REVIEW | Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

 Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

Publication Year: 2015

Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Awards: NA
Format: Audio

Narrator: Pierce Cravens

WHY?: I've recently developed a love for media tie-in novels (so far, Veronica Mars and Doctor Who) and Star Wars is a media franchise that I unsurprisingly love.  I chose this particular book as my introduction to the very confusing world of Star Wars novels because it didn't involve the known characters too heavily and was recommended by many I trust.  It has a 4.26 average rating on Goodreads.

SYNOPSIS:  The book starts in the early days of the rebellion, leading up to and then into the events of the three main movies (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) and then continuing for a little ways after.  Cienna Ree and Thane Kyrell are growing up on the backwater planet of Jelucan just as the Empire comes in to take over.  Despite growing up on different sides of the tracks, they share a dream which makes them friends: to be starship pilots for the Empire.  As they grow up and their dreams are realized, however their view of the world starts to diverge and they end up on opposite sides of a war even as their feelings for each other blossom into more than friendship. So, star-crossed lovers and political intrigue - Yum! 

My first Star Wars book and it was SO good!  It is a great book even if you take away the Star Wars trappings but having those connections really enriches the reading experience.  I think technically this book is classified as Young Adult and I get why but I think it is only weakly classified this way.  I think it will work well for adult readers.  

It's worth noting again that my experience of this book was as a noobie so some of the things I really enjoyed and was impressed with, may be common themes in all the Star Wars back catalog.  For example, a veteran Star Wars tie-in reader may not be as blown away at the truly exceptional way Gray depicts the Empire from a completely different perspective - one that is not all evil and villainy.  This was definitely the highlight of the book for me.  The Empire we get in the movies is pretty universally Black Hat Evil  - the depiction here is a much more nuanced one, at least at first.  The primary view is from the perspective of two relative nobodies - all those anonymous storm troopers essentially - they are not evil and they fight for the Empire for very legitimate reasons.

Through this lens the book explores so many interesting themes the primary of which is honor and what it truly means.  Once you have made a pledge to an organization, is it dishonorable to abandon your pledge even when it becomes clear that the organization is corrupt and holds opposing values to your own?  Can you change your loyalties once you have more information?  For one character in the book the answer is a resounding and easy yes.  For the other it is an emphatic no - loyalty once given must be honored.  It becomes so much more interesting when these two characters are in love and have been lifelong friends.

I really enjoyed that we are focused on two regular grunts.  They are both superlative, super stars - graduated from the best school with honors but they are not "chosen", they can't wield the force, so they are the masses of pilots and techs you see out of your peripheral vision when watching the movies.   The main players we know from the movies make brief or off-stage appearances but the focus is definitely on Thane and Cienna.

Gray also does such a great job charting the path of someone who starts off as a gung ho imperialist  - one of the best and brightest recruits who then slowly transitions to join and then more slowly believe in the rebellion.  The switching of loyalties is not instant and passionate, it is a process that inches forward as more information is gained.  The development of both characters is really complex and interesting and I would describe this book as having a very character driven narrative. 

The book ends a little ambiguously which may not sit well with some but I thought it was the perfect ending that honored both characters and the story being told.  

I listened to the audio which I would characterize as awesome.  I don't remember too much about the narrator (which means he was fine) but the thing that makes the recording special is that it integrates a lot of Star Wars-y sound effects.  It was done in a way that enhanced the storytelling for me and didn't distract from it.  

FINAL VERDICT:  A really fantastic character driven tie-in novel which will enhance readers' view of the Star Wars universe.  I loved it and thought it was a great place to start within the Star Wars novels. 4 out of 5 Stars. 

Other Opinions are Available:  The Bibliosanctum 1 | The Bibliosanctum 2 | The Nerdist

RE-READ | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

My epic re-read of the Harry Potter series has come to an end!  I'm not sure what about it was particularly epic but it just sounds good and the books are pretty epic.  It was a really rewarding experience which has convinced me that I need to take more time for re-reading. 

This was only my second time through the series and I found that my opinion about several of the books changed radically.  Also there had been enough time since I'd read them, that while it wasn't like coming at them anew, I had forgotten a LOT and they did still feel very fresh.

Speaking of forgetting, I think Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows wins the award for the book I had forgotten the most about.  I remembered very little of this book.  I had vague memories of endless camping, Dobby dead on a beach, a visit to Luna's father (though I remembered it incorrectly) a final showdown at Hogwarts where some very beloved people died.  To sum up, in my mind this book was one long angsty camping trip where nothing happens followed by lots of people dying. That. Was. It.  Seriously.  The first several chapters of the book were completely wiped from my mind which is a shame because there is lots of good stuff there and a more careful reading would have likely helped with some of my bad attitude moments later in the book.  I had no recollection of the raids on the ministry of magic and Gringotts, them spending any time at Grimmauld place, the wedding at the beginning, Ron being a jerk once again and leaving.  Nada.  So it was truly almost like a whole new book:).

Unfortunately what I remembered most clearly was why I was so disappointed in the book the first time around.  I thought it was too long and that about 200 pages of the endless camping could have been cut and I was super duper frustrated that Harry and the gang would not bring in the adults and enlist their help.  Probably the most notable thing about this re-read was that those things?  Didn't really bother me a bit this time.  I still didn't love it as much as all the rest of the books but the reasons why I felt that way were very different and it was definitely better than my poor memory of it.

Some random thoughts:

• I mentioned above how first time around I was really frustrated with the threesome not consulting any of the adults.  Someone who might you know, KNOW something.  I think during the first reading I was too focused on Harry's "but Dumbledore didn't say to tell anyone else" and would roll my eyes. However there is more to it than that and it is all set up quite well in the first part of the book if I had paid closer attention.  The adults are not helpful. None of them.  Lupin lights into Harry for not killing an innocent person (an Imperiused Stan Shunpike during the chase).  This is pretty out-of-character for Lupin (Sirius sure, but Remus no) but it does illustrate that the adults are approaching this whole situation very differently than Harry.  There is also a lot of infiltration into the adult community by Deatheaters while they pretty much ignore the kids.  In short, it makes sense that they would keep their distance and be a little wary.  

• The goodbye to Privet Dr. scene is very bittersweet and just as it should be, with Dudley's change of heart unlikely but still a sweet note.  Again showing how the young people may have more wisdom in this particular world than the adults.

• Ron again annoys, this time with his overbearing brother routine.  And then with the immature abandonment.  Good for Hermione not immediately forgiving him even if his insecurity made him more susceptible to the Horcrux's influence - he was still an ass.  That was a pretty major change this second read through.  I really don't like Ron very much.

• So I had this revelation.  I think the reason I loved Avatar, The Last Airbender so much is that it is quite similar to HP!  Right about now you are saying "Uh...Stephanie?  You do realize that the "chosen one" child hero vanquishing evil with his band of friends is like the biggest trope out there?"  Yes, of course, but HP does it so well and so does Avatar with a few other similarities too.  Harry and Aang are very similar in a deeper way - both are pacifists at heart.  They both have one girl and one guy friend in similar roles (Katara/Hermione both uber-talented, mature, a little up tight and much more concerned with the rules and Sokka/Ron as the goofy pal that keeps things light and contributes quite a lot despite not being particularly talented). The dynamic is different because Katara and Sokka are siblings so the romance is between Aang and Katara.   They also reject the help of the adults in their lives and for pretty good reasons.  The both have an enemy who ends up being an ally. 

• I don't know if it is because I am listening rather than reading but the camping portion of the book does not feel needlessly long this time around.  Besides the format change, I think I am also a bit more interested in the angsty bits of the whole series this time around.  Harry's petulance no longer really bothers me.  I get his total frustration with Dumbledore.  Not the "Why didn't he tell me everything about himself" part but definitely on the "why the hell didn't he give me a little more guidance on what the hell I'm supposed to do" part.  I also recognize that this bit is like The Empire Strikes Back - it's taking our heroes down to the very bottom so that when they vanquish it feels that much more triumphant. 

• Other important things I had no memory of: Harry's wand breaking, the talk with Ravenclaw's daughter's ghost and the search for the Diadem.  The existence and participation of Aberforth.  Basilisk fangs from the chamber of secrets - brilliant and lovely continuity!  Seriously did I even read this book? 

• Harry to Ron and Hermione during their smooch fest:  "could you just hold it in until we've found the horcrux?"  Hee! and poor Harry. 

• SPEW continues not to be resolved and it almost seems like the whole business was orchestrated so that Ron could finally say something decent about the house elves that would push Hermione into his arms.  I'm guessing that now that Hermione has demonstrated that even Kreacher can change perhaps Harry and Ron really will put a little more effort into the movement now that Voldemort's kaput.

• These books really are a pretty vociferous criticism of government. The Ministry at its best is rather inept and at its worst is corrupt and evil.  That's politics for you:/.  As a government employee myself I struggle with how hostile Harry is to the government though his animosity is completely understood. I could probably write a whole treatise on this but I'd demand some sort of degree if I spent that much time on it so that's all I'm going to say on it.

• I love when Harry ultimately realizes the kinship between he, Snape and Voldemort - three boys who spent a childhood unloved and for whom Hogwarts was the first home that felt like home.  The two people he has despised so much for all the books - for him to realize and embrace this kinship is quite lovely.  Interesting also that all three took different paths - had different responses to their childhood.  Voldemort chose and embraces unremitting evil and selfishness.  Snape is horribly bitter but eventually chooses to do the right and brave thing, because of love. And guilt.  Harry's hardships have made him rebel against the unkindness shown him as a child and be that much more kind and humble.  

• Speaking of Snape:).  One wonders how different he might have turned out if Lily had loved him back and if she hadn't instead loved the person he least liked in the world.  I didn't remember just how single-minded Snape was.  He really was horribly bitter and he really did not like Harry - for him it was 100% about Lily.  It's amazing that that was enough to sustain him and make him put up with what must have been a mostly miserable life.  Love this character so much.  

• I thought it was interesting to delve a little more into the politics of the wizarding world - the dynamics between non-human magical creatures and the wizards and witches. I'm glad Rowling included this in the books.

• The Epilogue -Ugh. So bittersweet. I hated it the first time around and it didn't really improve this time.  Essentially, I apparently hate being an adult because the message of the epilogue feels very much like the adventure is just starting for their kids while it's over for them.  And that makes me sad.

The reason this book doesn't quite rank with the rest is simply that I miss Hogwarts and all the characters that we encounter there.  I think this book does what it needs to quite well but it just feels so, so dark and dreary with almost no humor and light.  This change in tone is entirely appropriate but it's also depressing and makes the book a slightly less enjoyable read for me.

FINAL VERDICT:  While it doesn't quite get full stars, this is an impressive and appropriate end to the Harry Potter story.  4 out of 5 Stars

MOVIE(s)

Deathly Hallows was very intelligently broken into two movies so they are much more able to represent the events of the books.  I don't love the last-book-into-two-movie trend with other series, which just seems like a money making ploy, but here it is completely warranted and they honestly should have considered doing it for books 4-6 as well. 

Here are my notes for Parts I and II:

Part I

The movie starts off with a bang.  I thought the description of what Hermione does with her parents was extremely sad in the book but the visual representation of her obliviating them was even more emotional for me.  The death eater meeting at the Malfoys is extremely sinister and disturbing (Alan Rickman's portrayal of Snape is fantastic). On a different note the scene with the 7 Harrys is appropriately fun.

I've never been a big fan of Harry and Ginny and unfortunately I don't really think Daniel Radcliffe and the actress who played Ginny have much chemistry.  On the flip side, Rupert Grint is doing a very convincing job illustrating that he's pretty smitten with Hermione at this point:). The movie also does a better job showing how Ron could be insecure about Hermione and Harry's relationship especially when wearing the horcrux.  I like the decision to introduce the radio show earlier  - the staticy broadcast is the perfect background to the stress and distress the three friends are feeling.  The addition of the dance scene with Harry and Hermione is awesome as well - so awkward at the beginning but then dispelling briefly the miserable tension between them only to have it descend again at the end of the song.


The choice of locations for the camping is very effective and well done and it also does a good job illustrating the crushing boredom and anxiety.  There are a number of other visual effects that really caught my eye. The apparition effect is awesome.  When Harry and Hermione come out of the Horcrux to taunt Ron they look unreal - cold and cruel - they look like themselves but not.  It's well done.  I love the cartoon illustrating the Deathly Hallows story.  It's a particularly lovely piece of artistry.


Movie Part 1 was excellent - the best of the series and supporting my feelings that at least for the last three books the problem with the movies was too short a running time.

PART II

Again there are some really lovely visual and sound effects that work so well. The ominous music at the beginning is almost horror movie quality signalling that we are in a very dark place indeed. The multipying treasure at Gringotts is awesome.  The stone knights which McGonigle brings to life are awesome.  The whole battle for Hogwarts is very visually intense, chaotic and stunning.  It looks epic.

There are also many sad and emotional character moments.  The Weasley family gathered around Fred in the great hall with George inconsolable.  In fact, as soon as Fred and George appeared on screen I got teary-eyed and again when they share a quiet moment on the ramparts before the battle.   Snape's death is really effective - they do it on the other side of an opaque pane of glass so we can't see Nagini attacking him (I think it would have been too disturbing for the PG13 rating) but we can hear it and see the pane jump as Snape flinches against the glass.  Very effective and Alan Rickman rocks Snape's last scene as well as the scene where he cries over Lily in his memories. He had some fantastic moments in these final two movies.  Daniel Radcliffe does a great job displaying how he is feeling with his face when he realizes the need for his death.  The half hug Voldemort gives Draco as Draco crosses over is creepy and awkward and awesome.  Luna sitting next to Neville and eyeing the sword of Gryffindor and then eyeing Neville and Neville grinning all proud - it's adorable. And awkward.  So many great moments that the movie and actors capture perfectly.

There were a couple of changes from the book. Hermione instigates the ride on the dragon out of Gringotts instead of Harry and I'm not sure why they made that change.  Also Harry doesn't have all the angst at everybody coming to Hogwarts for a final showdown - the movie glosses over his mixed feelings which I think was a good call.  McGonigle orders all the Slytherins to be taken to the Dungeon which seems a little out of character but the Slytherin dorm is in the dungeon so maybe it's not meant as punishment:).


Finally, I love the final image of the three friends standing on the bridge to Hogwarts holding hands in the sunshine.  We'll just gloss on by the epilogue:). 

FINAL VERDICT:  I think this pair of movies are definitely the strongest in the series.  Prisoner of Azkaban is perhaps more visually creative but these two deal with the content of the books really well and give scope to the actors so they can create those moments that are really important in the books.  4 out of 5 stars.

Well that wraps up my Harry Potter re-read and re-watch.  I'm quite sad to be saying goodbye to it once again for a time but I did break down and buy the Illustrated copy of Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone!  It is as gorgeous as everyone says and I think I will spend some quality time with it over the holidays. And of course there are the upcoming movies.... So maybe it's not quite over yet....

 

RE-READ: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

From my first read of Harry Potter many years ago, this was my favorite book in the series and I think it’s easy to see why.   It’s the first chunkster of the series at 734 pages and so much happens in those pages.  There’s the Quidditch World Cup, and the Tri-wizard Tournament which introduces other magical schools and a whole wider world of wizarding.  This is also the book where things get real.  At my local library this is the book where the series starts getting shelved in Young Adult rather than children’s fiction.  The death of Cedric Diggory was shocking and devastating on my first read.  Rowling lets us get to know him and we like him.  He's a good and decent person and young, the apple of his father’s eye and then he is dead.  People say George R.R. Martin isn’t afraid of killing people but Rowling in her way is just as brutal. And of course Harry meets the real LIVE Voldemort in person for the first time and the struggle he is up against becomes very real as well.  So this book represents a definite turning point for the series on top of all the adventure and happy mayhem.   It will be interesting to me to see if it holds onto the top spot by the end of my re-read. 

THOUGHTS
- As I mentioned this is where the books start getting longer.  It feels like the books were popular enough at this point that the publishers were like "J.K., you write as long a book as you like!"  I am perfectly happy with this, though there is at least one book of the last 4 four that could have used a little heavy editing. 

-Characters introduced:  Rita Skeeter, Madame Maxine, Karkaroff, Victor Krumm, Barty Crouch, Mad-eye Moody, Fleur DelaCouer

- My re-read is seriously making me dislike the character of Ron and wonder why on EARTH J.K. put him and Hermione together?  He's not a bad friend to Harry despite his petulant jealousy in this book but he could not be less supportive of anything Hermione does and is constantly sniping at her.   Most of the arguing he and Hermione do in this book isn't even in a “I like you and don’t know how to express it way” but frequently in an annoyed or patronizing way.  He says things like “They enjoy being enslaved” about the house elves which how am I supposed to like him after that (not that anyone is much better)?  In this installment he is also so shallowly obsessed with appearances and fame (Victor and Fleur).  Basically he’s an idiot and perhaps relatively typical for a 14 year old boy but Jeez! 

- Speaking of Ron being a jerk, there is he and Harry’s fall out.  While Ron's feelings and behaviors are immature, the issue of what it is like being Harry Potter's best friend really needed to be addressed.  It's amazing that no jealousy has flared up before quite frankly.  Being Harry's best friend can't be easy for Ron and for that matter he kind of floats in the shadow of both Harry and Hermione so it was only a matter of time before he rebelled.  It was a good way to get it out of the way.   

-S.P.E.W.:  This is a really problematic story line for me mostly because NO ONE thinks what Hermione is doing makes sense – not even folks like Hagrid.  Ron is openly disgusted by it.  Hermione is not trying to take away the house elves work, she is simply saying that they should be rewarded for that work as any human would be.  I get that most folks, out of guilt or shame, may avoid dealing with it but folks like Ron, Hagrid, Fred and George are openly derisive and hostile to the idea  and there is no resolution in this book.  There are a lot of story lines in this book and this didn’t really serve any purpose besides giving Hermione something to do and making everyone else look like gigantic assholes.  I honestly can't remember where this ends up going in the series  - I'm sure J.K. isn't making a case for slavery - so I guess I will re-visit later in the series.  I was just really surprised how little support Hermione gets for her campaign.

- I am very curious about the sorting hat and which houses people get put into.  Hermione, while she certainly is brave, is equally clever - so why not Ravenclaw?

- I love  how the character of Neville develops and that in some ways his story is harder and more heartbreaking than Harry’s.  Harry also has to face how unfair he has been to Neville - never asking him about himself and his family and not even thinking about seeking his help with any of the tasks.  
- Floods of tears at the end of this one. Just floods.  The loss of Cedric, the betrayal/overall douchebaggery of Fudge, Fawk's and Mrs. Weasley’s sympathy and compassion for Harry and the Weasleys wanting to take Harry in, Snape’s unflinching readiness to do something completely dangerous and terrifying (this is more apparent on a re-read, knowing what he is agreeing to), the standing cheers for Diggory and the tough talk that Dumbledore gives the students.*sobs*

- Jim Dale’s reading was particularly good for this book.  Although he does pronounce certain names oddly like  - "Uh-Lester" instead of "Al-i-Ster" Moody.

FINAL VERDICT:  I still really love this book and can't imagine it being rousted from the top spot.  It effectively marries the lighter more charming tone of the earlier books with the grimmer more serious tone of the later books.  Plus, I love the tri-wizard tournament stuff and Voldemort's return is suitably dramatic and emotional.  5 out of  5 stars!

**************

THE MOVIE

So I feel for the filmmakers on this one.  This is a long book and there is so much that happens.  Trying to fit all of it in a 2.5 hour film must have been a real challenge.  I'm sorry to say that with this particular film they did not meet the challenge.  It's not a very good movie, at least for someone who is a fan of and has just read the book.  It's choppy and too condensed so that it misses out on a lot of what makes the book so fantastic.  There are also some changes that don't make a lot of sense to me like turning Beaux Baton and Durmstrang into single sex schools which serves no purpose besides perhaps allowing for the dramatic entrances of the schools' students.  They also added a couple of small things which I liked because they give Neville some color (dance lessons and him coming in from the dance late) but which seems indulgent when they're cutting and slashing everywhere else.  It makes me covet a Harry Potter TV series.  The first few books may only need a 3-4 episode series but once you get to Goblet of Fire you could have a 10 episode series that would really give the book room to come to life. 

I'm not sure I have anything else very profound to say about the movie except to outline all the things I wish had been included.  There's no Ludo Bagman, no Bill or Charlie Weasley, no Percy Weasley for that matter, no Dobby or Winky.  They completely change the Barty Crouch and junior story line and I'm not sure it works as well as in the book.  All the boys in the film inexplicably have really long shabby, unkempt hair - no idea why.  Emma Watson's acting is back to being a little stilted and forced after I thought she had improved in Prisoner of Azkaban.

There are a few things that I liked of course.  Viktor Krum is quite a bit more attractive than how he is described in the books which makes me happy for Hermione.  She deserves to be coveted by hot boys:0).  The scene when Harry comes back with Cedric after the third task is well done; very emotional and effective.  It's fun seeing Robert Pattinson and David Tennant before they were quite the thing.  


FINAL VERDICT:  Being that this is my favorite book of the series, this movie was perhaps always destined to not work for me.  The movie struggles to handle all the books content and doesn't quite succeed in capturing the magic of the book.  3 out of 5 stars.

REVIEW: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones + Film by Miyazaki

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones
Publication Year: 1986
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Howl's Moving Castle #1
Awards: ALA's Notable Books for Children (1986); Boston Globe Horn Book Award (1987)
Format: eBook (from Library)
Narrator: NA

I was excited to read this book for a couple of reasons.  Reason one was that I had never read anything by Dianna Wynne Jones.  Shameful, I know, but at least I have corrected the deficiency!  The second reason, which drove my choice of Howl's Moving Castle is that I adore the Miyazaki film so much that I even own it.  More about the film later in the post.

Howl's Moving Castle takes place in a somewhat recognizable world that is just a little bit slanted.  Sophie is the eldest of three sisters and as such she is not expected to do much in the world.  She has so embraced this idea of her own insignificance that in many ways she has given up on life.  She makes hats in her family's haberdashery and doesn't even notice when her creations change people's lives.  One day, inexplicably, the Witch of the waste comes into the store and places a curse on Sophie, changing her into an old woman.  In a somewhat vague attempt to have the curse removed, Sophie runs into the countryside looking for the fearsome Wizard Howl and his moving castle.  She finds him and discovers that Howl is not exactly who she thinks he is and somewhat more surprisingly that she is also not who she thinks she is.

My favorite part about this weird tale is how Sophie slowly gets to know herself.  The change in her appearance - being in disguise - frees Sophie to be bolder and ironically truer to herself.  She has strong opinions and is rather forceful about expressing them, nagging the flibbertigibbet Howl into being more responsible and less self-absorbed. She's much braver as well, running across the countryside when she thinks her sister is in trouble and even going toe to toe with the King on Howl's behalf while at the beginning of the story she was almost too timid to visit her sister at a baker across town.  Her will is even strong enough to tame Calcifer, the fire demon that powers Howl's extraordinary home.  Sophie also succeeds, quite quickly, in turning the castle into a home, providing structure to the household and serving to balance Howl's unpredictable ways.

Howl is also fascinating.  He is playing a role that actually serves to conceal who he truly is.  He works out almost right away that Sophie is under a curse and isn't really old.  His dealings with the King that make him seem a coward are also a ruse that allow him to eventually defeat the Witch of the Waste.  It is impossible to know how to take him - his sister back home in Wales (!) despairs of him but he cares for his mundane family and does everything he can to protect her and his niece and nephew.

Basically, neither Howl nor Sophie are your typical romantic hero and heroine and for all that their story feels more sweet.  Because they do fall in love of course but it is so gradual, born out of getting to know one another.  Sophie denies it the longest as she gets crabbier and crabbier every time she thinks Howl is out wooing another woman.  Meanwhile Howl is slowly trying to give her everything he thinks she wants including becoming a better self. 

All that unique character stuff is also wrapped up with the wonderful imagination of Diana Wynne Jones.  Enchanted scarecrows with turnips for heads, enchanted dogs smitten with their mistresses, a castle that is really four things at once in four different locations and a fire demon that is really a falling star.  What Calcifer is and the nature of his contract with Howl is a mystery that runs throughout.

If I have any complaints it is that the story is at times a little confusing.  One example is that a connection to our world  - the mundane modern world where Howl comes from and where he is known as Howell - is thrown in with very little explanation about the how the connection between the two worlds works.  That's fine but it seemed like a confusing addition that didn't really add much to the story though perhaps it does in later books?

FINAL VERDICT:  An imaginative story of self-discovery that has adventure, romance and an unmistakeably unique quality to it.  Tells a rather classic tale in a lovely unique way.  4 out of 5 Stars.

Howl's Moving Castle: The Movie (2004) by Hayao Miyazaki

I love Miyazaki's films as a rule - they are beautiful, magical and utterly unique and I think Howl's Moving Castle is my favorite amongst the works of his that I have seen.  When I picked up the book it had been a while since I watched the film and I saved a re-watch until after reading.  It was a good plan as it allowed me to experience the book somewhat fresh. 

The first thing I have to say is that the book and movie are actually quite different though they really don't feel that way.  As I was reading, I kept thinking to myself how closely the movie had followed the book so I was completely taken aback when I watched the film again and saw how different they are plot wise.  The movie instead catches the essence of the book while deviating wildly from it's particulars. In a way this is really great - I felt similarly while experiencing both but got two different  stories. 

I believe most of the changes in the film are to enhance the drama and to perhaps promote Miyazaki's own ethic.  There is less back story on both Sophie and Howl and the romance is a little more front and center particularly towards the end.  The Witch of the Waste is less of a threat in the movie (and is actually a more interesting character) while the King and his sorcerer are the big bads - starting a war that Howl fights against (there is an anti-war message here fitting with Miyazaki's pacisfism).  Michael is called Marko for some reason and is quite a bit younger in the movie which helps enhance the feeling of home and family.  While Howl and Sophie are still unique, their edges are softened just a bit for the movie.  For example, the Howl of the book loves to woo women, and then abandon them when they fall for him and this is perhaps slightly alluded to in the movie but it's not explicit. 

The visuals and the music of the movie are really lovely.  I love the main musical theme that runs throughout - very sweeping and romantic. Sophie and Howl look just as they should and the envisioning of the castle is perfect.  One of the effects I love best in the movie is how Sophie's appearance actually changes with how confident and happy she is feeling, visually illustrating that she is partially responsible for the curse and its effects. 

It's a lovely movie, well worth watching!  I would love to hear what others think of the movie particularly if you came to it as a lover of the book first.  Did the differences bother you? Is there anything you strongly prefer from one or the other?  Do you think Miyazaki did a good job capturing the essence of the book?

MOVIE REVIEW: Interstellar (2014)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Matt Damon plus a bunch of other famous folk!
My Star Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Running Time: 169 Minutes (WOWZA!)

I've actually watched a few movies recently!  I've gotten so that I really prefer the medium of TV (I'm not sure how I feel about that but a discussion for another time) but I've been in a mood lately for some cinematic hijinks and drama.  I had heard only the briefest things about Interstellar - that it is Sci-fi and that people generally really liked it.  Seriously that's all I knew and I think that's a pretty great way to go into the film so I will try not to reveal too much.

Synopsis for context's sake: The Earth is toast.  A group of people head out into space to try and find a new home for the human race.  It has lots of consequences and also serves to reveal quite a bit about human nature in the process.

I really liked it though it wasn't what I expected at all.  I think I expected a solid space adventure, which it is, but it also has a very personal touch.  While it sometimes becomes unbalanced and the schmaltz takes over, I think this mixing, when it's in the right proportions, is what makes the movie standout and is why I liked it.  I loved Cooper and Murphy's Father/Daughter relationship so much and it gave the movie a heart and helped propel the urgency and add to the complexity of the mission. The movie is thoughtful and emotional and not always in the ways I expected.

It also has some seriously tense moments.  There are some scenes on a watery plant that are terrifying.  The movie plays around a LOT with time and relativity and that kept me stressed out for most of the movie.  It definitely pushed my buttons in the way that it is supposed to.  It also surprised me a few times with the directions it takes which is refreshing and great.

The visuals are spectacular which is exactly what you want in a movie in outer space.   The cast also does a spectacular job. 

Negatives?  It is a bit too long, I think.  In some ways I like that Nolan took his time and gave every piece it's due but I was antsy by the end even so.  As I hinted at above, sometimes the personal/sentimental side of the movie becomes a little over wrought.  The ending is also perhaps not quite right.

Taken as a whole though, the film really worked for me and it's nice to see a character/relationship based sci fi movie that has intelligence and the thrill ride you might expect from a space exploration film.

FINAL VERDICT:  If you are looking for an emotional and thrilling Sci Fi adventure that will also exercise the old gray cells, give Interstellar a whirl.  I really enjoyed it!

Have you seen this movie?  What did you think about it?  I could totally see this movie not working for everyone so I am interested to hear if anybody did not like it at all?

TOP TEN TUESDAY - Top Books or Movies for getting into the Halloween Spirit

 

As I started putting this list together, I realized that I really don't read or enjoy books in the "horror" genre and I'm not really sure why.  I like horror movies and haunted houses quite a bit and have been fascinated with vampires since I was a child.  Maybe it's because books are longer and more detailed?  Who knows.  This is why I love TTT - it's all about self discovery, ha ha!  Anyway this list will be a hodge-podge of books, tv shows and movies that produce halloweeny feelings for me.  

BOOKS

1) Turn of the Screw by Henry James:  It's been a long time since I read this short novella but I definitely remember that it gave me the shivers and threw me into a Henry James frenzy for a short time.  It is thrillingly Gothic and features creepy children which never fail to frighten. 
2) Assorted stories by Edgar Allen Poe (The Telltale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Raven etc...):  Again most of Edgar Allen Poe's creepiest, most atmospheric tales are short which is apparently the way I like them.  He's very talented at creating creeping dread - I am sure his mother was very proud of this talent. 
3) Dracula by Bram Stoker:  As I mentioned, vampires have always been my monster of choice and I read and loved this book as a teenager.  I even acted in a play of the book in college. 


TELEVISION
A couple of my favorite TV shows are perfect watching to get geared up for Halloween.

4) Supernatural: Each week is like a little mini horror movie featuring the fierce and rather handsome Winchester brothers as Hunters of supernatural phenomena.  At ten seasons or so long they've really been able to play with all kinds of horror tropes.  I also think that while I love the show, Jensen Ackles is a much better actor then it deserves. 
5) Buffy the Vampire Slayer:  One of my favorite shows of all time!  Every season (I think)they had some kind of Halloween episode that was usually pretty brilliant.
6)It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: I grew up watching Charlie Brown specials so this one kind of encapsulates Halloween for me.

MOVIES

7) Poltergeist:  I watched this movie at least 400 times in my youth. It's kind of perfect.
8) A Nightmare on Elm Street: Of the horror movie "franchises" this was my favorite.  It scared me deliciously in my teenage years while also inducing swooniness over Johnny Depp.
9) The Monster Squad: I adored this movie as a kid  - it's campy and brilliant and features all the Halloween bad guys!
10) The Nightmare Before Christmas: Is there anyone better at evoking the Halloween spirit then Tim Burton?  This and the next movie on the list are both his and they are on here for good reason!
11) Sleepy Hollow:  This is Johnny Depp's second appearance on the list and come to think of it I could also put Edward Scissorhands on here... which would also mean more Tim Burton. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in all forms pretty much embodies Halloween for me! 

As for characters I would like to "be" for Halloween, I think my post from last week on fictional women that inspire me kind of covers it!  So what's on your Halloween read/watch list?

Happy Halloween!!

Sundays with the X-Files - I Want to Believe Movie

In 2008, roughly six years after the series ended, a new X Files movie came to theaters.   X Philes were elated and then after watching it usually deflated (more on that later) but I Want to Believe was certainly an event.

I watched (well re-watched) this out of order.  I watched it just after finishing the first movie,  Fight the Future, which took place in between season 5 and 6.  It's an interesting juxtaposition.  At the end of Fight the Future Scully, who has been wanting to quit throughout the whole movie, has been revitalized and gives this whole we need to keep searching and fighting speech.  Fast forward ten years and you see just what kind of destruction has been wrought.

I think it's fair to say a lot of people were really disappointed with this movie.  It's not terribly cinematic, unlike Fight the Future, and it's really just an extended Monster of the Week type story.  Considering that the last we saw of our heroes, they knew the date of a massive alien invasion, it seems bizarre that the rare event of a follow up movie would not deal with that impending doom. But aliens and imminent Armageddon are ignored in favor of a very emo and somewhat lackadaisical MOTW.    It really seems to be more about checking in with our favorite duo and seeing how they are surviving in this new world of theirs.  It appears, they are struggling. 

PLOT

It begins with an FBI agent being attacked while showing simultaneously an intensive search for something by a large group of FBI agents led by a shambling older civilian.  They find an arm, wounded in the same way as we've just witnessed the FBI agent maim her attacker.

Scully appears, looking older and working in a hospital.  She's obviously fully immersed in her job when one of the FBI agents we saw in the earlier scene appears and tells her they desperately need the help of Mulder.  She denies all knowledge of him and is basically pretty rude.  She heads home and walks into an office covered in newspaper clippings etc... and there's Mulder, looking a little ragged.  She tries to convince him to come out of hiding and help the FBI find this missing agent. She's worried about his isolation.  He's very reluctant and professes he's happy as a clam.  He finally agrees to go but only if Scully goes with him.  Scully does not seem pleased at the prospect. 

It appears that a former catholic priest (the shambling older civilian from earlier), a convicted pedophile, claims to be having visions of the missing agent.  He believes her to be alive but has few details.  You can tell that as soon as Mulder gets involved that he's jazzed.  The problem is he wants his Scully with him and she is less than jazzed.  In fact she quickly gets over her worry about Mulder's isolation and immediately moves to regret at getting Mulder involved. 

There is also a secondary storyline with Scully struggling to cure a terminally sick child at the hospital. She doesn't want to let him go but there are no treatments except highly controversial ones available. 

Meanwhile back on the case of the missing F.B.I. agent they go back to the original spot that Father Joe led them and they find all sorts of body parts.  Also another woman goes missing from the area. This leads them to believe that the culprits are targeting people for their organs to sell on the black market.  Mulder tries to use this to lure Scully into the case with him but it leads to a more fundamental discussion about how they are, in an essential way, different.  She can no longer "look into the darkness" with him and he can't help but jump right into the darkness.  It is who he is.  It is the same conflict as always and while she used to put aside her misgivings and follow him she is now standing her ground.  Now that he's back in the game, Mulder can't and won't let it go.

I won't reveal too much about the resolution of the movie but Mulder's perseverance pays off in the end and Scully  plays a role in the finale which is even more awful and weird than they previously suspected.  Mulder and Scully reconcile but it is not smooth or easy.

Final Verdict: 

Since the characters are the key to my love for this show, I liked it just fine though it is rather pale in comparison to Fight the Future.  It is indeed odd that they chose not to address the mythology arc at all but my guess is that they did not get the budget to do an all out alien invasion movie. 

It also made me really sad to see Mulder mouldering away in  his office of news clippings.  Maybe he doesn't just while away the lonely hours there but that is all that they let us see and considering how excited he gets about the case, I'd say that it is his first opportunity to really be involved in investigating in a long time.  Scully's response to his enthusiasm is somewhat frustrating as she seems to be saying "I followed you for 9 years in your crazy quest, now it's my time to do what I want"  but I think it's more nuanced than that.  The FBI agents that call Mulder in don't see Scully as remotely important; they don't realize how much Mulder relies upon and needs her.   I think what causes Scully to rebel is that Mulder keeps pushing her to come with him and she will not - she is done.  Which begs the question as to what will she be doing when the aliens invade?  It also begs the question as to whether they really should be together?

As a character study, the movie is gloomy and interesting.  As an X Files episode it is perhaps less successful. 

Great Scenes and Quotes

 (In bed at chez Mulder/Scully) MULDER:  I can hear you thinking. SCULLY: I can't sleep.  MULDER (trying to be seductive): I have a little something for that. SCULLY:  Just a little something?...  (later after talking for a bit) MULDER: "Just go to sleep. Let me curse God for awhile."

The scene where Skinner tries to reassure Scully by telling her that he knows Mulder and that he wouldn't do anything crazy and Scully just gives him this look like "are we talking about the same guy?" 

Other Random Thoughts

- Scully claims that it's Mulder's stubbornness that she fell in love with but he responds that it is why they can't be together. Which is really true.

-  Except when he is not, Mulder is a bona fide gentleman.  He first opens the door and helps Scully into the helicopter before he gets into the back. 

- Scully works at Our Lady of Sorrows Hospital.  Seriously X Files?

- It appears Mulder finally got his wish of living in a farm house in the middle of nowhere (he expressed this desire in season 4's Home).

- There's sort of this weird moment where Mulder and Scully share a look over a portrait of George Bush and J. Edgar Hoover.  Not sure I get it. 

- There is a bunch of weird vibes from the young female agent who seems to be all hot and bothered by Mulder.  I get that of course but what's the point.  After he shaves his beard she's all flummoxed and she touches his face.   

The Rabbit Hole

>> Five Books to read before seeing this film

>> I Want to Believe review from Tor.com

>> I Want to Believe on Rotten Tomatoes 

Source

Other Sundays with The X Files posts

Intro Post

Season 1 Post

Season 2 Post

Season 3 Post

Season 4 Post

Season 5 Post

Fight The Future (movie)

Season 6 Post

Season 7 Post

Season 8 Post

Season 9 Post

So what I am really interested to know - the big mystery is - are there any other X Files fans out there that didn't completely hate this movie?