BOOK REVIEW: Trapper Road by Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan

 

Gwen Proctor, recovering from injuries sustained in a battle with a madman who wanted to destroy her and everyone she loved, has become a paranoid shell of the woman she once was. She wants to do nothing more than hold her children tight and never let them go. But she also knows they are growing up and she has no right to interfere in the choices they make for their own lives. Then a shooting occurs at the school they both attend and she is called upon by the private investigation agency she works for to look into the disappearance of a teenage girl in another town. While the call seems to come at an opportune time to stay away from the press that her family seems to be the constant targets of she find that her assignment brings revelations about the missing child that represents a very present danger to her son and adopted daughter. Can they find out the truth in time to prevent another tragedy?

I found this book to be better than I expected. When an author passes away and someone else takes on the task of continuing a series they created there is a very large chance that there is so much baggage on either or both sides that the result can be very disappointing. I am happy to say that this is one of the rare exceptions. Carrie Ryan does an excellent job in staying true to the characters and storylines that Rachel Caine began. She adds a new spirit to the mix that brings the whole thing to life in a way that takes the reader back to the first novel, when the discovery of introduction was still new and exciting. It makes this an extremely entertaining and enjoyable exercise. The end is left wide open for another installment to the series and I am very excited to see where Ryan takes this story next.

BOOK BANNING: Is It the Only Way? - An Opinion

 

In this age of cultural sensitivity and easiness to offend, there have been many books banned from school libraries due to their content. The reasons behind this have been that their stories question societal norms, explore sensitive topics (homosexuality, racism, etc.), and have excessive violence in them. The titles that have shared this infamous distinction include Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, which tells of the truths left on tapes by a young girl who committed suicide, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, which follows a young woman through her experiences in a society ruled by a theocratic regime, and The Hate U Give by Andie Thomas, that explores systematic racism and its effect on its victims. All of these are relatively new books, however banned titles can also include classics like 1984 by George Orwell, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. These are books that I am sure many can remember being assigned to read in English class with never a question as to whether or not they were fit for student perusal. Yet they are also included in some of the banned lists that have been created in some of the states in this country. The question then becomes, is banning books really the only way that we can keep our children safe from being exposed to questionable material?

The fact is, no ban on anything has ever worked. From the time of Adam and Eve, the forbidden fruit has always been the sweetest and most desired. Banning books results in nothing more than the fact being used as a marketing tool to bring those novels into the spotlight where the people will want to read them that much more. There is also another fact that is more disturbing. This is that there are books on the shelves of public libraries, and that have been there for more than a decade, that include vividly detailed erotica under the guise of paranormal romance. (Please see my review of Master of the Night by Angela Knight dated April 26, 2022. Writers of her ilk include Christine Feehan, to name just one.) Many of these libraries have little or no controls on who checks out their materials, so these books, in the stacks under the innocuous nomenclature of Fiction, are available to any and all, including teenage girls looking for novels that include vampires and werewolves. While everyone is losing their minds over some books that contain nothing but stories of young men and women finding their own identities, these books have been the dirty little secret of the romance genre and more than likely have been read by many young girls over the years looking for a literary thrill. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying anything against these authors. They are excellent writers who tell fantastic stories. It is the way their work has been marketed and labeled that is the problem, and that has led to these books that are actually soft pornography being put into the general audience sections of libraries and sold on supermarket shelves alongside the work of such writers as Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts.

While banning books is not the best idea, and is actually insulting to a public who wants the freedom to read what they wish, I would say that there does need to be a change about who these materials are made available for. Many administrators would say that it is the parents’ job to monitor their child’s intake, but, especially when it comes to teens, this can be a futile if not impossible task. My suggestion would simply be a rating system for books. The computer systems used in libraries could be reprogrammed to include a three-tiered patron program based on age. These would be first for children ages twelve and younger, second for teens thirteen to eighteen, and the third for legal adults. The books themselves would be rated according to their content by the publishers. The movie, television, and gaming industries are required to give similar ratings. Why not books? There could be general consumption (G), young adult literature (T), and adult readers only (M) ratings. Once this program was in place, the libraries would be able to use their existing procedures while there would be automated safeguards to make sure a fifteen-year-old was not checking out a book that included highly charged sexual scenes, as well as scenes of overly violent action or other things that might be deemed unsuitable for children. A rating system such as this would also make it possible for vendors to try to put procedures into place that would make it at least difficult for sales of these books to minors, though online purchases would still be suspect simply because of the nature of the marketplace involved. But at least those occurrences would be out of the jurisdiction of the institutions that are supposed to be safe places for young people, such as libraries.

While this system is not perfect (as nothing ever is), it would be a way to at least limit the cause of the issue. As I said before, I have read these authors and find their talent very real. It is their style that makes them problematic for younger audiences. However, authors do not normally have control over how their work is marketed, so they should not be blamed for this debacle. Also, I would think that that this is a more serious issue than trying to ban classic books that have been the standard of English reading assignments for decades. The people that are responsible for the banning of books do have the correct motives, but somewhere between motive and execution of action something has gotten lost. The only thing that banning books has managed to accomplish is to make those same books even more popular and put them on the bestselling lists as a result. If these people really do not want their children reading these stories, perhaps they should pay more attention to what is in their child’s hands than what is on the library shelves. Especially considering what they have already allowed them to be exposed to for the past decade.

MOVIE REVIEW: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

 

After escaping from prison, a leader of a gang of thieves tries to reestablish his relationship with his estranged daughter and finds that the man he trusted to take care of her has turned his child against him, and made a deal with a demon in the process. In trying to get his daughter back and save the city she lives in, he builds a new gang of outlaws that includes an unreliable sorcerer, a shape shifting druid, and the female barbarian who helped him raise his family after his wife's death.

This stars Chris Pine, who plays his usual character who acts cocky and self-assured while hiding a slew of complicated emotions. His costars include Michelle Rodriguez (Widows), Justice Smith (Jurassic Park: Dominion), and Sophia Lillis (Gretel and Hansel). Don't expect much character development or world building from this one. The world is already fully realized and, though there are some emotional moments between father and daughter, the people are there simply to keep the action going and the special effects buzzing. The actors do their best and, though the script bogs them down at times, their considerable talent does keep the CGI, which is extravagant, from taking over entirely. It's not great art, but it is a fantastic and fun joy ride. A little gory in places, so young children should be supervised, but still a good one for family night.

BOOK REVIEW: Religion Gone Bad: The Hidden Dangers of the Christian Right by Mel White

 

This book is written by Mel White, a LGBTQ+ activist for over 30 years, and who spent the previous 30 as a ghostwriter and videographer for such Christian fundamentalists as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Billy Graham. When he came out as gay, and after an amicable divorce from his wife, he married another man in 1994. Due to his past associations, White should be at least one of only a handful of people to know what the religious right and its leaders are all about. This book is about his efforts to talk to, negotiate, and even plead with the televangelists who had been his friends to stop their verbal attacks on gay and lesbian people. In the face of the failure of that, he formed an organization called Soul Force, an LBGTQ+ group who hold peaceful demonstrations across the country to call attention to the danger that this kind of rhetoric inspires.

The first part of the book tells about his days working for the same people he now calls his adversaries. During this time, he was an eyewitness to the development of such influential Christian organizations as the Moral Majority and The Christian Coalition. He knew their ideologies inside and out, and even wrote some of the speeches that the leaders gave when the organizations were formed. With all this background knowledge, no one has any cause to question or suspect his view of events. However, the first seven of the ten chapters of this resembles nothing more or less than Christian bashing. While White freely admits some bitterness to his former colleagues refusing to even admit his existence after he came out as gay, it is pretty obvious that that hurt still runs deep. While what he says may be true, and more than likely is, his constant calling out of the names of those same people gets to be somewhat monotonous. It is true, and many can attest to this, that there are many on the radical Christian right who have been responsible for the verbal assaults on LBGTQ+ people, so it would have been nice if just a few more of them had been named.

It has now been almost 20 years since this book was published, and much has changed since then. Only one of the major four names that are mentioned are still alive, the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law by the President in 2022, and there has been a growing societal movement to accept LBGTQ+ people as a minority group, which means that crimes against them can be treated as hate crimes and charges brought against perpetrators on a federal level. These changes have been slow in coming, but there has been progress made, and I believe that everyone is the better for them. People like White and his organization may have been influential in contributing to this, but the fact is that I had never even heard of Soul Force before reading this book and looking them up online. Whether that is symptomatic of LBGTQ+ activism being swept under the rug, or that they simply were only one small group that helped to push these changes into public awareness, I suppose will remain unknown. I do know that their philosophy, which is based on the writings and teachings of Mahatma Ghandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a great endeavor and should be applauded. I just hope that organization has more understanding and tolerance than this book seems to.

MOVIE REVIEW: Interstellar

 

This film begins on a future Earth where natural disasters and the resulting famines have left mankind completely without faith in itself, to the point where the government has begun to erase the accomplishments of science in order to keep the surviving people concentrating on things like food production. In the middle of all this, an ex-NASA pilot named Cooper is called upon by what is left of that agency to fly a spaceship through a black hole that has been discovered floating near Saturn in an attempt to find mankind a new place to live. Leaving his family on a slowly dying Earth, he makes the voyage, only to find that the miasma of deception has spread to the scientists involved in the mission as well. So, left on their own and not knowing who they can trust, it is up to Cooper and his team to do the seeming impossible. Find a new way for humanity to survive.

Starring Matthew McConaughey as Cooper, the rest of the incredible cast includes Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, and John Lithgow. There is a lot of scientific jargon in this to do with time/space relativity, gravity, and singularities, so it may a little difficult for the average layman to understand. However, if you are willing to ignore the intellectual hyperbole and just enjoy the ride, it is an adventure with a lot of sentimentality and a really unique robot. More than anything else, this is a story about the bond between a parent and their child, and the lengths that both will go to for the sake of the other. This is a long movie (almost three hours), but the time goes fast as it is so interesting and enthralling. There is a lot of action, but no erotica and very little strong language. Good for a family night, though it may have to be split into two parts for younger children.

BOOK REVIEW: Journey Through James by Douglas Estes

 

This is a 30-day trip through what has been, until the late 20^th century, one of the most neglected books in the Bible. The book of James, who was believed to be Jesus’s brother (meaning he was one of the children conceived by Mary with Joseph), has been problematic for Christians because of its straightforward and practical approach to humanity’s social ills, and the attitudes that Christians should have to them. Speaking of the poor, particularly children and widows, James brings to light the three things that have impacted the Church’s problems with handling these: greed, intolerance, and laziness. James faces those problems head-on, telling his readers where they are wrong and what they should do about it. Lacking the coddling, nurturing nature of the books of Paul or Peter, James’s simple, no-nonsense way of speaking has been considered “too hard” for many followers. But, sometimes, a “tough love” approach is what is needed to make people pay attention and see the faults in their actions that have been ignored or downplayed by other teachers.

One of the major stumbling blocks of James for most Christians is the part in chapter 2, verses 14 through 26, in which James addresses actions, saying that, without deeds, faith is dead. When taken out of context, this seems to be at odds with Paul’s assertion in Ephesians that the believer has been saved by grace and not by works. However, the operative words here are “out of context.” When one reads the larger letter in James, it is clear that the writer is speaking to those who have already accepted the grace of forgiveness. There is no question about whether or not they are followers. The problem stems from how they have acted as followers. For, if they are followers, then they need to act like it, and, it seems, in many cases they have not. What many Christians seem to conveniently forget is that those in this world who do not know their Creator, or have never been taught this philosophy, do not have any idea what the grace of forgiveness looks like, much less have experienced it for themselves. The followers of Christ are their only examples of this truth, for it is the believers’ actions and deeds that are the window into that truth. It is the believers’ duty to picture the love and grace of forgiveness in their own lives, to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no caveat in that commandment that says, “Only if your neighbor looks, thinks, and lives the way you do.” The commandment is only that we love, and act like we love.

We, in our world today, could learn much from James. Those who have accepted the grace of forgiveness should be willing, wanting, and acting in gentleness and acceptance of our neighbors. We should not be trying to take away their civil rights, imprison them, or erase their history and cultures. We should be loving and helping them, even if we do not agree with their ideology, religion, or politics. For, if we do not, all they will see is people who show them that the Christian faith is nothing but intolerance and hatred. If that is all they see, why would they want to be a part of something like that? Why would they even want to listen to someone like that? Perhaps that is something we should think about the next time we go to vote, participate in a demonstration, or sign a petition. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Rapture

While house hunting, a couple ends up stranded in a remote location of central California when their car and everything electronic suddenly dies. Teaming up with some strangers they meet along the way, they begin walking through a nightmare landscape as UFO objects begin to appear in the sky, using electrical bolts to kill every human they can find. The terror is increased when they realize that there are unidentifiable beings by the hundreds also walking around targeting people, and a strange new disease that seems to eat flesh quickly killing everything it touches. As they watch their world go insane, one of them becomes convinced that the apocalypse, as predicted in the Bible, has come, and starts trying to convert the others, much to the chagrin of those who prefer a more logical solution to the events around them.

Released in 2014 to streaming platforms and onto DVD, and with a cast of lesser-known actors, this is mainly a character study about disparate beliefs coming together in a time of disaster. Something of a horror film, with some violence, gore, and scary scenes, this is not for younger children. Whether or not the events depicted are indeed supposed to be the long-awaited rapture that Christians have been predicting for two millennia is not clear. The only thing that is clear is the absolute dedication and devotion to their particular ideologies that these people hold to. Sometimes these can bring courage and peace, other times despair and rage. However, the end makes clear which one is still available when all other hope has proven to be in vain.

 

MOVIE REVIEW: Jesus Revolution

 

In the year 1968, when the hippie movement was in full swing across the US, the pastor of a traditional church named Chuck Smith meets a young man named Lonnie Frisbee. The unlikely duo ends up working together to turn Smith’s slowly dying church into a place where the younger generation can come to learn the message of Jesus. An instant success, the church attracts a young man named Greg Laurie and his girlfriend Cathe. The couple has been experimenting with drugs but have changed their minds about the value of that life when Cathe’s sister almost dies of an overdose. Hesitant at first, they both end up accepting Jesus as their savior, and are drawn into the life of the community of young believers.

This is an excellent film with standout performances by Kelsey Grammer as Chuck Smith and Jonathan Roumie as Lonnie Frisbee. It covers the beginnings of what came to be called the Jesus Revolution (given that name by Time magazine and thus the name of the film), that ended up spreading across the country and spawning hundreds of new churches within the five years of its occurrence. But most of all, it is a story of a young man who is struggling to find something to believe in and a mission for his life. In the midst of all this, the private lives of all the people involved come into focus, the bad sides as well as the good, and give this a depth that is not usually present in a historical drama, making it all that much more involving. Though it received mixed reviews from the critics, it was the surprise box office hit of the 2023 summer, taking in over twice as much money as it was forecasted to, and ending up at the number three spot for the top movies of its debut weekend. An excellent one, even for those who don’t care about religion or Christianity, it is great for families as well as date night.

MOVIE REVIEW: Rampage

 

This is a 2008 film regarding an illegal pathogen being tested on a space station which falls to earth when the station is destroyed. Engineered to give its victims increased size and aggression, it effects three animals upon landing. One is a wolf, another an alligator, and the third is a gorilla in a zoo that is capable of communicating in sign language. The gorilla's keeper, an ex-Special Forces Marine, together with a geneticist who used to work for the company responsible for the pathogen, team up to find the other animals and destroy them before they kill thousands of people in the heart of a major city.

Starring Dwayne Johnson (formerly known as the Rock), this is a thrilling action fest that never fails to delight with twists and surprises. The special effects are outstanding, featuring motion capture for the gorilla, and CGI for the other monster animals. The cast is superb, including Naomie Harris as the geneticist, and Malin Akerman as the CEO of the pathogen's creators. There is also a guest appearance by Jack Quaid, at a time before his voice was used to great effect in the animated comedy of Star Trek's Lower Decks. There is quite a large amount of violence, in the form of monsters destroying buildings, but very little strong language and no erotic scenes. This is definitely one that will be fun for family night.

BOOK REVIEW: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

 

Maria Merryweather is a young orphan girl who comes to live with her cousin at Moonacre Manor, a beautiful and mysterious old house near a village with the picturesque name of Silverydew. Upon her arrival, Maria notices several things about the house and its occupants that seem almost magical, and also finds herself thrust into the middle of an ancient story of love, loss, and betrayal. Can Maria find a way to mend the lives she finds here, or is she doomed to repeat the history of this incredibly nuanced place that she now calls home?
This is a story that takes place in the 1800s, at a time when the expectations of a woman were very different from what they are now. Maria has been raised by her governess to be a lady, and she adheres to customs and attitudes that seem old-fashioned by today's standards. However, the crux of the story is not in its austerity, but in its premise that love, patience, and understanding can mend even the most broken of hearts. Written in a descriptive, lyrical style, this is a tale that speaks of memory and legend, but it also holds within it a lesson of courage and kindness. A book that will be treasured with many of the great stories of the past.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

 

This is the sequel to the original two Mummy films starring Brendon Fraser, that were the reboot of the Mummy series of movies that began in the 1930s with Boris Karloff playing the iconic character of an undead priest searching for his lost love. This one takes place many years after the first two, and is located in China rather than Egypt. Alex O'Connell, now a young man of 21 years, has ditched his schooling to pursue an archeological dig of a Chinese emperor whose reputation is of an evil man looking for immortality. Rick and Evelyn O'Connell, still married but having their romance turned a little lackluster for want of the adventures that brought them together, are commissioned by British Intelligence, for which they did missions during World War II, to bring a priceless relic back to the Chinese people. Add to this a rogue Chinese general who wants to bring the entombed emperor back to life in a bid to lead a world revolution, and Evelyn's brother Jonathan, who now runs a nightclub in Shanghai, and you've got the makings for an adventure that is both thrilling and highly entertaining.

While getting less than stellar reviews when it was in the theaters, this film earned more than enough to make it a box office success. I believe that part of the problem was that the critics did not like the fact that Rachel Weisz did not reprise her role of Evelyn due to contract disputes, so the part when to Maria Bello (Assault on Precinct 13). While a good actress, she does not achieve the chemistry with Brendon Fraser that was so instrumental to the other movies, and thus leaves the character of Evie as kind of a sidekick to the others. That being said, the rest of the cast is phenomenal. As well as Fraser and John Hannah, Jet Li (Fearless) plays the undead emperor, brought back to life to take his revenge on the witch that cursed him. Isabella Leong (Missing) is stunning as the daughter of the now immortal witch. Luke Ford (The Black Balloon) takes on the role of Alex with great success. And there is a surprise appearance by the now Academy Award winning Michelle Yeoh as the witch that curses the emperor to his fate. All in all, this is a movie that is a complete joy ride from start to finish, and that I would highly recommend for family night.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Omega Code

Inspired by the book The Bible Code, this is the story of a famous life coach who finds himself in a position to team up with an influential politician, and, through a complex series of events, ends up running for his life from an accusation of attempted murder. Involved in and complicating all of this is the efforts of an unnamed organization to bring about the prophecies that are found in the Torah, or Old Testament, of the Bible, and some strange and unexplainable events.

This film has a stellar cast, which includes Casper Van Diem, Michael York, and Michael Ironside. Though panned by the critics when it was first released, it managed to become a hit during its theatrical run, and has remained a cult classic since. It brings together mythology in the form of the mysterious prophecies that are purportedly found in the Old Testament, and the eschatology of the book of Revelations to make a very involving story that will keep the viewer interested right up until the end. Highly recommended.

 

BOOK REVIEW: Since the Sirens by E.E. Isherwood

 

I normally don't go in for zombie stories, but this one is actually really good. It follows a 15-year-old boy named Liam as he tries to save his 104-year-old great-grandmother, who he has been spending the summer with, from a looming disaster of undead attackers, made that way by an Ebola-like virus. As the unlikely pair attempt to flee from the murderous hordes, they meet many different kinds of people. Some become friends, some allies, and others enemies, but none of that changes Liam's determination to get his elderly charge to some kind of safety.

This not only has the horror of zombies, it also delves a little into faith and mysticism, as the old woman starts having visions of what is apparently a guardian angel, and many of their new acquaintances begin to invite the young hero to find his way of belief as well. The spirit of the older woman that has not been depleted by her age or circumstances, the devotion of her young protector, and the interplay between the two is enough to keep the reader enthralled up to the end. Something of a warning: This is quite a large series of books, and the end of this one comes in what seems like the middle of the action, so be prepared to left hanging. But, if all the installments are as good as this one, it's well worth the time.

MOVIE REVIEW: Star Trek: Into Darkness

 

A 2013 production, this is the second in the reboot series of Star Trek films. Beginning a couple of years after the first, the Enterprise crew has been together for a little while, but not long enough to truly meld into a team. The relationship between Kirk and Spock is still rocky, and is strained further by a misunderstanding between the two, which also unsettles the romance between Spock and Uhura. Add to this the unexplained attack by what appears to be a rogue Federation agent on Starfleet headquarters, which leads Kirk to the discovery that not even the higher echelons of Starfleet are immune from conspiracy. Only with his now estranged friends at his side can Kirk find a way to stop an intergalactic war before it starts.

All of the original actors reprise their roles in this, with a wonderfully engaging addition of Benedict Cumberbatch as the mysterious cause of Kirk's dilemma. There is also a guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy, which would be his final appearance on screen before his death. This movie is exciting, taking many twists and turns, and aludes back to the original series in great ways. A must see for any Star Trek fan.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Secret: Dare to Dream

 

This is a 2020 film that follows a young widow named Miranda, who is struggling to raise three children after the death of her husband a few years before. Since the only things that seem to happen to her are terrible, Miranda has lost faith in hope. Then, on the eve of a hurricane hitting their town, a mysterious man suddenly appears in Miranda's life. Named Bray, he is an engineering professor at Vanderbilt University, and he has come to deliver something that is tied to her future as well as her past. However, when the storm causes a tree branch to punch a hole in Miranda's roof, Bray takes it upon himself to help her fix the damage. While doing this, he, Miranda, and her children grow close, causing Miranda to take a step back and reevaluate her life.

This was originally scheduled to be released into theaters but was relegated to video due to the Covid pandemic. Starring Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas, and Jerry O'Connell, it not only has a great cast, but is also well written, and is a feel-good story that can't fail to raise your spirits and leave you with a smile on your face. With no sexual scenes, no strong language, and no violence, this is completely fine for children and a wonderful movie for family night.

BOOK REVIEW: Travel by Bullet by John Scalzi

 

This finds our hero, Tony Valdez, working at a hospital performing the service that he was trained for: killing people. In this world of the future, people who are murdered come back, and to take advantage of this incredible occurrence, individuals like Tony have been trained to dispatch those that are near to death through accident or disease. During his time there, he is called to attend one of his own, a dispatcher named Mason, who, before being killed, gives Tony something that makes him instantly a target for some very dangerous and powerful players. The question now becomes, can Tony figure out what is going on, help his friend, and stay alive at the same time?

The third in the Dispatcher series, this is probably the best of the lot. Performed incredibly well by Zachary Quinto, it keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering just what in the world is going to happen next. With many twists, turns, and constant surprises, this requires the listener's complete and constant attention. A definite audiobook experience well worth having.

MOVIE REVIEW: On a Wing and a Prayer

 

A man who is having a crisis of faith after his brother’s death finds himself flying a light plane with his family on board after the pilot unexpectedly dies. This 2023 film stars Dennis Quaid and Heather Graham, and is based on the true story of Doug White, who brought in a King Air private plane and landed safely with no flight experience, simply by listening to the instructions of a flight instructor and an air traffic controller over his radio and on the phone. This is a short, very involving film as the situation spirals out of control for the family on board, and White becomes the only person who can save the lives of those he loves. This movie is produced by Roma Downey, who is probably best known for her acting career, which included the role of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the NBC miniseries A Woman Named Jackie. She is also president of Lightworkers Media, and this film has a decidedly faith-based tone to it. But, though all the cast is excellent, I think it is the naked terror on Quaid’s face as he is forced to do something for which he is completely unprepared that sells this one. Definitely a must see for anyone who loves exciting, tense, and inspirational true stories.

THE EVIL WINS (?): A Perspective

 

I have been reviewing movies on this blog for a few years now, and I have found that there has been an evolving theme going on with many newer productions. These movies have been produced beginning shortly after the turn of the century. After a couple of decades of the next generations cutting their literary teeth on dystopian novels, these same kids have grown into adults that have taken over the storytelling lines of the movie industry. The result has been a quagmire of screenplays that have the evil, or villainous, characters and/or creatures coming out on top.

This is not to say that dystopian novels or the people who write and/or read them are the cause of all society’s ills. In fact, most of these stories have the good guys, after three or four books, winning. The problem is that the young readers who absorbed these awful, and often violent, imaginary worlds put them together with the horrible real-life happenings they saw in their own lives, and out of that has come what we are seeing today. The world that they lived in had little justice, no accountability, and worshiped money and everything it could buy. As they grew up, things only got worse. What with housing crashes, pandemics, and riots brought on by violent racial disparities, is it really any wonder that there are many people out there that believe that evil will always win? And so, this philosophy is portrayed in their stories, their books, and their movies.

Not that there weren’t any bright spots in this era. The Star Trek universe always features a place where all intelligent beings are treated as equals, no matter what they look like. With its reboot films and newest series, it can now speak to whole new generations about acceptance and inclusivity. The Star Wars films are known for bringing beings of all descriptions together to fight for freedom from dictatorial governments. Even if some of the chapters have a noticeably dark tone, they tell the story without flinching over the uncomfortable parts of the history. And those like Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia, which were based on books that were written at a time when good always triumphed over evil, also made their mark. These attributes were rewarded by the profits that were brought in by these efforts. Which just goes to prove that, no matter what they claim to believe, people still love happy endings, endings where the good guys come through the darkness to the light of victory, no matter what the cost.

Unfortunately, these are the exceptions instead of the norm. The horror genre, in particular, has been extremely affected by this darker philosophy. It used to be that the vampires and/or werewolves were horrible creatures that were destroyed in the end. Now, they are handsome rock star heroes who have girls trailing at their heels and are worshiped as semi-deities. The demons get away or the main character ends up succumbing to the dark side and becoming one of them. Perhaps this can be viewed as rooting for the outcast, but it is still true that their existence is a terrible, painful ordeal, with their only relief being to make sure others share in their torment. This may make sense to the view that only evil can triumph in this life, but is that really the truth?

Actually, the truth is that, even though it may seem that evil does win every time, it actually does not. Evil has a way of working against itself. An evil man makes a lot of money, only to have his trusted colleague turn on him and take his life. The colleague may do this because he wants what is best for himself, what his erstwhile friend had, but in the end he brings down someone that would have caused more harm than the friend ever will. And, eventually, the same thing will happen all over again. It may take a while, but the chain of events will continue until all the evil men are gone and there are only the decent ones left to make a new way of living. Evil will never triumph. Its very nature precludes that. It will simply last until there are no more left to follow it. Then it will die out. It’s as simple as that.

I believe in good. I believe in light triumphing over darkness. And, frankly, I also believe that there is enough darkness in this world without us having to watch it on the screens in our homes. So, from now on, I am going to make a concerted effort to watch and review only films that bring goodness and hope to the viewer. This will not mean that I won’t be including the high budget hit movies that may come along, but the majority will be in this new vein. I do not want my mind corroded by the darkness that permeates our world, and I am sure that there are many out there who feel the same. So, this will now be the place to come to find those alternatives. Here the heroes will triumph, and the light will find a place to shine. Let us shine with it.

BOOK REVIEW: Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving

 

This is written as kind of a travel guide and history of the Alhambra, the Moorish palace fortress in Spain. Washington Irving was what was known as an itinerant traveler in his youth, wandering through Europe in the cheapest way possible and staying anywhere he could for free. The Alhambra was one of his stops, and this book chronicles his stay there, the people he met, and the legends that he heard during his visit. Irving’s gift with the pen gives life to the keepers of the old fortress and its stories in a way that is both enchanting and entrancing. This is another effort of Irving’s that the reader really doesn’t want to end, and it is a place that one can tell lived in the author’s memory as one of the highlights of his romps around Europe. The beauty of the place and its surroundings, the magical tales that were created around it, and the honest dignity of the poor people living there all combine to win the heart of both Irving and his reader. This is definitely a book for those interested in both history and romance, and who enjoy travelogues as well as ghost stories.

Just a note: The actual Alhambra has been restored to its former glory by the government of Spain, and has been designated a UNESCO Heritage site.

MOVIE REVIEW: Nope

 

A brother and sister team are left with a failing ranch that raises trained horses for film productions when their father dies suddenly, apparently the victim of a freak accident. Together with a friend from a local video store, they set out to discover what has been causing power outages on their property, only to find out that the reason for these disturbances may be stranger than either of them could have guessed.

Starring Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) as the brother O.J. and Keke Palmer (Scream the series) as the sister Emerald, this is a story of a family desperately trying to keep its dignity and reputation during a time of financial and emotional stress. The script is excellent and fun, as well as thrilling and adventurous. It has a timid start, which gives it a chance to build into a tremendous climax, and the interaction between characters is wonderful to behold. There are no erotic scenes, some strong language, and very little gore. Older children may appreciate the action at the end, though they may have trouble sitting through the slower scenes at the beginning.

BOOK REVIEW: Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

This is the fifth book in the Tarzan series, and it comes back to the original Tarzan of the Apes and his wife Jane. Now living in Africa, they receive word that the company that has sustained them in England has gone bankrupt. Since their wealth was originally established on the gold that Tarzan had pilfered from the unknowing (and uncaring) city of Opar, he decides to go back to get more gold to reestablish his monetary stability. However, they also have at this time a duplicitous visitor at their estate who wishes to steal their riches for himself and his Arabian master, a marauder and thief. All this sets the stage for a series of events, complicated by Tarzen himself suffering from amnesia due to a blow on the head, that leads to many and exciting adventures for all concerned.

This is the most involved novel by far in this series. Not only does it show the growth of Burroughs as a writer, but also the scope of imagination that he allowed himself to exercise when it came to his Lord of the Apes. Written in the 19th century, it is extremely misogynistic toward white, and in particular, English culture. But, to its credit, it also has a European villain and a native hero, (besides its main characters), which gives it somewhat more of an inclusive air. The action is such that it can still hold the interest with the best of thrillers today. This is the best of the series to date.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Visitor

 

This 2022 film follows a man and his wife who move into her childhood home upon the death of her father and the miscarriage of their first baby. The husband, Robert, who is from England, is having trouble adapting to the American lifestyle, and his culture shock is made worse by the fact that the town into which they have moved seems to have no end of citizens who act and speak to him strangely. Compounding this is the fact that, in the attic of their new home, he finds a painting of a man who looks exactly like him, and this is only the first of many portraits of the same man that he finds located throughout the town. As time passes, he comes to suspect that there are secrets that the town is hiding that are not only terrifying, but will effect the future of himself, his wife, and the child that they are now expecting.

This stars Finn Jones, a relative newcomer whose past roles include 2021’s Awake and 2017’s miniseries The Defenders. Jessica McNamee (Mortal Combat) plays his wife, and Donna Biscoe (best known for her role in the soap opera Saints & Sinners) appears as an antique shop owner who tries to warn Robert that something bad is happening. Originally produced for digital release on the Epix platform, this is a neat little story about a man becoming increasingly convinced that he has landed in the middle of a nightmare, and is continually frustrated by his seeming inability to do anything about it. There is very little strong language, no erotica, and basically no violence. It is purely a psychological buildup to a tantalizing ending. Older teens may appreciate this, but young children may not have the patience to allow the suspense to carry them to the end. However, this is a really good little movie and well worth the time.

BOOK REVIEW: The Lost World by Michael Crichton

 

This is a follow-up story to Crichton’s Jurassic Park, which was the basis of the movie franchise that has been so popular over the past few years. This one is about Site B, a laboratory island where the dinosaurs were bred for transfer to the infamous park, and the small team that goes in to rescue an erstwhile scientist who has gotten himself trapped while trying to study the animals there. The team includes Ian Malcolm (which is a little confusing considering that this character was supposed to have died in the first book, though he didn’t in the subsequent movie), the mathematician who was involved in the adventure on the first island, Sarah Harding, a naturalist who studies predators, an equipment specialist named Thorne, Thorne’s assistant Eddie, and the lost scientist, an arrogant, selfish prig named Levine. There are also two kids that stowaway on the expedition (Crichton always seems to have kids in dangerous places in his books). Add to the mix an unscrupulous exploitative businessman named Dodson trying to steal dinosaur eggs, and you have the makings for an unending series of thrilling episodes of people trying to survive in a world that they were never meant to. In spite of the confusion about whether this is supposed to be a sequel to the book or the movie, the author’s writing and characterization makes the story move along at a pace that precludes any consternation of storyline flaws. Entertaining to read, and even more to listen to in its audio form, this is a good one for that long flight or bus ride when one needs to be whisked away to another world, this time it being a prehistoric one.

MOVIE REVIEW: Look Away

 

A teenage girl named Maria, who is the victim of bullying in school and whose parents are too distracted by their own problems to pay any attention to their daughter, finds that her reflection in mirrors has come alive and allows it to take her place, resulting in a series of murders. This 2018 film stars India Eisley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) as Maria, Mira Sorvino (Human Trafficking) as her mother, and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter series) as her father. This is a well-acted and well-scripted movie, but is also rather slow moving and takes a while for the real action to start. There is nudity, erotic scenes, and some strong language, so, for these reasons, and the fact that it may evolve too slowly for young minds, this is not recommended for children. However, for adults that like Alfred Hitchcock style psychological thrillers, this is a good one to keep the interest on a date night.

BOOK REVIEW: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

 

This is chronologically the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia, though it was actually the first one published. It follows four English children who are evacuated to the country during World War II and find a magical wardrobe that transports them into another world. In this world they find themselves among talking animals and mythical creatures, and caught up in a battle to save the land from an evil witch. It is an enchanting romp through a world of imagination that, along with centaurs, mermaids, and the spirits of trees, has underlying Christian connotations. Written by a man many hail has one of the greatest Christian apologists of the 20^th century, it successfully blends religious symbolism and esoteric paganism to create a story that can be enjoyed by both young and old. A great addition to any library.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Lazarus Effect

 

A 2015 film with a cast including Evan Peters (American Horror Story) and Olivia Wilde (House), this concerns a group of scientists that find a chemical that reanimates the dead. During a late-night visit to their lab after they find out a pharmaceutical company is trying to steal their discovery, one of their number is killed in an accident, and the head of the group decides to try to bring her back to life. The result is an incarnation of evil as the body and mind of a person who has died is slowly taken over by an insane creature bent on destruction, and is able to manipulate and control the minds of those around her. While the cast is good, this a typical man-into-monster horror flick that has very little originality to it. There is plenty of violence and some strong language, but there is little or no erotica. Though this does make it palatable for older kids, the scenes of Hell and torment (which include people burning to death in a fire) that are unleashed in the visions that are planted into the brains of the victims may be triggering for younger children or emotionally traumatized individuals. Caution should be advised.

BOOK REVIEW: The Blackstone Chronicles by John Saul

 

This is a serialized book that takes place in a small New England town that is overshadowed by an abandoned hospital called the Asylum that once treated the mentally disturbed. The stories follow the distribution of artifacts from a hidden room in the old hospital to various citizens of the town by a shadowy figure, somehow bringing with them the mental miasmas of their original owners. The result is murder, suicide, and insanity.

John Saul has been a favorite author of mine for some time, mainly for his ability to write stories around old legends. This is no exception. The Asylum is a conglomerate of abandoned hospitals around the country. Its history is a composite of old mental institutions around the world, including the often torturous treatments that were used in the early 20^th century to try to help the mentally afflicted. Saul takes this setting, adds a doctor who has sadistic tendencies, and injects a mystery surrounding the death of a young girl. All of this combines under the author’s capable hand to make each and every installment of the chronicles of this cursed town into a separate shocking story of people fallen victim to an evil looking for vengeance. A great one for all Saul fans.

MOVIE REVIEW: Skinwalker

 

This is a 2021 film that went direct to DVD and streaming platforms. Its cast is made up of mainly unknown actors. It is a western with a supernatural twist that involves a US marshal and his deputy, who take into custody a woman that is married to a wanted outlaw, and a family of Mormons who find a man that is running from a tribe of Native American Indians after looting one of their graveyards. These two groups are brought together, and it is discovered that the graverobber has taken a sacred totem that kept the spirit of an evil witch in her grave, thus releasing an entity that can possess any and all who come into contact with it. Written, directed and produced by Robert Conway, best known for his work on the Krampus horror trilogy, this is a small film that is nonetheless entertaining for not only the horror crowd, but also those who love a good old-fashioned western. Lots of violence, but no erotica and very little strong language makes this passable for older children.

BOOK REVIEW: A Rip in Time by Jeff Gunzel

 

Taking place in a world where supernatural beings are common, a young girl is found that is a mixture of races. Though she is innocent of her heritage, and the powers that this brings to her, the future may hinge on her existence. Now she is in danger, as the many different races attempt to claim her as their own. Can she be saved by those who have vowed to protect her, or will she prove too dangerous even for them?

This book relies mostly on action and suspense to tell its story, but there are some erotic and torture scenes in it. For this reason, it may not be a good selection for the young adult audience. However, it is an extremely good effort and well worth the time. It is the first in a series. Looking forward to the continuation of the epic. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Jurassic World: Dominion

 

This is the third entry into the Jurassic World trilogy, that being the second film trilogy about live dinosaurs that have been brought back into the world through modern genetic tampering. In this, the dinosaurs that were inadvertently let loose in the last movie are now roaming the world at will, creating an almost intolerable situation for human civilization. There is now a black market specializing in dinosaurs, and illegal breeding farms are a constant problem. In addition, the girl Maisie, who is herself a clone of her mother, is now in her teens and becoming increasingly frustrated with the protected life forced upon her by her foster parents, Claire Dearing and Owen Grady. In a second storyline, Ellie Sattler, from the original Jurassic Park movies, is investigating abnormally large locusts that are devastating the crops of independent farmers while leaving the ones raised by the company Biosyn untouched. After talking her old lover, Alan Grant, into accompanying her, she visits Biosyn, where another old friend, Ian Malcolm, awaits them with valuable information. All the storylines come together when Maisie is kidnapped by Biosyn, and Claire and Owen follow her there to get her back.

As you can see, there is quite a lot happening in this film, which could prove confusing, but is actually handled wonderfully by the production and editing teams. The special effects are, of course, amazing, which is something that is expected with the movies Steven Spielberg is associated with, but the character development is also incredible. The most heart-warming revelations are given to Maisie, played by the very talented young actress Isabella Sermon. But the entire cast is breathtaking in this, as this film not only celebrates the newer endeavors, but also brings nostalgia into the mix with the stars of the former movies as well. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong, they are all here, and the script brings them together with Chris Pratt’s and Brice Dallas Howard’s characters in such a way that seems so natural that it is hard to remember that 30 years has passed since the original film was released. Definitely see this one.

BOOK REVIEW: Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi

 

This is the follow up to the audiobook The Dispatcher. Taking place two years after the events in the last book, we find Tony Valdez in somewhat of a financial conundrum. Budget cuts have caused him to be dropped as a consultant for the police force, and the resulting downswing in his income has forced him to take jobs that legally questionable. After completing a morally ambiguous assignment for a local lawyer, he finds himself an innocent bystander in the middle of a bank robbery. However, as the investigation into the robbery progresses, one after the other of the people involved begin committing suicide, and all the clues seem to lead back to Tony. With only his police detective friend to defend him with the law, Tony must solve this mystery, or face the same fate as the others.

Narrated by Zachary Quinto, this is an excellent installment to this series. A little longer than the first, it might take a couple of days to get through, but it is definitely worth the time. Scalzi’s writing combined with Quinto’s narration makes this a mystery and thriller that will have the listener hanging on every word.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Black Phone

 

Set in the 1970s, this follows a young boy who gets abducted by a serial child killer. During his imprisonment, he starts getting calls from a black wall phone that isn’t connected to the outside world, these evidently coming from the previous victims of his captor. They lead him through a series of escape attempts, and teach him confidence against a seemingly insurmountable foe.

This film features a young actor named Mason Thames as the boy that is kidnapped, Madeleine McGraw as his sister, and Ethan Hawke as the psychotic child killer who goes by the name of The Grabber. The cast also includes Jeremy Davies as the boy’s father. It has a couple of scenes of physical child abuse, but otherwise there is only the story of the boy trying to escape his tormentor, and there is very little strong language. This is good for pre-teens, teaching the importance of not trusting strangers and the necessity of fighting against their would-be abductor(s) if the need arises. Otherwise, it is a good, tense, suspenseful movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Well worth the watch.

BOOK REVIEW: Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum

 

A continuation of the story of the Land of Oz, this one brings Dorothy back to the Emerald City by way of the Land of Ev. Shipwrecked after a storm at sea while accompanying her uncle to Australia, Dorothy encounters a beautiful but outrageously vain princess, meets a mechanical man, and squares off against the Nome King. All of this happens with the fun, wit, and charm of Baum's usual writing, and is a delight to the storytelling senses. If anything, this one ends far too soon. Good thing there are other books following.

MOVIE REVIEW: Cloverfield

 

This is a 2008 film by the Bad Robot studios headed by J.J. Abrams, director and producer of the first two Star Trek reboot movies. A “found video” genre film, this concerns a group of friends in New York that end up running for their lives when an alien lifeform crashes into the city. As they navigate the place that they once called home, they are attacked by parasites coming off the huge alien, have to deal with other refugees and the military, and try to save the girlfriend of one of the group from a demolished building. It is a thrill ride that has very little time to catch one’s breath, much less really understand that is actually going on. The only actor that will probably be even recognizable in this is Tim Griffin, who plays the officer in charge of the military unit the survivors run into, and who has been in everything from NCIS: New Orleans to The Bourne Supremacy. The rest were virtual unknowns when this movie was made, but that only adds to the realism. There are many scary moments, as well as a little gore and strong language, but, in all, this is an enthralling and completely spellbinding time.

BOOK REVIEW: Jungle Pilot by Russell T. Hitt

 

This is the story of pilot Nate Saint who, along with four other missionaries, was massacred while trying to evangelize to a tribe of indigenous people in Ecuador. This follows his life through childhood and service in the military, to his joining Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF), moving his family to Ecuador, and his efforts to spread the gospel and witness to the people there. This is an entertaining and tender story of a young man who felt within his heart that giving his life to such an effort was truly his destiny. Written to be easy to read and understand, this is a great story of courage, determination, and dedication to a cause. The story of Nate Saint is extremely inspirational, especially to those who may be thinking about a life in the missionary field.

MOVIE REVIEW: Left Behind

 

Back in 1995, a preacher, Tim LaHaye, and a novelist, Jerry B. Jenkins, released a joint novel called Left Behind. It told the story of a time when millions of people simply vanish from the earth, causing panic among the remaining populace and the virtual collapse of most of the governments of the world. Following a small group of people who come to believe that this mass disappearance is actually the rapture (the time when the biblical Jesus calls his believers to Heaven), it follows bible eschatology, including the introduction of an Antichrist in the form of a little-known member of the United Nations council who steps forward to leadership during the crisis. This stars Kirk Cameron as a journalist named Buck Williams, who becomes involved with the small group of Christian survivors by chance, and entangled with the Antichrist by career. The cast also includes Brad Johnson as Rayford Steele, the captain of an airliner that has a number of passengers disappear, and Gordon Currie as Nicolae Carpathia, the infamous Antichrist. 

Not a real nail biter, this still has its moments of suspense and high tension, making for a watchable if not very exciting time. The book series runs for another fifteen novels, with two spinoff series that included an additional seven. There were two cinematic sequels to this movie, and a reboot of the original that premiered in 2014. Many of the Christian faith have hailed these books as a faithful representation of biblical prophecy. There is no erotism, no strong language, and very little violence, so it is passable for children, but may not be interesting enough for them to sit still long enough to watch it.