A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle: A Passionate Prattle

“In your language you have a form of poetry called the sonnet…There are fourteen lines, I believe, all in iambic pentameter. That’s a very strict rhythm or meter…And each line has to end with a rigid pattern. And if the poet does not do it exactly this way, it is not a sonnet…But within this strict form the poet has complete freedom to say whatever he wants…You’re given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. What you say is completely up to you."

“You mean you're comparing our lives to a sonnet? A strict form, but freedom within it?" 

"Yes." Mrs. Whatsit said. "You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. What you say is completely up to you.”

While I seemingly absorbed a love for science fiction and fantasy in the womb, we all must begin our personal journey into that world somewhere. Alongside my parents I ventured into the worlds of Star Trek, Narnia, King Arthur, and many others. I've known these names for so long, in fact, that I regret to say that I have no fond memories of my first experience with them.  But one thing I shall always hold dear is the memory of the first time I read A Wrinkle in Time.

I was a wee lad, on a shopping excursion to an Edmontonian Chapters with my (much smaller then) family. I recall I was poking through a section filled with Great Illustrated Classics, a line of adapted classic novels I was quite engaged in at the time, when my Mother (or was it my Father? Memories are fickle) approached me with a book they had found.

It had a most surreal cover depicting an angelic being emerging from a giant egg which was itself emblazoned with an image of three children. Obviously it gave me no real indication of what kind of story I was about to experience. 

The author was Madeline L'Engle, and the title was A Wrinkle in Time. 

I happily accepted the recommendation as soon as I was able to discern that the genre was science fiction, and that night, I began reading. To this day, it remains one of my favourite novels of all time. 

(A side note worth noting so I think I'll note it: I remember that my love for Peanuts made me smile quite broadly at the opening line "It was a dark and stormy night").

A Wrinkle in Time, on a basic level, deals in the plight of fourteen-year-old Margaret "Meg" Murry, her friend Calvin 'O Keefe, and her genius five-year-old brother Charles Wallace as they travel through time and space in search of her father, who went missing after working on the theoretical concept of the Tesseract. The Tesseract here being the fifth dimension, and the titular Wrinkle in Time. 

Along the way they travel through many strange, beautiful, endlessly creative and terrifying places and planets, meet many eccentric and engaging characters, uncover many conspiracies and truths about said places and characters, as well as the very universe they live in.

I'm honestly having a hard time writing about this particular book. There's so much I want to say about it at once. I want to talk about how much I was amused by, as well as related to the character who found it easier to express herself through quoting Shakespeare's The Tempest rather than using her own words, the fascinating philosophy and insight of a planet whose creatures have no concept of vision, the horror of Camazotz, the beauty and music of Uriel, the touching closeness and self-sacrificing love that the Murry family demonstrates, but, alas, I am too close to this novel to offer much coherency when discussing it.

What I can do, is say this, if you have any interest in fantasy or science fiction, or just want to read something astoundingly creative and (I only use this word when I really mean it) unique. this is an absolute must-read.

One thing I will comment on, and I really love this, is that the book has a constant Christian perspective on things. I regret to say that Madeline L'Engle had many personal views that conflicted with biblical truths despite her professed Christian faith, but as far as A Wrinkle in Time is concerned, that perspective and the many nuggets of wisdom it provides did nothing but enhance the enjoyment of the novel and its story.

Hymns and praises to the same God I know being sung on another planet is something that you rarely see in these kinds of stories, and when a character pep talks the others using Romans 8:28, I thought it was just awesome.

These things also tie directly into the well-expressed, if common, themes of the story. Love, friendship, good vs evil, redemption, all that good stuff. 

The book is certainly no Narnia in that department, to be sure, but they definitely give its philosophy a nice edge, and provides its readers with brilliant conversation potential.

A Wrinkle in Time was followed by many sequels, of which I'm afraid I only read one. The second book, A Wind in the Door, had many interesting ideas such as other worlds existing in human mitochondria, and possibly the most unique cherubim I've ever read about, but it certainly didn't stick with me like the original… Perhaps I should reread it and catch up on the other sequels as well. Chalk those up as potential future reviews. 

I do apologize for this being more of a prolonged raving session rather than a coherent review, but it truly does boil down to this: A Wrinkle in Time is one of the greatest science fiction stories I have ever read, let alone children's novel; I don't think there's much you could want out of such a tale that it does not provide. Philosophy, mystery, friendship, humour, suspense, a hint of tragedy and OH, MY GOODNESS THE CREATIVITY. (Sorry).  I cannot recommend it enough.

I thank you very much for swimming through my wee-morning hour ramblings, and I bid you cheerio, pip pip and all that!

"It seemed to travel with her, to sweep her aloft in the power of song, so that she was moving in glory among the stars, and for a moment she, too, felt that the words Darkness and Light had no meaning, and only this melody was real."

Captain America: The Winter Soldier review (MAJOR spoiler warning)

  Steve Rogers, aka the super-soldier from WWII, Captain America, is back in this latest installment of the Marvel Comic Universe and is still struggling to adapt to the fast-paced 21st century. He has become an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is using his war skills to help stomp out the big crimes and threats to national security. In his downtime, he is catching up on all he's missed during his seventy-year slumber, from Thai food to Star Wars (imagine watching The Empire Strikes Back with Steve, hmm?). Now that the shock has worn off, now that the world is no longer endangered from aliens led by power-hungry Norse-gods, he has time to grieve for what he's lost. Maybe not in crying actual tears, but the pain is still there.

  Peggy, his dear friend and battlefield sweetheart, wiles away her days alone in a nursing home, gray-haired, wrinkled, and lost to him. Not merely because of her alzeimer's, but also because of that seventy-year gap where she went on with her life and he was sleeping. All those lost days and years lie between them like a chasm, and nothing will ever truly bridge it again.

  And Bucky. Good, old Bucky. A true friend. A best friend. Childhood companion and fellow troublemaker, always good in a scrape, a soldier to the end. A man who's life was worthy to be celebrated, to be honored, whether in Steve's own heart, or in a museum display. Bucky's sacrifice will never be forgotten.

  Despite these unique and tragic losses, Steve Rogers does have a few bright sides to his difficult existence. His time at S.H.I.E.L.D is going well, the missions keep him occupied, help him forget the culture shift. Natasha, the Black Widow, has been good to him, if not a little rough around the edges. And he's found a new companion in Sam Wilson, a war veteran from the modern day.

  Yes, life is going alright, at least, from Steve's surface perspective.

  But in reality, this new modern life as he knows it may be about to self-destruct.

  S.H.I.E.L.D has been compromised, it's leader is on the run, it's agents are turning traitor left and right, and a brand new threat has surfaced, one that even Captain America may not be able to stop.

  The enemies were obvious when Steve Rogers first became Captain America, back in the good old days, it was easier to be a good guy. Staring down Hitler or tangling with Hydra has a way of perfecting a person's sense of right and wrong.

  But those were the good old days, and those days are long gone, as Steve has come to understand so well. The clear cut, black and white of his youth has turned gray, the line between friend and enemy has been blurred, the country that he risked his life for, the organization that has employed him to continue, slinks and spies, cheats and lies, perhaps for good reasons, as argued by Nicky Fury (head of S.H.I.E.L.D), or perhaps not. And as the days grow increasingly darker, Stever Rogers is left to wonder;

  Who am I really fighting for? Who are the good guys in this mess? Or does it even matter anymore?


  I very much enjoyed the first Captain America film, borrowing it from the library after being exposed to The Avengers. Despite the rather interesting plothole at the end of the film, it was a thoroughly enjoyable movie, with a nice, clean-cut, honest hero, not-so-nice, clean-cut villains, and a cool sci-fi take on WWII (an era of history I find fascinating). Not to mention all the cameos  of some of my favorite characters (Elrond, Thorin, Grace Van Pelt, etc).

  That being said, the sequel absolutely blew my mind. Despite the much darker tone of this film than anything Marvel has done before, I was absolutely hooked from start to finish. Captain America is one of my favorite superheroes and in this film, his internal struggles come more to the surface. One of the most interesting things about him is the fact he came directly from the past into the 21st century future. Trying to fathom the shock that someone would suffer through being thrown straight into this crazy millennium is difficult, but the consequences are interesting, and the way they play out in both subtle and non-subtle ways during the film is both interesting and tragic.

  Nick Fury and Natasha Romanov (Black Widow) are both characters that remained rather low in my list of favorite Marvel heroes, but this movie has definitely elevated them both. While neither of them begin or become as straightforward and honest as Cap, his influence on them is obvious by the film's conclusion. They may both be willing to cheat, lie, maim or sneak to get a job done, but Steve's simpler, upright approach does have its benefits, its positives, as they come to understand. When their world is crashing in around them, it is Captain America's sincerity, his virtue, his belief in the good of the world, that pulls them through, helps them go on.

  Despite how great Director Fury and Black Widow are, and how much I love Captain America, it was the Winter Soldier (aka, Bucky Barnes) that came out as my favorite character from this film. I am a sucker for the brothers-turned-enemies trope and this one was definitely one of my favorites (and one of the most tragic) I've had the pleasure of experiencing heartbreak with. Also, I do love a good anti-hero, especially one as fantastically skilled and awe-inspiring as brainwashed Bucky has become. A calm, cold, deadly assassin, the perfect foil for genuine, good-hearted Captain America.

  What surprised me most about this film however, was the incredibly relevant and somewhat shocking portrait that was painted of our world today. History repeating itself was never more clear than the moment in which Steve realizes that his sacrifice in the War was almost futile. He never stopped Hydra's plans at all, he only delayed them, gave them a new, darker goal to achieve. The Nazis and Hydra had tried to take the people's freedom in the War by force, but they clung to it, fighting back, perhaps more viciously than expected. So a new and subtler plan was introduced. Why go through all the trouble of taking their freedom, when they could simply encourage them to hand it over willingly out of fear, in the name of "security and peace." How true to the times is that idea? How blunt and obvious? How clear an image of our world? What makes it so frightening is just how plausible it is, so much so that walking out of the theatre, I could almost believe that there really was a Hydra out there, orchestrating the chaos that so plainly exists around our globe.

  It's these concepts of freedom and fear and the lines people are willing to cross and the things they are willing to sacrifice for security that made the film for me. Often, Hollywood blockbusters focus more on the action and the romance of their stories rather than relevant, timeless issues such as those presented in The Winter Soldier. And to me, that seems a tremendous waste. All the opportunities to present truth to audiences lost for the sake of "pleasing a demographic" or making more money. The Winter Soldier is at the top of the box office right now, so people obviously do care about these issues. My hope is that in seeing this idea so clearly shown for just a movie moment, they will be more apt to recognize similar themes in reality.
  Perhaps these examples of terror and freedom and the marring of black and white could be considered exaggerated here (it is still, after all, a Marvel movie) but that doesn't change the truth that lurks underneath.

    "We will neutralize threats before they happen."

    "I thought the punishment usually came after the crime....This isn't freedom - this is fear."



A POST-SCRIPT:
  Now that my more serious musings are out of the way, I'd like to take a minute just to make note of the little, awesome things that made gave me heart palpatations as I watched. A warning; I cannot guarantee just how much of my fangirl side will be released in this section, tread carefully.

  - Steve's List: The one which he pulls out in the presence of Sam Wilson (the Falcon). The camera gives us a nice little shot of Steve's pop culture list, and speculating about someone's first time experience with these things couldn't be more fun! I've already mentioned this above, but seriously, imagine watching the Star Wars trilogy with Steve! It would be so great!

  - The Suit Switch: For the first chunk of the film, Steve wears a more low-key, dark version of his Captain America costume while his original outfit sits gathering dust in the Smithsonian. Most people seemed to not like the original, more patriotic costume, but I'm glad that he donned it for the second half of the movie. I do love a little nostalgia.

  - Natasha's Necklace: For those of you interested in a little Avengers romance, you may be pleased to note that during parts of the film, Natasha can be seen wearing a small, silver arrow necklace. Apparently, the actress, Scarlett Johansson, requested this subtle hint herself. I'll let you guys draw your own conclusions...

  - Future Shield References: There have been a couple of instances in which Bucky/The Winter Soldier handles Steve's signature shield, perhaps a hint of things to come, since in the comic book universe, Bucky does take up Captain America's role for a time. And it is worth mentioning that Sebastian Stan (Bucky) has signed a contract for nine Marvel films while Chris Evans (Steve) has only signed on for six.

  - Stan Lee Cameo: Another solid Stan Lee cameo as he portrays a night-guard in the Smithsonian who fears being fired after Cap "borrows" his old costume. We all love Stan Lee, so let's just take a moment to appreciate him here.

  - The Maximoff Twins: And finally, two characters I am REALLY excited to see in The Age of Ultron film next year. Wanda and Pietro (Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver) have definitely grabbed my interest and I look forward to seeing them in future films. Their short cameo here (in the credits scene) was a very creepy yet cool glimpse of what's to come next year. Couldn't be more happy about these additions to the Avengers team!

The Fault in our Stars, in Two Days

         I thought I would read The Fault in our Stars because I wanted to see the movie. **Release date, in theaters June 6th.
    It follows the story of a young sixteen year old girl, named Hazel. She has a serious case of cancer and is just waiting to die pretty much. She meets the young man Augustus, who is a total gentleman, at a support group. He also had a form of cancer that started in his leg, so the doctors amputated it. To avoid spoilers I will say nothing else. (Although you could probably guess what happens next).
    Yes, it is such a super easy book, even I, a slow reader, finished it in two days. I will say with all bias intended, that I did not like it a jot.
    The very first chapter the author slams his opinion of God in the readers face, no need to worry if the author thinks there is a heaven. He doesn't. Now, that is his opinion he can have it, and I will disagree with him, but the constant use of the Lord's name in vain throughout the book made me grimace, and throw my hands up in despair. Everyone in the book likes to swear apparently.
    Do not even get me started on the grammar. I do not claim to be a grammar expert, which makes it even worse if I notice the misuse of the written word. I hate to think we let people get away with such crimes.

     This is apparently a popular and favorite book of a lot of people. I can not see why. Then again I do not follow modern days flow of popularity. So, you might like it, especially the romance. I will stick with my older books, with more in-depth stories, and proper use of commas, and periods.

Okay?
Thanks for reading.

Frozen Review (warning: some spoilers)

  There is a chill in the castle of Arendelle.

  Young princess Elsa, born with magical powers of ice and snow, has created a winter wonderland in the palace halls, at the request of her younger sister, Anna. It has become a sort of special sister time between them, late at night, when the castle sleeps, to entertain themselves with Elsa's powers. Eagerly, they build snowmen, make snow-angels, have snowball fights, sled, and leap from snowbank to snowbank.

  Unfortunately, roughhousing with magic is never a very wise idea, and Anna is struck in the head accidentally by Elsa's ice.

  The horrified king and queen gather both their children and take an emergency midnight trip to the wise trolls. The chief troll assures them that Anna can be cured, “the heart cannot be so easily changed, but the head can be persuaded” and advises them to let him remove Anna's memories of Elsa's magic and keep their elder daughters powers a secret. The king and queen are desperate and agree, causing the downward spiral that may eventually lead their kingdom to ruin.

  Elsa, terrified of her hurting her sister, or anyone else, and tortured by the constant threat of the harm of her magic, locks herself away as her parents and the trolls urge, distancing herself from everyone. Including her beloved sister. Confused and disheartened by her sister's sudden “iciness”, Anna tries vainly for years to get Elsa to come out and be close again, but Elsa, out of sacrificial love for her sister (albeit misguided love) stays far away, just beyond Anna's reach, hidden behind a locked door.

  So when the day comes, as it seems is inevitable in Disney films, when Elsa's parents are no longer around to watch out for her and lead her, a desperate and despairing Anna comes slowly to her sister's locked door. Looking for comfort, guidance, arms to hold her in this troubled time.

  Little does she know the depth of her older sister's fear and loneliness as she weeps alone in the icy shadows of her cold room.

  “We only have each other. ” Anna laments sadly. “It's just you and me. What are we gonna do?”

  But, just as before, no answer came from behind Elsa's door that day. Or any day since.


  A few years down the road, the two princesses are preparing (in utterly opposite ways) for Elsa's coronation as queen of Arendelle. Young and impetuous Anna is desperate for human companionship and thrilled to see the castle gates open wide for the flood of guests come to celebrate and witness her sister's coming of age. In true Disney fashion, she sings of all the thrilling things that she imagines coming to pass in the night ahead, including possibly finding her “true love”.

  Elsa, meanwhile, takes a very different approach to the impending social gathering. She covers every inch of her skin possible, slipping on the blue gloves her father gave her to shield the world from her icy blasts. Repeating the instructions of her parents, she reluctantly welcomes the inevitable with a sort of resigned dignity, determined to do her duty, determined not to let anyone know.

  “Conceal. Don't feel. Put on a show.” she tells herself repeatedly, clearly struggling, while Anna rushes out to greet the people. Finding herself face-to-face (or should I say, face-to-horse) with Prince Hans, a handsome and charming prince of the Southern Isles who immediately strikes Anna's fancy, and continues to do so well into the night. So smitten is the young (and slightly naïve) princess, that she actually agrees to Hans' marriage proposal, and promptly drags her new fiancée to meet her sister and receive the queen's blessing on their marriage.

  However, Elsa – dutiful, frigid Elsa – says no. Leading into an argument in which Anna rips off Elsa's glove, driving her to anger and greater stress, until she finally snaps. And the effect is both shocking, and devastating.

  “Sorcery! Monster!” the terrified guests whisper, and Elsa flees the ball, the castle, the city. Heading into the lonely wilds of the mountains beyond the lake, where she can be free to use her powers and not worry about hurting those she loves, where she, and everyone else can be safe.

  But Elsa never reckoned that her sudden release would bury her country in snow and ice, setting in a slowly deepening winter that grows only more frigid as time passes. Arendelle's citizens are left behind in the cold, afraid, outraged, and unable to do anything to fight the chill. Only princess Anna is willing to go after Elsa and speak to her, insisting her sister is not a monster, that she isn't dangerous.

  “She's my sister, she would never hurt me.” she asserts, leaving her new beau, prince Hans, in charge of the kingdom before riding off into the frosted forests in search of Elsa. Thus begins an adventure in which love, in its truest form, is realized, and the eternal bond between two sisters proves to outlast any ice or storm.


  Frozen came to my attention late last year, not too far from the film's release, and while it had caught my interest, as most Disney films will, I didn't have amazingly high expectations. At least, I certainly wasn't expecting what I got.

  I am a huge fan of Disney, it was such an integral part of my childhood, I grew up on films like The Lion King, Bambi, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians, Mulan, and Robin Hood. When I was really young, before my siblings were born, we didn't have much TV, I had my Disney movies and my Veggie Tales collection. They shaped me at a young age, and I am so glad of it.

  As I've grown up, Disney movies have sorted of faded, in both quantity and quality. Studios like Pixar and Dreamworks have become more popular. Disney's classic 2D animation is all but dead. The company has invested so much time and effort into other unrelated franchises that they've forgotten everything that made them so special in the first place.

  Perhaps Frozen has come along just in time to save that.

  Grand, strikingly beautiful, and emotionally entrapping, Frozen has enthralled viewers of all ages and all walks of life, bringing back the old Disney magic in a almost indescribable way. There is just something distinctly “Disney-ish” about it that I haven't seen or experienced in the Disney films of this millennium. Maybe it's because Frozen has been in talks since Walt Disney himself was alive, or because it was adapted from a classic fairytale like most of the Disney Princess movies, maybe it's the music, or the characters. Maybe the world was just ready for something magical again.

  Out of all of Frozen's wonderful songs, it is the Oscar-winning 'Let It Go' (sung by the fabulously talented Idina Menzel) that has captured the world's heart. It has started a Youtube trend, it seems everyone is performing their own version of this popular hit.

  For myself, I really do like the song. The visuals of Elsa creating her ice palace was INCREDIBLE, the music was beautiful, Idina Menzel's voice is just unbelievable, and the lyrics a lovely. The only thing I disliked was the self-centered message behind it.

  “No right, no wrong, no rules for me.” Elsa sings out, shooting ice left and right. This was one of the problematic lines that caught my attention. Does the song deserve all the attention it is getting? I think so. It's definitely magnificent musically. However, I think we should enjoy it without soaking up too much of its philosophy, which may be hard to do, considering the generally young age of the Disney audience and the widespread popularity of a song that has been stuck in people's heads since the film premiered last year. However, as a lover of Disney music, I think it has earned its popularity and will continue to revel in that fame for a long time to come. We may as well just enjoy it as music, no matter how tired some of us may be of hearing it. ;)

  Besides the Frozen's soundtrack, which has wowed and enraptured the world, I think it is the theme of 'true love' that really stands out the most about this film. Going against its own past philosophy on the now cliched 'true love romance' between a prince and princess, Frozen seeks to show us a different and far more powerful form of true love, mainly through the bond between Anna and Elsa.

  You may have gathered from my intro that the relationship between the two sisters is frosty at best, but it wasn't always that way. Buried beneath years of hurt and rejection is a love for each other that grows and blossoms into something beautiful by the end of the film. Despite how Elsa has hurt her, Anna still sacrifices herself to save Elsa from the sword of the film's (surprise!) antagonist. And it is shown throughout the film that Anna is willing to put herself on the line for Elsa, even when the other characters suggest she isn't worth risking it for. That Disney would step away from its old ways to paint this lovely picture is truly surprising and the results are inspiring.

  That's not to say there aren't other characters who demonstrate acts of 'true love' to one another. Olaf, the walking, talking snowman Elsa brought to life is there for Anna when she most needs a friend. He stays with her, keeping her warm at his own (*ahem* wet) expense and when Anna sees what he is doing to himself he gently replies; "Some people are worth melting for." 

  Likewise, Anna's newfound traveling companion, Kristoff, a tall, blonde-haired, ice-harvester, helps Anna search for Elsa, keeps her safe, and goes back for her when it's clear she is in danger. Charging right into the heart of a fierce snowstorm to save her life. Before this however, he took her back to the castle, despite his feelings for her, knowing that her fiancee, prince Hans awaited her, and could save her "frozen heart" with "an act of true love", in essence, true love's kiss. In true gentlemen's spirit, Kristoff gave her up to save her, an act of sacrifice, of true love in itself.

  What the film strives to teach about love is that it comes in different forms. There is Anna and Hans' mushy-headed, lovey-dovey drivel, as echoed by their duet, 'Love is an Open Door'. Then there is the love of friends like Olaf, who are there for you no matter the personal cost. There is love like that between Kristoff and Anna, one of friendship, one of companionship, substance, and yes, some romance. And then there is the love between Anna and Elsa, pure and perfect, full of strength, of laughter, of hope and of sacrifice. The act of giving up everything for another person, no matter what.

  That is a rare love to find in our world today, as these days, when people hear the word "love" they automatically assume that which refers to Anna and Hans' romantic relationship. It is only after that first thought that other kinds of love, such as the love between friends or family enters their mind.

  Hopefully, it is Anna and Elsa's bond that audiences remember the most as they leave the theatre, or turn off the TV. Hopefully it is their relationship that resonates with viewers, old and young, and inspires them in their own life.

  After all;

      "Some people are worth melting for."

Divergent on the Big Screen

          Like some of you know I have read the Divergent trilogy, so was excited to see the movie the other day with my sister and our friend (you all know as Goldberry). Although, a little on the doubting side we plunged in with our hopes up.
     Now, in an entertaining sense the movie was enjoyable. It was fun to see the world we had been imagining in front of our eyes. The outfit design I thought was great, and accurate to how I imagined them, the scenery was well done, and in some cases beautiful, and the action was not disappointing.
     However, the people picked for the parts did not really fit to our liking, we had suspected that might be the case, and found it true. No one fit how I pictured them, or how they were described in Veronica Roth's books. The actors for Peter, Will, and Albert were hard to tell apart, and we struggled to figure out who was who.
     It also occurred to me that we would not have understood half of what was going on if we had not read the book before hand, a lot of important scenes or information was left out. So the movie was defiantly made for the book fans.
   
*****On a side note. The fighting style they used in the movie was something I had never seen before. The way they held their arms in defense seemed strange to me-and I was once in Karate and Kickboxing-I was instantly curious to know what style they were using.

     So over all I thought the movie entertaining, not the best adapted movie I have seen, but something I could enjoy since I had read the books.

          There was no cussing, vulgar language that I could recall, and only that one expected kissing scene (They all need ones of those, right). The only thing they had a lot of near the end especially was killing and deaths, not that they showed much of it, off the screen shots and things like that. Maybe not children friendly, but I do not personally know many children who would be interested any ways.

     Doing a quick Google search there is no doubt in any ones mind that the second book, Insurgent, will be turned into a motion picture adventure as well, being released in 2015. So fans do not have to wait long, and keep on enjoying the world of Divergent.

Be brave, be selfless, be peaceful, be intelligent, be honest.

Thanks for reading.

Catching Fire Movie Review

  “Remember who the real enemy is.”

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark both won. Or so they thought.

They were declared victors of the previous year's Hunger Games, making history as the only two people to both walk out of the arena alive at Games end. The have become Capitol celebrities, brought honor and food to their district and families, will be supported by the Capitol with money and food and housing for the rest of their lives. They have survived.

But more than that, they have made enemies. Enemies with the powerful aristocracy that simultaneously adores and abhors them, enemies with the single most powerful man in the country to whom their very lives belong.

There is rebellion brewing in the districts and heroine Katniss is coolly informed by President Snow, leader of Panem, that it is of her doing. Her stunt in the arena with the toxic nightlock berries has painted her as a hero and a rebel to the people of Panem, someone to put their faith in, someone to inspire a revolution. Katniss is both unaware and horrified by the prospect that her attempt to save both her and Peeta from each other is viewed as an act of defiance and rebellion. This simple moment that saved her before may become her undoing, and under threat from President Snow, Katniss is willing to do anything to fix the problem before it's too late.

However, Katniss soon realizes that it was too late before it even began. And she finds herself being sacrificed in the arenas again for the greater good of Panem. Reaped for a special 75^th Quarter Quell Games, she is put back in the arena with Peeta and the past victors from other districts. The only difference? This time she has accepted that she will not be coming back.

Being a fan of the books, I thought this film went above and beyond the previous installment in the franchise, it was very close to the source material and very true to the tone and spirit of the original story. In general, I was quite pleased with what the cast and crew had created.

Catching Fire was my favorite book, and so far, it has been my favorite film. The acting was superb, with a particularly raw and stirring performance from Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), beautiful costumes and sets, stunning cinematography, script, etc. There is little worth complaining about as a fan or even a critical standpoint, however, there is plenty of subject material that may make some viewers wary or uncomfortable. In all honesty, the whole storyline is a bit uncomfortable when you are first introduced to it.

There is plenty of kissing, as Katniss is at the center of a complicated love triangle involving herself, fellow victor, Peeta, and friend, Gale. Johanna, another victor, undresses in front of Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch in an elevator (we only see her bare back). There is a multitude of violence, unsurprisingly, although this time around, many people die of the arena's “natural” elements rather than by human hands. People are burned in acid fog, stabbed, shot with arrows, nailed with axes, whipped, attacked by genetically modified monkeys, throats are slit, people drown, etc. One particularly disturbing scene happens near the beginning of the film when one old man dares to take even the smallest of stands against the power of the Capitol and is dragged onto a podium and shot in the head. We do not see it happen, but the shock, combined with the horror and tears of the other characters, is enough to frighten the viewer.

There is some profanity, mild and not so mild, and it is much more present than in the previous film. Haymitch is often drunk and there are other instances were alcohol is present.

Overall, Panem is not a pleasant place, a fact that is all too clear from the tone of both books and films. But it is a dystopian country that serves as a background for a story of heroism and sacrifice. I know many people who are turned off by The Hunger Games because of the violence and the idea of children killing children. And I understand.

But I wonder if the truly scary thing is how much of our own society we are able to see within the book's pages (or on the screen).

Suzanne Collins (author of The Hunger Games trilogy) has said in the past that her story is a critique on violence and media, showing us what could be if we continue down our current path. I think there is definitely a hard lesson to be learned in Katniss' story. Walking out of the theater you may have some heavy thoughts wandering around your head. A story like this is sobering, it makes you think, which is one of the reasons it appeals to me.

What I fear has happened is exactly the opposite of what Suzanne Collins intended, the world-wide success of her books (and the films inspired by them) has turned her “critique” of violence into a glamorization, and her thoughtful take on a future world into a young adult trend. The irony couldn't be more complete, woven into the very fibers of the story's heart is the horror and tragedy of war and violence, and what effect it has on the world, and each individual. The Hunger Games is the story of a girl who is put on a pedestal for detestable acts and locked into a life similar to that of a caged animal. Made for a show, for a game. Glamorized for acting on her basest human instinct. Survival.

For me, the appeal of The Hunger Games trilogy is the haunting tale of a war, a raw and gritty story of relatable, realistic people doing their best to change their world for good, to do the right thing in a situation where that is nearly impossible, to give up everything in hopes of creating a better life for those after them.

At it's core, The Hunger Games is a tale of self-sacrifice and of ordinary people overcoming insurmountable odds. Beneath the violence and the darkness and the shadow of despair and doubt, there is a glimmer of strength, of faith, of hope.

Catching Fire captures this well as it's character put themselves on the line time and time again for one another, many of them making the ultimate sacrifice for the one hope they have in these troubled times.

Katniss Everdeen. The Girl on Fire. The Mockingjay. The Symbol of the Rebellion.

“Since the last Games, something is different. I can see it.”

“What can you see?”

“Hope.”

To be continued next year with Mockingjay: Part One

(Belated) Desolation of Smaug Review *SPOILERS*

This is a review written by a dear friend of mine. I thought it worth putting here since we love reviews. You can find the original on her Tumblr account here: Elen sila lumenn omentielvo
Also she is a new member of our blog here, she goes by the name, Goldberry. Hope to see more from her in the future. 

Enjoy.

*Before reading, know that this entire piece of writing is a spoiler. If you have seen the movie or simply don’t care, then proceed. For the rest of you however, this has been your official warning.
Another short disclaimer. I want to note that this movie tore me in two. I loved it on a cinematic entertainment type level; I was thrilled and thoroughly enjoyed it, even some of the deviations from the original text. However, some of these deviations bordered on the realm of ridiculous and so much of this movie’s content was not canon that I felt like a bad fan for liking it. It is hard wanting to defend the film to yourself and others, even when you know that there were some things that shouldn’t have happened. It is conflicting, and it may make this commentary seem conflicting. I apologize ahead of time for this. I hope you enjoy my comments.
I was really impressed with the film as a whole, however, minor issues presented themselves as I watched, particularly the love triangle between Legolas, Tauriel and Kili, and the attempt to kill the dragon at the film’s climax. Other than that, I found it very well done with lots of rip-roaring action, amazing acting, beautiful sets and special effects, and some of the most marvelous music I’ve yet heard in Middle Earth films. I was definitely satisfied with this film, but I felt I would have enjoyed it more had there been less focus or no focus at all on the Tauriel/Kili and Tauriel/Legolas subplots. I felt it took away from more than it added to the film. Despite all though, I am pleased with what PJ and co. have produced and look forward to next year’s third and final installment.
Bilbo Baggins: We received a marvellous performance from dear Mr. Freeman. As always, he brought his special charm and comedic skills into the role and made Bilbo totally loveable and admirable. Bilbo has also grown a little since the last film, in the eyes of his friends and in his own. He has become more and more courageous, and his dwarf friendships are strengthed, particularly with Thorin, as he moves into the greatest test of strength he will yet face, meeting Smaug, the dragon beneath the Lonely Mountain.
Bard the Bowman: Excellent character and I loved the fleshing out of his story, his children were beautiful and adorable, and their presence will certainly make the stakes higher for Bard personally in the third film. Luke Evans was amazing, and his character was very much like I’d imagined (except for his costume, it looked a little funny, like a bathrobe).
The Dwarves: Certain dwarves got a little more screen time, particularly Bombur, Bofur, Kili, Dwalin and Balin. While some of the fleshing out of their characters I was less than pleased with (think Kili flirting with Tauriel), I enjoyed the rest for the most part. Bombur’s barrel ride was entertaining, if not somewhat ridiculous, and Balin’s tears when returning to Erebor were beautiful. They are a wonderful group to watch on screen, and they really make you smile and laugh and cry with them.
Smaug: What can I say? Smaug was the absolutely only thing in this movie that was so amazing I was speechless, and I think the rest of the audience was in awe as well. In reading the book, I hardly imagined him to be so enormous and magnificent, but of course PJ and co. would pull out all the stops when given such promising material as a big, fire-breathing, gold-grabbing, dwarf-roasting dragon. You could see Weta Digital’s detail and careful attention down to the last scale, he was absolutely amazing and totally perfect. The only, and I mean, the ONLY thing about him that I wish was different was his color. In the film he seems kind of a dirty gold color but on all the covers of the books I’ve seen, he is pictured as a fiery red beast. If that small detail was in place, it would be utterly and completely perfect. I guarantee he was worth the wait.
Gandalf: Ian Mckellen, as always, you amaze me as Gandalf, you are just so right for the role and bring our dear old wizard to life in ways that I don’t expect anyone else could. Every gesture and mutter and huff and every twinkle of the eye is brought to glorious life and I couldn’t imagine anyone doing a better job. Gandalf’s character was spot on as always in this film, and I can’t wait to see how he gets out of his little situation in the next film.
Thranduil: I don’t know what I was expecting, but Thranduil was a diva to say the least. In the best of ways of course, there were some instances where the performance could have been toned down, but overall, I found Thranduil to be totally amusing and a very interesting personna. He is nothing like the wise, powerful and kind elf rulers we have seen thus far (Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond), he is a bit darker and a bit more human. He had incredible costumes and interesting lines, and just a very arrogant and powerful demeanor that was played very well by Lee Pace. I can’t wait to see him in the next film, in the Battle of the Five Armies. When we got our first look at him on his throne, I couldn’t help but think of Gaston in Beauty and the Beast “I use antlers in all of my DECORAAATING!”
Legolas: Unlike most of my friends, and many other fans, I was perfectly fine with and even a little excited to see Legolas kicking butt again. The obligatory over-the-top Legolas action has never been a favorite of mine, but I do appreciate the character and it was very interesting to see him at home, in his element, interacting with his father and friend Tauriel. And, since this is Legolas in the past, it is quite fun to see a bit of his arrogant, jerk side (which I’m sure he inherited from his father). I loved his brief interaction with Gloin, when he calls Gimli a goblin mutant (the whole theatre laughed knowingly at that point), and also, in Laketown, when Bolg gives him a bloody nose (No one makes me bleed my own blood!). Orlando did another fantastic job and I look forward to seeing Legolas’ growth and role in the next film.
Tauriel: I went in a skeptic, came out still a skeptic (but a softer one). Tauriel seems to have taken hold of even some of the most devoted of Tolkienites, which surprises me immensely. Of my peer group, none of us like her very much, but I think what we really hate most is the love triangle. However, putting that aside for a moment, Tauriel is a decent, likeable character who does interest me, despite her non-canonness. She is a very skilled warrior, as captain of the Mirkwood guard, and kind-hearted, and wiser than those she serves in some cases. Yet, I felt there were many aspects of her overdone and Mary-Sue-ified. Her warrior skills are at Legolas’ calibre, which makes sense as the captain of the guard, but as prince, and you know, someone who later surfs on shields, dances on dwarf heads, and takes down Oliphaunts single-handedly, shouldn’t he be the more skilled one? Also, being captain of the guard seems like an awfully high rank to give to a) a self-described “lowly silvan elf” b) a young elf and c) a girl elf (not trying to be sexist, just considering the Middle Earth world). I mean, what did she do to earn that position? We’ve seen she can fight yes, but what other credentials does she have? There is also the fact that she is both warrior and healer, which in Tolkien’s universe, was a choice elf-maidens made, either warrior or healer. Her red hair is another issue that I don’t know about personally, something about Feanor and his descendants being the only elven red-heads? To me, it just seems like another ploy to make her stand out among the other characters (not to mention, if she had black hair like actress Evie Lilly, she would be an Arwen clone). And of course, the love triangle, in which she (fulfilling the dreams of Leggie fangirls everywhere) is being crushed on by Legolas and is innocent to it, while befriending the handsome dwarf prisoner (and saving him a few times to boot). This, especially the first part, just seems like bad fanfiction to me. I was hoping the Legolas/Tauriel “romance” would simply be a strong friendship, but it turns out I was wrong about that. Anyway, Tauriel herself is fine with me, I just wish that elements of her had been ignored or downplayed in the film. Evangeline Lilly did a beautiful job and the character has been interested, I am certainly curious to see what will become of her in the next film. My personal theory is that she will die in the Battle of the Five Armies but we’ll see what comes next Christmas.
The Master of Lake town: Now this guy was certainly irksome, and disgusting, not quite as much as his lackey, Alfrid, but enough to get under my skin (in the best of ways of course). Stephen Fry gave a magnificent performance, one that very much mirrored my own vision of the Master from the books. It was humorous, and entertaining, and I’m eager to see more of him in the EE’s hopefully, and the next film. Alfrid as well, was played excellently, and he will be an interesting character to explore further in the next film. Perhaps he will regret tripping up Bard, the one who’s going to save him and the town.
Beorn: His scenes were so short that there was hardly anything to see, but I was certainly happy with him nonetheless. Though he did not much resemble the black-haired, buff Beorn in my head, I found his design to be well done. He has beautiful horses and a beautiful log house, and yard. It was amazing looking at the set and seeing how large all the items were. It must have been fantastic being on that set. His bear form (while not black like I’d imagined) was glorious and I am REALLY excited to see him clawing up the orcs in the next installment. And hopefully, get some more scenes on the EE’s.
The Spiders: Cleverly done dialogue and CGI and character and action. Bilbo really shone in this scene, and there was so much going on in his hobbit head that Martin Freeman portrayed beautifully. It was clever of PJ and co. to use the Ring to include the spider dialogue, it explained them out of a huge plothole with Shelob. Also, Bilbo’s scene with the little spider thing was excellent. A great foreshadowing of things to come.
The Necromancer: While this is one of the bigger deviations from the books, I wasn’t horrified by it. As part of the White Council arc and (hopefully) Battle at Dol Goldur arc, I think it does well to tie The Hobbit back into LotR. However, some concerns do present themselves. Mainly how Gandalf is not supposed to meeet Sauron in one-on-one battle. That was a bit of a mistake on the writers part. What I did like is how much better Sauron’s eyeball looks with new CGI. In LotR, it was often ridiculous looking, while much of the other CG was great, I guess it mostly had to do with the whole notion of a giant, all-seeing eye looking out across Middle Earth, which works well in the books, but not so much in the films. What was nice is that we get a visual of Sauron’s power and darkness and malice, we see what he can do, something missing from LotR. So this sequence wasn’t awful for me, and I’m very interested to see what happens to our dear wizard in the next film.
Laketown: I think the art department did fantastically with this set, it is a very thorough mixture of simplicity and poverty, yet beauty of neighbours and family. There is a certain element of danger, and the darkness of the mountain that overshadows them. But the struggled and hope of the people for better days and better things lives on. It is not at all a nice place in these days, but you can see remnants of a happier past.
Bree: It was definitely nice seeing Bree again, see Peter-carrot-chomping-Jackson, the Immortal carrot-eater. And revisting the Prancing Pony felt familiar, yet strange. Katie Jackson’s cameo was very cute, and the thugs sitting in Aragorn’s corner were frightening, I felt Thorin’s edginess as he ate. The discussion between Thorin and Gandalf and the cut to the Company was cleverly done.
The Ending: Having read the books, the ending was not disappointing to me. But I could hear the shock and disbelief and groans among the rest of the audience as ‘I See Fire’ began and the credits rolled. It is going to leave audiences on edge for a whole year, and I am super excited to see how it picks up after that cliffhanger. Can’t wait to see Smaug in action, and a whole bunch more things! What a way to end, Peter Jackson, very brave and very good work.
There and Back Again: I have many hopes and dreams and theories and speculations for the next film, everything in DoS was left at cliffhanger and I am super excited to see just exactly how PJ will play it all out. At the same time, I am fairly certain this will be our last trip to Middle Earth (at least with Peter Jackson) and while I am eager to see the last film, I almost wish it would never end, I am going to probably cry at the theatre next year, so those of you who are going with me, don’t laugh, just bring some kleenex.
This is our last year guys. While many of us weren’t completely impressed with how Peter has handled The Hobbit (particularly DoS), I think we will all be sad to see the Middle Earth films coming to an end next year. Here’s to an outstanding, world-wowing finale next winter.
And, as always, thank you to all the fantastic and talented people on the cast and crew who have dedicated literally years of their lives to make movies for pathetic little fangirls like me. Blessings to you all as you bring these films to their final close.