Author: David Gaughran Title: Mercenary Genre: Historical Fiction Pages: ebook Expected publication: June 4th 2014 Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon Freebie)
Lee Christmas gets drunk and falls asleep at the throttle of his locomotive, plowing straight into an oncoming train. Blacklisted from the railroad and his marriage in tatters, he flees New Orleans on a steamer bound for the tropics. In Honduras, he begins a quiet new life. But trouble has a way of finding Christmas. With unrest sweeping the countryside, he's kidnapped by bandits. Soon, he finds himself taking sides in an all-out civil war--as leader of the rebellion.
To my surprise...this is based off a real story. Huh. Learn something new every day. But yes Lee is a piece of crap. I say this with what I know from the book. Maybe there is more to the real story? Maybe not? But I am going based on the book here. Lee messes up his career for being an idiot drunk. Ruins every single marriage he gets and he KNOWS why, but doesn't do anything to fix it. The only thing he is good at is killing and leading an army. Oh and he is good at drinking too. The story was interesting enough. However, it was hard to really like the story because of Lee. Yes, yes, I always say I like complex characters and I do like a good baddie and a story about an anti-hero. But oh my goodness how I hated Lee. A drunk idiot. You can't label him as an anti-hero and you can't say he is complex. He was a simpleton who has no one to blame but himself for his misery in life. STOP MARRYING PEOPLE AND STOP HAVING BABIES!!! Just be content with being a mercenary! That is all you are good at. Sighs. The writing was good and I wouldn't mind reading more by this author. I should do some research on this Lee fellow, but ugh. I have a feeling this story was pretty on point. We shall see though. In the end...the story was an interesting read, but it was hard to really like it because of the main character. He was an idiot. I wanted to kick him. I don't blame his wives for dumping his butt. I'll give this 2 stars.
Length: 1 & 36 mins Released: May 20, 2009 Genre: Drama, Mystery Rating: R Directed By: Cary Fukunaga Where I Got It: borrowed from library SUMMARY: This epic dramatic thriller following a Honduran teenager who reunites with her long-estranged father and attempts to emigrate to America with him in order to start a new life. Meanwhile, in Mexico, Tapachula teen Casper (aka Casper), has gotten caught up with the notorious Mara Salvatrucha street gang. He's just delivered a new recruit to the Maras in the form of desperate 12-year-old Smiley, and though the youngster's initiation proves particularly rough, she adapts to gang life rather quickly. As involved as Casper is with the Mara, he does his best to keep his relationship with girlfriend Martha Marlene. CAST: Sayra - Paulina Gaitan Willy/Casper - Edgar Flores Smiley - Kristyan Ferrer Lil' Mago - Tenoch Huerta Mejia Martha Marlene - Diana Garcia Leche - Hector Jimenez El Sol - Luis Fernando Pena TRAILER:
REVIEW: Been wanting to watch this for a while now and Boyfriend stumbled upon this at his library (I will make an account there because they have many more resources to get things then mine does). ^.^ There is so much to say about this movie. It was a really deep and emotional and realistic movie that follows a gang member who did something bad and is on the run from his gang and a girl who is trying to sneak into America for a better life. The two come into connect and found their fate with each other. The way they met was clever and seemed realistic and not forced. They are from two completely different ways of life. If you expect a HEA ending...then you are dreaming. This movie broke my heart so many times, but I really adored it. As you know...I love my tragedies and this did fit into that category. There were a few instances that I was unsure on what was happening and why. Some events happened so quickly that I feel like I missed a couple things due to blinking. At one point I did have to rewind a couple minutes to understand a scene. Other then that the lay out and the story-line was wonderfully done. The actors and director did wonderful too. Except for the girl who played Sayra...she reminded me of a Hispanic version of Kristen Stewart (Bella from the Twilight films). She was a very dry and emotionless actress. Even during one part where she was being attacked...I didn't feel that she was scared for her life. Oh well, I guess. Then there was the ending.... I can't decide if I like it or not. Gah...at first I was in utter shock and anger! Now I'm unsure. Sighs. I guess I have a love hate relationship with it. I can't say much more for fear of giving away a spoiler. But yeah...I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it and figure out if I like it or not. In the end, I did like this movie and I'm so happy I finally got to see it. Thank you Boyfriend for finding it for me! On the majority, the acting was good (besides for Sayra who is the Hispanic twin for Bella Swann). The storytelling was done well and I applaud this new director. I loved the tragedy and the realistic charm of this film. It was deep and had a great moral lesson mixed in. Poor Willy. *sad face* This would be a good film for those that like drama movies and that like people movies. This is a POV not done much in movies. The gangster running away from his gang and a person who wants a better life in the USA. Though it is wrong...I was rooting for her and her family. In conclusion, I shall stamp this with 5 stars. In reality, it is more like 4.5, but since I don't give decimals, I rounded. Favorite Character(s): Willy/Casper (*sad face*), Uncle Orlando, Sayra (though she highly reminded me of a certain someone), and Smiley's Grandma (hehe) Not-so Favorite Character(s): Lil' Mago, Le Sol, and Sayra's Dad (>.>)
