Eclipse (The Movie)

Eclipse (The Movie)


Directed By: David Slade
Reviewed by: Lissette, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


This movie was so great! I recommend you see it right now! It was so suspenseful & thrilling it was absolutely breath-taking! It was worth the 5-hour wait! You NEED to see it! ASAP


Recommended to: Anyone & everyone

Wizards First Rule

Wizards First Rule


By: Terry Goodkind
Reviewed by: Kait, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


So before I commence with this review, I have a few preliminary matters to go over.

1. If you have anything against fantasy, go away. No one wants to hear about how you think this book is stupid. Go find a little nonfictional hole to crawl into.
2. This book (and the TV series based on it) are highly nerdy. Forgive me, but I'm an honors student with a passion for magical scenarios and mythical creatures.
3. In case you all noticed - YES I AM SIXTEEN NOW! WOOT WOOT. I haven't published a review in quite some time, so this change of state was well welcomed (:

Now that that is over with, Let Us Begin.

"Wizards First Rule" (by fantastic author Terry Goodkind) is the first in a series of eleven books (yes, eleven - that is dedication if I ever saw it!) that served as the foundation for the fantastic (and highly underrated) TV show "Legend of the Seeker".

Now, you might be wondering "What IS 'Legend of the Seeker'?"

Excellent question.

LoTS (as we fanlings lovingly call it) is the story of Richard Cypher (played by the fantastically handsome Craig Horner), who is the chosen Seeker of the Midlands, and Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor, as they work with Zeddicus Z'ul Zorander, a wizard of the first order, to defeat Darken Rahl, the despot ruling D'Hara (one of the three lands - D'Hara, The Midlands, and Westland) and trying to take over the other two lands with the aid of the Keeper of the Underworld.

Yes, I realize that massive sentence was quite a lot to take in. It was a mouthful. Now the thing is about "Wizards First Rule"....it is fantastic. The dialogue is a little choppy and formal (and there are a few scenes that would be more than a bit inappropriate for anyone under age 16) but the story simply sucks you in. Goodkind makes you feel the rage Richard feels towards Denna, the passion Kahlan feels for Richard, the horror Zed sees at the hands of Darken Rahl. You wake up thinking about the fate of the Midlands, and you go to sleep at night fretting over whether or not Kahlan and Richard will ever admit their love for each other.

Now the big question is...why do I love this book so much?

A simple answer: Magic.

No, not the kind of magic you see in Harry Potter, or the kind a couple destined to be together has when they realize they love each other.

Goodkind creates a world of magic that is so unlike any of the magic - it is so inventive. There are restrictions that are logical and make for interesting plot twists and even better conflicts. Additive magic and subtractive magic anyone? <--- That will make more sense when you read it. The other lovely thing about Goodkind? He has 10 other books. You can read about Kahlan and Richard for years on end and THEN watch the series! (So long as ABC studios gets some brains and decides to renew it for a third season. The only reason it's failing is because it airs at ungodly hours of the night on channel 7. Failtastic.) Well that's my bit for today kids. WATCH IT!!! READ IT!!!


Recommended to: Anyone over the age of 16 with a sense of humour and a love of adventure. (:

The Age of Wonder, Part I

The Age of Wonder


By: Richard Holmes
Reviewed by: Felicity T., 16
Rating:


Alrighty, so here's the deal: "The Age of Wonder" is one of three-ish books assigned for summer reading for Clovis West's AP Language and Composition class this year. To be honest, I've been feeling very intimidated by its sheer 552-page bulk, and the shortness of the summer months that I have to read it in. Its large-ish chapters range from 15-70 pages long (*insert mental wail of agony*). Needless to say, I've been feeling a little tormented every time I glance at my desk and see this book (definitely the largest of the assigned stack) sitting there and... eyeing me.

Here is my confession: I just started the book today. I'm only about 30 pages into it. But here's my plan, if the librarians will let me go through with it: since this book is so large, and such a challenge, I'm going to split my review into several installments, several episodes, if you will. I figure this will work out as I get through every two or three chapters (there are 10, I think), so expect an episode every week or so. Hopefully, this will work out as a good analysis/introduction to those who have to-I mean, GET to-read it in the future, or to those of us out there who love history and some ideological challenge.

Quite honestly, I'm pretty excited about this book, now that I've started it. I read the Preface, which is a few pages long. Have no fear, readers! The author is an excellent writer, with a developed, but not-too-challenging vocabulary. If you appreciate the worldview/culture/ideology shifts that have occurred in Western history, you'll probably like this. Already, I've enjoyed Holmes' insight on Romanticism and its link to science in the mid-18th century.

This book is something of a historical/artistic/literary look into the past, after the Enlightenment, but before the Civil War, during the era between/during Captain Cook's and Charles Darwin's fateful voyages across the ocean. Holmes, the author, is interested in the way that this age was really one of the times in history when science and studying nature was first becoming mainstream and open to normal people, rather than the elite educated. Right alongside this trend, he studies its almost ironic link with the era's artistic/literary movement in Romanticism. (Ironic, because Romanticism emphasizes humans and emotions and the ideal, while science typically sticks to "objectivity" and nature and unemotional things like mathematics and calculations.) What Holmes does, or intends to do, is show that these two spheres of life really aren't exclusive, really are very intertwined and influence each other a great deal. (Which is quite incredible, I think.) The author examines the lives/circumstances/legacies of several different scientists and artists during this time, and how discoveries of the day influenced their own findings and understandings of the world.

I think it's very amazing to think that these people who lived centuries ago were actually very similar to humans today, even though our perspectives toward them are bogged down in stuffy history classrooms. I'm excited to see how their world is much the same as our world, and their discoveries are our discoveries. And that these were real, interesting people, who have shaped our society today. This is gonna be good. Just hang in there with me for the next month or so! (:

Recommended to:

Elephants Can Remember

Elephants Can Remember


By: Agatha Christie
Reviewed by: Kayleigh , 16
Rating: Really liked it


An Indian tailor stuck a needle in an elephant’s trunk and years later that elephant sucked up water and sprayed it on the same man who had caused him pain years before. Elephants do remember, that’s the old saying right?

Well, Ms. Adrian Oliver, a mystery novelist, has to find her own “elephants” in order to solve a cold case that is nearly twenty years old. She is on the hunt to find out whether this case was a murder or double suicide or even something else. But she needs the well-known Hercule Poirot to help her solve this convoluted mystery. And the end, she solves a mystery that was definitely a twisted mystery.

This is one of Christie’s books from the Hercule Poirot series. It is not much different than the Miss Marple series. However, I prefer the Miss Marple series simply because I like the witty old lady, Miss Marple, over the middle aged man who likes his fruity drinks, Hercule Poirot. However, the mystery of the case is still invigorating and worth reading.


Recommended to: diehard mystery fans

Precious

Precious


Directed by: Lee Daniels
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating:


A very touching film that makes you appreciate your life, this film is about a 16 year old teen whose name is Precious. She is under constant child abuse by her mother and sexual abuse from her father. Her mother is unemployed and gets her income from the welfare because of Precious's baby. When the school realized that she's going to give birth to a second child, it suspended her and introduced her to an alternative school. Precious thought no one loved her, but it will be after she met her new teacher, Miss Rain, that a new path in life for her will open.

A truly great film that taught us that there're hopes for every one of us even in times of hardships.


Recommended to: People who just love a great film

Youth In Revolt

Youth in Revolt


By: C. D. Payne
Reviewed by: Teralyn E., 14
Rating: It was alright...


For one, I only got the book because I knew I couldn't see the movie, and didn't really want to. This book was very absurd, and far fetched in the extreme. Sex-obssessed Nick Twisp describes, in detail, his many encounters with various things. NIck falls for Sheeni, which partially curbs his pornographic appetite, as now he has 'the real thing'. The storyline was good, it evened out in the end.

There were very specific adult-rated thoughts, and swearing in some places. Sex was a hugely discussed thing, and not in the "Where do babies come from?" way.


Recommended to: Older Teens

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest


By: Ken Kesey
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: Really liked it


A very well written classic play, the story mainly focused on McMurphy, who pretended to be insane in order to serve his prison sentences in a mental hospital.

Nurse Ratched was the head of the mental hospital and held the most power. Nurse Rathed showed a tendency of hatred towards McMurphy since he's both defiant and easy-going. As the story progresses, Nurse Ratched will realize that she begins to lose power as more of the patients begin to listen and support McMurphy. Nurse Ratched wanted to gain back her control in the mental hospital, but McMurphy won't back down.

McMurphy serves as a divine figure, defying authorities and helping the other mental patients to gain back their strength to stand up for themselves. A great play and a rather tragic and sympathetic ending.


Recommended to: people who enjoy reading plays

Runaway

Runaway


By: R.L. Stine
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: Really liked it


Suspenseful and thrilling, a touch of ironic twist at the end made it one of the best horror books I have read. It reminded me of the classic R.L. Stine horror series, Goosebumps, because of its similar terrific storyline. Probably the only difference was that this book's was intended for older teenagers.

Felicia has a special power which enables her to move objects around with her mind, but usually she can only use the power when she is distressed or angry. The bad part about it is that she can't control it, and the power is usually used to do bad things. After she accidentally killed two of her best friends, she cursed herself for having the power. But what Felicia don't know yet is that the power can be tamed, and it can actually do some good things.


Recommended to: people who enjoy scary story

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid


Directed by: Harald Zwart
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: Really liked it


Dre Parker moved to China because of his mother's job. On his first day in China, he met some local bullies who intentionally beat him up in front a whole crowd. But on the positive side, he has fallen for a girl name Mei Ying. After the embarrassment, Dre decided that he needs to learn karate and gives some payback to those local bullies. One day while the bullies were playing, Dre Parker sabotaged them. When the bullies found out, they went and beat Dre up again. But this time Mr. Han(Jackie Chan), the maintenance man, came to his rescue.

I really like the movie; there're several comedy-intended effects in the movie--a lot of them from Dre Parker(Jaden Smith).

The crying scenes from both Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan were acted really well. I don't know how they did it, but their eyes actually turn red and you can actually see little droplets of tears coming down. Why were they crying? That's for you to find out.


Recommended to: People who enjoy all the previous Jackie Chan movies

Devil Bones

Devil Bones


By: Kathy Reichs
Reviewed by: Kayleigh , 16
Rating: It was alright...


Devil worship or just plain creepy? This is the question Tempe is faced with this time.

Temperance Brennan’s back at it again, but in North Carolina. Here in the states for the summer season, Tempe finds a creepy ritualistic display that includes a skull that is definitely human and many symbols that make her believe it is devil worship. As she tries to hunt down the person who made this sort of “altar,” she runs into something much more gruesome and disturbing. Soon she’s trying to find killers, or the same killer, connected to four different murders.

This is the 11th installment to Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series. This isn’t as great as some of her other books, but all series have to have some sort of dud. But, this one isn’t a complete disappointment. You do get to see more of Tempe’s emotions and imperfections, which are nice to see and make the character more relatable. But the case is a little weak and she spends most of her time exploring other pagan religions versus describing the forensic science. So if this is your first experience with the Brennan series, read a few more before you decide you don’t like the series.


Recommended to: people who are open to learning about pagan religions

Nine

Nine


Directed by: Rob Marshall
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: Didn't like it


All I can say about the movie is that it was confusing! I couldn't keep track of the plot because so much of it was going on. It is not as good as Chicago (another Rob Marshall directed movie) was for sure. Also, instead of having an all-star cast, maybe have some Italian actors be in the movie (besides Sophia Loren).

The only good part of the movie was how seductive it was. Penelope Cruz did a good job doing that.

For sure, not the best musical I've seen.


Recommended to: No one

Promises

Promises


Directed by: B.Z. Goldberg
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: Really liked it


Promises is a documentary film that scrutinizes the Middle East conflicts between the Palestinian and the Israeli. To simply put it, the conflicts are caused by the disputes between the Jews and the Arab (Palestinian) on territorial claims. It took on the perspective of seven kids, from both Palestinian and Israeli,and they were asked about their judgments on the conflicts.

This film shows how different each kid lived even though they didn't live that far apart from each other. It also shows how a simple conflict can bring hatred among people even after centuries later.

I truly enjoy this film since it focuses on the innocent voice of the children instead of the opinion of the adults.


Recommended to: people who enjoy documentaries

The Princess and the Hound

The Princess and the Hound


By: Mette Ivie Harrison
Reviewed by: Annabelle L., 16
Rating: Really liked it


George was a lonely prince with an unwanted talent and a low expectations of succeeding successfully in his father's steed. Beatrice was a princess with a fiercely loyal hound named Merit and the unwanted daugher of her father, hiding a mystical secret.

Both of these royals- begotten in a world where animal magic is forbidden, an ability to be attune even more so with that of animals and their languages and habits- are a matchmade politically, yet could they fathom to ever love one another?

Ms. Harrison brings in characters that you can relate to and they grow quite dynamically with themselves and one another as they try to overcome the discrimination of the animal magic users and the turmoils within their minds. So, it was a really enjoyable read for me; not to mention, quite engaging and simple for she doesn't come up with fanciful terms for the fantasy she creates, rather using everyday words we encounter and creating something fairytale-like.


Recommended to: younger teens; fantasy readers

The Mayor of Casterbridge

The Mayor of Casterbridge


By: Thomas Hardy
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: Really liked it


The book is sort of similar to Great Expectations by Charles Dickens in how the character went from rags to riches but is different in many ways.
*Spoiler Alert ahead*

Michael Henchard starts off with having rum spiked in his porridge. And then, he keeps wanting more. His wife warns him that he's had enough. Being a mad drunk, he asks where he can sell his wife. His wife thought he was joking but then he was getting serious. Then a Sailor by the name of Newson buys his wife and child (Elizabeth-Jane) for five guineas. After he got over his drunkness, he then thought it was a dream but it turned into a real-life nightmare. He did all he could to try and buy the tw back but he could not find them. 18-19 years later, Henchard is Mayor of Casterbridge, living successfully until Donald Farfrae becomes the manager and his wife Susan and Elizabeth-Jane comes back.Eventually the polt gets a bit confusing as there are diputes with a woman he's seeing named Lucetta Templeman and Farfrae becomes successful in a method to use cracked grain. Later, Henchard is in a downfall and also realizes that he actually has no one on his side.

There are many sad parts, especially at the end. One will eventually feel sorrow for either Elizabeth-Jane, Farfrae, Henchard, and Lucetta.

Pretty decent book that one should read if one ever gets the chance.


Recommended to: Everyone

The Crucible

The Crucible


By: Arthur Miller
Reviewed by: Kayleigh , 16
Rating: It was alright...


Salem, Mass. 1962. The infamous Salem Witch trials.

The Crucible is a depiction of these trials where they executed men and women just because they believed they were witches or wizards. Basically, the Puritans were trying once again to cleanse their community. But in this process, innocent people were sacrificed. This play dramatizes these trials and shows the reader who these people really were; innocent people having to lie and confess to dealing with the Devil in order to live. This play portrays many families affected by these times, but one in particular – the Proctor family. The play almost becomes a diluted love story between Proctor and Goody Proctor.

The beginning of the play is very slow and hard to get into. The radical ideas discussed in the first act are almost intolerable, but once you get into Act Two and Three, you start to really identify with the Proctors, the Nurses and the Coreys. This was another book in my AP course that discussed religion and its many interpretations. The Crucible and Inherit the Wind are two books that go hand in hand.


Recommended to: history lovers

Vampire Knight, Vol. 1

Vampire Knight, Vol. 1


By: Matsuri Hino
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


Vampire Knight is so much better than Twilight. The vampires in the series make the Twilight vampires look dumb (no offense to any Twi-fans out there).

Here's how the plot goes (*Spoiler Alert*). Yuki Cross was saved by Kaname Kuran when she was five years old. Before then, she had no memory whatsoever of whatever happened before ten years ago. She was then taken to the headmaster Kaien Cross by Kaname. Ten years later, Yuki along with Zero Kiryu are members of the diciplinary committee at Cross Academy where they have to keep this one secret about the Night Class that the Day Class will never get to know. And if the Day Class ever knows, riots will occur between the classes. So the diciplinary committee are supposed to be there at twilight when the Night Class comes out and are to keep the Day Class from interfering with them.

And at the end, there is an unexpected surprise that one should read to find out.
This is a graphic novel worth reading.


Recommended to: Everyone

Someone Like You

Someone Like You


By: Sarah Dessen
Reviewed by: Leylaakaiceprincess, 15
Rating: Really liked it


dear people,
okay so this is my first time reviewing so go easy on me...and i can't spell.. so yaa..

in this book a girl named halley (named after the comet and her grandmother) has to be brave for her best friend scarlett when scarlett gets pregnant and her boyfriend is killed in an accident. this is hard for halley because she's always been the one that has turned to scarlett when things get rough but now halley has to, for the first time, learn how to be strong for scarlett. so mixed with dealing with trying to be their for scarlett halley also has to face the seperation that has come between her and her mother recently. not to mention the mysterious Macon who has recently become a big part of Halley's life and peer pressure. if u want to find out what happens to halley, scarlett and her baby, and macon read the book!!!


Recommended to: so someone like you in my opinion was a book for teens that are just beginning their teen years and and kinda want to get a feel for what lies ahead.

Vampire Knight, Vol. 2

Vampire Knight, Vol. 2


By: Matsuri Hino
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


Continued from Volume one, Yuki puts herself into a dangerous situation with a Level E Vampire outside of Cross Academy. Luckily, the level E vampire get slayed by two people whom Kaname calls over to slay. Only reason why Kaname would do that is because he calls Yuki "my dear girl" and will do anything to protect her. Also, in the graphic novel, there is an explanation on the social hierarchy of the Vampires.
Once one reads Volume two, you will want to keep reading. Also you will probably finish the book with wanting more.

As the series were formerly published in a Japanese Shojo magazine called LaLa magazine and in Shojo Beat Magazine (in the U.S., I think), there are supposed to be cliff-hangers at the end. This follows the same route to eventual publication with starting off in magazines like Charles Dickens with The Tale of Two Cities, Thomas Hardy with The Mayor of Casterbridge, and others.
Read the books, that's all I can say.


Recommended to: Everyone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone


By: J.K. Rowling
Reviewed by: Nani1993, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


If you haven't been living under a rock for the past decade, you've heard something about the Harry Potter series. I would recommend disregarding everything you've heard until you read this first installment for yourself.

The book is aimed at a younger audience, but does not read as patronizing. J.K. Rowling does not round off sharp corners, does not soften darkness. In designing her alternate reality, her heroes and villains, Rowling is true to life in every way that matters.

Harry's adventure, his friends, and the new world he is thrown into head first on his eleventh birthday is so brilliantly vivid, you'll feel as if you're walking the halls right next to Harry.

Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone casts a powerful spell!


Recommended to: Ages 8 and up

Death and the Maiden

Death and the Maiden


By: Ariel Dorfman
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: Really liked it


Death and the Maiden is a play; it is about humanity. When Gerardo Escobar brought home a doctor called Roberto Miranda, Gerardo's wife, Paulina Salas, thinks he was the guy who raped her years before when she was in a military detention. Even though she had never seen the man who raped he, she was convinced it was Roberto Miranda.

This book had too much provocative language. In my opinion, this book isn't for young reader. But for those readers who enjoy mystery and want to take reading to another level, this book will serve you just right.

One hint about the book: the ending will leave a mist of mystery.


Recommended to: people who will not be offended by provocative language

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2

Directed By: Jon Favreau
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: Really liked it


A great follow-up of Iron Man 1. Jon Favreau has done it again; Iron Man is suspenseful and intense throughout the whole movie.

Iron Man 2 is about a genius inventor, Tony Stark, who is able to build a robotic suit that surpasses even the most modern technology. With the US government continuously pressing him to share the technology and also a new villain who vow to destroy Tony Stark for his own family mischief, it is up to Tony to decide what to do.

Iron Man 2 is one of the best action movie I has seen so far and in a way it's also comical. For people who like both action and comedy movies, you will definitely enjoy this.


Recommended to: people who enjoy action and comedy movies

The Geeks' Guide to World Domination

The Geeks' Guide to World Domination


By: Garth Sundem
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: It was amazing!


When I first picked up the book, I never thought it will be so much fun to read it. The fact that this book doesn't just focus on one topic makes it so much more interesting. It talks about some of the most amazing things in our life that we might never think of. For example, of of the topics it focuses on is "Seven Kick-Ass Martial Arts Moves You Can Do Without injuring yourself."

This book is both comical and ingenious. Even though the title clearly indicates that this book is for geek, I believe anyone who is ready to learn something that they can't learn in school should pick up this book.


Recommended to: people who just like to know stuff

Angels and Demons

Angels and Demons


Directed By: Ron Howard
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: It was amazing!


When I was watching the movie, I thought it is going to be a typical action movie with a predictable ending. But in the end, it proved me wrong.

The movie came from the book Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. For those who don't know who he is,he is the famous author of The Da Vinci Code.

The movie is about a professor named Robert Langdon who discovered that the secret organization, Illuminati, are still active. With the help of Vittoria Vetra, Robert Langdon flew to Vatican City to stop a deadly threat the Illuminati placed on the Catholic Church.


Recommended to: action movies lovers

Test Your I.Q.

Test Your I.Q.


By: Alfred W. Munzert
Reviewed by: Jerry, 15
Rating: Really liked it


By the title of the book, you might already realized what this book is about. But to my amazement, this book is much more than a simple I.Q. test. It is a self-explanatory book that gives you every aspects of I.Q.

This book done a great job elaborating on the definition of intelligence. It also did a good job explaining the differences between right- brain learners and left-brain learners.

For those people who enjoy watching Who is Smarter than a 5th Grader, you will enjoy this as much also.


Recommended to: readers who just like to have fun

The Blind Side

The Blind Side


Directed By: John Lee Hancock
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: Really liked it


I thought I hated movies that had to do with football. Then again, this was a football movie, and I liked it! At least it does not get played as repetitively like "Rudy" and "Remember the Titans".

I like the transition of Michael Oher (Ouinton Aaron) from a boy on the street, moving from foster home to foster home to a football player who has all that he ever wanted. Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) is the good female who helps Michael acheive success. Sandra Bullock does a good job as Leigh Anne and did deserve her first "Best Actress" Oscar. Also, the people in the Tuohy family were easily able to accept Michael as a new family member. Even the whole community started to respect him more as an awesome football player. There is a reason why he got so good beside his large size.

And you should go see it. Hint about the ending: it's a happy one like 99.9% of them.


Recommended to: Football fans, everyone