I decided to review each of the stories in Stephen King's most recent story collection (Full Dark, No Stars) individually. Thank you very much to the person who gave me the book as a Christmas present!
Name of Story: 1922
Title of Book: Full Dark, No Stars
Author: Stephen King
Released: 2010
Rating: 6/5
Basic Plot: Wilf decides that in order to keep his farmland, plus his wife's farmland, he'll have to murder her (because she wants to move). After killing her, with the help of his son, chaos and madness ensue.
How It Is Told
The form the story is told in is a confession letter. Wilf is in a hotel room and is writing the letter to finally tell the truth of what happened. He also plans to commit suicide after completing the letter. This gives an excuse to talk directly to the audience. The only problem with that is when he dies it's a little awkward.
Feel of the Story
It is depressing. It is more than depressing, it is just downright cruel with what it does. The murder of the wife is just the beginning. If you get scared sh**less and can't sleep well after reading that part, don't bother to read the rest. I cringe at this story but, at the same time, if it wasn't as engaging I wouldn't feel that way. If a story can affect me deeply, like this one did, it did something right.
Knowing What is Real
By the end of the story Wilf has gone crazy and so imagines things. I would like to say straight up that he is insane and is imagining everything that is happening to him, but I can't. At the end the news article states that he bit himself to death and it makes references to rats (which he had been "imagining" he was seeing). What makes me think that he might not have been totally crazy is the fact that Stephen King writes about the supernatural a lot of the time.
Will This Be a Good Movie?
While this story was very compelling I can't see it being a good movie. True, some of the scenes were very fun to read (the type of fun where "gross" and "creepy" are understatements), but most of what is happening is good because it is in Wilf's head. There are voice overs, but what's really the point of seeing a movie that's read to you?
Final Thoughts
This is a great story to read. The whole story left me with the feeling that the end of Cujo (also by Stephen King) also left me with. It is an enjoyable read but is not good for those that want a happy story. This being Stephen King, there are sexual themes as well as graphic violence. All my younger readers out there: Ask your parents before you read this story.
Note
I haven't yet finished the whole book yet so I don't know if it is worth buying the book (Full Dark, No Stars) just for this story.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Disney's Tangled
I prefer the dark and depressing stories. The more I cringe the better I like them. However, I went in to see Tangled having good feelings about it. I had heard a couple of good reviews and the previews were engaging.
Title: Tangled
Directors: Nathan Greno and Byron Howard
Starring: Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) and Zachary Levi (Flynn Rider)
Released: 2010
Rating: 4.5/5
Basic Plot: Rapunzel, tired of being locked up in her tower, convinces Flynn Rider to take her to see the annual floating lanterns.
Some Differences from the "Original" Rapunzel Tale
Rapunzel's hair is magical and can heal people as well as make them younger. This is because her mother was fed a magical flower while she was pregnant. If anyone cuts off Rapunzel's hair it loses its magical powers.
Rapunzel is a princess and the annual floating lanterns is celebrated on her birthday.
As is usual for a Disney movie, Rapunzel gets an animal companion. In this movie it's a chameleon.
Characters
Rapunzel
As is usual for a Disney movie, Rapunzel dreams of escaping her home and exploring. This is justified, however, by the fact that she has lived the majority of her life in a small tower. Mother Gothel keeps her trapped there because Mother wants Rapunzel's powers all for herself. The relationship between the two is creepy as the audience realizes what's really going on while Rapunzel doesn't. It is a great joy to see Rapunzel finally with her real parents at the end as you really get to feel for this character.
Flynn Rider
He is a thief that came from an orphanage. In the orphanage he dreamed of someday having everything he wanted. While he is running away from guards he ends up going into Rapunzel's tower. At first he doesn't like Rapunzel (though he does think she's smokin' hot) and eventually falls in love with her. Near the end of the movie he shows he'd rather die than allow Mother to be able to use Rapunzel's powers.
Death of Mother Gothel
Saying Mother Gothel dies isn't really a spoiler as it's stated within the first ten minutes of the movie at most. I was glad when she died since she's a really mean character (though enjoyable to watch). I would've preferred to see Mother splatter on the ground but, since this movie IS rated PG she evaporates into dust before her cloak hits the ground. This does make sense because Mother has been using Rapunzel's/the Flower's power for hundreds of year. I just like really gruesome deaths but the death they showed still works.
Songs
This is a movie where people break into song at random. The songs, I felt, were pretty nice and upbeat. The "Mother Knows Best" songs were really creepy and eerie. All in all, I prefer movies where people don't randomly break into song.
Final Thoughts
This is a very fun family film. While there are really dark aspects (Rapunzel and Mother Gothel's Relationship being one of them) it's a light hearted film. This film does use a bunch of cliche's but they never hamper down the story very much.
Title: Tangled
Directors: Nathan Greno and Byron Howard
Starring: Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) and Zachary Levi (Flynn Rider)
Released: 2010
Rating: 4.5/5
Basic Plot: Rapunzel, tired of being locked up in her tower, convinces Flynn Rider to take her to see the annual floating lanterns.
Some Differences from the "Original" Rapunzel Tale
Rapunzel's hair is magical and can heal people as well as make them younger. This is because her mother was fed a magical flower while she was pregnant. If anyone cuts off Rapunzel's hair it loses its magical powers.
Rapunzel is a princess and the annual floating lanterns is celebrated on her birthday.
As is usual for a Disney movie, Rapunzel gets an animal companion. In this movie it's a chameleon.
Characters
Rapunzel
As is usual for a Disney movie, Rapunzel dreams of escaping her home and exploring. This is justified, however, by the fact that she has lived the majority of her life in a small tower. Mother Gothel keeps her trapped there because Mother wants Rapunzel's powers all for herself. The relationship between the two is creepy as the audience realizes what's really going on while Rapunzel doesn't. It is a great joy to see Rapunzel finally with her real parents at the end as you really get to feel for this character.
Flynn Rider
He is a thief that came from an orphanage. In the orphanage he dreamed of someday having everything he wanted. While he is running away from guards he ends up going into Rapunzel's tower. At first he doesn't like Rapunzel (though he does think she's smokin' hot) and eventually falls in love with her. Near the end of the movie he shows he'd rather die than allow Mother to be able to use Rapunzel's powers.
Death of Mother Gothel
Saying Mother Gothel dies isn't really a spoiler as it's stated within the first ten minutes of the movie at most. I was glad when she died since she's a really mean character (though enjoyable to watch). I would've preferred to see Mother splatter on the ground but, since this movie IS rated PG she evaporates into dust before her cloak hits the ground. This does make sense because Mother has been using Rapunzel's/the Flower's power for hundreds of year. I just like really gruesome deaths but the death they showed still works.
Songs
This is a movie where people break into song at random. The songs, I felt, were pretty nice and upbeat. The "Mother Knows Best" songs were really creepy and eerie. All in all, I prefer movies where people don't randomly break into song.
Final Thoughts
This is a very fun family film. While there are really dark aspects (Rapunzel and Mother Gothel's Relationship being one of them) it's a light hearted film. This film does use a bunch of cliche's but they never hamper down the story very much.
Cancer 2
If that version does not work try this version:
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (novelization)
Having played Star Wars: The Force Unleashed I was excited that there was a second one coming. The first game's storyline had a very subtle romance and lots of action. Especially the action! You had to go against machines, rancors, and some pretty decent bosses. I knew there was a novelization but, long story short, I had to return it to the library before I was finished. I knew there would be a novelization of the second game and eagerly picked it up at a library.
Title: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Based On a Story by Haden Blackman
Author: Sean Williams
Released: 2010
Rating: 3.5/5
Basic Plot: Starkiller (a clone?) escapes from the cloning facility at Kamino and goes on a search for Juno Eclipse.
Genre: Romance
This book is a complete romance. I don't mind a little romance in my books/movies/ect. but the romance in this book becomes out of control. I think what made this romance so unbearable is that I wasn't playing a game so I didn't have the joy of actually fighting the enemies in this book. Don't like romance? Don't get this book. Oh, so you're a Star Wars fan? You're sort of doomed to read this book and play the game.
Characters
Starkiller
Throughout the book it is not made clear if this Starkiller is a clone or not. My personal opinion? I think he is. But, by the end, it doesn't really matter one way or the other if he is or is not the "real" Starkiller. His main drive in this book is to find Juno Eclipse (romantic interest in the first game) and is really the only reason for he does anything. Romantic junkies will love that part. Not saying I couldn't see this coming when I heard about a second The Force Unleashed game.
Juno Eclipse
The love interest of Starkiller and is now a member of the Rebel Alliance. Luckily she doesn't know that Starkiller is alive so we don't have her main drive being to search for Starkiller. Unfortunately she is still not over his death a year later so she still thinks about him.
Useless Subplots
PROXY Messing Up
PROXY (Starkiller's robot from the first game) has his holoprojectors keep messing up. What does this mean? Basically he takes on the forms of different people. There is a small subplot where the reader/player is made to wonder why this is happening. At the end of the book it's revealed that he is "becoming" people that stand for something greater than themselves. Really? The book wasted all of my time for that?
Love Triangle
What would a good romance be without someone getting in the way? Let's just call him Pointless Distraction (PD). Anyways, PD is only there for a few scenes before going away. They didn't even use PD to his full potential in a romance. Which is probably a good thing.
Final Thoughts
This is a great book if you're looking for a romance. However, it does not measure up to the plot given by the first game. The romance in the first game was cliche but it was not all in your face. This plot just wails away at you with romance. Does it make me want to buy the game? Some of the action sequences seem fun to actually play. I can only rate this as a book, though, so the fun of playing it does not go into account.
Title: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Based On a Story by Haden Blackman
Author: Sean Williams
Released: 2010
Rating: 3.5/5
Basic Plot: Starkiller (a clone?) escapes from the cloning facility at Kamino and goes on a search for Juno Eclipse.
Genre: Romance
This book is a complete romance. I don't mind a little romance in my books/movies/ect. but the romance in this book becomes out of control. I think what made this romance so unbearable is that I wasn't playing a game so I didn't have the joy of actually fighting the enemies in this book. Don't like romance? Don't get this book. Oh, so you're a Star Wars fan? You're sort of doomed to read this book and play the game.
Characters
Starkiller
Throughout the book it is not made clear if this Starkiller is a clone or not. My personal opinion? I think he is. But, by the end, it doesn't really matter one way or the other if he is or is not the "real" Starkiller. His main drive in this book is to find Juno Eclipse (romantic interest in the first game) and is really the only reason for he does anything. Romantic junkies will love that part. Not saying I couldn't see this coming when I heard about a second The Force Unleashed game.
Juno Eclipse
The love interest of Starkiller and is now a member of the Rebel Alliance. Luckily she doesn't know that Starkiller is alive so we don't have her main drive being to search for Starkiller. Unfortunately she is still not over his death a year later so she still thinks about him.
Useless Subplots
PROXY Messing Up
PROXY (Starkiller's robot from the first game) has his holoprojectors keep messing up. What does this mean? Basically he takes on the forms of different people. There is a small subplot where the reader/player is made to wonder why this is happening. At the end of the book it's revealed that he is "becoming" people that stand for something greater than themselves. Really? The book wasted all of my time for that?
Love Triangle
What would a good romance be without someone getting in the way? Let's just call him Pointless Distraction (PD). Anyways, PD is only there for a few scenes before going away. They didn't even use PD to his full potential in a romance. Which is probably a good thing.
Final Thoughts
This is a great book if you're looking for a romance. However, it does not measure up to the plot given by the first game. The romance in the first game was cliche but it was not all in your face. This plot just wails away at you with romance. Does it make me want to buy the game? Some of the action sequences seem fun to actually play. I can only rate this as a book, though, so the fun of playing it does not go into account.
Spoilers in Reviews
When I do reviews I do tend to put spoilers in them. Why? Don't I want to allow my readers/viewers to experience what I'm reviewing on their own? Don't I want to not spoil the good stuff?
Personally, when I want to be surprised by a movie/book/comic/ect. I'll tend to stay away from all reviews. Why? Because I don't want the thing I'm reading/watching to be spoiled for me. Some people are good enough to state that there will be spoilers and some places warn you if the review has a spoiler.
Another reason I put spoilers in my reviews is the fact that I want the ability to speak about everything in what I'm reviewing. I remember one of the few semi-reviews I have warned about spoilers is Sam Worthington 3 (COD: Black Ops) and I only did that because the twist was the whole reason to play the game (though I watched a Let's Play and didn't actually play the game).
I believe there should be spoilers that shouldn't be considered spoilers because they've been around so long. Such as the ending to Psycho. The twist is really good but people shouldn't be afraid to state such a well known spoiler. Though I was mad when someone spoiled the ending to War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells (check the book out).
Spoiler to Psycho:
Norman Bates has a split personality, believes he is his mother, and he is the killer.
Spoiler to War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells:
Bacteria kills the aliens. What the heck?
Personally, when I want to be surprised by a movie/book/comic/ect. I'll tend to stay away from all reviews. Why? Because I don't want the thing I'm reading/watching to be spoiled for me. Some people are good enough to state that there will be spoilers and some places warn you if the review has a spoiler.
Another reason I put spoilers in my reviews is the fact that I want the ability to speak about everything in what I'm reviewing. I remember one of the few semi-reviews I have warned about spoilers is Sam Worthington 3 (COD: Black Ops) and I only did that because the twist was the whole reason to play the game (though I watched a Let's Play and didn't actually play the game).
I believe there should be spoilers that shouldn't be considered spoilers because they've been around so long. Such as the ending to Psycho. The twist is really good but people shouldn't be afraid to state such a well known spoiler. Though I was mad when someone spoiled the ending to War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells (check the book out).
Spoiler to Psycho:
Norman Bates has a split personality, believes he is his mother, and he is the killer.
Spoiler to War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells:
Bacteria kills the aliens. What the heck?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Cancer 1
If that does not work try this version:
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