![]() Aka Boys Don't Cry Story: It's the year 1953, the Korean War ended with a truce and the country needs to be rebuilt. People have nearly nothing to eat and there are countless, starving orphans roaming the streets. Tae-ho (Song Chang-ee) and Jong-doo (Lee Wan) are two of them and so they try their hands at becoming errand boys for a group of gangsters. Thanks to his intellect Tae-ho manages to get a job as a salesman for American goods within the gangster organisation. Jong-doo, however, wants to prove his worth through physical prowess. So-nyeon-eun wool-ji anh-neun-da / Once Upon a Time in Seoul (2008) Rat Entertainment Mother's Day (2010) RatPac-Dune Entertainment Get. Critic Reviews for Once Upon A Time In Seoul (So-nyeon-eun wool-ji anh-neun-da). There are no critic reviews yet for Once Upon A Time In Seoul (So-nyeon-eun wool-ji anh-neun-da). Keep checking Rotten Tomatoes for updates! Once Upon A Time In Seoul (So-nyeon-eun wool-ji anh-neun-da) (2008). 1953, the Korean war has ended. Two young boys live in a refugee camp. Their best bet of survival is to trade in stolen goods. But when they take business away from the local gangsters, they begin a new fight for survival. Directed By: Hyeong-jun. Lee Wan Birthday Jan 3, 1984. Most Popular. Swallow the Sun Once Upon A Time In Seoul (So-nyeon-eun wool-ji anh-neun-da). But when someone dies because of this - a tragical accident - he is conscience-smitten. Meanwhile, Tae-ho thinks about the future since he doesn't want to work for gangsters all his life. Together with the group of beggars whose leader Jong-doo accidentally killed they scrounge a good amount of rice. That is because Tae-ho realizes that the price for rice won't stop going up. Thus, there can be made quite a fortune with it on the black market. Furthermore, female beggar Soon-nam (Greena Park) is a common point of interest for the two friends. Yet, there soon is a power shift in the gangster organisation which also has a direct influence on Tae-ho and Jong-doo. Review: 1953 is an interesting year for a movie setting. After all, the Korean War has just ended, the land has no direction, the people are starving, the political landscape is in chaos and on the streets it's survival of the fittest. During that period we accompany two teenagers who want to make a name for themselves in different ways. One of them by using his head, the other one by using his fists. Unfortunately, the film misses to deal with the historical and political circumstances at the time in more detail. Instead, the setting simply serves as an admittedly innovative backdrop for a gangster story that you have seen many times before. With the only difference that the keyword isn't 'brotherhood' this time but 'family'. It is in fact refreshing, though, that the element of betrayal is missing since the two friends remain brothers until the very end. This isn't any kind of spoiler because if there had been some sort of betrayal between the two friends it would have been extremely far-fetched. The movie never works towards somethings like this, even though on the surface there is constantly a wedge driven between the two. What's positive to note is that there is also a love interest, which isn't responsible for the two drifting more and more apart, though. It's money and what it means to be a family which causes this development. Two things Jong-doo and Tae-ho have different ideas about. Still, this makes the subplot around the girl all the more odd since it doesn't serve any real purpose. It rather takes place in the background and gets dropped when it has reached its pinnacle. That's a good thing since the level of inventiveness is rather low, of course - but then again you wonder why this subplot was implemented at all. Tae-ho is the more analytical type of guy and his ideas in fact promise to bear fruits. He wants to make the big bucks, yet underestimates the fact that he acts in a line of work which is dominated by gangsters. Jong-doo on the other hand wants to be the tough guy who doesn't need to rely on anyone. He is predestined to become a gangster himself someday. Myeong-soo, one of the movie's highlights thanks to the tragic coolness portrayed by Ahn Kil-kang (), serves him as a role model, even though Myeong-soo certainly doesn't want to be one. 'Once Upon a Time in Seoul' toys with the viewer's expectations well since the two protagonists both undergo a change during the course of the story or they rather show different sides of themselves that almost depict them in a completely different light. One of the unexpected positive elements of the film. Besides that there is only little that surprises. Song Chang-ee () plays his character rather cold in nature, but never so cold that you couldn't sympathize with him. Lee Wan doesn't really manage to win us over as Jong-doo in the beginning, but he is emotional and constantly captivates us. However, there isn't any extraordinary chemistry between the two individuals, which rightfully makes us ask what's left in the movie if the brotherhood-motive doesn't turn out to be a strong point of the action drama. Unfortunately, there isn't much left. The gangster story, which serves as a framework, can't be called original, only the setting of the sandy marketplace and the constant hunger that accompanies the indiduals distinguishes 'Once Upon a Time in Seoul' from similar works. Still, you won't get to see anything spectacular, so that the mere 100 minutes running time even seems a tad too long. Nonetheless, there are a few action scenes thrown in for good measure. Although they don't stand out. Apart from a bullwhip fight which in the end is a disappointment since it's sold as the film's finale. There could have been done more with that. Director Bae Hyeong-joon () has done well casting comparatively fresh faces for his movie, but the screenplay would have needed some finishing touches. At least a stronger bond to the 50s setting would have been necessary in order to give the movie more depth. Ultimately, the characters suffer from the mediocre screenplay as well since the dramatic moments don't manage to touch us. Technically a solid affair this action drama only manages to score with its sets in the end. The rest is just average.
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Mickey Rourke is the elusive top-dog of a deadly sport. Cop-turned-filmmaker Ken Sanzel gets metaphysical about guns in Blunt Force Trauma, inventing a fictional sport in which bullets can kill without even penetrating the skin. Pairing two practitioners for a road trip in which one seeks revenge and the other aspires to beat an elusive champion, the film is more moody than vital, discarding some of its built-in kicks in favor of brooding over the nature of violence. True Blood's Ryan Kwanten may be the pic's central gunslinger, but Mickey Rourke is its main source of weird charisma — albeit an elusive one, not seen until 80 minutes in. Commercial prospects are iffy given the film's ambivalence about satisfying genre expectations. Kwanten is John, who travels around South America engaging in (mostly) non-lethal human cockfights: Two contestants enter an arena wearing bulletproof vests, then each shoots the other's torso until one of them no longer can stand in his designated circle. (It's a 'foul' if you accidentally hit your opponent where the vest doesn't cover him.) However much sense the game makes, Sanzel and his designers envision it vividly, showing how its physical details and rituals change from one locale to the next. Most countries have banned the game, hence the international group of players hunting down one illicit match after another here, betting whatever they can afford. In this action movie set in the world of underground duels a talented shooter (Ryan Kwanten) seeks a duel with champion (Mickey Rourke). Define Blunt force trauma. Blunt force trauma synonyms, Blunt force trauma pronunciation, Blunt force trauma translation, English dictionary definition of Blunt force trauma. Blunt trauma - injury incurred when the human body hits or is hit by a large outside object harm, hurt, injury, trauma - any physical damage to. John, carless, pairs up with a player called Colt ( Freida Pinto, working very hard to look like a tough chick who belongs in this company). She has a car, and needs his help to find a player who killed her brother. John, meanwhile, is trying to earn a bout with Zorringer (Rourke), a legendary fighter who now stays in a remote area and lets only the best come to shoot at him. (Why he would do this, instead of accepting all comers and taking the easy money, is anyone's guess.) One convenient effect of John's having to wait to meet Zorringer is that he has time to bed Colt. But their road-trip affair is dour, not hot, its most physically intimate scene a contrived 'time for us to shoot each other' faceoff that, sorry for this, is a dramatic misfire. Each actor gets a single obligatory monologue about the meaning of this high-stakes way of life, and along the way we are told that even winning can eventually kill you: Colt explains to John that the impact of a high-caliber bullet causes shock waves through the body and can destroy internal organs. Sanzel doubles down on solemnity with the arrival of Rourke (who clearly took care of his own hair and wardrobe). He and John have an introductory powwow in which only Zorringer's parrot witnesses the zen-master-ish preamble to a duel that is 'not about stakes' but 'a moment of form and grace.' It's also about tossing aside the Kevlar and doing things bare-chested, we learn — making all that fretting over the blunt force of a non-penetrating bullet kind of moot. Production companies: ETA Films, Monogram Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Freida Pinto, Mickey Rourke, Carolina Gomez Director-Screenwriter: Ken Sanzel Producers: Gary Preisler, Eric Brenner Executive producers: Dean Blagg, Darrel Casalino, Jeff Elliott, Jason Gibson, Richard Rimo Moreno, Sonya Moreno, Gary M. ![]() Pollak, Jeff Rice, Gregory P. Shockro, Rob van den Berg, Mark van Eeuwen, Guirec van Slingelandt Director of photography: Paulo Perez Production designer: Maria Andrea Rangel Costume designer: Ana Maria Urrea Editor: Matt Mayer Music: Darren Jackson Casting director: Richard Mento No rating, 95 minutes. After the unexpected death of his estranged father, Ron returns to his childhood home in Louisiana for the first time in years. He discovers unsent letters to him, detailing the regrets of his father. His first night in the house, a supernatural being pounds on his bedroom door, demanding to be let in. Apr 19, 2016 - 1 minTwo strangers defend an eccentric estate from a caustic witch known as Lily Grace. You are watching the movie Lily Grace: A Witch Story 2015 produced in USA belongs in Category Thriller, with duration 84 Min, broadcast at KingMovies.Is, Director by Wes. Lily Grace: A Witch Story. Two strangers defend an eccentric estate from a caustic witch known as Lily Grace. Haunted by feelings of anger and guilt, and also convinced this entity has something to do with his father’s passing, Ron decides to stay and uncover the truth behind the witch named Lily Grace. ![]() About the Movie After the unexpected death of his estranged father, Ron returns to his childhood home in Louisiana for the first time in years. He discovers unsent letters to him, detailing the regrets of his father. His first night in the house, a supernatural being pounds on his bedroom door, demanding to be let in. Haunted by feelings of anger and guilt, and also convinced this entity has something to do with his father’s passing, Ron decides to stay and uncover the truth behind the witch named Lily Grace. Sylvester tries to outsmart Speedy and foil his quest for cheese. Looney Tunes is an iconic brand with a high-charged, active cast of characters. Fast-talking and quick-witted, their frenetic energy and bold attitude make them funny, unpredictable and fierce! At the mercy of their instincts, one never knows what that wise-cracking bunny, neurotic duck, bigmouth rooster, pantless pig, obsessed coyote, clever canary or romantic skunk will do next. They have made us laugh until we cry with their actions and words and will continue to enjoy them generation after generation. WBKids is the home of all of your favorite clips featuring characters from the Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry and More! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW VIDEOS EVERY WEEK! ► Like us on Facebook for other great content ► For more great Looney Tunes fun, visit the WB Kids website! Collectible Speedy Gonzales Items Known for his Mexican accent and fast footwork, Speedy Gonzales was introduced to the American public in the early 1950s. Warner Bros' lightning-fast animated cartoon character became a big hit with kids and grownups alike. People enjoy collecting plush toys, plastic figures, and other memorabilia associated with the character. Other than plush toys, what Speedy collectibles can you find? ![]() You'll find a range of vintage Speedy items available to collect, from holiday ornaments and hand puppets to salsa bowls. Additionally, Warner worked with a number of companies in the 1970s to produce several series of collectible cartoon glasses. The cartoon glasses feature Looney Tunes' beloved characters, including Speedy. More Speedy Gonzales images. Here’s something special gunsmith Speedy Gonzales put together for F-Open shooter Brett. (Photos below by Speedy Gonzalez). Speedy Says Accurate LT-32 is Very. Speedy Gonzales is a speedy mouse character appearing in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. Nicknamed 'The Fastest Mouse In All Of Mexico,' his major characteristics are the ability to run extremely fast and speaking with an exaggerated Mexican accent. He usually wears an oversized yellow sombrero,. DERBEZ_EUGENIO EXCLUSIVE: The rat pack is back! The fastest mouse in all of Mexico may be on its way to the big screen. Speedy Gonzales, the beloved Looney Tunes mouse who can outrun the fastest of cats and whose Arriba! Cry was a Saturday morning staple for kids. Product Features Jim Shore Looney Tunes Saludo Amigo Speedy Gonzales Figurine 4054869 Decoration. Cat-Tails for Two (1953), directed by Robert McKimson, shows him looking like a hick, scrawny and buck-toothed. It was in his second cartoon, Speedy Gonzales (1955), directed by Friz Freleng, that he was re-designed as the sleek little speedster we all know today. That cartoon is also the first to pit him against his best. Here’s something special gunsmith Speedy Gonzales put together for F-Open shooter Brett. (Photos below by Speedy Gonzalez). Speedy Says Accurate LT-32 is Very. A Welch's jelly glass released in 1974 features the impudent Mexican mouse grabbing a nice hunk of cheese. Yosemite Sam is incensed and is shown with his pistols blazing and his toes caught in a trap. This amusing vintage Looney Tunes glass reads 'Speedy Gonzales Snaps Up the Cheese.' Speedy is often depicted in collectible materials with other Warner characters, including Sylvester the Cat and Slowpoke Rodriguez. Sylvester was Speedy's primary foe, and Slowpoke Rodriguez was the snappy rodent's oh-so-slow-moving cousin. What does Warner's Looney Tunes character Speedy Gonzales wear? Warner's cheekiest mouse is generally portrayed with a large, yellow Mexican sombrero perched casually on his head. He wears a simple, unadorned white shirt and matching pants. Speedy Gonzales is a speedy mouse character appearing in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Around Speedy's neck is a small, neatly tied red bandana. Some Speedy collectibles show the iconic Mexican daredevil in a green shirt or poncho, but that is less common. Collectors often find this famous Warner Bros cartoon mouse dressed in plain white. What are the features of the talking Speedy Gonzales toy? Warner Bros created a Speedy Gonzales plush bean-bag toy that speaks aloud. The talking toy is dressed in Speedy's classic white shirt and pants, and he sports a large yellow sombrero. When you squeeze the toy's stomach, Speedy speaks, using his distinctly Mexican accent. The mouse says the following two lines: • 'They don't call me Speedy for nothing. • 'Hey, Buenos Dias from your old compadre Speedy Gonzales, the fastest mouse in all Mexico.' How much soda fits in a Speedy Gonzales Pepsi glass? The Pepsi glass measures 11 inches tall and has a 4-inch diameter. The vintage glass holds up to 11.2 fluid ounces of soda, juice, water, or another liquid. The quick-footed cartoon hero is pictured twice on the glass, both times in the same classic pose. His name appears below his picture. Honor the groom-to-be with a final night out with the bros. Whether you’ve got a bar crawl, poker game or both lined up for the night, our planning tips will help keep the party together. Scheduling and Invitations The bachelor party planning traditionally falls on the best man, but it can also be handled by the groom’s brother or another good friend. All of the guys in the wedding party get an invite, but you can also include other close friends and family; just ask the groom to put together a guest list. Technically, etiquette even allows inviting guys who aren’t in the wedding party, but since herding a big bunch of bachelors can lead to headaches, don’t let the guest list get too long unless the groom specifically requests it. You can even invite the bachelor’s dad and future father-in-law to the dinner portion of the evening — just be sure to see them off after dessert, before the real late-night debauchery begins. Whatever you do, don’t plan the bachelor party the night before the wedding. That’s usually reserved for the rehearsal dinner, and besides, nobody should stay out all night then get hitched in the morning. If the groom’s best guys don’t fly in until the week of the wedding, you can consider hosting the bachelor party the night before the rehearsal dinner, but it’s generally best to hold it at least a week and up to two months prior to the big day. If you have an all-weekend bachelor bash in mind, schedule it for well before the wedding. The closer you get to his walk down the aisle, the more likely the groom will be busy with last-minute details, not to mention two big wedding events in a row is a lot to ask of both the groom and the guests. Whatever you have in mind, send out your Evite invitation at least a month in advance to ensure the best turnout. Try, or for a fancier outing. Or check out more designs in our Since those who attend will split the cost of the party, specify roughly how much it’ll cost right on the invitation. Tips If you’re planning anything costly, whether it’s whitewater rafting or renting a limo, record who, what, when, where and how much in writing, so you can keep track of costs. Chances are that people will be drinking, so figure out safe transportation with that in mind. Renting a limo can be fun, but it could cost a few hundred bucks. For a cheaper option, plan to take public transportation, taxis or other ride-sharing services. Or, if you have someone willing to play designated driver, rent an SUV. If you pack in four or five fellas per car, it may be fairly affordable. At the very least, make sure the groom’s transportation is covered by picking him up at home and dropping him off later. Not only are his reflexes likely to be impaired by evening’s end, but he’s also the guest of honor, so door-to-door service is only appropriate. Likewise, bring extra cash to get guys home in case of an emergency, and don’t hesitate to confiscate keys. Saving a life beats saving a few bucks every time. Finally, let the groom savor the surprises you have in store by keeping your plans under wraps. You might even blindfold him between stops. Whisking him off to the night of wild (or mild) abandon you’ve planned just for him reminds him how lucky he is to not only have found a spouse, but also buddies like you. Activities Your best bet is to ask the groom beforehand if there’s anything he really does or does not want to do (you may want to add to the obvious, or do something different altogether). Just don’t do anything that may jeopardize the wedding! Once you have some guidelines from the groom, ask the attendees for ideas. Everyone chips in on the price, so take guests’ budgets into account. Plus, work around the rest of the wedding plans. If it’s a destination wedding, skip the weekend in Vegas to avoid issues about travel expenses and needing to take time off work. Stumped? Here are some more activity possibilities: • Drinking games • Bar-hopping • Casino • Cigar smoking • Shooting range • Paintball • Go-cart racing • Whitewater rafting • Skiing • Skydiving • Bungee jumping • Golf • Sports game • Camping • Fishing • Racetrack • Weekend in Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans or New York A word about bachelor party pranks and tests: Tread carefully. Some guys may think going out in public in a police uniform or getting their chest hair shaved off is hilarious, but others may find it embarrassing or even humiliating. If it’s tradition for your group of guys and you truly think the bachelor would be disappointed without a prank or two, have at it, but if he cries uncle, respect his wishes — or better yet, keep it relatively harmless in the first place. One idea: Once the groom crashes at the end of the evening, give him a temporary tattoo; the next morning, ask him if he even remembers getting that tat the night before and watch his reaction when he sees your poker face. ![]() Food If everyone’s low on dough, pizza fits the bill perfectly. But if you’ve got the funds, a ceremonial last supper of steak makes an A1 choice. Other options include burgers, buffalo wings, nachos or barbecue-anything. Before the sun comes up, stop at an all-night diner for eggs, bacon, coffee and pie. Especially if you’re drinking, remember to eat: Your stomach will thank you. Drinks You can’t go wrong with beer, but if you’ve got the budget, splurge on a bottle of single-malt Scotch. Serve it neat, on the rocks, with soda, or in a rusty nail. Rusty Nail (Serves one) • 1 ounce Scotch • 1/4 ounce Drambuie Mix and serve over ice. If the party’s a 24-hour affair, start the day off light and save the shenanigans for later. Make sure there’s plenty of water available throughout the festivities to keep hydrated. Offer Red Bull as a nonalcoholic alternative that may help weary revelers keep the party rocking on until dawn. Sep 6, 2017 - 10 min - Uploaded by CaseyNeistatThanks SeatGeek for sponsoring the vid. Get $20 off tix, code: CASEY app.link/casey. Bachelor Party is a 2012 Malayalam–language Indian action film directed, co-produced and filmed by Amal Neerad. The film stars Kalabhavan Mani, Indrajith, Rahman. Jun 16, 2017. A bachelor party is an initiation into marriage, which, in modern times, is mostly understood as a celebration, by the groom's male friends, of the groom's last days of 'freedom'. In the U.K., it tends to be called a stag (stag night, stag do, stag party), and in Australia, a buck. The equivalent rite for the bride,. Honor the groom-to-be with a final night out with the bros. Whether you’ve got a bar crawl, poker game or both lined up for the night, our planning tips will help keep the party together. Scheduling and Invitations The bachelor party planning traditionally falls on the best man, but it can also be handled by the groom’s brother or another good friend. All of the guys in the wedding party get an invite, but you can also include other close friends and family; just ask the groom to put together a guest list. Technically, etiquette even allows inviting guys who aren’t in the wedding party, but since herding a big bunch of bachelors can lead to headaches, don’t let the guest list get too long unless the groom specifically requests it. You can even invite the bachelor’s dad and future father-in-law to the dinner portion of the evening — just be sure to see them off after dessert, before the real late-night debauchery begins. Whatever you do, don’t plan the bachelor party the night before the wedding. That’s usually reserved for the rehearsal dinner, and besides, nobody should stay out all night then get hitched in the morning. If the groom’s best guys don’t fly in until the week of the wedding, you can consider hosting the bachelor party the night before the rehearsal dinner, but it’s generally best to hold it at least a week and up to two months prior to the big day. If you have an all-weekend bachelor bash in mind, schedule it for well before the wedding. The closer you get to his walk down the aisle, the more likely the groom will be busy with last-minute details, not to mention two big wedding events in a row is a lot to ask of both the groom and the guests. Whatever you have in mind, send out your Evite invitation at least a month in advance to ensure the best turnout. Try, or for a fancier outing. Or check out more designs in our Since those who attend will split the cost of the party, specify roughly how much it’ll cost right on the invitation. Tips If you’re planning anything costly, whether it’s whitewater rafting or renting a limo, record who, what, when, where and how much in writing, so you can keep track of costs. Chances are that people will be drinking, so figure out safe transportation with that in mind. Renting a limo can be fun, but it could cost a few hundred bucks. For a cheaper option, plan to take public transportation, taxis or other ride-sharing services. Or, if you have someone willing to play designated driver, rent an SUV. If you pack in four or five fellas per car, it may be fairly affordable. At the very least, make sure the groom’s transportation is covered by picking him up at home and dropping him off later. Not only are his reflexes likely to be impaired by evening’s end, but he’s also the guest of honor, so door-to-door service is only appropriate. Likewise, bring extra cash to get guys home in case of an emergency, and don’t hesitate to confiscate keys. Saving a life beats saving a few bucks every time. Finally, let the groom savor the surprises you have in store by keeping your plans under wraps. You might even blindfold him between stops. Whisking him off to the night of wild (or mild) abandon you’ve planned just for him reminds him how lucky he is to not only have found a spouse, but also buddies like you. Activities Your best bet is to ask the groom beforehand if there’s anything he really does or does not want to do (you may want to add to the obvious, or do something different altogether). Just don’t do anything that may jeopardize the wedding! Once you have some guidelines from the groom, ask the attendees for ideas. Everyone chips in on the price, so take guests’ budgets into account. Plus, work around the rest of the wedding plans. If it’s a destination wedding, skip the weekend in Vegas to avoid issues about travel expenses and needing to take time off work. Stumped? Here are some more activity possibilities: • Drinking games • Bar-hopping • Casino • Cigar smoking • Shooting range • Paintball • Go-cart racing • Whitewater rafting • Skiing • Skydiving • Bungee jumping • Golf • Sports game • Camping • Fishing • Racetrack • Weekend in Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans or New York A word about bachelor party pranks and tests: Tread carefully. Some guys may think going out in public in a police uniform or getting their chest hair shaved off is hilarious, but others may find it embarrassing or even humiliating. If it’s tradition for your group of guys and you truly think the bachelor would be disappointed without a prank or two, have at it, but if he cries uncle, respect his wishes — or better yet, keep it relatively harmless in the first place. One idea: Once the groom crashes at the end of the evening, give him a temporary tattoo; the next morning, ask him if he even remembers getting that tat the night before and watch his reaction when he sees your poker face. Food If everyone’s low on dough, pizza fits the bill perfectly. But if you’ve got the funds, a ceremonial last supper of steak makes an A1 choice. Other options include burgers, buffalo wings, nachos or barbecue-anything. Before the sun comes up, stop at an all-night diner for eggs, bacon, coffee and pie. Especially if you’re drinking, remember to eat: Your stomach will thank you. Drinks You can’t go wrong with beer, but if you’ve got the budget, splurge on a bottle of single-malt Scotch. Serve it neat, on the rocks, with soda, or in a rusty nail. Rusty Nail (Serves one) • 1 ounce Scotch • 1/4 ounce Drambuie Mix and serve over ice. If the party’s a 24-hour affair, start the day off light and save the shenanigans for later. Make sure there’s plenty of water available throughout the festivities to keep hydrated. Offer Red Bull as a nonalcoholic alternative that may help weary revelers keep the party rocking on until dawn. Have you been watching the excellent adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s historical novel, Outlander, on the Starz channel? I have, and I also belong to an Outlander Facebook discussion group. Since my first book was published, readers have told me that my series appeals to fans of Gabaldon’s books because of certain settings and themes. Redcoats, war, 18th century, amoral characters, civilians in peril—hey, what’s not to like? So many interesting issues and points have emerged from the Outlander episodes that I’ve decided to explore some of them here on my blog. ***** Early in season one of Outlander, viewers were shown the scarred back of character Jamie Fraser—the result of his being flogged with a cat-o’-nine-tails by a wacko, sadistic British officer. From all the research I’ve done into the American Revolution, I knew about the cat and the kind of damage it could do. Watch Against All Flags movie trailer and get the latest cast info, photos, movie review and more on TVGuide.com. Flogging permanently disfigured a person’s back. The makeup job done to actor Sam Heughan’s back to represent the scarring looked like what I expected, accurately depicting the traumatic damage. But outrage, disbelief, and horror exploded in comments from members of the discussion group. Most had no idea that flogging with a cat could produce such trauma. Even after a flashback of the gruesome event was shown in episode six, the outrage, disbelief, and horror persisted. I wondered why there was such a disconnect about flogging. ![]() Many people of my generation and earlier were spanked or “switched” if they were naughty children. That level of corporal punishment is mild compared to flogging, but if it’s a viewer’s only point of reference, the flogging in Outlander comes as a huge, horrific surprise. Also, in first-world countries, corporal punishment of children and criminals has been downplayed for several generations in favor of other forms of punishment. Plus, in the last century, especially the first seven decades of the 20th century, I think that Hollywood’s depiction of “good guys” played a crucial role in the development of these mistaken beliefs about flogging. These Hollywood heroes had stiff upper lips when it came to pain and could unrealistically “take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.” For all their trouble, villains seldom got more than a grunt out of these superhuman hero characters. The following two examples show you what I mean. Errol Flynn portrayed many swashbuckling heroes on the Silver Screen. Here he is in the movie “Against All Flags.” His character, a Navy officer, is receiving twenty lashes on deck while the crew watches. It’s a ruse that his superiors concocted to convince everyone that he’s in disgrace so his reputation will precede him, and he can credibly infiltrate the villains’ operations. Aside from being a bit sweaty and emitting an occasional grunt of annoyance, Flynn’s character takes those twenty lashes in stride. He then moves on to getting dressed, hunting down the bad guys with sprightly energy, and (because he’s Errol Flynn) seducing a defiant and lovely woman. In reality, twenty lashes was a rather light sentence that might be delivered for minor crimes; often soldiers and sailors received at least fifty lashes. But those twenty would have torn the skin on a man’s back repeatedly. He’d have bled through his shirt, assuming he could have tolerated the pain of fabric rubbing his injured back. For several days afterward, he’d have been far too stiff and sore to gallivant around and seduce women, and he’d have carried scars from the flogging for the rest of his life. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are considered icons and hero figures almost five decades after the debut of classic Star Trek on primetime TV. This image, which provides excellent fodder for those who write slash fanfic, shows Kirk and Spock in a jail cell right after futuristic Nazis have flogged them in the episode “Patterns of Force.” To break the lock on their jail cell, Spock stands on Kirk’s freshly-flogged back so he can reach a light bulb and activate a laser-producing gizmo in his wrist. All Kirk does is grunt a little and kvetch about how the Nazis did a thorough job on his back. The two then escape the cell, beat up some Nazis who try to restrain them, and steal their uniforms. In reality, the “thorough job” any Nazi (c’mon, a Nazi, folks) would have done on Kirk and Spock would have resulted in shredded skin on their backs and incapacitation for both men. Flogging with a cat-o’-nine-tails was a common, flexible punishment for 18th-century soldiers and sailors convicted of a wide range of infractions. The experience that men received from flogging varied, as the whip could also be made of leather, and the knots could contain sharp objects like metal spikes to inflict an additional level of damage. Trained soldiers and sailors were a valuable military investment in the 18th-century, thus the desired outcome of flogging wasn’t usually the recipient’s death. That meant that often the flogging was delivered by a boy who didn’t have the upper body strength of a man. Floggings were usually made public. The recipient’s company mates were required to turn out and watch him be flogged. The experience bonded all of them in a grisly way. After a flogging, the man was far less likely to screw up again because his mates were keeping him in line—and keeping themselves in line. I show this briefly in chapter thirty-five of my book. One more point about flogging. While it was considered punishment, the flogging that Jamie Fraser received in Outlander also demonstrated the psychological effectiveness of torture—and I don’t just mean torture of Jamie. We’re used to thinking of most forms of torture as a way to get someone to divulge information, right? But torture is actually not too effective at that. Studies have shown that when people are tortured, they say anything to make the agony stop. Most of the time, the information they spill is useless. So if the torture wasn’t just for Jamie (who actually withstood it and didn’t give the loco villain what he wanted), who was it for? It was for the townsfolk who were witnessing the flogging. If you watch the episode, notice their reactions. The villain turned the flogging into a weapon of terror and made it public to keep the civilians in line. And he delivered the flogging himself to give it a personal touch. Flogging, corporal punishment in the #18thCentury, and #Outlander #history #AmRev ********** Did you like what you read? Learn about downloads, discounts, and special offers from Relevant History authors and Suzanne Adair. Subscribe to Suzanne’s free newsletter. Enter your email address. ‘s ',' the first of two films about the Battle of Iwo Jima, has been chosen to open the 19th Tokyo Film Festival, which begins on October 21st. The film will open stateside on October 20th, but it’s a pretty big honor all the same. From: 'Clint Eastwood’s WWII pic 'Flags of Our Fathers' will open the 19th Tokyo Film Festival on Oct. 21, fest organizers announced Monday. Movie is one of a pair Eastwood is helming about the battle against the Japanese for the island of Iwo Jima — one told from the American perspective ('Flags'), the other from the Japanese POV ('). DreamWorks and Warner Bros. Partner on both; 'Flags' opens in the U.S. 20, but no release date has yet been set for 'Red Sun.' ' Written by and, 'Flags of Our Fathers' is based on a book by James Bradley and Ron Powers. Cast members include,,,, and. Subscribe to TRAILERS: Subscribe to COMING SOON: Subscribe to CLASSIC TRAILERS: Like us on FACEBOOK: Follow us on TWITTER: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr. (2009) Official Trailer # 1 - Josh Flitter The son of an eccentric detective steps into his father's shoes after his mother is wrongly arrested for stealing a baby panda. Cast: Director: David M. Evans Producer: James G. Robinson: Guy McElwaine: Wayne Morris: David C. In Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective, it is implied that his abilities, personality, and appearance are hereditary. Although Ace is an animal lover. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr. - The son of an eccentric detective steps into his father's shoes after his mother is wrongly arrested for stealing a baby panda. ![]() Robinson: Writer: Jack Bernstein David M. Evans Jeff Sank Jason Heimberg Justin Heimberg Editor: Danny Saphire Cinematographer: Mark Irwin: Composer: Laura Karpman. Running time 86 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $12 million Box office $107.2 million Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (or simply Ace Ventura) is a 1994 American directed by, and co-written by and starring. It was developed by the film's original writer, Jack Bernstein, and co-producer, Bob Israel, for almost six years. The film co-stars,, and former. In the film, Carrey plays Ace Ventura, an animal detective who is tasked with finding the Miami Dolphins' mascot that was abducted. The film features a cameo appearance from death metal band. Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was a box office success, grossing $107 million worldwide from a $12 million budget. In addition to launching Carrey's film career it also spawned a,; a,; and an, which lasted three seasons. Contents • • • • • • Plot [ ] is a who specializes in the retrieval of tame or captive animals. He goes undercover as a slightly overweight delivery man. As he makes his way to his target location he carries a package marked 'fragile', which he carelessly tosses around for fun. Once he arrives, he knocks at the door and presents the package to the gruff man who opens the door. While the man signs for the package, Ace asks to pet his dog at the door and then tells the man the rest of the signing can be taken care of and leaves. After exiting the building, Ace races to his car as the man notices his dog is still at the door. After yelling at the dog to move from the door, the man goes to move the himself but discovers that it was a fake with a note mocking his foolery. Ace had hidden the real dog in his uniform and makes it to his vehicle. Before leaving with the dog, the man manages to damage Ventura's car with a bat and even climbs it when it takes off. Ventura shakes the man off and heads to the rightful owner to claim a reward. The owner forces herself onto Ace out of gratitude and seduces him. Meanwhile, two weeks before the football team is due to play in the, the team, a named Snowflake, is stolen. Despite Ace's recent success, he struggles to pay rent, repair his battered 1970's, and even receives complaints from his neighbor Mr. Shickadance, who claims Ace keeps dozens of different animals in his apartment. Ace explains to his landlord that he'll pay rent when he finds a lost, rare albino worth a $25,000 reward. Ace then invites him inside the apartment to prove there are no animals. Once gone, Ace calls the animals from their hiding spots. Ace's special connection with animals and his eccentricities make him the laughing stock of the Miami-Dade Police Department, aside from his friend Officer Emilio. Melissa Robinson, the Miami Dolphins' Chief Publicist, notifies the police. During his hunt for the albino pigeon, Ace gets hired to find Snowflake as well. After searching the tank the dolphin was taken in, he discovers a rare triangular-cut orange stone, which he speculates to be part of a ring. Ace receives help from a friend named Woodstock to hack into the aquatic supply stores to trace any equipment able to house a big. Together they discover a possible suspect, billionaire Ronald Camp. Melissa and Ace intrude as guests at a formal social event thrown at Camp's house. While Camp is conversing with Melissa, Ace snoops around to find an indoor tank room and assumes it's Snowflake. When cockiness blinds Ace, he goes to feed the dolphin and, in sheer surprise, learns that the tank holds a shark instead. After surviving an attack from the shark, he returns to the party soaked with clothes shredded, saying it was a plumbing issue. Camp walks Melissa and Ace outside, apologizing for the escapade and extending a handshake; Ace grabs his hand to glance at the very type of ring he had been searching for. Ace explains his plan to Melissa as they head to her place, now excluding Ronald Camp as a suspect. Ace tracks down the players in a team photo and sees their rings, but is dismayed to find every ring intact. Disappointed by his failure, he expresses his anger to Melissa and hears news that Roger Podacter, Miami Dolphins's Head of Operations, had mysteriously fallen to his death from his. At the crime scene, Miami Police Lieutenant Lois Einhorn concludes the death to be a suicide. However, Ace proves it was a murder, embarrassing the police and infuriating Einhorn. After researching for NFL receipts, Ace comes across a more recent team photo which uncovers a new lead involving a former Dolphins player named Ray Finkle, who also owned a ring but did not appear in the old team photo due to being added during midseason. Finkle missed the kick at the end of, which cost the Dolphins the championship and ruined his career. Enamored by his detective prowess, Melissa finds herself unable to resist Ace and they have sex four times while hiding out at his apartment. The next day, Ace visits Finkle's parents and discovers that he blames for holding the snap incorrectly, causing him to miss the kick. Finkle became so obsessed with both the loss and Marino that he became insane and was committed to a mental hospital. Despite Ace warning Melissa to send extra protection, Marino is still kidnapped. Ace follows Marino's kidnappers but crashes, letting them escape with the football player. Ace visits Einhorn and explains his theory: Finkle kidnapped Marino out of revenge due to blaming him for his career having failed. Also, he took offense to the Dolphins giving Snowflake his jersey number and teaching it to kick a field goal, and presumably killed Podactor after he found Finkle snooping around. Einhorn compliments him on his findings with an unexpected kiss; Einhorn is so given to be seductive that she kisses him on top of her desk, making Ace ask her to get off from her gun digging into his hip. Einhorn tells him to allow the police to finish the job; Ace declines, saying it is his job to find Snowflake. Ace and Melissa go to the where Finkle was committed. Ace searches Finkle's belongings and discovers a newspaper article about a missing hiker named Lois Einhorn. Later, Emilio informs Ventura that he found a note from Roger Podacter himself regarding a secret romance between him and Einhorn. Studying this, Ace tries to figure out Einhorn's connection to his suspect, Ray Finkle. With his dog's help by lying on the picture of Finkle which it's fur made it look like a woman's hair, Ace comes to the realization that Lieutenant Lois Einhorn is, indeed, Ray Finkle in a transgendered disguise. He theorizes that shortly after escaping the mental hospital, Finkle was implied to have stalked the original Einhorn while she was hiking on her day off from work and may have murdered her in secret. Afterwards, he underwent a partial gender reassignment surgery to assume her identity and take advantage of her position in the Miami-Dade police force so Finkle can get revenge on the Dolphins on Super Bowl Sunday. Soon after, Ace aggressively brushes his teeth, and makes himself vomit, feeling disgusted. On Super Bowl Sunday, Ace follows Finkle to an abandoned yacht storage facility, where he finds Snowflake and Marino. Ace subdues Finkle's henchmen, but before he can rescue Marino, Finkle holds him at gunpoint. Einhorn then radios the police department and implies Ace was the one who kidnapped both Snowflake and Marino and requests for backup. When the police arrive, Einhorn and Ace are tussled from fighting and she commands the department officers to shoot him. Melissa arrives and holds Emilio at gunpoint with threats to shoot him if they refuse to hear Ace out. The department stands down and Ace describes Finkle's plan. To prove the truth he strips her down and find a normal feminine body and hair. However, with a little help from Marino who noticed the bulge from behind, he is able to expose Einhorn's true identity as Finkle. Ace mentions that he(Finkle) made two costly mistakes in not perfecting his disguise: and. He theorizes that Podacter discovered this during an earlier rendezvous with Einhorn and realizing he could go to the police and expose her as Finkle, she murdered him to protect her secret. Ace proves it by turning Einhorn around to reveal the bulge inside the silk panties. After plenty of male officers, Marino and Snowflake react disgust from unknowingly kissing a man they believed to be female, a humiliated Finkle attempts to kill Ace, but Ace subdues him. After taking off his ring, a 1984 AFC Championship ring missing a stone, Ace finalized his theory that Einhorn is the disgraced Ray Finkle and closes the case. Finkle is then arrested for his crimes and charged with kidnapping and murder, among other things. Marino, Snowflake and the others return at halftime for the Super Bowl between the Miami Dolphins and. While receiving a kiss from Melissa, Ventura spots the lost albino pigeon, but, the Eagles' mascot, shoos it away before he can catch it. Enraged, Ventura gets in an altercation with Swoop, eventually hilariously beating the mascot while being thanked on the for saving Marino and Snowflake. Ventura briefly stops fighting Swoop and smiles as the audience cheers for him. • as Ace Ventura • as Chief Publicist Melissa Robinson • as Lt. Lois Einhorn • as Emilio • as Himself • as Sgt. Aguado • as Riddle • as Roger Podacter • as Woodstock • as Ronald Camp • as Vinnie • as Roc • as Doctor • as Mr. Finkle • as Martha Mertz • as Mrs. Finkle • as Sexy Woman • as Mr. Shickadance, Ace's landlord • as Gruff Man • as themselves Reception [ ] On, the film has an approval rating of 45% based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. On the film has a weighted average score of 37 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating 'generally unfavorable reviews'. Along with and, both also released in 1994, the film is widely credited with launching the career of actor. Carrey was nominated for the 1994 but lost to in. Carrey was also nominated for a for 'Worst New Star'. The film's popularity spawned a 1995 sequel,, with Carrey returning in the lead role. Recognition: • – Nominated •: • 'All-righty then!' – Nominated Box office [ ] Ace Ventura grossed $12,115,105 in 1,750 theaters in its first week. When it stopped showing in theaters in the US and Canada, the total gross was $72,217,396. It went on to gross $35,000,000 internationally. References [ ]. ![]() A Knight in Camelot is a 1998 television film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Michael York It was directed by Roger Young distributed by Disney and is loosely. Mar 29, 2014 the movie A Knight in Camelot. Even the scrooges will smile at 3 free months of ad-free music with. In this romantic fantasy adventure, a lady scientist's experiment whisks her back to King Arthur's court. While there, the plucky lass proves that modern women are as tough as medieval men, and she soon becomes the mythical king's most favored knight. Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy. Rent A Knight in Camelot (1998) and other Movies & TV Shows on Blu-ray & DVD. 1-month free trial! Fast, free delivery. No late fees. Contents • • • • Plot [ ] Scientist Vivien Morgan is zapped back to the medieval age and time of and, when her scientific machine malfunctions. She is sent back along with many objects from her desk, including her and. As she is sentenced to be burned at the stake, she discovers among the laptop-data, that there will be a in short time. With her 'magical powers' she makes the sun re-appear and is being knighted by King Arthur as Sir Boss and becomes a member of the Knights of the. She soon begins constructing devices that will not be present for many centuries, she saves the king, defeats Sir Sagramore and saves the day countless times before being zapped back to the present. Cast [ ] • as Dr. Vivien Morgan/Sir Boss • as • as Sandy • as Clarence • as • as Sir • as • as See also [ ] • External links [ ] • • on. Synopsis Of A Knight in Camelot 2017 Full Movie| A Knight in Camelot Full Movie Online A Knight in Camelot Full Movie HD A Knight in Camelot Watch Online: When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before. Welcome to the web streaming movies, For a more complete look of ant man movie please click on the download button or watch right now, ant man movie presented to you movie fans with an audio quality video are excellent and can be viewed via a smartphone device, mac, desktop and tablet. Because we want to spoil you for this ant man watch movies when and where you stay relaxed and happy to enjoy your favorite movies. Watch Full Movie Online Streaming Movies 2017: A Knight in Camelot Full Movie 2017 Watch Online| Full Watch A Knight in Camelot Movie Streaming Online, Watch A Knight in Camelot Movie Streaming HD 1080p, Free A Knight in Camelot Movie Streaming Online, Download A Knight in Camelot Full Movie Streaming Online in HD-720p Video Quality, Where to Download A Knight in Camelot Full Movie?, A Knight in Camelot Movie Include All Subtitles. CREDIT: DOUGLAS C. PIZAC/AP/REX/Shutterstock, who segued from pop and jazz singing stardom in the ‘50s and ‘60s to a long career as a popular TV actress on “” and other shows, died Sunday night at her home in California. “She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people,” actress Roma Downey, Reese’s co-star on “Touched By an Angel,” said in a statement announcing Reese’s death. “She was a mother to me and I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on ‘Touched by an Angel.’ I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts.” CBS, home of “Touched By an Angel,” also hailed Reese’s legacy as an entertainer who focused her career on uplifting her audience. “For nine years, we were privileged to have Della as part of the CBS family when she delivered encouragement and optimism to millions of viewers as Tess on ‘Touched By An Angel,’ ” CBS said. “We will forever cherish her warm embraces and generosity of spirit. She will be greatly missed. ![]() Another angel has gotten her wings.” Singer Dionne Warwick said, “We have lost another voice that I’m sure God will use in that great heavenly choir.” Reared in gospel, Reese became a seductive, big-voiced secular music star with her No. 1 R&B and No. 2 pop hit “Don’t You Know” in 1959. The 45, her first single on RCA Records, was a ballad drawn from an aria from Puccini’s opera “La Boheme.” She ranged through a series of releases that showed off her mastery of standards, jazz and contemporary pop through the early ‘70s, and over the course of her career she received four Grammy Award nominations. By 1969 she had launched her TV show “Della” – the first talker hosted by an African-American woman – and had begun a move into an acting career that would take her to even greater national prominence. Speaking of her TV and film work with the Associated Press’ Bob Thomas in 1997, she said, “I had good training for it. Norma (an author of novels) finds herself diagnosed with cancer. Emma Norma's nurse is doing a secret treatment that no one may know about. While in her treatment to. Synonyms for touched on at Thesaurus.com with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Dictionary and Word of the Day. I was always a stylist, a lyricist. I became acquainted with the words in order to convince you I must believe in what I’m singing. That’s what acting is: believing. It was just like one thing flowing into another.” After a number of guest appearances, Reese broke into TV full-time with a starring role in the hit 1975-78 Jack Albertson-Freddie Prinze comedy series “Chico and the Man.” Roles on “It Takes Two,” “Crazy Like a Fox,” “Charlie & Co.” and (opposite her good friend Redd Foxx) “The Royal Family.” She also took starring roles in the features “Harlem Nights” and “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate” and appeared in 20 made-for-TV pictures. Her greatest popularity came as co-star of the inspirational CBS show “Touched by an Angel.” Though the show was axed during its debut 1994-95 season, a letter-writing campaign convinced execs to bring the series back, and Reese prevailed as the heavenly samaritan Tess for a total of nine seasons, winning seven consecutive NAACP Image Awards as best lead actress in a drama and collecting two Emmy nominations and a 1998 Golden Globe nod. Though she continued to make TV guest appearances and took the occasional film role in the new millennium, she returned to her religious roots as the founding pastor of her own Los Angeles-based church, Understanding Principles for Better Living (or “Up”). In later years, she was frequently billed as Reverend Doctor Della Reese Lett. She was born Delloreese Patricia Early on July 6, 1931, in Detroit. She began singing in church as a six-year-old; the glamorous black vocalist-actress Lena Horne was one of the film stars she admired as a girl. By her teens, she was working as a singer in gospel luminary Mahalia Jackson’s unit. After graduating from Detroit’s Cass Technical High School (later attended by Diana Ross), she briefly attended Wayne State University, but soon moved into music professionally, taking Della Reese as her pro handle. Like homegrown R&B superstar Jackie Wilson, Reese received prominent exposure during an engagement at Detroit’s Flame Show Bar; her style reflected the influence of such jazz precursors as Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. Signed to Jubilee Records, the indie New York label that launched the doo-wop acts the Orioles and the Cadillacs, Reese scored her first chart success with the 1957 ballad “And That Reminds Me,” which reached No. 12 on the U.S. That song secured her a contract with RCA. She secured the biggest hit of her career out of the box with “Don’t You Know,” and followed it up in 1960 with the similarly styled “Not One Minute More” (No. Her top-charting LP was “Della,” which climbed to No. Though other major chart hits eluded her, Reese recorded prolifically – frequently in a jazz style, and frequently in a live club setting – for RCA and ABC through the ‘60s. She was a popular attraction on the Las Vegas Strip during this era. Reese got her first acting break from casting director Reuben Cannon, who offered her a guest shot on the youth-oriented cop show “The Mod Squad” in 1968. Roles on such skeins as “Police Woman,” “The Rookies” and “McCloud” followed. The first series to show off her tart style to full advantage was “Chico and the Man,” in which she portrayed star Albertson’s landlady. The hit NBC show reached an abrupt end with co-star Prinze’s suicide in January 1977. She subsequently was a familiar player on such successful series as “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “The Love Boat,” “The A-Team” (on which she guested as star Mr. T’s mother), “Night Court,” “MacGyver,” “Designing Women” and “L.A. Law.” However, it was “Touched by an Angel” that cemented her TV stardom. Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection program. Entering the program alongside her, is her father and sister Darcy. The trio starts a new life and a new beginning leaving their friends and family behind w Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection program. Entering the program alongside her, is her father and sister Darcy. The trio starts a new life and a new beginning leaving their friends and family behind without a goodbye. Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. Oct 31, 2017 Daniel Gerroll and Robin Abramson in “Shadowlands.” Credit Jeremy Daniel. When the public mood is a triple-strength cocktail of anxiety and alarm. Shadowlands has 3970 ratings and 786 reviews. Karen said: so. Apparently, when you are being stalked by a relentless serial killer, and have to become. This lavishly mounted adaptation of the play by William Nicholson tells the true story of the doomed love affair between novelist and noted Christian scholar C.S. ![]() They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. Just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again? This answer contains spoilers [ Everyone that lives on the island is dead. Everyone, including Rory and her family. Olive must have died of her drug addiction, but why Darcy doesn't Everyone that lives on the island is dead. Everyone, including Rory and her family. Olive must have died of her drug addiction, but why Darcy doesn't remember her or the man with the guitar, I can't say. Maybe Juniper Landings is some sort of Purgatory, which could explain why her mother isn't there. I think Rory died when the big truck crashed their car, and Steve Nell murdered them in the woods, then she supposedly 'woke up' from her 'dream'. I hope this could explain some things. And I think why she was having those flashes and her life flashed before eyes in the lighthouse shack was because she was in denial, and she was holding on to her life. 2.5 stars Great opening chapter, but a plot that quickly devolves into a cable movie of the week thriller with flat characters and an uninspired storyline that primarily involves various uninteresting but 'hot' boys. Most of the scenes that were well done felt as though they were lifted from action/suspense films, including two of the biggest twists--one that comes early in the story, and the other at the very end. You aren't given time to process/question that last one, either, since the book e 2.5 stars Great opening chapter, but a plot that quickly devolves into a cable movie of the week thriller with flat characters and an uninspired storyline that primarily involves various uninteresting but 'hot' boys. Most of the scenes that were well done felt as though they were lifted from action/suspense films, including two of the biggest twists--one that comes early in the story, and the other at the very end. You aren't given time to process/question that last one, either, since the book ends literally right after the reveal. (I realized after finishing that there is a #1 after the title--must everything be a series now, really?) If you're paying attention, though, you probably guessed what the big secret was anyway. There are pretty obvious hints throughout, as well as a big spoiler [in the title ]. The same idea written with a bit more flair, finesse, and feeling would have been much more interesting. Am guessing this may appeal to readers who liked Gretchen McNeil's, or other YA thrillers that are more focused on action and thrills than pesky things like character/plot development. I was already a fan of Kate Brian, but I never expected to love this book THIS much. Her Private series is a guilty pleasure of mine. It may not be the next great American novel, but it's a fun 'mean-girls' type series with short installments that are filled with scandals, drama, and murder. When I went into Shadowlands, I expected something along the same lines but with a more thriller feel to it. What I got, was a complete mind-shattering plot that made me guess until the end (you have to unde I was already a fan of Kate Brian, but I never expected to love this book THIS much. Her Private series is a guilty pleasure of mine. It may not be the next great American novel, but it's a fun 'mean-girls' type series with short installments that are filled with scandals, drama, and murder. When I went into Shadowlands, I expected something along the same lines but with a more thriller feel to it. What I got, was a complete mind-shattering plot that made me guess until the end (you have to understand how rare this is!), and left my adrenaline on high for hours afterwards. Seriously, what an intense ride! “He’s never failed to finish a job before. Only one other victim escaped from him, and two weeks later he broke into her house and killed her entire family.” We meet Rory in the most shocking of ways when she's struggling against a murderer in the middle of the woods. Escaping means being put under witness protection after learning his notorious ways of getting away--without fail--for over a decade. As far as YA thrillers go, this is definitely one of the most intense I have yet to read. We're taken on a tension-filled hide and seek game against a serial killer, one where not only do we fear every second knowing we haven't seen the last of him, but the regular glances at his perspective shows us exactly how close he is to getting what he wants. This makes things especially terrifying. Not that bizarre fog and unexplained happenings in a creepy little isolated town aren't enough. This town they are sent to is an island of sorts, a vacation town where everything seems perfect, at least at first. Rory soon notices things are amiss, however, when she keeps spying one of the local guys constantly lurking around her. Then, people start disappearing. It's a murder mystery inside a brilliantly befuddling mind game where I, personally, had NO idea what was happening. Some readers mentioned they had guessed the ending, but as someone who almost always predicts what's going to happen, I was excited to have been blissfully ignorant until about 5 pages from the end. The answer we got had not even crossed my mind. That alone made me love this book. The ending itself: Excellent! It may not be a plot that authors haven't attempted before, but none enraptured me as much as Brian did with Shadowlands. Seeing as it's the beginning of the series leaves me wondering what Brian is planning for book 2. I imagine we'll go deeper into the revelation, and get answers to lingering questions; all I know is that this chick *points at self* will not miss it! -- Note that quote in this review was quoted from an uncorrected proof. An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review. For more of my reviews, visit my blog. |||||||| SHADOWLANDS is one of those books that has me seriously questioning my taste in fiction, because even though everything about it was pretty poorly done, from the 'paranormal' element to the characters to the way law enforcement handled criminal activities, I enjoyed every moment of it, terrible twist and all (seriously, Khanh puts it best in, when she says that the author M. Night Shyamalan'd the heck out of the story). SHADOWLAND|||||||| SHADOWLANDS is one of those books that has me seriously questioning my taste in fiction, because even though everything about it was pretty poorly done, from the 'paranormal' element to the characters to the way law enforcement handled criminal activities, I enjoyed every moment of it, terrible twist and all (seriously, Khanh puts it best in, when she says that the author M. Night Shyamalan'd the heck out of the story). SHADOWLANDS is about two sisters, Rory and Darcy. Rory was almost the victim of one of her high school teachers, Mr. Nell, who turns out to be a wanted serial killer. Their lives are disrupted when the most incompetent task force of the FBI arrives on the scene, swarm outside their house, somehow manage to let the serial killer inside the house, and then pack off the family to a safe house in the middle of nowhere, leaving one of their squad cars unlocked for the serial killer to follow the family in pursuit. Who does that? Who leaves an unlocked cop car out when a serial killer on the loose? Since he was able to just swipe it, I can only imagine that the keys were left in the ignition, too. Why not just hand Mr. Serial Killer a map to their new house, while you're at it. Anyway the family arrives at a place called Juniper Landing. There's several weird things about Juniper Landing: 1. Everything has a swan logo on it, 2. The people who live there are super creepy and stare at Rory wherever she goes, and 3. All the kids have leather bracelets, like they're in some kind of super creepy, super secret club/cult. Also, they all want to be biffles with Rory. *cut to a group of leather wristband-wearing kids holding a boombox playing 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' Outside Rory's window* Rory suffers from PTSD/anxiety from her close call with the serial killer and bonding and making new biffles is the last thing on her mind, but Darcy resents Rory for dragging her away from her active social life and immediately sets about trying to hook up with the local hotties. The weird thing (re: the cliche thing) is, the kids have zero interest in Darcy - they all seem to like Rory, instead. You can imagine how Darcy feels about that. Add that to the fact that Rory technically stole Darcy's last boyfriend out from under her, and yeah, there's a whole lot of tension. By the way, just in case you didn't understand that Darcy is supposed to be a b*tch, nearly all of her dialogue is followed by a 'glare' or 'she spoke through gritted teeth.' That is, when she's not launching herself at boys, 'standing on her toes' to see where the boys are at, or begging to go to parties to be with boys (because as we all know, parties are the spawn of Satan and only demon girls wish to attend them). For a while, it feels like typical teen drama, but then Rory starts finding clues that suggest Mr. Nell might have followed them to the island, and some of the people on the island start disappearing. Pretty soon, Rory starts to think that Mr. Nell might actually be the least of her problems, because there might possibly be something wrong with the island - and its inhabitants - itself. Like I said, this was a really weird and not very well done book. Incompetent law enforcement aside (seriously, why are the police and the FBI always so clueless in YA?), SHADOWLANDS tries to be a bit of everything - paranormal, teen drama, thriller, murder mystery - and falls short because it fails to cover all the bases. The author does drop a few clues, and I was able to more or less guess what the twist was about 100 pages before the big reveal, but it does feel a bit cheap. I can understand why some readers felt like their suspension of disbelief had been betrayed. Also, I don't really feel like making this book into a trilogy was really necessary. With a little work, it could have been compressed into a single volume, and that might have worked better than what the author chose to do, which was build the plot up for 300 pages and then drop the twist bombshell on the last sentence of the last page and sequel baiting as brutally as those teenage fanfic writers. I still liked it, though. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT????????????? This felt like some good ol' 90s YA horror. It had the suspense, the mary-jane (which is like the mary-sue except mary-jane has balls and some brain.) and i Holy shit. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT????????????? This felt like some good ol' 90s YA horror. It had the suspense, the mary-jane (which is like the mary-sue except mary-jane has balls and some brain.) and it had the same formula, girl gets attacked and has to move to a new town where the killer is lurking now. The only thing that made this different was this weird mystery going on in the town and the ending. I did not for one fucking second see that coming and it will blow your mind but at the same time make you wonder why there's a sequel coming out. I don't think a sequel is needed at all. This is a perfect standalone but I'll probably read Hereafter just to see what the hell is going on. Also this was pretty creepy and I haven't read something like that in a bit. Would I recommend this? Is this the best book ever? But it is worth the read. Plus it's pretty fast paced. Just to give you an example of the feels that I was experiencing while reading this book, below are some gifs that will help portray it all.:) Me during the first 100 pages: Me during the 250 page mark: Me during the 350 page mark: Me during the last 2 pages: Me after closing the book. I don't recall being so pissed off at a book than I have after finishing this one. I apologize in advance for any profanity. I don't mean the type of anger that comes with a character's actions or as a reaction to an author killing off a beloved character (Or in some cases, half the cast. Did you really have to kill so many? I'm looking at you, J.K. I'm talking about a complete and absolute cop out. A plot with so many holes in it, filled with unexplained areas of suspense that kept me I don't recall being so pissed off at a book than I have after finishing this one. I apologize in advance for any profanity. I don't mean the type of anger that comes with a character's actions or as a reaction to an author killing off a beloved character (Or in some cases, half the cast. Did you really have to kill so many? I'm looking at you, J.K. I'm talking about a complete and absolute cop out. A plot with so many holes in it, filled with unexplained areas of suspense that kept me hanging on despite all the dislike of the characters, my skepticism for the mystery, all the little bits and pieces in the plot that just kept getting stranger and stranger.just so I can FINISH the damn book and get some answers. And what did I get? Night fucking Shyamalan is what I got. I am so pissed off at the conclusion that I'm barely coherent right now. But let's get to the beginning. Yet again, I am suckered into this book with two magical words: Witness Protection. Once again, I am disappointed, but this is by far the worst portrayal of the Witness Protection program I've ever read. Whereas the other books were somewhat realistic with the secrecy and the identity changing, this feels like the author just threw the word around as an thinly veiled excuse to plop down the endangered family into a cool seaside town. Younger daughter Rory is the potential target for a super-intelligent serial killer who wants to make her h is 15th target. Agent Messenger, the Worst FBI Agent Ever, decides to put them under Witness Protection. Since they're in sooooooooooooo much danger, let's see, we'll have to make sure that they: 1. Keep their names. Just change the last names, yeah. Get a flashy, cool black SUV that attracts attention from everyone they see. Drive themselves to their new destination. Hide out in an awesome seaside resort 'We passed everything from a bakery to a bathing-suit shop to a corner stand selling sunglasses. It actually reminded me of Ocean City, where we rented a house for a week every August. Definitely a vacation destination.' .with a super cute house on the beach. 'a beautiful white house with blue shutters, a huge front porch, and a white picket fence. A weeping willow hung over the sidewalk, and the garden was bursting with orange daylilies and purple coneflowers. Behind the house, the ocean stretched out toward the distant horizon. The water was a brilliant aqua near the sandy shore and deepened to navy blue beyond the breakers.' God, why can't a serial killer come after me, too, so I could get in on this whole Witness Protection shit. Why am I living in my crappy house when I could get nice digs like this? The girls, Rory and Darcy, don't seem to be doing the best job at staying under the radar. Despite the super serial killer coming after them, they still manage to meet sooooooooo many hot guys and gals, go to beach and house parties every single damn night, go windbreaking by day, etc. Oh, yeah, and Rory randomly has flashes of the terrifying serial killer coming after them. Still, they party. There's more about relationships and partying and having fun then there is suspense. Out of all the characters, I found Darcy, as annoying and grating and flighty as she is, to be the best character. Our main character, Rory, is just dull. Darcy, at least, has some backbone and an explanation as to why she is so prickly towards her sister. I ended up feeling considerably more sympathetic towards her than Rory, who is supposed to be the one in danger. “Oh, yeah, I heard. And thanks so much for your pity,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, cutting lines through her carefully applied makeup. “That’s just what every girl wants. To hear the love of her life begging her younger, dorkier sister to be with him and hear her say no to spare her feelings. Thanks so much, Rory. And I believe all this happened after you spent an entire afternoon making out with him? I definitely remember him saying something about that.” A huge, wet ball was choking off my air supply. “You guys wereyou were already broken up.” “Oh, we were already broken up!” She threw her hands up. Thanks so much for giving our two-year relationship eight hours to grow cold.”Ouch. Yes, that would definitely scar a girl. Despite all this, she is a good sister to Rory, shielding her from their father's anger, and encouraging Rory to be more social when all Rory wants to do is wallow in misery and guilt. Further on in the book, people disappear, and her own family can't recall ever having met them or seen them. She makes a half-hearted attempt at getting answers, and then she goes out and parties some more. For someone who's supposedly so plain, bookish, and a absolutely doormat, (unlike her social butterfly of a sister) Rory sure is inexplicably popular in her new destination. There are so many strange things going on meanwhile, though, and we start to question Rory's voice as a narrator. I start to question her sanity and her reliability, so despite the faults of the plot, I just wanted to hang on til the bitter end so I could get an explanation. I'm still so very angry at this. The ending wasn't an ending. There was no tying together of plot lines, no covering of plot holes, no reasonable explanation of what was going on. And the very last page.my god. I said it once and I will say it again. It was a cop out. I was fleeced. Night Shyamalan-ed. Please, please, please do not waste your time with this train wreck of a mess. I think Shadowlands is one of the most difficult books I've ever reviewed because it's not nearly what I thought it'd be from reading the summary. I went into this book with expectations of a standard serial killer thriller plot, and came out with, actually, I don't know how to describe what Shadowlands is without spoiling the ending - a bizarre twisty mindbender? I like it, but in order to fully explain my rating the rest of my review is going to be spoiler heavy, so just know this is *not* a t I think Shadowlands is one of the most difficult books I've ever reviewed because it's not nearly what I thought it'd be from reading the summary. I went into this book with expectations of a standard serial killer thriller plot, and came out with, actually, I don't know how to describe what Shadowlands is without spoiling the ending - a bizarre twisty mindbender? I like it, but in order to fully explain my rating the rest of my review is going to be spoiler heavy, so just know this is *not* a thriller in the classic cops and serial killer sense and be warned if you do decide to click on the spoilers. [Anyway, what this book actually is is a Lost style mind fuck. In addition to the serial killer, there are supernatural aspects and the book is intentionally written in an unsettling, mind blowing way to throw the reader off from the truth, which is finally revealed by the last sentence. That said, I did spend six years watching Lost, so I think I may have been more than a little overprepared for this book, because I called the entire setup right after the supposed nightmare scene when Rory's father and sister are killed, she's stabbed and dying, and she kills her killer in revenge before she dies. The fact that Kate Brian kept bringing up that particular night, even though it's written dismissively as Rory flashing back to her 'nightmare' as a result of her earlier trauma, only reinforced my prediction. As a result, there weren't exactly any 'WTF moments' for me, because it's obvious to me what Brian's trying to do with the island of no cell phone and internet service, the mysterious disappearances, and I ended up with a pretty good idea of Tristan's role in the whole thing. That said, the problem for me is that Brian's writing is a little too obvious. The purpose of the island was way too transparent for me and I immediately recognized what was going on. So instead of being confused and thinking about the explanation for all the bizarre going ons, all I could do was look for the obvious clues Brian's planted and muse about how they connected to the overall 'mystery'. So yeah, the island is so isolated because its inhabitants are all dead, the disappearances are really just people moving on after they've resolved their unresolved issues from before their death, and Tristan is like the Grim Reaper or something who gets these people to move on. Like I said, I probably would've been *much* happier had I not kept up with Lost, because everything made *too* much sense for me. My favorite part of the book, which I don't think most people will pick up unless they reflect back on everything after finishing though because, again, the ending, is Rory's purpose on the island. I've already mentioned that the island is a place for the deceased who still have to deal with unresolved issues from immediately before their death, and obviously Rory has unresolved issues with her father and her sister. So while it's clear something very strange is going on with her father, I actually appreciated how clever Brian made those strange happenings with Rory's father as part of his reconciliation with Rory and her sister over her mother's death. The stuff with Christopher that's brought up too was a really good breadcrumb that eventually led to Rory's reconciliation with her sister, once I picked that up. Overall, I'm impressed how multilayered Shadowlands is, and I encourage anyone who didn't see the ending coming to reread this book just to appreciate how much planning Brian apparently put into this thing. However, I did pick up on the ending right away, and while that allowed me to look at the clues and mysterious events in a different light, I still think Brian made things a bit too obvious, despite how hard she tried to really keep the ending a huge unexpected surprise. Of course, maybe I'm just too perceptive after watching Lost for so long. This book had a lot of potential to be brilliant, but 1) there was a lot that didn't make sense and 2) it was just too frustrating to read. I had a lot of 'WTF' moments - some good, some bad. I wasn't crazy about how the book started because I felt it was a little over the top. [Their mother dying. Post traumatic stress and flashes. Car accident. Overdoing the dreams. ] And Rory was just a little too much for me. I understand she's scared and freaked out, but I wanted This book had a lot of potential to be brilliant, but 1) there was a lot that didn't make sense and 2) it was just too frustrating to read. I had a lot of 'WTF' moments - some good, some bad. I wasn't crazy about how the book started because I felt it was a little over the top. [Their mother dying. Post traumatic stress and flashes. Car accident. Overdoing the dreams. ] And Rory was just a little too much for me. I understand she's scared and freaked out, but I wanted to shake her and yell at her to get a freakin' grip. About a third of the way through, I had my first 'WTF' moment. I actually had to stop and go back and read the summary. Um, yeah, mixed feelings about that too. And then there were just some things that didn't make sense. I'm sorry but if the authorities assign to protective services, they will get someone to accompany you to an unknown location and have you all set up. They won't just say, 'Here's the hideout, now go,' and then send them on their way on their own. What if something happened to them on the way there? What if they never make it? And then once that happens, they're supposed to keep tabs on them. Not leave them there to flounder on their own. So the last part of my questions on that was answered at the end, but it still doesn't explain the start to make enough sense. I also understand Brian was trying to set up the scene and depict the tension between the sisters with Christopher but you're left wondering, 'What's the point?' For a good part of the book. And with making Rory the nerdy science geek, I get Brian made it a reason for jealousy, but she doesn't follow up with much. Why wear an 'E=MC2' shirt if you can just make Darcy jealous of a normal girl who's not as pretty and popular as she is. And then the overall story? Well the whole time I was reading it, I was frustrated because a lot didn't make sense, and I just knew Brian was going to jump out anytime with the shocking surprise that will tie it all together. It didn't make it any less frustrating to read. Well, at the end of it, I have even more questions. Yes, I understood what they were saying, and it was quite brilliant on Brian's part, but a lot of it still did not make sense. I have to leave this vague so I can't go into details. So in short, I think this book is going to draw mixed feelings from most readers. I just hope that the sequel does a lot of explaining, because as it stands, I'm not satisfied with what she gave us. Spoilers Where to start with this? Okay, well the first chapter was pretty thrilling — the heroine (Rory) is attacked by her teacher on her way home from school and she just about manages to escapes with her life. It got even better when the FBI informed Rory that her teacher was in fact a serial killer that they've been hunting for years and that he wouldn't stop until he killed her. It was exciting and gripping and then things got dumb Really, really dumb. Rory, her dad and her older sister ar Spoilers Where to start with this? Okay, well the first chapter was pretty thrilling — the heroine (Rory) is attacked by her teacher on her way home from school and she just about manages to escapes with her life. It got even better when the FBI informed Rory that her teacher was in fact a serial killer that they've been hunting for years and that he wouldn't stop until he killed her. It was exciting and gripping and then things got dumb Really, really dumb. Rory, her dad and her older sister are told they can't leave their house because the serial killer will find them and kill them. The FBI and police surround Rory's house to protect her and her family. That was fine but then Darcy (Rory's sister) started to complain that she was missing her friends party, also Rory's dad started to moan about not being able to go to work. So, Rory nearly dies at the hands of a serial killer that's murdered no less than 14 girls, they've been told that the serial killer is relentless, and that he never fails to kill someone he's targeted and all they cared out was work and partying?! They weren't even bothered about Rory's ordeal or the threat of death should they leave police protection. It was ridiculous. It gets even worse. When the serial killer manages to break into Rory's house (that btw is guarded by numerous police/FBI) to leave her a threatening note, the FBI tell Rory and co that they need to go into witness protection. That was fine, it made sense for Rory and family to be relocated somewhere safe But the way it was all handled was so fucking dumb. How do the FBI go about putting them in witness protection? They take them outside their house in front of the entire neighbourhood, give them a folder with instructions and the keys to a car that's parked in their driveway and tell them to drive direct from their house to the safe house IN FULL VIEW OF THE ENIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD. Anyone could have followed them!! Anyone could have taken note of the car they were driving! Anyone could have tracked them through their car! The FBI know that the serial killer is clever, that he's tricked and evaded them for years, that he's already managed to sneak into Rory's room without alerting them, yet it doesn't cross their minds that the serial killer could be watching Rory and her family whilst they drive straight to their safe house. What utter bullshit. There's more, the genius FBI send Rory and family on their merry way without a police escort and without a phone, even though they know a madman's after them. It doesn't cross their mind that the serial killer is waiting for the opportunity to pounce on them. It doesn't cross their mind to at least give them a phone in case they need to call for help. I just couldn't believe how stupid and contrived the whole thing was. I was willing to overlook all that stupidity and just go along for the ride But there's only so much bullshit I can take, and when Rory's dad started to act like even more of a plank than what he already was, I gave up any hope of for a decent, well thought out plot. On their way to the safe house, someone tries to make them crash, and instead of thinking they've been followed by the notorious serial killer, Rory's dad thinks its just plain old coincidence and gets out of his car in the middle of the night to investigate the deserted road. I can only handle so much ridiculousness. Sometimes, a silly stupid book can be saved by a likeable and engaging protagonist. Sadly, Rory was neither likeable or engaging. I was sympathetic towards her after she was nearly killed, but that changed when instead of contemplating her near death and worrying about her future, all she could think about was some guy. It was pathetic. Rory was boring and annoying. She was a dull Mary Sue, there was nothing to her — she was a loner, she'd never had a boyfriend, she was whiny and she thought she was so deep even though her thoughts mostly revolved around the guys in her life. The love interests were rubbish. I don't even remember their names — all they did was act mysterious and say mysterious things. I was frustrated with their cryptic bullshit. The only character that I really liked was Darcy (Rory's sister). Sure she was the cliched popular, beautiful, mean, shallow and attention seeking girl but at least she had a personality unlike rubbish blah Rory. Most of the other female characters were barely in it and when they did make an appearance they just acted weird and dull. Things became even more uninteresting when Rory, her dad and sister arrived at their safe house in Juniper Landing. Nothing much happened apart from 1. Rory thinking about boys and being scared of fog and noises 2. All the teenagers in Juniper Landing acting weird around Rory and 3. Rory being weak and useless. The Cliffhanger/twist at the very end pissed me off. The whole point of the book was to root for Rory and for her to survive against a sadistic serial killer and then to find out she was dead all along made the whole bloody book feel pointless and depressing. I can't say I won't read the next book because I'm hoping that Rory's in a coma or something and that's why she's different from everyone else I'll probably end up flicking through it in that library to see what goes down. This lavishly mounted adaptation of the play by William Nicholson tells the true story of the doomed love affair between novelist and noted Christian scholar C.S. Lewis and a Jewish-American poet. Anthony Hopkins stars as C.S. 'Jack' Lewis, an Oxford professor and successful author of the Chronicles of Narnia series of children's fantasy novels. A confirmed bachelor, Jack's existence is an inward life of the mind. Somewhat detached from the world, his only social outlet is evenings out at a local pub discussing philosophy and religion with his fellow lecturers. Jack has been corresponding with a bluntly intelligent American woman, Joy Gresham (Debra Winger), who arrives to visit him, with her young son Douglas (Joseph Mazzello) in tow. She tells Jack that she has actually fled from an abusive marriage and plans to divorce, and Jack astonishes friends and family by agreeing to a platonic marriage with Joy so that she can obtain British citizenship. As their friendship deepens and Joy discovers that she has a terminal illness, the relationship between Joy and Jack becomes a genuine romance, and their marriage turns into a real commitment. Shadowlands (1993) had previously been filmed as a well-regarded British television movie in 1985 starring Joss Ackland as Lewis. If Alfred Hitchcock is the archetypal auteur, and Robert Altman is the ultimate actors' director, then Richard Attenborough is the consummate luvvie. Attenborough's career is that of someone so impassioned by acting and filmmaking that it leaches into every aspect of his craft, both in front of and behind the camera. Sometimes, as with Chaplin or moments in A Bridge Too Far, this passion becomes overbearing and compromises the integrity of what we are seeing. But sometimes, as with Shadowlands, it may be the thing which makes all the difference. Taken at face value, Shadowlands could almost have been a Woody Allen film: its central relationship is a late-blooming romance between an elderly, shy, somewhat neurotic man and an inquisitive, playful younger woman. It is also a textbook weepy, being a story which is rooted in tragedy and which will have you in tears by the end. But while it doesn't deviate massively from either mould, there is much about Shadowlands which is intriguing and stimulating. For all the times when he has over-egged things, Attenborough does know how to assemble a top-notch cast, who sit in their parts like they were the only people who could possibly play them. Anthony Hopkins has a head start in this due to his experiences with Merchant Ivory, but even so he inhabits C. Lewis like no-one before or since. His accent may still be a Port Talbot brogue rather than a clipped Cambridge twang, and there are moments in which he is rather theatrical. But he remains utterly convincing and completely endearing to an audience. The theatrical moments of the film are not especially problematic either, for two reasons. Firstly, and perhaps obviously, it is adapted by William Nicholson from his original play. Because it is a direct adaptation by the same author, you can readily understand that the tone would be broadly similar, so that all the little flourishes which would occur on stage are captured and compressed on screen. But secondly, this is not problematic because the film does not feel stagey. Unlike Plenty, which tried to disguise its theatrical roots through clunky camera tricks, Shadowlands feels broadly cinematic and therefore when the moments of theatricality come, they do not disrupt proceedings too greatly. Be that as it may, the film is guilty of one cardinal sin of stage-to-screen adaptations - namely that there are too many locations. There is a lot of travelogue footage in Shadowlands with the camera following our characters as tiny dots on a variety of landscapes, whether it's the hills of Herefordshire or the resplendent halls of Cambridge University. The film jumps from location to location a good deal more than it needs to, in an attempt to seem more epic, ambitious and by contrived extension cinematic. It doesn't quite fall into the trap of assuming that bigger scale equals better story, but on a number of occasions it comes perilously close. The comparison between Shadowlands and Plenty goes beyond the technical accomplishments of the former. Both films approach the issues of routine and domesticity, and both feature women who don't fit into the very orderly, male-dominated world which is put before them. But what makes Shadowlands the more compelling is the dynamic of the central relationship, which in both films determines our ultimate response to the story. In Plenty, Meryl Streep's character is essentially passive-aggressive: she wants to change the world but not at the expense of moaning about how difficult her life is. This makes it more difficult for us to identify with her consistently, and we end up feeling sorry for Charles Dance having to put up with her. In the world of Susan Traherne, domesticity is a menace from which nothing productive or meaningful can emerge, and once a person has entered it their life is effectively worthless. Shadowlands is a lot more subtle and welcoming, with the settled nature of its characters serving as a springboard from which pure emotion can emerge. The need for Lewis and Joy Gresham to challenge each other, both personally and intellectually, gives us both a compelling drama and hope that we have not yet past our respective sell-by dates. The great success of Shadowlands is its balance of the personal and the intellectual. The film raises a great number of fascinating theological questions to do with pain, suffering and the loss of childlike innocence, but it does not approach such questions with all the esoteric dryness of a Bible commentary. There is a rich vein of substance in the film which can be absorbed and will result in deep discussions afterwards. But the film can also be enjoyed purely as a romance, because its ideas are conveyed through characters we can relate to and conversations we can recognise. Much of the film is a debate about the role of suffering in human life - 'the purpose of pain', as Lewis would put it. The film isn't afraid to confront this old chestnut of Christianity head-on, questioning the role of God in the events which transpire, both good and bad. Lewis is not immune from theological doubt, and is troubled so deeply by the loss of Joy that he erupts uncharacteristically when his academic friends try to comfort him. The early part of the film sees Lewis 'talking the talk' about pain and suffering, delivering lectures with an expression of sanguine satisfaction. But as the action moves on it becomes a film about 'walking the walk', putting Lewis' theories into practice and showing to what extent they bring comfort. What makes Shadowlands so compelling as a religious or theological film is that there are no easy answers to any of the questions it raises. Joy criticises Lewis for his style of inquiry, quipping that 'every time you ask a question, you know the answer already'. The film is quite the opposite, neither giving a watertight theological explanation nor settling for a sentimental cop-out. We have to come to our own conclusions about where (if anywhere) morality lies, and whether Lewis was right to believe that God could still be at work in the midst of such tragedy. His passing words, that the pain of losing Joy is part of the deal of having a full life, leaves us hanging in the best possible way as we question our own attitude towards the Almighty. If anything, though, the central theme of Shadowlands is not whether pain is a justifiable part of life. It is mainly a film about openness, about baring one's soul and constantly questioning one's opinion of how the universe operates. The Narnia books are all about discovering and exploring fantastical new worlds, and yet Lewis himself a reluctant adventurer. His lecture on pain and suffering, which characterises God as a sculptor with a chisel, is repeated several times to show how he is set in his ways, whether by choice or unconsciously. The arrival of Joy is the beginning of a long period of questioning, which results both in deep sorrow and in levels of joy which he had never experienced before. As he says to Joy as she lies dying, 'you've made me so happy. I didn't know I could be so happy.' Shadowlands is a very moving film and may be Attenborough's best work, being tauter than Gandhi and more disciplined than Chaplin. Hopkins and Debra Winger anchor the film with convincing, understated performances, supported ably by Edward Hardwicke as Warney and Joseph Mazzello as Douglas. It isn't without its little problems, and it is too conventional in places, but as a piece it holds together and you find yourself getting swept up in the story. More than anything, this is a film made by someone with general affection for both the story and the characters, and it is made so well that a great deal of that affection is reflected back. Jack Lewis: Why love if losing hurt so much. I have no answers anymore, only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I?ve been given the choice. As a boy and as a man. The boy choose safety, the man chooses suffering.The pain now is part of the happiness then. That?s the deal. Jack Lewis: Why love if losing hurt so much. I have no answers anymore, only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I have been given the choice. As a boy and as a man. The boy choose safety, the man chooses suffering.The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal. |
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