It is thirty years after “the flash”; presumably a nuclear explosion that has destroyed much of life on Earth. Denzel Washington is Eli, a lone man traveling west with a book. He uses all of his considerable skills to protect the book and deliver it intact to an unnamed destination where it will be safe. It is the last copy of the book existing, and it has the power to change the world.
Along the way Eli uses martial arts, knives, bow & arrow, and guns to survive and to guard the book. He must defend it and himself against marauding road warriors, cannibals, and the real bad guy, Carnegie. Carnegie is played by the talented Gary Oldman. Carnegie, one of the few people who can actually read, had built a town in the desert. He knows that if he can harness the power of this book, he can expand his town and build other towns and become a powerful ruler.
You guessed it-this book is the Bible. So Eli has spent 30 years on his mission, and he is so close. As he makes his way through the bleak landscape, we see the ruins of 21st century American civilization-cars, trucks, highways, and even a J. Crew store. In Carnegie’s town, Eli stops for clean water, which is precious although Carnegie seems to have plenty, and for an equipment repair. He meets a woman, Claudia and her daughter, Solara. Solara is intrigued by the power of the book, and wants to accompany Eli on his journey.
The Book of Eli is a really good movie. Although the premise is superficially similar to The Road, it really is much deeper. Eli is a powerful character, and his motivation is noble. He is not just trying to survive, but to aid humanity. Although the movie imagines a bleak and frightening post-apocalyptic world, there is a message of hope and redemption. There is also a surprising plot twist, so pay attention for the clues that seem obvious in retrospect.
What can I say about Avatar that hasn’t already been said? Nothing! But I do have to post something so everyone knows that I have seen what is going to be the biggest blockbuster ever. So-humdrum story that we’ve all heard before. Technically amazing. Definitely see it in 3D, and in IMAX if you can.
The Zookeeper’s Wife is the story of Jan and Antonina Zabinski, who helped save hundreds of Jewish lives in Warsaw, Poland during World War II. Jan was the head zookeeper of the Warsaw Zoo. Prior to WWII, this was a modern and important zoo. The Zabinski family lived in a large house on the zoo grounds. Many of the zoo’s animals were killed during the German army’s occupation of Warsaw; numerous other animals were confiscated by the Germans for their own zoos.
Throughout the occupation, the Zabinski’s gave shelter to Jews who were escaping the Warsaw Ghetto. They hid the fugitives in animal enclosures and tunnels in the zoo, as well as in their own house. Jan was able to enter the Ghetto. He brought food into the Ghetto, and often helped smuggle people out. Towards the end of the war, Jan also fought in the Polish underground army and was, for a time, a prisoner of war. The Zabinski’s story is briefly told on the website of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Israel. Diane Ackerman has done so much research and given a thorough accounting of the Zabinski’s heroism.
Unfortunately for this very important book, it is not so well-written. It took me a long time to get into reading it. I really had to plow on through the first few chapters. I only bothered because this was a selection for my book club. it would have been much more interesting if Ackerman had spent more time on the details of how the Zabinski’s helped the Jews. And if we had more information about the people they helped, it would have been more interesting. There are some photos in the book. I do think that a map of Warsaw during the occupation would have been helpful, as well as a map of the zoo.
To summarize-important, yes. A good read-no.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-W.W. Norton-2007
Softcover edition-W.W. Norton-2008
For those who might remember Basil Rathbone’s iconic Sherlock Holmes-forget it! Robert Downey Jr. is a much more fun version of the classic sleuth. He is serious about crime-solving, without taking himself too seriously. With Jude Law as Dr. Watson-certainly more partner than sidekick-this Sherlock Holmes makes a great holiday movie.
I’ve never read the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, so I don’t know how faithful this tale is to any of the originals. I’m guessing not very, since Doyle’s only screen-writing credit is for the creation of the characters of Holmes and Watson. The movie is fast-paced and fun. The stunts and special effects are not so overdone as to seem impossible. The characters are more caricature than not, but it doesn’t matter. This is more in the action-adventure genre than classic cerebral detective story.
With the popularity of this movie (currently #2 at the box office), I’m guessing that a sequel is in the works. I will gladly see it, and recommend this movie to anyone looking for some fun.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a movie, so I saw three in quick succession. My movie going companion has suggested that I’m just in it for the Regal Crown Club credits, but they are pretty cheap with the free popcorn, so that’s not it. It’s just that awards season is around the corner and I’m seriously behind. So here are three quick reviews, with, hopefully, more to come in the next few days.
Up in the Air: George Clooney is perfect as the detached and cynical road warrior whose goal is to rack up ten million frequent flier miles on American Airlines. He meets his match in two women: a younger colleague who proposes that Clooney’s job (firing people) could beat be accomplished via video conferencing; and a woman whose travel savvy rivals his. See this before it disappears from the theaters.
Did You Hear About the Morgans? Sarah Jessica Parker and High Grant play an estranged New York City couple who witness a murder. They are placed in the witness protection program and re-located to rural Wyoming. They deal with the usual fish out of water situations while they are forced into close proximity. This is a cute but predictable movie. Wait for the DVD.
The Blind Side: Probably the best Sandra Bullock movie I’ve seen. It goes far beyond her usual romantic comedies. She and Tim McGraw play a wealthy Memphis couple who take a homeless, barely literate teenager into their home. Through their efforts and love, he graduates from high school, attends college on a football scholarship and becomes a first round pick in the NFL draft. This movie is based on the true story of the Baltimore Ravens left tackle Michael Oher. Go see it!
This new novel by Sheila Kohler is based on the true story of Charlotte Bronte and the writing of her master work, Jane Eyre. Charlotte and her siblings, Ann, Emily, and Branwell, live with their father in a gloomy parsonage in Yorkshire. They are educated and literate, yet their lives are constrained by their poverty and their autocratic father.
The sisters write, but their manuscripts are rejected by one publisher after another. When Reverend Bronte goes to Manchester for a cataract operation, Charlotte accompanies him. During his recovery, she begins writing the story that will become Jane Eyre. Charlotte pours into the novel all the bitterness and heartache she feels.
When Charlotte’s novel is published and becomes a critical and popular success, the lives of the Bronte family changes. Not only are they now able to afford some small luxuries, but the relationship between the sisters changes. Reverend Bronte can hardly believe that his daughter has written something that has actually been published.
Kohler weaves the known facts of the Bronte family, and her knowledge of life in 19th century England, along with her own imaginings. The result is a smart, engaging and well-written novel. If this doesn’t send us English lit majors back to re-read the Bronte’s, I don’t know what will.
I was very excited that a friend was able to get tickets for us to see this new musical. It tells the story of the late Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. In addition to being an innovative musician, Fela was politically active, and fought the corrupt Nigerian government. Fela was arrested and tortured many times, but he continued to use his notoriety and his music to expose governmental excess and abuse.
Fela! is more than a musical biography. It is a groundbreaking work of art. Most of the music and lyrics are Fela’s own, with some additional music written for the show. Kuti was a pioneer of the Afrobeat style of music. Accompanied by spectacular dancing and instrumentals, this exciting show is non-stop action.
The role of Fela is so demanding that two actors alternate performing the lead. We saw Kevin Mambo in the role of Fela. I have no doubt that Sahr Ngaujah is equally talented, and I’d return to see him play this part.
Fela! is fun, exciting, and heartbreaking. It moves theater a giant leap forward from the current crop of remakes and Disney musicals that dominate Broadway.
This biography by Joseph Evron tells the story of Amihai Paglin, a seminal figure in the fight for Israel’s independence. Paglin was better known by his code name-Gidi.Gidi was a commander in the Irgun, which was a rather small underground organization dedicated to freeing Palestine from British rule.
Gidi helped to plan operations aimed at disrupting the British military occupation. He was also a skilled mechanic and a fearless fighter. Chief among the operations that Gidi planned was the famous bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, which at the time was the headquarters of the British in the Middle East.
Gidi is full of interesting and important information. For me, the best part of this book was the long section on the planning, execution, and aftermath of the King David operation. Joseph Evron has done an incredible amount of research, and this biography is well-annotated.
Unfortunately, Gidi is not so easy to read, perhaps because it is so densely packed. It may also be that the translation (it was originally written in Hebrew) is not as good as the material deserves. However-I do recommemd this book to anyone who has an interest in learning about the beginnings of the state of Israel.
Many thanks to LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program for sending me this interesting volume.
I had never read any of Billie Letts’ novels before, though I understand that one of her previous novels, Where the Heart Is, was an Oprah’s Book Club Selection. Thus I had high hopes for Made in the U.S.A. Sadly, my hopes were dashed.
This is the story of two children whose father has left them in the care of his latest girlfriend to seek his fortune in Las Vegas. When Floy dies unexpectedly in the check-out line at Wal-Mart, Lutie and Fate are left on their own. Fearful of being placed in the South Dakota foster care system, 15 year old Lutie and 11 year old Fate take Floy’s old Pontiac, and as much of their possessions as they can, and leave for Las Vegas to find their father.
This is not a promising scenario. Although they reach Las Vegas, Lutie and Fate face one disaster after another. As they struggle, they are helped by an anonymous Good Samaritan, who does eventually rescue them.
While Fate is an intelligent and resourceful boy, Lutie is stubborn, foolish, and nasty. It’s hard to feel too much sympathy for her. I really can’t recommend this book. It’s depressing, and the happy ending seems unrealistic.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Grand Central Publishing-2008
Softcover edition-Grand Central Publishing-2009
The Wives of Henry Oades is the first published novel by Johanna Moran. It tells the story of an accountant from England who is sent with his family to work in New Zealand for two years. One evening, while Henry is not yet home from his office, Margaret and their children are abducted by native Maoris, in retaliation against the British for the flogging of a Maori teenager. Their cottage is burned down in the attack, and there is no sign of the family. During a frantic rescue attempt, Henry breaks his leg. By the time he recovers, all efforts to find his family have halted.
When Henry can no longer stand living in New Zealand, he boards a ship bound for San Francisco. He makes his way to Berkeley, eventually becoming the owner of a dairy farm. When Nancy, a young woman who is expecting her first child is left widowed by a fire, Henry proposes marriage.
Back in New Zealand, Margaret and the children have escaped the Maori tribe which has held them as slaves. Upon making their way back to Wellington, they are devastated to learn that Henry has left, and they spend many months making their way to California. Six years after their abduction, they arrive in Berkeley and are directed to Henry’s farm. Obviously, Henry, Margaret, and Nancy are all shocked when Margaret and the children ring Henry’s doorbell.
Three weeks after their arrival, a sheriff’s deputy brings an arrest warrant to the house, charging Henry and Margaret with bigamy. The rest of this novel details the family’s three bigamy trials, as well as how they learn to live together under very trying circumstances.
This book is inspired by a true story which Moran had heard about from her father, who had studied it as a law student. It is a well-written story. The characters are all sympathetic and understandable. I would definitely recommend this book. Many thanks to LibraryThing Early Reviewer for sending me this fine novel.
In USA:
To be published in soft cover-Ballantine Books-February 2010
