Bookish Review: Unbroken

My book club selected this book, and I am so glad they dad. Louis Zamperini, the protagonist of this amazing true story, just passed away yesterday at the age of 97, and as it is July 4th, I think sharing the story of an American hero is very appropriate. Unbroken is Zamperini's life story, including his misspent youth, his rise as a track star, and his service in the Pacific theater during WWII. Most of my knowledge of WWII is focused on what happened in Europe, plus Pearl Harbor, and the atomic bombings, of course. I really didn't know that much about the Pacific theater otherwise, so beyond Zamperini's incredible story of survival, I found the book very interesting for the history lesson alone. Frankly, what happened to Zamperini and others in the war reads like fiction--how could these men have survived? It's very inspirational, and Zamperini's struggles after the war give some insight into PTSD for soldiers. The book is long and meticulously researched, but it's definitely a page turner. Read it before the movie comes out!

Bookish Movie: The Lovely Bones

I loved this book, but I wondered how it would translate into a movie. After watching it, I think my first instincts were correct, and this just should not have been made into a movie. I think Stanley Tucci did a great job as a child murderer (creepy!), and, in fact, all of the acting was good. It was just not as compelling to me as it was as a book, and didn't really hold my interest.

Please read the book (but buy some Kleenex!). The movie, you can skip.

Bookish Movie: Confessions of a Shopaholic

This movie was based on a so-so, fluffy novel by Sophie Kinsenella. The movie is rather vapid and feels a little long. Isla Fisher is cute and believable and the male lead is adorable, but the main character is not as loveable as she could be and the movie as a whole just feels slow & predictable. Easy to tell from the trailer exactly what you're going to get, which is not always a problem with a romantic comedy, but this one just falls a little flat. Not terrible, but not that good, either.

Bookish movie: Disney's A Christmas Carol

Go see it in 3D--you won't regret it. This is a story that has been told countless times in myriad variations. We all know it, right? Ebeneezer Scrooge, the original grinch, is a miserly, miserable old man who hates Christmas. He is given a chance to redeem himself and change his terrible ways. He is visited by three ghosts and comes to the realization that he must change his life. Instead of trying to create a new variation on the theme, the filmmakers actually stuck fairly close to Dickens's orignial tale. The dialogue is very good and true to the story and the animation is quite interesting. A word of warning: the ghosts are creepy, scary, and menacing, for the most part. This is not really a movie for little bitty kids--it is a ghost story, after all. The animation is a little weird at times, and I don't think it would be as compelling if not in 3D--so spend a few extra bucks and see it that way!

Bookish movie: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The 6th Harry Potter book is one of my favorites, so I was really looking forward to this movie. I made two mistakes:

1. I re-read the book right before going to see the movie. This makes all of the changes and discrepancies all the more obvious, and I knew I was going to regret it, but I couldn't help myself.

2. My hopes were too high. For some reason, I was thinking the movie would be very true to the book, even though none of the movies really have been since Chris Columbus left the project.

So, the special effects were great; there were a number of laughs; the girl playing Lavender was spot-on. It was an enjoyable movie. The kids are really growing up, and it's very cute to see.

Problems: Changes. The beginning was different--I could get over that. There's lots of little plot changes, too that I could look past, even though I do think the way Ginny and Harry get together in the book is infinitely better than in the movie. Then, they insert a scene at The Burrow that has no basis in the books. It was a big scene, too, and just seemed out of place and weird. I might have been able to get over that, but then they left out the big battle at the end! WTH! So, the invented Burrow scene took its place? That just does not work and was the biggest disappointment to me. I liked the movie more until that happened and since it is right at the end of the movie, it pretty well spoiled it.

They also left out major important plot points that are necessary for the 7th book, so I am not sure how they are going to work that out. The battle is pretty freaking important. Fenrir Greyback? Completely unexplained. Fleur and Bill? Wait, who? Percy? Not even a mention. Kreacher being inherited by Harry? Nope. There's a new Minister of Magic? No hint of that in the movie. Voldemort's parents? No flashback. The other objects that might be Horcruxes? No clue. Some of that probably could have been left out, but all of it? Yikes. I'm not sure how much sense the movie will make to those who haven't read the book. Probably most of the meaning will come through, but some things will seem very abrupt, I think.

So, I am SOOO glad they are splitting the 7th book into 2 movies because they have so much to fit in. The movie was good, don't get me wrong, but it could have been so much better. Seeing it at the opening showing (yes, I went at midnight and still got up for work in the morning) added to the atmosphere and was quite fun.

I will go see it again on IMAX, and being a little further removed from reading the book might make it more enjoyable.

Bookish Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

As you may or may not know, Slumdog Millionaire is based on the novel Q&A (which I have not read). The movie has gotten a ton of hype, accolades, and awards, so I cannot imagine that if you live in America, the UK, or India, you are not aware of it. Hearing all the hype made me a bit wary of the movie. I couldn't believe it would live up to it.


But, it did. It was great. Touching, heart-wrenching, hopeful--fabulous. I really don't think it is a stretch to call it the feel-good movie of the year (So far), and I can absolutely see why everyone if going nuts for it.


The main character is from a slum in Mumbai, and he gets the opportunity to go on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and he doesn't miss a question. Noone believes that he could actually know the answers, so they take him into police custody and try to get him to admit he is a cheater by torturing him. Through this process, he explains how he learned each answer and we get to see the hellish life he has grown up with and learn his true motivation for going on the show.


Make sure you stay for the credits and the Bollywood style dance number.

Bookish Movie: He's Just Not That into You

This movie was not quite what I expected. It's not BAD, but it is a lot sadder than I had bargained for. There is humor in it, but a lot of that is in the commercials. Most of the movie leaves you feeling really pessimistic about the possibility of a successful relationship. It also seemed a bit long, and the whole time I was thinking, "This is a lot like Love Actually, except Love Actually is better." It does have a happy ending, but it seems a long time getting there.

Wait for the rental.

Bookish Movie: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Ok, so technically, this is a "short-story-ish" movie, but I think it counts. I have not read the F. Scott Fitzgerald story on which the movie is based, so I can make no comparisons there, but I can tell you the movie is beautiful. It is set in New Orleans, which I believe is different from the setting of the story. Unlike most of the movies set in New Orleans, the accents are actually not bad, and they managed to capture some of the beauty and magic of the city. In addition, the special effects and make-up work are incredible. The movie is long, but it is a beautiful story of love and loss and life and death. Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt do a great job, and Taraji P Henson does perhaps the best job of all as Benjamin's adoptive mother. She is very deserving of the Critic's Choice and SAG awards she has already won, and I sincerely hope she gets nominated for an Oscar.

It's a very bittersweet movie, but beautiful and moving. Highly recommended.

Bookish Review: The Princess Bride

Sure, you've seen the movie, but have you read the book? (What do you mean, you haven't seen the movie? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? Sorry, I didn't mean that; of course I didn't. I just meant...you should see it. Your proper answer? "Aaaaasssss yoooouuuuu wiiiiiiiiisssshhhhh..." See the movie, and you will get that. It is funny, trust me.)

So, the book is supposed to be an abridgement by William Goldman of a much longer work by S. Morganstern. The thing is...there is no S. Morganstern. The whole thing is fictional. The author also wrote the movie screenplay, as well as the screenplays for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Misery (! Can you believe the same person wrote both of those?), and many others. The book is a fairy tale of sorts, involving a milkmaid and a farm boy (who eventually become a princess and a pirate), as well as a giant, a zoo of death, a fire swamp, a Spaniard who is a fencing master, and 4 white horses. Intruiged yet? There are also fun asides from the "original" author, S. Morganstern, as well as Goldman's notes on his "abridgement." The whole frame story around the book is that Goldman's father originally read the book to him when he was a child sick with pneumonia, and he left out all of the boring parts, which is how Goldman came to write the abridgement. It truly would be a good read-aloud for children, and you could skip all of the asides and just read the action and the love story. For adults, the metafictional aspects add to the fun (at least for nerdy adults like me). It is a fun read, especially if you have fond memories of the movie. Even if you don't, if you like a love story, it is a book for you, for there never was a love like that of Westley and his Buttercup.

Bookish Movie: Marley & Me

Bring your kleenex! I think if you are a dog lover, you will like this movie, regarless of whether you have read the book. I have read the book (which I highly recommend), but I read it a while ago, so the differences between the book and movie did not bother me much; the spirit was still there. The book (and movie) is about John Grogan as much as it is about Marley, and it is funny and sad and very well done. Many people in the theatre brought little kids, but I don't think they knew how the movie ended. Just expect to cry, and if your children are old enough and like sad movies, then maybe you will want to bring them. If they are little and sobbed for weeks when their goldfish died, you may not want to.

Movie gets two thumbs up, and the book is even better. Highly recommended.

Bookish Movie: PS I Love You

As you can see, the movie stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler, as well as Gina Gershon, Lisa Kudrow, Harry Connick, Jr., Kathy Bates, Jeffery Dean Morgan, and James Marsters (Any Buffy fans out there? You'll remember him as Spike. No English accent this time, though. You did know he's an American, right? Oh...sorry to spoil that for you). So, there are plenty of gorgeous guys, and you get to see Hilary Swank in her underwear, if you are into that. There are Irish accents, too. Yum!

But back to the plot...where was I? The movie is based on the novel by the same name by Cecilia Ahern. (She was only 21 when she wrote it--can you believe that? I know I produced nothing that amazing at 21.) The movie and the book differ a good bit, but the spirit is the same. Pack the Kleenex for this one. It is a rather heart-breaking film, but it is funny and sweet and touching as well. Hilary Swank is a young widow whose husband has left behind notes to help her get on with her life--each one signed with "P.S. I love you."

If you rent the DVD, do yourself a favor and watch the additional scenes. Some of them are just as heart-wrenching as anything in the movie. It's enough to make you want to move to Ireland to marry a hottie like Gerard Butler, even if you'll only have 9 years together.