Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Hidden King

Charlie Bone and the Hidden King: Children of the Red King #5, by Jenny Nimmo, Orchard Books, New York, 2006.
The stakes become higher and higher.  In this novel, one of the teacher, who everyone thought was a friend, turns out to be an evil witch.  She brings back the shadow, who had been an evil person in the history of the Red King.  Now he is terrorizing the community and threatening a return of evil to the area.  Charlie cannot handle this problem on his own.  All the young descendants of the Red King are needed to elicit the help of the Red King, who is still alive, but in the form of a tree.  However the magical spell to restore the king requires ten children, and the only have nine.  It is the wolf man who becomes the tenth.  
Excellent book.  This series keeps me entertained.

Book Review: A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle  Square Fish, Farrar Strauss Giroux, New York, 1962.
This book was made into a Disney movie.  I have not seen the movie.  However the book was not my favorite.  It had this nebulous black cloud which represented evil, and had captured Meg's father.  He has been gone for some time, and everyone tells her he is not coming back.  However three women--fairies or something, come to the family, and take the children away to rescue their father.  Meg's younger brother has some type of insight, but in the end this just gets him captured as well.  Now Meg has more to save.

Music Review: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Original Cast

This is the C.D. of the original cast which featured Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou.  I cannot get enough of the song "Johanna" with its moving notes and melody.  It is sung by Victor Garber.  This music and lyrics is written by Stephen Sondheim.  I have had difficulty with watching the movie because it is so graphic.  taking the musical in this manner is much more enjoyable.  The reprise adding Sweeney Todd is also wonderful.  It also adds the crazy lady (Merle Luise).  Turns out she is the most sane of all.  The other song I really enjoy is "Pretty Women" which Sweeney Todd sings with the judge (Edmund Lyndeck).

Movie Review: ****^Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther (2018)

This is the movie many have called the best of the Marvel Movie.  I have to agree this movie is very good, and it has lots of action.  The premise is an African kingdom, Wakanda, is a hidden.  The kingdom sits on a deposit of vibranium, a mineral which enhances strength as well as healing and weapons.  The five tribes are united under T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman).  However the Jabari tribe resists, and their champion, N'Baku (Winston Duke) is defeated in a challenge.  But a greater threat from the past lurks on the horizon.  Killmnger, (Michael B. Jordan) a cousin, acutally defeats T'Challa.  His father had been murdered when he tried to sell vibranium to arms dealers, against the kingdom's laws.  Killmonger has trained as a special ops fighter, and has also been supported by vibranium.  He wants to change the policy of keeping hidden, and lead his kingdom from a position of strength, and facilitate distribution of vibranium for military purposes to Africans around the world.  But with T'Challa gone, who is there to oppose him.  The world will be different.
This movie is very exciting.  It has some great action as they different tribes war with each other.  The success of this movie, may be an important factor as to why the final battle of Avengers: Infinity Wars takes place in Wakanda.  

Marvel Universe

Movie Review: ****Operation Finale (2018)

This is a spy thriller which shows the capture and trial of Adolph Eichmann, the person in charge of the transportation arrangements for the Jews during the Holocaust.  Although there was a Jewish Mossad team, this mostly portrays Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac) as they work to get Eichmann (Ben Kingsley) to sign a document where he agrees to travel to Israel for trial.  Malkin's girlfriend, Hanna (Melanie Laurent) joins them as a nurse to keep Eichmann drugged when needed.  The plan from El Al has this as a condition to flying him to Israel.  In other words, there plan was going smoothly until they are caught in a snag waiting to get the paper signed so they can go to the airport.  In the meantime they are holed in a safe house while the Nazi sympathizers, with governmental assistance get closer and closer.
Personally I enjoyed the views of Argentina presented including the Obelisco in Buenos Aires.

Movie Review: ***Going In Style (2017)

Going In Style (2017)

What do you do when you are old, and medical and other bills are eating your retirement.  Rob a  bank of course.  And in this case it is the bank that stole your retirement.  This is a remake of a 1979 movie of the same name.  How do three old people rob a bank.  They get the idea when one of them is at the bank during a previous hold up.  The three old gentleman are played by Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin.  There is some funny stuff with old men getting ready to heist a bank.  Christopher Lloyd, and almost senile old man at the senior center.  They together volunteer for senior Center bazaar as an alibi, and the alibis hold.  One uses the restroom—he has a problem and has to go for a long time.  He sneaks out the back side.  Another is singing with Ann-Margaret and makes it look like he doesn’t leave the party they are catering.  The other is helping in a group, of all yellow shirts and is lost in the crowd. 

They wear masks of the Rat-Pack.  Everything hinges though on a witness at the bank.  Morgan Freeman has an anxiety issue, and has difficulty breathing.  A little girl helps him, and sees his distinctive watch.  However, she doesn’t turn him in.  They restore their pension with over $two million from the bank.

If I could condone bank robbing I would give this movie higher marks; but I cannot.

Movie Review: ****Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

If you ever wondered how Chewbacca and Solo hooked up, this movie gives the answer.  They met in prison.  Chewbacca being the monster who was suppose to do away with Solo, but instead they form an alliance, and go off to a life of smuggling--very ill.
What was not expected was the serious love relationship between Solo and Qi'ra.  They are a thing at the beginning of the movie on Corellia, and then separated by circumstances.  However when they finally get back together there is still steam between them. 
This movie has plenty of futuristic adventure.  It also has an intriguing plot.  There is a major twist when at the end of the movie Darth Maul is introduced. 
Great fun here.  I must admit I prefer Harrison Ford, but this Solo does an admirable job.

	Alden Ehrenreich	...	Han Solo
	Joonas Suotamo	...	Chewbacca
	Woody Harrelson	...	Beckett
	Emilia Clarke	...	Qi'ra
	Donald Glover	...	Lando Calrissian
	Thandie Newton	...	Val
	Phoebe Waller-Bridge	...	L3-37 (voice)
	Paul Bettany	...	Dryden Vos

Dryden Vos plays the villain, smuggler who doesn't hesitate to take a life to protect his interest.  We see a card shark, younger version of Lando Calrissian.  Beckett is the head of a smuggling ring where Chewbacca and Solo land. 

Music Review: The Very Best of Tchaikovsky

Of course the very best of Tchaikovsky has to include something from the Nutcracker Suite.  This CD doesn't disappoint.  I was surprised to  see that the 1812 Overture was also here. 

Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors

Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo, Scholastic, New York, 2005.
Charlie has become obsessed with finding his father who disappeared ten years ago.  As such he convinces himself to make a trip to the Castle of Mirrors, following the wife of the Red King, who was brought back to life in the shape of a horse in a mistaken attempt by the evil master at Bloor's Academy, Ezekiel.  Charlie goes thinking he is helping Billy find his ow famiy, but in reality is going for selfish reasons, which get him out of balance for a time.  In this book, Billy is adopted, with certain conditions.  These conditions prove unbearable, as Charlie's new parents aren't interested in him, but are only a part of a scheme to control Billy and Charlie.  In addition to the problems with Billy, there is a new boy at school, with magnetism.  He uses this skill to turn Charlie and his friends against each other.  The balance tips towards the dark side.  However, one of Charlie's friends, Olivia, who was not thought to be endowed, discovers her own talent for creating illusions.  In the end they are able to use this talent, to create some relief for Billy when the queen horse with a rider threatens the head master at the school. 
I have really enjoyed this series of adventures.  Each adventure has plenty of action, and intriguing characters. 

Book Review: The Big Wave

The Big wave by Pearl S. Buck, Harper Trophy, New York, 1947.
Pearl S. Buck is a classic realism writer.  She is very much of the same flavor as John Steinbeck.  In this book is told the story of two families, on that lives on the beach and they make their life fishing, while the other lives in the mountain and they farm.  When the first family is all killed due to a tsunami, except for the son, their son is invited to stay with the family in the mountains.  They raise him, and he falls in love with their daughter, Setsu.  But when they move to the beach so the young man, Jiya, could become a fisherman.  He says he always new he had to go back to the sea.
This is very descriptive and a very good character book.

Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy

Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy: Children of the Red King book 3, by Jenny Nimmo, Orchard Books, New York, 2004.


This adventure follows the course of the first three books.  In this book there is a boy to be saved, who has been abandoned in the castle for a year, since he was turned invisible by the blue boa.  Some versions of this book are titled "The Blue Boa".  Again it is only working as  team, that Charlie and his friends, using their special talents are able to save the boy.  Billy can talk to animals, and he convinces the snake to restore the boy.  They escape with the snake as well, who is going to become  a resident at the Pet's Café.  What really makes these stories is the myriad of interesting characters.  there is Charlie and his friend, Emilio, Benjamin, both boys without powers, and Emma who flies, Gabriel who can feel the history of garments, Lysander who summons spirits with spears, Tancred who manipulates weather and then Charlie's uncle, Paton who boost energy.

Movie Review: ***^Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Here is a movie where two worlds, both Asian, collide.  Both families are of Chinese descent.  Nick Young (Henry Golding) invites his American Chinese girlfriend home to meet his parents as he is traveling to Bangladesh for a wedding.  Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) accepts the invitation.  However she doesn't know what they are getting into.  When they travel first class, with their own bed, she gets n inkling of what she is in for. 
She spends time with an old friend from college, and when her old roommate hears who she is with she goes bonkers.  This is the family that owns most of the city, as well as several other properties around the world.  They are crazy rich.  The biggest challenge for Chu is Nick's mother (Michelle Yeoh) and grandmother.  Constance just is not good enough. 
This movie is funny at the first.  The friend (Awkwafina) provides the comic relief.  However the humor leaves about half way through the movie.  After it is just a tear jerker. 
This movie presents a window into Chinese culture, wealthy, and American.  Upon this it adds a nice romantic story. 

Book Review: The Great Brain

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, illustrated by Mercer Mayer, A Yearling Book, Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, 1967.

This is a classic book about Utah rural live.  These stories take place in a fictional town called Adenville.  It is a typical rural community.  It is told from the perspective of the younger brother of The Great Brain.  I didn't care for the Great Brain much as he extorted a belt from his younger brother by threatening him with "the silent treatment" and he seemed to misuse others, collecting money to look at their new water closet.  His mother was his conscience.  However he did rescue two boys from certain death when they were lost in a cave, by figuring out how to get a dog to find them.  He also helped a local boy with an accent become a respected member of the community.
The Great Brain redeems himself at the end, repenting of his manipulations and trying to make things right.  I guess we all can repent when we make bad choices.

Movie Review: ****Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017)

This movie tells the story of the relationship between Christopher Robin, and his father, the author of the children's books about Winnie the Pooh.  It is sandwiched around two wars WWI and WWII.  AA Milne, the father served in WWI and Christopher Robin served in WWII.  AA Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) was a playwright before WWI.  The war traumatized him so that he had difficulty finding peace, and as a result the "fled" to the countryside.  He had lost his enthusiasm to right, but found it again when he was left to care for Christopher for several weeks.  Nannie (Kelly Macdonald) had left to attend to her sick mother.  His wife, Daphne (Margot Robbie) had left because he wasn't writing.  She returned to London.  His son's play and imagination provided the inspiration for the Winnie the Pooh stories.  He started writing poetry to go with the stories.  Christopher is portrayed by two actors, Will Tilston (young) and Alex Lawther as a young man.
The tragedy is that Christopher Robin was caught up in the publicity for the books.  In a way his childhood was put on display, and given to the world, whether Christopher wanted to share or no.  Being a public figure was not Christopher's choice, and as a result his childhood was stolen.  He became bitter, and enlisted in the military for WWII, against the wishes of his mother.  He could have been deferred for health reasons, but he insisted he be allowed to be his own person. 
He left bitter and mad at his father.  When his parents received notice of his death, it seemed that was the end.  Somehow the notice was wrong, he came back to let his father know that he had resolved the issues with his childhood.  Being in the world he was able to see the positive influence the Pooh stories had on other children.  He was glad to have been a part.

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This movie is delightful.  We are introduced to three new characters, all friends of the father of Harry Potter, Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), who is actually a werewolf, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), escaped from Azkaban Prison, and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), who was the fourth corner of the friendship.  Peter is actually Ron's rat for most of the movie.  While Sirius is blamed for betraying Harry's parents, it is actually Peter who did this.  There is actually a fourth character, Buckbeat, the Hippogriff.  Hagrid, who is now teaching magical creatures introduces the class to hippogriffs, who are wild and proud creatures.  Draco Malfoy runs afoul of the hippogriff, and is injured.  As a result the hippogriff is ordered to be set down.  This is the only Harry Potter movie directed by Alfonso Cuarón.  It may have been me, but it seemed the terrain was different than other harry Potter movies.  Hagrid's home was down quite a hill.  However the action is just as intense, and the plot twists are fun.  This movie also showed less of the Quidditch play than some of the others.  However harry gets his new broom at the end of the movie.
We are also presented Dementor's in this movie--faceless soul suckers who guard the Prison of Azkaban and are invited to guard the entrances to Hogwarts.  Sometimes they get out of bound, and harry keeps fainting when he is close to them.  However Lupin teaches him the Patronus spell, which he finally master by the end of the story.

Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister

Charlie Bone and the Time Twister: Children of the Red Kin Book 2 by Jenny Nimmo, Orchard Books, New York, 2003.
This is the second book of the Charlie Bone universe.  Charlie, and his uncle, Paton are both endowed with special powers.  They must use these powers to save a boy who has traveled back through time.  Henry Yewbeam was tricked by his cousin Ezekiel.  He was sent forward in time, 80 years, and lands at the feet of Charlie.  Ezekiel is the owner and evil power behind Bloors Academy where Charlie attends school.  Charlie recruits his friends and his uncle to save the boy--but it is impossible to send him back in time, because the world has already moved on with the assumption that he disappeared many years before.  The solution is quite remarkable.

Shadow Weaver by Marcy Kate Connolly, Source Books Jabberwocky, Naperville, Illinois, 2018.
Shadow Weaver is a very intriguing book.  It is written in the first person from the view point of Emmeline, and young woman who was born with special powers with shadows.  She has seen a special shadow since she was a baby.  It is like her imaginary friend, but it is not imaginary.  However her world is turned upside down when her parents agree to give her away to a group who profess to nurture the gifts, in reality harvest them.  As a result Emmeline runs away.
She meets a boy who has a similar gift, except his gift is with light.  He can harness light to cook and do incredible things.  Together they teach each other.  Emmeline can make swings out of her shadows, and she shows the boy how to do the same.  All this knowledge is needed, when the true identity of Emmeline's shadow friend becomes known.