High School Musical... 2

Ok, so High School Musical wasn’t that bad. It was endurable. Some catchy songs as Disney always seems to have. Endurable.
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At the sleep over in the cottage over Christmas I got to endure High School Musical 2.
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For those who thought the amount of cheese and saccharine sweetness of the first movie could not possibly be surpassed, sadly you are wrong.
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This movie follows “the gang” as they get summer jobs and all that involves. We see the lead guy go through the rollercoaster of pursuing “his future” (college applications) while leaving his friends behind, before realising the mistake.
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Rose left the movie halfway through but I endured, with the appropriate (read: very high!) amount of sarcasm. There were many groans as I couldn’t believe such drivel was produced and Val got to endure the most of my sarcasm!
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If you want to test your skills and exercise that sarcastic comment producing part of your brain, go ahead and watch this movie. Just be sure to keep your gag reflex in check!

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Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (The Last Book)

The final Harry Potter came out in my last couple of days in the Czech Republic. I’m convinced the reason I didn’t finish this book until December (needless to say, I didn’t read it all that religiously!) is because Mark and Jayne read the last line of the book and told me what it was!
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Warning: spoilers follow.
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Once I finally got into the book (a couple of days before I finished it!) I read it quite quickly. I found with this book, as with some of the previous ones, it took me a while to remember what was going on, who people were etc so it took a while to get into reading it!

Once this happened I devoured it! I absolutely loved this book. Yes, Harry was a little moody in points and other point stretched the imagination. But it was good. And no ending other than the three of them surviving would have sat well with me!
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I also liked the fact we see “Eighteen Years Later” – I am someone who like resolutions, who knows what the actual ending of the book or movie was! I am, for the most part, a fan of clean endings with all the story threads neatly tied. I can’t believe that was the last Harry Potter… I wanted to know more… What do the characters do now? What about their children? What will happen? Etc etc etc.
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I don’t think this book is a stand alone – it would make most sense when following the other six! I am kind of looking forward to the movie, but know it could never do it justice.
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I also liked the way Harry laid down his life for his friends and those he loved. Another example of sacrificial love. As Harry leaves Hogwarts, through the power of the Resurrection Stone, he is surrounded by those he loves who encourage him and are there for him – this reminded me of Hebrews 12 verses 1-3:
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"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
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There is another insight to the book here: http://www.ctlibrary.com/48545 (although I don't necessarily endorse the opinions found on this site.)
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A book I’d recommend!

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I Am Legend

I saw this with Rose and Roz in the cinema over Christmas. An absolutely terrifying movie! But, in hindsight, an amazing movie. Robert Neville (Will Smith) is the last man on earth after a virus sweeps the planet killing most, leaving many people as “The Infected” or “Dark Seekers” (creatures with little intelligence who cannot stand light) and leaving Neville alive as someone who is immune.
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Warning: rest may contain spoilers.
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As with most movies that show a character get close to an animal, the animal dies – in this case Neville has to kill Sam when she gets infected after protecting him from infected dogs. I always hate these sort of scenes!
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Unusually for Hollywood this movie speaks positively about God – we see posters proclaiming “God still loves us” in the abandoned New York City. And Neville’s wife is seen praying over the family for protection.
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A female survivor also speaks of how God told her to come to New York and her arrival is just in time to save Neville’s life. Although Neville shouts “There is no God!” the woman protests God does have a plan, if only we listen.
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Later in the movie Neville realises the cure to the virus is literally “in the blood” of a female dark seeker he has managed to cure. He dies to save the female survivor and her son admitting that he is now listening to God. He dies as he collides with a group of dark seekers trying to attack the humans after failing to convince them that he can save them.
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These undercurrents are great. Salvation is echoed in Neville’s sacrifice. There is a lot of the movie to go through – a lot of it just shows Neville’s life as the “only survivor” in New York City. But it is a great movie.
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Rendition

I saw this movie in the cinema a wee while back. It is about the law in the US that means they can detain anybody suspected of terrorism and take them to another country (usually one where torture remains common) for interrogation. It’s terrifying to think that some form of this movie could actually happen.
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It is a little confusing as a movie – the timing of the scenes is confusing or maybe it won’t be until you reach the end and discover what really went on! Then you will be confused.
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The movie does have considerable amounts of torture violence in it which grossed me out a little!
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I’m not sure I’d recommend this movie really. The torture scenes didn’t do much for me. It did make me think a lot but reading a couple of wikipedia articles could do the same without the cinema fee!

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Introduction

I love reading and love watching movies. I thought I'd create this to let you know what I think about movies I've seen or books I've read. I hope having this may mean I'll read a bit more! Who knows!
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Enjoy the ramblings!