A Wrinkle In Time- Spoilers Galore

This will not be a spoiler free review. There is no way in the world I could write one. Meg’s journey in this story is also mine. Every obstacle she faces, and the final battle that she must confront is the exact story that I have lived. 

Meg Murry is a character after my own heart. She’s insecure and cynical, but she is also loyal and brave. And smart. Incredibly smart. Using the laws of physics and her own inner strength, Meg braves the journey to find her father alongside her brother Charles Wallace, and the boy next door Calvin with the astral travelers Mrs Who, Mrs Which and Mrs Whatsit. 

Her character growth makes this film, and that’s why it spoke to me. 

Before Meg begins her journey, Mrs Who gives her an important quote. “ The wound is the place where the light enters you.” - Rumi. 

Meg must face her own faults to battle the darkness. She doesn’t travel well, while everyone else is just fine. She is closed off to her own brilliance and what makes her special. 

Her first real test in the film is trusting The Happy Medium, who allows her to find the balance within to open her heart to her father in order to find him. 

She finds a memory, the memory of the exact moment she last saw her father, before he disappeared. That memory leads her to Camaztoz, the evil planet where her father is trapped. A planet run by an evil mind known as the IT. 

As the planet changes into obstacle after obstacle, Meg and Calvin are separated from Charles Wallace. And after a harsh battle with the darkness, Calvin gives Meg one of the best lines that any insecure person could be given, “You don’t know how incredible you are.” 

After they find Charles Wallace, they face a strange encounter with a red eyed man who claims to know Meg’s father. Calvin and Charles trust him, but Meg is not so sure. She listens to her instinct and focuses on her goal. 

They had traveled to  Camaztoz, to find her father, but the IT wants something too, Charles Wallace and his brilliant mind. 

Meg watches her brother fall to darkness and enters a realm where the path is no longer visible. Still, she is determined to find her father, and uses her will, and the gift of the unseen (given by Mrs. Who) to climb the impossible staircase leading to her father. 

When she finds him, she finally lets herself cry, allowing all the grief to wash away, but the battle isn’t over. The IT has her brother, Charles Wallace, and only Meg can save him. 

While her father and Calvin manage to get away, Meg refuses to go with them. She would never leave her brother. 

I will not lie, the final battle in this version of the story is brutal. The IT speaks harsh words through Charles Wallace, and tosses Meg like a rag doll. 

But Meg is determined to save her brother. 

What does she have that the IT doesn’t? What can she do to save her brother?

She loves him. 

As the IT continues to use her brother against her, Meg screams at him, “You love me Charles Wallace, and I deserve to be loved!” 

It is that declaration that brings her brother back, and destroys the IT entirely. Charles rushes to his sister as the evil mind bursts into light. 

Mrs. Who, Mrs Which and Mrs Whatsit return, and they congratulate Meg on her success. She knows her own brilliance now, and she is able to lead them with no pain. She has become a warrior. 

She returns home, and brings her father to her mother, and thanks Calvin for taking the journey with her. 

 As she watches the happy scene of her family reunited she whispers, “Thank you” to the universe. 

So how did I react to this story? With my entire heart. 

I have been fighting a battle with darkness for a long time. My brother’s Autism.

We all have fights with siblings, and we get angry at them. We tell them that they hurt us. Autistic siblings don’t always understand this, and that has been a struggle for me my whole life. Meltdowns, harsh words and lack of empathy. 

Confused and lost, I shut myself away from others. 

I was like Meg, closed off, sad and angry. And yes, I was bullied like Meg was too. 

So many kids are mistreated in school, and that can scar them for life. I hope they all draw inspiration from Meg in this film. 

There are times when I must remember, the Autism is not my brother. He doesn’t always understand. And yes, I love him. I love him deeply, and I would never leave him behind. But I have a right to speak up for myself too. 

I was with Meg on that battlefield screaming those words, and I left the movie theatre with a newfound strength. I had become a warrior.  

The Murrys are a wonderful family, and not without their faults. But faults can save us. Meg’s faults saved her. 

While the IT told her all that was wrong with her, Meg proudly stated that she was all that and more. 

The Murrys all possess a powerful love for each other that transcends time and space. Love is the frequency that binds them together, no matter where they are. 

My family and I have been told how amazing it is that we stick together. We do because we have that love. 

There is no book on Autism, and there is no direct type of Autism. It is still a mystery, but that mystery is just a part of my family and my life. 

We all have the ability to love beyond faults. We all have the ability to see beyond labels.  

I don’t care what the critics say about this movie. I thought it was beautiful. The diverse cast was amazing and most importantly, the message hit home. 

It’s all about the power of love, and how it reaches no matter where you are. It’s universal and beautiful. Love can overcome anything. 

I could rate this movie, but I have a personal bias that ties me to it. 

All I can do, is look up at the stars, and whisper “Thank you” to the universe. 

Black Panther: A spoiler free review

I saw Black Panther last night and I was caught like an antelope in headlights. The movie itself is a gorgeous representation of African folklore, culture and the people of Africa. From the music to the costumes and the details on set, Black Panther offers an amazing look at the lives of warriors, princesses and of course a good king. 

The characters are memorable and well dimensioned. Even the villain of this story is not what he seems to be. Of course the special effects are great, the plot is well crafted and the women are represented as strong and resourceful characters. 

What I loved most about the film though were the mythical elements interwoven in the story that tie to African fairytales and mythology. 

The goddess Bast is mentioned, but the journey T’challa makes throughout the film echoes the spiritual path of great warrior tales in legends. 

The focus on the importance of ancestors and carrying the role of those who came before is an important plot point and it is one of my favorite scenes in the film. 

The country of Wakanda carries traditional customs and characteristics of historic African tribes. The introduction to African shamanism plays a role in the film that follows T’challa’s character growth and ties tradition to modern day culture. 

I don't want to spoil the film, and I want to make sure that I discuss this film with the respect it deserves. But I will say this:

The film deserves all the recognition it has and more, and the representation of an entire culture is a story worth telling. 

Five out of five claws. 

Before I wrote this review, I watched this video to better understand the customs and traditions represented in the film: 

https://youtu.be/uAZh5wu4dEU

Beauty and the Beast 2017: A Movie Review

Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairytale. Of all the stories I read, this one appeared to be as close to a real representation of love as a fairytale could be. Two outcasts, trapped in worlds that don't accept who they are, find comfort and solace in eachother through the relationship they build over time. 

As a live action adaption of the 1991 beloved animated classic, the story, music and casting did this movie justice. 

There were a few complaints that I heard of before I saw the film: 

Emma Watson's singing

The animation of the Beast

Belle's ballgown etc.

Emma Watson didn't have a strong singing voice, but I liked how pure it sounded. The animation of the Beast could have been better, but I didn't mind. As for the ballgown, I loved that when Belle twirled, it looked like a rose blooming. 

(Fun fact: Emma Watson requested a light and airy dress that was easy to move in. This emphasized the importance of freedom to Belle's story.) 

I guess if I were to complain about one thing, it would be the fact that Belle didn't walk "with her nose stuck in a book" during the village scene.

For me, the film was more than I could ever ask for in a remake. 

We witness the history of the characters, and we learn and grow with them. The songs that were added to the film give it an extra dimension that builds the world of the story. 

We learn why the Beast was so beastly in the first place, and we see what Gaston hides behind his vain mask.   

One of my favorite additions to the story was the fact that Belle (Beauty) asks her father for a rose as a keepsake from his journey. This is true to the original fairy tale and also influences Beauty to take her father's place. 

 All the original songs are there, including the best version of "Gaston" I have ever seen. But the addition of the Beast's ballad, "Evermore" will break your heart if you have one. The melody "Home" from the broadway musical is also used in a few important moments and an element of travel was woven throughout the imagery and the theme of the narrative. 

Without giving away spoilers, I give this film five out of five enchanted roses. 

Nothing will ever replace the original, but I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful tribute to a tale as old as time. 

Open letter to Disney Channel

Dear Disney Channel, 

You know, as well as I that times are tough. And, when times got tough, Walt Disney himself always found the bright side and learned from his mistakes. 

Girl Meets World is an amazing story that teaches the world good lessons on very difficult topics. 

This show is more than a sitcom. It's a powerful story with characters that touch the hearts of all generations. 

The story of Riley Matthews, Maya Hart, Farkle Minkus, Lucas Friar, Zay Babineaux, Isadora Smackle and many other characters has influenced the current generation to be the best person they can be. The message of this tale is so important for people of all ages and from all walks of life to consider, especially during the hard times we now face. 

The Disney company has always been a beacon of light in a dismal world. It's your mantra.

Walt Disney himself lived this philosophy, and this show does that better than any show I have ever seen on your television network. 

As much as I love the shows that I grew up with on Disney Channel, none have touched my heart in the way that this story has. 

It's based on reality, but it's also based on possibility. 

The power to believe in yourself, and to trust that life knows what it's doing. Even when you feel lost or scared, there are ways to face the world and take it head on. That message, and that lesson means more than any slapstick comical cartoon that airs on television. It means more than any soap opera with a love triangle. 

The world needs this story, now more than ever to keep the hope alive. 

Renewing Girl Meets World is staying true to Walt Disney's work ethic. 

"The greatest moments in life are not concerned with selfish achievements but rather the things we do for the people we love and esteem." - Walt Disney

I'm asking you now, Disney. Do you love your audience? You claim to. You pride yourself on how your audience reacts to your creations. 

You've got people that love these characters and they are learning from them. You've got multiple ages watching this show. It's your largest audience base. 

You have a following that cares about this story, and an entire generation growing with Riley Matthews. 

Are you really going to let something that incredible go? 

What's your plan after airing such a complex and interesting story? 

Do you have a better one? 

I'll tell you right now, I have never seen its like in any other media format. 

This is a new Renaissance. 

Girl Meets World isn't about sitcom jokes and comedy. It's about learning who you are, and discovering that you influence people everyday. 

People change people. 

You've got people telling you how much this story means to them. 

Stories have always been the best way you kept Walt Disney's legacy alive. 

Don't take this show away from them! 

Please Renew this show, because this story needs to be told. A story that reaches so many people in so little time always deserves to be shared. 

Walt Disney was a storyteller. 

This story is something I believe he would want to share. 

Don't lose the very heart of your company. 

Give Riley a chance to meet the world, so we can see the possibilities. 

Thank you for listening, 

Sarah Golden

Dear readers,

Thank you for reading my open letter to the Disney Channel. It means the world to me. 

Disney has cancelled, but this show still has a shot! Join us during World Meets Girl as we campaign for Netflix and Hulu to save the show! 

And please request Girl Meets World Season 4 at this link: 

https://help.netflix.com/en/titlerequest?ui_action=title-suggestion-quicklinks

Please help us save this beautiful story that Walt Disney would be proud to share! 

Retweet this link to spread the word.

https://twitter.com/renewgmw/status/817144206791770114

Sign these petitions to keep Riley's tale alive: 

https://www.change.org/p/netflix-continue-girl-meets-world-on-another-network?source_location=minibar

https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-disney-company-petition-for-disney-channel-to-release-girl-meets-world-to-another-network

For more info on What you can do for GMW, read this tumblr post: 

http://summonerserahheart.tumblr.com/post/155475885158/trying-to-move-girl-meets-world-to-another-network

Doctor Strange: A Movie Review

Doctor Strange was a magnificent film with incredible special effects and a powerful philosophical story line. 

When Doctor Steven Strange loses the ability to use his hands, his beloved career as a neurosurgeon and his sense of purpose and productivity go with it. Despite the care of Christine, his trusted friend and confidant, Strange feels broken and lost. 

After seven surgeries and physical therapy sessions, Strange becomes angry at the world, and he goes on a quest for answers. He travels to Nepal in search of a place called Kamar-taj, rumored to be a healing sanctuary of spiritual enlightenment. 

He meets a person called The Ancient One, and his perspective is changed by the possibilities of the universe. As Strange learns about the rules of magic, he makes a choice about who he wants to be, and he learns that you can't control anything, except your own perspective. 

Steven Strange was a great character, and watching him grow from an arrogant man into a noble hero is the heart of the film. Benedict Cumberbatch did a wonderful job representing a broken man on his way to healing and purpose. His strength and weakness is his curiosity, and his desire to learn all he can about the world around him. 

Matters of the heart are more complicated, but he relies on his trusted friend Christine to be there for him in his time of need. 

Every character in this film is interesting. The Ancient One was more complex than she appeared, and the audience is left to decide what is wrong and what is right. 

Under the plot of the film, a powerful message about the benefits of failure and the strengths of losing the ego is delivered. One of the most important lessons in life: that it goes on, even when you believe it is the end of the world, and that only you can decide your own limits. 

In terms of the rumors going around about the ethnicities cast in the film, each minority had representation in a well written character. The order of Kamar-taj was universal, with alliances all around the world. Many ethnicities were given representation, and the roles of women in the film were focused on their personalities, and not their sexuality. 

All in all the film was amazing, and I will give it five out of five cups of tea. I can't wait for the next adventure! 

The Little Prince: A Movie review

I first read The Little Prince while I worked in the bookstore, and I fell in love with it immediately. 

The story is a beautiful allegory for life, and an imaginative, philosophical fable for children. The film could have been the entire book, but they created another story, to better relate to the audience of today. A little girl and her mother move to a new neighborhood, and they have a life plan for the little girl's life, down to the minute. Things go awry when a paper airplane flies through the little girl's window from their creative and disorganized neighbor. The little girl picks up the paper airplane, unfolds it, and reads the story of The Little Prince. From there, she begins to wonder, learn and grow beyond the tight schedule that she believes she must follow. 

As she learns the tale of the Little Prince, she discovers a new perspective that values beauty, wonder and imagination. 

The Little Prince's story is a symbolic and classic tale with many wonderful observations about life, how we live it, and what truly matters. If you haven't read the book, please do. There is a reason the book is a classic, and no matter what age you read it, the story has something for everyone. 

The animation of this film is gorgeous, and even more amazing is the fact it is stop motion animation! 

The story of the film does the original tale justice. The wonderful lessons that the aviator teaches the little girl are so important to learn at any age. 

Five stars. 

Finding Dory: A Movie Review

Finding Nemo is one of my favorite Pixar films, so I was thrilled when the trailer to Finding Dory came out. Dory is such an interesting character, and it was really cool how they tied in the events of Finding Nemo with Finding Dory. 

This film is just as fun and heartfelt as the first movie, and it features new characters that are each unique in their own way.

The film starts where the first one ended, but Dory is starting to remember things she never remembered before. As she experiences flashbacks from her past, only one thought remains, she must find her parents. Those memories take her, Marlin and Nemo on a spontaneous journey where Dory relies on one thing, instinct. Because her memories are scattered, and she has short term memory loss, Dory can only go one step at a time. She can form a plan, but she doesn't remember it for very long. As Marlin and Nemo learn to go by this way of life, it becomes apparent that there is something more powerful than memory- destiny. 

Dory's journey to find her family, and to overcome her fears of being alone contains some great messages that I don't see in very many films. One particular message hit home in terms of how random and at times crazy life can be. But if you just keep swimming, who knows what can happen. :) 

I give this film five out of five purple seashells. It's right up there with Finding Nemo for one of my favorite Pixar storylines.   

Love and Friendship: A Movie Review

Jane Austen's wit and charm return to the big screen in the new feature Love and Friendship. This film was based on the novella Lady Susan by Jane Austen herself, and it it one of her later and not as well known projects. 

The title itself is decieving as you quickly discover when the story begins. Lady Susan is not what she appears to be. She has many faces and mannerisms that she believes are necessary to secure a comfortable and stable life. Despite her relations' opinions of her, Lady Susan continues to plot and she is quite determined to secure a husband for herself and her daughter Frederica. Her first focus is on the brother of her sister in law, Reginald DeCourcy. DeCourcy already knows of Lady Susan's reputation, but he falls despite himself. Meanwhile, Frederica, whom Lady Susan is determined to marry off to a lord she doesn't care for named Sir James Martin, begins to find a new sense of freedom among the company of Reginald DeCourcy and her aunt and uncle. While Lady Susan continues to pull the strings of the young men, Frederica begins to explore her talents as a singer, and her possibilities for the future. 

Will Frederica find what she is looking for, or will Lady Susan dominate the fortunes of all the cast in her wicked play? 

This film was a delight. It's only downfall was the introductions of the characters. They were extremely blunt, without dialogue scenes or audience perception. 

Here are some examples: 

Sir James Martin was the most comical character in the film. 

Reginald DeCourcy was the most intellectual and charming. 

Frederica was actually my favorite character, and the one I rooted for the entire film. 

All in all, I give the film four out of five cups of tea. 

The introductions were short, but a few were comical. The story itself was clever and the main characters were very interesting. 

Zootopia: A Movie Review

For many years, great lessons have been passed down to people of all ages through the stories known as fables. In a fable, morals of every day life are represented through the actions of animals. From the Lion and the Mouse to the Tortoise and the Hare, stories have taught us the values of living, and the impact of our choices in every day life. 

Zootopia is a brilliant modern day fable, and some of the best writing I have seen from Disney in a very long time! I can easily praise this film's well rounded characters, imaginative yet familiar world and the valuable lesson that the story tells. 

Judy Hopps is a young bunny with a dream, and she follows that dream completely. Her actions, and her choices really make the film special, but she doesn't carry the story of the movie alone. Nick Wilde, a clever and sly fox has his own tale woven into the plot, but it's not obvious at first glance. These two characters make such a team, and their team work made the movie for me. Both of these characters were well written, and their personalities, although very different, fill in what the other is lacking from resourcefulness to adaptability.

I would argue that this film is my favorite new Disney film so far. Big Hero 6 is a close second. 

Go see it! Everyone should see this movie, because it is so important to recognise the impact of your choices, and your perspective on life. Now, more than ever, we have so many problems that relate to the conflict in this film, but the way the conflict is solved, that's something we all can do. It's a beautiful message  told in a creative and clever way. Go see this movie! 

Five out of five carrots! 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: a spoiler free review

Okay, I'm going to do my best not to post spoilers, but I will say this is probably the best Star Wars movie I have seen! 

I guess Rey and Finnn made the movie for me, and I enjoyed their introduction to the characters we all know and love from previous films. 

I went to the film with a great audience, and we all cheered once we saw a familiar face. 

In terms of script, this movie was written so well. I haven't seen this kind of writing from Hollywood in a long time, and I believe it did justice to the orginal three. (Episodes VI, V and VI) 

The foreshadowing, the dialogue. It felt like we had returned to the world of a galaxy far far away. 

It was wonderful to see Star Wars on the big screen again, and I love the new characters, they're fun, relatable and I'm excited to see their legacies unfold. 

BB8 was also adorable! 

Okay, in terms of the older character's stories, I thought they were written very well. The antagonist had a little background story, but I'm sure we will learn the reason behind their choices in the next films. I feel like the writers wanted to keep up the suspense until they dropped the twist, that I found to be believable. 

In terms of another big secret that is later revealed, I have all kinds of theories, and I'm curious how that character will confront their long built fear. Fear is the path to the dark side after all. 

In terms of character, I loved Rey, Finn and Poe. They were a great addition to the story, as the consequences of the previous generation fall on their shoulders. In terms of feminine roles, Rey's role was amazing! And I loved Finn's origin story. It's so exciting to see a character come to life and relate to the audience so easily, and I imagine that was not an easy process for the story department. 

All in all, the force was strong with this film, and I can't wait to see what will happen next! 

Five out of five blue lightsabers! 

The Good Dinosaur: A Movie Review (SPOILERS)

Today I saw The Good Dinosaur, knowing that the animation would be stunning. It was a beautiful journey through detailed landscapes that looked real. Only the characters seemed to be animated. 

Now, before I talk about The Good Dinosaur, I have to talk about what is probably my favorite Pixar Short: Sanjay's Super Team! 

This short was amazing, and now that I know about Hindu Mythology, I loved the way they portrayed the three deities. This short was a great tribute to the merge of two generations, and the power of the imagination. It's the best short I've seen this year!

Anyway, on the the main topic: The Good Dinosaur

It's difficult to review this movie without spoilers, because the story is fantastic, but the way they conveyed the story was a little strange for the story they were trying to tell. 

SPOILERS: 

The main theme of this movie was facing your fear, and the journey helps you conquer it, and achieve what you didn't believe you could.

Here's one of my favorite scenes: 

This was what I liked about the story of the movie. They did a great job focusing on what it is like to live in fear, and how that can hinder your perspective. 

That said, I don't recommend this movie to any children under 12 or 10 years old. It's quite scary, and intentionally so. That's one of the things they did really well through Arlo's point of view. You live through his fear, and you follow his journey as he slowly reaches the conclusion he needs to confront it. 

Spot's character is basically an endearing puppy, and a great way for Arlo to gain a different perspective of the world around him. 

Now, the story itself is a great story, with many good messages. The problem with the film is that they try to tell this western themed, coming of age, boy loves his dog story with Dinosaurs and cave men. It was a bit strange to understand the plausability of the world, but if it was an actual western story (without dinosaurs) I think it would reach the audience in a more effective way. 

I would give it four out of five marks, because the story is well written- just badly planned and strangely conveyed. The animation is beautiful, and once you move past the plausiablity of the film, you can see the heart and the message that it's trying to convey. 

And it's a beautiful message.

The Scorch Trials: A Movie Review (Slight Spoilers)

As a reader of all three books in this series, I must start with, the movie was different from the book. 

As all movies must adapt to different forms of story telling, some events in The Scorch Trials were crucial, and they were addressed with completely different scenes. 

Now, with that out of the way, the actors did a phenomenal job with their roles as Thomas, Newt, Teresa, Minho, Jorge, Aris and Brenda. 

The story was very different in terms of how they described the Flare and how little information they revealed about the Cranks and The Right Arm. 

As a film, The Scorch Trials transitioned from action scene to action scene and it raised the stakes very quickly for the audience. But many of the scenes were not necessary in terms of the overall series and what little they revealed to the audience. 

In the book, Thomas and company are split up among the groups A and B with a new character named Aris leading group B. The Scorch is another trial for the kids to go through, proving their worth to WICKED for the hope of humanity. 

In the film, the kids escape through the Scorch from WICKED's clutches, but they still endure the same events to an extent that the trial demanded of them in the book. 

The film's goal seems to have been leaving the audience in suspense and waiting for Thomas to call the shots as the story moved along. The film didn't explain The Flare virus at all. It was shown, but not in a way that the audience could grasp the way it worked. Also, Aris's character was completely different in the film than the book. His role in Thomas's trial was lessened and most of the plot development for that part of the story fell to Teresa. 

With one more film left in the series, I wonder how they will explain the virus, and if they will follow through with the book's story in terms of the overall actions that Thomas, Newt, Minho and Teresa will perform. 

The film ended on a very different cliffhanger, completely unexpected by both the book's fans and the movie goers. 

This approach to the story may still work, but they will need to explain the Flare virus in more detail in the last film, so the audience can understand the motivation, not morals behind WICKED and why Thomas is so important. 

As a film, on its own, out of the book series, I would rate this movie four out of five tattoos. 

It was entertaining and kept the audience on its toes. 

As an accurate representation of the book I would give it three of of five tattoos because some crucial information was glossed over, and characters' roles were changed and cut during important events in the story. 

I'm hoping that the Death Cure will describe the Flare and why WICKED has been torturing these kids to find a cure. Thomas's role should also be explained, and the story's events will have to be addressed. 

The Elements of Storytelling

(Warning: Some explicit language)
Storytelling is a complex craft, but this TED Talk by Andrew Stanton is inspiring. These elements are not always easy to create or find in stories, but they are worth it.
As I write stories, I try to keep these elements in mind, and I admire these elements in some of my favorite books, movies, TV shows and video games.

Inside Out: A Movie Reveiw

Last night I saw an imaginative, honest film about the world of emotions, Inside Out. 

It will be difficult to review this title without using spoilers, but I will try. 

Riley is an eleven year old girl: bright, goofy and caring. She has five emotions who take care of her: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. Each emotion cares for Riley in their own way by activating the consul in her mind, but Joy has been there from the beginning. Joy is in charge, and most of Riley's memories involve Joy, including the very first memory Riley had when she was born. Then there's Sadness. Sadness is not very happy, and Joy likes happy. Whenever Sadness creeps in, Joy tries to push her out. But Sadness is an emotion, and she has a purpose, just like Fear, Disgust, Anger and Joy. In Riley's head, her emotions tie to specific memories, which create thoughts, ideas and actions. But Joy barely allows Sadness to affect Riley, and the problem begins when Sadness tries to run the show. 

Since Riley turned eleven, Joy has been in control of her core memories, the memories that make Riley who she is. Each core memory creates an island of Riley's complex personality and helps Riley live from day to day, solving problems and creating actions. 

Sadness tries to touch a core memory, and Joy panics. 

That emotion surrounds the core memory, and Riley begins to cry. As Joy and Sadness try to control the core memories, Riley embarrasses herself on her first day of school. 

Joy and Sadness get sucked in the memory tube, and they are thrown into a pile of memories, all organized in the long term part of Riley's brain. 

Without Joy or Sadness, Riley's emotions go out of balance and chaos ensues. As Joy and Sadness try to return to the headquarters, where the emotions live, they must learn to work together and find a way to keep Riley healthy and happy. 

But the longer Joy and Sadness are away from the consul, the weirder Riley begins to act, and the more strange her actions become. After all, the only emotions at the consul are Disgust, Fear and Anger. 

This movie was amazing. From the way emotions are portrayed to work, and the fact that Riley's head is not the only head we enter. We see glimpses of the way her mother and father organize their emotions, and we learn that each consul is different, with a different emotion in charge. These emotions are a team who work together, and each functions in a way that keeps Riley happy. As the movie takes us through Riley's head, from imagination land to the subconscious, we see Riley learn to cope with moving to a new school, and trying to stay happy for her parents. But sometimes you need to express emotions that are neglected in order to move on. 

I give this movie five out of five imaginary friends. It's a story within a story about learning, growing and adapting to change. 

 

Jurassic World: A Movie Review (Slight Spoilers)

I'll be honest, it's been a long time since I've seen Jurassic Park, but I do have the book, and I'm currently reading it. 

Jurassic World had some elements of the original film for everyone to appreciate: the iconic door opening scene, the great music score and the dinosaur chasing scenes. There was even a character played by Jake Johnson who wore Jurassic Park merchandise and one area reminiscent of the first film. 

The story was interesting, considering the themes of family, work and humility. 

The special effects were amazing and there were definitely some hair-raising moments. 

Chris Pratt's character Owen was awesome, and he really knew how to be the leader of a raptor pack. I was also impressed with Bryce Dallas Howard's character Claire. She comes up with an awesome solution to the problem and she does it all in high heels! I was especially charmed by the two boys Zach and Gray played by Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins. Their teamwork and talent got them through the scarest walk in the woods 65 million years ago. 

There were a few plot holes that involved major points in the story. The kids say they want to stay with Owen, but they say this after witnessing Claire saving him, and they haven't seen Owen do anything yet. Maybe a scene was deleted? 

We don't really know the bad guy's plan, and there appear to be two bad guys. We only see one bad guy about 3 times in the film, and it is never really revealed what he created or why. The other bad guy appears pretty crazy from the begining, but his motive is never revealed either. 

Spoiler alert: Everything was pretty cool, except the way they handled the big bad monster. My argument is it was too smart to be made just from animals. We don't really find out all the animals that it was created from, and the moment that opportunity arrives is cut short by a gruesome scene. My theory is that it was definitely made with some human or ape  DNA, because the actions it performed involved dexterity and planning. 

There were some really cool quotes:

"The key to a happy life is to accept you are never actually in control." - Masrani

"It's not about control. It's a relationship based on respect."- Owen 

"Monster is a relative term. To a canary a cat is a monster. We're just used to being the cat."- Dr. Wu

"Don't worry. It's gonna be just like taking a walk in the woods . . . 65 million years ago." - Owen

"Are they safe?"- Gray

"No. They're not." - Owen

All in all, I give the movie four out of five dinosaur figurines. 

Cinderella 2015

This film was just as lovely as I anticipated. It's the original classic revamped with more personality for Cinderella, the prince and even the step mother. 

As a Disney dreamer, I felt that this movie had the spirit of Disney, and it was presented in a classy and nostalgic way. The changes in the story gave it more depth, and the world was enchanting. From the costumes to the landscapes, Cinderella had a renaissance feel with a little modern flair. 

Yes, this is a story told time and again, but it is a story that everyone can relate to. There are times in our lives where we feel like the underdog, underappreciated and treated poorly, but the fairytale of Cinderella shows us that we can rise above the ashes, and be accepted for who we truly are. 

The spirit of the story is a constant theme in novels, video games, TV shows and movies. 

The fairy tale Cinderella is very simple, and it leaves a lot of room for creative writers to answer questions that other generations didn't ask. 

What was the real reason behind the royal ball? Why was the stepmother cruel? What kept Cinderella strong through the years of her cruel stepmother's treatment? 

Disney's revamped version answered these questions, and they added their own element of verisimilitude to the film. 

Five out of five butterflies. 

Bonus: The Frozen Fever short was adorable, and any Frozen lover should see it ^_^

 

 

Jupiter Ascending: A movie review

SciFi is a fun and exciting genre. It can be imaginative, educational and exciting. But good SciFi can be rare and difficult to find. 

Jupiter Ascending was a fun adventure, where you weren't quite sure what was going on, but you were along for the ride. There were a lot of interesting plot points, some crazy chase and action scenes, and some awkward but funny bits of dialogue. 

I enjoyed this movie, because it had a lot of imagination. Parts of the film reminded me of Final Fantasy and the main idea of the story is very relatable, especially to teenage girls who don't like their life. 

It's the fun and crazy YA novel that we would come across in the bookstore, but after reading, we are left with so many questions:

Why were there people after Jupiter's father?

What is the Abraxis family's story?

Why did Cain bite a royal?

How many other planets have humans in danger of harvesting?

Can Jupiter save the other humans, and not just Earth?

Are we getting a sequel?

The world of this story was interesting, and it left much for the audience to wonder. I hope there's a sequel that will clear up the plot's confusion. 

Other than that, it was visually stunning with scenes in space, gorgeous fashion and fancy designs. There were a few intense scenes that terrified me (The hospital scene and the lady on the royal carriage, clearly alive and attached to it by wires and plugs) Some scenes didn't make any sense. (One word: Titus)  And some completely pointless changes in costume (Jupiter's overdressed line was great). But this film showed promise for an interesting world, and an intriguing history. 

I'd say it was about three out of five pairs of space hoover boots.

Marvel's Agent Carter and why you should be watching it

Captain America is my favorite Marvel movie. Not only because the hero was a good person inside and out, but also because the leading lady was a confident, independent and strong woman able to take care of herself. 

So when I saw Peggy Carter in the most recent season of Agents of SHEILD and the trailer for Agent Carter, I was estatic that she would get her chance to shine. 

Peggy Carter is a hero, and a good rolemodel for young girls and women. 

She doesn't take the sexism and belittling comments about her gender, and she uses it as a weapon against her oppressors. Sometimes she does this without her oppressors even realising what she's doing. 

Not only that, she uses her wit, charm and beauty as a shield against it. (Yes I used shield on purpose.)

We already know this from her debut on the silver screen in Captain America, but this series chronicles what happens after Steve Rodger's brave sacrifice to save the world. 

Peggy Carter, once a powerful soldier in the war has been reduced to a secretary dealing with the aftermath. She is also mourning the loss of Steve, and she is trying to find a new purpose as the world continues to change. She finds purpose again working with Howard Stark and his butler Jarvis to prevent dangerous weapons falling into the wrong hands. 

As Carter tries to balance these two professions, one a disappointment and one a danger, she discovers secrets left behind from the war possibly leading to something far more sinister and threatening in the future. 

There are several reasons to watch this show: 

The Writing! 

       The dialgoue, the subtle symbolism and the dynamic are spot on. 

The Heroine

       Seriously. Agent Carter is amazing! 

The atmosphere

       This series has a classic feel, from the setting to the costuming, it's like watching a really well performed movie from early Hollywood. 

The supporting characters. 

        There's a reason that Tony Stark named his robot after Edwin Jarvis. He is a complex character who takes on the roles of caretaker, teacher, butler, comedian and loyal friend. 

        Another charming character is Carter's new friend Angie, an aspiring actress who works at the dinner that Carter frequents. 

The Captain America radio program. 

          It's ridiculous, and I don't blame Carter for despising it. 

The action!

          Hayley Atwell's twitter account says it all :) 

The bittersweet admiration and reminders of Captain America. 

So all I can say about Agent Carter is "It's about time!" 

I can't wait for the next episode, and I hope we will see more Marvel leading ladies in the future :)

I give it five out of five "Ladies' Things". 

Also for those who are curious, Agent Carter's armor is Besame in Red Velvet found here: 

http://besamecosmetics.com/products/red-velvet-lipstick

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie review

It's been a while since I read the books in this series, but watching the movie refreshed my memory on the major events and story. As a whole, I enjoyed this movie, and recommend it to fans of the book series by Cassandra Clare. It will probably be confusing for people who haven't read the books, but there is plenty of humor and action to make the movie enjoyable for movie only goers. 

In terms of similarity to the book, this movie did a great job staying true to the spirit of the story, complicated characters and the epic quest Clary takes on. Some of the background history wasn't explained that might or might not have mattered to the film's story. The history of the Clave is talked about briefly, but the mechanics of the institution were not as clear. For instance, they never explained the witch light, or the pacts that the Clave made with downworlders that shouldn't be broken. A sequence of important events happen, one after the other that can feel overwhelming at times, but Simon has a comical role of adding clever commentary that amuses the viewer. 

(My favorite was "Oh great. The werewolves are here to save us. . . I can't believe I just said that.")

Coming from a person who doesn't like Jace, the actor warmed me to his character. He is charming and complicated at the same time. The Jace of the film is less cold than the Jace of the books, from what I remember. I'm also glad that they gave Simon some heroic roles because he is actually a really cool character, especially in book two. Magnus Bane was, of course, amazing and I like the way Luke was portrayed.

My only dissappointment was the absence of Brother Zachariah, my favorite character of the entire series as a whole. 

To sum it up, this movie is fun, witty, exciting and very close to the book. If you love the Shadow Hunters, you should see it!