To Bind Fire: an engaging fantasy as one young woman learns she is destined to save the world, a world she doesn't know

To Bind Fire is the first book in the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy by D.E. Carlson. Iris is thrust into a foreign world she has never known. She knows little about her past and even less about her heritage. The only life she has known is the remote mountain cabin she lived with her mother and brother. When a tragedy brings her down the mountain, she learns the land has been torn by war and is now ruled by the powerful Fire Emperor. She also learns she has a terrible power, a power that can save the world or burn it forever. Besaun is the Crown Prince of the Fire Empire who has no desire for the throne. He has no patience for all the bowing, scraping, and politics. He just wants to tinker with his inventions. Little do they know, they are both fated to save the world. 

I discovered D.E. Carlson on TikTok and I was intrigued by her fantasy books. I decided to start with To Bind Fire. It has been described as “Perfect for fans of the faith themes of the Chronicles of Narnia, the powerful writing style of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the clean sweet romance of Caraval!” While I haven’t read A Court of Thorns and Roses or Caraval, I love the Chronicles of Narnia and looked forward to how Ms. Carlson weaved faith themes into her story. From the opening chapter to the closing pages, I was hooked on this story. There is action, adventure, intrigue and drama with a smidge of romance. I loved the faith elements with the fantasy magical system. While I was left with questions and suspicions, I can’t wait to finish the trilogy and Iris’s story. I highly, highly recommend To Bind Fire. 

To Bind Fire is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Burn the Kingdom Down: one woman seeks revenge and discovers twists she never expected

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley is an enemies to lovers romantasy with intrigue and action. Rowenna Harrack, the crown princess of Tashir, left her homeland as the bride to the prince of Vanzador. One year later, she is dead and her sister, Indira, is demanded as her replacement for the prince. Indira only agrees to figure out the truth behind her sister’s death, convinced it was no accident, and take revenge on those responsible. It’s a simple plan to play nice and gather the necessary intel to avenge her sister and free herself and her country from the iron grip of Vanzador. However, when she arrives, nothing is as it seems or as terrible as Rowenna described in her letters home. As Indira develops friendly terms with her maid, a courtier and even grows closer to her new husband, Prince Alaric, she is unsure who or what to believe. She learns that everyone has secrets, even deadly ones.

Burn the Kingdom Down promised to be “action-packed” with romance that would leave readers “breathless” and “betrayals” that would rip their hearts out. It is an interesting premise and the opening chapter certainly grabs your attention. However, the story gets confusing from there. The enemies part of enemies to lovers was done well. The animosity between Indira and Alaric was excellent. The lovers part was a bit more unbelievable and sudden, given their intense animosity. Indira herself was a bit annoying as she refused to see that what she knew about the situation wasn’t what she thought it was. I liked the magic system in this story. Overall, it was an interesting story with lots of action. Though I wasn’t breathless at the romance or my heart wasn’t ripped out by the betrayals. I feel teen readers might enjoy this story more. If you enjoy romantasy stories, you may enjoy this one. I recommend Burn the Kingdom Down. 

Burn the Kingdom Down is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Metal Slinger: a romantasy with action, magic and adventure

Metal Slinger is the first book in the Fire and Metal series by Rachel Schneider. With no memory of her origins, Brynn grew up among the Alaha. Even though she’s not one of them, she has been training to be a guard. The chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta is one every young guard looks forward to; however, Brynn does not count on breaking a century long peace treaty. One encounter with an enemy soldier threatens everything including what Brynn believes about herself and the people she thought she knew. Her loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the enemy soldier reveals her true identity and his mission to return her to her true home. Now she is in a fight for her life as she learns a whole new world of magic and fate with questions of loyalty, love and betrayal. 

With the second book in this series releasing in June this year, I was given the chance to read Metal Slinger. I usually do not reach for a romantasy book; however, I do enjoy a good fantasy book and a good romance book, so I decided to give this romantasy book a chance. The beginning of this story was a bit slow as the author built the world around these characters. However, when Brynn leaves the Alaha people and enters a world she knows nothing about, the story picks up speed. As the story went along and I thought I knew where the story was going to go, the last quarter left my jaw on the floor. It does end with a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see how this story continues in book 2. If you enjoy romantasy books, I recommend Metal Slinger. 

Metal Slinger is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Love Haters: the thin line between love and love hating with humor, drama and action

The Love Haters by Katherine Center explores the thin line between love and love-hating. Katie Vaughn has been burned by love, painfully and in public. Now her career is on the line. When she is approached by her co-worker, Cole, she has two choices: say no and wait to be laid off or say yes and produce a video profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. It seems like an easy choice. Oh yeah, Hutch is Cole’s older brother and they haven’t spoken to each other for a long time. What could go wrong in paradise? It turns out a lot can go wrong. Hutch is the most good looking man Katie has ever seen and a love-hater. Throw in his crazy rescue Great Dane and his very colorful Aunt Rue and Katie gets too involved. Will this be her chance to face old fears and truly find the strength to be brave? 

Katherine Center is another of my go-to authors! She writes it and I’ll read it. She has the ability to combine humor with deeply emotional situations and characters who come out stronger than ever before. At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked Katie but as she reveals her emotional pain and fears, I found myself softening toward her. I especially enjoyed Katie as she found her voice and refused to be silent anymore. I also loved Hutch as the good looking but grumpy and reluctant subject for a new recruitment video. As Katie and Hutch interact, you can see the sparks fly and the emotional walls come down. There is plenty of action and drama as the weather and family drama comes to a full force. I loved this story and I did not want it to end! If you haven’t discovered Katherine Center’s books, you need to start reading! I highly, highly recommend The Love-Haters! 

The Love-Haters is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

For She is Wrath: an romantic fantasy reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo

For She is Wrath by Emily Vega is a romantic fantasy retelling of the classic The Count of Monte Cristo (1846) as one Pakistani girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her including Mazin, the boy she once loved. Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, Dania spent three hundred and sixty four days in prison plotting her revenge. When Noor, a fellow prisoner, has a plan to escape and a way to put Dania’s plan into action, they team up. Armed with dark djinn magic and a new identity, Dania puts her revenge into action. One by one, she brings down those who betrayed her. What she didn’t expect was that her feelings for Mazin still burned bright. As her game for vengeance intensifies, Dania is at risk of losing herself and her heart to the only boy she ever loved. Can she find her revenge without losing her humanity? 

I’m not a huge fan of romantic fantasy and retelling of classic novels can be hit and miss; however, I was intrigued by the premise and its gorgeous cover. I love The Count of Monte Cristo and it is a novel you don’t usually see reimagined. I was still a bit skeptical if this story could live up to the classical story. From the opening chapter to the closing page, I could see the elements of the classic novel in For She is Wrath; however, it has its own elements which make it a fast paced, action packed adventure. Dania is a woman consumed with revenge and yet she can’t help her connection to Mazin. She soon realizes that the plot against her, as Edmond Dantes does, wasn’t all she thought it was. I was hooked and could not put it down. I highly, highly recommend For She is Wrath. 

For She is Wrath will be available October 29, 2024 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Even Forever: a clean historical romance with action, drama and heart

 Even Forever by Robin Lee Hatcher is the first book in the Boulder Creek series. Rosalie Tomkin wanted nothing to do with men and marriage. Her abusive father and lazy brother were prime examples that men could not be trusted. She plans to leave Boulder Creek as soon as she can. Michael Randolph is in a high stakes competition with his half-brother for control of the family hotel business. He has been sent to Boulder Creek to oversee the construction of a new hotel. When an innocent encounter leads to a shotgun wedding, Rosalie and Michael agree to a marriage of convenience. One year and they would go their separate ways. However, when her greedy father won’t leave her alone, Michael finds himself risking it all to protect Rosalie, especially his heart. Can he prove to her that all men are not like her father and brother? Will Rosalie be willing to risk her heart as well? 

Even Forever is a clean historical romance with plenty of action, drama and heart. I was quickly drawn into Rosalie and Michael’s story as the big city man falls for the small town country girl and finds new meaning in his life. Their romance was so sweet as Rosalie wanted to protect her heart and Michael wanted to show her she was worthy of so much more than she had before. I could not put the book down as her nasty father caused more and more trouble and my heart melted as they confessed their love to each other. There were twists and turns that took me by surprise and I eagerly read to find out how it all resolved. Even Forever is a story that reminds us that God’s blessings come in surprising and unexpected ways. I look forward to reading more in this series. If you enjoy clean historical romance, I highly recommend Even Forever. 

Even Forever is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Lost Stars: a Star Wars story that every fan should read

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away…. Lost Stars by Claudia Gray is a youth novel as a part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Eight years after the fall of the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire reigns over the known galaxy and any resistance is easily silenced. Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree grew up on the Outer Rim planet of Jelucan. Thane, from a aristocratic family, and Ciena, a rural villager. The two were worlds apart and yet fate made them unlikely friends. They would find ways to be together, to practice flying and to study as their dream was to attend the Imperial Academy. The two become inseparable, knowing each other so well that they often finish each other’s thoughts. But when Thane sours on the dream after he sees firsthand the horrifying tactics the Empire uses to maintain order; the two friends are on the opposite sides of the war. Thane puts them at odds when he joins the Rebellion and Ciena now must decide between her duty, her oath and her loyalty to the Empire and the man she has loved since childhood.

Lost Stars was given to me by my cousin when he learned that I had read Ms. Gray’s other Star Wars titles. I enjoyed Lost Stars much more than I did her other titles. Lost Stars takes the reader on a journey through the original trilogy through the eyes of the nameless characters fighting in the background. It was exciting, thrilling and opened the Star Wars trilogy in ways that I’ll see the movies in a new light. I loved the characters of Thane and Ciena. Ms. Gray has written two characters who felt like real people with strengths, flaws, love, conflicts, and moral dilemmas. They could easily be us as we face difficult decisions and must decide between conflicting loyalties. The blooming romance between the two was equally beautiful and while Ms. Gray kept much to the imagination, she wrote the romance better than most romance novels I’ve read. I am slowly working my way through the numerous Star Wars novels; Lost Stars is by far my favorites so far. It is a story I will revisit again. If you are a fan of Star Wars, I highly recommend Lost Stars!

 

Lost Stars is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Rebekah: a warning against parental favoritism

This month’s study is on Rebekah. Her story is filled with initiative and strength as well as a warning against parental favoritism. She was hard-working and generous. Her faith was so great that she left her home to marry a man she had never met or seen. Rebekah would be like her mother-in-law, Sarah. Her heart would be divided between faith and doubt. She believed in God’s promise but also believed it involved her intervention. Yet she played favorites between her sons and failed to trust God fully for the promises he had made. She would favor one child over another, and she would deceive her husband to help her favored child. In many ways, Her story is told in Genesis 24, 25:19-34, and 26:1-28:1-9. What was her story? Why was her initiative her greatest strength? How was her parental favoritism a lesson to us all? 

At a well outside the village of Nahor, approximately 500 miles northeast of Canaan, a young woman named Rebekah was fetching water when she was approached by a stranger. She offered him a drink, as it was the custom, but she did something extraordinary. She offered to water the stranger’s 10 camels as well. This stranger was on a mission. He had been sent by his master, Abraham, to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. He had to look for certain criteria. He knew he had found the one God wanted for Isaac in Rebekah. She quickly agreed to marry Isaac and later would give birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was favored by Isaac and Rebekah favored Jacob. Years later when Isaac was old and blind, Esau was sent hunting to prepare Isaac a meal in exchange for a blessing. Rebekah overheard this exchange and began to devise a way for Jacob to receive the blessing instead. Since Jacob was born at Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:26), she believed that Jacob should have been the firstborn and deserved the blessing. Following his mother’s plot, Jacob disguised himself to trick his father into thinking he was Esau and receive his blessing. When Esau found out, he vowed revenge for his stolen blessing and essentially his birthright as the eldest son. To save Jacob’s life, Rebekah, then persuaded Isaac to send Jacob find a wife among her brother, Laban’s daughters.

Rebekah was an initiator. She got the ball rolling. When she saw an opportunity, she acted even if it was not always right. It was Rebekah’s initiative that caught the attention of the stranger. While it was common courtesy to offer a drink to a stranger, it was an added generosity to offer water to the camels (Genesis 24:19-20). Her story also is evidence of how initiative can be misdirected. She knew that God’s plan would be channeled through Jacob and not Esau as Genesis 25:23 says, “the older will serve the younger.” So, Jacob became her favorite and she planned ways to ensure Jacob overshadowed his brother. Meanwhile, Isaac preferred Esau, perhaps because he was the older son. Whatever the reason, it may have caused conflict between Isaac and Rebekah. She may have felt justified to deceive her husband and allow Jacob to her the greater blessing. Most of the time we try to justify the things we choose to do, like Rebekah felt she was justified to help Jacob in fulfilling God’s plan. We are responsible for our action and must be cautious about our motives. Are we trying to follow God’s plan or follow our own desires into what we think is God’s plan? Initiative and action are admirable and right when they are informed by God’s word and wisdom.

Parental favoritism hurts families. The story of Rebekah, Isaac and their sons is an example of how it can tear apart a family. We see that favoritism again with Jacob as he favors his son, Joseph, over his other sons (Genesis 27:3) and caused tensions between the siblings (Genesis 37:4). Parental favoritism is said to occur in one-to-two-thirds of American families (Shira, 2009). There are several factors that lead to parental favoritism including gender, birth order and personality. Parental favoritism is problematic when there are consistent and arbitrary differences in treatment (Shira, 2009). The long-term effects of parental favoritism are largely negative as unfavored children are more likely to struggle with intimate relationships and depression as well as have a weakened self-esteem. They become people pleasers to get attention and develop a chronic need to feel special. “Perceived favoritism from one's mother still matters to a child's psychological well-being, even if they have been living for years outside the parental home and have started families of their own” according to Karl Pillemer, a Cornell University researcher (Bryner, 2010). Parental favoritism can be avoided, according to Pillemer, by avoiding “obvious remarks about favoritism, or comparing one child to the other in discussions” (Brynner, 2010). Most parents worry about showing favoritism while other parents may use it to gain cooperation or compliance from the unfavored child.

In conclusion, Rebekah was a woman who saw a need and would move into action to fulfil it. While she was generous to a stranger, going above and beyond the common courtesy, her initiative would cause issues in her family as she felt the need to intervene in fulfilling God’s plan. She is also a cautionary tale against parental favoritism. Favoring one son over the other lead to a sibling strife that would last for generations. It also taught Jacob to favor one child over his other children. The lasting effects of parental favoritism can be evident into adulthood. Initiative and action can be a great assent. However, we need to evaluate our motives behind our proposed actions. Are we answer the call of God’s will? Or are we following a more selfish motive? As parents, we need to be aware of any perceived favoritism as it may have lasting effects.

References

Bryner, Jeanna. (June 28, 2010). Mom's Favoritism Stings, Even for Adults. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/8385-mom-favoritism-stings-adults.html. Retrieved May 13, 2020.

Shira, Ilan. (January 10, 2009). When Parents Play Favorites. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/200901/when-parents-play-favorites. Retrieved May 13, 2020

Bound by a Dragon: a fun romance filled with action and drama

Bound by a Dragon by Linda K. Hopkins is the first book in the Dragon Archives series. It is the story of Keira, a young girl, who is fascinated by the dragon that taken residence in the mountains above her village. Soon a handsome and mysterious man comes to the village’s market day and approaches her family’s table. Aaron Drake has moved into his family home of Storbrook Castle. Aaron is fascinated that Keira is unafraid of the dragon while everyone else is terrified. The two become close friends under the suspicious eye of Edmund Hobbes, Keira’s self-proclaimed fiancé and local bully. As Keira and Aaron draw closer in their relationship, Aaron reveals a deep, dark secret. Will Keira be able to accept the man as well as his secret? Will she be able to love him as well as keep his secret? How will Edmund react when he discovers Keira’s heart now belongs to another? Will Keira’s love for Aaron put her in danger?

Bound by a Dragon is a nice romance with exciting action and drama. It was a nice change from the romance genres with vampires, werewolves and other supernatural and mythical creatures. I enjoyed Keira’s spunk and self-confidence. I liked that she knew what she wanted (or didn’t want) and wasn’t afraid to crave her own paths despite the wishes and dreams of her mother. I also liked that despite Aaron’s attractiveness and strength there was a vulnerability about him too. He wasn’t the typical romance hero who comes and saves the damsel in distress. I recommend Bound by a Dragon for a fun and exciting romance.

Bound by a Dragon

is available in paperback and eBook

Avengers: Endgame review warning: possible spoilers

It all started in 2008 with Iron Man. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) seemed to come out of nowhere and dominate the superhero genre. Now 22 films in, The Infinity Saga is coming to a dramatic end with Avengers: Endgame. The anticipation has been high, and the fan theories have been flying around since last year’s Avengers: Infinity War. And how the world can see what happens to the heroes. With a runtime of 3 hours and 1 minute, Endgame proved to be an exciting, emotional ride with a satisfying ending to this saga and opens the door to new heroes and new stories. What is the basic story of the film? What did I like? And what am I looking forward to?

The film opens 23 days after The Snap, the Avengers are searching for Thanos and the Stones in order to undo everything. Fast forward 5 years, the world is struggling to move forward. Monuments have gone up to honor the disappeared and governments are being pieced back to together as the world moves on. The Avengers are scattered, barely together as they deal with the aftermath and trying to find a way to bring everyone back. When a plan comes together, they must travel to uncharted territories and face new challenges they couldn’t train for and fight for the hope that they can restore the world’s population to what it was.

There is so much about this movie and in order to avoid as many spoilers as I can, I will discuss a few aspects that I enjoyed about the film. First, to see how everyone reacts differently in the aftermath of The Snap. Captain America tries counseling a few survivors. Thor sinks into a deep depression. Black Widow takes a leadership role in the Avengers and tries to keep everything running. And Tony runs from it all and makes a quiet life in the country. Second, I liked how the writers dealt with the time travel aspect. With many Hollywood films using their own version of time travel and Endgame discusses many of them and why they don’t work, I liked how they use the Quantum Realm and the Pym Particle. Third, I loved Hawkeye’s character in Endgame. He has been one of my favorite characters in the MCU since his quiet introduction in Thor (2011) and I loved how he has evolved. Even turning into a vigilante after his family vanishes, he still wasn’t willing to let his best friend sacrifice herself in order to get the Soul Stone. They battle over it. Despite his loss, despite the face they were trying to get everyone back, he was still willing to sacrifice himself to accomplish their mission.

This is usually when I discuss what I didn’t like about a film. However, there was very little I didn’t like about Endgame. So instead, I’m going to discuss what I’m looking forward to as the MCU movies into its next phase. First, Spiderman: Far from Home (opens July 2, 2019). I look forward to seeing Peter as he deals with the events of Infinity War and Endgame. How does he move forward? I am interested in seeing how the MCU will introduce the multiverse as the movie trailer hints that they might. Second, the other film featuring Marvel characters that I am not familiar with such as The Eternals and Shang-Chi. No exact dates have been set for these films yet. It will be exciting to see new characters and new stories in the MCU. Third, the sequels to the other films like Doctor Strange 2 and Black Panther. I am even looking forward to the Black Widow standalone film. I am also looking forward to the streaming shows that are planned for the Disney + service. The next phases of the MCU will be exciting.

In conclusion, Avengers: Endgame is a great ending to the 22 film, 11 year build up that has captivated audiences around the world. While it has been bittersweet to say goodbye to the storyline and even some of the characters that I have watched in action for 11 years; however, the future looks bright for the MCU. My only hope is that they keep up with the quality of stories and characters as they did with the Infinity Saga. One piece of advice though, if you have not seen the majority of the MCU films, then there will be much of Endgame that will be missed. I recommend watching all the MCU films. It will be worth it. 

Bloodline: another great adventure in the Star Wars universe

Bloodline by Claudia Gray is a Star Wars story which takes place in the years leading up to the events of Episode VII The Force Awakens. Leia Organa Solo is now a senator in the New Republic which is in trouble. The Senate is made up of two political parties. The Populists who want to keep the power within the individual planets instead of in a central leader and the Centrists who has a strong powerful leader to control the different systems. And she wants to quit and join her husband on his space travels. First, she needs to investigate accusations made by the representative from Ryloth about criminal activity oppressing his people. She is joined by Senator Ransolm Casterfo, a Centrists who collects memorabilia of the Empire. Leia soon discovers that a larger criminal organization is at work who poses a threat to the already weakening New Republic. Will she be able to gathering enough evidence to convince the Senate to put aside their difference and act for the good of the New Republic? Or will she be too late and watch the fragile government fall apart?

I loved Bloodline! It was exciting as well as nostalgic as Leia thinks back to events which occurred in the original trilogy as well as people and events from the prequels. There are so many twists and turns and clues as to the rise of the First Order who we see in full force in The Force Awakens. With the knowledge that I know of the movie and now reading the books, I realized that many of the confusion on part of the fans have been because they didn’t read the books. There is a whole list of books and tv series which help give details about what happens between films. I highly recommend Bloodline and I will read the other books and review those as well to see if my theory is correct.

Bloodline

is now available in paperback and eBook

If you are interested in reading the books and watching the tv series, here’s the list in which to read them and where they fit in the timeline of the films.

Episode I The Phantom Menace

Episode II Attack of the Clones

            The Clone Wars (tv series 2008-2015 available on DVD and Blu-ray)

            Dark Disciple (book) by Christie Golden

Episode III The Revenge of the Sith

            Catalyst: Rogue One Story (book) by James Luceno

            Lord of the Sith (book) by Paul S. Kemp

            Tarkin (book) by James Luceno

            Thrawn (book) by Timothy Zahn

            A New Dawn (book) by Joan Jackson Miller and Dave Filoni

            Rebels (tv series 2014- seasons 1-3 are available on DVD and Blu-ray and the 4^th and        final season is currently airing on Disney XD)

Episode IV A New Hope

            Battlefront: Inferno Squad (book) by Christie Golden

            Heir to the Jedi (book) by Kevin Hearne

            Battlefront: Twilight Company (book) by Alexander Freed

Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

Episode VI Return of the Jedi

            Aftermath (book) by Chuck Wendig

            Aftermath: Life Debt (book) by Chuck Wendig

            Aftermath: Empire’s End (book) by Chuck Wendig

            Bloodline (book) by Claudia Gray

            Phasma (book) by Delilah S. Dawson

            Canto Bight (book) by Saladin Ahmed and Rae Carson

Episode VII The Force Awakens

Episode VIII The Last Jedi      

Star Wars The Last Jedi: a great action film which takes the galaxy in a new direction

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi opened on December 15^th to rave critic reviews and mixed fan reactions. The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey, Finn and the Resistance as they fight against the First Order. In the two years since The Force Awakens, there were many fan theories floating around the internet and fans were eagerly awaiting The Last Jedi to see which theories were right and see how the story continues. I finally was able to see it a few days after it opened and heard the criticisms of fans. I will discuss what I liked, what I didn’t and the critics, fans and even Mark Hamill’s remarks about the film.

There is so much that I liked about the film; however, I will discuss a few storylines I enjoyed the most. First, I liked the interactions between Rey and Luke. The closing scene of The Force Awakens, we see Rey handing Luke his original lightsaber as the camera pans out over the island. In The Last Jedi, the first scene we see with Rey and Luke is the continuation of that scene. While I will not give away what his reaction is, I will say it was highly appropriate. Luke had been living in exile after Kylo Ren destroys Luke’s new Jedi academy and temple and turns to the dark side. Luke realizing his failure as a teacher, decides to leave everything behind and Rey has a tough road to convince him to help the Resistance and teach her the ways of the Force. Second, I enjoyed the character of Kylo Ren in this film. He was far less emo and more dark and conflicted as he struggles with the aftermath of the Force Awakens and his master, Snoke’s, disappointed in him. Adam Driver delivered a superb performance as Kylo Ren, especially toward the end as he decides which direction he wants to go. Does he embrace the dark side? Or does he turn to the light side? Third, I enjoyed Finn and Rose’s (played by Kelly Marie Tran) story as they find a way to help the Resistance escape the First Order. As Finn still struggles with his defection from the First Order and Rose is dealing with her hatred of the First Order, together they learn what they are fighting for and who they can trust in their fight against the First Order.

There was only a couple things that I disliked about the film. First, there were a few unnecessarily scenes. One in particular was on the island as Luke goes about his life, ignoring Rey’s presence. I won’t reveal what the scene was; however, when I saw it both my daughter and I looked at each other and whispered “ewwww!” I understand that the scene’s purpose was to show how Luke survived on the island but I felt it was unnecessarily and his survival on the island could have been shown a litter better. And some of the humorous scenes may have had the joke go on a little too long. There is one scene in which Poe (played by Oscar Isaac) plays a joke on General Hux (played by Domhnall Gleeson). While the joke was funny at first, it dragged on a little too long. Second, there is still a great mystery about who Snoke is. The movie did not reveal anything about where he came from, who he is or how he knows the Force. In this film, we see he is an imposing figure and would strike fear in anyone who stands in his presence. However, we don’t know why he is such an imposing character. Third, the porgs, one of the creatures who live on Luke’s island, are cute but add nothing more to the story than to show the cycle of life on the island. They were in the movie for too long especially once the story leaves the island.

The reviews and opinions run the gambit from favorable to absolutely hated. First, the critics gave this film rave reviews. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes is that the film “honors the rich legacy while adding some surprising twists and delivering all the emotion-rich action fans could hope for.” I would agree. It paid homage to the original trilogy in particular The Empire Strikes Back and some could agree The Return of the Jedi. Second, fans continue to be adamant in their disagreement with the critics. Many of the fans are blaming Disney for putting profits over story. Some said that the story strayed too much from the original trilogy while others would argue it was a copy of Empire like the Force Awakens was a copy of A New Hope. I disagree with them on both counts. I think some of the fans are just so invested in the Star Wars saga that they don’t know what they want. They don’t want copies of the original trilogy but they don’t like the new material. Fans used Mark Hamill’s remarks about the film where he said he “fundamentally disagreed with every choice for Luke” as proof that Disney screwed up. I disagree with Mr. Hamill and these fans. I loved Luke’s progression in this movie. I think it fit. Without going into detail for those who have not yet seen it, as an avid reader and writer, I can see why the writer took him in that direction. Yes, Luke was very much the optimist in the original trilogy; however 30 years have passed and that’s a long time and a person can change especially when one of his students turns on him. It can be and was the hit to his ego that sent him into exile.  

In conclusion, I enjoyed The Last Jedi. I left the theater with a sense of awe and excitement. I know that many fans did not feel this way, my husband included. He had to see it again to understand more of the story. My cousin in law has seen it three times and he even admits that one viewing isn’t enough. The original trilogy is still beloved to me as an important part of my childhood; however, it is time to move on from the Skywalker storyline of Star Wars into the greater universe and galaxy that’s out there. Of the new Disney/Star Wars films, Rogue One (2016) is still my favorite so far. The Last Jedi adds more depth and drama to the Star Wars universe. It adds the struggles of life, that everything isn’t so black and white, good vs evil. I highly recommend The Last Jedi. Watch it without any expectations and see it for what it is: a great action film with heart and life lessons

Thor: Ragnarok a film that has it all

Thor: Ragnarok is the fifth chapter of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It is also the first Thor film which takes place in the other realms besides just Earth and Asgard. When we last saw Thor in The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), he left to find the remaining Infinity Stones as four have now turned up and he senses a greater plot afoot. The official synopsis reads: “Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela.” There are many things I liked at the film, a few things I didn’t and I will respond to a few of the critics’ issues with the film.

First, what I liked about the film. First, the cast. Every actor filled their role very well. Chris Hemsworth as Thor as always brings the God of Thunder to life. In this film, Hemsworth was allowed to show more of his comedic side as well as the dramatic and action packed sequences. Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie was great. I knew very little about the character when I saw the film and I was pleased to see how she fit in the story. Thompson brought great heart and depth to the character. Cate Blanchett as Hela was amazing! She seemed to be tailored made for this role. Her portrayal of Hela is definitely an improvement in Thor villains over Malekith in The Dark World. Second, the story with all the humor (there were a few laugh out loud moments), the drama (which I will not discuss in case you haven’t seen it yet) and the action from beginning to end kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. The movie didn’t feel like it was over two hours which is good. If I watch a movie and I am aware of how long it is, then it didn’t hold my attention. I should be so engrossed in the story that I am unaware of the passage of time and Thor: Raganrok did that. Lastly, the music. I loved the use of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song which fits perfectly with the Viking/Norse mythology which inspired Thor and his adventures.

Second, there wasn’t much I didn’t like about this film. However, what I didn’t like about the film were a few of the comedic scenes which were uncomfortable to watch. I cringed like “ewww really?!?” There is one joke in particular which features how Thor returns to Asgard and every time they said it, I cringed. I was glad when he finally returns to Asgard and this particular joke could stop. These types of jokes are so juvenile and unnecessary. They belong in a different comedies like Dumb and Dumber. Thankfully they weren’t the majority of the jokes in the film. While Jeff Goldblum is a great choice for the Grandmaster, some of his scenes were a bit tedious and cringe worthy. However, these awkward scenes were really few and far between so it’s something I could overlook when enjoying the film.

Third, many critics both professional and viewers had quite a few things to say about this film. One criticism I read is that the plotline of Ragnarok was an afterthought and wasn’t central to the film. I didn’t see that at all. While Ragnarok isn’t discussed at length in the film, it is Thor’s motivation to free himself from the Grandmaster and return to Asgard and defeat Hela. So I feel Ragnarok was not a side plot especially in the final act, when you see the final you may understand what I mean. Sometimes I think people wanted the Ragnarok storyline to be used to bash the audience’s head and remind them over and over that the end was coming. Not necessary. I think it worked in the film as they portrayed it. Second, many critics had a problem with the humor. There was too much. While I enjoyed the majority of the humor and didn’t enjoy some of the jokes, I don’t see why a superhero film can’t have humor. Iron Man did. Both Avengers films did. Captain America: Winter Soldier did. Maybe not to the extent of Ragnarok but it was there. Looking back on the first two Thor films, there were quite bit of humor in those films too.

In conclusion, I loved Thor: Ragnarok. It had great acting. The story was good and for the most part the humor fit. Despite finding some of the humor awkward and hard to watch, I look forward to watching it over and over again as part of the MCU. In my opinion, every movie will have flaws. No matter how much they try to cover all the bases, mistakes will be made and ideas will falter. However, this film is a great film which its flaws can be ignored. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. 

The Huntsman: Winter's War: a review

The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016) is a fantasy adventure prequel/sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman (2012). The movie begins as Queen Ravenna (played by Charlize Theron) plays chess with her sister, Freya (played by Emily Blunt), whose powers have not yet emerged. When tragedy strikes, Freya’s powers sudden appear as ice powers. She flees and builds her own kingdom as the Ice Queen. She trains children to be her fearsome huntsmen. She has forbidden love in her kingdom. Despite her decree, two of her best huntsmen, Eric (played by Chris Hemsworth) and Sara (played by Jessica Chastain) fall in love, secretly marry and plan to escape. Their plans is thwarted and Eric is cast out of the kingdom. Seven years later, it is after the events of Snow White and the Huntsman, Queen Snow White has taken ill due to the influence of Ravenna’s evil mirror. The mirror is ordered to be hidden so its dark magic can be contained. On the trip, the mirror disappears and it is feared that Freya is after it. Eric is sent to investigate and recover the mirror. Can Eric find the mirror before Freya? What evil will be released if she gets it?

First, my review will be based on viewing the extended version of this film. There are a few things I liked. First, Chris Hemsworth is great as he returns to the role of the Huntsman. The only reason I wanted to see this film was Chris Hemsworth’s Huntsman. I enjoyed this character in the first film and I looked forward to seeing him again. Hemsworth has proven he is capable with an action film. And I have yet to see a movie he’s in that I didn’t like. Granted I haven’t seen all of his films yet, so there may be a film or two I won’t like. I also loved his Scottish accent. Although I’ve read comments that the accent was horrible but it works for me and sounds like many Scottish accents I’ve heard. Second, the action was good and entertaining. Jessica Chastain was great in the action sequences and she and Chris Hemsworth worked well together. I thought their characters’ love story was very moving and believable. Third, there were moments of humor that made me smile or chuckle especially with the dwarves. Nion (played by Nick Frost) and Gryff (played by Rob Brydon) join Eric on his search for the mirror. Along the way, they are joined by Doreena (played by Alexandra Roach) and Bromwyn (played by Sheridan Smith). The interaction between the four dwarves add humor to the story. They aren’t just there for comic relief. The dwarves are in the thick of the action too.

The main issue I had about this film was how it was advertised. The movie was billed as “the story before Snow White” and the first part of the movie takes place before her story. However, the majority of the story and action takes place AFTER the events of Snow White’s story. So how can this be “the story before Snow White?” It reminds me of the movie 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) which takes place before, during and after the events of 300 (2007). If I remember correctly 300: Rise of an Empire was billed as a before, during and after movie unlike Winter’s War which was billed as a prequel. And it’s only a prequel for the first 25 minutes or so. I think the movie fully intended to be a sequel but when the affair scandal between Kristin Stewart and the director Rupert Sanders broke out and Kristin Stewart refusing to do the sequel, I think the producers scrambled about what to do next. Although, in my opinion, I think they could have recast Snow White and the fans would have applauded. There was also a mentioned that Disney may not have allowed the producers to use the name “Snow White” as they have the rights to the name and character. I’m not sure how true that it because she is mentioned in the movie several times and seen in a few scenes.

This movie was heavily criticized by critics and audiences alike. First, many critics and moviegoers pointed out that Freya was similar to Disney’s Elsa in Frozen (2013). They are similar because they were both inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s story, The Snow Queen. Was it smart to create a character who was inspired by the same story as a widely popular Disney film? Probably not, because even through Freya is closer to the cruelty of the Snow Queen, Elsa is still the image of the queen with ice powers. Second, many critics hated that the narrator in the film gives away the story before the movie has a chance to start. There was narration in Snow White and the Huntsman, so it would make sense that there would be narration with this film too. When I watched the film again, I paid more attention to the narration and I don’t think it gave anything away that the audience could already anticipate from just the description of the film. In the movie poster, you see Freya dressed as the ice queen but when you first see her in the film, she hasn’t gotten her ice powers yet. So you would anticipate something happening in order for her to transform into the ice queen. Third, many comments I read had a problem with the prequel/sequel premise and I can see why because I had an issue with it too as I stated above. I think a straight forward sequel would have been better. The Freya character could have introduced to the story without having to explain her backstory as they did. Or her backstory could have been shown as part of an exposition from another character.

Overall, I have watched the film three times now and each time I enjoy it more and more. It is a fun adventure story. It is a great Saturday afternoon popcorn movie. I think so many people now want movies which require you to think and contemplate the great questions of our lives and our world. However, sometimes you need a simple straight forward adventure story which leaves you pumped up and victorious. A movie which you cheer for the heroes and you cheer at the demise of the villains. The Huntsman: Winter’s War is such a movie. In my opinion, you don’t even need to see Snow White and the Huntsman first. You can get enough of the story which happens before in Winter’s War without being lost or confused. So if you have the chance and want to watch an adventure story with humor and great action sequences, I recommend The Huntsman: Winter’s War. It is available now on Blue-ray, DVD and On Demand. 

Passengers: a great movie which received little praise from critics

Passengers is a 2016 sci-fi film directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Jon Spaihts. It’s the story of the starship Avalon as it transports 5,000 colonists and 258 crew members to their new home on Homestead II. The journey will take 120 years as the colonists and crew are safe in hibernation pods. Thirty years into the journey, the ship passes through an asteroid field, causing malfunctions throughout the ship. One passenger, Jim Preston (played by Chris Pratt), wakes up 90 years too soon. His only companion, an android bartender named Arthur (played by Michael Sheen). Jim is alone for one year until Aurora Lane (played by Jennifer Lawrence) wakes up. The two become close and eventually fall in love. Some more time passes when another person wakes up, this time it’s Chief Deck Officer Gus Mancuso (played by Laurence Fishburne). The trio realizes the ship is in serious trouble. Can they repair the ship and save the lives of the sleeping passengers and crew? Will the ship even reach its destination?

I enjoyed a lot about this movie. First, the performances by Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are great, especially Christ Pratt’s performance. For a good portion of the first act, Pratt is acting by himself. He’s the only character on screen and you feel for his character’s plight as he wrestles with questions with no easy answers and situations with life altering choices. Pratt has proved himself capable of an action movie with Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Jurassic World (2015) and in Passengers, he also shows he’s capable of drama and romance. Jennifer Lawrence has long proven herself in action, drama and romance so this movie was right of her alley. Second, the story itself is compelling. It’s been called “Titanic among the stars” (James Dyer, Empire magazine). The movie plays out like a disaster movie with a love story. And this time the lovers are likable and not as annoying as Jack and Rose. Third, the movie’s central question and dilemmas help make the story thought provoking. For those who have not seen the movie yet, there is a main question and dilemma I will not mention as it is a spoiler. However, when you see it, you will ask yourself what would you do if you were in the same situation?

I can honestly say there wasn’t much about this movie I didn’t like. There is nothing I can point out like “yeah, right that would happen!” I recognized it for what it was, a love story with a sci-fi twist. As I always do, I read a number of reviews to see if critics or other reviewers saw something I didn’t. Most of the time I spent my time shaking my head and laughing at their hatred. They harped over the same stupid details and I wondered if they even saw the movie for themselves or just copied another’s review, changed a few details and posted it as their own. Who knows? There was nothing really about this movie that stood out to me as bad, as a major flaw or even irritating. I liked it all. I laughed at some scenes. I cried and held my breath at others. Sometimes I think people have lost the meaning behind a film. It is a brief moment in time to escape reality and see a world we will never see. Now I’m not going to say that there haven’t been movies I hated. I may have even reviewed a few on here but Passengers was a great movie.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave this movie a rotten rating of 31% with a consensus of “Passengers proves Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence work well together---and that even their chemistry isn’t enough to overcome a fatally flawed story.” The majority of complaints were about the science of the story. It’s a SCI-FI movie!!! Sci-fi meaning science fiction. In most sci-fi movies, the science is usually stretched a bit to add suspense and drama. While critics hated the film, audiences loved it. Many audience reviews praised the film’s beautiful space scenes, its drama and suspense, even the love story. Quite a few reviews I read online by audience members swear the professional critics were paid off to hate this film. One reviewer on IMDb.com said it best: “Passengers is yet another example as to why you should go see the movies professional critics hate & save your money on the ones they absolutely love.” Great advice. Some critics also dwelled on the predictable action of the story. HELLO!!! Did we all miss storytelling 101?!?! There is a general progression in storytelling. First, act 1 is the setup, the opening, the exposition. Second, act 2 is the conflict with a rising action and usually ends with a climax. Third, act 3 is the falling action and resolution. Every good story has these elements, so it would make sense you would see it everywhere!

In conclusion, if you are looking for an action-packed, Star Wars or Star Trek kind of movie, this movie isn’t it. If you are looking for a suspenseful, dramatic love story with thought provoking questions, this movie is for you. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and would watch it again and again. Critics be damned and see this movie for yourself. It is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray, I highly, highly recommend you check out Passengers.