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Rachel King (13 KP) rated Daily Guideposts 2011 in Books
Feb 11, 2019
I grew up in church, so the name of Guideposts has been familiar to me my whole life. This book of devotionals lives up to its familiar name. Guideposts has become synonymous with quality in materials for prayer and reflection, and this book is no exception. The Introduction tells me that the theme for this collaborative effort is "Growing in Love." Each day in the book is one page, with a Bible verse at the beginning and a short prayer at the end, with a true, first-person narrative in between. Each month is preceded by a lovely black-and-white photograph of a lighthouse, with a Bible verse somewhere in the picture. The end of each month has a blank section titled "Seeds of Love" in which the reader can record something God has been doing in his or her life on one line for each day of that month. The end of the book contains a section titled "Fellowship Corner," which lists all of the fifty-five contributors for this devotional, complete with pictures of the people and their thoughts of the past year.
I can really appreciate the collaborative effort put into this book, as each devotional is unique and well thought out. The various viewpoints of the different writers are quite interesting, especially since I know they can all be depended on to believe in and write about the Word of God. While I obviously have not read through every page in this devotional since the time I received it from the publisher, I plan on continuing to use it in the coming new year as part of my personal time with Jesus.
I can really appreciate the collaborative effort put into this book, as each devotional is unique and well thought out. The various viewpoints of the different writers are quite interesting, especially since I know they can all be depended on to believe in and write about the Word of God. While I obviously have not read through every page in this devotional since the time I received it from the publisher, I plan on continuing to use it in the coming new year as part of my personal time with Jesus.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Shrek Forever After (2010) in Movies
Aug 8, 2019
After spending years scaring villagers with his evil roar, then rescuing princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a dragon, and saving his in-laws’ kingdom, Shrek (Mike Meyers) feels his adventuresome days are over. This doesn’t sit well with him and he finds himself growing somewhat weary of his day-to-day life of a loving husband and father of three. He longs to be a “real” ogre again.
Enter Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), who tricks Shrek into signing a contract with him, giving up a day of his life to be a real ogre again. Shrek finds himself back in Far Far Away, but this time it’s an alternate universe, one where ogres are hunted. In this alternate world, Shrek soon learns after meeting up with Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) and Fiona, that they have never met before.
Shrek realizes that the only way to fix things is to make Princess Fiona fall in love with him, and recruits Donkey and Puss in Boots to help him. Along the way Shrek faces many challenges in the world where Rumpelstiltskin rules and witches thwart his every effort, but in the end (as all fairy tales should, of course) love conquers all.
With nonstop laughs from the get go, this movie will not disappoint. The 3D effects were impressive, added a great depth to the movie, and really brought it to life. Although this is the fourth movie in the franchise, I was impressed with this one most of all. It has a heartfelt storyline that can capture an audience of all ages, making it a wonderful conclusion to the Shrek series.
4.5 out of 5
Enter Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn), who tricks Shrek into signing a contract with him, giving up a day of his life to be a real ogre again. Shrek finds himself back in Far Far Away, but this time it’s an alternate universe, one where ogres are hunted. In this alternate world, Shrek soon learns after meeting up with Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) and Fiona, that they have never met before.
Shrek realizes that the only way to fix things is to make Princess Fiona fall in love with him, and recruits Donkey and Puss in Boots to help him. Along the way Shrek faces many challenges in the world where Rumpelstiltskin rules and witches thwart his every effort, but in the end (as all fairy tales should, of course) love conquers all.
With nonstop laughs from the get go, this movie will not disappoint. The 3D effects were impressive, added a great depth to the movie, and really brought it to life. Although this is the fourth movie in the franchise, I was impressed with this one most of all. It has a heartfelt storyline that can capture an audience of all ages, making it a wonderful conclusion to the Shrek series.
4.5 out of 5
The Bandersnatch (199 KP) rated The Magicians' Guild (Black Magician Trilogy, #1) in Books
Nov 7, 2019
The Magicians Guild is the first of the Black Magician Trilogy and was published in 2001, Followed by The Novice (2002) and The Black Magician (2003). The story starts with a young Slum Dweller named Sonea as she discovers her magical potential after throwing a stone through a magical barrier. Going in the run Sonea has to deal with both the magicians guild after her and the growing chaos that is her loosing control of her power. After being found by Lord Rothen and helped achieve control, Sonea must face a difficult trial for both entrance to the Guild and Mentorship between Rothen and the sinister looking Fergun.
Canavan stated on her website that the initial inspiration which ended up being part of the first chapter came form her watching a documentary of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where a report about the government taking the host cities homeless and sending them to other cities/towns. Later that night she saw herself and several others being herded out of a city...by magicians hence the first chapter.
Now when I first found the book I was in a Waterstones (Well known British bookstore) mindlessly looking....wasn't even expecting to buy a book and I came across The Magicians Guild. Finding the blurb interesting I bought it and after reading it I fell in love and I ended up rushing to buy the other two books. Hearing the influence of the first chapter reminded me of the influence Susanne Collins the writer of the Hunger games series had of flicking through channels and hearing two different news posts.
Canavan stated on her website that the initial inspiration which ended up being part of the first chapter came form her watching a documentary of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where a report about the government taking the host cities homeless and sending them to other cities/towns. Later that night she saw herself and several others being herded out of a city...by magicians hence the first chapter.
Now when I first found the book I was in a Waterstones (Well known British bookstore) mindlessly looking....wasn't even expecting to buy a book and I came across The Magicians Guild. Finding the blurb interesting I bought it and after reading it I fell in love and I ended up rushing to buy the other two books. Hearing the influence of the first chapter reminded me of the influence Susanne Collins the writer of the Hunger games series had of flicking through channels and hearing two different news posts.
JT (287 KP) rated The Mule (2018) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
With the internet flower business putting him into foreclosure, Earl Stone (Eastwood) must find alternative ways to make money. A man who was more dedicated to things growing in the ground than the family he neglected until it was too late he turns up at his granddaughter’s birthday party and doesn’t get a warm welcome.
Leaving with a business card and the offer to drive and deliver goods – no questions asked. Initially reluctant, Earl accepts the offer unbeknown to him the type of cargo he would be carrying.
Grizzled and back to doing what he does best, Clint Eastwood commands a screen presence like no other.
Eastwood’s grizzled charisma is not lost and he strikes up a friendly bond with some members of the cartel as his popularity rises. This puts him on the radar of DEA agents Bates (Bradley Cooper) and Treviño (Michael Peña) who piece together clues as to the identity of the mysterious driver known to the cartel as ‘El Tata’.
While there is a sufficient amount of tension, the film focuses on Earl desperately trying to reconnect with his family and make amends for all the times he wasn’t there – including his daughter’s wedding.
When we’re not in the passenger seat we’re following the DEA as they close in on ‘El Tata’. Changes in hierarchy within the cartel threaten to turn everything on its head and Earl is forced to make a number of decisions that will ultimately save him and his family.
The Mule has some heart-warming moments and is blessed with a strong cast. It’s not as gritty as Gran Torino but it worked for me.
Leaving with a business card and the offer to drive and deliver goods – no questions asked. Initially reluctant, Earl accepts the offer unbeknown to him the type of cargo he would be carrying.
Grizzled and back to doing what he does best, Clint Eastwood commands a screen presence like no other.
Eastwood’s grizzled charisma is not lost and he strikes up a friendly bond with some members of the cartel as his popularity rises. This puts him on the radar of DEA agents Bates (Bradley Cooper) and Treviño (Michael Peña) who piece together clues as to the identity of the mysterious driver known to the cartel as ‘El Tata’.
While there is a sufficient amount of tension, the film focuses on Earl desperately trying to reconnect with his family and make amends for all the times he wasn’t there – including his daughter’s wedding.
When we’re not in the passenger seat we’re following the DEA as they close in on ‘El Tata’. Changes in hierarchy within the cartel threaten to turn everything on its head and Earl is forced to make a number of decisions that will ultimately save him and his family.
The Mule has some heart-warming moments and is blessed with a strong cast. It’s not as gritty as Gran Torino but it worked for me.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Victor Frankenstein (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
Victor Frankenstein is basically a prequel to Mary Shelly’s book, Frankenstein, where we get to meet Igor and a younger Frankenstein as they get to meet each other.
We start off with our story teller, Igor played by Daniel Radcliffe, and how he came to be rescued by our movies namesake, Victor Frankenstein played by James McAvoy. The movie begins showing the trials Igor went through, growing up, as the lowest sideshow freak who just happened to learn how to read and become a self-taught medic for the circus that keeps him. Victor came to the circus to find more animal parts to make his homunculus, which he is building out of various animal parts he has been able to procure from zoos, as his prototype for his ultimate endeavor, making a human and bring it back to life.
Igor and Frankenstein are brought together when Igor’s paramour Lorelei falls from her trapeze and they both run to help her. Victor is about to give up and let her die when the Igor’s genius shows through and is able to save her with his quick thinking and knowledge of the human anatomy. Victor’s shrew perception bring him to offer Igor a new life and to escape from the circus.
I give Victor Frankenstein 4 out of 5 stars only due to the fact that being a prequel to the novel and not the many movies about Frankenstein and his Monster will confuse many. If you go in expecting an action movie instead of a film done in the noir horror genre in the styles before the 1950’s, you will be disappointed.
We start off with our story teller, Igor played by Daniel Radcliffe, and how he came to be rescued by our movies namesake, Victor Frankenstein played by James McAvoy. The movie begins showing the trials Igor went through, growing up, as the lowest sideshow freak who just happened to learn how to read and become a self-taught medic for the circus that keeps him. Victor came to the circus to find more animal parts to make his homunculus, which he is building out of various animal parts he has been able to procure from zoos, as his prototype for his ultimate endeavor, making a human and bring it back to life.
Igor and Frankenstein are brought together when Igor’s paramour Lorelei falls from her trapeze and they both run to help her. Victor is about to give up and let her die when the Igor’s genius shows through and is able to save her with his quick thinking and knowledge of the human anatomy. Victor’s shrew perception bring him to offer Igor a new life and to escape from the circus.
I give Victor Frankenstein 4 out of 5 stars only due to the fact that being a prequel to the novel and not the many movies about Frankenstein and his Monster will confuse many. If you go in expecting an action movie instead of a film done in the noir horror genre in the styles before the 1950’s, you will be disappointed.
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