Movie Review: Lizzie Borden Took An Axe (2014)

Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
Released: 2014
Genre: Drama, Murder Mystery
Rating: Unrated (I would give it an R or a PG-13)
Directed By: Nick Gomez
Where I Got It: Watched on Netflix

SUMMARY (Since they give a crappy one everywhere, I shall write my own):
Based on the true murders of 1892 and the girl who may have or may have not committed the murders. Lizzie Borden is a young girl, who wants to be free to be a modern woman, but she is stuck with at home with her sister, over-bearing Father, and her cranky Step-mother. One morning, Lizzie happens to find the bodies of Mr and Mrs Borden and it looks like someone got a little axe friendly.


TRAILER:

CAST:

Christina Ricci - Lizzie Borden

Billy Campbell - Andrew Jennings

Clea DuVall - Emma Borden

Gregg Henry - Hosea Knowlton

Stephen McHattie - Andrew Borden

Shawn Doyle - Marshall Hilliard

Sara Botsford - Abby Morse

Review:

When I heard this movie was coming out I jumped for joy! This murder case is one of my "favorites". It's odd to have a favorite murder case, but I've always been fascinated by the case. Especially for the fact that she gets acquitted even though there are loads and loads of evidence against her. The woman is an interesting woman...there is something wrong with her.

ANYWAYS....

Back to the movie. I was shocked to see Christina Ricci starring as Miss Borden and I was a little worried. However, she was fantastic!! She has that innocent look about her, but she played the crazy lady perfect. Just certain looks and certain things she says and how they say it is scary. It's subtle, but its there. I would nominate Christina Ricci for an Emmy for her performance. Haunting, but fantastic.  

The rest of the cast was decent. The guy playing the Papa Borden was creepy though. It's not that the character was creepy, but the guy was a little creepy. Maybe that's why they picked him? IDK - but he was odd....a perfect father for a psycho. hahaha.

A lot of people have complained about modern music being used throughout the movie...I oddly liked it. They had some obscure stuff, but I found it worked pretty okay. Not choices I would make. See what people are forgetting is that 1) this is not a new concept (it's been done in thousands of movies), and 2) they are trying to appease a younger audience to watch a "historical" movie. Many people do not like historical pieces, so they try to lighten it up with bright cloths and modern music. It's the way of the world. I would be content with authentic clothing and authentic music only, but hey, its refreshing to see new music and colorful garb. :) 

The way they TOLD the story was interesting. It's makes you unsure yourself if she did the crime, but you know she did. It's a mind play. Is it the way I would have told the story? Nah, but it worked. I hated the ending. It was very anti-climatic. It's hard to describe...but it was....boring....and IDK. You just have to watch it and see what I mean. It was just weird and I didn't like. 

In the end, I liked this movie. Is it Movie of the Year? Nah. It was a fun watch though! I loved Christina Ricci in this and I really wish she would've been nominated for some award. The rest of the cast was decent....not who I would cast for each adjoining role. I don't mind the actress who played Emma, but she doesn't AT all resemble the family. Lizzie and Papa Borden are small framed and skinny; the girl they got playing Emma was tall and very beefy (not in a fat way, but thicker). It just seemed an odd choice. I like the actress herself, but not for that role. ANYWAYS, the ending was my biggest complaint. It annoyed me and seemed a last minute thing they added on. Just....ugh. I would recommend this to those that like Historical movies and for those that like a little murder mystery (even though it is not a mystery at all) in their lives. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 4. It's more like 3.5, but I rounded. 

Favorite Character(s): Lizzie (creepy girl) and Emma (I felt bad for her)

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Papa Borden (he was a creeper - both the actor and the character in some parts)

Re-watch? Sure.

Book Review: Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson

Author: Cecy Robson
Title: Sealed with a Curse (Weird Girls #1)
Genre: UF, Fantasy, Action, and Paranormal Romance
Pages: 360
First Published: December 31st, 2012 
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

"Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other twenty-something girls—with one tiny exception: They're the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that make them, well, a little weird…

The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders if the vampires of Tahoe are plague-ridden.

Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the area safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and—oh, yeah—not lose her heart to the wrong guy or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, he's coming for her and her sisters. 

This Wird girl has never had it so tough."

I'm so bad...I totally read the second one first and then the first one. 0.0 Oh well, but I am certainly glad that I went back and read the first one. I do advise to read them in order even though the second one was waaay better then the first.

Don't get me wrong, the first one is good too. It was nice to see how everyone met and how the girls managed to defeat their first major supernatural baddie. It was also nice to see Aric before he fell in love with Celia. He certainly was a man-whore. I did not like him as much as I did in the second one. If I was Celia I would be afraid to fall for him too, because I'm afraid he just wants me for one thing. Aric does prove himself later on that he genuinely likes and cares for Celia, but there is a seed of doubt in my mind. Same with Misha...he does prove that he cares for Celia too...not as much as Aric does, but still. I wish Aric wasn't so overly protective though, I would be SO annoyed after a while. I would say, "I get it bro...you care for me and don't want me to get hurt, but CALM THE F DOWN! JEEZ! AM I ALLOWED TO SNEEZE WITHOUT YOU PRESENT?!" Gah! 

Stupid Liam. >___> Emme deserves better. He is a patronizing asshole, who needs a good punch in the nose. 

I love Gemini AND Koda now. Awwwwe. :3 Koda didn't say much in the second book, but I now adore him, because he did get some spotlight to showcase how awesome he is. He did make me frown at one point, but Celia delivered him a nice punch to the nose (which Liam needs one of those badly) to make him open his eyes and see that he was being an idiot. I did love the main baddie...totally didn't expect that! 

I do tire of the love triangles between a were, vamp, and a human. This author did make the human a little less humany with cool powers, but she is still a "fragile" human and can die easily. I am glad that she is badass; she reminds me a lot of Anita Blake at times. I do wish that authors of this genre would try something different. If you MUST have a love triangle then try another combo of supernaturals. There are a million others you can try; maybe a demon and an angel. Or a fairy and a sorcerer. Just something different PLEASE!

I really, really want to know why the girls are the way they are. They do explain a "theory" on how they got their powers. It's really kind of lame and I hope that is not the reason...it would make me slightly annoyed. *fingers crossed* Hopefully, the author will not leave it at that stupid "theory" and actually give a good legit reason on how they got their weird powers. 

The ending was okay. A little fast for my liking, but it makes you want to read more. :D 

Overall, I liked this book. It was addicting just like the second one. I did enjoy the second one more then this one, which is odd, because usually the first one is better. I am tired of the love triangles, but she made it a little different, so it wasn't horribly normal. I loved the characters! The characters are what make the story! It was nice to see how everyone met and how the characters where before Cupid lands and creates chaos. I am DYING for the third book. I highly recommend this series to those that like the genre or who are looking for something a little different. Out of five stars, I shall stamp this with 4:) 

Favorite Character(s): Koda, Gemini, Aric (more towards the end), Taran, Celia, and the main baddie (ooooh I did not see you coming!).

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Misha (*sighs*) and Blonde she-wolf (I don't care to remember her name, she annoyed me with her stupid lie)

Book Review: Ravensdale by Lucinda Elliot

Author: Lucinda Elliot
Title: Ravensdale
Genre: Historical Romance, Comedy, and Action
Pages: ebook
First Published: April 18th, 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"When the group of highwaymen headed by the disgraced Earl of Little Dean, Reynaud Ravensdale hold up the hoydenish Isabella Murray’s coach, she knocks one of them down and lectures them all on following Robin Hood’s example.

The rascally Reynaud Ravensdale – otherwise known as the dashing highwayman Mr Fox – is fascinated by her spirit.

He escaped abroad three years back following his supposedly shooting a friend dead after a quarrel. Rumour has it that his far more respectable cousin was involved. Now, having come back during his father’s last illness, the young Earl is seeking to clear his name.

Isabella’s ambitious parents are eager to marry her off to Reynaud Ravensdale’s cousin, the next in line to his title. The totally unromantic Isabella is even ready to elope with her outlaw admirer to escape this fate – on condition that he teaches her how to be a highwaywoman herself."

Poor Reynaud. He seems to have such crappy luck. He thinks he accidentally kills his friend, so he runs off and becomes a highwayman (what a great way to prove yourself innocent). His love marries another man, so he goes to leave the country, but then his father dies. He tries to secretly attend the service, but alas, he is discovered and they try to shoot him as he runs off. Then he stumbles upon Isabella when he tries to rob their coach. He loses his heart again and can't get her off his mind. Poor guy. Why do I pity him for falling in love again? Well, Isabella is a snot. Isabella is a selfish girl and uses Reynaud to teach her how to shoot and how to become a highwaywoman. She runs off with him and marries him JUST so she can be a highwaywoman. She is so cold to him and never says she loves him back. See? Poor guy. Granted...this IS a romance, so eventually she does realize she loves him. Takes forever, but it does happen.

Ugh. I really hate the cover...it does not match the story. It's really cheesy, but the story is totally worth looking past the cover.

I really wish that the author had skipped using flashbacks until maybe the very end. IDK, it just seemed to take away from the story. I'm rather picky about flashbacks; it has to be done right and placed right. I honestly think that the flashbacks should not have existed or the important ones should have been saved for the ending. There were a couple of moments that didn't add to the story at all. 

Other then the flashbacks, I enjoyed the story. The characters were fun even though Isabella was a snot and Edmund a coward, I liked them. I didn't quite understand why some of words were capitalized...it bugged me, but the voice of the story was fun and seemed very appropriate for the time period. I really like when authors stick to the right vocabulary and etc. I especially loved the fact that the author had a dictionary for some terms that modern day people may not know, it is fantastic for people just starting the genre of Historical Fiction of the 18th century. 

Ah! The ending was fantastic!! I loved it and I'm glad it did end the way that it did. :3 Edmund made me happy and I'm glad he got a HEA...not at all who I expected, but I'm happy for him. It did seem a little bit rushed, but it oddly worked for this type of story. 

Overall, I liked this story. It was fun and the characters made the story. I didn't like Isabella for how she treated poor Reynaud, but she did get some of my respect when she realized how snotty she was. Edmund also earned my love when he redeemed himself as well; I'm so glad he got a HEA. The cover is cheesy as Hell, but look past it! The story is totally worth it. I wasn't a fan of the flashbacks and the random capitalizations, but I did adore the ending. I would recommend this to those that like Historical Fiction/Romance. I shall stamp this with 4 stars, it is honestly more like 3.5, but I don't decimals, so I rounded. ^.^

Favorite Character(s): Reynaud, Jack, and Edmund (near the end).

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Isabella and Edmund (at the beginning)

Movie Review: Dead in Tombstone

Length: 1 hr and 40 mins
Released: 2013
Genre: Western, Action, and Science Fiction
Rating: R 
Directed By: Roel Reine 
Where I Got It: Watched on Netflix

SUMMARY: 
As a ruthless gang overruns a small mining town, they murder their own leader, Guerrero Hernandez, in a cold-blooded power grab. Sentenced to eternity in hell, Guerrero finds himself confronted by Satan himself, offering a daring proposition: deliver the six souls of his former gang and he will escape damnation. With time running out, he sets out on a brutal rampage to avenge his own death!




TRAILER: 

CAST:

Guerreo - Danny Trejo

The Blacksmith/Devil - Mickey Rourke

Red - Anthony Michael Hall

Calathea Massey - Dina Meyer

Jack Sutter - Richard Dillane

Judah Clark - Colin Mace

Baptiste - Emil Hostina

Darko - Ovidiu Niculescu

Ramos - Ronan Summers

Snake - Edward Akrout 

REVIEW:

This was def a Boyfriend movie. I came home from and work and he had this on pause. He said he was "waiting for me to come home, so I could watch this with him". I missed the first 10 minutes, but it was easy to understand what was happening.

I do love Danny Trejo and Mickey Rourke, so the combo was entertaining for me. Now...the thing with Danny Trejo is that he is NOT a great actor. He is alright, but he is totally badass and old. He's old, but he does 90% of his own stunts and fighting scenes. Kuddos to you man! That is why I like him. If I was an actress I would demand to do my own fights and the majority of my own scenes. Screw the scary ones like jumping out of burning buildings or driving fast cars. Nope.

Anyways....

The story was really intense! This guy, Guerreo is this gang (I think he was the either the leader or co-leader) and he is betrayed and killed by who he thought were his friends. Why they killed him? It is not explained or I missed it in the first 10 mins. I did ask Boyfriend and he just shrugged, so I assuming it was not explained in the 10 mins I missed. That annoyed me, but oh well. Well, this guy makes a deal with the Blacksmith aka Devil for revenge and his life. If he fails, well, the Blacksmith will own his soul and torture him for the rest of eternity. 

The action was really good and some of the acting was okay. I did think the role of the girl was totally unnecessary. She didn't help at all with anything. I think she did save Guerreo once, but she was totally in the way and getting herself kidnapped. >__> If they wanted to include this character they should have made her more badass or helpful, but she acted all tough, but ultimately was just a damsel in distress and an annoyance. I did like the fact that Guerreo was not hero...he was a bad man, who was still bad ultimately. He did help the town, but only because it benefited him. I'm glad they did that. 

In the end, this was a good action movie. The plot was missing a few key aspects and some of the characters were not needed. Some of the acting was to be desired, but some was pretty good. I would totally recommend this to those that love Western or action-y films. You'll get a kick out of it. In the end, I shall stamp this with 3 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Guerreo, Red, and The Blacksmith

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Calathea and Snake (>__>)

Rewatch? Prolly not