"The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader." ~ Paulo Coelho

Friday, June 23, 2017

Presenting...My Book Cover

Hello Everybody!
It has been a while since I have done one of these! Anyway, here I am presenting My Book Cover.
What? Your "book cover"? You took a book apart!?
*horror movie screams*
Whoa! That is not what happened! My older sister gave this to me on my last birthday, it PROTECTS the books.

If you have a paper back book, and if you sometimes sort of ACCIDENTALLY destroy the cover, this is for you!

My sister took two pieces of cardboard, and some cloth, and made this! You slip the front and back covers into the slots, and it protects them from being bent to pieces! Then, there are ties on the back so you can adjust it to any size book!

Plus, no one can see what you are reading.
My sister came up with this herself, and it is so useful! See even customized it, it has my initials, MC, on it!

Right now I have The Adventures of Robin Hood - by Roger Lancelyn Green, which I won in Hamlette's giveaway, Thank you so much Hamlette.

Sorry the pictures are not the best, it was late at night and I was really tired when I took these photos.

Thank you so much for reading! Do you have any special books or movies?

MovieCritic

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Book vs. Movie Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Hello!
They say that there are the ABC's of Science Fiction:
Asimov
Bradbury
Clarke.
Well, today I am going to review a book by C, Arthur C. Clarke!

2001: A Space Odyssey - by Arthur C. Clarke

A book that progresses time. A strange thing appears to the first men. A strange thing appears on the moon. Going through space on a mission to Jupiter in 2001.
Genre: Science Fiction
Characters: 8, we have some detailed characters, I would just like to know more about all of them! We have this printer in our house that we call Hal. That says a lot.
My Favorite:
Dave
Words: 8, a few bad words, but not that bad.
"Children grow fast in this low gravity. But they don't age so quickly---they'll live longer than we do."
Storyline: 7, The storyline is sort of confusing, but you get into it. There and some attacking, and death, but there is life too.
Good For: People who like Science Fiction, People who have to do things on their own, People who have lost a friend.
Overall Score: 8!

VS.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968):

Based on: the book by Arthur C. Clarke.
Starting at "The Dawn of Man" we see how something affects what happened. Zoom forward to 2001, we see scientists are on a mission to Jupiter, and things aren't working.
Genre: Science Fiction
Costumes: 6, they were okay.
My favorite:

Script: 7, a few bad words.
"Are you sure you are making the right decision?"
Crew:
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Produced by: Stanley Kubrick
Screenplay by:
Arthur C. Clarke
Stanley Kubrick
Starring:
Keir Dullea as Dr. David Bowman

Gary Lockwood as Dr. Frank Poole
William Sylvester as Dr. Heywood Floyd
Douglas Rain as the voice of the HAL 9000
Daniel Richter as Moonwatcher
Music: 9, it uses the classical piece of music, "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss and when you hear it you think, "2001!"

Music by:
Richard Strauss
György Ligeti
Johann Strauss II
Aram Khachaturian
Quotes: 8, "What do you think you're doing, Dave?"

Storyline: 5, If you haven't read the book, you really have no idea what is happening! It doesn't really explain anything. The thing with this movie is that everything takes so long! And there is this sequence of colors that might make you sick. There is some death, and some attacking.
 

Good For: People who like Science Fiction, People who like things to take forever, People who like flashing colors.
Overall Score: 6!

The book wins!

The scary thing with 2001: A Space Odyssey, is that when the book was written, and the movie made, these things seemed so strange, but with technology we are actually there. Scary.

Thank you so much for reading! What do you think of this? Did I give it a proper review?

MovieCritic

Monday, June 19, 2017

Book vs. Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice + 1995 vs. 2005

Hello!
A while ago, I finished Pride & Prejudice and it was just as lovely as I knew it was going to be! I am here to review the lovely book for you and then do some thoughts on the 1995 movie version vs. the 2005 version. I'm sorry, I meant to get this out a while ago, but life has been crazy! Here we go:

Pride & Prejudice - by Jane Austen
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune, must be in want of a wife."
When the great house, Netherfield, is taken up by a Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet hopes that he will choose one of her five daughters for a wife. Mr. Bingley brings his good friend, Mr. Darcy, with him and everyone soon agrees he is the proudest man ever to be seen.
Genre: Romance
Characters: 9, I love with Jane Austen's characters that no one is perfect. It is so true, and it makes them very easy to relate to.
My Favorites: 
Elizabeth Bennet, who can't love her! 'Her heart did whisper, that he had done it for her.' 
Jane Bennet, she is so full of goodness!
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, they are hilarious!
Mr. Bingley, he is so sweet!
Mr. Darcy, he grows on you.
"I often think," said she, "that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends. One seems so forlorn without them."
Words: 9, there are a few bad words, but not too bad. The most surprising thing I thought was the sarcasm! One of the quotes I had always heard, was said in sarcasm. Is Jane Austen trying to say something here?
Also, there is a Shakespeare reference!
Storyline: 8, there is talk and action of eloping, but the rest is a beautiful story! You can't go wrong on Austen!
Overall Score: 9!

VS.

Pride & Prejudice (2005):
 
Based on: Jane Austen's novel.
When a rich stranger comes to town all the thoughts of the young ladies are of marriage. Some find out there is more to it that that. And that pride can be overrated.
 
This is what Wikipedia says:
"In this adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel, Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) lives with her mother, father and sisters in the English countryside. As the eldest..." What!? Elizabeth is NOT the eldest!!! Jane is!
 
Genre: Romance, Period Drama,
Costumes: 4, I am sorry, but they are terrible. Everyone is so dirty, to fancy balls everyone wears nightgowns, everyone walks around in there pajamas, when Elizabeth is told to put on her best she puts on the ugliest dress I have ever seen! Hardly anyone is wearing gloves! The costumes all look like they are from colonial times! And don't get me started on every one's hairstyles.
See what I mean?
Script: 5, A few bad words, it's not in Mr. Bingley's character to swear! I was so disappointed! They didn't even say some of the most famous lines! Or, they said it wrong!
"We are all fools in love."
 
Crew:
Directed by: Joe Wright
Produced by:
Tim Bevan
Eric Fellner
Paul Webster
Screenplay by:
Deborah Moggach
Emma Thompson (uncredited)
Starring: 8,
Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Bennet
Rosamund Pike as Jane Bennet
Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet
Simon Woods as Mr. Bingley
Kelly Reilly as Caroline Bingley
Tom Hollander as Mr. Collins
Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy
Judi Dench as Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Tamzin Merchant as Georgiana Darcy
Carey Mulligan as Kitty Bennet
Claudie Blakley as Charlotte Lucas
Jena Malone as Lydia Bennet
Talulah Riley as Mary Bennet
Brenda Blethlyn as Mrs. Bennet
Rupert Friend as Mr. Wickham
Penelope Wilton as Mrs. Gardener
I'm sorry, but all these characters are so important that I had to list them all.
More on these characters below. ↓
Music: 9, not too bad!
 
Music by: Dario Marianelli
Quotes: 7, "What excellent boiled potatoes!"
Notes: This time period is all wrong! The time period is supposed to be the late sixteenth to early seventeenth century England. This is like it is colonial America. What is with the chickens and pigs (in the house!) everywhere!?
 
Scenes: 9, I have to say, the scenery is beautiful! The houses are perfect and the country side is beautiful, but, why is it raining pretty much all the time!
 
Storyline: 5, who's idea was it to try to jam a classic novel into 2 hours? I am sorry to all who love or like this movie. I tried really hard to like this movie, but I can't. It doesn't compare to the book or the 1995 version. For all who have not seen the 1995 or read the book, go watch it and read it. I took so many notes it's crazy, I'm not sure how I'm going to fit them all here! They have decided to drop some poor characters out. They do not have: The Hursts, Maria or Sir Lucas, just to name a few. There is so much that they missed or through in in weird ways. The ending drove me crazy, I actually was shouting for the movie to end.
In the story there is some eloping.
 
Good For: People who like romance.
Overall Score: 6.

VS.

Pride & Prejudice (1995):
This is a mini series, and as I participated in I ❤ Austen Week,  I have already reviewed each episode but here is the overall review. For more detail, here are the links to each episode: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth.
Based on the novel by Jane Austen.
The story of Elizabeth Bennet and her family. How so many things can happen, pride, love, prejudice.
Genre: Romance. Period Drama,
Costumes: 9.
Script: 9.
Directed by: Simon Langton
Screenplay by: Andrew Davies
Starring (get ready for it, I will list ALL of them):
Jenifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet
Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy
Susannah Harker as Jane Bennet
Julia Sawalha as Lydia Bennet
Alison Steadman as Mrs. Bennet
Benjamin Whitrow as Mr. Bennet
Crispin Bonham-Carter as Mr Bingley
Polly Maberly as Kitty Bennet
Lucy Briers as Mary Bennet
Anna Chancellor as Miss Bingley
Lucy Robinson as Mrs. Hurst
Rupert Vansittart as Mr. Hurst
Adrian Lukis as Wickham
David Bamber as Mr. Collins
Lucy Scott as Charlotte Lucas
Lucy Davis as Maria Lucas
Emilia Fox as Georgiana Darcy
Barbara Leigh-Hunt as Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Tim Wylton as Mr. Gardiner
Joanna David as Mrs. Gardiner
Nadia Chambers as Miss Anne de Bourgh
David Bark-Jones as Lt. Denny
Lynn Farleigh as Mrs. Phillips
Christopher Benjamin as Sir William Lucas
Norma Streader as Lady Lucas
Paul Moriarty as Col. Forster
Victoria Hamilton as Mrs. Forster
Anthony Calf as Colonel Fitzwilliam
Music: 10! Here is what each episode starts with:
Amazing, am I right?
Music by: Carl Davis.
Quotes: 9,
Storyline: 8, This is so close to the book! It is wonderful!
Good For: People who like romance, people who like Jane Austen,
Overall Score: 9!

Comparing Characters (1995 vs. 2005):

1. Elizabeth Bennet, "Obstinate, headstrong, girl."
1995: Jennifer Ehle
She portrays Elizabeth perfectly. She gives her all the wit and cleverness that Elizabeth has. She gives perfect facial expressions.

2005: Keira Knightley
I really think Keira is just right for playing Elizabeth. But, in only 2 hours we aren't able to see her character to the full extent of excellence. And, someone could style her hair a bit differently.

2. Mr. Darcy, "The proudest most disagreeable person she had ever seen."
1995: Colin Firth (Colin Firth is one of my favorite actors, but I will try to be fair)
He really captures how Darcy is from the beginning to the end. He shows how proud he is, and how loving he is.

2005: Matthew MacFadyen
He is a pretty good actor for this part, he just needed more time. They kind of rushed through the storyline too quickly to put him at his best.

3. Jane Bennet, “My dear Jane, you are too good!”
1995: Susannah Harker

2005: Rosamund Pike

Really, I think both of these actresses do a really good job!

4. Mary Bennet, "Mary's powers were by no means fitted for such a display."
1995: Lucy Briers
She has it all the way down to the remarks that make no sense. I actually wrote about how I'm like her HERE.

2005: Talulah Riley
She didn't really do Mary Bennet. Mary Bennet is the one who makes the strangest remarks. Talulah just was very quiet and shy and more in the character of Jane Bennet.

5.  Kitty Bennet, “I have as much right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am two years older!”
Don't worry Kitty, you'll get mentioned too.
1995: Polly Mayberly
This is Kitty for you.

2005: Carey Mulligan
She did an pretty good job, but she didn't complain enough.

6. Lydia Bennet, “We meant to treat you all, but you must lend us the money, for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.”
1995: Julia Sawalha

2005: Jena Malone

They both did her perfectly!

7. Mr. Bennet, "Oh, Mr. Bennet!"
1995: Benjamin Whitrow
The perfect Mr. Bennet. He says the right lines, gives the right looks, and puts the right amount of silliness in him.

2005: Donald Sutherland
What is with his long hair? What is with his obsession with exotic plants? This actor just makes him seem confused all the time.

8. Mrs. Bennet. "Oh my poor nerves!"
1995: Alison Steadman
The silliest mother ever, she plays her perfectly.

2005: Brenda Blethyn
She would have done a good job, but Mrs. Bennet would not fall asleep while eating on the couch.

9. Mr. Bingley
1995: Crispin Bonham-Carter
He does such a good job! He is so cheery and happy and Mr. Bingley!

2005: Simon Woods
He just is not Mr. Bingley. He does the silliest things, not at all in a Mr. Bingley way. Don’t get me started on the hair. Cordy says it better.

10. Caroline Bingley, "Excuse my interference: it was kindly meant."
1995: Anna Chancellor
Oh yes indeed. She really plays her well!

2005: Kelly Reilly
She was a little too quiet, but besides that, perfect!

11. Georgiana Darcy
1995: Emilia Fox
Just the right amount of shyness and sweetness!

2005: Tamzin Merchant
What in the world happened here. Georgiana's character is that she is SUPER shy! In this movie, she comes bounding up and says, "Oh hello! We are going to be such good friends!" or something like that. That is not right at all!!

12. Mr. Collins
1995: David Bamber
That cheesy grin is so great. And the way he says, "Lady Catherine de Bourgh", you can't ever say it another way!

2005: Tom Hollander
He was way too quiet, and too short. In the book it says, "He was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty.

13. Charlotte Lucas
1995: Lucy Scott
Charlotte, just taking it as it comes calmly.

2005: Claudie Blakley
She would have been good but she yelled at Lizzy? That doesn't make any sense.

14. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, "I must have my share in the conversation!"
1995: Barbara Leigh-Hart
Excellent!

2005: Judi Dench
She was an excellent actress, but she kept appearing at the weirdest moments.

15. Mr. Wickham
1995: Adrian Lukis
Pretty good!

2005: Rupert Friend
I'll admit, I didn't like how he looked just looking at the picture, but he actually is quite good! But, he wasn't in regimentals the first time they saw him.

16. Mrs. Gardiner
1995: Joanna Davia

2005: Penelope Wilton

They both did a really good job!!

17. Colonel Fitzwillaim
1995: Anthony Calf
"Perfect, just perfect." What was that? Wrong movie "MovieCritic"! But really, he is great!

2005: Cornelius Booth
I'm sorry, but I actually screamed, "Who in the world is that!?" when I first saw him. This actor does not fit the part at all.

The Book, and the 1995 version win!

Special thanks to my sister who helped make the pictures with the words!

Thank you so much for reading! Please tell me why you love these movies, and the book!

MovieCritic

Monday, June 12, 2017

Most Often Used Quote Game

Hello Everyone!
It is about time for a game, am I right?
 

My family uses quotes everyday. But, this game is these are quotes that in a day you will most likely hear one or more of these! We don't say all of these because we mean them, but we try our best to sound like whoever is saying them.
How it works:
You guess which movie these quotes are from.
10 point for every correct answer.
Bonus point for correct actor(s) or character(s) who say it.
Also, I am doing these from memory so I'm sorry if some of them are not the exact wording.
Have fun guessing!

1. "Wow! I tell you what, wow!"

2. 
Person 1: "I just fell!"
Person 2: "..."
Person 1: "I'm okay, but still."
Person 2: "..."
Person 1: "I still don't know what we are talking about."

3. "Ouch! Now that hurt! Mamma, Mamma!" (Her voice is super cute!)

4. "I see you're drinking 2%, is that because you think you're fat? 'Cause you're not, you could be drinking whole if you wanted too." (The way he says it is just so funny.)

5. "Oh, pook."

6. "Talk, talk, talking, closure."

7. "I WANT HAM!"

8.
Person 1: "¿Comprende?"
Person 2: "Yeah, I comprende."
Person 1: "No, no, no. It's comprendo: you comprende, I comprendo."

9. "Now that's funny, that's real funny."

10. "I do not think that word means what you think it means."

Alright! Good luck!
No, this is not a clue.

MovieCritic

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

#RebelliousWriting: We Need Clean Books!

Hello!
I am joining up with Gray Maire at Writing is Life in her Rebellion against Dirty Young Adult Fiction!
The memes were made by Catherine/Farm Lassie at The Rebellious Muse.

Young Adult fiction is turning to something that is not good. It used to be something that was easier to relate to for young adults. Now it is something that is full of things that influence young adults in a bad way.

Smoking, drinking, bad language, excessive violence, things against Christian values, all these things are appearing in books that are supposed to be good for teens? I don't like this. Why are writers encouraging teens to do these things? There are enough of those things in the world already. Let's get ride of these.

What do good books do? 
Mason Cooley said: "Reading is a place to go when we have to stay where we are." That is so true.
My profile says, "I love to read and enter into the world of books!" I love reading all the time, but when I am really depressed, or sad, about the things going on in this world, I can leave this world behind in the books that I read. When I am trying to get away from all these things I don't want to read a bad word, or a scene where there is too much kissing, or where people are drunk. I want to be encouraged to go on, to read that it will all work out. Books give us hope. #RebelliousWriting

What do bad books do?
Bad books put things into our minds. Even if you read it and say, "I will never swear like that." "I would never do that." It is still in our minds. Do you know how hard it is to forget things? Bad books show that even if you do something bad, there will be no consequences. NOT TRUE. Bad things are bad things. You can't make them romantic, or heroic, by putting them in books. Authors make the readers think that though. But they are still there. This world has so many good things in it. There are five million things to write about, why are authors choosing to high-light bad things in a good way? Bad books influence the readers, they think it is a good thing then. It most definitely is NOT a good thing. #RebelliousWriting

List of good books: #RebelliousReading
The Chronicles of Narnia - by C. S. Lewis
The Anne of Green Gables series - by L. M. Montgomery
Little Women - by Louisa May Alcott
Pax - by Sara Pennypacker
The Tale of Despereaux - by Kate DiCamillo
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp - by Kathi Appelt
The One and Only Ivan - by Katherine Applegate
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - by Grace Lin
Emma - by Jane Austen
etc.

List of bad books: #RebelliousReading
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children - by Ransom Riggs
Ever - by Gail Carson Levine (I'm not sure what happened here, all her other books are great!)
Up From Jericho Tel - by E. L. Kongingsberg
Some Tamora Pierce books.
Lambing Out - by Mary Clearman

Some people may love these books, but they really made me uncomfortable. And there are many more.

This is why I am a critic. This is why I do reviews. I want to tell others about those books that are the best books ever, and I want to warn others for books that are not good. Books should be for EVERYONE. There shouldn't be books that are "too adult" for young people. I mean, an eight year old probably isn't going to love Jane Austen, but there shouldn't be books that have themes that have so much bad stuff that young people can't read it and feel comfortable. A book shouldn't make you feel uncomfortable in your own home.

But, surely the author didn't mean it that way. The thing is, it's not like speaking. When you speak you can't take it back, maybe you are surprised or mad so you said that thing. In writing you choose what you put in it. Put good things in a book, fill it with hope.

I'm not saying that books can't have lessons, every book has a lesson. It is way better to read about a character doing something bad and receiving the consequences and learn not to do it, than doing it yourself. But, I don't like it when in the books, people do it without any consequences, that is not true in life. And I don't like it thrown in there for no reason, if the reader still would have learned that lesson without it. And bad language doesn't need to be thrown around like confetti.

Please join the rebellion! This is not a rebellion against what people would want for you, this is a rebellion for what people want for you! Nobody wants you to read bad books

Make sure to go check out Gray's post to see how you can join!
Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Annoucing the Robin Hood BBC Watch-Along!

Hello!
So you have most likely heard of a read-along, but a watch-along?
"We are Robin Hood!"
Have you ever wanted to watch Robin Hood BBC? Are you a fan? Either way, you are most welcome to join me in the Robin Hood BBC Watch-Along I will be hosting July 5th - August 25th.
Through-out the 51 days I will review each of the 39 episodes of the Robin Hood BBC (plus maybe some bonus material). Each of my reviews will be giving a brief plot summary and little bits (e.i. favorite costume, character, etc.).
How it works:
1. Either you can tell me what you think of that episode in the comments, or in your own post!
2. You can do it anyway you want.
3. Take a button and spread the word!

The Buttons:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

So, maybe I got a little carried away with making the buttons.
I hope that you will join me in this fun event!!
Have a lovely day!!

MovieCritic
"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, where you stop your story." -Orson Welles