Movie Review- Cinderella

When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger.


*Warning, Spoilers/Sparkles*


I just got back from Cinderella with my mom and sisters. Folks, I was not disappointed. This movie was fantastic. The writers did a spectacular job of taking this classic fairytale and keeping it magical, and yet, brought it down to earth in such a way that you felt you could relate to these people.


Magical Moments
The dress. Yes ladies, the dress was unbelievable. It was like Cinderella was wearing a waterfall. And her wedding dress? Designers have to be going nuts right now trying to design as many look-alikes as possible. The carriage? Most stunning vehicle I have ever seen. The ballroom scene? You knew each step they were going to take before they even took it, you were that caught up in the moment. The slippers? Dazzling!


The Story
The storyline kept that fairytale feeling with the fairy godmother narrating, and of course, the animals who have personalities. Oh yes, the mice, they were far more adorable in this movie than the classic animated one. They never really spoke, though, if you listened to their tiny squeaks you can make out some words, such as "Gus Gus". Very adorable.


There were some spectacular elements to this movie that were way deeper than any "follow your heart" Disney mumbo jumbo that you get in every Disney movie. This movie displayed so many moments of humanity, humility, courage, and forgiveness that were just beautiful. It's like the writers sat down and said to themselves, "We have a classic story that everyone knows and already loves, how can we use this to our advantage to tell a deeper message and bless our culture?"


The iconic Cinderella scene was completely transformed from something more akin to frosting, into something far meatier. It is a brilliantly written few moments that have the potential to teach more children some truths about good character than a whole slew of animated Disney films combined. Let me put it this way, it made my mother cry when she was describing it to my father later on. It was that good.


The Characters
The characters in this movie were beautifully written. They pulled out the best elements of the characters from the old movie, and then filled in the other characters where there were huge gaps.


Ella/Cinderella (Lily James)- Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. She was sweet, simple, and not at all conceited or ditsy. She was messy, none of the perfect hair that the animated Cinderella has in the morning, Ella needed a comb! She was kind and courageous for a reason, her promise to her now dead mother is what drove her in life. I hate it when there is a character who is constantly good for no reason. Ella was not like this, she had been nurtured and taught beautiful things as a child, and had chosen to live them for herself.


Kit/The Prince (Richard Madden)- Yes, yes, YES! Finally! Prince Charming has a voice of his own! The Prince was so very human, he was probably my favorite character. He was insanely handsome, and a prince! Yet, he carried himself with an honorable and humble dignity that was just beautiful. He was respectful, gentle, and had a sense of humor. But my favorite moments with the prince were the ones that took place between him and his father, the king. The most heartbreaking moment of the movie took place between him and his father, and for that moment, all you saw was a son who loved his daddy. It was amazing.


Stepmother/Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett)- There is no way to not make this woman beautiful, I think Cate Blanchett is one of the loveliest ladies on screen. However, despite her beauty, she fell into the role of being completely cruel and evil as easily as Ella fit the glass slipper. She did a phenomenal acting job, using her voice, facial expression, and even the look in her eyes (how did she do that) to her advantage. Well done madam, well done.


Captain (Nonso Anozie)- The Prince's right-hand man, advocate, and friend. I loved this guy, you could always see a smile hiding directly behind his eyes, his laugh was deliciously deep, and he had a heart of gold. Such a lovely addition to the story.


Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter)- Her scene was one big, long, blonde moment. She is not the wise, sweet, grandmother from the animated movie. She's probably never knitted or made a cookie in her life. She strikes you as one of those "hit or miss" type of fairies, fortunately for Cinderella, this was one of her hits. She transforms the evening for Cinderella in a magical, almost MacGyverish type fashion. Very cute.


The Grand Duke (Stellan Skarsgard)- Recognize the name? Yeah, Eric Selvig from the Marvel movies. He was an antagonist in this movie, trying to undermine the Prince's intentions to marry Cinderella. I kept thinking, "Dangit, Loki got to him with his dumb staff again, quick, get an Avenger in here to knock him on the head. Oh, wait...wrong franchise."


Cinderella's Mother (Haley Atwell)- While Haley was only in this movie for about 5 minutes, she made such a huge impact on the entire story. Her sweet instructions to "have courage, and be kind" are what basically transform Ella into who she is. She may have only had 5 minutes, but she proved you don't need long to show your acting skills. She was charming.


My Favorite Moments


Ella's mother singing her a bedtime song, this song becomes the theme music for the entire movie. Oh, did I mention the music was beautiful?


Cinderella meeting Kit (the Prince). Love at first sight.


Any of the Prince's moments with his father.


Cinderella's transformation.


The ball.


The secret garden where a very iconic moment happens.


The moment when all is revealed, the classic Cinderella scene happens, and Cinderella leaves you stunned because she is far more redemptive and humble than you are.


The wedding scene. A perfect ending.

Book Review- The King's Scrolls (Jaye L. Knight)

Following the harrowing events that brought them to Landale Forest, Jace and Kyrin have settled comfortably into their new lives and the mission of protecting those under the emperor's persecution. The fast approach of winter brings with it the anticipation of a quiet few months ahead. That is until the arrival of four mysterious, dragon-riding cretes who seek aid in a mission of great importance--not only to their own people, but to all followers of Elôm.

Hidden in the vast mining valley north of Valcré, a faithful crete has spent years sharing his knowledge with the destitute miners and their families and is known to possess what may be Arcacia's last surviving copies of the King's Scrolls--the Word of Elôm. Joining the cretes, those in Landale must find the crete teacher and bring him to safety, but it is a race against time. Should Daican's men find him first, execution and the destruction of the Scrolls is certain.

When disaster strikes, all seems lost. Could Elôm have a plan even in the enemy's triumph?


Book 2 in The Ilyon Chronicles, read my review for book 1, Resistance here.


I bought this book preorder on Kindle around 2 weeks ago. It came out this week and I have already finished it and am fiercely craving the next. This series is just my cup of tea when it comes to the fantasy genre; there is a perfect blend of normal reality and of the fantastical, the races are easily identifiable, and the storyline is exciting without being unnecessarily weird. Knight is a fantastic author and has really has inspired me more than any other homeschool-graduate-turned-author to pursue my own dream of writing.


What I Didn't Like


I have read all of Knight's books, starting with her Pirates of Faith series when she wrote under the pseudonym "Molly Evangeline" and The Makilien Trilogy, another lovely work of fantasy. In all 3 series there has been at least one whipping scene. The worst was by far in The Makilien Trilogy, that one was just painful, but in truth, I am kind of over whipping scenes.


Perhaps I am jumping the gun a bit since The King's Scrolls is only the 2nd book of the series, but I would like to see some villains suffer, if only a little bit, maybe even have a few die off, there are plenty to choose from. But again, this is just me, and I don't know what the grand plan for this series is, for all I know, Knight is currently rubbing her hands together in some dark liar and purring in delight as she plots her villains' painful and untimely demise. I have faith in her.


What I Did Like


Ugh, where to begin.


I adore the characters, Kyrin, Jace, Kaden, and all of the others.
Jace just sets my heart positively thumping, his deep emotions, tender heart, and fierce protectiveness of Kyrin is so fascinating, oh yes, and his eyes, I love to imagine his eyes.
I identify with Kyrin so much, she and I are very similar. The way she absorbs everything so deeply, her protective instincts, and, yes, her memory. I have one of the best memories of anyone I know, and it is definitely an interesting characteristic. She is a lovely mix of strong, and weak.  I love the relationship between Jace and Kyrin, it is built on trust, mutual affection, and a deep need for each other. Their story is absolute gold, I can't wait to see where Knight takes them!
Kaden is adorable, he's the buddy and friend that we all would love to have around. He is a steadfast member of the story that helps to keep you grounded.
As for the other characters, I really enjoy the fine group the Knight has created. They are a solid set of characters that keep the story alive.


Dragons! I never used to be into dragons, when I was little and thought of dragons I would either think of those very grim looking Chinese dragons, or of the TV show "Dragon Tales", which I was not allowed to watch. But ever since I first saw How to Train Your Dragon I have been completely in love with them. Knight does a lovely job with these creatures, both in this series and in The Makilien Trilogy. The dragons of this series are simply beautiful.


The different races. Sometimes I feel that fantasy writers get a little too excited at the idea of "no boundaries" and just go a little nuts. They create so many bizarre names/race/places/weapons that I feel overwhelmed and worn out. Not so with Knight, she created only a few races, but they are easily identifiable and incredibly interesting


A lovely ending. She did the same with Resistance, and I deeply appreciate her sticking to the unwritten rule of leaving the reader with a satisfying ending. And by a satisfying ending I don't mean that you feel finished with the series, oh no, you just get a chance to draw a breath before begging for more.


What I Want More Of


Kyrin and Jace, obviously, these two are so compelling.


I want to know more about the other races, especially the ryriks. I am desperately curious about Jace's origins, and I have come up with more than one scenario in my own mind where we get to discover more about him. I want to get to travel to some of the more exotic parts of this world and learn about this world.


I'll say it again, I cannot wait for some of these villains to get what is coming to them. Especially a certain, well, I guess all of them.


Check out The King's Scrolls, Resistance, and Knight's other series!


You can also follow her Goodreads and her blog!

The Internet

The Internet...

...that Magical, Mysterious, and Mighty entity that has Changed the Face of the World.

It has singlehandedly created things such as Trends, #hashtags, "gone viral", and Throwback Thursday.

It has created Celebrities and overnight sensations that have swept the Nation.

Cop Sings Taylor Swift "Shake it Off"

It has brought thousands of Hearts Together to be joined in marriage.

It has allowed people to Make Money doing what they Love.

It has allowed Go-Getters to learn Skills, do College for next to Nothing, and Start new Businesses.

It has connected People across the World.

It has been the Place where numerous Crusades, Stories, and Truths are Shared. It has allowed Injustice to be brought to Light, and for Important News to be Spread faster than Paul Revere's horse.

It has Enabled the Needy to be Provided for.

It has Given us the Gift of...

...and Gifs...

Did you just see that guy wipe out?!?!

Now here is the Truth, the Internet can be Dangerous.

However, the Internet is the Single-Most Powerful Tool in the World.

It combines Images, Sound, Words, Ideas, and most importantly, People.

And when you Learn how to Wield this mighty Weapon for Good, you can become More Powerful than ever.

Everywhere we are hearing that we need to Unplug...true...the internet can Be Distracting.

But Speaking Plainly, I think it's Time that we Plug In. Let's Accept the Incredible Opportunity that the Internet Presents. Let's Use It to Change the World For Jesus.

Fight Fire with Fire. Use the Weapon against Evil. Let's Make a Move that leaves Evil little Defense.

Plug In... This Territory Is Ours.

What I Learned About Myself in 2014

Yes, it's a New Year's Eve post. But don't worry, I plan to keep it brief and non-preachy. This is a simple list of the things I learned about myself as a human being during the illustrious year of our Lord, 2014.

1. I can be pretty selfish. When examining some of my motives for some things, I was shocked to see just how self-centered they were. It was sobering, and made me throw myself on Jesus and His grace all the more.
2. A lot of the time, I am just a scared little girl. I turned eighteen this year, in the eyes of the law I am an adult. The adult world is scary people, very scary. It made me realize even more just how vulnerable I am and just how dependent I am on God for His protection.
3. I am very insecure in some ways. The competition I feel in my heart to look as "successful" in life as those around me who appear to be going somewhere and doing something. I have held myself to some pretty rigid standards, and have ended up thrusting a lot of extra guilt and drive on myself that wasn't necessary.
4. I am NOT a patient person. Well, I kinda already knew this one. I have spent my entire life striving for the next adventure, the desire to grow up, the desire to get married, the desire to "start my life". I have missed some of the moments in between that I could have spent actually living, and growing into the person I needed to be to be ready for those adventures. It's a work in progress folks, I'll keep you posted.

Those are a few of the more unpleasant things I learned about myself this year. Now here is a list of the some of the really amazing things I learned about this year.

1. I'm comfortable in my own skin. Though I have many deep insecurities, I have come so far in some areas, such as my appearance and the way I carry myself. I don't have to agonize over every tiny detail of my appearance, who will be present, what I should and shouldn't say. No, I can just look like, and act like who I really am. And I am ok with that.
2. I really care about people and desire to know their story. Family, friends, strangers, young, old: people are precious. I often sit in the car when we are driving places and stare out of the window at all of the hundreds of other cars passing by. Each one contains a person with their own story, history, scars, and potential. They live somewhere, work somewhere, and maybe have a family. We as people are created in the image of God, and we are beautiful.
3. God has given me a gift with words. Whether I am speaking, or writing, words are something that flow from me very naturally. Not everything I say is beautiful, and I can get a bit long-winded sometimes, but no matter what I do in life, I will be using words.
4. I love to dance. This is partnered with being comfortable in my own skin. I used to take myself too seriously to just pause and break out into a dance party. No longer! I am free! Besides, pausing a moment and dancing, whether it's to Bing Crosby, Celtic Women, or Group 1 Crew, dancing is a way that I show my gratitude to God for being alive to enjoy the moment.

Well, that's a tiny peek into what I learned about myself this year. Hope you all have a lovely and safe New Year! Bring it on 2015!

Movie Review-The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Kadam family leaves India for France where they open a restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory's Michelin-starred eatery.

This was the movie my family watched in the evening on Christmas Day. I had seen the trailer for it before and I just had a gut instinct, this one was going to be an unforgettable watch.


I was right ladies and gentlemen, this has to be one of the most beautiful, rich, amazing movies I have ever seen! I cannot recommend it enough!


The plot- while everything seems to point to the idea that this movie is about food, it really isn't, although the food is a nice bonus. This movie is really about relationship, and it is beautiful.


The writing- This has some of the best writing I have ever seen in a movie. The writers were able to weave truth, normal conversational, deeply felt emotions, and humor all together in an unbreakable flow that was magnificent.


The music- What can I say? I am listening to the soundtrack as we speak. It's pretty wow.


The setting- First in India, then in a small and stunning village in the countryside of France. I have to be honest, I am not really a fan of either the Indian or the French cultures, I often feel like the former is oppressive and rigid, and the latter is snobbish. While this movie does an excellent job of showing how strongly these characters are rooted in their culture, it also shows them living their lives in a manner that is relatable to all humanity, no matter what the culture.


The romance- This movie did such a lovely job with the romance, both the older, and the younger. It was gentle, sweet, and not at all forced or made to look "sexy" or "passionate". It was real people opening up their hearts, some learning to love for the first time, and some learning to love again. They took their time, and ended up making a much more real, beautiful romance than most movies I have ever seen.


The characters- They were beautifully written, and beautifully portrayed.


Madam Mallory (Helen Mirren)- The proud and very French owner of a famous eating establishment in a French village. Her whole world is tied up in this restaurant and its success. Honestly, she is a difficult character to like at first, but over time you find yourself completely in love with her as she lets down her walls, opens her heart, and begins to live once more. And despite the ups and downs, Madam Mallory is a lovely woman who carries a graceful and elegant presence with her wherever she goes.


Papa (Om Puri)- This man, oh this man! He speaks his mind, does what he likes, and doesn't put up with nonsense, all while being absolutely hilarious, a little bit mischievous, and above all, a Papa with a big heart.


Hassan (Manish Dayal)- The second oldest son of the Kadam family, you were rooting for him from the very start. He carries this sweet feeling of innocence and value for beautiful things like food and memories. He knows how to savor. He does have some struggles, but comes out a much fuller person in the end, having slain his dragons and come to realize what is important to him. I loved watching him cook, it was like watching a musician play beautiful music.


Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon)- A lovely young lady who works for Madam Mallory in her restaurant. She was the sweetest little thing, lovely, feminine, honest, and just a pleasure to watch. She was so very French, but not in the "sexy and alluring" way that they often play French girls up to be, she was a breath of fresh air.


This movie grabbed my soul from the moment it started and held my attention all the way until the end credits. I can tell when I deeply enjoy a movie, because my face moves more often, I often find myself smiling through large sections of it.
This movie leaves you feeling full, and no, not in your stomach, you are actually insanely hungry when it is all over, but in your heart. Like you have traveled to a distant land where the light is golden and the truth is obvious, and came away just a little bit wiser. I can't recommend this movie enough and I know my family will be purchasing it.

Book Review- The Song of the Wren-Falcon (Mary Ruth Pursselley)

 

"Come. Let us go and sit somewhere comfortable, and I will tell you the story."

Orienne Seritan is a loyal Adelfian who wants nothing more than peace for her country and a life free from the darkness and violence of war. But when the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy entangles her life and the fates of those she loves with the destiny of an embittered traitor, she finds herself being dragged even deeper into the darkness.

Enemies are pouring over her nation’s borders. People she loves are dying. The cryptic prophecy offers no clues as to who will be left standing at its end...nor does it disclose the magnitude of the role that Orienne is destined to play.

 I finished reading this book several days ago, but it was the sort of book I had to mull over  before I felt that I could give it a proper review.


First of all, I have the pleasure of personally knowing the author and having her for a friend, so that fact made this book so much more personable to me. I could practically hear her voice when I was reading some of the dialogue, the phrasing and tone were exactly like her manner of speaking in real life.


What I Didn't Like
I have to be honest, it took me a while to get into this book. The prophecy was, as it says in the above description, cryptic. I read, and reread, and reread it in the front of the book before starting the story, but that did not help. Once I got into the story I did appreciate that the author put one phrase of the prophecy before each chapter, so at least I knew what part of the prophecy was supposed to be happening. However, I did wonder a time or two if I was dumber than I thought, since I could not connect the dots between the characters and how they were a part of the prophecy. But about two-thirds of the way through the book the pieces began to fall into place, and some very helpful conversations took place between characters that finally enabled me to understand what it all meant.


My only other critique I think would be that I would have appreciated a name pronunciation guide. Unfortunately, due to the way I advanced in reading when I was little, pronunciation seems to be an Achilles heel of mine. It has been my experience that fantasy authors take full liberty in creating some of the weirdest names possible that have odd spellings, which makes it a nightmarish world for someone like me. While the author of Wren-Falcon kept her names much simpler, I still would have liked to know for sure that I was reading them correctly.


What I Did Like
The overall tone of this story is most definitely dark, so don't expect a light read. It begins dark and leaves you feeling pretty hopeless for the majority of the book, but in the end, it wraps up in a much lighter way, and you finish feeling full and satisfied, as though you have paid your dues when it comes to suffering and now you get the sweet reward of a good ending.


It took me a while to understand the geography of this world. I flipped back to the map in the front many times before I began to get my compass straight. It made me feel as if this was a much more real world, one that was more complicated and had to be studied in order to be understood.


I loved the description of the capital Adelfian city Farindel. A city built into a mountain covered in buildings with beautiful architecture, colors, and districts where street musicians play and artists show their colorful wares. And a very sacred garden that is filled with light. It was like Minas Tirith meets Dale and Cair Paravel all in one. I wish Farindel was real place so that I could explore it.


I loved the depiction of God as Shield. It was such a comforting illustration.


I loved the way the author created government ranking for the kingdom of Adelfia. The Ransom is made up of six "Sons of the Shield", with the First-Born being the leader. It gave a distinctive quality to the culture created in this book that made it feel fresh.


What I Want More Of
This book is the first of six I believe, since there are six prophecies. This particular story took place in Adelfia, where the main character is from. I enjoyed learning about their nation, and their way of doing things. But a few other nations were introduced, and I would like to know more about the culture and backgrounds of Meador, Athragani, Arcamere, and especially, Moritar. I hope that some of the characters in the other books get to come from these other nations, so that I might get a full view of this world.


Speaking truthfully, I had a hard time connecting with the main character Orienne. I don't know that this was fault in the writing or the character herself, I just didn't feel a connection at all. I actually bonded more with her brother Allegar, who I loved, some of the other Ransom, and the other main character, Sorek. I would love to connect deeply with the star character in the other books.


It was such a pleasure for me to get read a book written by a friend and fellow writing comrade who I greatly admire and enjoy. Mary has worked so hard to reach this place and she should be proud of what she has accomplished. This book is a work of art that needs to be shared.


You can purchase her book and journey to Adelfia here! And please, check out her blog over Enter the Writer's Lair.

Fighting For Our Christian Brothers

This is a post to ladies, about guys, so really, it's a post for anyone.


No, this is not another post on modesty, the internet is overrun with those, and I don't feel the need to add to the dog pile.


This post is about how we as Christian ladies can help protect the Christian guys in our lives.


I am blessed to be surrounded by godly men. My father, brothers, and male friends do so much to make me feel safe in a pretty dangerous world. But even beyond that, they are gentlemen. They go out of their way to open doors for me, serve me, and just be pleasant to be around. Someday I will marry a man who will continue to be the strong person in my life, the husband, provider, and father to our children.


It's really hard to be a godly young man with a pure heart in today's world. Everywhere our fellas go they are bombarded with images intent upon stealing their hearts and minds and entrapping them in all kinds of darkness.


Men are wired to be visual, and once an image is seen, it cannot be unseen. They will have that image burned on their brain forever. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must be for a guy who is working overtime to keep his heart and mind pure.


I have however, spent some time thinking about what I and other ladies can do to aid them in their walk and help "bear their burdens". And I have come up five simple ways that we Christian ladies can aid our men in their struggle for righteousness.


1. Think Before You Post or Repost- This covers all kinds of social media, Twitter, Facebook, etc. There are a million and one posts, quizzes, and funny memes out there, and if we could, we would share them all. But I want to encourage you ladies to look, and think before you repost something. I have often read articles and or quizzes that I really enjoyed, and would have loved to repost, but upon reflection, I realized that either the images in the particular article, or the ads on the side could easily be a stumbling block to my male followers. I don't want to be responsible for putting that in front of them, and I doubt you do either. So LOOK, and THINK before you post or repost.


2. Only Recommend Something If You Have Given All of the Facts- I'll be honest, there are a few TV shows that I watch that the rest of my family does not, simply because of the modesty issue. And while the plot, characters, and graphics of the show may be INCREDIBLE, I still wouldn't recommend them to the guys in my life. And if I did happen to mention this show to a guy who hasn't seen it already, then I would warn him about the potential problems. This may sound like you are doing his job for him, or telling him what he can or can't watch. That is not the truth at all. This is the same as if I told a friend of mine about an alternate route to take to reach a destination, but also warned him about the dangerous S-curve or potholes in the road. He can then take that information and make his own decision, but I can rest with a clear conscience that I have given him everything he needs to know.


3. Create a Safe Environment- This is likely going to apply more to the guys in your family, but it could apply to guy friends too. If you know there is a guy around, make a quick visual sweep of the room. If I am looking at articles online that could potentially have some less than decent photos on the side, I always make sure I have my back to the wall where none of my brothers can see over my shoulder. If you have fashion magazines around, just go ahead and tuck those somewhere out of sight when guys are around. And if you own a priceless Greek statue collection, well, my suggestion would be to go fabric shopping and experiment with drapery. ;)


4. Engage in a Danger Zone- Sometimes a godly guy can't help avoiding potential danger zones. Beaches full of bikinis, magazine racks at stores, billboards, etc. What you can do in this situation is give him a safe place to light visually, and engage him mentally. Point out things that are in the opposite direction, keep his eye contact, or engage him in a stimulating conversation that gives his brain something else to focus on other than the distractions surrounding him.


5. Stand in the Gap- This really is a culmination of all of the above. Standing in the gap ladies means stepping between the world and our guys and saying "NO" on their behalf. Throwing away junk mail, offering to take the remote when watching TV, or even just doing a quick screening on Netflix so that they don't get a nasty surprise. I have done all of these before, and I know my brothers appreciate it.


It isn't easy to do this ladies, I have been doing it my entire life. My mom taught me how at a very young age. I am an official spotter of potential problems in our family, I am the only sibling who knows our Netflix password, and I am the only one other than Dad who knows our cable code. I have spent countless hours previewing movies so that we wouldn't be caught off guard. I know, it's exhausting, but it's worth it.


Each man will have to make millions of choices in his life of whether or not to say no, or yes to what he will put in front of his eyes. You can't change the choices he makes, that is between him and the Lord. But for those guys who have chosen to say "YES" to purity and "NO" to darkness, we can make their job a whole lot easier.


This is a way we can bear our brothers' burdens, so step up ladies, let's engage in the battle.