instantly stream so I could view it first before buying, which I did a few days after I watched it.

I've never read the book, but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The chemistry between Keeley Hawes and James Murray was evident from the beginning, and their romantic scenes were more than satisfying. I especially loved their second kiss in the woods when, right after it happens and before it continues, Dick Dewey (Murray) says to Fancy Day (Hawes), "I knew you felt the same, Fancy. I knew it. I tasted it on your lips the first time I kissed you." I mean, come on, that is hot! I'd want to kiss him again, too! You just don't hear lines like that anymore. And what is even hotter is the scene in the river with a half-naked James Murray. Now I know he's a little scrawny, but the faint ab lines and the wet bod are plenty tasty eye candy for me.

Aside from all that hot stuff, I enjoyed the classic struggle Fancy was faced with, choosing love or choosing to be loyal to her father. It's fun to watch all the tension and the misunderstandings unfold as the end of the story draws nearer.

This really was a great BBC classic, and the quality of the picture is very comfortable to watch. It's not fuzzy or furry like some of their older productions. The sound is of good quality, and the costumes were well-executed as well as the setting and props.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I was bored. I was not hooked from the beginning, and I had a hard time staying awake. The lack of Aslan in most of the story was disappointing. I followed everything, and I wasn't lost at all...even after nodding off a few times, I was able to pick up where I woke up and didn't feel like I missed much. The special effects were great, but I just didn't connect to the characters like I did in the first movie. This story in the chronicles is more evenly paced to me, and maybe that is part of the problem. I didn't feel like there were enough ups or downs, and I like that imbalance to keep me on my toes.

One thing I did like was Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian. He's oddly attractive. I thought the kiss with him and Susan was a bit forced, though. Again, no connection to the characters for me.

Maybe I should watch this again. I feel like I'm being unfair somehow. I'll be sure to comment or update whenever I give it another go. So many people like this movie, so don't let my review keep you from at least renting it.

Love Happens

I watched this a few months ago. Getting caught up on reviews here.

I thought this was a bit slow at times, but it was sweet and sad. You can't expect sad movies to move too quickly or else you lose the sad quality. This appeared to be more of a romance from the trailers, but the movie focused mostly on Eckhart's character dealing with personal tragedy. I admit I shed a few tears for the poor guy and his situation.

Thankfully the slow, budding romance between the two main characters eventually blooms and there is enough interaction between them to balance out the unhappy moments and even induce a bit of laughter and a few "aw" moments.

Aside from what the movie is about, I think the gray Seattle setting was an appropriate backdrop, sometimes adding to the depressing state of things. I enjoyed the sweetness of the flower shop and the VW van that Aniston's character drove, and her house and garden were just adorable and refreshing. All that lightness around her balanced out the darkness with which Eckhart's character was surrounded for most of the movie.

Good for a rental or when you just want to cry and then feel better about life again.

The Taking of Pelham 123

I thought the action was slightly on the light side (what was in it was good). The excessive swearing was a bit repetitive and seemed unnecessary for Travolta's character. Four-letter words don't make a movie better. Don't misunderstand me, though, I'm not opposed to cursing. It just appeared to me that the writers were at a loss for original lines.

Washington and Travolta delivered as Garber and Ryder, but I was hoping for a little more depth to their characters...some flashbacks into at least one of their lives would have been nice instead of just listening to them both talk about themselves in general. It was too easy for the good guys to figure out who Ryder really was, too. I think they should have had to dig further and actually investigate. I like it when I don't know something in the story until the characters in the movie actually find out, and I figured Ryder out in the first twenty minutes.

The end was lacking...would like to have seen a better lead into the closure of Garber's personal situation. Overall not bad but a bit of a disappointment. Won't watch it again, but I'd recommend it as a rental to a friend.

Law Abiding Citizen

Another Gerard movie! Woohoo! This one was good, I thought, but it ended kind of abruptly. It was all tricky at first then they suddenly figured it out. Beautiful shot of Gerard when he gets arrested. Check it out if you're a fan.

Paranormal Activity

Just as Blair Witch did, this movie gave me a headache with all the shaking and blurry close-ups. The woman who played Katie annoyed me. She tried too hard to make her emotions seem real, and I wasn't sold on her really being stressed out about her demon/ghost thing. The way Micha and Katie spoke to each other mostly in comlpete sentences kept reminding me that this was all fake.

Even though I did jump and get a little tense at the "scary" parts, I got over those moments in a matter of minutes instead of being left with that spine-tingling feeling I expected to have long after the movie's end. The ending ruined the movie for me with the weird face-morphing. I think it should have just ended with a long stare into the camera for and then a slow face-morph as the screen faded to black.

Even though most of this movie was annoying, I do think the special effects were fairly decent. I give it 3 stars out of 5, meaning it was OK, and I could tolerate another viewing. This could have been so much better, though.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

I'm so ready for the adventures that Harry, Hermione and Ron are about to have, finally, away from the school of Hogwarts in the seventh movie (so my sister tells me...I haven't read the book series so I don't know). In this sixth movie of the series, there was key information about how to actually kill Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore's traumatic exit, and Hermione finally reveals to us and to Harry her true feelings for Ron. Those are the three things I remember most. There were great special effects, as usual, and the story moved along at a steady pace, but it just seems that there was a lot of filler in this installment. Honestly, I don't remember most of it, and I'm sure that's not what the producers of this film intended. I'm patiently awaiting the last HP movie, and I hope it's just as memorable as the first five films and ten times more exciting than all the rest in the series.

A Christmas Carol 3D

Saw this on Thanksgiving Day after dinner with my oldest and youngest sister. We wanted to get in the Christmas spirit. What better way to do that than by watching a Christmas classic?! This is the Dickens tale we all know and love but with stunning 3D graphics and a Scrooge like no other. Jim Carrey was fantastic as the "humbug" spouting old geezer, Ebeneezer. The ghosts in this version were creepy and weird, although, the ghost/spirit of Christmas past (the floating candle man) cracked me up with his whispers and dancing flame head. His voice reminded me of Will Ferrell.

There were some surprisingly morbid moments in this movie so I definitely wouldn't recommended this to anyone thinking they want to show this to a 5-year old. This is definitely one of the best versions of A Christmas Carol that I've ever seen, but I still rate The Muppet Christmas Carol as my number one just because I love its balance between humor and darkness and the fact that it's a musical...also, I love Muppet movies.

Emma - Jane Austen

Not my favorite of the Austen books that I've read. Maybe b/c I watched the movie first, I already knew what was going to happen and I couldn't get Gwenyth Paltrow out of my head. I did like suspense with Knightley and Emma. And I liked how Emma kept getting herself into trouble, but she remained pretty stuck up till the end. I guess that was her character and what she was supposed to do, but it was annoying to me. Like the Shopaholic girl. She learns her lessons, but still, overall, goes back to being the same way she always had. Emma was okay with letting Harriet go b/c she wasn't really a close friend. She was a project. I think that's sad.

Reminded me of Shakespeare how everyone thought someone was in love with someone else.

As usual Austen writes AWESOME annoying characters. I just wanted to beat Mrs. Elton and Mrs. Bates to death so they would SHUT UP. Perfect. I'm going to rent this again just to see how these ladies played out in the movie. Fun!

As usual...my favorite quotes from the book.

Page 18. Describing Miss Bates. "And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without good-will. It was her own universal good-will and contented temper which worked such wonders. She loved every body, was interested in every body's merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with blessings..."

Page 134. "She had taken up the idea, she supposed, and made everything bend to it." I liked this sentence showing that you can make something out of nothing if you convince yourself of an idea. Everything seems to fit that idea you've created in your head even if it's not true.

Page 206. "One cannot love a reserved person. Not till the reserve ceases toward oneself; and then the attraction may be the greater." This seemed to me like a be confident quote. I liked how it read. Negative..in a positive way.

Page 264 "I would much rather have been merry than wise." Ignorance is bliss. haha!

Page 289 "You have everybody dearest to you always at hand, I, probably never shall again; and therefore, till I have outlived all my affections, a post-office, I think, must always have power to draw me out, in worse weather than to-day." This makes me think of leaving my friends in Murfreesboro and how much I love mail!!

Page 492 "The fact was, as Emma could now acknowledge, that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin; and that his continuing to love her had been irresistible." This was interesting to me b/c it was his great love for her that kept her in love with him. Had he given up, she would have too, but since he asked again and cared so deeply, she loved him. I wonder how long or how much a relationship can depend on the great strength of one-sided love. How many people are in love just b/c that person adores them?

The Invention of Lying

This was pretty good. Glad I went but not all that I expected. I love the main character. It was alot more awkward than I thought, and it was like everyone had terrets (sp??). They told the truth, but even when people didn't ask. I think it would have been funnier if they worked that part in more subtley (is that a word?). I liked the messages, and the whole idea of choice vs. going with the group. The ending was sweet. Overall good movie.

Doctor Detroit

Bought this movie at McKay's last time we went. Watched it when I was really little with my dad, and it's so stupid that it's amazing. Dan Akroyd is a nerdy professor guy who gets suckered into helping these prostitutes escape this evil pimp by pretending he's an even meaner pimp named Doctor Detroit. So cheesy and really sweet b/c his character is all into chivalry and can't understand why these girls want to be hookers. So...next time you're in the mood for a cheesy 80's movie, pick this one up, but don't pay over a few bucks to rent it. Hehe...I also recommend Who's Harry Crumb? and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels if you're looking for similar flicks.

17 Again

I really enjoyed this romantic comedy, and I know a lot of it was sort of like a bringing-the-family-back-together type film but there is romance at the heart of it. Zac Efron is a hunk and a doll, and I think he was awesome as a 40-year old man trapped in his own 17-year old body. He was believable, and his comedic timing was perfect. I was really worried that this flashback adventure would be predictable and only mildly funny, but it was pleasantly surprising and full of good humor. Leslie Mann and Matthew Perry are two hilarious actors, and it was nice to see them starring as the romantic leads. It stinks that Perry didn't get as much screen time as Mann. I hope to see Perry in more movies soon...I miss his comedic stylings.

I also want to mention that the side love story of Ned and the principal cracked me up...their nerdiness brought them together. Loved it! Ned was awesome...same guy that played Doug in I Love You, Man. He is a hoot.

Recommended to all the romantic comedy chick flick types out there, but I think guys will get a kick out this, too.

I Love You, Man

This movie totes magotes! Paul Rudd is cute and hilarious. He plays a sweetheart of a fiance. I loved the first dinner man-date, and the kiss at the end of it was so funny. Peter Segel is great as Sydney...I'm starting to like him more with each movie he does. He was fantastic in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Rashida Jones was a delight to see on the big screen, too. I think she and Paul Rudd had excellent chemistry, and I think it's sweet that her character wanted her fiance to have guy friends. I'm glad Jones is doing movies now, and I'm looking forward to seeing her in a new season of Parks and Recreation.

This movie is hilarious, like I said, but it does have a little of The 40-Year Old Virgin vibe going on...maybe it was all the curse words, but it was not completely gross or hard to watch like that movie was in some parts. I recommend this for good laughs. It's definitely worth a rental, but I'm thinking I might buy it later. I already added it to my bday wishlist on Amazon. :o)

New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer

SPOILERS - I'm just yacking about the books overall so don't read this if you don't want to know what happens.

I finally finished the 4th book last night. I liked the story early on a lot better than as it got farther into it. Bella got kind of annoying after a while. THEY BOTH LOVE YOU WOMAN! What the heck?! How many times does someone have to tell her something before she'll believe it? I felt bad for her situation. Tough call.

I loved all the characters, and I liked how they all worked together in the end.

I thought the whole Reneeseme (sp?) part in the 4th book was pretty messed up, and I could have done without all that. Yuck. I don't have kids so I probably can't relate, but once she had her daughter, Bella was so confused. I love Edward. I'll die if he dies. I love Nessie. I'll die if she dies. It would have been interesting if she would have had to choose between the two. There's another crazy decision to make. At least in the beginning, she always knew she would choose Edward. The other ideas could have worked and could have made her happy, but there wasn't even a decision to be made. I suppose it worked out that Jacob imprinted on her and wrapped it up really nicely for a happy ending, but it was just kind of strange. I hope that the little girl grew up more, and he wasn't stuck diggin' on the little one for the rest of his life.

Adventureland

Another weird movie. What the heck? I'm on a strange streak or something. This one was really slow and awkward. Kid wanted to go to an ivy league school, but his dad last his job so the kid has to get a job at a theme park to get money. Cute nerdy kid, but now that I'm writing about it, I can't even remember what happened. I just remember I didn't like it all that much. Don't bother with it.

Sunshine Cleaning

This movie was pretty slow and kind of strange. I was disappointed, but I like all the actors. Amy Adams, that girl from Dan In Real Life that his brother ends up with and the old guy. They're all great, but the story was just weird. Amy Adam's character is trying to make some more money so she gets a job cleaning up after people die or kill themselves. Gross! It has funny parts and it ends well, but overall it's just sad. I'll stick to the happy movies.

Inglorious Basterds

Josh's movie choice after he was practically forced to watch Nights in Rodanthe while we were on vacation. I was worried based on the previews, but it ended up not being too gross. I just shut my eyes on the scalping people and beating people with baseball bats parts. Yuck. Guns I can handle, but knives cutting people...yuck. The story was good, and I liked the characters. Definitely a guy movie. Brad Pitt's accent didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought it would, and he surprisingly had no love interest in the film. That I remember. Good one to check out if you're into that sort of movie.

The Bucket List

I saw this the other night on TV. I thought it was going to be just a bunch of hilarious adventures, but there was a great deal of sadness in this movie, too. I really enjoyed the trips and the experiences that Carter and Ed shared together, and I especially liked the "Chock Full of Nuts" thing. That was really sweet. I didn't think I would do it, but I cried at the end. For the past few years, I have made lists of things to do before each year before my next birthday, and now I kind of want to make a bucket list for my life.

Good for a rental.

Twilight

Okay. I take back all the nasty comments I had about series books, and this just being a "teen" fad. I decided to read this b/c a lady at work brought it to me singing its praises. Her other recommendations have been good so I cautiously started the first few pages. Now I'm totally hooked. I finished the entire book in 3 or 4 days. Now I want the next one. Smart writer...

It's so good! You have to read at least a few chapters, and then you'll understand. It's simple but really deep at the same time. Real love and real danger all mixed together. Who knew vampires could be so sexy? Geez. The whole book is like a tease. Just talk to her already. Just make out with her already. Just change her already. I think I like it b/c it's so dramatic.

I'm ready for the next books. And I apologize to anyone I made fun of for reading it. :o)

A Year In Provence

For a short book, this took me forever to read. Another book about another country where they talk about food almost the whole book. It's good, and it's descriptive. But just not that exciting. I guess I'm a story girl, and I like for something to actually happen in the book. Need some conflict to make it good. Or some hidden meaning. Hidden meanings and conflict..conflict that is resolved. That's my type of book.

Sorry for the ramble. This book was great as far as giving you a feel for a place which I imagine was the idea. Made me want to hunt down all these little restaurants and see if they actually exist. Yum! Or made me want to live a year in Provence. Seems like an interesting group of folks.

I recommend this if you want to experience Provence from the mind of an outsider trying to understand how to live like an insider.