Movie Review: From Time to Time (2009)

Film Title: From Time to Time
Length: 1 hr and 32 mins
Released: 2009
Genre: Adventure, Drama, & Fantasy
Rating: PG
Where I Got It: On Netflix


SUMMARY:
A haunting ghost story spanning two worlds, two centuries apart. When 13 year old Tolly finds he can mysteriously travel between the two, he begins an adventure that unlocks family secrets laid buried for generations.

TRAILER:

REVIEW:
I can’t help myself... I really love time traveling movies/books/etc. I think I really just love the blending of present and past day. The connections we have with the past are still with us. This film really plays on the fact that the past really is something we are connected with and should learn about. It was certainly an interesting film.

The movie follows a young boy during WWII is being sent to live with his Grandmother for a bit while his mom goes on a mission to find his dad who is MIA. There has been some family drama and so this was a reconnecting with Grandmother-grandson. The grandmother shares some family history especially when the boy starts seeing “ghosts” of his ancestors from the 19th century and keeps slipping through time to the past to see the ghosts as they were when they were alive.  There is a little girl and her friend who is his same age.

The one thing I didn’t understand was WHY some people could see him and some couldn’t at certain times. And why were they not concerned about a random kid in weird cloths popping up randomly? Like I get why the blind girl thought nothing of it…but yeah…I didn’t understand. Maybe one wasn’t supposed to get it.

It was certainly a fun movie. I really loved how the boy is going on this journey in the past and in the present. The actor was okay…he was very bland…but maybe that is what they were going for?

I loved the granny. She has regrets on things she had did and said in the past, but she wants it behind her and she is trying to make amends. She wants her family all together. Sometimes the possible loss of a loved one can open someone’s eyes and heart. The actress was fantastic…like always. I’m not biased, I swear. The rest of the cast was decent.

The only part I was rolling my eyes about was the missing treasure. Like really? No one could find it? SO OBVIOUS! I called it about halfway through the film. So the “big” mystery was not so big. I was mainly worried about the dad who is MIA over in France. I did love how the kid figured out…clever lad to outwit all his ancestors. Kuddos.

Ooooooooooo that ending!!!!!!!!!!!! WAH! It made me feel so much. Some happy, some sad. I cried and cried. Such a good ending. I cannot say more in fear of spoiling stuff.

The movie was okay. Some cheesy parts, but some really good parts. The cast was decent. Holy cannoli that was a good ending. I do recommend it for all age groups especially. Out of five stars, I’ll give this a….mmmmm….4.

Book Review: Mask of Innocence by Marion Shepherd

Author: Marion Shepherd
Title: Mask of Innocence 
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
Published: Feb. 2017
Where I Got It: Netgalley

The Marchant family live in Cedar Grove, a majestic Tudor manor house nestled within the rolling Cotswolds hills. 

Upon the untimely death of their tyrannical father, Richard and Francesca Marchant are caught up in a web of dark family secrets, manipulation, murder, abduction and obsessive desires. 

Francesca is a rebellious and spirited young girl, despised by her stepmother Catherine, and relentlessly pursued by the obsessive Rufus Donaldson. She becomes the subject of a dangerous conspiracy to force her into an unwanted marriage, jeopardising her future with the man to whom she has given her heart. Can her brother, Richard, rise above his own lustful desires and save his beloved sister? 

I instantly fell in love with the cover and it seemed to be very interesting, so I decided I had to read this. 

The Marchant family seems to be perfect on the outside, but it is all a lie. When the mean dad dies, they hope it will get better, but it doesn't. There are so many family secrets and manipulation going on. Poor Francesca is being harassed and stalked by the nasty Rufus. Evil man. Stinks to be her. 

There were a lot of twists and turns and I found that refreshing. I had a hard time staying hooked though. Along with the twists and turns, there were a lot of slow parts that I skimmed over. I honestly felt like I was on a roller coaster. I was drinking in every word one moment and then the next moment I was yawning and waiting for the next exciting thing. 

The only character I could stand was Francesca at times. Isobel and Sanjay weren't bad either. However, I had a hard time connecting with anyone really, so it made it hard to stay hooked and curious what was going to happen next. 

The ending was really good! It was a nice way to tie everything together. So yes, this ended on a good note. 

In the end, this was okay. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and staying hooked with the story. There were a lot of good twists and the ending was done well. I do recommend it if you like historical fiction. I'll give this three stars. 

Book Review: Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener

Author: Michelle Diener
Title: Mistress of the Wind 
Genre: Fantasy, YA, and Retellings
Pages: ebook
Published: December 2013
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)

Bjorn needs to find a very special woman . . . 

The fate of his people, and his own life, depends on it. But when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, and may just harbor more secrets than he does himself.

Astrid has never taken well to commands. No matter who issues them . . . 

She's clashed her whole life with her father, and now her lover, the mysterious man who comes to her bedroom in darkness and disappears to guard his mountain by day as a bear, is finding it out the hard way. And when he's taken by his enemies, no one is prepared for Astrid's response. 

It is never wise to anger the mistress of the wind . . . 

A captivating and magical adult retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

I've heard so many good things about this and then it became an Amazon freebie. 

What an amazing and fun adventure this was. It was so magical and whimsical...I could hardly put this down. I finished this story after a couple of sittings. I for sure want more. 

The story follows Astrid and Bjorn. Astrid is a peasant girl who has a strange connection with the wind. Bjorn is a lord who is cursed by a troll and must find his true love in order to save himself and his people. 

The best part of this book was the fact that Bjorn saved Astrid, but Astrid saved him. No damsel in distress and that made it even better. In the end, they are equals. I do think that Astrid's journey was the best and her story was the best I think. 

I loved the world and characters. I want to learn more about this world and what it has to offer. I especially want to learn about the other Hags in more detail who helped Astrid master her gift. 

This was a good one and I do recommend this one. It is a very good retelling and it is written well. The characters and world was fun. Out of five stars, I'll give this 5 stars. 

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Accidental Sorcerer by KE Mills

Gerald Dunwoody is a wizard. Just not a particularly good one. He's blown up a factory, lost his job, and there's a chance that he's not really a Third Grade wizard after all. So it's off to New Ottosland to be the new Court Wizard for King Lional.

It's a shame that King Lional isn't the vain, self-centered young man he appeared to be. With a Princess in danger, a talking bird who can't stay out of trouble, and a kingdom to save, Gerald soon suspects that he might be out of his depth. And if he can't keep this job, how will he ever become the wizard he was destined to be...

My thoughts:

I actually tried this once, but I was so not in the mood for humour fantasy at that time. So I tried it again now. Oh, it has silly names in it, the main character tends to act like a bumbling fool and yes it's not to be taken seriously. I enjoyed it a lot. But I had to be in the mood for it.

Gerald is a wizard, sadly not a good one. But he has a good heart, he wants to be a wizard and he does not let those noble blood wizards put him down..well not too much. I liked him. He also has a talking parrot, and by talking I mean she has mouth diarrhea. She was quite the character.

The story takes us to another country where he becomes the court wizard (yes there is a story to that). The king is strange. The prince is weirder. And the princess dresses like a man.

Conclusion:
It's light humorous fantasy. It's fun to read and I will read more. Quite a few things happen at the end that makes the next book interesting to read.

Cover
meh

Paperback, 535 pages
Published January 1st 2009 by Orbit (first published 2008)
Rogue Agent #1
Fantasy
Own