The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

MPAA rating: PG-13

Jordan's rating: PG-13

Jordan's Quality Grade: A+

Runtime: 90 min.

Who's Who?

Noteworthy Cast:

Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Alexis Bridges, Deshun Wang

Director:

Rob Minkoff

Writer:

John Fusco

Casey Silver Productions

What can I say about this film? It is absolutely amazing.  I suppose this is to be expected when you put Jackie Chan and Jet Li in the same film. The two of them worked together fantastically, and as a result there is no shortage of high-flying, over the top, unbelievable martial arts action. This is possibly the most outlandish role I have ever seen Jackie Chan perform. He was absolutely in his element however, and delivered splendidly. Jet Li also shined in this film, but his primary character was no stretch for him. His portrayal of the Monkey King, contrarily, was quite an interesting part for the Martial-Arts Master of the Screen. His animated facial expressions and comical antics where a gem in the film, and he quickly became one of my favorite characters. The Whole film is eye candy, from the scenic Chinese landscapes to the elaborate and beautiful costumes, it is truly a sight to behold. The plot is not at all complex, and is somewhat predictable, but still very gratifying. I can really find absolutely nothing bad to say about this film. So what are you waiting for? Go see it!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0865556/

Hood: Book I of the King Raven Trilogy (2006)

Fiction/Fantasy

Jordan's Age Rating: 13+ (Violence, Complex Plot)

Jordan's Quality Grade: B+

Author:

Stephen R. Lawhead

Publisher:

Thomas Nelson, Inc.

I have been a fan of the story of Robin Hood since I was a very young child. The first exposure I had to the legend was through the Disney animated feature film "Robin Hood", in which a lively fox portrayed the role of the merry brigand. Most everyone knows the general story: A young aristocrat becomes an outlaw after the evil tyrants lording over his land murder his father and seize his estates. He flees to Sherwood Forest, where he encounters a rabble of merry adventurers including Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, etc. He then begins life amongst these goodhearted blaggards, who make him their leader, robbing from the rich usurpers and returning to the poor what is rightfully theirs. In the novel "Hood", Stephen R. Lawhead takes the traditional story of Robbin Hood, adds a twist, and gives the story firm roots, which it was previously lacking. In this rendition of the popular legend, the action takes place not in the English Countryside and Sherwood Forest, but in the untamed landscape of Wales in the year 1093 (Much earlier than the context of the generally accepted legend). The story follows young prince Bran ap Brychan, the son and heir of Lord Brychan, the king of Elfael, in Wales. When his father is murdered along with his entire warband by Norman Invaders, Bran and the only survivng member of the warband, warrior champion of Elfael, Iwan, who brings him the message of his fathers death, must set out to petition the King of England to retract the land grant that allowed the Norman invaders to seize his lands.  The King, however, is away fighting in far Normandy, and his affairs are being conducted by a corrupt Cardinal, who tells Bran that he must buy his lands back with a ludicrous sum of 600 marks -more than his father's entire treasury! When he leaves this futile council with the cardinal, he finds himself hunted by the same Norman Raiders that slew his father, and the adventure ensues from there! This story has many concepts familiar to any follower of the Robin Hood legend, such as familiar characters and plot lines, and even romance! However, there are also many elements introduced by Mr. Lawhead entirely new to the story. When I first saw that these elements were present in this retelling, I was wary. Deviating from what is already known about such a popular tale can be quite risky, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Lawhead had pulled it off wonderfully, successfully merging the original tale and his own ideas in this harrowing tale of high adventure, treachery, loyalty, and the fine line between right and wrong. His retelling of the story is beautiful, detailed, and very well researched (he even spent time wondering in Bialowieski National Park, Poland, in the last primeval forest in existence in Europe, in order to get a feel for what Bran's Welsh forest might have been like). His knowledge of history and the Welsh, Norman, and English cultures of the time allows for excellent tangibility to his tale. His adaptations of the already existing elements of the Robin Hood tale blend seamlessly into his creation so that any diehard Robin Hood fan can rest easy and enjoy the story. On the Downside, most of the names of people and geographical locations are either Welsh or French, and are therefor hard to get used to and pronounce, even with the pronunciation guide included by the Author in the back of the book. Also, the story can be somewhat slow in places. It was always somewhat irking when a character was at a pivital point in the story or dialogue and Mr. Lawhead chose to stop the action and describe what the character's surroundings in great detail.  Now I am not saying that he should not add these descriptions, but not in the middle of an intense moment. As a reader, I felt like a teased cat, and sometimes skipped over whole paragraphs to get back to the action. In the great scheme of things though, this is a wonderful, epic, and thrilling adventure that any fan of the Robin Hood legend, history, high adventure, or fiction in general will be able to enjoy. I strongly suggest picking it up, if not at the book store, than at least at your local library.

Also by Stephen R. Lawhead:

The Dragon King Trilogy

Dream Thief

Empyrion I: The Search for Fierra

Empyrion II: The Siege of Dome

The Pendragon Cycle

The Song of Albion Series

The Celtic Crusades Trilogy

Patrick, Son of Ireland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_R._Lawhead

http://www.amazon.com/Hood-King-Raven-Trilogy-Book/dp/1595540881/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206820444&sr=1-2

Storm Front: Book I of the Harry Dresden Files (2000)

Fiction/Science Fiction/Fantasy/Mystery



Jordan's Age Rating: 17+ (Violence, Language, Some Sexual References)



Jordan's Quality Grade: B

Author:

Jim Butcher

Publisher:

Roc (USA)

This is what I would call light reading for the Fantasy Enthusiast. Granted the book is still 322 pages long, which might be considered daunting to a casual reader of fiction in general. However, any true lover of fantasy will tell you that this is on the shorter side, and somewhat typical for a light read. Also, the plot is not overly complex. Mr. Butcher chose to write the story in the first person, which, coupled with the type of story, makes the book read like an old fashioned detective novel. Set in the Windy City of Chicago, the story follows a man called Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (If he knew I told you his full name he would throttle me!), who is a professional Wizard and Consultant for the Chicago P.D. Special Investigations Unit. The Special Investigations unit is headed by Harry's friend, the sharp, take-no-prisoners, black-belt-in-Aikido detective Sgt. Murphy, who Harry insists on treating like a lady despite her best efforts. Her unit is in charge of investigating "unusual crimes" i.e. crimes unexplainable by normal occurrences. The concepts and settings are interesting, but not altogether original. It is reminiscent of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series, by Laurel K. Hamilton, which itself is no pioneer to the concept. The book is not as heavy and involved as many other books and series of the Fantasy or Science Fiction Genre. We are not looking at a novel of the same caliber as Martha Wells' City of Bones, or Dune, by Frank Herbert, but an entertaining read nonetheless. The book is somewhat predictable, but as you read further and further in, it still becomes quite impossible to put the book down. The reader will become endeared to the plight of the characters, and will continue reading in the hope that everything will turn out alright, as if rooting for the protagonists. The characters are rather archetypal, easy to like, and fun to follow. This book would appeal to Indiana Jones or National Treasure fans. It contains similar wit and complexity, and is just all around good entertainment. I would highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a light, enjoyable read which does not require intense thinking or reasoning, and to those who just want to sit back and see the mystery unfold.

Also by Jim Butcher:

The Codex Alera Series

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Butcher

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=Storm+Front

The Abhorsen Trilogy (1995, 2001, 2003)

Fiction/Fantasy


Jordan's Age Rating: 14+ (Violence, Disturbing Concepts, Complex Plot)


Jordan's Quality Grade: A

Author:

Garth Nix

Publisher:

Eos (USA)

The Abhorsen Trilogy, as far as High Fantasy goes, is a top-notch selection. If you are a fan of such writers as Robert Jordan, Ann McCaffrey, and J.R.R. Tolkien, do not pass this series up! It takes place in the mystical Old Kingdom, which is full of magic and magical creatures and beings, and Ancelstierre, a Kingdom which mirror's our own world in the early 20th Century. Both of these worlds are richly portrayed, though not overly detailed, so as not to distract from the main storyline. The story is epic on the same scale as the Lord of the Rings, though much more down to earth and easy to relate to. The trilogy abandons many of the popular cliches found in many other fantasy series, and provides a more gritty, realistic adventure, which really brings it down to the level of the reader.

Book I - Sabriel: The first and, in my opinion, best volume of the series. This book follows the strong willed daughter of the Abhorsen --a man charged with making sure that the Dead stay just that, dead-- on her quest to find her father and defeat a great evil which threatens to destroy the very fabric of existence! I really cannot find anything negative to say about this episode, other than perhaps that the antagonist, Kerrigor, was slightly cliche.

Book II - Lirael: This book follows a daughter of the Clayre, Lirael, and the young Prince Sammeth, Prince of the Old Kingdom and Abhorsen-In-Waiting, as they both struggle to discover their own identities and survive the paths they have chosen, or perhaps been chosen for. The characters in this volume are strong, and the story itself is riveting. However, in places the action seems to drag out, and Mr. Nix seems to ramble about things insignificant to the rest of the story. Also, Lirael can sometimes be something of a whiner, justified perhaps, but after a while it does get a bit old. There are also a few slight inconsistencies in the plot, which are quite irrelevant in the long run. Overall a fantastic read, despite it's small flaws.

Book III - Abhorsen: This episode is a continuation of the story introduced in Lirael. This volume more than makes up for whatever flaws may have been tangable in Book II, although Lirael still has some rather annoying tendencies, similar to those in the Second Book. This book starts with action right away, and doesn't slow down until it's magnificent climax, which will reveal to the reader unanswered questions, some from as far back as Sabriel, concerning the companion of the Abhorsens, Mogget, and Lirael's helper, the Disreputable Dog. In short, this book is a marvelous conclusion to a brilliant series, which I would recommend highly to any reader of Fantasy or High Adventure.

Also by Garth Nix:

Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen, and Other Stories

The Ragwitch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Nix

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-5134436-0829514?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+Abhorsen+Trilogy

Vantage Point (2008)

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Jordan's Rating: PG-13
Jordan's Quality Grade: B
Runtime: 90 min.

Who's Who?

Noteworthy Cast:

Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourny Weaver

Director:

Pete Travis

Writer:

Barry Levy

An Original Film Production

Alright Ladies and Gents, this flick has many qualities, some good, some not so much. From the very beginning, this show has your heart and mind racing. Upon leaving the theatre after taking in this show, I felt like I had just run a marathon. There is no down time in this film, so if you have a heart condition, or are prone to getting up mid-film to heed the call of nature, this film is not for you. When it comes to action packed, this movie epitomizes the phrase, though this is not necessarily a good thing. The fast moving plot allows very little time for thinking and piecing together, which is integral to the story itself. You have to pay very close attention and be able to think fast if you want to stay a step ahead of the action. The film is also rife with current events, complete with international summits, anti-American sentiments, and suicide bombers. If you are like me, and enjoy getting away from the day to day events when taking in a flick, this is also a strike against the film. I half expected as much when I decided to see the movie, so I really have only myself to blame. Nevertheless, I had hoped it would not be quite as reflective of the current times as it was. On the opposite side of the coin, the acting is high grade in this movie, and the cast was very well selected. Dennis Quaid, despite having very little actual dialogue (Something like 26 lines?) delivered superbly. Matthew Fox did well also, but the character was not much of a stretch for him. If you are a follower of his hit television show, "Lost", you will see a lot of Dr. Jack shining through. Forest Whitaker is always an enjoyable screen presence, and this role is no different. I would venture to say he is my favorite of the characters presented in the film, and his "vantage point" as it were, was the one that kept me the most interested.
The writing and plot are above average, though not entirely outstanding. For keeping you thinking it does very well, but as far as originality goes, it could have done better. All and all, I would say that Vantage Point is worth seeing, though perhaps in the comfort of your living room in your pj's as opposed to in the theatre. It is worthy of a B grade review from me, though I doubt will be taking any Oscars this year.



http://www.vantagepoint-movie.com/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443274/