BBC Sherlock

I've been putting off writing this review because when I write reviews about things that I really love, it feels like I'm just fangirling about the chosen subject for several paragraphs.
However, I am now going to attempt to write a decent review of this show without geeking out on you all (too much).

I first discovered Sherlock in January of 2011, just a few months after the first series aired. At that point, I was already a big Sherlock Holmes fan from reading the books, but had been greatly disappointed with the only on-screen adaption I had seen thus far, that being the 2009 movie starring Robert Downey Jr. (I will be going further into that in another review).
I was instantly intrigued by the idea of a present day adaption and watched all three of the episodes in the first series. I loved it.

The casting was perfect, the character portrayal was very well done and tweaked just the right amount to fit into the modern setting, and even though every episode was based on one or more stories from the original canon, the plots were cleverly done and changed enough to make it as much of a mystery for old Holmesians and new watchers alike.
Holmes and Watson are wonderfully acted by Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. They have great chemistry onscreen and it's a pleasure to watch them play out the famous friendship and partnership between their characters.

As far as ratings and age appropriateness go, it is rated 14A and I suggest keeping to that rating.
Several characters are shown using various weapons. There is some language, smoking, and references to drug use. There are also some scenes in episode one of series two that have suggestive content, and episode two of that same series has some scenes that could be frightening for younger children.

I honestly could say so much about this fantastic show, but I think it's best to let Sherlock speak for itself. I don't want to give away any spoilers.
As a whole, the show is brilliantly done and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (No Spoilers)

When I first saw an advertisement on the television for this new series, I must say I was instantly excited and interested in what they were going to do with it. I was not disappointed.

First of all, I'd like to make my opinion known on a subject that I've already seen some negative feed from. The fact that they brought Agent Coulson back honestly did not
bother me in the slightest. I thought it was a clever move on their part to have an already well-established and well-liked character to start with, something that any good spin-off should have anyways. I look forward to seeing how that story line will play out.

My overall impression of the first episode was that I felt satisfied with it. I was pleased with how they started, and was already interested and invested in the various characters by the end of the 45 minutes. A promising start.

The clever and witty dialogue was very enjoyable. Seeing some more of the inner workings of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the day to day stuff that happens after all the supers have headed back to Stark Tower, Asgard, etc. was pleasing to see, as well as quite a few shiny new gadgets for the sci-fi and tech geeks to appreciate.

The one thing which threw me a bit was the few instances where there was stronger language than I had anticipated. This being a television show rather than a movie, they do have a bit more freedom in that area.

All in all, I liked what I saw, and I am definitely going to be watching the upcoming episodes.

Guns of Icarus

This review was created by my brother, I asked his permission to share it here.
He also has his own blog with his gaming ideas and projects from his school at VFS (Vancouver Film School) here. Firmus

Please enjoy, and as usual; thanks for reading. 

   I just started playing the Guns of Icarus online, and I must say that it is probably one of the best team based games I have played yet. I must admit that I have not played many team games, but the ones that I have played made me feel like my team was just multiple people wanting the same thing and running around on their own, or in pairs to get it done rather than being one unit. in this game teems consist of two or more dirigibles, and each one has 4 people on it. Unlike other games, a single person does not carry the whole team, but all of the players must work in unison to get the job done. Each person is crucial, there is the Pilot: who steers the dirigible in and out of combat, the Gunner: who mans the different guns on the dirigible, and the Mechanics: who run around fixing the ship, and who man the guns when needed. Each job on the dirigible is fun too; I have just as much fun being a mechanic, and flying or shooting.

*in short, Guns of Icarus is a great game.

City of Bones Movie

   My expectations were low for this movie, and the real reason I had gone to it was for my younger sister and friends. To my surprise and enjoyment I found this movie very well done.
   I have not read the book for this series, and my only knowledge of it is a friend who told me it is very accurate to the book with some of her favorite quotes.
   My negative feedback is one major problem parents should look for. There are slight hints here and there, and then Clary (the protagonist) implies outright about one of the characters being gay, which he is. That did set me off and I wonder what the world is coming to when we even have gays in our movies.
   It can be rather violent with slaying of monsters they call "demons" and can be very scary for younger viewers, although I would not rate it as high as the X-men movies when it comes to violence.
   One more thing to watch out for is that near the beginning Clary's mother uses Jesus' name in vain. I only caught it that one time otherwise it is a clean speaking movie.
 

 It is a fast action movie, with terrific graphics, and set design. The costumes were very creative and the characters were well picked for their parts.
   The movie does take a twist that I did not predict to my enjoyment, and kept a good pace all the way to the end. It really drew out our imagination and had humor we could laugh out right at. 

   I would definitely say younger kids should not watch this movie, but is something teens can enjoy and be drawn into the world, as long as they are careful not to accept the world view of "Believing in yourself," and being gay is okay. 

Thanks for reading.

Divergent: Different

   I have read the first book of the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. At first I thought it far too similar to Suzanne Collins Hunger Games trilogy: Based sometime in the future. The government was corrupt so sections of people were created. The protagonist is a teenage girl that hardly knows anything about what is going on. With those similarities, the rest is all different and more to my liking. 

    What were not very much appreciated from a Christian view was the all the killing and deaths. Some of it I realized was unavoidable, some of the deaths actually happen in real life now a days and can be understandably put in. However when there is a gun in a fourteen year old girls hand, shooting people, I cringe. Some of the deaths she caused I believe could have been avoidable, thus sparking my dislike.
   My second disapproving remark would be the kissing. Lots of lovey-dovey kissing whenever possible, that I am sure could have been left out.
   Now on to the good stuff.
   I did approve -to my surprise- the love interest. At first I thought the inevitable love triangle would appear, but Miss Veronica snatches that away quickly. The love interest between out protagonist "Tris" and an older boy called Four, do not spend an annoyingly long time figuring out they like each other. So besides all the smooching it was rather touching to see-I mean read. 

   My second compliment would be for the protagonist Tris, as she is called. She is not overly beautiful or tall. She is just like any normal girl. She knows she is not perfect (Not just in looks) and that she is hard to deal with, making her a character a lot of girls can enjoy and relate to.
   Lastly I would like to say cheers to the creator of this world, Veronica Roth. Unlike the Hunger Games which looked to be sloppily put together, Miss Veronica delved deeper. I learned that she actually studied in college to be a creative writer, which gave her the writing style and skills something to appreciate.
  

 On a side note coming from a regular classic books reader I would say Veronica Roth has been one of the best popular modern writers I have read that I really enjoy, and I look forward to reading the next two books in the Divergent cycle, Insurgent and Allegiant. 

     Thanks for reading.

Hamlet (aka. Shakespeare is Still Cool)

I find it a very sad and disappointing thing that so many people don't want to read Shakespeare anymore. They think Shakespeare is dull, pointless and not interesting... Really?
Hamlet is a great example of the brilliance of Shakespeare. If you think that Hamlet is all about death and "gosh it must be such a depressing book, and doesn't the guy go mad in the end?", that is not what it's all about. Hamlet's character is actually very funny, he has a great (if slightly odd sometimes) sense of humor and I laughed out loud many times while reading the book. And the beginning of the grave-digger scene? Hilarious.
The various characters in the story are so fascinating to follow and have many facets that do not become obvious until you dig a little into the work . You see new things from every different perspective you try, and some things you will never be completely certain about because you simply aren't supposed to be.
Yes, the main themes of the book are darker; lust, murder, revenge, etc.. But there are other elements that add to the story and make for a very good read.

Many people who would pick up and try to read a Shakespeare play today may not enjoy it because the older styled writing and strange words would make it hard for them to understand the book. I can understand that, it takes a while to get used to. If that is the case, just go to a bookstore and pick up a modern English copy. Many of them even have the original script on one side and the modern on the other to better help you understand it. You will be able to read through the whole play easily and maybe afterwards you'll want to go back and read the original.

For myself, I strongly suggest that everyone reads at least one play written by Shakespeare during their life, and Hamlet is certainly a good place to start.

On another note, if you are interested in seeing a unique a very well done adaption of Hamlet, try the BBC's Royal Shakespeare Company version starring David Tennant. It's done in a really neat style and I highly recommend it.

Dedicated to Miss Louisa M Alcott: From a Great Admirer

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."

                           Louisa M Alcott

     I have admired Louisa May Alcott and her novels greatly and I would like to share with you why that is.
     Miss Louisa is vastly known for her work Little Women and Little Men. I fell in love with these books a few years back and to my great astonishment and joy I discovered she had written many more novels and stories besides, in her time. Jo's Boys, Old Fashioned Girl, Eight Cousins, and Rose in Bloom being only a few titles to her name.
     I admire Miss Louisa for the lessons she teaches, cleverly placed within her pages, and within her characters themselves. Her character insight was marvelous, and even though she never married nor had any brothers, she seemed to understand men and boys just as well as women and girls. She could see the core of human nature and displayed it splendidly in her books. She challenges, not only her make-believe characters, but also her readers to improve and to try to do better and more with themselves.
     For a beginner starting to read, the classic books, Miss Louisa's tales can be a bit difficult to read, at first. The odd-old words and the old writing style can be a particular obstacle they would have to climb, but if one was to push on they would find Miss Louisa's books a fun and educational, to a certain degree.

     A short background story on Miss Louisa: she was born November 29^th, 1832. Her father Amos Branson Alcott was a firm believer in children following their dreams. He was considered odd for he encouraged girls, as well as the boys, to be independent. It was a new concept in those days for women to strike out on their own, and work for themselves. Miss Louisa loved her father and mother, Abby Alcott and learned much from her parents teaching, along with her three other Sisters Abigail, Anna, and Elizabeth, all of them being models for the March sisters in Little Women.
     Her first published work at the age of 22 was entitled Flower Fables, not one of her most popular works, but one that paved a way to her writing career. In her day and age a female author was strange and questioned very much, so her penname was A.M Barnard, and was what she used for most (if not all) her published works. In 1863 she volunteered as a nurse for the Union Army during the American civil war, where she collected the material for Hospital Sketches. After the war she wanted to provide for her family, and so wrote stories to earn money. This was when her most popular tales were created.

     I hope your curiosity is peaked and that someday you will pick up a classic book by the author Miss Louisa M Alcott. Even men and boys could enjoy her world in Little Men.
     To send you off I will end with one of my favorite quotes of hers. 

"....A love for good books is one of the best safeguards a man could have."

Eight Cousins: Good Bargains.
By, Louisa M Alcott

     Thanks for reading, and I hope to find a Miss Louisa fan out there like me, since I have never seen one as of yet.