Film Friday - The 5th Wave (Movie)

The 5th Wave

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Synopsis:

Desperate 16-year-old Cassie Sullivan tries to save her younger brother and survive in a world devastated by the waves of an alien invasion that has already decimated the population and knocked mankind back to the Stone Age.

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I knew after watching the trailer for The 5th Wave that it probably wouldn't get very good reviews. At this point, it's just another YA book adapted for the big screen, one among many, which is actually starting to get a bit tiring. However, I held out hope for this movie for two reasons, number one being that I liked the book well enough, and the second being that Chloe Grace Moretz is staring in it. She'll forever be HitGirl to me, and I always hope to see some of that badassery in her other films. Now, I should be clear, I have not yet seen this movie. I planned on it, but after seeing the reviews about it, I'm hesitant to waste the $12 to see it. 18% from RottenTomatoes critics was a bit lower than I expected (I thought it would be around 30%). It's actually the viewers percentage, 49, that really had me take pause. I think this is going to be one to wait to rent from the library. I'll save my money for a different movie.

I mean, this consensus does not looking promising at all:

"With unimpressive effects and plot points seemingly pieced together from previous 

dystopian YA sci-fi films, The 5th Wave ends up feeling like more of a limp, derivative 

wriggle." - Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Has anyone seen The 5th Wave yet? If so, did you like it? Did you read the book before watching the movie, how was the acting? Is it worth seeing? Let me know what you think!

Trailer Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmxLybfGNC4

Spotlight Sunday - Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

So many books out there to read, but this Spotlight Sunday is reserved for:

Menagerie

Rachel Vincent

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Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent comes a richly imagined, provocative new series set in the dark mythology of the Menagerie… 

When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger's Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she's forced to "perform" in town after town. 

But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other "attractions"—mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons and kelpies—are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she'll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed. 

Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale.

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I love Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series, and really like her relatively new book The Stars Never Rise, so it's no surprise that I want to get my hands on her newest novel, Menagerie. It sounds like it's going to be an epic read about humanity, about fighting for rights that should already be a given in life. I look forward to seeing how Vincent creates this fantastical world, to read about these mythological creatures and journey with the protagonist as she struggles to break free of the menagerie and regain her freedom. This isn't going to be a light read. It's going to be brutal, graphic, and completely engrossing. Time to bump this up on my TBR pile.

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Teaser:

"Get her processed, then put her on the row. Tomorrow, start breaking her."

His instructions echoed in my head.

Break me? Like a stick for kindling or like a pony for riding? Break me like a date, or like a heart, or like a promise? 

In the end, it wouldn't matter. I had no intention of being broken.

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Yeah, this is gonna be a dark one, but a kickass one (fingers crossed). And isn't that cover just a beauty?

Ghost Story (The Dresden Files #13)

What is that previous ending?? Harry, what is going on?!

Ghost Story

5 out of 5 Between Stars

"Harry Dresden—I take responsibility for more impossible situations in the first twenty-four hours of being dead than most people do all day."

Harry Dresden is dead. How could you do this to us, Butcher? The ending of Changes is brutal! But it leads to one hell of a story. I guess us readers can forgive you for that cliffhanger ending since it got us the amazing novel that is Ghost Story. Besides, I can't really complain since I've been playing catch-up and didn't have to wait the year between books. I don't know how everyone else did it—just waiting overnight to get Ghost Story from the library was bad! But seriously, freaking awesome installment.

"It didn't matter that I was dead. It didn't matter that I was literally a shadow of my former self. My job hadn't changed: When demons and horrors and creatures of the night prey on this city, I'm the guy who does something about it.
'Time to start doing,' I whispered."

Plot-Line:

Ghost Story picks up right where Changes left off. Harry's been shot, has fallen off his boat the Water Beetle, and died in the icy waters of Lake Michigan. Whether it was the gun shot wound that killed him or drowning in the lake, the result is the same. Harry's dead, and it's in these moments in the almost-afterlife that he learns that three of his friends are in danger. Harry makes the choice to return back to Chicago as a shade in order to solve the mystery of his own murder and save his friends, no matter the risk this places on his soul. However, this is a bit harder than Harry expects—dead enemies are making appearances, and Harry doesn't have his magic to protect himself. The dead can't use magic, so Harry is going to have to learn the rules of shade-power quickly. Nevermind the fact that no one can see or hear him. No magic, no friends, and old enemies who haven't forgotten how they ended up dead. The perfect recipe for a Dresden Files novel. Better figure out what you're going to do, Harry, and fast—before your become just another lost soul among thousands of others. 

"Like it or not, I had embraced the darkness. I had become what I always fought."

Notable Parts:

As I said before, Harry doesn't have his wizard magic to rely on, and it's really interesting seeing him act without it. It's also a bit sad, too, as his magic is a part of him and not having it really changes the course of the story. Memories are power for shades, which leads to—you guessed it—flashbacks! We get so much more information on Harry's past, on what happened with him, DuMorne, and He Who Walks Behind. One of my favorite parts of this novel—I've been dying to learn more about Harry's past, and this is literally perfect. Beyond anything I could have hoped for. Thank you for that, Mister Butcher—you've made a lot of people happy with those few chapters. We also learn tons more about ghosts/shades, wraiths, and other creatures of the afterlife. And I can't forget about everyone's favorite ectomancer—Morty! I never really cared for Mort in previous novels in the few appearances he made, but Mort really steps up this time around. Everything would have been completely different had Mort not been around. Seriously. He's that important. However, things have already changed since Harry died, as to be expected. His friends have to learn to live and protect Chicago without him. The block of communication between the living and the dead is hard to read about—the loss of trust, of being able to communicate with one another, is a barrier that is difficult to overcome. Harry and friends really have a lot to deal with this time around. And believe me when I tell you, things will never be the same.

"I may have had good reasons. I may have had the best of intentions.

But intentions aren't enough, no matter how good they are. Intentions can lead you to a place where you're able to make a choice.

It's the choice that counts."

Overall:

There are so many amazing thoughts and ideas that are developed wonderfully throughout Ghost Story. Butcher never disappoints. The depth of Harry's character and his friends is developed far beyond what I would have expected. Being dead really allows for a lot of reflection, and Harry has quite a bit to think about while the sun's up and he's out of commission. Hindsight really is blinding in it's clarity. Ghost Story is another great installment to The Dresden Files, and there is a lot of change to deal with and come to terms with since the previous novel. Things will never be the same. It's time for us to accept that. Harry's story is growing, evolving, and it's a tough change, emotionally, to deal with. Harry knows this, too, and it's going to lead to quite the ride for future novels. What's going to happen next, Harry? Things have changed, and there's no going back. Only thing left to do is take responsibility for actions and deals made, and move forward into the complete uncertainty of an unknown future. 

"Nothing lasts forever. Nothing."

Film Friday Review - Fury

Fury

4 1/2 out of 5 Gut-Wrenching Stars

"Ideals are peaceful, history is violent."

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Synopsis:

April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany. (C) Sony

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Holy crap. This movie. This freaking movie. I'm speechless. I don't even know how to accurately describe what I'm feeling after finishing this film, after those last major scenes. They were brutal, vicious, intense, raw, but also overflowing with courage. Fury goes into detail about the ramifications of war, and obliterates its audience with its exceptional, dark story. But it's only dark because it doesn't hold anything back, it doesn't pull its punches and it definitely goes over the line of what you think will happen. It's graphic, but honest, and that's what keeps the audience's eyes glued to the screen, no matter how much we may want to look away. 

I love the cast for this movie and the war nicknames they give each other. Brad Pitt is absolutely amazing in his role as Wardaddy, Logan Lerman accurately shows how quickly war can change a person, and Shia LaBeouf displays how important faith is during the darkest times. Michael Pena and Jon Bernthal also really get into the role of their characters, allowing for an amazing cast to come together and create a legendary story. The background music only enhances the intensity of the film, and those during the end credits really hammer home the finality of what's happened. Getting to follow a tank crew is really quite the journey. However, there are some problems I had with the last battle scene of the movie, simple obstacles that are added in to up the drama and action of the story, which are not that believable. I don't want to get into specifics (spoiler-free zone here) but if you watch the movie you'll know what I'm talking about.

Fury really drives home the ruthlessness and ramifications of war. It makes you understand where PTSD comes from. How do you get past living through something so terrible, assuming you even survive it in the first place? There is no middle ground, no gray area. It's black and white. You and the enemy. Kill or be killed. No inbetween. That's war. And war never ends quietly. 

"Best job I ever had."

Trailer Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OGvZoIrXpg

Watching Wednesday - Master of None

This week's Watching Wednesday is dedicated to Aziz Ansari's great show Master of None!

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Synopsis:

Meet Dev (Aziz Ansari), a 30-year-old actor in New York who has trouble deciding what he wants to eat, much less the pathway for the rest of his life.

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This show looks great -- and Aziz Ansari is staring in it -- and he helped create the show with Alan Yang! That's enough to get me watching it! 

Here is the trailer if you want a little sneak peak, but Ansari being the main character should be enough for anyone to give this one a chance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bFvb3WKISk

This show is only on Netflix (unfortunately) so those of you who don't have a Netflix account, try borrowing a friends, cause this show looks awesome and I don't want anyone to miss out!

And the title is spot-on, coming from the phrase  "jack of all trades, master of none." Great name for the show.

"Exceptionally executed with charm, humor, and heart, Master of None is a refreshingly offbeat take on a familiar premise." - Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus 

Changes (The Dresden Files #12)

No one is prepared for what happens in this next installment of The Dresden Files.

Changes

5 out of 5 Holy-Crap Stars

"Do or die, Dresden. Do or die."

There are no words for all the bombshells that are dropped throughout Changes. Just when I think I know what Harry's going to do next, I realize that I don't know. There's no way to know the lengths Harry will go to during this chapter in his life, because everything is changing. How can his perspective stay the same with the costs and lives that are now on the line? It can't. The situation has changed dramatically, and Harry has no choice but to adjust. Bravo, Mister Butcher, on creating one of the most epic stories I've read yet. Beware when reading Changes, and prepare to adjust your mindset about Harry's life just as much as he has to. It's the only way to get through this chapter.

"Something like this will test you like nothing else. You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find out which principles you'll stand by to your death—and which lines you'll cross. You're heading into the badlands. It'll be easy to get lost."

Plot-Line:

Harry has a kid. A child. A daughter. And guess who never told him about her. Susan Rodriguez. I knew I never liked her for a reason. Changes starts off right away with Susan telling Harry that their daughter has been taken by the Red Court of Vampires. Wait, what? Susan, how could you not tell Harry about her? Although I do understand her reasons, that doesn't mean I have to like them. Now Harry has to face off against the Duchess Arianna of the Red Court, who has a grudge against him for what happened to her husband Ortega back in Death Masks. Harry is being faced with his greatest danger yet—the loss of his child, and he will do anything he needs to in order to save her. Time for Harry's bundle of growing rage to be put to use. If he has to face off against the Red Court in the heart of their domain, then so be it. Even if it means giving into the dark temptation within himself.

"There is no sensation to warn you when your soul turns black."

Notable Parts:

The foreshadowing throughout Changes is everywhere, and even though I thought I knew what to expect, I'm still taken off guard. There's no way to anticipate the choices that Harry will make in order to save his daughter—he will do the unthinkable, cross lines he never thought he would. It's impossible to really know what he's going to do next. He's losing everything, and a man will make dangerous decisions when placed in a situation like Harry is. Harry's going to be haunted by the choices he makes for the rest of his life, however long that is. Taking on the Red Court on their home turf is no easy feat, even with the help of all his friends. Murphy, Thomas, Mouse and Molly are there for Harry, through thick and thin, and I love the relationships between all these characters. It's hard to make bonds like they have, willing to die for one another. We learn more about the history and creatures of the Red Court throughout Changes, and I have to say, those Eebs vampires are really freaking creepy. The whole Red Court is really freaking creepy. Susan and Martin play major roles throughout the novel, too, as to be expected. And there are some characters who get involved that you won't see coming. Harry's going to need all the help he can get in order to save his daughter and live long enough to get her away from the murderous Red Court. This is going to be a war like no other.

"Death is the great equalizer. It doesn't matter how you get there. Just when. And why."

Overall:

Changes is the absolute best title for this installment in The Dresden Files. Nothing will ever be the same after this. It's intense, heartwrenching, and really damn good. Of course I hate the situation that Harry finds himself in, but it's one hell of a crazy ride. I never imagined Harry would ever have to face something like this in his life. The stakes are higher than ever before, and the lengths Harry will go to are unthinkable. But that's what you do for family. You do the unthinkable in order to protect them, and nothing less. Changes is a complete game changer, and the ending will surprise everyone. No matter what you say, Butcher, that is a cliffhanger! Lucky for me I get to start the next book without a year long wait, heh heh. I need to start the next book ASAP, because my heart strings need to heal from all the tearing that happened in this installment. I can think of a few lines that are going to stick with me for a long, long time. It's actually very depressing how everything turns out in the end, but I guess that's what happens when you go to war. 

"Sometimes you lose. Sometimes the darkness takes everyone. Sometimes the monster escapes to kill again another day. Sometimes the innocent little ones are murdered. And there's not one goddamned thing you can do about it."

Music Monday - Lunatic by KONGOS

Music Monday time, with KONGOS Lunatic!

Most of us know KONGOS song "Come With Me Now," and I recently heard their "I'm Only Joking" on Netflix's original show Hemlock Grove. I love these songs so much I decided to get the whole album. I am very glad that I did. I'm still making my way through all the songs and associating music with titles, but I love everything I've heard so far. KONGOS has a great style of music, and you should definitely give them a listen. I need to get my hands on their debut, self-titled album ASAP!

Here's a link to the song that really got me obsessed with them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ip1irYWXck

Also, the band is made up of four brothers! How cool is that?

Spotlight Sunday - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Time for Spotlight Sunday!

Six of Crows



Leigh Bardugo

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Synopsis:

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

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I finally got my hands on this beauty! Just started reading it, and I'm loving it so far (like, can I somehow manage to read this monster in one day?). All these different badass characters being brought together for a deadly heist? Yes, please! I know I'm going to devour this one, and I can't wait to give you guys a full review. It'll be a good one, I can feel it. So if you've got some time to spare, check out Six of Crows!

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Teaser:

"You run book on prize fights, horses, and your own games of chance. You've been floor boss at the Crow Club for more than two years. You're the youngest to ever run a betting shop, and you've doubled its profits in that time. You're a blackmailer—"

"I broker information."

"A con artist—"

"I create opportunity."

"A bawd and a murderer—"

"I don't run whores, and I kill for a cause."

"And what cause is that?"

"Same as yours, merch. Profit."

"How do you get your information, Mister Brekker?"

"You might say I'm a lockpick."

"You must be a very gifted one."

"I am indeed." Kaz leaned back slightly. "You see, every man is a safe, a vault of secrets and longings. Now, there are those who take the brute's way, but I prefer a gentler approach—the right pressure applied at the right moment, in the right place. It's a delicate thing."

"Do you always speak in metaphors, Mister Brekker?"

Kaz smiled. "It's not a metaphor."

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Doesn't this just sound awesome?

Film Friday Review - Sisters

Today's Featured Friday is going to be about the movie Sisters.

Sisters 

4 1/2 out of 5 Hilarious Stars

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Synopsis:

When their parents place the family home on the market, siblings Maura (Amy Poehler) and Kate (Tina Fey) learn that they have one weekend to clean out the junk from their old bedroom. Unhappy with the news, the recently divorced Maura and her hotheaded sister make plans to throw one final bash to recapture their glory days with their former classmates. As the raging party begins to spiral out of control, the gals soon realize that there may not be a house left to sell once the dust settles.

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Amy Poehler and Tina Fey do not disappoint! They make a great team and really deliver in their newest movie together, titled Sisters. The premise isn't anything special, not really, but they turn it around in the best way, easily getting laughs from their viewers while also exploring the relationships between sisters, parents and children, mother and daughter, in a great way. I saw this movie with my sister, so of course we tried to figure out who would be who in the movie, but the main characters of Maura and Kate are very eccentric, so it was a bit hard to decide. Okay, I'm probably Maura, and my sister is Kate, haha. Anywho, I found myself laughing uncontrollably at some parts, and the rest of the theater was laughing right alongside me. The Ellis sisters know how to throw quite the party! 

Sisters is a laugh-your-ass-off movie, and one that you should definitely make time to see. I mean, it's Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, that should be incentive enough!

"Sisters' sharp blend of pathos and vulgarity, along with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's effervescent chemistry, are more than enough to make up for the handful of laughs this coming-of-age comedy leaves on the table." - Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus 

Trailer Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRnhEjP3R-c

Spotlight Sunday - An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Time for Spotlight Sunday, focusing today on Sabaa Tahir's An Ember In The Ashes.

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Synopsis:

Laia is a slave. 

Elias is a soldier. 

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

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I am so extremely excited to read this one! It sounds freaking awesome and fantastic and I need it. I've only heard great things about this novel, and just from reading the synopsis it sounds right up my alley. If you have any free time coming up, I suggest picking this one up!

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Teaser:

"Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after."

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Take a chance on this one, guys! It'll be worth it!