Chasing Vermeer

Oh, gosh! I haven't updated since MAY! Wow, that's a long time ago. Well, sorry for the looong delay, but I've been reading alot and lots has been happening. Here's my review on just one of the books I've read...
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett:

Chasing Vermeer is about two kids, Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee, on a search to find a stolen painting by Vermeer. The crime turns into a worldwide event, and a big change in history, and just about everyone knows about it. But, it's only Petra and Calder that figure out that there may be more to it than what it seems. There's been a series of even small events or bits of information, and they all seem to connect in certain ways!

This book is exciting, adventurous, and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was a great read, and never got boring. What I really liked about it, though, was that the characters were so well drawn out, and you really felt like you knew them. They describe things well in this book, but they're not too descriptive. The way these characters think is really interesting, and sort of exciting in a way.

I give it three and a half stars, and can't wait to read the second book!

Iron Man

Sorry for not reviewing for a while. I know it's been longer than 3 weeks, because I've been busy and stuff, but I'm reviewing the latest movie I've seen.

Iron Man:

This was the story of Tony Stark, taking after his father in creating new styles of weapons and things, when he's captured and creates a mechanical suit to help him get out. This is where he becomes Iron Man, and sees how his weapons are helping, but also hurting the people he designed them to protect.

The thing I liked about this movie was that the graphics seemed more real than other movie's I've seen. In one movie I saw a preview for, the graphics looked very fake, and unrealistic. But, in this movie, the graphics were more realistic. One thing I didn't like much about the movie was that it took what felt like the first whole half of the movie for him to actually become Iron Man, and all. Also, I expected more action. It seemed like the movie was more about Tony Stark becoming Iron Man, rather than Iron Man himself. One thing that was different from other movies like this was that, after all the big deal of keeping the whole making of the Iron Man suit and everything, he just goes out and says to everyone "I am Iron Man." It's kind of a half disappointing part of the movie and half an interesting part. At first, it was all disappointing, but now that I think about it, I'm interested in what will happen differently from the super heroes that keep their identity a secret.

Since these kinds of movies, with the super heroes from comics and all, aren't my favorite kind of movies, you might find a very different view on it in another review, but this is my opinion. I think I'm giving this movie 2 stars.

The Grey Griffins book 1: The Revenge of the Shadow King

Enjoy my new review, and sorry for making you wait so long for it!

The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis:

The only people in all of Avalon, Minnesota, that play the card game of Round Table are the Secret Order of the Grey Griffins, made up of Max Sumner (leader), Natalia Romanov, Harley Eisenstein (Warden), and Ernie Tweeny; and, of course, the one who taught them to play, Iver. Or so they thought it was a game. This amazing story tells of what troubles the Grey Griffins face when they find out something's after them, something inhuman, and something that's also in their Round Table "game". The Revenge of the Shadow King is a great story, filled with action, adventure, fantasy, and more!

I liked this book, because the authors make the characters believable; I say that, because sometimes, you'll find the kids in stories unbelievably mentally strong, knowing what to do all the time, and not having a problem doing it, whatever the price to pay. I guess what I just said shows more in book 2, but still! I also like this book, because it was a somewhat long book, but it was fast-paced, too. You'd start reading it, and a short time later, you're thinking to yourself "I got that far, already?" I think that the only thing I didn't really like about this book was that it's kind of weird how, in one year, this kid Ray Fisher went from one of Max's closest friends to his worst enemy; It's kind of confusing, in my opinion, how exactly he got that way, and I wish they explained it a bit better. I give this book 3 stars, and I'd definitely suggest this book to anyone who likes fantasy/adventure/action books!

The Truman Show

My new movie review! Another one of my favorites.

The Truman Show:

The Truman Show is about Truman Burbank. When he was born, he was adopted legally by a company. They made a TV show called the Truman Show, and it ran 24/7 with no comercial breaks. Truman grew up in that city, and was there for as long as he can remember, but what he didn't know was that it wasn't really a city in the world, but a city inside the walls of a giant dome, so big that you could see it in a satelite picture. This is a great movie, because it's a TV show within a movie, and you laugh as you see the progress of how Truman comes to realizing that his world isn't the only world. He figures it out piece by piece as the company loses control over Truman's life. 

I liked this movie, because it was funny, at the same time as somewhat suspenseful. Another reason I liked this was that you got to see some of the fans that watch the Truman Show, and sort of saw what they thought. The only thing I didn't really like the movie was that they didn't really show what happened after he left his world, like where he lived, what he decided to do with his life, what job(s) he had, and such and such. But, I'd definitely suggest this movie to anyone searching for a good laugh! 3 stars for the Truman Show!

Fablehaven

I had very recently finished Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull, and wanted to do a review on it while it was still fresh in my mind. You may have been expecting the next book review to be on The Grey Griffins book 1: The Revenge of the Shadow King by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis, but I'm still currently reading it. Well, rereading it. I read it around a year ago, when I took a writing class from J.S. Lewis, but it's not fresh enough in my mind for me to do a proper review. So, I'm rereading it. Anyways, here's my review on Fablehaven:

Kendra, almost 14, and her 11 year old brother, Seth, get stuck staying with their Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson, because their parents are going on a cruise. The kids don't know much about the Sorensons, and they think their stay there will be boring. Grandma Sorenson is, supposedly, visiting a relative named Edna, but Kendra and Seth don't buy it. When they arrive, the kids meet Lena, the housekeeper, and Dale. Seth wanted to go explore the many forests, and so he snuck out of the house, and into the woods. After a while of exploring, he came across a witch named Muriel Taggert. She's trapped in her little hut, bound by magic that forms a rope with 13 knots, ones that can only be loosened if you're doing it under your own free will. She's down to two knots when Seth finds her, and she tries to lure him into her hut, but he runs away in time. Seth and Kendra soon find out the secrets of Fablehaven, the secret fairy preserve their grandparents live on. Fairies, demons, satyrs, goblins, and trolls galore! Grandpa Sorenson tells Kendra and Seth that there are boundaries all around the property, preventing the most evil and mischievous from entering certain areas. He tells them that there are no good guys among creatures in Fablehaven. There are simply ones less evil and mischievous. The only creatures allowed on the lawn are the fairies. A simple mistake made causes Grandpa Sorenson and Lena to be kidnapped, and Dale to turn into a statue. The kids don't know where their Grandma is, so they need help. Muriel's last knot is loosened by Kendra and Seth, when they need her to change the pet chicken, Goldilocks, back into her original form as Grandma Sorenson. The whole thing breaks out into a war, Muriel, Mendigo the overgrown wooden puppet, and Muriel's imp minions versus Grandma Sorenson, Kendra, Seth, overgrown fairies, and Hugo. When that's all over, back at the Sorensons' home, Kendra sleeps for two days straight; then, she and Seth are picked up by their parents and they all go back home.

I give this book 3 stars, and here's why:
I liked Fablehaven, because it was a quick read. I also liked it, because the fairies weren't small, delicate, and easy to hurt. They're miniature warriors, casting magic and sometimes even playing pranks! Another reason I liked Fablehaven was that what happened wasn't what I suspected, and the ending a surprise. I like books that surprise you, because, if they're too predictable, it can get boring, but this book wasn't boring! Also, I liked that it wasn't just a magical preserve of fairies, but there was actually real live dangers that even the caretakers of the preserve are afraid of. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that they didn't talk more about Warren, Dale's brother. They just said "Warren is Dale's brother" and "Dale's main reason for staying at Fablehaven is to care for Warren" and stuff, but they don't explain more about him to you. I hope they put more Warren in the second book, 'cause I'm curious!

Clash of the Titans

My newest review is on Clash of the Titans, on of my favorite movies. Enjoy!

Clash of the Titans:

Clash of the Titans is a movie revolved around Greek Mythology. It's about Perseus, the son of Zeus, who was forced into a wooden coffin-like box with his mother, when he was just a baby. Perseus and his mother were thrown out into sea by none other than the father of Perseus' mother, and the King of Argus. Zeus wasn't pleased with this act of crime. So, he told Poseidon to release the Kraken, the last of the Titans, against Argus. Argus fell, it's king with it, and Perseus and his mother floated to a small island. When Perseus is grown, he sets out on the adventure of his life, planning to take on the Kraken and Medusa, all to save the love of his life. He kills Medusa, and puts her head in a bag. Then starts their journey back home to use the Medusa's head on the Kraken, before it's do late. Kalibos, the King of the Marsh, wasn't having any of it. He was meant to be married to the princess Andromeda, and now this "Perseus, Son of Zeus" appears out of nowhere and steals her away! Kalibos knows he couldn't marry her after his transformation from man to monster, but that meant she wasn't going to marry anyone. He wasn't going to let Perseus save the day for Andromeda's hand in marriage without giving him a little trouble, oh no sirree!

I think I'll give this movie 3 1/2 stars, and here's a couple reasons why:

The Clash of the Titan's graphics weren't the best, but that's what makes it fun! What also makes it fun is how believable the characters are. The characters of the Greek gods/Olympians are so well acted out, they actually seem like they are the Greek gods acting (well, not acting if they are the characters they're playing, but you know what I mean) as themselves! I liked that it wasn't just a terrifying adventure of Perseus trying to kill monsters, but the makers of the movie made it fun, too. Also, I liked that it was an actual challenge for Perseus to get through the journey alive, and save his love, and he almost didn't make it! One thing I was somewhat disappointed about in the movie was that, after the Kraken was killed and Andromeda was saved, there wasn't any more problems with the Titans, the Greek gods, or the three blind witches.