Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Plot: The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Rating: 6/10

If I could rate this movie purely on how pretty it all looked I would have rated it at an 8/10  – it looks pretty and the magic is impressive. I have a great love for the magically conjured umbrellas, it looked simply beautiful. Humour is readily available by the movie clown Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), an unfortunate human caught in a magical mess. I enjoyed seeing Colin Farrell in a film again, I feel that he has completely slipped off the radar in later years and hope this beckons a return for him. However, I am not supportive of the move of magic to America – talk about people needing a pat on the head to feel included. I really hated the No-Maj term – just NO – it lacks originality and sounds and looks stupid. Eddie Redmayne generally impresses me when I see him in something, but I was not a major fan of his work as Newt Scamander. He was twitchy and strange and lacked confidence completely. Ezra Miller was CREEPY – that is an achievement of the film as that would probably stay with me forever.

The biggest flaw was the lack of story – Newt lands in America by BOAT – since when are we not apparating, folks? And somehow is careless enough to set loose some beasts which he tries to capture in. Throw in a female magical president (and a thorough dose of shade to the current American political landscape), Gellert Grindelwald, a badly plotted love story and some new magic terms, and you end up with a queasy mess that isn’t even close to what Potter originally was. As for the two major plot twists? The one is obvious from the very start and the second surprised me – I won’t go into detail for those people who still wish to watch it.

Sadly, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them wasn’t that fantastic. I think I love Potter too much and notice anything that doesn’t jibe with the original works. However, it looked pretty and is well acted out, which should not be ignored.

Have you seen this film? What did you think?

November 28, 2016November 27, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Movies, movies, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: 2016, Colin Farrell, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Ezria Miller, Fantastic Beasts and where to find them, Gellert Grindelwald, Harry Potter, JK Rowling, Johnny Depp, Magic, Movies, Newt Scamander, Reviews, Samantha Morton 8 Comments

Book Review: Honest Illusions (Nora Roberts)

Plot: The daughter of a world-renowned magician, Roxy Nouvelle has inherited her father’s talents—and his penchant for jewel thievery. Into this colorful world comes Luke Callahan, an escape artist who captures her heart—and keeps secrets that could shatter all her illusions…

Rating: 7/10

After the immense enjoyment of The Obsession, I quickly plotted devious ways to get my hands on this book. I thought it was a new release by Roberts, but it sadly turned out to be a reprint of one of her very old book. It wasn’t bad though, but I did feel a bit bereft.

My biggest issue with this book was how long it took to get to the main story. It is naturally important to provide a bit of backstory on any set of characters, because how else would anyone ever root for them? I do think that three hundred pages of portraying the past amounted to a bit much though.

Luke and Roxy made an entertaining pair, and despite my bitching about the large past, I loved how they grew up with each other and couldn’t stay apart. I really also liked the supporting characters, especially Roxy’s father, with Mouse and LeCerq being their family and friends too.

It seemed a bit preposterous that the villain managed to become a US Senator after being a young criminal on the streets, but I’m not going to go too much into that as believably isn’t something I insist on in light reading (lol)

The book was good, but I do think that the author wasted a lot of ink on the growing up phase of our two character’s lives. It’s eventual conclusion lacked drama, which sucked, and I thought we deserved a more bitter ending for Sam Wyatt. Pfft.

August 3, 2016July 31, 2016 by Natasha Categories: Books, reading, Review, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Books, Honest Illusions, Luke Callahan, Magic, Nora Roberts, Reading, Review, Romance, Roxy Nouvelle, suspense 2 Comments

Movie Review: The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016)

Plot: As a war between rival queen sisters Ravenna and Freya escalates, Eric and fellow warrior Sara, members of the Huntsmen army raised to protect Freya, try to conceal their forbidden love as they combat Ravenna’s wicked intentions

Rating: 7/10

I’m probably being very lenient with the rating, because this movie has quite a bit of flaws. For all its’ flaws it is an entertaining watch. I didn’t expect a second movie after Snow White and the Huntsman, but how could I not? Hollywood will milk a success till it lies twitching feebly on the ground, milked of everything that made it so good to start with.

The Huntsman is back, sans Snow White. She’s busy being haunted by the Mirror and is not Kristen Stewart anymore (I think Stewart was not interested in showing her face again lest we remember her shenanigans with the previous director).

The Huntsman, or Eric, is living a holistic life after defeating Ravenna, and is not impressed with the charm or charisma when the handsome Prince pitches and requests that he hunt down the Mirror and prevent evil to rise again. He takes along his two dwarf friends, who are really against female dwarves for some reason.

And for no further plot reasons than to bring romance into the story, two female dwarves join the hunting party. Soon another lady arrives – Eric’s long dead ex, Sarah, played by Jessica Chastain. Naturally questions arise and we, and Eric and Sara, see what happened that fateful day when he thought he saw her murdered.

There is also another Queen in the mix – Queen Freya (Emily Blunt), who lost all her niceness when her child was burned in her crib by her lover (I really don’t blame her for losing her niceness). As she’s Ravenna’s sister, there is plotsies afoot, and she sets out with her newly acquired power to take a lot of land by icy force and force children to love her – I mean who wouldn’t when the choice is between love and being murdered? Love comes easily then.

Winter’s War takes a lot of stories and tries to combine them. Some is really unnecessary and a lot of the time Winter’s War looks like a really pretty perfume ad, but it really isn’t bad. The cast is stellar and Emily Blunt is particularly enjoyable (though please don’t think for a second I didn’t enjoy my husband CH as well!). There is a lot of sadness, something Blunt does really well, and Charlize Theron is disgusting, frightening, beautiful and evil as her return as Ravenna. The mirror also stays amazing – how they brought that concept to the screen looks ridiculously cool.

I love love love Chris Hemsworth. I thought I would always choose him as Thor, but this roughly hewn and really charming Eric works so well. And, accents. GAWSH. I think this role suits Hemsworth well because it firstly gives him something to be other than Thor Odinson and secondly it is written in a way, and especially in the second movie, to highlight his natural charm and that gorgeous smile. I am obviously a massive fan and will gladly pitch whenever he is onscreen, but it isn’t only for the looks – he is a decent actor and although I am a bit sad to say this and it is because he hasn’t really had time to prove himself in very serious movies, he is an excellent popcorn entertainment actor.

If you want to enjoy Winter’s War, it really is possible, because it isn’t bad. I think we should all just sometimes remind ourselves that it is okay to enjoy a movie because it is fun and sweet and looks pretty – not all things need to be dark and intelligent and serious!

Some more, ehm, shots of the movie:

May 5, 2016May 3, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2016, Movies, movies, Reviews, UncategorizedTags: Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Dwarves, Emily Blunt, Fairytales, Ice, Jessica Chastain, Magic, Movies, Reviews, Sam Claflin, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Huntsman: Winter's War 14 Comments

Book Review: Captivated Nora Roberts)

Plot: Nash Kirkland doesn’t believe in magic. But when he hires self-proclaimed witch Morgana Donovan as a great ‘resource’ for his new supernatural film, he suddenly finds himself falling under her spell. Nash has never trusted his feelings, but the alluring Morgana has released an irresistible passion in the usually cool-headed screenwriter. The question is – are those feelings real, or are they just some conjurer’s trick?

Morgana has her own doubts – despite her strong feelings for Nash. She can understand his skepticism about her powers. But can an ordinary man really handle falling in love with a rather extraordinary woman?

Rating: 5.5/10

Even though I read Captivated last, it is a miracle that I did so. I would never have progressed to Charmed, Enchanted or Entranced if I had started with the first in the series.

Captivated had absolutely no charm and bored me. I was so excited to get to the only remaining book in the series because even though they were cheesy, the previous three had worked quite well.

Nash Kirkland and his infatuation/disbelief with Morgana got boring quickly. It always irritates me when they bring the”did she cast a spell on me” route in ANY book, let alone one where witches are involved. Guys, it is mostly just your glands talking, I really doubt she bewitched you – who has time nowadays for bewitching?

I wish I enjoyed it more – the story spun out for ages and when it ended with the incessantly used story line of a baby and a happy ending, I gave up – absolutely no redeeming powers for the book. Meh.

October 13, 2015October 11, 2015 by Natasha Categories: Books, Review, ReviewsTags: Books, Donovan, Donovan Legacy, Love, Magic, Morgana Donovan, Nash Kirkland, Nora Roberts, Reading, Reviews, Romance 1 Comment

Book Review: Entranced (Nora Roberts)

Plot: Obviously psychic Sebastian Donovan was a fraud, but fiercely protective Mary Ellen Sutherland was desperate to find a missing baby and had run out of leads. So, reluctantly, the skeptical private investigator agreed to enlist Sebastian’s help. Soon she had to admit – grudgingly – that this man had some pretty remarkable gifts. Especially his extraordinary ability to penetrate her tough facade and awaken her heart. (via Goodreads)

Rating: 6.5/10

I’ve read the Donovan series out of sequence, but who cares if it was fun right? Anyway, these books aren’t a continuation on each other, they are just about the same family who all have magical abilities. Nora Roberts loves a few things: trilogies, romance (duh), Ireland and witches. Throw them together? I think she passes out from happiness.

This book is not particularly groundbreaking or earth shattering – it is the same old story of woman meets very attractive man with great power. Initially she refuses to believe in his powers (romantically and magically), but soon she yields because he is hotcakes.

But, it was fun. Roberts is a good author and although some of her themes are explored to exhaustion, she does what she does extremely well.

I liked the characters – Mary Ellen was sort of a hard ass and as I am one myself, I appreciated it. I thought her traumatic childhood was not explored at all, and could have caused some interesting chapters. Sebastian was the typical hero in the book – handsome, talented and sure of himself. He is pretty much the expected love interest – very Bella Swan-ish because where you could virtually imagine any girl as Bella Swan because she’s so vague you can imagine any man as Sebastian Donovan.

Entranced is a bit higher than the other books in the series because it contains some villainy. Sure, it serves as an introduction for Mel and Sebastian to meet, but it was fun seeing them hunt down a baby snatching ring. It was kept to a very polite villainy level, no blood or gore, but it turned the slightly stagnant story into an adventure.

If it sounds like I didn’t enjoy the book, I did. It was fun, sexy, entertaining. I can only handle basic literature at this point – way too much drama in my life to add any more to it through a book, and this certainly fits the bill. Definitely a good read if you are looking for basic entertainment!

September 30, 2015September 27, 2015 by Natasha Categories: Books, ReviewsTags: Books, Donovan, Donovan Legacy, Donovan Series, Entranced, Magic, Mary Ellen Sutherland, Nora Roberts, Psychic, Reviews, Sebastian Donovan 2 Comments