Alfred Tennyson -- Claribel -- A Melody

Claribel

A Melody

Alfred Tennyson

I

Where Claribel low-lieth

The breezes pause and die,

Letting the rose-leaves fall:

But the solemn oak-tree sigheth,

Thick-leaved, ambrosial,

With an ancient melody

Of an inward agony,

Where Claribel low-lieth.

II

At eve the beetle boometh

Athwart the thicket lone:

At noon the wild be hummeth

About the moss'd headstone:

At midnight the moon cometh,

And looketh down alone.

Her song the lintwhite swelleth,

The clear-voiced mavis dwelleth,

The callow throstle lispeth,

The slumbrous wave outwelleth,

The babbling runnel crispeth, 

The hollow grot replieth

Where Claribel low-lieth. 

LotR -- The Two Towers -- 2003

Lord of the Rings
The Two Towers
(2003)

Rated: PG-13 for violence and frightening images
My Rating: 5 Stars

Elijah Wood
Sean Astin
Billy Boyd
Dominic Monaghan
Miranda Otto
Orlando Bloom
Ian McKellen
Viggo Mortensen
Andy Serkis
Karl Urban

John Rhys-Davies
Liv Tyler
David Wenham
Cate Blanchett
Christopher Lee
Brad Dourif
Bernard Hill
Craig Parker

“An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together. We come to honor that allegiance.”

Summary:
The Fellowship of The Ring has been broken. Gandalf has entered Shadow. Boromir met his death defending Merry and Pippin from Orcs. Merry and Pippin were captured by the Orcs Boromir hadn't killed and were borne away towards the tower of Isengard and traitor Saruman. Frodo and Sam make their way to Mordor, alone in a lonely, desolate land. Or maybe not so alone...

Knowing they can do nothing more in Frodo's quest, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli decided they were not going to leave Merry and Pippin to their fate of torture and death. So they go chase some Orc, to quote Aragorn. Three days and nights of neither food nor rest later leave them wondering if they will overtake the enemy in time.

Meanwhile evil is brewing in the city of Rohan, one of the last cities of men in Middle Earth who haven't succumbed to the evil power. Saruman has possessed it's king, Theodred and has killed or driven out most who are honorable. In their wake is left Eowyn, niece of the King, to the wiles of Saruman's ambassador, Wormtongue. Her courage wavers as her brother, cousin, uncle and all those dearest to her are taken and she alone is left with evil all around her.

Uruk-hai are more powerful than typical Orcs because they can travel in daylight. Their armor and weapons are strong and numerous. They can run at great speeds and distances without food and water. The traitor Saruman has a host of 10,000. His armies combined with those of Sauron makes a formidable force that appears invincible. Here too, we first see the dread Nazgul and shudder at their approach.

All those of Middle Earth are forced to decide with who their allegiance stands, and those who believe in Truth begin to wonder if it is a fool's hope. But Truth should never be taken lightly and Saruman has forgotten how many allies It has.

Again, the entire movie is phenomenal but here are a few of the highlights:
1: Eowyn, daughter of Kings.  I love how courageous she is. I love how she did what she had to do. She wasn't always submissive but she wasn't always rebellious. The fact that she was beautiful didn't hurt either. :-) Miranda Otto was wonderful playing this character... in fact, the movies wouldn't have been as good if she hadn't gotten the part.
2: Peter Jackson knows exactly how to leave the viewer hanging and wishing for more. The story could have gotten long and dull but the way he broke the story up into fragments kept it interesting.
3: Scenery shots on this movie were lovely. In fact, they are so majestic and beautiful that there really are no words for it.
4: I really enjoyed the battle of Helm's Deep. In fact, it is my favorite part of the movie. :-)

5: Elves. I still get goosebumps when Haldir and his army come to aid Rohan. I have watched it again and again and I'm still not tired of it. I must admit to feeling a great sadness when Haldir is killed. He doesn't appear often in the movies but when he does, he inspires honor and righteousness and devotion.
6: I really appreciate how they kept the romance theme throughout the movies. This is one area in which they changed the books that I felt was good. In the books, you almost forget that Arwen exists. By including more of Arwen, the story feels more connected.
7: When the Ents overthrow Isengard and Saruman is left without power. It's so satisfying. Lol. :-)
8: Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagol was an excellent casting. He is truly a disgusting and pitiful creature. You find yourself very wrapped up in his story and fate.
9: There is more light in this film, I think. In the books, there was a lot of singing and dancing... I appreciate how they included a little more of it in The Two Towers. I do wish they had done more because some of the songs in the books are really lovely. Tolkien was a wonderful poet.
10: There are several themes that run through the movies/books. One of them is the friendship/enmity between Legolas and Gimli. It makes for a wonderful story and lots of humor.
11: The humor, once again, is excellent.
12: The score... the music for Rohan and the battle of Helm's Deep are my favorites.

“I'm wasted on cross-country. We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances.”

Things to Know:
1: Palantirs are shown again.
2: There is magic.
3: There is a reason it's rated PG-13 (or 14A Canadian)... there are parts that are really scary for kids. Parents be cautioned.
4: Again, those who don't care for the darkness, be warned.

What I Didn't Like:
1: I didn't understand the scene where Gollum attacks Sam and Frodo until I read the books. They had spotted him and were only pretending to be asleep. Also, the rope they put around the creature's neck was elvish, therefore, it burned his skin. Thus, the complaints. :-)

If you want to further your education in literature, I would suggest Lord of the Rings. Watching/reading LotR has raised my standards... I tend to compare everything I read or watch to LotR. In my opinion, there are few stories out there that can compare, the Bible being one of those few.

Battle of the Smithsonian -- 2008

Night At the Museum 2
Battle of the Smithsonian
(2008)

Rated PG for some violence and language
My Rating: 5 Stars

Ben Stiller
Amy Adams
Owen Wilson
Hank Azaria
Robins Williams
Christopher Guest
Alain Chabat
Steve Coogan
Ricky Gervais
Bill Hader
Jon Bernthal

“I'm sorry, but we're all full up in our axis of evil today. Sorry.” [Kahmunrah] (Hank Azaria)

Summary:
Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has a new job. He finally had a success with a flashlight... the Glow in the Dark flashlight. In fact, he actually owns a prospering company entitled, “Daley Devices”. He enjoys the fame and the money and the new apartment... but he feels as though he's missing something from his life.

One night, he decided he needed to go see his friends at the Museum of Natural History (if you haven't seen “Night at the Museum” you should watch it first) to talk about the old times. But when he arrived, he found everything in disarray. All of the waxworks were in boxes and packing peanuts with new displays to replace them. Larry's friends were being shipped to Washington D.C. to find their final resting place in the archives of the Smithsonian.

“Larry, I can see that you're genuinely slightly bothered about this.” [Octavius] (Steve Coogan)

Larry is bothered about the changes. Especially when he realized that the tablet of Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek) was staying was staying behind at the Museum of Natural History with him, along with Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and Rexy. But truth be told, he wouldn't have done anything about it (other than trying to [unsuccessfully] convince the board of directors that the museum loved the waxworks) if he hadn't received a phone call the next evening from... Jed (Owen Wilson), of all people.

Dexter had snitched the tablet before slipping into his crate (and smashing Larry's fingers). Therefore, the entire Smithsonian, the largest museum in the world, had come to life. And there was someone there who wanted that tablet above of all else.

“I am Kahmunrah. I am half-god, once removed on my mother's side.”

That someone was Akhmenrah's older, much meaner brother. He knows more about the tablet than he should and he intends to use it to it's maximum power. He wants to rule the world. And it will be up to Larry and his friends to stop him. But can they outwit someone as evil as Kahmunrah and his buddies... Ivan the Terrible (“...the correct translation is 'Ivan the Awesome'... I wasn't terrible. I was, in fact, quite an effective leader.”) (Christopher Guest) and Al Capone (“...ok. You hang onto French Toast and...) (Jon Bernthal) and all his other evil companions.

“You don't seem very bad. You just seem sort of vaguely grouchy to me.” [Kahmunrah speaking to Oscar the Grouch]

What I Liked:
1: This film was the same type of story as the original but included so many new and different dimensions that it seemed very much like it's own.
2: Well acted, well directed, etc, etc. Wonderful movie, period.
3: The humor. It's great. Make sure to watch the deleted scenes. I love watching young Al Capone talk to the old Al Capones. “Did you know about this? I'm gonna be fat!”
4: The score. Very pretty.
5: I love how they got so many well known people to play on this film. As Shawn Levy said, sometimes, they didn't even have to ask. That's great. They deserve recognition for the great work they created with both films.

6: The adventure really does get scary when you're watching it for the first time.
7: There is a moral to the story, as well. And more history. :-)
8: The Thinker.
9: Art coming to life. That was a brilliant idea! One of my favorite things about the movie. :-)
10: When Octavius and Jed (in slow motion) attack the enemies feet with swords. How can something be so awe inspiring and funny at the same time? Only with Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan.
11: Dexter is back... with a friend. :-) “You smack. You kick. You smack. You kick.”
12: The little Einsteins. They made me laugh out loud.
13: And of course, the romance. It was rather nice. :-)
14: Orville and Wilbur Wright. You do rock, guys. Keep eating ice-cream. (For those of you who don't know, the actors were the script writers of both films... and they finally got a few lines to say. :-))
15: Make sure to listen to both of the commentaries. They are both highly informative and one especially is hilarious.

What I Didn't Like:
1: Some of the score is a little too rocky for my liking but it is in passing. :-)

“Adios, Bird-brains!” [Jed]

Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Stomp -- 2009

Acoustic Stomp
(2009)

Steve Kaufman

My Rating: 5 Stars

Songs:
Interstate Rag
Mr. Bojangles
Maid Behind the Bar – Sligo Maid – The Rising Sun
The Chicken Cordon Blues
Dill Pickle Rag
The Lament for Lowrie O'Da Lea
I'm Goin' Fishin'
Laura's Theme
The Acoustic Stomp
Windy and Warm
The First Century Reel
Crazy Creek
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Blackberry Rag
Cold Frosty Morn – Rickett's Hornpipe – June Apple
So You Want To Play The Guitar?

Musicians:
Steve Kaufman – guitar
Rusty Holloway – bass

In my opinion, this is Steve Kaufman's best CD yet. He just keeps getting better! :-) There is such variety on this recording... he gets into it fast with songs like “Crazy Creek” and “Interstate Rag”. Then, he takes it down and swoops you away with something beautiful like “The Lament For Lowrie O'Da Lea” (which happens to be my favorite song on the CD). You also get to hear his rendition of the parody “So You Want to Play the Guitar” and the very fun song “The Chicken Cordon Blues”.

I was amazed at how different each song sounded, even though I was hearing the same instruments and musicians. My personal favorites on this recording are, “The Lament For Lowrie O'da Lea”, “Mr. Bojangles”, “Windy and Warm”, “First Century Reel” and “When I Grow Too Old To Dream”. But I like it as a whole because of how he arranged the songs. Btw, the rags rock. It beats me how they sound so good on a guitar. There is a reason Steve Kaufman's music is so well known and liked down in the States... and now it's up to some of us fans to spread his talent across Canada.

Make sure and check out the bass solo on “Blackberry Rag”.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring -- 2001

The Lord of the Rings:

The Fellowship of the Ring
(2001)

Rated PG-13 for frightening images and battle sequences
My Rating: 5 Stars

Elijah Wood
Ian McKellen
Sean Astin
Billy Boyd
Dominic Monaghan
Viggo Mortensen
Liv Tyler
Orlando Bloom
John Rhys-Davies
Sean Bean
Cate Blanchett
Craig Parker

“I wish The Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.”
“So do all who live in such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

I had wondered how to write reviews for LotR and finally decided there was only one way to do it: each film separately.

When LotR first came out, everyone was talking about them. I saw a clip or two of the Fellowship and didn't understand all the fuss! Little did I know that years later, this story would become something I greatly admire and use as a guide-stone in my writing. Of all films I have ever seen and the books I have read, none come even close to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is timeless. Elves, wicked rulers, hobbits, wraiths, fierce battles, true friendship, men, adventures, parties, love... It is a story of many values but told in such a way that you feel you have never heard them before. There is good and evil; good and bad characters, valiant and brave and those who surprise us in the end.

There is quite a controversy about whether the books or movies of LotR are better. I hold with neither group. I love each for their qualities and how they can stand alone or work together. I was glad I watched the films before reading the books. If I hadn't known the story, I don't think I would have been able to read them so easily.

As far as the films go, Peter Jackson and his crew put the story together very well. It runs smoothly. They picked all of the right actors for the characters they play. They went to endless effort to get each scene just right. I believe it has paid off.

Summary:
Long ago in a place called Middle Earth, a hobbit of the Shire named Bilbo Baggins celebrated his 111th birthday. He didn't look a day older than he had at the age of 50, as healthy and hearty as he always had been and the Shire rejoiced with a reason to celebrate. After a glorious party with fireworks, a sumptuous dinner, dancing, music, beer and an immense cake with 111 candles gracing it's top, Bilbo makes a speech. And a strange speech it is: “...this is the end.” With those words, he disappeared into thin air.

The old rascally hobbit had a secret. It had kept him well and young... and made him wealthy. But the gift that had blessed him for 60 years was becoming a burden of late. He felt spent and spread thin. He meant to leave the Shire and go visit the elves he had once known. But no one knew that he meant to not come back. He was leaving his possessions to his nephew Frodo: his inn and everything in it... including his ring.

Gandalf the Grey was an old friend of Bilbo's. He had arrived in time for the party and saw Bilbo's mysterious disappearance, deduced where he would go and met him at his hobbit hole. He suspected a magic ring but he didn't know what ring it was. It was only after he saw the power it held over his friend did he begin to wonder. And after carefully instructing Frodo to keep it hidden, he rode hard to the city of Gondor to read about it's secrets.

Horrified with his discoveries, he went back to The Shire and put the ring to a final test: fire.

“One ring to rule them all... One ring to find them... One ring to bring them all... and in the darkness bind them.”

There was not a doubt: Frodo had inherited the Ring of power. The One Ring that Sauron, evil spirit lord of Mordor, forged the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. The One Ring that Isildur King of Gondor had taken from the hand of Sauron and refused to destroy. The One Ring that had shaped the lives of so many and could change the course of the world.

For 2000 years it had lain quiet and almost forgotten. But no more. Evil has been stirring in Mordor. Frodo, Gandalf and any others whose lives are touched by The Ring are about to be changed forever. If Sauron is allowed to possess The Ring again, Middle Earth is doomed.

The Ring is taken to Rivendell and there it is decided that The Ring must be destroyed once and for all. But who will carry it? While the others raise their voices at each other, Frodo stands quiet, then speaks, “I will take it. I will take the ring to Mordor. Though... I do not know the way.” He had already nearly given his life for being a Ring-bearer and a wound he had received would never properly heal. This is why Gandalf's eyes were strangely wet when he turned to small hobbit and said, “I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins...”

Added to these two was the Ranger, Strider. “If by my life or death I will. You have my sword.”

Legolas, fair elf, “And my bow.”

The bearded outspoken dwarf, “And my ax”

Representative of Gondor, Boromir, son of the Steward. “You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done.”

Ever faithful Samwise Gamgee, “Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me.”

And lastly added were the other two companions of Frodo and Sam: Merry and Pippin. Impulsive, thoughtless but true friends indeed. “And anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of... mission. Quest. Thing.”
“Well that rules you out, Pip.”

I loved the entire movie but here are some of my favorite things:
1: Merry, after falling down the hill by Farmer Maggot's crops, “I think I broke something.” ::pulls out a carrot with the end snapped::
2: Pippin is probably my favorite character. I love Frodo but Pippin never fails to make me smile. ;-)
3: The gorgeous scenery.
4: The costumes.
5: Rivendell and the elves.
6: The battles in the mines of Moria. There is a lot of action but they somehow manage to make each move one in itself. You get carried away but not quite. :-)
7: Arwen. She is selfless and full of courage and love for Aragorn. And, of course, Liv Tyler is loveliness.
8: I appreciate the struggles Boromir went through and even though I had to resign myself to his death, it was good that he was able to regain his honor.
9: Lothlorien... and the dwelling of the King and Queen of the elves. It is so beautiful.
10: I'm not sure why, but Haldir's character really resonates with me.
11: The humor. They used it very effectively. There isn't a lot but the way they do use it, makes it very funny and keeps the viewer's spirits uplifted when there is a lot of tension in the air.
12: The score... very lovely
13: The scary scenes are really scary. The first time I watched this, I was watching for wraiths around every corner. Lol!

Things To Know:
1: There is magic.
2: The movie is very dark in some scenes.
3: It's rated PG-13 for a reason.

The only thing I didn't like:
The books are rich with detail about the elves, their dwellings, their food, their clothing, their dialect, etc, etc. I know that they did well in the film because I am left wanting a few more details but I wish... :-)

I highly recommend this film from all aspects. If you like adventure, it's all there. If you like elves and hobbits and things of a fairy tale nature, you'll have your fill. If you like sword fights and horse chases, get ready for some action! And if you like how righteousness and justice wins in the end, even if the odds are four to one, this is the movie for you. But if you like none of these things, you can watch it for excellence in production, acting, special effects...

Many people I talk to about LotR tell me they don't like how dark the films are. I can understand that but before you discount this story completely, try watching or reading it. You might be surprised. And even if you don't like the movies or books, I will still be your friend. :-) :-)

On a lighter note:
Apparently many girls think that Legolas (Orlando Bloom) is handsome enough to faint over. In my opinion, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Boromir (Sean Bean) and Haldir (Craig Parker) were all better looking. ;-)

Jonah -- VeggieTales Movie -- 2002

Jonah
a VeggieTales Movie
(2002)

Rated G
My Rating: 4 Stars

Phil Vischer
Mike Nawrocki
Tim Hodge
Lisa Vischer
Shelby Vischer
Dan Anderson
Kristin Blegen
Jim Poole
Ron Smith

“Compassion runs very deep in my family. But not that deep.”

Summary:
Bob the Tomato and his crew were on their way to a Twippo concert. Everyone in the back seats of the van were singing their hearts about “Billy McGruffrey” (a Twippo song) but the Bob isn't doing so well. He keeps getting almost hit with the guitar his 'navigator' is playing. When they finish the song, everyone exclaims how much they love Twippo songs and Laura Carrot pipes up about how she does too and not only that, she's the only one out of the entire group who gets to meet him because she won the Twippo Sweepstakes. She holds up her ticket gleefully and a sudden gust of air causes it to flutter from her grasp and out the window.

Just at this catastrophic moment, the guitar gets stuck in the steering wheel and a frantic Bob loses control of the vehicle. They end up with flat tires from a mama porcupine, get stuck in a clothesline and when that snaps, they smash into a stump. Everyone is fine (due to seatbelts and airbags) so they get out and look around. Just down the road is a restaurant and with hopes of finding a telephone and another ride, they all rush over.

While the grownups use the telephone, Laura starts bemoaning the loss of her ticket again. But Junior Asparagus tells her it's her own fault for flaunting it and she's only getting what she deserves. That's when the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything arrive on the screen... once again.

“We are the pirates who don't do anything

We just stay home and lie around...”

“You know, we call ourselves the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything but that's not entirely accurate.”
“Yeah, remember when we did that one thing with that one guy?”

It's from this one guy that The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything had learned a valuable lesson from and they were about to share that lesson with Junior... and anyone else who happened to show up... that compassion and mercy are for everyone.

“...our God is a God of second chances.”

What I Liked:
1: This is a Bible story told in a way that will appeal to many audiences.
2: The lesson was told in such a way that I was given a new perspective on a story I've known forever.
3: The humor.
4: The music... very cute.
5: Make sure and watch the bloopers on the Bonus Features... oh! And the Countertop extras.
6: How they ended on a sad note, just like the Bible story does.
7: Khalil. :-D “I'm a caterpillar. Well, that's only half the truth. My mother was a caterpillar and my father was a worm so that makes me...”

I do recommend this movie. :-) :-) :-) VeggieTales are so much fun.

Igor -- 2008

Igor
(2008)

Rated PG for violence and some innuendo
My Rating: 4 Stars

John Cussack
John Cleese

Molly Shannon
Eddie Izzard
Jennifer Coolidge
Steve Buscemi
Sean Hayes
Jay Leno

“Do not yell at me.”

Summary:
Once upon a time the land of Malaria had been a beautiful country of sunshine, mountains, bounteousness and wealthy people. But one day, the clouds came and covered the valley, destroying their crops and leaving the inhabitants destitute. Then, King Malbert had an idea: make evil inventions to blackmail the rest of the world with.

There are two classes of people in Malaria: the evil scientists who live in their castles rent free and Igors, their hunchbacked assistants who get their degrees in slurring and “Yes Master”-ing. They are taught to obey without question and not think.

But there is one Igor (John Cussack) who has always wanted to be an evil scientist. Because he was born with a hunch, anything besides being an Igor was out of the question but he dreams anyway and secretly invents. He has moderate success: a rabbit named Scamper (Steve Buscemi) whom he made immortal. And then there is Brain (Sean Hayes), who isn't one.

“Blind orphans get everything!”

Every year, there is an Evil Science Fair, in which all evil scientists enter their latest inventions. The invention that wins is used to blackmail the rest of the world. There is one evil scientist who has won every year: Dr. Schadenfreude (Eddie Izzard). With his success came his popularity with the people of Malaria and King Malbert gets worried that he will be ousted from the throne.

“Ironically, at an inch tall, you still have the biggest mouth in Malaria.”

One day, Igor's master, Dr. Glickenstein, blows himself up, leaving Igor and his two inventions to themselves. Just moments after his untimely expiration, the King arrives to talk to him. Igor tries to tell the King what happened but suddenly realizes that this might be his ticket to showing the world what he can really do in the world of inventions. He tells King Malbert that Dr. Glickenstein's invention is life.

And so, Igor's biggest, most evil invention is begun. Will it be a success?

“May I suggest... looking behind you!!! ...... It was just a suggestion.”

What I Liked:
1: The quality of this movie. Well done!
2: The humor. It's hilarious.
3: The storyline.
4: The twists. Totally kept me on the edge of my seat. :-)
5: They kept it fairly clean.
6: There is an edge on which movie producers/directors can topple from... too little and too much. They only over stepped a couple of times.
7: The romance. ;-) It was so cute.
8: The score. It ranges from very fun with a fifties sound, to lovely and dramatic... old movie sound with LotR mixed in. :-)

What I Didn't Like:
1: Jennifer Coolidge's character (s) was fairly seductive.
2: A little bit of language.
3: There were a couple of scenes that were bordering on colorful.

This is another hilarious film that I want to watch again... and again! :-) It's so well acted and the storyline flows very smoothly. Other than a couple of things, I would have given it a full 5 stars. :-)

“Uh... Canadians.”

Ice Princess -- 2005

Ice Princess
(2005)

Rated G
My Rating: 4 Stars


Michelle Trachtenberg
Joan Cusack
Amy Stewart
Steve Ross
Hayden Panettiere
Kim Cattrall
Trevor Blumas
Kirsten Olson

“How do you know if you have a calling?”
“When you're brilliant teacher tells you so.”

Summary:
When Casey's math teacher told her she had a gift in physics and that she should work on a project with a personal touch to prove it, she had no idea what to do. Then, one night, fate stretched out it's hand as  she was watching figure skating with her best friend, Ann. Physics is in everything. So why not use something she enjoyed watching?

Off to the Harwood Skating Club she went. At first, it was just for her project... then she realized how dry and impersonal her project was sounding. Mr. Bast had been specific: the project had to be personal. So, Casey decided to try her formulas on herself. It didn't take long before she realized that she not only enjoyed watching figure skating, she loved it.

But there was a problem: lessons take money, something Casey and her mom didn't have a lot of. That was fixable... Casey simply spent a lot of time working a job. There was another problem: Casey's mom had her heart set on college, Harvard to be specific, and college doesn't exactly include a career in figure skating.

In spite of these obstacles, Casey's gift is apparent to anyone who watches her. She manages to enter in the Regional Championships. It's there that she finds out the other side to skating. It's not all glitter. Now, Casey must step back and take a look at her priorities... and her heart. Does she have the guts it takes for skating? Or for that matter, anything besides being a physics geek?

What I Liked:
1: I could really relate to this story. I have said the same things as the characters did and had to make some of same kinds of difficult decisions.
2: No language.
3: The story was well acted, directed and flowed so smoothly.
4: Some of the score is just lovely. They had some solo/duet instruments... guitar, violin. Nice.
5: The humor. I liked that white flour pancakes comment. Lol! For those of you not raised in a health food home, you might not understand. But believe me, that line is right on.
6: How they show that life isn't worth much if you're unhappy... and sometimes, you have to climb mountains to follow your heart.
7: The romance. It was sweet.

What I Didn't Like:
1: On occasion, Michelle Tratchenberg didn't quite pull off the physics geek. (But at the scene of the party, she did and it was great after that. :-))
2: There were some very unrealistic things about the movie. How quickly the children progressed through the levels of figure skating, etc.

Things to Know:
1: Figure skating costumes aren't the most modest in the world. But keep in mind that it's fake skin. ;-)
2: Some rock 'n roll.
3: Casey and Gen both stand up to their mothers and pursue their dreams.
4: A kiss at the end...
5: Men in general are either generalized or not so nice.

Yes, I did like this film. And girls will probably like it. But guys won't. And your moms might not either. :-)

Ghost Rider -- 2007

Ghost Rider
(2007)

Rated PG-13 for horror and frightening images
My Rating: 3 Stars

Nicholas Cage
Pete Fonda
Sam Elliot
Eva Mendes
Wes Bentley

I rented this film because it has Nicholas Cage on it. But I must say that the best thing about this movie was Sam Elliot. :-)

Summary:
Johnny Blaze (Matt Long/Nicholas Cage) and his father (Brett Cullen) were motorcycle stunt-men. They had been following and working in the carnival for years together, winning many awards for their stunts. Life was a one long adventure in one city after another; fiery hoops and glowing praise and  monotony. Then Johnny met Roxanne. She was the love of his life; there was no doubt.

The course of true love is rarely smooth: Roxy's father proclaimed that young motorcycle stuntman  wasn't good enough for his daughter and made plans to take her out of Johnny's life forever. But he didn't know his daughter's will. The couple made plans to elope and would have gone through with it... if something hadn't happened first.

Johnny discovers that his father, the invincible Barton Blaze, has cancer... in fact, is dying. Johnny realizes suddenly how much his father means to him and as he angrily works his grief out on his bike, he wishes with every ounce of his being that he could help his father.

With that wish, the devil shows up. Of course, Johnny doesn't realize that the middle-aged man using a cane is actually the man from hell, so when he offers to heal Barton Blaze using Johnny's soul as payment, Johnny agrees to the bargain. The next morning, Johnny's father is in perfect health. If it hadn't been for that, Johnny would have thought the last evening's proceedings a dream. A dream that turned into a nightmare: an accident that never should have happened; his father's still body; evil laughter filling the carnival tent. Hours later, Johnny meets the devil on the road and is told that nothing must come in between them and their contract: no family, no loved ones. He works for the devil now.

Just him, the devil... and a desire to die that is so strong it almost consumes him.

But little did either of them know... when someone gives up their soul for love instead of selfishness and greed, the curse becomes their power.

What I Liked:
1: The devil is shown to be almost as evil as he truly is. It makes the viewer realize that he is nothing to laugh at.
2: The acting was fairly well done.
3: Very little bad language.
4: There was some boy/girl stuff but they kept it clean. It was refreshing that way.
5: The legend/Sam Elliot. Nicely done... I enjoy both.
6: The humor. There are times that I actually snickered. “Call me old-fashioned, I'm funny that way. Human sacrifices make me uncomfortable.”
7: The score. I love the cowboy song and I really like how they use it with 'modern' music. The mix is great.
8: Some of the scary stuff was new to me. Kept me on my toes. :-)
9: The justice.

What I Didn't Like:
1: I kept getting the feeling like I wasn't getting all the details of the story.
2: There were a lot of 'givens'... several threads untied at the end of the film.
3: Some bad language.
4: Roxanne is under-dressed a couple of times. It does nothing to help the movie.
5: The way Johnny took care of two of the bad guys... I'm afraid I didn't quite catch the significance of his methods.
6: Theology was pretty bad. Lol. It was worse than Indiana Jones.

The reason I'm probably unfamiliar with Ghost Rider is due to the fact that I haven't read the comics or brushed up on my knowledge of legends. This film is definitely for people who know the story beforehand. If you're a Marvel comics fan, you'll probably love this movie. :-)

One of the funniest lines on this movie was when the woman is getting robbed and Johnny shows up, ablaze. Both she and her captor look at him for a long moment, then she grabs her purse and says, “Uh...thanks!”

Okay, you will have to watch it in order to find this amusing. :-)

Evelyn Cameron -- 1868 - 1928

Evelyn Cameron
(1868 - 1928)
Montana's Frontier Photographer

Why are some black and white photographs so fascinating to look at and study? Is it because the subjects shown in them are dressed for the times? Or is it because one realizes how much time and effort went into each photograph? Perhaps the reason I enjoy looking at old photographs so much is because of photographers like Evelyn Cameron.

Looking at her self portraits, a person would come to the conclusion that she was a sturdy, work hardened woman with a sense of humor. She was. But look again. Don't you see the music in her images? What about close touch of nature ... and the way she set up her subject(s)? It is art. There is a touch here that feels gentler than the wind swept buttes of Montana.

Evelyn Jephson Flower was born in Britain to a wealthy merchant family on August 26th, 1868. She grew up in a large, comfortable house with servants to accomplish every task... even brush her hair. I don't know much about her growing up years but I do know that at the age of 21 (1889), she married Ewen Cameron and traveled to the badlands of eastern Montana to study bird habit and habitat. Her family didn't approve.

Ewen Cameron was a Scottish aristocrat who lived in 'genteel poverty' while pursuing his great interests in birds. He was fourteen years in her senior, eccentric and in need of someone just like Evelyn to balance him out.

In the year of 1893, the Camerons moved to Montana to escape society and find their own way in life. It was a year later that Evelyn got her first camera. She first purchased the camera because she wanted to help record her husband's studies. But she soon realized that it could become a source of income... and amusement. Her pictures marched their way over the ocean to England and her poor prim family was properly horrified at her escapades. But people did pay to have their pictures taken: bachelors sending home pictures to their loved ones; families capturing their growing years forever; homesteaders proudly standing in their best clothes by their small houses, barns and cellars; children and their pets; weddings; funerals;
confirmation and school classes.



She charged 25 cents per photograph, $3.00 for twelve photos mounted in an album. Her favorite camera was Tourist Graflex, which she purchased for $255.58 in 1905. “It made 5 – inch – by – 7 – inch glass-plate negatives, weighed 9 pounds, and was bigger than a breadbox.” Evelyn never owned an automobile. She carried her camera and equipment on horseback... or walked.

I mentioned earlier about the 'feel' of Mrs. Cameron's photographs. I find her pictures unusually professional with a touch only the untamed frontier can give. For instance, the accordion player perched in a tree; a friend with a boxed coyote pup; the Northern Pacific Railroad section foreman in his fringed native costume... with his pipe and gun; Ewen with his goshawk sitting on his arm; the herd of sheep with the lone shepherd and his dog (keep in mind how hard it is to keep animals still enough so they didn't blur!); and the photograph that Evelyn had Ewen take of herself, sitting on a narrow natural stone bridge over a high canyon, reading (she won first place in a contest... the contest theme being the oddest place to be reading it's magazine).

I highly recommend you taking a look at Evelyn Cameron's work. She is one of the very best black and white photographers I have had the pleasure to study.



Here are some sources:
Evelyn Cameron – Montana's Frontier Photographer – Text by Kristi Hager (2007; Farcounty Press) $14.95 (US)
The Camerons: Evelyn and Ewen, Birding in Central Montana, 1912 –13 (Henry L. Armstrong, 2002)
Before Barbed Wire: L.A. Huffman, Photographer on Horseback (Mark H. Brown and William R. Felton, 1990)
Photographing Montana, 1894 – 1928: The Life and Work of Evelyn Cameron (Donna M. Lucey, 1990)
http://thebluekimono.blogspot.com/2009/07/photography-of-evelyn-cameron.html