Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

Length: 128 mins
Released: 2009 (USA)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Mystery
Rating: PG-13, intense scenes of violence and action, startling images and suggestive material
Directed By: Guy Ritchie
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Movie Gallery)





Sherlock Homles (2009) is a remake of the old adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his "side-kick" Watson. This version is a little darker then the old version. It has a more Gothic feeling to it and Watson and Holmes seem to be more partners in this version. They have equal (ish) screen time. The movie starts out with Holmes and Watson running the streets to find and save this young girl from being sacrificed at a Black Magic shindig. The movie follows Holmes and Watson trying to uncover a plot to destroy England and take over the world. Oh no! Can the witty dynamic duo save England from Black Magic?

This film is star-studded, which is one reason why I picked up this movie from the Movie Store. The always charming Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man, Zodiac, Richard III) plays the witty Sherlock Holmes, Jude Law (Cold Mountain, Enemy at the Gates, Repo Men) as the clever Dr. Watson, Rachael McAdams (The Notebook, Mean Girls) as the sneaky Irene Adler, Mark Strong (Tristan & Isolde, Oliver Twist) as the eeeeeviiiil Lord Blackwood, and Eddie Marsan (Hancock, V for Vendetta) as the cheeky Inspector Lestrade.

Like earlier stated this was a darker and more Gothic version of the lovable Sherlock Holmes. I was worried I wouldn't like this version, but I tried to keep an open mind. I kept myself from comparing and contrasting the two very different versions. In doing this I kept from being bias and I actually found myself liking this. I even like how Watson and Holmes had to stand up against "Black Magic" which *SPOILER* in it just turned out to be tricks and science, which I guessed to be the case. *SPOILER END*.

I also really liked how they made Watson and Holmes more equal. They are both smart and had about the same screen time. They didn't have Watson be just the "side-kick" who only had a couple smart moments. Holmes, however, was still a wee bit more clever in some aspects. They also were more friend-like then in the older versions, where Watson was just along for the ride. Along with this, I really liked the casting and the writing. The dialogue seemed a little off at the beginning, but once the story warmed up the dialogue warmed up too. This film was filled with wit and dry-humor. If dry-humor isn't your cup of tea avoid this movie.

There were a couple of things I didn't like. One, I pretty much guessed the ending and for me it was a little predictable. It is a talent of mine, so it isn't the movie's fault. Two, sometimes the story seemed to dry-up a lot and I found myself bored and I could have taken a nap. However, the story would pick back up.

All-in-all, it's nothing like the original Sherlock Holmes, but it's a good movie in it's own right. Before watching this, I do advice to watch this as if you've never watched the original, try not to compare and contrast. Out of five stars, I grant this one 4 stars. ^.^

Favorite Character(s): Watson and Holmes

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Irene Adler and Lord Blackwood

~I completely forgot to type this up and post this Saturday. Sorry. I'm very forgetful sometimes.~

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<3CR

Book Blogger Hop & Boost My Blog Friday!

This is a double posting, because I couldn't decide which one I wanted to post! I liked both questions and I love both blogs, soooooo this is a double posting! Huzzah! ^.^

First, is the question from Book Blogger Hop, which is a weekly meme created by Crazy for Books! The question is:

"What's the LONGEST book you've ever read?"

A: Umm, thats a toughy. I've read a few big books in my time. I'll answer this with TWO answers (I'm on a roll today). The longest book, literally, would have to be 'Kushiel's Dart' which had about 1,000 pages. It would HUGE! Now the book the never seemed to end would have to go to 'Kushiel's Dart' and 'Look For Me by Moonlight'. The story just kept going and going and going and going..........*sighs*.

Now for Boost My Blog. Boost My Blog is a weekly meme created by Design it Chic. The Question this week is:

"Are you having Breakfast every morning or are you skipping most days?"

Too be honest I haven't had breakfast in a long time. The only time I do is if I eat some at work, at McDonald's, or I grab something quick at home before I go to bed. It's not that I'm skipping, it's that I work the midnight shift and I usually just run to bed. However, I'll be able to enjoy a normal day once I go to the afternoon shift. ^.^

What about you guys? What's the longest book you've ever read? Do you eat Breakfast in the morning?

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<3CaroleRae

Book Review: Revolution

Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Title: Revolution
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery
Pages: 472
First Published: 2010
Where I Got It: Library
"BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart"

This is the second novel I've read by Jennifer Donnelly. The first one was oddly enough A Northern Light and I really enjoyed that one. I've been hearing about this book all over the place and I read a review by Stephanie from Books Are a Girl's Best Friend, which made me very interested in the book (you can see her review HERE. Once the book was in my hands I dove into it with a fierce determination.

However, the first fifty pages or so made me almost put the book down. It was just a big, huge pity party for Andi (the main character). Yes, I understand she's tortured by her brother's death and she blames herself for it, but she literally goes out of her way to hurt people. I know she does this to protect herself, but it made me mad that she would do that to the people who were trying to care for her. I know the beginning pages were meant to make you understand Andi, but it just made me angry and frustrated. I also felt like the beginning was very sluggish and many of the events seemed irreverent.

Once I got past the first few chapters, I began to slip into the story and I actually began to enjoy it! I loved how Jennifer Donnelly tied Alex's and Andi's life together. I loved how Donnelly used the Revolution as a symbolism to the human heart and why people are the way they are. Donnelly did an amazing job showing the French Revolution as it really was....a big chaotic mess that killed an overwhelming amount of people. Many innocent, many not. I loved how she showed the reader Paris, France! I felt like I was there (in both time frames).

Even though I didn't like Andi, I understood her. Thanks to Donnelly I could sympathize with her and I could slightly relate to her. By the end of the book, however, I really did start to like her. She got over herself and realized everyone has problems and that they continue to move forward and not dwell on the past. I really think this book as a great, deep meaning. It opened my eyes to some facts about the French Revolution that I couldn't understand. I've been studying and analyzing the Revolution for a long time, but I never really understood the ironies of it and the people who were involved with it. Donelly did a wonderful job bringing this world changing event alive and then connecting it to out time period. 

Overall, I didn't like the main characters (I didn't really like Alex either, but I liked her WAY more than Andi) or the beginning that much, but I grew to love this book! It wasn't as good as A Northern Light, but it was really good book, with a good plot and a good meaning. If you have any love of YA books or Historical novels, I think you'll like this. Out of five stars I grant this 4 stars. ^.^

Favorite Character(s): Virgil and Amadé Malherbeau

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Andi's dad (I can't remember his name and I don't care to remember it, he was a jerk)

~PS: For some reason I'm having trouble commenting on my blog and others, so if I don't reply, I'm so so so so sorry! =( I'll reply and comment once Blogger fixes the issue.~

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<3CaroleRae

Childhood Wednesday Part VIII

~Instead of posting Wildcard Wednesday posts I want to try a new series of postings. Don't worry Wildcard Wednesday won't be gone forever, but I want to try this. Lately I've been thinking a lot about my childhood. My childhood was far from perfect, but without what I experienced I would not be the person I am today. That's the same with all of us. Without our experiences as kids, we wouldn't be who we are today.

With this new posting series, I want to explore what highly influenced me as a kid. I sort of base this from 'Top Ten Tuesday' and the '30 Day Picture Challenge' from Facebook~

Welcome to week 8 in the Childhood Wednesday series! There's only a couple more weeks left! It feels like I just started this series! =( Carole is sad again...........ANYWAYS! This week I'll be sharing my top 8 movies that changed my life as a kid. How exciting! Shall we begin? 

                                                        

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Number 8 is....'Devil's Arithmetic' starring Kristen Dunst. This was my first adult movie that had a very serious plot in it. To be honest I had nightmares! It is about the horrors of the holocaust through the eyes of a young girl. However, this movie made me be obsessed with history. I had liked history, but this movie really made me a history buff.

#7 is....'The Wizard of Oz'. This is a classic movie that everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime! Not only is the story great, but the messages being told is wonderful for kids. I really enjoyed the world of Oz, because it seemed like a great place to live.  

#6 is...'Pokemon The First Movie: Mewtwo vs. Mew'. If you went back in time and looked at my room, it was covered in Pokemon stuff. I even had a huge Jigglypuff pillow pet (yes, there were pillow pets in the 1990s). This movie was epically sad, it even had my mom crying like a baby! It's a great movie, with a great meaning too. 

#5 is....'My Dog Skip' starring Frankie Muniz. Okay, the trailers for this movie tricks you! It makes you think it's a super happy and funny movie, so Dad took me to see it at the theaters and BAM! It was horribly sad! He felt horrible taking little me to see this. He still apologizes when this movie is mentioned. It was a good movie and had a wonderful plot and meaning, but for a young kid it was horrible! Especially when the little kid just got a puppy. 

#4 is....'Mulan'. Okay, Mulan is my role model! I mean seriously, she's the toughest Disney heroine. She's not a pampered princess who needs to be rescued. She saves herself mentally and physically. She should be every little girl's role model.

#3......'McLintock!'. Still a personal favorite of mine starring John Wayne! My mother introduced John Wayne to me at a very young age (not literally, mind you). I think my mother is secretly in love with him....It's loosely based off 'The Taming of the Shrew'. It's a cute little movie and I still love popping this on when I'm in a John Wayne mood.

#2.....'Beauty and the Beast'. A great Disney classic that a lot of people forget about, even though it holds the greatest lesson that you'll ever learn as a child: love yourself and don't judge others by what they look like. 

And at #1 is......'The Little Mermaid'. I really loved this movie as a kid. I couldn't get enough of watching this and I remember watching it at least twice a day. As a kid I would've given anything to become a mermaid, I even use to play Mermaid with my gal pals in the pool. I looked up to Ariel, but I never understood completely why she wanted to be a human instead of a mermaid.

I hoped you enjoyed this week's topic! What movies influenced you as kid so much that you still are influenced by them today? To see part 7, click THIS!

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<3CaroleRae