"Out of the Silent Planet" by C.S. Lewis

    Dr. Elwin Ransom, unaware that his life is about to change dramatically, seeks lodging at an old estate in the English Midlands. Dr. Weston, the owner of the estate, and Dick Devine, Weston's friend, both greedy and arrogant, are planning a trip to the red planet. For their nefarious purposes, they require a human sacrifice, and who better than one who seeks refuge from the night in your estate. Ransom is then drugged and brought aboard their space ship. Only when they arrive on the red planet, Ransom eludes his captors, but not before he catches glimpses of the Sorn, the aliens to who Weston and Devine were to give Ransom as a sacrifice. He may have escaped them but, but now he is cast adrift in the strange world of Malacandra.

    Published in 1938, this story is another work of C. S. Lewis that is just simply astounding. Part of the series called the Space trilogy, this is book one; "Perelandra" and "That Hideous Strength", being the the following two books respectively. Malacandra, if you didn't guess, is the "real" name of the planet that we call Mars. Though Mr. Lewis did not allude to know anything about Mar's topical nature; instead he let his imagination run wild and came up with a beautiful planet of wonder.

     C. S. Lewis has a way of taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary; and taking a wild science fiction tale and turning it into a story of meaning and spiritual depth. This book takes you on a fantastical journey through Malacandra, in which he meets amazing and diverse alien creatures such as the seroni, the hrossa, and the pfifltriggi. (Don't ask me how to pronounce that last one) When I first read this book, about 4 or so years ago, I had a hard time catching on to the story, and let me be honest, my vocabulary wasn't ready for C. S. Lewis. However now it has to be one of my favorites from C. S. Lewis and definitely a book I recommend to anybody. Although I would recommend every single C. S. Lewis book to you.

    I would give this book a 10 out 10! If you haven't read it, you need to asap! Can you believe that January is almost over... My how this month has flown by! My next blog will be, as ever, next Sunday! Hope everybody had a good month! Make sure you follow me on Twitter and tell me what you want me to review next!

Peace,
Jake







   

"Looper"

      In the future; time travel is discovered in 2074, but is then immediately outlawed. Now, however, criminal organizations use time travel to send the people they want killed back in time. These people who are sent back are killed by assassins called Loopers, who get their payment by getting silver bars that are strapped to the victim. They are run by the crime boss Abe, who was sent from the future to make sure everything runs smoothly. When a looper is retired, his older self gets sent back to be killed by his younger self, also the victim is strapped with gold instead of silver. Joe, a looper and the main character, is getting rich and living the life until one day the crime syndicate decides to "close his loop," sending future Joe (Bruce Willis) back to be killed by present Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

    Directed Rian Johnson, this film stars Bruce Willis as old Joe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as young Joe, Emily Blunt as Sara, Noah Segan as Kid Blue, and Jeff Daniels as Abe. This is an amazing movie, with great character development and a brilliant original story to go with it. My favorite thing about this film is there was some intricacies, but there was also a simplicity to it. It kept me interested, but yet I didn't feel overwhelmed with information.

      Something cool they added to the movie was that a minority of people, have a genetic mutation which gives them telekinetic powers. Now this telekinetic ability only allows them to float quarters in the air, so it's not a fully developed power yet. Now there is a character in the film that does have fully developed powers, but I'm not gonna tell you who it is because that would be giving away spoilers. I attributed this character, as having Jean Grey like powers (for any X-Men fans out there)!

This film got rave reviews from critics and was a pretty big hit at the box office too! This has to be one of my favorite films from 2012 and may actually make it into my top 15 favorite movies of all time! I would give this film a 9 out 10 stars! Now this film is rated R, so for any that are sensitive to language and violence, this movie is not for you. Follow me on Twitter and check back here Sunday for a new blog post! 

Peace,

Jake

P.S. Sorry for not getting this up Sunday. I'll be sure to have the next one up on time!

  

  

"The Wolverine"

   Following the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, Logan now lives as a hermit in the Yukon mountains, and is constantly tormented by the memory of Jean Grey who he was forced to kill. While there, he has flashbacks to World War II, when he was a prisoner in Nagasaki. While prisoner there he saved one Japanese soldier from the atomic bomb by shielding him. Back in present day, Yashida, the officer that he saved, is dying and wishes to see Logan one more time. While there Yashida tells him that there is a way to transfer his regenerative abilities onto himself, so that he, Yashida, could live forever, and Logan could live a normal life.

     Directed by James Mangold, this film stars Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, Hal Yamanouchi as Yashida, Tao Okamoto as Mariko, and Rila Fukushima as Yukio. This was such a great installment to the X-Men series, and Hugh Jackman does such a good job with this character, it's like he was made for this role. I would say it was the best Wolverine stand alone film yet.

      Can we just stop and think about that amazing fight scene on top of the bullet train! It has to be one of my favorite fight scenes ever, it was so creative and ingenious. Another thing I loved about this movie, is that it stayed pretty close to the comic book series that came out in 1982. However, one of the problems I have with this film is that Viper aka Madame Hydra should have been delved into more, I mean she is a pretty big character in the Marvel comics. The reason they didn't affiliate Viper with Madame Hydra is because they didn't have the rights to her character, so Viper is a mutant in this movie rather than genetically enhanced. So I understand why they didn't, but I was still kinda disappointed with that. Hopefully she will be in a Captain America movie!

        The end credits scene gave me chill bumps. There was to much awesomeness seeing Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen back together for their roles as Professor X and Magneto respectively! It sets up the X-Men: Days of Future Past perfectly, and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this movie! The cast has to be one the most star studded films of 2014, with of course Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Halle Berry, Peter Dinklage, Ellen Page, and Shawn Ashmore. I think with a budget of $250,000,000, most of it went to getting this cast together in one movie.

      For any of you wondering if there will be another Wolverine stand alone film, yes there will. It was announced last year that there will be another sequel, however no plot line has been given as of yet.

   I would give this film an 8.5 out 10 stars! Follow me on Twitter and come back here next Sunday for the next blog post!

Peace,
Jake

"Man of Steel"

      One of the most well known superheros, Superman, is brought to the big screen again with a new look and a slight twist to his origin. Krypton has depleted all of its resources and left on the brink of a civil war started by General Zod. Jor-El, realizing that the planet is about to be destroyed, sends his son, the first natural born Kryptonian in centuries, to earth so that he may live. Crash landing in Smallville, Kansas, he is taken in by the Kent's, who treat him as their own son and they name him Clark Kent. As he gets older he starts to exhibit superhuman abilities such as x-ray vision, superhuman strength, superhuman speed and heat vision. General Zod escaping from the phantom zone along with his followers, now searches for Clark aka Kal-El, because he wants the Kryptonian codex which Jor-El infused into Kal-El's DNA.

      Directed by Zack Snyder this film stars Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, and Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent. This was personally one of my favorite movies of 2013, I think the story they told in this one was really good! It had a very realistic feel to it (the whole alien thing and all the CGI effects beside the point) that I really enjoyed! I thought it was a good representation of a new Superman for a new age!

   I know this film got a lot of hate, many claiming that it was in their top ten least favorite movies of 2013. Saying the film lacked character development, that the fight scenes lasted way to long and also saying that it lacked a "lightness" that the other Superman movies had. I agree that it didn't have the bubble gum pop feel as the others one did. I however enjoyed this darker version of the story, it reflected the hard choices that a hero, if they were to exist in today's world, would need to make. As far as character development, I agree that they didn't delve into the characters, but it didn't bother me that much as it is the first movie, I mean the first Thor movie had the same flaw but I still loved that movie!

   As you all probably know the new Man of Steel 2 was announced last year at Comic-Con. It will be a Superman Vs. Batman film which will most likely set up the Justice League movie. Zack Snyder will return to direct and Christopher Nolan will return as executive producer. Ben Affleck is cast to play Bruce Wayne/ Batman which I know not to many people are happy about. While I can't exactly blame them after "Daredevil", I ask that you keep an open mind till you actually see the film, because I believe Ben Affleck has come a long way since then. Also Gal Gadot has been cast Wonder Woman, it is not clear in what capacity she will be in the film, but I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best! 

      I would give this film an 8 out 10 stars! I'm back everybody! Happy New Year! If you want, follow me on Twitter and check back here Sunday for my next blog post!!

Peace,
Jake

"House" by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti

       When married couple, Jack and Stephanie Singleton, run over a strip of spikes on a deserted road in the middle of Alabama, they are fortunate enough to find an old Victorian house a few miles down the road. This Victorian house is owned by a family of three and they double it as an inn. Hoping to call a tow truck and maybe stay the night, they enter the house only to find that another dating couple was also stranded by spikes on the road in the opposite direction. Things go wrong pretty quickly when they realize that there hosts and hostess are all crazy, but even more disturbing is the fact that the power is cut in the house and now a serial killer is on the loose, known as Barsidious White. Here are his rules for survival that he wrote on tin can and then threw down a chimney: "Welcome To My House. 1. God came to my house ad I killed him. 2. I will kill anyone who comes into my house just like I killed God. 3. Give me one dead body, and I might let rule two slide. You have until dawn."
   
      This story is an absolutely mind boggling, page turning, horror/thriller book that I without a doubt would read again and again! Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti did a marvelous collaboration and this has to be one of the best books I've read. This story takes you deep in a search for your soul and shows bare for all to see the depravity of sin and a life in fear of living. Something I love about these authors is there ability to tell a story and bring across a deeper message without letting either one get clouded or confusing in the process.

      I've had this book for about 4 to 5 years now but I never could bring myself to read it till last year, and I was so glad I decided to read it. Definitely not something for the faint of heart it has so many twists and turns and the ever looming mystery and presence of the sadistic killer leaves you in suspense for the entire book. If you ever talked to me about books before, you know that Ted Dekker is one of my all time favorite authors. With books from, "A Blessed Child" to "Adam" and to my personal favorite "Obsessed" his stories are beyond amazing and each one just as good as the last.
They did make a movie out of this one but as per usual it was not as good as the book. It was a lower budget film and it was released directly to DVD.

I would give this book a 9.50 out of 10 stars and if you like thriller/suspense books this one is definitely for you! Follow me on Twitter and share this with your friends!

Peace,
Jake

P.S. I'm sad to say that Paul Walker, best known for his role in Fast and Furious, has died in car crash along with a friend..... Prayers go out to their family's....
   

"Catching Fire"

      The winter after Katniss and Peeta win the 74th Hunger Games, they go on their victory tour. This tour brings them around to all 12 districts and finally to the Capitol, to celebrate, as the name suggests, their victory. While on this tour Katniss must prove to President Snow that her love for Peeta is real, and therefore help dispel the rebellion that their victory sparked. However President Snow feels that the rebellion against him and the Capitol has gotten, if anything, worse since the tour. Therefore he decides to put an end to Katniss and the other victors who stand as beacons of hope to the people of Panem.

    Brilliantly directed by Francis Lawrence, this film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, Donald Sutherland as President Snow, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, Elizabeth Banks as Effie, and Stanley Tucci as Caesar. This movie also stars Lenny Kravitz, Sam Claflin and Liam Hemsworth. You couldn't have asked for better actors, and they do a marvelous job making their characters believable.

     I believe the film closely follows the book, while it did not get all the minute details that extreme, hardcore fans always look for in the movie counterparts, they still did one of the best jobs I have ever seen in a book to movie film. I know some people were complaining that Plutarch Heavensbee did not pull out the watch that had the faint outline of a mockingjay on it at the capitol party scene. This however did not bother me it is such a small detail in the scheme of the movie and only the people who read the books would actually appreciate it.

    The emotion in the film is so heavy throughout and it really makes you feel like your there experiencing the events with the characters. *Spoilers* When Mags dies in the books it is extremely sad but watching it in a movie had to have been even more emotional. Seeing the reaction of Finnick as she died was a major part of that. Then when she finds out that Peeta was left behind you can see the hurt and loss in her eyes and it just kills. *Spoilers* Needless to say it was beautifully crafted and all of those moments are leading up to a final event that I don't think even I'm ready for!

        Mockingjay Part 1 is coming out November of next year and Part 2 is coming out November of 2015! I don't think I can wait that long.. I would definitely recommend this movie to everyone, though if you haven't watched the first one, The Hunger Games, then you should watch that first before Catching Fire. I would rate this film a 9.5 out of 10! Follow me on Twitter and share this with your friends!

Peace,
Jake


  

"Thor: The Dark World" part 2

    Two years after the events of the first movie, Thor and one year after The Avengers, Thor is left to pick up the pieces and restore order to the nine realms once more. Little do they know that Jane Foster, accidentally activates an ancient artifact known as Aether. Aether was used and created by Malekith, the leader of the Dark Elves, an ancient race said to have lived before the light in the universe existed. Malekith sensing that his artifact was activated sets out to find the Aether and finally bring an everlasting, dark chaos to the universe once more.

    Directed by Alan Taylor this film stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Idris Elba as Heimdall, and Christopher Eccleston as Malekith. I just saw this movie a few days ago and... WOW! It was amazing! The chemistry between the returning cast was definitely improved upon since the last film. 

   Tom Hiddleston has quickly become one of my favorite actors and his portrayal of Loki is exactly how I pictured him to act! With Loki, I don't know whether to feel bad for him or hate him but I just can't help but like him. I loved seeing Christopher Eccleston as Malekith, but if I hadn't already known he was in the film I wouldn't have recognized him at all. They definitely stepped it up a few notches and I can't wait till the next one!

    *Spoilers* Skip over this part if you haven't watched the movie..... In accordance with the director Alan Taylor and Anthony Hopkins, Loki did kill Odin off screen... Alan Taylor says this, "That was a big twist. It took us a while to realize that we were actually going to kill him. And then it took us a while to realize that we were going to do that at the end." and Anthony Hopkins said this, "He’s dead. I’ve done two, that’s enough." However Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios is a little more vague but still alludes to Odin's death by saying this, "Like all of our plans at Marvel Studios, we know where we would like to go if given the opportunity. We have very good ideas whether the All-Father is with us or not." *Spoilers*

  Again for those of you wondering who that guy was at the end credit scene, I'm here to help! His name is Taneleer Tivan otherwise known as The Collector, he was played by Benicio Del Toro. This end credit scene was a tease to the upcoming film Guardians of the Galaxy releasing in late summer next year , in which The Collector will probably play a large role, if not that than an important role at least. The new movie also stars Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Glenn Close, Karen Gillian, Lee Pace and many, many more.

 I would rate this film a 9 out 10! You should definitely go watch it before its out of theaters! You won't be disappointed! Follow me on Twitter and share this blog with your friends!!

Peace,
Jake