MOVIE REVIEW: Color Out of Space

 

While in a remote part of New England, a young hydrologist named Ward Phillips is introduced to a man that has inherited his father’s farm and the man’s family. The following night a brightly glowing meteor falls onto the farm and is promptly destroyed by lightning. Afterwards, Phillips finds that there are contaminants in the groundwater and warns the family not to drink the water coming from their well. However, strangely colored plants and animals soon begin to appear, and then the farm’s livestock, and the family themselves, begin to mutate into horrible and strange lifeforms. Can anyone be saved from the color from space?

This is a 2019 film based on the story “The Colour Out of Space” written by H.P. Lovecraft. This version brings the story into the 21^st century, but the characters and sequence of events are basically the same. Nicholas Cage stars as the itinerant farmer, with Joely Richardson (In Darkness) as his wife, Madeleine Arthur (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) as the daughter, and Elliot Knight (Life Sentence) as the young hydrologist. Though this does not have the creepy eeriness of the short story, it is a palatable horror movie with good acting and a passable script. There are scenes of violence and gore, so this is not recommended for young children.

BOOK REVIEW: The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

 

This follows the adventures of a boy named Digory and his friend Polly as they become the victims of the experiments of Digory's unscrupulous uncle with some magic rings. They find themselves in a world brought to the brink of death by a beautiful but evil woman, and a series of events results in their unwittingly bringing this horrible being to the newly created world of Narnia. It is then their responsibility to right the wrong they have done by finding a way to save Narnia from the darkness that has entered it.

The sixth book of the Narnia to have been published, this is actually the first in the chronological history of the Land of Narnia. Written by a man considering by many to be one of the greatest Christian authors in history, this has many connotations and allusions to Christian theology. However, even if the reader has no knowledge of Christian belief, this is a great novel for young people, with main characters that the young can relate to. A fun read.

MOVIE REVIEW: War Horse

 

Set during World War I, this tells of the bond between a horse and the young man who raises him. Starting with the birth of the thoroughbred horse, which is later named Joey, he is sold to a family of farmers that actually cannot afford him. However, a trust develops between the animal and the farmer’s son, Albert. When Joey is later sold to a young military captain to aid the war effort, Albert is heartbroken, but is reassured by the soldier that he will return the horse when the war is over. The film then follows Joey’s experiences in the war, which takes him many places, even behind enemy lines.

This is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, and the stage play that was adapted from the book. The stage performance became famous for its use of mechanical horses in the action, but this film uses real, excellently trained, animals. The movie shows the deplorable conditions that the horses and their riders had to endure during the conflict of WWI, when engine technology had not caught up with artillery ingenuity, and horses were actually worked until they died to haul the huge war machines where they needed to be. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this has been produced in collaboration with Disney studios, but there is quite a bit more live action violence and dead bodies than in the usual Disney movie, so parents may want to take that into consideration before deciding to watch this on family night. However, this is an exquisite film, and deserves every award it was nominated for and won.

BOOK REVIEW: The Six Miracles of Calvary by William R. Nicholson

 

This small book takes the reader through the six miracles associated with Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. From the darkness that descended when Jesus died to the revival of the dead saints in the Jerusalem graveyard after he resurrected, this follows these events and looks at the meaning and inspiration that they can give to us in the present day. Originally written in 1927, this has been updated to today’s language by Dan Schaeffer, making it easier for the common layman to understand. While it tends to drone a little, it is an informative read and an enjoyable experience.