If I Stay (Movie)

Hello internet world! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile - midterms are coming and I haven't had much time. I'm currently reading I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, and it is amazing. But since I haven't finished it yet, I figure why not revist an old review, hmm? Sooooo.......

If I Stay

2 out of 5 Conflicted Stars

I want to like this one, I really do. The trailer for the movie makes If I Stay seem like a really sad, heartbreaking film, but... I guess I'm just not really feeling it. Which is weird cause every time I saw the trailer I felt like crying. I normally always read the novel before the movie, but the trailer is so emotional for If I Stay that I decided to change things up a bit and watch the movie without reading the novel. That's probably a mistake on my part. If I Stay has its good parts, but they just seem to be overshadowed by the bad. 

Pros:

Hmm, I can honestly only think of one. The emotion. And I'm not talking about Mia and Adam. I'm talking about imagining yourself in Mia's place, feeling that while life has its complications, everything is okay, until suddenly it isn't. To lose your family like that, gone in a flash, is heart-wrenching. Especially after being given hope that things are just bent, not broken, only to have that hope ripped away. I can't even imagine what my life would be like without my family. So, if you take the main idea of the film away from what is showed on the screen, yeah, you'll have an extremely depressing story. Unfortunately, it's everything that is added to the film that makes me wonder why I wanted to see this movie so badly.

Cons:

It. Is. Just. Too. Cliche. And extremely cheesy. I feel like I can't connect to the characters at all. I spent most of the movie trying not to laugh, or being embarrassed that I had brought my family to see it with me. I swear, I didn't know Adam was going to tell Mia to play him like the cello! Jeez, even thinking about that makes me laugh out loud (and cringe at the cheesy-ness). Mia is too insecure for me to really understand her - yeah, everyone has insecurities, but Mia is made only out of them, and for what reason? It's like she can't see anyone liking her or something. It's in the way she talks, the way she thinks and acts, and even in the way she walks! Every scene she is with Adam, she just slouches over like she's trying to hide herself. I really like Chloe Grace Moretz as an actress (especially as Hit Girl) and I don't think it's her acting that made Mia so unlikable for me. I think it's just Mia as a character. Same with Jamie Blackley's character Adam. If the characters had more to them than just cliches, maybe they would have had more depth and given the actors more to work with.

In Addition:

The music is amazing. I love the cello solos, the Willamette Stone songs, and especially the adaption of Today with the cello added in. The band songs are catchy and fun (I Want What You Have) and can also be meaningful (Heart Like Yours). Jamie Blackley's voice is nothing special, but it is nice to listen to :)

Overall: 

If you're on the fence about seeing If I Stay, don't decide based solely on my review. I've talked to people that absolutely loved it, so this movie might just not be for me. Maybe I'll read the book, maybe I won't. I've heard that the movie is a very close adaption of the novel, and that the endings are the same. I've read some reviews that praise the novels (people whose judgement I trust), so one day I might read If I Stay and Where She Went, but I'm definitely not in any rush to get my hands on them. The most disappointing thing for me is how excited I was to see If I Stay and how let down I was by it. Who knows, maybe I'll read the books and fall in love with them. Probably not, but I'll keep my mind open.

Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Take Me On by Katie McGarry



4 1/2 out of 5 Worth-Fighting-For Stars

“I know what it’s like to be scared. To wonder if anything will feel normal again. There’s this hopelessness, a sadness that permeates through your pores, when you have no idea what home is or what the word means. I may be under somebody’s roof, but it’s not a home. I just want a home.” 

--Haley 

I've read several books Katie McGarry before, and while I enjoy all of them, Take Me On might just be my favorite out of the Pushing the Limits series. The storyline deals with real situations that people find themselves in  (just like all the books in this series does), and McGarry clearly knows how to pace a novel. I wasn't bored at all while reading and love that we aren't told what the characters are going through, but shown. Haley and West are two people from very different worlds, yet soon find themselves thrust into the same one, wondering how they got there. Both deal with real struggles in their lives, but soon learn that together life becomes better. Still very complicated and by no means easy, but definitely better.

Haley:

I miss who I used to be.

For Haley, her family loses everything after her father is laid off and her sister gets sick. Their only option is to live with her uncle, an evil bastard of a human being. Not to mention the fact that she used to be a national titleholder for kickboxing, until one night has her leaving her love of the ring behind. Her father is broken, her younger sister is growing up in a house made of evil, and her family feels that she's betrayed them, while really everything she does is to protect them. Then West Young crashes into her life - almost literally - and takes on a fight for her. Knowing he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help, Haley begins to train him for up-coming battle. Can she keep her feelings in check, or will she fall for another fighter and once again have to deal with the regret?

I was stupid. I fell for the wrong guy. He hurt me and I paid. He hurt me and I broke. He hurt me and the rest of the world will forever condemn.

West:

I’m not much of anything anymore.

Ever since his birth, West has felt like a failure. He was literally born in the hopes of being a bone-marrow match for his dying sister, but it was too late. Being a Young, West has been given every privilege; he doesn't wish for anything. But he's always been considered the "wild child" of the family, and knows that he will forever be a disappointment to his father. His younger sister is in a terrible accident and West blames himself, and after a fight between him and his father, he finds himself kicked out of his home. Too proud to ask for help, West lives in his car, and learns that he has taken so much for granted. It's Haley that helps him find his real self, be more than a disappointment or the spoiled rich kid. Together, they're better. Until he learns that his family may be the cause of Haley's nightmare of a life.

Abby:

I like pretending. You can create anything you want out of the world.

Abby is by far a very interesting character, and I hope that she one day gets her own book. She doesn't play a major role in the novel, but enough to make things more interesting. She doesn't take pity from anyone, and is one lethal-badass character. She knows everything, but you can never know when she's telling the truth, and I like how she helps West out a bit, protects him without him even realizing it. A very interesting character indeed.

Jax:

“I should have left a lot sooner. He’s toxic. He worms his way in, past your skin, past your muscles and into your soul. Once he’s in, he continues, eating you until you’re dust. I’m already half dust, Haley, and I’m tired of trying to hold together what’s left.” 

Jax is Haley's cousin, but their bond is so much deeper than simply cousins. He spends all his time at the gym or with Haley and her brother, Kaden, anything to be away from his father (the evil bastard mentioned above). He's gone through his rough patches with Haley, but knows that he needs to protect his family, whether it be his siblings from his father or Haley from her demons. I am frustrated with his character at times, but know that he'll do anything to protect the ones he loves.

Overall:

Take Me On is a heartfelt, intense, great read. My only complaint is that it ends a bit abruptly, but even the ending is good. Of course, I would like to know what else happens in Haley and West's future, but everything that needs to be answered is. What I really like though about this novel is how real the character's situations are - it makes them easy to connect to, and you can't help but fight with them for their happy ending. 

Speaking out takes courage, but fear can make a compelling argument. Telling the truth gives you power… It sets you free.

Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons and Panic! At The Disco

I have three obsessions for this week (and most likely next week, too) and it's on Centuries by Fall Out Boy, Warriors by Imagine Dragons, and Miss Jackson by Panic! At The Disco. All three amazing bands, with three amazing songs.

Fall Out Boy:

I saw Fall Out Boy this summer, and they put on an amazing show. I love their Save Rock and Roll album and their earlier songs too, but Centuries is quickly becoming one of my favorites by them. What I really love though are the 2-3 seconds of the song where Patrick Stump adds a little flare to the lyrics. He does it in Phoenix and Death Valley, and Centuries is no exception, like when he sings "heart" about 48 seconds in, and also around 1 minute and 50 seconds in with "opposite of amnesia." The build-up of the pre-chorus is great, and it makes the actual chorus that much more powerful. A definite must listen.

Imagine Dragons:

I also saw Imagine Dragons a couple years ago, and they too are freaking awesome. I love their Night Visions album (especially Nothing Left To Say/Rocks) and Warriors is quickly moving up to the top of my favorites list. They're not your standard band with a drum set, guitarist and bassist. No, Imagine Dragons use a wide range of instruments in amazing ways. If you know them, you know they love their multiple types of drums, and this song is no exception. Add in a string instrument (like possibly a cello, but I might be wrong on that one) and all their percussion instruments and the song just becomes more. Not sure how else to explain it. Plus those quick moments where it's just Dan Reynold's voice with hardly any music in the background, and then the crash-back of the drums and instruments, and you've got a great song. The guitar solo isn't anything crazy, but it perfectly matches the mood of Warriors. Oh, and can't forget the background vocals (like the "don't turn away" line). This song is definitely one of Imagine Dragons best.

Panic! At The Disco:

I'm not crazy about Panic! At The Disco, mainly because I just don't listen to them that much. I really like their A Fever You Can't Sweat Out album, but I've never really branched out after that. This is definitely going to change, as I plan to download their Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! album ASAP. I love the pre-chorus of Miss Jackson - the way Brendon Urie sings up a scale - and just the overall sound of the song. The background singers and added instrumentals just make Miss Jackson even greater.

Overall:

If you've never listened to Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons or Panic! At The Disco then you really should start right away (preferably with the songs Centuries, Warriors and Miss Jackson). All three bands have amazing talent and I can't wait until their next albums are released!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCbS-TLEoRA  (Centuries)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmI_Ndrxy14   (Warriors)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUc_jXBD9DU   (Miss Jackson)

Gone Girl (Movie)

So I just saw this amazing movie called...

Gone Girl

5 out of 5 Suspenseful Stars!

Sometimes the simplest answer isn't always right.

If you've seen the trailer for Gone Girl, you probably think it's just another run-of-the-mill cliche movie where a husband's wife disappears, and the husband is a prime suspect. However, this movie is so much more than that. It's suspenseful, dark, filled with tension and constantly has you changing your mind about who's the "bad guy" or "good guy." 

Gone Girl starts off quite simply; Nick Dunne (portrayed by Ben Affleck) returns to his home one morning only to realize that his wife is not there, and the glass table in the sitting area is shattered all over the floor. He calls the police and they proceed to walk around his house, looking for clues. There's blood spots on the kitchen cabinets, and Nick is not acting like a panicked husband. From there, as more and more clues are revealed, it really seems as if Nick Dunne killed his wife, Amy (portrayed by Rosamund Pike). However, not everything is as it seems. I don't want to post any spoilers for the movie, but let's just say that whatever you think is going to happen isn't, and there's a big 180 about a third into the movie.

A brilliantly executed movie with an amazingly talented cast that holds nothing back, Gone Girl is a must see. Gillian Flynn is definitely on my radar. I admit, I haven't read the book, but based on the fact that she also wrote the script, I'm sure the movie is a very close adaption from the novel. I am really looking forward to reading her other novels, Dark Places and Sharp Objects!

So, in conclusion, if you have some spare time during your weekend, or even during the week, you should definitely go see Gone Girl. You won't be disappointed, and it's worth every penny to see it. And even if you don't have time, I would really think about changing your schedule around so you can see this very entertaining, completely eerie, totally suspenseful movie that will definitely have you looking at certain situations in a different light. 

Skin by Sixx:A.M.

I heard of of band Sixx:A.M. several years ago with their song "Life is Beautiful" and a couple others, but never downloaded all of their music. If I was on shuffle on my Ipod, I'd listen to their songs, but I was never crazy about them, mainly because I didn't really know their music that well. It wasn't until a friend reintroduced me to them that I fell in love with them, especially their song "Skin," a powerful, beautifully written song. It's truthful, brutal in it's honesty, and I feel like everyone should give it a chance. This is definitely one of their sadder songs - I don't really want to use the word sad though, maybe emotional is better. But they definitely have much more upbeat songs that are worth listening to (This Is Gonna Hurt and Lies of the Beautiful People to name a few). 

The last minute of Skin gives me chills every time I hear it, and I hope you guys like it. A very emotional and moving song, Skin by Sixx:A.M. is not one to miss, and it doesn't hurt to give the rest of their songs a listen :)

Kill them with your kindness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M5lZdwOicw

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

5 out of 5 Heartbreaking Stars

Act on your impulse,

Swallow the bottle,

Cut a little deeper,

Put the gun to your chest.

Wow, I don't even know where to start with this one. It's an emotional, intense, heartbreaking, depressing, scream-your-lungs-out-because-you-can't-handle-all-the-emotions type of book. Yet there are those small bits of courage, of hope, that make you think maybe things might, just might, be able to get better. Those are few and far between, as the three main characters of this novel face very real and difficult problems in their lives. This book is not a happy book. It does not pull back any punches. And it certainly is not a book to skim over the harsher parts of life. Conner, Tony and Vanessa have been dealt some of the worst hands life could give them, and it is after all three attempt suicide that they find themselves together at Aspen Springs, a mental facility. And it is at Aspen Springs that they try to overcome everything that has gone wrong in their lives.

Conner:

I’m afraid – a strange thing

to say, but true – that despite

whatever progress I’ve made,

when I get out of this place,

everything will be exactly

the same as before – even me.

I’ll still live in my parents’

shadow; I’ll still drive myself to

achieve impossible perfection.

And I’ll never let myself

believe that someone really loves me.

Conner lives his entire life striving to be the best at everything - academics, football, appearances - always to fall short of his parents expectations. Nothing is and ever will be good enough in their eyes; Conner will never be as perfect as his twin Cara, he can always achieve more, always do better. He is always a constant disappointment in their eyes. Obviously, the lack of love from his parents - love he has never experienced, even as a child - scars Conner in an internal way that is very hard to fix. It's this lack of love that drives Conner to be with Emily - his neighbor, and also his teacher. Emily doesn't want anyone to know about them being together, and eventually all the pressure from his parents, the fact that Emily is going to break things off between them, drives Conner over the edge. He tries to kill himself with a gun, and his failed attempt at suicide lands him in Aspen Springs. It is there that he meets Vanessa and Tony, and tries to change his life. 

Tony:

“Do you know how

              Many nights I lay in bed,

wondering what I’d

done to deserve your

silence? What had I said?

              What did I ever do, but love you?”

Tony's father abandoned him when he was just a child, leaving him with mother - a prostitute - who doesn't care about Tony at all. One night, one of her boyfriends rapes Tony, only 8 at the times, and his mother refuses to believe him. Tony's then put in Juvie for several years for 'attacking' one of his mother's boyfriends, and when he finally gets out, he ends up living on the streets, not wanting to be near his mother. Bumming change, selling his body to men, anything he has to in order to survive. Eventually, he swallows too many pills, but doesn't die, instead ending up in Aspen Springs. Tony is such an admirable character though; despite his horrible childhood, he still manages to make Conner and Vanessa smile, to make them feel better, even though he's still struggling. 

Vanessa:

And the thought of that

makes me want

to open a vein,

experience pain,

know I’m alive, despite

this living death.

Vanessa's father is a part of the army, never home expect for that rare occasion every several years, and this leaves Vanessa and her younger brother Bryan alone with their bipolar, schizophrenic, abusive mother. Vanessa also suffers from Bipolar Disorder, and one day she decides that everything - her mother, the beatings, the mood swings from manic white to deep blue, her life - is all just too much. So she lets her trusty blade do more than normal, cutting deeper and wider than she ever has before. Her brother and grandmother find her, bleeding out in the bathtub, and the paramedics, and her grandmother's nursing skills, keep her alive. After being sent to Aspen Springs, she is diagnosed with BPD, and is given proper medication to help curve the effects of her disease. Conner and Tony also help her. But it's ultimately up to her to fight her bipolar disorder, to continue getting the help she needs.


In Conclusion:

All three characters face real, terrible situations and lifestyles. They don't have dinner with the family, don't have people they feel the can trust, they feel that they don't have love, and they feel that life, for them, isn't worth living anyone. I'm going to be honest, this book is an emotional rollercoaster, and is one of the saddest novels I have ever read. Oh, Hopkins also writes in verse, but don't let that be a deciding factor in whether or not you read her novels - it would feel weird if they weren't written in verse. The poetic style adds even more uniqueness to Hopkin's novels, of course adding in the real-life situations her characters face. The one thing I don't understand is why Tony and Conner see Vanessa as this perfect angel who can make their lives so much better, but that's neither here nor there. Impulse is definitely not a book to be missed. It makes you think differently, view people in a different light. It makes you not want to judge, but instead to understand.

Imperfections create character.

If you've never read a novel by Ellen Hopkins, I strongly suggest you read Impulse. If you've ever been hesitant to read one of her books, I strongly suggest you read Impulse. If you've ever read one of her novels but not this one, I strongly suggest you read it. And even if you've read Impulse, I strongly suggest you pick it up and read it again. Because this masterpiece is not one to be missed or overlooked. 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Today's Review is on.....

Divergent by Veronica Roth

5 out of 5 Stars!

"My will is mine...I shall not make it soft for you."

-Agamemnon, Aeschylus

This quote sums up this book pretty well. In the world of Divergent, society is split into five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Erudite and Dauntless. The main character, Beatrice Prior, lives in the faction of Abnegation with her family, where she was raised as one of the Selfless. However, when you reach the age of 16, you have the choice to leave the faction you were born into and choose another. This is when Beatrice ends up leaving her faction of Abnegation for Dauntless (the Brave), changing her name to Tris. There she must face three stages of training in order to be accepted and made into a member, risking becoming Factionless in the process (which is the basically being homeless, living on the outskirts of the city with no hope of ever belonging again). Belonging to a faction is the most important thing in the world this novel is set it, and you're pretty much screwed if you don't belong to a faction.

"Faction before blood."

This is like a sacred law that people live by in the world of Divergent, and if you decide to join another faction during the Choosing Ceremony, one different from your family, you are expected to forget them, and accept your new Faction as your family. I do not agree with this; asking someone to forget who raised him/her, with whom he/she has lived with for 16 years, is basically asking for rebellions of some sort. But it seems to be working for this world, for now at least. Although I don't really understand how these factions came to be. Yeah, to stop war and fighting and whathaveyou, but isn't dividing a nation like this just asking for war? 

"I don't care about the factions." she shakes her head. "Look where they got us. Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again." 

Well said, Ms. Prior, very well said. At least someone in this dystopia realizes how messed up the world has become.

Onto the main characters:

Tris:

I freaking love this character. She's strong, independent, smart, and even though she is from the Abnegation, she took a risk and chose the Dauntless. My favorite line from her:

"Did I shoot him in the leg? No. He walks."

Tris will not take crap from anyone, and this quote shows how she has grown throughout the book. Even though she hates it, she does "pretend some vulnerability" in order to survive. I know other people have said it's cliche that she goes from no training to all-star, but that's because she's Divergent. Tris has an advantage over the other initiates, and she knows how to use this advantage to its fullest.

Four:

Reading Free Four has helped me understand this character more. Four can be cruel, but he has his moments, and I will admit to grinning when he and Tris share these moments together. 

"Sometimes I forget that I can hurt you. That you are capable of being hurt."

Four has the perfect blend of strength and vulnerability, which you don't see much in heroes in recent YA novels. Or at least the ones I've been reading. Most of the time it's unbelievably hot guy that's arrogant and sometimes jerky, but will eventually show redeeming qualities and then everyone loves him. I admit, I am not immune (Daemon Black from the Lux series by JLA. Ohhhh, Daemon....) But it starts to get old -and annoying- real quick. Anyway, as I said earlier, Four is cruel during some scenes, but it really is just to help Tris in the eyes of Dauntless leaders and other initiates. And he always makes sure she's okay afterwards. And he's freaking smart and awesome with computers.

"I think we've made a mistake," he says softly. "We've all started to put down the virtues of the other factions in the process of bolstering our own."

Side Characters:

Not only are our heroine and hero awesome, but the side characters are pretty cool, too. I really liked Christina and Will, and how they helped Tris. Tris's mother is badass, and so are her father and brother (Caleb) when push comes to shove. Eric is a dangerous enemy, mixing Erudite intelligence with the newer-Dauntless cruelty, and so is Jeanine, with her genius qualities and abilities to solve any problem she is faced with, regardless of the consequences. Oh, and I hate Peter, but doesn't everyone?

The Ending:

I wasn't sure where this book would go, in the end, for the climax. But I was not disappointed. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say there is a ton of action, heartache, and holy-shit-what-just-happened moments. It was epic and amazing. This book was pretty long though; this is only the first in a trilogy, but I feel like I just read two books worth of information. Not that I'm complaining. I am very curious to see where this series will go. I'm not reading any information about Insurgent or Allegiant because I don't want to spoil anything for myself. I will admit to being nervous, though, because it seems like not many people liked the third and final book in the Divergent series. But I'm finishing this series with a clear mind and no expectations. 

If you like dystopian novels with action, romance, and just all-around awesomeness, then read this book! You will not be disappointed, and will get hooked on the amazing world of Divergent just like I did :)