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Jean Reno recommended Life Is Beautiful (1979) in Movies (curated)
Obsessed book reviews (49 KP) rated Play to Win (Risky Business, #3) in Books
May 7, 2019
this book will defiantly keep you hooked long into the night, a defiant page turner of a read. fantastic characters and story line. this book has a love triangle story line to keep you hooked. this book contains lots of twists and turns and ups and downs. the author has a fab way of keeping you guessing of what is coming with each page you turn.
highly recommended
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https://obsessedbookreviews.wordpress.com/?s=tiffany+snow
highly recommended
https://www.facebook.com/obsessedbookreviews
https://obsessedbookreviews.wordpress.com/?s=tiffany+snow
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) in Movies
Jun 11, 2019
Snow White has certainly been receiving a lot of attention this year and it’s been hard to ignore two films competing with each other to win the accolade of best cinema adaptation.
Julia Roberts has already starred in sickly sweet adaptation Mirror Mirror and here Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame takes on the lead role in the gritty, dramatic adaptation of the fairytale. But is it a good take on a children’s classic?
Snow White & The Huntsman opens as you would expect with a look back at the aforementioned Princess’ traumatic childhood, from the death of her mother, to witnessing the death of her father King Magnus, it seems like any normal child would’ve had a few problems after this but Snow seems a little more reserved.
Snow White’s father is killed at the hands of her wicked stepmother, played wonderfully by Charlize Theron who really gets her teeth into the role she’s been given and plays the character with a nice dose of evil intertwined with brief moments of sincerity. Those of you familiar with the story will no doubt know that Snow White hides with the seven dwarves to escape the clutches of her stepmother, but more on that later.
Chris Hemsworth, who seems to be getting more and more acting jobs these days does a nice job as the widowed, constantly drunk huntsman, though his accent is a little hard to assess, no doubt done to cover his Australian roots.
Hemsworth is sent by the wicked Queen to kill Snow White so that her eternal youth isn’t threatened but things run less than smoothly as he realises that he is being tricked, he and Snow then decide to go on the run, bumping into the seven dwarves along the way.
The Kingdom in which they live is beautifully realised in fabulous CGI, from the dark forest, to the towering stone walls of the castle and then further into the ‘sanctuary’ a place where people can go to relax and unwind. Fairies, badgers, foxes, rabbits, mushrooms with beady little eyes and moss covered tortoises are amongst the creatures here and ruling over them all is the spirit of the forest, a fabulous and very real looking white stag.
This is, however, where Snow White & The Huntsman falls short. Yes, the CGI is impeccable and yes the acting is good, but it all feels a little bit soulless. It’s all about the frills rather than creating a deep and meaningful story. It has the basics right but it’s impossible to care about the characters because there isn’t enough back-story. Each set piece is interspersed with a little bit of emotion, but it’s not really enough and because of this, the entire film feels disjointed.
This is made worse by the fact the film is stretched to over two hours when there isn’t really enough story to create a two hour film.
Unfortunately, these points detract from what is a wonderful and beautifully realised adaptation of a classic children’s fairytale. To compare it to Mirror Mirror would be unfair as they are both so different. Snow White & The Huntsman is like last year’s Alice in Wonderland, it all looks and sounds great, but is ultimately; decidedly average.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2012/06/07/snow-white-the-huntsman-review/
Julia Roberts has already starred in sickly sweet adaptation Mirror Mirror and here Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame takes on the lead role in the gritty, dramatic adaptation of the fairytale. But is it a good take on a children’s classic?
Snow White & The Huntsman opens as you would expect with a look back at the aforementioned Princess’ traumatic childhood, from the death of her mother, to witnessing the death of her father King Magnus, it seems like any normal child would’ve had a few problems after this but Snow seems a little more reserved.
Snow White’s father is killed at the hands of her wicked stepmother, played wonderfully by Charlize Theron who really gets her teeth into the role she’s been given and plays the character with a nice dose of evil intertwined with brief moments of sincerity. Those of you familiar with the story will no doubt know that Snow White hides with the seven dwarves to escape the clutches of her stepmother, but more on that later.
Chris Hemsworth, who seems to be getting more and more acting jobs these days does a nice job as the widowed, constantly drunk huntsman, though his accent is a little hard to assess, no doubt done to cover his Australian roots.
Hemsworth is sent by the wicked Queen to kill Snow White so that her eternal youth isn’t threatened but things run less than smoothly as he realises that he is being tricked, he and Snow then decide to go on the run, bumping into the seven dwarves along the way.
The Kingdom in which they live is beautifully realised in fabulous CGI, from the dark forest, to the towering stone walls of the castle and then further into the ‘sanctuary’ a place where people can go to relax and unwind. Fairies, badgers, foxes, rabbits, mushrooms with beady little eyes and moss covered tortoises are amongst the creatures here and ruling over them all is the spirit of the forest, a fabulous and very real looking white stag.
This is, however, where Snow White & The Huntsman falls short. Yes, the CGI is impeccable and yes the acting is good, but it all feels a little bit soulless. It’s all about the frills rather than creating a deep and meaningful story. It has the basics right but it’s impossible to care about the characters because there isn’t enough back-story. Each set piece is interspersed with a little bit of emotion, but it’s not really enough and because of this, the entire film feels disjointed.
This is made worse by the fact the film is stretched to over two hours when there isn’t really enough story to create a two hour film.
Unfortunately, these points detract from what is a wonderful and beautifully realised adaptation of a classic children’s fairytale. To compare it to Mirror Mirror would be unfair as they are both so different. Snow White & The Huntsman is like last year’s Alice in Wonderland, it all looks and sounds great, but is ultimately; decidedly average.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2012/06/07/snow-white-the-huntsman-review/
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in Books
Sep 17, 2020
A great edition to the saga
Here we have a great prequel to a saga I love and it was done well. In this book we are taken back to the early days of the Hunget Games, with the turmoil of the war still felt. Instead of seeing the Games from the perspective of not some District reble, but the Capital born Cornelious Snow.
A little inside into his early and transformative years was refreshing and made me want to dive right back into the trilogy.
One thing Susan Collins does so well is write protagonists who are far from perfect and borderline unlikeable, yet from Katniss to Snow, somehow, we still end up routing for them.
Well worth a read, but it is definitely better read after The Hunger Games, when it will be truly apriciated.
Get ready to gasp!
A little inside into his early and transformative years was refreshing and made me want to dive right back into the trilogy.
One thing Susan Collins does so well is write protagonists who are far from perfect and borderline unlikeable, yet from Katniss to Snow, somehow, we still end up routing for them.
Well worth a read, but it is definitely better read after The Hunger Games, when it will be truly apriciated.
Get ready to gasp!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Cover of Snow in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Nora awakes one cold January morning to discover the unthinkable - her husband has committed suicide. As she tries to figure out why, she begins to uncover things about his past she never knew. Will she figure out why? What else will she uncover?
Definitely a darker book than I normally read, but I am glad I did. The characters were real, the plot was tight, and the writing was so good I felt the cold of an upper New York State winter. Hard to believe this is a debut novel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-cover-of-snow-by-jenny.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Definitely a darker book than I normally read, but I am glad I did. The characters were real, the plot was tight, and the writing was so good I felt the cold of an upper New York State winter. Hard to believe this is a debut novel.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-cover-of-snow-by-jenny.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Katarzyna Krasuska (81 KP) rated Stockwell Story in Books
Mar 1, 2021
Dialog is amazing (4 more)
Characters are really likeable
Great ending
Super funny
Glossary at the back
Absolute must read - so funny!
What a great book. So refreshing to read something so different, so out there. In the world of political correctness this is definitely going to upset quite a few snow flakes. But if you are old school and you have a great sense of humour, this will definitely be your cup of tea. Very "Guy Ritchie" like. Highly recommend it.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2086 KP) rated Owl Be Home for Christmas in Books
Dec 21, 2019
White Christmas? Check! But Will Snow and a Killer Keep Meg from Being Home for Christmas?
It’s a few days before Christmas and Meg Langslow and much of her family are at the Caerphilly Inn for Owl Fest 2019, a conference being put on by Meg’s grandfather. Unfortunately, the worst winter storm in decades has also decided to visit, trapping the attendees in the hotel and possibly keeping them from going home for Christmas. As the snow continues to fall, tempers continue to rise. Owls are not without their controversy, but Dr. Frogmore seems to be at the center of much of the arguments breaking out. No one much likes him, but for some, the problems with him go much deeper. However, when Dr. Frogmore drops dead, Meg’s father suspects that it wasn’t natural causes. Are they trapped at the inn with a killer? Can Meg figure out what is really happening before the snow ends so the conference attendees fly home?
This novel uses a classic mystery trope – everyone trapped someplace with a killer. I’m a little disappointed since it’s been used twice in a row in the series now, and the result was me beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic while I was reading. The mystery itself was solid. It’s obvious early on who the victim will be, and we learn about motives and suspects even before he drops dead. The further complications after the murder takes place kept me guessing until the end. As much as I enjoy spending time with Meg’s family, they aren’t as funny as they used to be. The new characters do provide some laughs, but there are some serious issues in the book that dampen some of the humor. All told, this is still a fun entry to the series that will please Meg’s many fans.
This novel uses a classic mystery trope – everyone trapped someplace with a killer. I’m a little disappointed since it’s been used twice in a row in the series now, and the result was me beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic while I was reading. The mystery itself was solid. It’s obvious early on who the victim will be, and we learn about motives and suspects even before he drops dead. The further complications after the murder takes place kept me guessing until the end. As much as I enjoy spending time with Meg’s family, they aren’t as funny as they used to be. The new characters do provide some laughs, but there are some serious issues in the book that dampen some of the humor. All told, this is still a fun entry to the series that will please Meg’s many fans.
Lindsay (1693 KP) rated A Celebration of Winter (Mariana Books Rhyming #4) in Books
Jan 11, 2022
A Celebration of Winter is a book about Winter and its fun activities and holidays we celebrate during the season. This book goes along with the others in the series. Children will learn all about the Winter and learn to rhyme. They can learn to read with this book as well. It is pretty easy to read and enjoyable.
What fun activities can your child or children do during the Winter? What can they do for fun in the cold or snow? You will enjoy the family get-together. Children can enjoy decorating for a unique visitor during this holiday season. They will also probably enjoy getting the house decorated for Christmas.
This book also talks about Winter. The way it is the last season of the holiday before it starts all over again. Children will learn that each season is three months long. December starts the winter season and ends in February. Children will discover that there are four seasons in a year. The images created did well.
They capture the season and the meaning of this book. What are some of your child or children's favorite winter activities or traditions during the winter months? What things will you and your child or children do during the winter season?
What fun activities can your child or children do during the Winter? What can they do for fun in the cold or snow? You will enjoy the family get-together. Children can enjoy decorating for a unique visitor during this holiday season. They will also probably enjoy getting the house decorated for Christmas.
This book also talks about Winter. The way it is the last season of the holiday before it starts all over again. Children will learn that each season is three months long. December starts the winter season and ends in February. Children will discover that there are four seasons in a year. The images created did well.
They capture the season and the meaning of this book. What are some of your child or children's favorite winter activities or traditions during the winter months? What things will you and your child or children do during the winter season?
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Odd Sisters: A Villains Novel (Villains #6) in Books
Jan 13, 2022
I love the Villains series and I think they just get better the more you read. And this was no exception.
Although it’s been a while since I read Mother Knows Best, the story is so easy to follow that it really didn’t matter and it all came flooding back to me as I read on.
We follow Circe and Snow White as they try to understand the Odd Sisters before they find a way to get themselves out of the dreamscape to continue wreaking havoc on the world. Whilst trying to understand them, Snow White falls upon a story related to Gothel’s mother and grandmother but the last pages have been torn out of the book, Snow White knows that she must find those pages in order to understand the story fully and for her suspicions around Gothel and the Odd Sisters to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, in Fairyland, the fairies have heard that the Odd Sisters are trying to resurrect Maleficent in an attempt to use her to destroy Fairyland on their behalf. Will the Odd Sisters succeed? Or will Circe manage to stop her Mothers in time?
I love this series and love the imagination that goes in to the back story for each villain. But the theme of the Odd Sisters throughout each of the books is a very interesting one, and I find it interesting that there is a way to weave them into the chaos of each fairytale somehow. This book made me understand the sisters more, whilst finding out more about their background.
I’m very interested to see what happens in the next 2 books, which I’m sure I won’t be able to put down like I haven’t been able to put this one down!
Although it’s been a while since I read Mother Knows Best, the story is so easy to follow that it really didn’t matter and it all came flooding back to me as I read on.
We follow Circe and Snow White as they try to understand the Odd Sisters before they find a way to get themselves out of the dreamscape to continue wreaking havoc on the world. Whilst trying to understand them, Snow White falls upon a story related to Gothel’s mother and grandmother but the last pages have been torn out of the book, Snow White knows that she must find those pages in order to understand the story fully and for her suspicions around Gothel and the Odd Sisters to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, in Fairyland, the fairies have heard that the Odd Sisters are trying to resurrect Maleficent in an attempt to use her to destroy Fairyland on their behalf. Will the Odd Sisters succeed? Or will Circe manage to stop her Mothers in time?
I love this series and love the imagination that goes in to the back story for each villain. But the theme of the Odd Sisters throughout each of the books is a very interesting one, and I find it interesting that there is a way to weave them into the chaos of each fairytale somehow. This book made me understand the sisters more, whilst finding out more about their background.
I’m very interested to see what happens in the next 2 books, which I’m sure I won’t be able to put down like I haven’t been able to put this one down!
Lottie disney bookworm (1056 KP) rated Mirror, Mirror in Books
Aug 16, 2019
Review by Disney Bookworm
Contains spoilers, click to show
If I’m honest I initially thought the tagline to this Snow White twisted tale novel was a massive plot spoiler but, when you are 300 pages into a book and no-one has eaten a poisoned apple, it may be the ideal opportunity to admit you were wrong. This book is not that simple!
Mirror, Mirror explores the traditional Grimm fairy tale of Snow White through the eyes of the two main characters: the Evil Queen and Snow White herself. The reader is completely under the control of these two women: finding themselves with no choice but to witness the familiar story from their perspective.
Jen Calonita’s novel is also heavily built on story telling through flashbacks. In my opinion, this is a genius idea as it provides an undeniable depth to her characters. Let’s be honest, everyone knows the story of Snow White but not everyone knows the story before Snow White and it is here where the twisted tale evolves.
Through these flashbacks we meet Katherine and Ingrid: two sisters whom have lost their mother and are being raised by their neglectful, sometimes violent, father. As a result of their upbringing, Ingrid, the elder sister, has adopted a motherly role towards her younger sister Katherine and strives to protect the innocent girl at all times. They leave home, finding work on a farm where Katherine finds her passion within the apple orchard, cultivating a new variety of apple which will later attract the attention of the King.
Ingrid however, always wants more than what she has. Older and more aware of the hardship life can bring, Ingrid is not as sweet and innocent as her sister: people do not dote on Ingrid as they do Katherine and eventually Ingrid finds that she cannot settle for a simple life- instead opting for a job in a small shop known for its association with dark magic and the home of a certain mirror.
You may have guessed by now that Ingrid is, in fact, the Evil Queen and her sister Katherine is Snow White’s mother! I know what you are thinking, I have just described how protective Ingrid was of the future Queen: surely she wouldn’t “off” her own sister and try to collect her niece’s heart in a box?
This is where the complexity of Ingrid’s character really shines through and where, (if hats suited me) I will take my hat off to Jen Calonita. Mirror Mirror takes you on a journey with Ingrid. You experience her love for her sister first-hand as well as her frustration with her sheltered life but later you also witness her lust for power and how easily Ingrid’s choices lead her down the wrong path.
I also believe that Ingrid is truly scarred by her past. She sneers upon her sister’s kindness and villainises Katherine for letting a man, and later her baby, come between them. Ingrid views herself as wiser and more intelligent than her little sister: believing that she would certainly rule the Kingdom more efficiently and not stopping until this becomes a reality.
Despite being a formidable woman, Ingrid is not devoid of vulnerabilities and, as the story progresses, the readers will witness Ingrid’s ghosts and note how one in particular never leaves her until the very end.
Of course, Ingrid’s enabler is the magic mirror. Calonita paints a picture of a mirror identical to the one we remember from the Disney 1938 classic animated film with a haunting mask dominating and manipulating The Evil Queen with every chance it gets.
The mirror creates an obsession and dependence within Ingrid that is chillingly portrayed. It is undoubtedly the real villain of the story: demanding blood from the start and weakening Ingrid until she cleaves to its will. However, we all know who is standing between the mirror and its plans for domination and undisputed power: the princess Snow White.
In the past, I have made no secret of the fact that Snow is my least favourite Disney princess. Her voice in the film grated on me and I just genuinely found her irritating. Thankfully Calonita’s Snow White is more akin to the ‘Once Upon A Time’ interpretation and so much easier to form a relationship with as a reader.
While fulfilling our expectations of being kind, innocent and prone to falling in love with conveniently handsome Princes: Mirror Mirror’s Snow White is bolder than we are used to and, as her story progresses, becomes more confident in herself as the heir to the kingdom. Her priorities are more political in nature, with a strong focus on rebuilding her kingdom and her bravery shines through almost from the very beginning. Snow does encounter challenges and dark thoughts as any person does but earns her Disney princess badge by helping true love to save the day!
Similarly, the seven dwarves are not as one-dimensional as the classic movie. They assist the Princess of course and shelter her in the forest but they also seem more street-wise (or should that be forest-wise?), squirreling away diamonds for bartering and mustering armies for Snow’s cause. There isn’t too much focus on the seven men in Mirror Mirror but I don’t think that the book is necessarily missing this. I think the characters are so well-known that too much character development would stray away from the main plot.
Mirror, Mirror is a modern adaptation of the familiar fairytale: centring itself around two very strong women in their own right but polar opposites in terms of their characters and choices in life.
The novel makes several nods to the iconic images formed in 1938 by Walt Disney such as the apple, the glass coffin and, of course, the seven dwarves. However, the recurring theme of choosing your own story and the complex backgrounds to her characters cause Jen Calonita’s novel to stand out on its own.
It may not have been the traditional “happy ever after” but this adaptation of Snow White was, in my opinion, the “fairest of them all”.
Written by The Disney Bookworm:
https://disneybookworm.home.blog
Mirror, Mirror explores the traditional Grimm fairy tale of Snow White through the eyes of the two main characters: the Evil Queen and Snow White herself. The reader is completely under the control of these two women: finding themselves with no choice but to witness the familiar story from their perspective.
Jen Calonita’s novel is also heavily built on story telling through flashbacks. In my opinion, this is a genius idea as it provides an undeniable depth to her characters. Let’s be honest, everyone knows the story of Snow White but not everyone knows the story before Snow White and it is here where the twisted tale evolves.
Through these flashbacks we meet Katherine and Ingrid: two sisters whom have lost their mother and are being raised by their neglectful, sometimes violent, father. As a result of their upbringing, Ingrid, the elder sister, has adopted a motherly role towards her younger sister Katherine and strives to protect the innocent girl at all times. They leave home, finding work on a farm where Katherine finds her passion within the apple orchard, cultivating a new variety of apple which will later attract the attention of the King.
Ingrid however, always wants more than what she has. Older and more aware of the hardship life can bring, Ingrid is not as sweet and innocent as her sister: people do not dote on Ingrid as they do Katherine and eventually Ingrid finds that she cannot settle for a simple life- instead opting for a job in a small shop known for its association with dark magic and the home of a certain mirror.
You may have guessed by now that Ingrid is, in fact, the Evil Queen and her sister Katherine is Snow White’s mother! I know what you are thinking, I have just described how protective Ingrid was of the future Queen: surely she wouldn’t “off” her own sister and try to collect her niece’s heart in a box?
This is where the complexity of Ingrid’s character really shines through and where, (if hats suited me) I will take my hat off to Jen Calonita. Mirror Mirror takes you on a journey with Ingrid. You experience her love for her sister first-hand as well as her frustration with her sheltered life but later you also witness her lust for power and how easily Ingrid’s choices lead her down the wrong path.
I also believe that Ingrid is truly scarred by her past. She sneers upon her sister’s kindness and villainises Katherine for letting a man, and later her baby, come between them. Ingrid views herself as wiser and more intelligent than her little sister: believing that she would certainly rule the Kingdom more efficiently and not stopping until this becomes a reality.
Despite being a formidable woman, Ingrid is not devoid of vulnerabilities and, as the story progresses, the readers will witness Ingrid’s ghosts and note how one in particular never leaves her until the very end.
Of course, Ingrid’s enabler is the magic mirror. Calonita paints a picture of a mirror identical to the one we remember from the Disney 1938 classic animated film with a haunting mask dominating and manipulating The Evil Queen with every chance it gets.
The mirror creates an obsession and dependence within Ingrid that is chillingly portrayed. It is undoubtedly the real villain of the story: demanding blood from the start and weakening Ingrid until she cleaves to its will. However, we all know who is standing between the mirror and its plans for domination and undisputed power: the princess Snow White.
In the past, I have made no secret of the fact that Snow is my least favourite Disney princess. Her voice in the film grated on me and I just genuinely found her irritating. Thankfully Calonita’s Snow White is more akin to the ‘Once Upon A Time’ interpretation and so much easier to form a relationship with as a reader.
While fulfilling our expectations of being kind, innocent and prone to falling in love with conveniently handsome Princes: Mirror Mirror’s Snow White is bolder than we are used to and, as her story progresses, becomes more confident in herself as the heir to the kingdom. Her priorities are more political in nature, with a strong focus on rebuilding her kingdom and her bravery shines through almost from the very beginning. Snow does encounter challenges and dark thoughts as any person does but earns her Disney princess badge by helping true love to save the day!
Similarly, the seven dwarves are not as one-dimensional as the classic movie. They assist the Princess of course and shelter her in the forest but they also seem more street-wise (or should that be forest-wise?), squirreling away diamonds for bartering and mustering armies for Snow’s cause. There isn’t too much focus on the seven men in Mirror Mirror but I don’t think that the book is necessarily missing this. I think the characters are so well-known that too much character development would stray away from the main plot.
Mirror, Mirror is a modern adaptation of the familiar fairytale: centring itself around two very strong women in their own right but polar opposites in terms of their characters and choices in life.
The novel makes several nods to the iconic images formed in 1938 by Walt Disney such as the apple, the glass coffin and, of course, the seven dwarves. However, the recurring theme of choosing your own story and the complex backgrounds to her characters cause Jen Calonita’s novel to stand out on its own.
It may not have been the traditional “happy ever after” but this adaptation of Snow White was, in my opinion, the “fairest of them all”.
Written by The Disney Bookworm:
https://disneybookworm.home.blog
