Moonlit Dreams
 
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*Note: This was originally posted to Blogger on Friday, May 6, 2011

I have been a bit busy working on my latest book so I haven't blogged as much as I generally like.  In an effort to catch up on some of the things I have been wanting to talk about I am just going to combine them here.  Before I get started, you may ask what The Hunger Games and Thor could possibly have in common?  Well, I'm going for the long stretch and saying the Hemsworth brothers (Chris is staring in Thor and Liam is cast to play Gale in The Hunger Games).  In reality, what they have in common is that I have just finished reading the series and watching Thor.  I do love my entertainment!


I have already blogged about The Hunger Games (the book).  I would like to add the rest of the series too.  This series was collectively the best piece of YA fiction I have read in a long time!  After reading the last book in the series I fell asleep thinking of Katniss Everdeen and the world in which she lived.  These books and the fantastic characters permeated my dreams for days.  I am putting the books on my children's must read list, especially before the movies come out.  A bit about the books:



The United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 13 districts. In the early days of Panem District 13 rebelled and was obliterated.  In order to keep the remaining 12 districts from fighting the rule of the Capital The Hunger Games are held each year as a reminder to the people of Panem about what rebellion costs them.  Each year, one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from each district by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. The televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced into an arena where they must fight to the death, while all the citizens of Panem are required to watch. Katniss Everdeen becomes the District 12 tribute for the 74th Hunger Games when her younger sister, Prim, is selected in the lottery and she volunteers to take her place.
"The rules of the Hunger Games are simple. In punishment for the uprising, each of the twelve districts must provide one girl and one boy, called tributes, to participate. The twenty-four tributes will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland. Over a period of several weeks, the competitors must fight to the death. The last tribute standing wins."

“District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety,”


Bottom line:  If you haven't read the series yet, you need to!



THOR - The MovieI took my three youngest children to see Thor in 3D.  This was a fantasticpopcorn movie.  The images were absolutely stunning and I am not justreferring to Chris Hemsworth's shirtless body.  Stan Lee, as always, is amazing!  Although his cameo was a quick one he was able to steal the show just a little bit! I figure for a movie like Thor, a male opinion was needed though so Iasked my eldest son what he thought of the movie and he had this to say:"It was good."  When I asked what was good about it, he simply stated,"all of it!"I guess that about sums it up.  If you like action, adventure, a little buddingromance, and more action - then this is the perfect movie for you and a great start to a very promising summer movie season!

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Today was a movie day!  

I always enjoy an old, favorite story being re-told in a new and interesting way.  And so it was with Red Riding Hood.  The story of a girl, a woodsman, a granny, and a wolf.   The story that played out before my eyes was different while at the same time inviting, dark, edgy, and not as predictable as it could have been.  

I loved it!  Of course, it's a retelling from the genre of literature/movies that I love best.  

Gary Oldman is in this movie - that makes it worth watching in and of itself!  The rest of the cast was wisely chosen as well.  

I took my mother with me to see this movie, because she is also a fan of fantasy fiction.   The only negative thing she had to say was that she didn't like how the movie ended.   I did.  I don't always think that everything should be wrapped in a pretty little bow at the end of a movie though.  And that is all I will say on the matter, lest I give away something I should not.

If you are a fan of fantasy, of retold fairy tales, or just in the mood for something dark and different, treat yourself to this movie on the big screen.  It was definitely worth it.

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I am a fan of 1980s action cheese by default.  Sure, I watched them all when I was growing up, but I really have had to watch them again and again because my husband is a huge fan.  So, of course it was set in stone, from the time Sylvester Stalone said this movie was in the making, that I would go see it with my husband and our friends.

I want to say I expected more, but honestly, I didn't.  I knew what I was getting into when I sat down in the theater.  Action - there was a lot of it!  If you like to see things blown up, shot up, cut up, and/or set on fire; then you have gone to see the right movie.

The plot was okay, typical 80s cheese.  The actors, some of the older ones, looked really old and probably should just hang up trying to play the super-hero good guy with a flaw types.  Stalone, for instance, was wearing way too much makeup to try to hide his age.  It did not work for him, at all!

There were moments, like Mickey Rourke's speech about the one person he didn't help in life where I yawned, rolled my eyes, and wished for it to be over already, but for the most part - the movie ran smoothly, a lot of stuff got blown up, and there were some cute one-liners that were good for a giggle. 

I rate this as a fun popcorn movie.  If you want to just go enjoy some action, and forget everything else - then this is the movie to go see.

Just some other insights...

Jason Statham - well, let me just say this for Mr. Statham - I sat through In the Name of the King because he was in it.  Yum!
Charisma Carpenter - So good to see her in something again, she is a way underutilized actress. I miss the days long ago when I could turn on the T.V. and find Cordelia Chase lighting up the screen in Buffy and Angel!
Jet Li - stole the show with his many excuses for why he needs more money!  He definitely would have winned!  :)
Eric Roberts - Is he capable of playing a good guy, ever?  I often wonder if he's a butt-head in real life and just a really bad actor - or if he's like the nicest guy you could meet and a fantastic actor.  Something is definitely a little off with the fact that he ALWAYS plays the bad guy though.
Bruce Willis - He had a very small part, which was very disappointing. 






 
 
I love Mickey Mouse!  He is one of my all time favorite cartoon characters. My favorite of those many episodes that Mickey has starred in, since his days as Steam Boat Willy, is the Sorcerer's Apprentice skit. When I heard that Jerry Bruckheimer and Nicholas Cage were teaming up to make a live action movie with that episode as their muse, I was ecstatic.

I went opening weekend to see this movie. I absolutely loved it. I was so excited about getting to see the whole thing instead of just re-watching trailers. This was a fantastic popcorn movie. It is perfect for kids and adults. Disney definitely knows how to make good movies. The problem seems to be, no one is going to see it. People, if you still believe in magic, or want to again - this is the movie for you. 

As an avid fan of Mickey and his sorcerer's apprentice skit - I must say they did him justice and I could picture the little mouse sitting in the back of the theater getting cozy with Minnie while Pluto steals some popcorn from his bucket o' buttery goodness, appreciating the scene where mops and brooms take on a life of their own! "He, he, I remember when that happened to me!"