May/June Book and Movie Reviews

So, did ya think that I had forgotten about last months movies and books? Of course not! =P Last month ended on a Sunday, which I like spending with my family. So I didn't do that long post. Anyway, this month, it will be doubly long because: I finished several books last month, *and*, at one point this month, for about a week, I was watching an average of one or two movies per day. =P Yeah... we were getting movies from Netflix, and all that kind of thing, so I've watched several new movies this month.
Anyway, to get on with everything! =)
First, book reviews:

Title: Northanger Abbey
Author: Jane Austen
Rating: 4 stars
About: This is definitely the best of Jane Austen, in my opinion, which is surprising, as this was her first better-known novel. Although, I have heard that most people find this book to be their least favorite by Austen. This book is about a girl named Catherine, who is going on a trip into Bath. Catherine is flirtatious and has a very creative mind. She goes on a visit to Northanger Abbey... but in the meantime, is trying to discover it's secrets. Austen made the characters in this book very vivid, and the storyline was really good! Like I said, if I were to recommend any Jane Austen book, it would definitely be Northanger Abbey.

Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Rating: 4 stars
About: This book is about two girls: Marianne and Elinor Dashwood. These two sisters are complete and total opposites. Elinor is quiet and sensible, while Marianne is loud, flirtatious, and wears her heart on her sleeve. Especially when the attractive Mr. Willoughby comes along. The Dashwoods had just been thrown out of their house by a family member who had inherited it, so they moved to a little cottage. There, they meet Mr. Willoughby and Colonel Brandon. As the story goes on, they find out that Mr. Willoughby is probably not the most suitable man for Marianne... and Elinor, as well, finds out that the man she is in love with is engaged to another young lady.
This is a wonderful story, and I highly recommend this book!

Title: The Scarlet Pimpernel
Author: Baroness Orczy
Rating: 5 stars
About: Best book. Ever. =P Okay, not really, but this book is fantastic! Its about a man, Sir Percy, and his wife, Lady Marguerite. Marguerite was at one time the most famous woman in Europe, as she was French actor. But when she went off to marry Sir Percy, she thought he was in love with her. But now, she is not so sure about his love. And while this is going on, Marguerite's "friend", Chauvelin, is trying to find out who the Scarlet Pimpernel is. The Scarlet Pimpernel was a man who saved people from the guillotine (sp?) in France. And Chauvelin was trying to get everything he could out of Marguerite. But Marguerite has a hard choice: she can either give away what she knows about the Scarlet Pimpernel, or she can save her beloved brother. Which would she choose?
Ah... now... if you have not read this book, go to the library or book store and read it. =P Wonderful book! I highly recommend it!

Title: French Women Don't Get Fat
Author: Mireille Guiliano
Rating: 5 stars
About: When you read this title, you probably laughed. "French women don't get fat? What on earth does *that* mean?" Possibly that was what you were thinking. Well, I'll tell you. =P This book is a *fantastic* book by a French woman. Being from France, she knows the secrets of French women on how to stay thin. This book explains how they do it. One thing is, is French women don't diet. And now you're probably thinking, "But I thought this was a dieting book!" Well, not really. This book is how to have healthy eating habits, which actually keeps you thinner than dieting! For one thing, you don't have to cut out things that you think make you fat, like chocolate and dairy items. You're probably surprised at this, but the key to not getting fat from things like that is eating in moderation. Eating dairy and chocolate in moderation is actually more healthy than cutting them out altogether! Another key thing is eating those things in the best quality you can find them. Anyway, moving on from that, another important thing is drinking *lots* of water. This can help you loose at least a pound or two. Also, exercising is a great way to lose weight. But the way she says to exercise is probably not what you're thinking about. You're probably thinking about going to a gym and working out, or going on those death marches around the block. ;-) Well, that isn't what she suggests. She is talking about taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or playing tennis with a friend every week. Things like this help you lose weight, *and* they keep you healthier. And one last thing: don't just snack. Oh yes, we are all guilty of this one. ;-) That's when you pull the chips out of the pantry and snack on them for about an hour. Or eating a whole carton of ice cream in one sitting. Those things that you *think* you need to eat. Sometimes, people just get so into the habit of eating, they eat even when they don't need to. If you're not hungry, don't eat anything!!! That is probably the biggest thing in losing weight. And if you are hungry, don't eat too much, and lean towards something healthy, like yogurt or fruit.
Anyway, now that I've give you almost the whole way on living French, you can go and read the rest of the book. =P Great book, and I highly recommend it!

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Rating: 5 stars +
About: This book is about a boy named Jonas, who has just become a 12 in the quiet, orderly Community. In this Community, there is no color, no feelings, no pain. Everybody has to do everything the exact same way as everyone else. But when Jonas is assigned to be the Receiver of the Memory, he isn't sure what to expect. Jonas begins to learn about things like happiness, pain, and love. But one day, he learns about something in the community that he didn't know before... what "releasing" really is. That is when he has to take a major, drastic move...
This book is a fantastic book, which I highly, highly recommend!


Now... on to movie reviews. These reviews will probably be pretty short, as there are *so* many movies that I've watched! But, here they are:

Title: Fiddler on the Roof
Rating: G
Genre: Musical
Rating: 3 stars
About: This movie is about a Jewish man in Russia, who has three daughters who want to get married. But as each one comes up asking him for his blessing, he has to decide how much he can give in lenience towards his daughters. How far can they go while still getting his blessing?
Pretty good movie. Not my favorite... don't really like the ending... but you might like it. =P If you like musicals a lot, then I would recommend this one.

Title: The Princess Bride
Rating: PG
Genre: Fairy Tale.... =P
Rating: 5 stars
About: Okay, so you're probably gaping at the fact I hadn't watched this movie up until this month. =P Well... I doubt there are many of you out there who haven't watched this movie...
Anyway, this is *such* a typical fairy tale movie. =P But that is what makes it so funny! Princess Buttercup is about to marry her dear Wesley, when he has to go away... and then the prince tries to marry her... and then Wesley comes back to try to save her... but then Wesley gets carried away to the horrible... torturing.... machine.... thing....... =P * cough * Will the wonderful Wesley be able to marry his beautiful Buttercup? Awesome movie, and I absolutely loved it! I definitely recommend this one.

Title: Up
Rating: PG
Genre: Children
Rating: 4 stars
About: This movie is the first movie I've seen in theaters since either The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or Facing the Giants. =P Can't remember which came later. Anyway, this movie is about a man named Carl. It starts out when he is a little boy, and he wants to go to a place called Paradise Falls. Then, he meets a little girl who is insane, hyperactive, and crazy, who wants to do the same thing. The first 10-15 minutes show Carl's and Ellie's life together... getting married... doing fun things... and saving up to go to Paradise Falls. Except for one thing... they keep having to pull their savings out. Then, one day, Ellie dies. At this point, I was nearly crying. =P Really a very sad part of the movie... very sentimental and everything.... well, one day, not very long afterwards, Carl is about to be picked up to be taken to a retirement home. Well, he doesn't think so. He tells the men who are about to pick him up that he wants to go back through the house one more time. Well.... the men are absolutely amazed to see hundreds and hundreds of balloons come up from behind the house, tearing the house off of it's foundations, and carrying it away. Well... Carl is trying to float away to Paradise Falls to fulfill his promise to Ellie. Well... he is flying along in the air.... nice and quiet.... when... *knock* *knock* *knock* His eyes get big. He goes to the door, and finds a little boy named Russell clinging to the siding of the house. Russell is in something similar to the Boy Scouts, trying to earn a badge for serving the elderly. Carl slams the door on Russell.... but then opens it again, and Russell comes tearing the house, talking and talking and talking... messing things up, and acting rather crazy. The story goes on from here.... and oh my word, oh my word, ohmyword.... oh. my. word. Close to the end... oh my word... it is the sweetest thing *ever*!! But I shall not spoil it for you. =D Hehehe! So now you must go and watch this movie. I loved it!

Title: My Fair Lady
Rating: G
Genre: Musical
Rating: 3 stars
About: This movie is about a young lady, Eliza, living in England, who has absolutely horrible speech (oh, and she is "a good girl" she is!! ;-) One night, a man, Professor Henry Higgins, comes up to her and swears he could entirely change the way she spoke in just a few months. So, she comes to him one day, asking for lessons. Well, he gives her lessons... but they aren't exactly what she expected. Henry is very mean to her, making her practice for hours and hours without sleep or anything.... but he continues working and working, and then one night, tries to pass her off.
This is a pretty good movie. Not my favorite, but I liked it. =)

Title: Enchanted
Rating: PG
Genre: Children
Rating: 4 stars
About: This movie is about a princess, Giselle, in an animated world who is about to marry her wonderful Prince Edward, who is the man she has been searching for... but Edward's horrible mother-in-law throws her down a well into a horrible place.... New York? Suddenly, she leaves the animated world, and comes into the real world. It's a cold rainy night, and nobody will help her... except, oddly enough, a divorce lawyer, Robert. Giselle is singing and talking rather strangely everywhere she goes, getting Robert in trouble. He continues to try to help her. But as the movie goes on, Giselle seems to lose interest in Edward. But when Edward comes to try to save her, she has no choice but to go back with him.
Just as a note though, there is one scene in here that makes it a PG movie. It isn't terribly bad, but just as a warning, there is a PG scene in here.
This is a really cute movie. =) I enjoyed it! I would recommend this to people who like Disney movies.

Title: Fireproof
Rating: PG
Genre: Christian
Rating: 5 + stars
About: This movie is absolutely wonderful! It is about a guy, Caleb, and his wife, Catherine. Catherine wants to get a divorce. They are constantly fighting. But when Caleb's dad hears about it, he comes to talk to his son. He tells him that he will send him something in the mail that takes 40 days to do, and he told him to wait and see if it changed his marriage. Caleb gets a book in the mail called The Love Dare, written in his dad's own hand. He tries to do it... but it only gets harder. Catherine seems to be pushing him away more, and not noticing a thing he did. What can he do to change himself and her?
This is a fantastic movie! Better than both Flywheel and Facing the Giants, in my opinion. =) I highly recommend it!

Title: The Swan Princess
Rating: G
Genre: Children
Rating: 3 stars
About: Well... this movie is so typical fairy tale, it is scary. =P And you're wondering how I came to watch it? Well, this was my cousin Macy's favorite movie when she was younger, so she had me watch it. Anyway, it is about Princess Odette and Prince Derek. Odette's father and Derek's mother plan to have them married when they got older, so their kingdoms would be united. When they are about to get married, Odette is carried away by the evil bad guy dude, Rothbart. =P Anyway, he puts a curse on her that she is a swan until the moon shines on the lake that she is held captive in.
Pretty good movie. =) I liked it.

Title: Prates of the Carribean- The Curse of the Black Pearl
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Not really sure... lol
Rating: 4 stars
About: Yeah... I hadn't watched this one. Amazed, now are you? ;-)
This movie is about a girl named Elizabeth, who as a child, was fascinated with pirates. But one day, she is captured by pirates. But these pirates have a curse... they can't be killed. They become skeletons at night. Since Elizabeth is captured, the man who was in love with her, Will, has to go in search of her. Helping him is the crazy, not-so-common pirate, Jack Sparrow.
This movie is really good, and I really enjoyed it. If you like Lord of the Rings, you'll probably like this movie. =)

Title: Roman Holiday
Rating: Unrated
Genre: Classic
Rating: 3 stars
About: This is your basic, classic, chic flic from around the 40's and 50's. ;-) Audrey Hepburn stars as a princess from Europe. Entirely sick of the schedule and hum-drum of things, she runs off one night. Unfortunately, right before she left, she had been given something to make her sleepy. She is found by a journalist (Gregory Peck), and so he takes her in. The next day, she says she is a student who had escaped from school. But he knows who she is, and tries to find out all her secrets for a huge story for the news. But it ends up that throughout the day, they start falling in love...
Pretty good movie. =) I didn't like the ending terribly, but I really liked the story!


Wow... wait... really? Is this reality? Did I finally just finish these reviews??? :-o =P
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Have a great day! =)

In Christ,
~Madison