Reviews Written by Anne of Aramink
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December 25, 2006
Philosophy of Karma, Angst, and Time Travel
Pros: Fascinating premise
Cons: None
I can't think of a single thing that would have improved this film. It has teen angst, karma, family dysfunction, peer pressure, and a philosophy that makes you think long after the credits have rolled.
Donnie Darko is a teenager with mental health issues and a giant rabbit dream stalker. At first the rabbit seems like a Pooka á la the giant invisible rabbit in "Harvey" (1950, starring Jimmy Stewart). The rabbit tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, and Donnie wakes up on a golf course. He goes home only to find that a jet engine from an unidentified plane has crashed into his house and but for the rabbit's calling him outside, he would have died.
Over the next 28 days, Donnie Darko's giant invisible rabbit convinces him to commit crimes, each more horrible than the last. Donnie is frantic to discover metaphysical truths before the world must end, but he can't figure out why he is compelled to obey the rabbit's sinister commands.
The psychological twists and turns of the film kept me guessing as to what would happen. By the end, I wanted Donnie to discover his metaphysical truth and somehow prevent the end of the world.
The philosophy of this film left me thinking for days after I first saw it. I saw it again recently, and I still think about it. I think it's fair to say that "Donnie Darko" is a film that leaves a lasting impression. ... -
December 3, 2006
The Rock Rocks!
Pros: Fun story, lots of swordplay
Cons: Marginal acting
The prequel to The Mummy and The Mummy returns isn't really a prequel at all. It isn't even set in the same area, unless the same hemisphere counts. Nevertheless, it's got supernatural action, lots of fighting, buff bodies, and a beautiful woman. All the ingredients of a good time in front of the big screen, right? Right!
Eye Candy in the form of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Michael Duncan exists for the women, and Kelly Hu is at her gorgeous best for the men. There's lots of intense action in the fight scenes - plenty of fire, lots of swordfights, and acrobatic stunts.
Memnon (Steven Duncan), an evil king, holds the beautiful sorceress (Kelly Hu) captive for her - guess what - ability to foresee the future. Mathayus (The Rock) is an assassin sent to kill Memnon, but is thwarted by the need to save a child. Since he can't seem to assassinate Memnon, he kidnaps the sorceress instead and of course Memnon gets more than a little upset at him. The rest of the movie is the forces of good (Mathayus/The Rock) versus the forces of evil (Memnon/Steven Brand).
The swordfights are very well choreographed. In fact, the fight scenes are so well done it really makes up for the fact that the movie has virtually no plot and what plot it does have is at odds with The Mummy Returns, which it is supposed to be a prequel for.
It's a good bad movie, quite enjoyable if one isn't expecting too much and can be satisfied with it for what it is: a fun time. ... -
November 7, 2006
Compelling and Mystical Historical Novel
Pros: Beautifully written, good weaving of truth and fiction
Cons: None
Hannah (Gracia) Mendes, a real Jewish woman who survived the Spanish Inquisition, appears to her distant descendant, compelling her to search for a missing manuscript describing the flight of the Mendes family from the Catholic persecution.
The Spanish Inquisition was famous for putting non-Christians and Christian dissenters to the "Question." This novel follows the fictitious descendants of Dona Gracia as they search for the missing pages of a letter she left describing her family's plight and flight from inquisitors.
How did Jewish Spaniards adhere to their religion during those tempestuous times? How did the escape alive to Gibralter and from there spread throughout the world? Dona Gracia's letter explains everything, in bits and pieces, as her distant descendant and that descendant's granddaughters learn the truth about the brave woman who appeared to the grandmother in a dream.
Across centuries, generations, continents and prejudices, this is a beautifully written book that tells a great story, all the more beautiful in its historic truth. ... -
November 7, 2006
Two Generations of Settlers
Pros: good use of sources, reads like a novel, good maps
Cons: none
The Pilgrims' journey began long before they ever chartered the Mayflower. Philbrick makes a fabulous historical analysis of the Plymouth settlement from before its founding through the aftermath of King Philip's War, which was fought by the sons and grandsons of the Pilgrim fathers and their Native contemporaries.
He begins with the struggle for freedom of religious expression in the early days of the Protestant Reformation in England, following the movers and shakers of the group that would become the first settlers of Plymouth. Their naive efforts to amass the supplies and guides needed for settling in a "wild" country caused the religious group to ally themselves uneasily with military leaders like Miles Standish. Something that not everyone remembers from school is that these two groups did not have the same goals or ideas about how the new world should be settled or how the natives should be dealt with.
After the initial uneasiness, a truce of necessity was reached between the natives and the English. It was a truce among equals, quite unlike the treaties and truces made between later Europeans and Native Americans. This peace was broken when the original settlers were elderly and their sons decided to approach the natives differently. The dynamics among rival native tribes also played into the tensions that escalated into the first Indian War, King Philip's War.
Using primary and secondary sources and with a liberal sprinkling of highly readable and useful maps, Philbrick has put together a remaarkable story that reads like a novel. ... -
November 7, 2006
What if Magic Were Real?
Pros: unique story idea, twisty plot
Cons: drags in places
What if magic was real, and enjoyed a long tradition? And what if magicians only studied magical history and not magical practice? Then, what if someone discovered the practice of magic again, and brought it back?
This hefty tome by Susanna Clarke explores those ideas, as well as the arrogance and failings of hubris. It's not a classic good vs. evil story, which is really what I expected when I bought this book at an airport (for the 800 pages of light reading). It's conflict of the establishment against progress, of innovation versus convention, of the young and the old both grasping for a valid place in the world.
It takes place in early 19th century England, primarily in London although there are forays to the countryside as well as to the French battlefield when Napoleon becomes a nuisance. The author wrote in what she deemed the period style, but it was much more easily readable than, say, even Victorian (shudder) literature. She was quite liberal with commas, which certainly lent a degree of credulity to the period writing style. She also used footnotes throughout the book, and if I were the sort of person annoyed by footnotes, I suppose they would have annoyed me. But since I'm the sort of person who uses a second bookmark to keep up with even endnotes, and I kind of enjoy flipping back and forth (it burns more calories) I found the footnotes to be a humorous way to give the reader "background" without sacrificing the pace of the story.
The pace of any story that takes 800 pages to tell will occasionally drag. I really didn't find that to be the case with this book, though, until very near the end, when poor Jonathan Strange spent entirely too much time in Italy and not nearly enough time arguing with Mr. Norrell. I liked their conflicts.
I gave the book to my mom to read. I figured with her science fiction/fantasy inclinations she'd really enjoy it. Shows how much I know! She struggled through it to please me, but the last 100 pages never got read. How she could have left the story before it was resolved, I will never understand! But she got bogged down in Venice and just had to extricate herself before she suffocated, I think. Oh, well. Thanks, Mom, for trying. Now I really wish I knew someone else who had read the book so I could talk about it without giving away the many significant plot twists! ... -
October 31, 2006
A Beauty Queen and a Wild Child
Pros: Beautifully written
Cons: None
Mma Precious Ramotswe is back in the third installment of this wonderful series about the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency near Gaborone, Botswana. Having expanded her family in the first book to include Mr. J.L.B.Matekoni, her fiance, and in the second book to include two orphan children, Mma Ramotswe must now look to her business, which is doing well, but not so well as all that. She has promoted her secretary to assistant detective and given her a raise, but there is not enough money coming into the detective agency to keep it in the black.
Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is having business problems of his own. His perpetually lazy assistants seem to get nothing done, and suddenly, Rra Matekoni himself seems to lose all interest in his garage. Mma Ramotswe is distressed, and seeks professional help from the highest caliber of people she can think of.
Meanwhile, an important new client comes to the agency. He is a Government Man, very rich and very powerful. Convinced that his brother's wife is poisoning him, the Government Man hires Mma Ramotswe to investigate, and she turns up astonishing results. While shis is off on this important case, her assistant detective, who has suddenly found herself as Acting Manager of the garage, too, is required to determine the character of certrain beauty queens, to see if any of them is morally fit to win the pageant and go on to compete for Miss Botswana, and maybe Miss Universe.
But most mysterious of all is the small child who smells of lions and is found wild in the bush, unable to communicate with anyone. Naturally he ends up at the orphanage. But what can be done about his bewildering lack of communication with other human beings?
Once again Alexander McCall Smith has captured the cadence and the simpliticy of Africa, its beauty and its complexity. This is a truly delightful book. ... -
October 16, 2006
Mma Ramotswe
Pros: Great story, believable characters
Cons: None
Mma Precious Ramotswe's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is going strong and has new cases to solve. In the most challenging one, an American woman whose son went missing ten years before hires Mma Ramotswe to find out what happened to him.
There are changes in store for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as Mma Ramotswe's secretary is promoted to assistant detective and given her own case.
Changes at the agency aren't the only ones. At the end of the first book in this marvelous series, Mma Ramotswe agreed to marry Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Their courtship continues in this second book, and even more significant changes are in store for the happy couple as a result of Rra Matekoni's good deeds at a nearby orphanage.
Of course, not everyone is happy that Rra Matekoni plans to marry Mma Ramotswe, and that unhappy person has sinister plans.
Another fun book by Alexander McCall Smith, whose writing evokes the cadence of African rhythms and the simple goodness of the Batswana. ... -
October 6, 2006
Orwellian Slavery
Pros: Beautifully written, enthralling story
Cons: None
Imagine a world in which men, and never women, hold all of the power, all of the decision-making authority. Imagine that women are wives without power, servants, concubines, and are not allowed to speak to one another, ever.
This isn't the Stepford Wives. It's even more evil and insidious.
Our heroine has a name, but it changes depending upon which man has use of her body. She is a Handmaid, which is essentially a sex slave. Women in her time do not become pregnant easily, and since before the new order took over she had a child, she is considered fertile. Once a month she suffers the attentions of the man of her house, while his wife looks on in condescending disgust. If she becomes pregnant she will be elevated to a position of respect, even though her child will be taken away from her.
Her other child was taken away, maybe even killed. She believes the husband she loves was killed. She believes she will be killed if she resists, or if she fails to conceive.
Even the master of her household, a high ranking official, does not follow the harash rules strictly. He would be subject to prosecution if those in power knew of his illicit Scrabble games with his Handmaid.
He takes the Handmaid to what would appear to be a BDSM 'munch' where she makes valuable contacts with an underground women's movement, unknown to her master.
Before this government, they were allowed to be educated, to move about freely, to marry the men they loved, to think. Now they are objects, and nothing more.
The women manage to speak in hushed voices, daring to hope that their world can somehow be returned to them. Will a rebellion be successful? Will it even be possible?
Margargaret Atwood's incredible imagination and range is evident in this dark novel. The most terrifying part of the whole story is that one can imagine it actually happening. ... -
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
by Chris Columbus | VideoPrice: $21.95 to $39.99 Compare PricesOctober 6, 2006
HP is a Wonderful Cinematic Experience
Pros: Follows the book closely
Cons: It's the movie, not the book!
Harry Potter is an abused child who suddenly finds he is heir to a wondrous fortune - not in money, but in his invitation to escape his misery by attending the most famous magic school in the world. Hogwarts School is a great relief for Harry. He makes friends of adults and peers, learns the ethics of using his incredible talent, and learns that among persons of magic he is famous and respected, even at the tender age of eleven.
Fame and respect come at an enormous cost, though: the lives of his parents and the permanent scar on Harry's forehead.
Enemies lurk all around Harry. Snape, the potions teacher, appears to be the living manifestation of nastiness. Draco Malfoy, snob, rich kid, is Harry's enemy from their first meeting.
Harry's nemesis, though, is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Voldemort is the great evil wizard who killed Harry's parents, and who was nearly destroyed by baby Harry in the process. His reappearance in the wizarding world coincides with Harry's matriculation at Hogwarts. Voldemort is an invisible enemy who is always present. He is terrifying, vindictive, and apparently single-minded in his efforts to destroy Harry completely. ...
Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione make it their goal to prevent any harm to anyone by Voldemort and his minions, while dodging the immediate threat of Malfoy and his minions. Their efforts result in a number of broken school rules, use of their newly-acquired magical abilities in creative ways, and, of course, a battle for the school title against Malfoy's dorm and a battle to the death against Voldemort.
Bad guys do nasty magic in this movie. Before the Religious Right gets bent out of shape about it, they should know that more important are the good guys who use that magical talent for only good things: to heal injuries, to right wrongs, to defend their friends. Children are not meant to believe HP is a true story. It is a made-up story full of make-believe people with make-believe abilities.
Don't worry: Nobody really gets hurt in the movies. Sometimes they get really big ouchies, though. HP is full of suspense, excitement, thrills, and adventure. But never fear! The school nurse can painlessly cure anything from multiple broken bones to major head injuries in practically no time at all.
The movie hit most of the highlights of the book and the story line was very cohesive. The only thing missing is the development of Harry & Ron's friend Neville. There is a little at the beginning of the Hogwarts segment about him and his pet frog, but the interplay that causes him to try to stop the three main heroes from going after the Sorcerer's Stone is sadly missing. Those who haven't read the book just don't get why Neville bothers to take it upon himself to try to stop Harry and his two best friends from their last effort to protect the Sorcerer's stone from Voldemort.
The actors chosen to play each of the parts were perfect. Snape is truly wicked and makes a fabulous villan. The Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Quirrell, is deceptively silly and nice, and brutally evil. Dumbledore is wonderfully wise and his eyes sparkle just as they should. Hagrid is exactly the way he should be - fun, protective, fascinating, kind, gruff, innocent yet knowledgeable about so many things. I cried during Harry's performance before the Mirror of Frised. (No, fellas, this is NOT a "chick flick.")
I do not recommend this DVD for children under seven. The suspense may be too much for them, and some of the scary characters may be too frightening. Everyone else including teenagers and adults, will find the movie spellbinding.
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The Science You Don't Know Looks Like Magic
Pros: Original idea and theme, funny
Cons: none
Nate is a marine biologist. His research partner, Clay, takes pictures of the humpback whales whose song they are trying to decipher. Their mysterious benefactor and funding source, whom they call "the Old Broad," tells Nate to take a pastrami sandwich out to one of the big humpbacks. The whale has told her that's what he wants, she tells Nate. Despite having seen "bite me" painted on the flukes of a particularly large humpback, Nate ignores the lunch order.
The research office has been ransacked and years of humpback recordings have been stolen. Nate returns to the office to find not only the tumultuous mess but Kona, the white Rastafarian from New Jersey Clay has hired to help with some of the more menial work.
Who has trashed the office and the years of research? And why? Christopher Moore has written a science fiction/fantasy mystery that is completely original in its conception and scope.
Not only is it riotously funny, Fluke manages to convey a message of conservation and respect for other species in a way that is not preachy. In fact, the message is inescapable in its urgency because of that niggling doubt in the back of every reader's mind: what if it's true?
It's hard to write a review that doesn't repeat what everyone else has already said, and said so eloquently, about this fabulous book. It's definitely worth the read. And it's definitely worth reading more than once. I don't say that about many books. ...