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 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:28 pm
Book Review: Lessons From a Lifetime of WritingWritten By David Morrell Review By Rushifa In the world of writing, especually creative writing, there are many hurdles to overcome. Some of them are relatively simple, while others are hard, life-changing experiences. And the worst thing is, it differs from person to person. There is so easy formula, no magic spell, and no sure thing. However, as David Morrell shows us, the desperate writer is not alone, and certainlly not hopeless. I've read a number of books on writing in my time, all though perhaps not as many as I should have, and David Morrell's Lessons From a Lifetime of Writing has been by far the best so far. He doesn't give you little exerpises, which can be found in some other wonderful books, but he goes step by step through the chanlenges writer's face, and helps you really get to know them. It's very readable, entertaining, and inspiring. Some of the most valuable things Morrell goes over include Plot, Research, First Person, Beginings, and Getting Published. He is a must-have for all aspiring writers, up there with William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White's The Elements of Style. With Nanowrimo 2006 having just ended, this is a wonderful time for writers everywhere to embrace their craft, and I think Morrell's book is a wonderful start to that. Go forth, everyone, and write! 5- ninja ninja ninja ninja ninja -overall Got a bone to pick with the reviewer? Want to suggest a work for review? Dying to hear about a new media or genre? Contact Rushifa with your questions and comments.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:29 pm
Movie Review: EragonDirected by Stefen Fangmeier Novel by Christopher Paolini Review by Rushifa I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, and assume that Eragon made for a better book than a movie. I can see where 500 pages of actual character and plot development could make it a passingly interesting book. In book form, it would also be blissfully easy to escape when the "plot" got to you, or throw against a wall when you simply couldn't take the predictability any more. But I digress. This review is on the movie, not the book, so I will save all personal comments on Paolini's intelligence until I've actually given it a good read. So. The movie. If you value your sanity, intelligence, and free time, don't waste $5+ on Eragon. If you must see it, at least wait for it to come out on video. And make sure to have some alcohol handy (or some sugar, or sleep deprivation, for you young'ens out there). The characters of Eragon are boring at best. The acting is too bad to really let you connect with any of the characters, and certainly not the title character. Besides that, they're all people you've seen before. Eragon is an insignificant farming boy, dealing with all those pesky drama's of being 17. You also have The Master, The Elf, The Evil Henchman, the Evil Lord, etc ad nasium. And then there's the plot. If you're a fan of Harry Potter, play dnd, and are familiar with the Lord of the Rings movies at least, then you'll probably enjoy Eragon (if you can get passed the characters). However, if you've actually read Lord of the Rings, and are familiar with other major fantasy novels (namely the Earthsea Series, the Pern Series, and any children's book involving having your very own dragon), you'll be rolling your eyes before the movie even picks up steam. I found nothing original about the plot. On a basic level, it follows Star Wars: A New Hope. Only Eragon lacks all the novelty and 70s charm which made the original Star Wars movies popular. There's a down-and-out farmer's nephew, a princess in distress, a de-bunked old master, an evil lord, a rebel force, etc, etc. I can't wait for Yoda. The only saving grace to the movie is that, somehow, they actual spent money on it. Not in hiring actors, mind you, but in graphics. The dragon looks pretty good, and down right adorable in her first appearance, and the flying and battle scenes are interesting if dizzying. The pleasing scenery also improves the viewing experience a bit, but, in my opinion, it’s too little, too later. If you must go, bring a few friends so at least you can make witty commentary to keep yourself from falling asleep. 2- ninja ninja -characters 1- ninja -storyline 3- ninja ninja ninja -style 1- ninja -substance 2- ninja ninja -overall Eragon, the novel, at Amazon.comGot a bone to pick with the reviewer? Want to suggest a work for review? Dying to hear about a new media or genre? Contact Rushifa with your questions and comments.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:30 pm
Movie Review: TMNTDirected By: Kevin Munroe Review By: Rushifa For old fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the new movie is a stroll down nostalgia lane. For new fans, it's not a bad place to jump in. Although it throws you into the aftermath of a previous plot, it does a good job of bringing you up to speed. The opening both introduces the characters, and orients you quickly, without losing the audience in unneeded exposition. The plot is fairly simple. Leonardo is off training in Mexico, and in his absence the remaining turtles have drifted apart, each attempting to carry on with their lives, with little success. Meanwhile, an immortal warrior is attempting to gather 13 monsters which had been loosed on the world, calling on assistance from some of the turtle's old enemies. Stylistically, it takes awhile to adjust to the movie. Done completely in CG, it has a style similar to that of The Incredibles, and it takes some getting used to. The turtles look especually odd, seeming much smaller to me than in the original movies or tv show. However, once you get used to it, the suspension of disbelief sets in, and its smooth sailing from their. The movie was better than I expected it to be. The themes were a little over-stated, but, after all, it's made for children. Overall, a nostalgic, entertaining movie. 4- ninja ninja ninja ninja -characters 3- ninja ninja ninja -storyline 3- ninja ninja ninja -style 3- ninja ninja ninja -substance 4- ninja ninja ninja ninja -overall Got a bone to pick with the reviewer? Want to suggest a work for review? Dying to hear about a new media or genre? Contact Rushifa with your questions and comments.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:31 pm
The Kite RunnerBy Khaled Hosseini, 2003  I'll admit, I have a soft spot for a good coming-of-age novel. Unfortunately, this wasn't one. The Kite Runner isn't bad, per se, but it's not good, either. It's getting alot of undeserved over the last few years, mostly because it's set in Afghanistan. Yes, it serves as a good way of connecting middle America with Afghanistan, and it's timely for that, but I'm sure there are better books for that cause. Like I said, the book isn't really bad. The characters are endearing enough, and the basic plot and writing is pretty interesting, but there's nothing new about this book, except it's setting. Set it anywhere but Afganistan, and this book has been done before, many times, better. Part of it's lack of quality is that The Kite Runner is obviously the author's first novel. It reeks of forced metaphors, connections, and symbols, as if the writer simply couldn't decide which to use, and thus threw all his ideas in there. It comes off as ridiculous by the end, and ruins what could be a gripping climax. It's predictable. For all it's failings, The Kite Runner is still an entertaining read, especially if you haven't read alot of similar novels. It serves its purpose, as a window into recent Afghani culture, well. I doubt it will stand up to the test of time, but it's a relevant read no matter how sloppy the construction. 3- ninja ninja ninja -characters 2- ninja ninja -storyline 3- ninja ninja ninja -style 2- ninja ninja -substance 3- ninja ninja ninja -overall The Kite Runner at Amazon.comGot a bone to pick with the reviewer? Want to suggest a work for review? Dying to hear about a new media or genre? Contact Rushifa with your questions and comments.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:32 pm
Movie Review: Pride and PrejudiceDirected by Joe Wright Review by Rushifa I went into this movie with very little prior knowledge; I had not read the book, or seen an earlier adaptation. All I had was a small love of romantic-era stories, and a general idea of the plot. For those unfamiliar with the story, and those who have not seen/read Bridget Jones' Diary (which is basically a modern rendition), I shall offer a short plot summary. Elizabeth Bennet comes from a large, yet relatively middle class family. All her siblings are female, and thus face the unfortunate prospect of losing all their positions to a male cousin, should their father die before they are comfortably married. Elizabeth is the second oldest of the girls, and presumably in her mid- to late- twenties. Their future takes a turn for the better when a visiting aristocrat sets his eyes on Elizabeth's older sister, Jane (Rosamund Pike). As her sister's courtship begins, Elizabeth falls into a love-hate relationship (through rumors, eavesdropping and misunderstandings) with the brooding Mr. Darcy, an unusual courtship which will occupy the rest of the movie. All in all, I greatly enjoyed this movie. The acting was on the whole wonderful, especially in the case of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet (Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn, respectively), who were both entertaining and realistic. Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) was a delight to watch, and she and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) had great on-screen chemistry. All the characters came off very well, although their dialogue occasionally seemed obviously rehearsed. The movie itself was an obvious adaptation from a book, with far too many side characters to sanely keep track of the first time through, and many scene changes. The cinematography was well carried out, although there were a few unnecessary "artsy" scenes which, while pretty, added little to the movie. What stood out as particularly impressive to me were the long scenes. The camera rolled through many rooms all in one cut, as if you were actually walking from room to room in the house, not merely cutting to the important parts and important people. Main and side characters alike wondered in and out of the camera scope, offering important foreshadowing and needed character development, something many movie adaptations lack where their books excelled. 5- ninja ninja ninja ninja ninja -characters 4- ninja ninja ninja ninja -storyline 3- ninja ninja ninja -style 4- ninja ninja ninja ninja -substance 4- ninja ninja ninja ninja -overall
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:32 pm
Game Review: Kingdom Hearts II
I've never been quite sure how I feel about this series of games. On the one side, I'm attracted to alot of the more serious leanings. I love the use of standed-glass, and the balance between good and evil, light and dark...but they always seem at odds with, well, having Donald and Goofy tagging along.
The Kingdom Hearts games feel to me as if they were supposed to be two different games, but somehow got combined. I'm not convinced it was a bad thing, either. They're something almost charming about the result, although it can be hard to wrap your head around at first. Once you emerse yourself in the world, and except the silly with the serious, it becomes much easier to stomach. Naturally, it helps if, like me, you grew up on and still adore classic Disney movies.
In compares with the first game, Kingdom Hearts II has improved in alot of ways. The gameplay became much smoother, finally eliminating some of the pesky camera problems and menu issues which made the first one a bit of a challenge. They've also added a handy combo button which makes battles go alot smoother. Moving through the worlds also happened alot quicker is this version, and I think that made the game on a whole feel like it dragged less.
Plot-wise, the game also took a darker turn, which I hear was begun by the between-game, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, which was for the gameboy advance (I haven't played it yet, sadly). In my opinion, it was an improvement. The intricate side and back characters pretty much made the game for me, although I was personally a bit disapointed with the conclusions. All-in-all, the plot is not amazing, but the gameplay is pretty unique, and Kingdome Hearts II fulfills one of the main requirements of a good game: it's fun.
Just try to ignore Donald and Goofy.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:34 pm
Movie Review: Dream Girls
I am always a sucker for a musical. Especially when the soundtrack is as good as the one for Dreamgirls. Set in the 60s, it follows the careers of three female soul singers as they rise to fame, and the costs that go with it.
Overall, the beginning of the movie felt a bit rushed. Up until about the half way point, all the scenes seemed shoved together. The plot jumped over entire months, and between each shot of a character dramatic things in their lives had changed. When really dramatic stuff started happening, I was already desensitized. I felt on such loose footing with the characters anyway, that the possible upheaval of their way of life seemed like just another scene transition. There were also a great deal of characters to keep track of, and it wasn;t until near near the middle that I actually understood who was related to who, who was dating who, etc.
The second half of the movie was much better. At the half mark, it suddenly took the step from being a movie-with-a-strong-musical-backup to an all-out musical, which actually came as a bit jarring. However, from that point on it really took off. I got a better sense of the characters, and the plot, and was able to just sit back and relax.
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Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:31 pm
Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribean 3
Lord of the Rings would have made a horrible comedy. Pirates of the Caribbean makes a horrible epic.
If you've been keeping up with the 'Press, you'll know I reviewed the second Pirates movie back when it came back. I was pretty upbeat about it. After re-watching it, I'm less so, but I still maintain that it was a fun movie. The third in this doomed trilogy, however, isn't even that.
My biggest problem with At World's End is simply that's its dull. Mercifully, they don't spend the entire movie reusing old jokes, but the new ones are stupid at best, insulting at worst. I can't remember one genuinely funny moment; at least, one that was actually supposed to be funny.
I wont even try to explain the plot. Basically, they pulled a pile of s**t out of their a**, and tried to pass it off as a story. They failed. Due to "plot," our gang has to go rescue Jack from hell or death or whatever (ok, "Davie Jone's Locker"), where he's obsessing over peanuts. They due this in about the stupidest way possible (yes, lets totally go to the Arctic without blankets, and then hang out on deck instead of going inside the ship to keep warm. Great idea.) Then a whole bunch of sea battles happen, for really no reason, and they try to make everyone seem deep and serious, which just comes off as confusing and ridiculous.
The one good thing about the movie is the cinematography. They have some really interesting camera work, and some really beautiful scenes. But, Pirates isn't supposed to be beautiful. It's supposed to be clever, un-bathed, and funny.
Honestly, don't see this movie. If the second one didn't kill the Pirates craze for you, the third one definately will. And it's a very painful death.
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