Entries from March 2010 ↓
March 25th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Movie Review
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Director: Chris Columbus
Run Time: 152 minutes
Rated: PG
Summary: Harry Potter gets a mysterious letter one day by owl and discovers that he is a wizard, and a famous one at that. He grew up with Muggle (non-magical relations) never knowing that his lightning bolt shaped scar represented his survival against the most powerful wizard of all, Lord Voldemort. Stepping into a new world that was literally filled and made up of magic, Harry Potter attends Hogwarts, Britain's greatest (and only) wizard school. As he arrives he makes plenty of friends and enemies and plenty of mysterious in the old stone castle. Will Harry survive the year in one piece?
Why I watched this movie:
I read the book, HP & the SS, that the movie was based on. This is not the first time I've seen the film.
Likes:
- Everyone was perfectly cast for this film. From Harry and the trio to the teachers! I thought that they all did awesome! Great acting.
- Hogwarts and it's moving staircases and portraits. Very well done effects!
- The CGI done for Norbert (Hadgrid's pet baby dragon) was awesome! I think It would be cool to find out how they did it. I bet it took a lot of work.
Dislikes:
- The movie was too accurate. I know! I know! It seems ridiculous to say that as inaccuracies are always looked down on but this movie was too much like the book. After you see it a few times, you feel like it gos on forever, and get lulled to sleep in places (I know I have!)
- In the book they said that the Dursleys were blond, but in the movies they were all brunettes, and I'm not sure if they did that because they were better actors, or because they wanted to but it is something to mention.
Last minute thoughts: I will read/watch the next book and movie in the series ( Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ) and I hope that I'll like it just as well as I did this one.
Buy: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Widescreen Edition)
, Harry Potter Years 1-6 Giftset [Blu-ray]
Harry Potter Years 1-6 Giftset (Widescreen Edition)
, Harry Potter Years 1-6 Giftset (Full-Screen Edition)
, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Ultimate Edition)
Movie Rating: I give this movie 3.5 Treasure Chests
Originally posted 2009-11-23 03:40:56.
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March 23rd, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, D-F, Family Life, Guest Review, Romance, YA Genre
by Master Llama, guest reviewer
Title: If I Stay
Author: Gayle Forman
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 208 Pages
Grade Reading Level: Ages 14+; Grades 10-12
Summary: Mia’s a really good cello player. Her dad used to be in a band, but now he’s a professor. She’s very shy and quiet. She got into a car crash and gets into a coma. She lives outside of her body and the story takes place all in one day. She realizes she has the decision to stay or go on into the afterlife. Her parents are dead but her boyfriend is still alive and she thinks she can make it into Julliard.
Why I read this book:
I went on Amazon to find books to read and I found it there. It looked really interesting and the fact the main character liked music cinched it. The main character reminded me of my friend Cook Cutlery.
Likes:
- I loved that Mia was so involved in music. I am such a music geek so it really makes me happy to find characters in books who are the same. She’s an Orch Dork which is even better.
- I really liked her relationship with Adam and how it was revealed in flashbacks throughout the story.
- It sounds like a super gooey depressing book but it’s not. The flashbacks are key to changing the tone. They open up a lot of happy times and moments to process. It’s not all doom and gloom.
Dislikes:
- I didn’t like that her little brother died too. I understood the parents dying, but not the little brother. That made me sad.
Buy: If I Stay (Hardback)
, If I Stay (Paperback)
Rating: 4.5 Treasure Chests
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March 21st, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, Movie Review
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: New Moon
Director: Chris Weitz
Run Time: 130 minutes
Rated: PG-13
Summary: Edward Cullen abandons Bella Swan in Forks, Washington because he says that she's not good enough for him. Afterward, she doesn't know what to do. Luckily, Jacob Black comes along and accompanies her and helps stitch her back together. But when Victoria comes along and seeks revenge on Edward through Bella, Jacob and his pack try to kill her. In a desperate attempt to keep her Edward visions Bella gets the idea to cliff dive. When Alice Cullen spies Bella cliff diving and thinks that she's dead, Edward finds out and wants to kill himself. It's a race to stop him, but can she stop him? Will Victoria get to Bella? Will Bella forgive Edward?
Why I watched this movie:
I read the book that this movie was based off of and I enjoyed it. So, I thought I'd like the movie just as well.
Likes:
- I liked the subtle humor in this movie. It was unexpected and a treat.
- I enjoyed that they had more of Edward in this movie than the book would imply. It just wouldn't be the same without him. I think it was clever that whenever Bella hallucinated Edward, Robert Pattison was there acting in the scene.
- To my surprise I enjoyed Jacob in this movie. Taylor Lautner did a great job. He seems like a good friend, but not a boyfriend, even though he obviously wants to be that for Bella.
Dislikes:
- The vampire eyes looked really fake to me, and too perfect if that makes sense. Even though vampires are suppose to look perfect like that, and have golden eyes I still didn't like them. People still have color changes in their eye, even if the overall affect is brown ... or in this case red or yellow gold. The eye color is very flat.
- I didn't like Alice's wig in this movie, and I think that her wig in Twilight was cuter.
Last minute thoughts: This movie was AWESOME! so much better than my expectations! I can't wait until I see it again. I hope that Eclipse will be just as well.
Buy: The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
, The Twilight Saga: New Moon [Blu-ray]
Movie Rating: I give this movie 4.5 treasure chests!
Originally posted 2009-11-20 13:40:16.
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March 21st, 2010 — Buried Treasure
by First Mate Keira
Do you find yourself falling asleep while reading? Are you constantly bored during school assignments? Conquer your boredom and perk up with these six easy steps:
1. Take a Music Break.
Pick a song or two from your playlist and turn the volume up. Now get up sing, dance, and move around. Be wild and crazy and expend a lot of energy. When the songs are over, turn your music off and pick up your book again. You’ll be refreshed and excited.
2. Move to a New Location.
If you’re falling asleep get off the couch, off your bed, off that comfy chair and move. Wake yourself up by going somewhere else and setting up shop again. You can go somewhere quiet like a library with bright florescent lights. You can go somewhere social and loud like a café type restaurant.
3. Give Yourself Permission to Mark.
A great way to keep focus and stay alert when reading for school is to mark your textbook. Use highlighters, rulers, sticky notes, pens, whatever. Do what’s easy and fun and mark up passages that are particularly long by highlighting the need to know information. This is a great study tip too! Warning: Only do this if you actually own the book and it’s not a school copy.
4. Read with a Friend.
Whether it’s an academic assignment or something you want to read, getting together with a friend is a pleasant way to get the reading done. You can read together discussing things out loud as you go along or by yourselves side by side only speaking up to point out something interesting or to ask a question.
5. Get a Snack.
Sometimes the reason you’re bored while reading is because you’re low on energy. Stop reading and go grab yourself a small snack. I suggest fruit because it’s crisp, clean, and full of good nutrients. Fruit smoothies work too and they’re cold. If you’re on campus you have the added benefit of walking and extending the break on your eyes and relieving that cooped up feeling.
6. Get Comfortable.
If you’re warm, take off your coat or turn on a fan. If you’re cold, put a jacket on or wrap up in a blanket. Sometimes your boredom arises because you’re focusing too much on minor discomforts. (Perversely if you think you're bored because you're too comfortable do the opposite and get uncomfortable!)
What else do you suggest for alleviating boredom while reading?
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March 20th, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, Book Review, Dystopia or Utopia Societies, Guest Review, Science Fiction, Suspense or Thriller, YA Genre
by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer
Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Grade Reading Level: 6-8 Grade
Summary: Katniss and Peeta arrive back from the 74th Hunger Games as victors. Katniss thought all she wanted was to go home, but things aren't the same. Gale is ignoring her and Peeta is trying to do the same. It's hard to do that though when you're engaged to marry that same person. Rumors of rebellion are springing up all over Panem and Katniss and Peeta are said to be the head of it. Every 25 years the victors from the previous Hunger Games are forced to compete again and against each other in the Quarter Quell.
Why I Started This Book:
Easy! I read Hunger Games, loved it and want to know what happens next in the series.
Likes:
- I loved the Quarter Quell! Suzanne Collins was smart to come up with a way for Katniss and Peeta to go back into the arena. Very exciting and thrilling action takes place as the two struggle to survive!
- Every cliff hanger is a doozy! That's another thing Collins is great at providing! You never want to quit because there's always something else happening; another challenge to face and resolutions to find.
Dislikes:
- The ending is pretty confusing. I'm not sure what to make of it and it's really my only complaint for the whole book.
Last minute thoughts: When does book 3 come out?!?! I checked the author's website but didn't see anything.
Buy: Catching Fire (Hardcover)
Rating: 5 Treasure Chests
Originally posted 2009-11-19 03:41:14.
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