Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Other Guys

I didn't have high hopes for this Will Farrell (Megamind, Everything Must Go) movie. The trailer looked horrible and I figured this would be a typical Farrell movie. At this point in his career if you've seen one Will Farrell comedy, you've seen them all.

I do like his work in more serious/drama films.

The Other Guys are Farrell and Mark Wahlberg (The Fighter, Invincible); two detectives who are on the bottom rung of the police force. Farrell is a money man and Wahlberg shot Derek Jeter during a baseball game. They're the joke.

But they get their chance to be heroes after some crazy circumstances. (I wasn't sure what to think after The Rock and Samuel L. Jackson plummeted to their death)

I will say that Farrell knows how to do oddball comedy. Some of the things that come out of his mouth are genius in their timing and totally from left field. Most of the time, though, I wasn't laughing.

The language is over-the-top but more importantly, the movie is just bad. Or maybe stupid is a better word to describe it.

I'm beginning to wonder if this guy is trying to make movies that are only funny after you've been awake for 12 hours straight.

As funny as he is, Will Farrell made a bad movie here.
The Other Guys (Rated)

Friday, May 27, 2011

The Lost Encyclopedia

This is the perfect companion for the Lost fan. A through Z of almost everything from the 6 years Lost was on the air. You might be surprised to read about characters that just had a few seconds of screen time - not even a speaking part.

This is a large coffee table book filled with color photos and near-exhaustive information.

Many fans will be upset as this Encyclopedia does not provide answers to the questions left unanswered. You won't learn about the Hurley, Ben, and Walt adventures. Don't imagine you'll turn to the "S" section to lean all about the Smoke Monster. You will only read about things unveiled in the show. However, it does provide a one-stop look at characters, places, items, even ideas.

I was surprised at the number of editorial errors in this book. Many phrases are repeated and the number of misspelling is bizarre. I suppose they may have rushed things to get it published or it may have just been a case where there is just so much information that errors are bound to occur.

Either way, for its flaws, The Lost Encyclopedia is well worth it.
Lost Encyclopedia

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

I kept hearing about this series by a guy named Martin. The big push came once it became a series on HBO. Game of Thrones is the first book in a fantasy series that is on par with The Lord of the Rings. If fantasy really isn't your thing, you don't have to worry. At least in the first book, there aren't many aspects of the fantastic. If you aren't too interested in swords, honor, and family then you shouldn't ever read this book.

There are families all over the seven kingdoms and each family pledges loyalty to the others. The family of focus is the Stark family. They rule the northern lands of Winterfell. Much of the time is cold and hard.

When the king asks Lord Stark to become his "Hand", the answer cannot be no. Lord Stark leaves his home to become the Hand of the King. It is his responsibility to see the commands done. But there is a secret in the realm and Stark insists on uncovering it.

Treachery, romance, mystery; this book is great storytelling.

I was a little disappointed with the language and the sexual content, but I'm sure the diehard fans of fantasy and Martin will excuse it for being part of the world - that it helps maintain the reality.

And that is what kept me reading this huge tome. The characters and setting feel so real. Martin has done a great job in creating this world. There are so many characters to follow but by the time I had finished, I knew all of the main characters.

I need to satisfy my desire for the rest of this series as this first book ends with a number of twists I did not plan on happening.
A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Primal DVD Study

Like most DVD-based study guides, you don't absolutely have to have read the book by Mark Batterson but it helps in the understanding with this video guide.

Inside you'll find 5 video segments to fill your 5 Week course on returning to a simplified Christianity; when it was more primal.

Like his books, Mark has a way of delivering difficult concepts and ideas through ways that connect with individuals today.

Included in this DVD guide is a printable guide to lead conversations as well as discussion questions after each video segment.

In the age of Rob Bell's Nooma and other short videos to teach small groups, Batterson's Primal is for those looking for a way to simplify their experience.

This DVD was provided for review, at no cost, by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing.
Primal: DVD-Based Study

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Strike It Rich With Pocket Change by Ken Potter

The title of this book sounded interesting, Strike It Rich With Pocket Change, and everyone looks for the simple way make money.

This book is really for people who want to take the time and energy to look closely at their pennies and quarters for the smallest of blemishes.

You'll need lots of the metal stuff and a magnifying glass to uncover the double presses and other tiny problems that could make your penny worth $1-$3.

Is that really worth it?

For people who collect the stuff, it is.

This book will take you through all the spare change that is available and will give you detailed information on how to spot a gold mine.

This book is for a special niche of people. And that niche does not include me.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.
Strike it Rich with Pocket Change

I review for BookSneeze®

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

New Kid Catastrophes by Bill Myers

You can never go wrong with Bill Myers. Even those this new series is aimed at Middle School students, New Kid Catastrophes kept me smiling through the entire read.

TJ along with her sisters and father have moved from Missouri to California. Their home antics are pretty silly but the real treat is when TJ begins school as the "new kid". The boy she has a crush on thinks she has a mental disability (all she can say around him is, "uh..um...er..."), the prissy actress sets her spiteful eyes on her with evil results, and to top all of that, two boys from the future go back in time to study her because she will become someone very powerful when she grows up.

These two boys cause more harm than good with their "observations".

I was thrown a little off guard with Myers inserting action words such as, "CLIP CLAP" and "BOUNCING SNAP CRACKLE" in with his writing. It felt awkward at first but after the first three chapters, I felt like I was watching a Saturday morning cartoon and enjoying the ride.

I can't wait for the sequels.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale Publishing.
New Kid Catastrophes (TJ and the Time Stumblers)


I Review For The Tyndale Blog Network

The Ambition by Lee Strobel

I was never one who jumped for joy of Lee Strobel's Case For books. It's not that I didn't think they were good books, I just never really got into them. When I received his first novel, it sounded like he was trying to be the next John Grisham.


The Ambition has everything a journalistic/courtroom drama/sleazy preacher/corrupt judges-and-lawyers story needs. Actually the preacher isn't too sleazy, he just has ambition to get into politics.

When you throw in a healthy dose of Chicago Mob action, you'd think there could be some intense thrills. This isn't quite how things turn out for Strobel. I will admit there are some interesting moments within the characters of this book but I got lost in the various characters very early in the story and I never regain my interest in them. Most of the likeable characters have their vices and that tended to throw the plot a bit.

I will say that there a few twists I didn't see coming. It will be interesting to see what Strobel does with his fiction.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Zondervan Publishing.
The Ambition: A Novel

Monday, May 9, 2011

Vigilante by Robin Parrish

Robin Parrish continues to deliver the goods. His latest, Vigilante is astounding.

Nolan Gray has seen his share of violence and destruction. He has seen what has become of his country. Two wars later, things are becoming worse. Organized crime is running rampant in New York City.

Gray has a plan.

Parrish surprises me with each book. First with his Dominion Trilogy, then came Offworld, Nightmare and now this. With Vigilante, I was zipping through the pages, gasping to keep up with Gray and his ideas to make the world better. Your mind may drift to the Batman movies for just a moment before Parrish yanks you back to an incredible reality.

He has created characters that I was pleading to come to life and appear on the nightly news as a brand new form of hero.

His villain, personified by Crime Lord Yuri Vasko, is so evil he will have you tearing your hair out with anger. Vasko's way of "dealing" with enemies is grotesque. Who wouldn't anticipate a climactic confrontation?

But don't assume too much with this story. Remember, it's Robin Parrish and he will twist your mind!

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Baker Publishing.
Vigilante

Where's The Birth Certificate? by Jerome Corsi

They are claiming that this is the book that forced President Obama to release his long form birth certificate. What's a long form birth certificate? After reading Where's The Birth Certificate, you'll be an expert on everything Obama.

Jerome Corsi spent a long time digging through President Obama's history. This book is full of documentation there is even glossy section in the middle of the book full of scanned images and evidence.

Corsi believes President Obama should be impeached because he is not a natural born citizen of The United States. Because, he believes, Obama's father's citizenship was with England - this should disqualify him.

You will get the sense that Corsi in not an Obama fan. In fact, you will deem him to abhor the man. He repeatedly refers to the time of Obama's birth as "his nativity story". (Dripping with sarcasm)

Having said that, there are quite a few tidbits of information that Corsi uncovers that made me scratch my head. I mean how difficult is it to locate your original birth certificate? Why would the Hawaii government (where President Obama was born) claim to have the document on hand and then stonewall any attempt to view it?

The birth certificate is only one arrow in Corsi's quiver. (now that the long form has been released, it seems a moot point)

Corsi touches on:
the way the media trounced on Senator McCain's eligibility for Presiden while they seem to demonize anyone who question's Obama's.
Why would two hospitals claim to be the birthplace of Obama?
Why would people lie about being present at his birth when they weren't?
Why did Obama claim to be an Indonesian when he went to school if he was an American?
And what does this mean for 2012 with a number of states requiring candidates to prove their citizenship?

Corsi spends a little over 300 pages delivering details and frustrations of his research. This book is definitely not for Obama fans.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by WND Books.
Where's the Birth Certificate?: The Case that Barack Obama is not Eligible to be President

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Renovation of the Church by Kent Carlson and Mike Lueken

Kent Carlson is the pastor of a very successful church. It was based on the Willow Creek model of creating Seeker Sensitive services. They had an attendance of 1,700 and ministry was taking place.

Then Carlson hired Mike Lueken, took his leadership team on a retreat and everything changed.

In Renovation of the Church, these pastors explain how they felt convicted to change the way they did church from focusing on seekers to growing in Christian Formation.

This change has come at a cost. Their attendance has dropped to 700. That's 1,000 people who have left. They have also lost staff members who weren't comfortable with the change.

All this and they still feel that God is moving them in the right direction.

Inside this book you will learn their mistakes, feel their heart's desire to pursue Christlikeness and God's kingdom.

With 12 chapters, you'll discover the hard years of the transition, the mistakes they made during the transition, you'll learn about their hatred for consumerism and how it has practically destroyed the Church. These pastor's talk about what it means to be the true church and then they dive into the areas of outreach and worship.

I particularly enjoyed reading their views on worship and how it needs to focus on the story of God and not on the specific style (think songs) that makes us "feel" good.

This is a book critiquing a model of doing mega-church that many in America are comfortable with. It may even challenge you.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by IVP Publishing.
Renovation of the Church: What Happens When a Seeker Church Discovers Spiritual Formation

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Love Wins by Rob Bell

So much controversy over this book before it was even read. People saw the promotional video on YouTube and claimed Rob Bell to be a Universalist and not a  believer in a literal hell.

Love Wins is Bell's contribution to the discussion on heaven, hell and what happens to us after we die. He offers suggestions from reading Scripture that many Evangelicals will have trouble grasping and resolving with the decades of their religious experiences/teachings.

Does Bell believe in hell? You'll have to read the book (or read someone else's review) and discover for yourself.

That is the point of this book; like many of Bell's earlier books, you will be encouraged to read and search and answer the questions he raises on your own.

Upon opening this book, you'll notice it is similar to Velvet Elvis, Sex God and Jesus Wants To Save Christians in the font and editorial style. You won't find the many footnotes that kept you flipping to the back of the book (typical of his earlier writings) in Love Wins. Everything is explained up front.

Complete with 8 chapters it almost feels like this book could have been longer with more substance to it. But I think this is a tool to jump-start a discussion.

You'll read what the Bible/Jesus says about heaven, hell and how God feels about humanity. I really liked the chapter titled, "Does God Get What God Wants?" Just that title alone perks the curiosity bar.

Be sure to catch what Bell says concerning Jesus claiming himself to be the way, the truth, and the life and that no one gets to the Father except through him. You may find his observation of that segment to be a different approach than you've grown up with.

There were a couple times that I wanted to jump up and disagree with his points, so at least I'm engaged in the idea. Bell likes to step just over the line of extreme and then quickly pull his toes back to "safety".

When you close this book I hope your faith is challenged and strengthened.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by HarperOne Publishing.
Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

Monday, May 2, 2011

The Blind Side

It's weird seeing Tim McGraw without his cowboy hat. But he does a good job in The Blind Side. The true star is Sandra Bullock. You watch her in this film and you can't believe how any guy would cheat on her. She keeps getting better as an actress.

Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy - the woman who essentially adopted and raised a future Baltimore Raven's football player named Michael Oher.

This is a movie touted as a family-friendly film about acceptance and showing the right kind of love to another human being.

While it is based on true events, The Blind Side often feels like it's trying too hard to tug on your emotions. It's like it knows it's supposed to be a tear-jerker and wants to play that card too many times. This caused me to really detach from the movie and wonder, "Did this really happen or are they embellishing stuff just a bit.

With that out of the way, I thought it was a good movie. Bullock did a great job and I can't wait to see her next film.
The Blind Side

How To Train Your Dragon

I enjoyed this computer-generated cartoon. I had heard it won its support through word-of-mouth and they weren't wrong.

You follow the vikings in their quest to destroy dragons. The viking leader, Stoick (Gerard Butler) wants nothing more than to eradicate their nest. Stoick's son Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) discovers a truth that will forever alter the viking's way of battle.

The story is a typical one that you'll find in almost every story. I wonder why there are so many father/son/problem plots. You'd think that's the only way to connect emotionally with the audience.

The animation is fantastic. I wish I had seen this in 3D but the DVD was good enough. You won't be surprised at how this film resolves the problems but you may be surprised at why the dragons do what they do and ultimately what happens to Hiccup.

I don't think I'd buy this movie, but it made a great rental from the library.
How to Train Your Dragon (Single Disc Edition)