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Knight of The Dead II: Cavalry
Knight of The Dead II: Cavalry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Knight of the Dead 2: Cavalry is author Ron Smorynski’s second book in this action-packed, zombie apocalypse book with a medieval twist. In the second book, Ronan and his family have found themselves a place to build up as their fortress and are ready to start bringing others into their midst. But as their little community grows, they find themselves faced with inner conflict as much as dealing with the danger the world has become. This conflict mainly arises from the fact that when it was just his family, Ronan shared the same beliefs as everyone else, they understood each other’s skills, and trusted each other completely, which is not the case with traumatized strangers. The book is a quick and easy read that is full of action-packed zombie fights and chases, interesting ways of surviving in an apocalyptic world, and sweet family moments. I would say that this book is best suited for those that love zombie, apocalypse, and Christian literature.
I really appreciated the small moments throughout the book that hold sweet moments of family. In a dark world, it is nice to see those moments of trying to keep a little innocence alive for young children, sharing love, the comradery of close friends, and the earnest desire to protect one another. What this book, and the series as a whole, are very strong in is the action. This does not just mean the actual fights but the interesting chases, the intense moments of sneaking through the city, searching for materials needed to survive, and trying to save others. I thought that the addition of new characters was great and through their eyes allowed us to learn even more about the central family. Especially when it came to dealing with conflict and trusting those around them. In this book, the family’s connection to God is strengthened and becomes a key aspect of their mental journeys and how they deal with the horror that surrounds them.
Smorynski has done an excellent job of creating an atmosphere in the series that feels possible. For both the physical shape of the world and the mental space of the characters, you can see this being a future for humanity despite the sci-fi premise. I found the book to be a fun read and look forward to reading the next installment in the series.
  
Captive (Cautiva) (2003)
Captive (Cautiva) (2003)
2003 | Drama
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Great Cast
Wow. Just wow. Every now and then, a movie comes along that exceeds your expectations. Something you’re. truly not ready for. There is so much depth in Captive (Cautiva). I highly recommend it. It follows the story of a girl who finds out her family is actually not her own and that she was given to another family at birth. She now has to go and live with her biological family.

Acting: 10
While I am not familiar with many of the actors/actresses in Captive, I must say I loved Barbara Lombardo’s performance. She plays the daughter torn between two worlds. I love the passion that she captures in the role along with her ambiguity. She was stellar.

Beginning: 2
Very slow start and one of the only things keeping this movie from begin a classic. If I hadn’t committed to watching this to review it, I may have turned from it after the first ten minutes. Glad I gave it a fair shake as things definitely pick up.

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Director Gaston Biraben gives you a great look into the 90’s world of Argentina. Each scene was captivating and enlightening at the same time. You are really are thrown into two different worlds with the court system being the tie that binds.

Conflict: 10
What a daunting story! You can’t help but ask yourself how you would handle a situation like this. As I mentioned above, there is so much to unpack as the story unfolds and it creates great conflict overall.

Entertainment Value: 6

Memorability: 10
I’ve seen a number of movies since, but this movie came rushing back to me as soon as I turned it on. Great cast. Great story with depth that leaves a number of questions. Definitely leaves an impression.

Pace: 10
The story moves very consistently from beginning to end. As things start to unfold, you are left wondering what the end result will be. The conflict keeps the pace in check driving the story forward at a solid clip.

Plot: 10

Resolution: 6

Overall: 84
The main character’s persistence in finding out the truth of everything happening drives Captive for me. It’s a drama turned mystery and I appreciate how it evolves. I am so glad I didn’t judge the movie by its first ten minutes because it’s great.
  
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
1980 | Fantasy, Sci-Fi
I like Darth Vader before seeing this one, but isn't he AMAZING! I know you're not supposed to like the villain, but we know pretty much everybody just loves Vader. The atmosphere of this movie is definitely more ominous, as it should be. The story is darker, it draws you into this building conflict that you're just waiting for someone to make the first strike (even when you've seen it umpteen times!). Many fans claim this as their favorite of the films, but I can't separate any of the original titles. I truly enjoy them as a full presentation, just with breaks in between each story segment. Empire Strikes Back is of course darker, but no less enjoyable for the whole family.