Archive for the 'real review' Category
August 21, 2007
To Say Nothing of the Humor
Book Review by Jenn Joshua, RTF Staff Writer
Recently, I read Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog). When I asked around, I couldn’t believe that most people have never heard of it… Hopefully, no longer!
This book is hilarious and picturesque—rambling yet precise:
Jerome K. Jerome is a master storyteller and I still marvel at his comical translation of a real life event… especially since autobiographical works don’t tend to be that funny. (more…)
Filed under: jenn joshua, real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 12:40 pm | 4 Comments
August 15, 2007
Every once in a while a writer gets to hear what others are saying about their books, and it’s exciting. Yesterday someone sent me this review for my book, Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway? that was featured on TitleTrakk. (more…)
Filed under: RTF books, real review, writing
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 9:32 am | 1 Comment
July 25, 2007
Today Suzie continues her interview with Dan Darling, author of Teen People of the Bible.
Suzie: Do the Teens of the Bible have anything to say to teens in this culture?
Dan: They absolutely do. The main message of Teen People of the Bible is that God cares about teens. God’s Word speaks to teens—in this culture, in the midst of their most difficult struggles. (more…)
Filed under: real interviews, real review, writing, youth worker resources
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 6:35 am | 2 Comments
July 20, 2007
I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris
Review by Rachel MôK, RTF Staff Writer
I first read this book when I was 14 years old, well most people think I was weird, why? Because that is THE AGE when “dating” in High School is cool, apparently its the “in” thing. I mean why would a 14-year-old girl be thinking about a long term commitment, in other words marriage. All she would think is, “oh that guy is cute, I think I like him.”
Sadly, high school flings are getting more common these days, in fact I use to think that
was alright, part of teenage life and growing up, but I have changed that mind-set. (more…)
Filed under: rachel mok, real links, real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 6:43 am | 2 Comments
June 15, 2007
I’m a huge fan of Shrek. In Shrek I, there were some cool quotes, like these:
Shrek: Well it’s no wonder you don’t have any friends.
The Donkey: Wow, only a true friend would be that truly honest.
Shrek: Ogres are like onions.
Donkey: They stink?
Shrek: Yes. No.
Donkey: Oh, they make you cry.
Shrek: No.
Donkey: Oh, you leave em out in the sun, they get all brown, start sproutin’ little white hairs.
Shrek: NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.
In Shrek, I fell for Fiona, for Shrek, and of course, for Donkey. I also loved the message that what was on the inside of a person (or ogre) matters more than what is on the outside.
Then came Shrek 2 with more cool quotes, like this one:
Filed under: real quote, real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 11:38 am | 1 Comment
March 28, 2007
The Pursuit of Happyness
Movie Review by Lydia Rule
Length: 117 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandie Newton, Brian Howe, James Karen, Dan Castellaneta, and Kurt Fuller.
Most people spend their lives collecting the Almighty dollar bill; for Christopher Gardner (played by Will Smith), just having a dollar would be nice. The Pursuit of Happyness is a poignant tale of a young father struggling to take care of his five-year old son after his marriage falls apart due to money problems. The movie balances tears and humor as Christopher frantically scrambles to a prominent internship for a broker firm dressed in paint-splattered clothes and a jacket that stubbornly won’t zip. In spite of his appearance, Christopher’s vibrant personality lands him the coveted internship.
However, there is one major hitch, the internship is a six-month program with no pay, and only the best intern will get a job at the end of those six months. With no money, Christopher is soon put out of his apartment, and he and his son are forced to spend the night in a subway bathroom. Against the odds, Christopher fights to make a better life for his family—even if that includes being chased by angry cab drivers and racing to work with a shoe missing.
The film gives an unflinching insight into the lives of those struggling to climb the American ladder of success from the bottom rung. It also portrays the bond between a father and son who hold on to each other while their world falls apart in unpredictable ways. The Pursuit of Happyness is a gripping film that will make you think about why you are happy, and what the true meaning of happiness is really all about.
The PG-13 rating of the film is due to some language, scenes of homelessness, and one scene between Christopher and his estranged wife. For these reasons, I would not recommend that young children see this movie. Overall, the film is well worth watching, and is perfect for a family with older teenagers.
Oh, and bring a tissue with you. If you’re like me, you’ll probably need one.
Bio: Lydia Rule has been published in NextStep magazine, The Torch, Aboite Independent, Long Story Short, Fundsforwriters, Acceleration, Around the Bloc,
CollegePlus, and Real Teen Faith. She is currently working on her fifth novel as
well as a variety of other writing projects.
Filed under: lydia rule, real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 10:55 pm | Comments
March 14, 2007
One Night With The King
Length: 122 min
Rated: PG
Distributor: Gener8xion Entertainment
Release Date: 2006-10-13
Starring: Tiffany Dupont, Luke Goss, John Rys-Davies, Tommy Lister, Omar Shariff, James Callis, John Noble, Peter O’Toole
Directed by Michael O. Sajbel
Produced by Stephan Blinn, Richard J. Cook, Matthew Crouch
Written by Stephan Blinn; Mark Andrew Olsen and Tommy Tenney (novel)
Last night I watched One Night With The King. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked it. I felt it reminded me of too many plays that I had attended, complete with perfect, smiling people, camels, and a busy marketplace. I wanted to see the depth of emotions and the complexities that we all have. It was a slow start to a decent movie.
As the fi
lm unfolded I was drawn into the love story between King Xerxes and Esther, and appreciated Esther’s bravery in defying cultural traditions to save her people. Based on the novel “Hadassahâ€, the movie follows a young Jewish woman by that name (Tiffany Dupont) who lives in ancient imperial Persia during the reign of King Xerxes (Luke Goss).
Orphaned as a child, she has been raised by her kind, wise uncle Mordecai (John Rys-Davies) who works as a scribe in the king’s palace. Political turmoil in the King’s house forces him to cast aside his queen and launch an empire wide search for her replacement. Despite the fact that the Jewish people are at the bottom of the Persian totem pole, the beautiful Hadassah is conscripted into the king’s harem as a candidate to become queen. There she trains for her future queenly duties under the rough but encouraging eye of the intimidating royal eunuch Hagai (Tommy Lister). For her protection, Mordecai gives Hadassah a new name, Esther, and encourages her to keep her Jewish identity a secret.
After winning the king’s heart with her simple beauty and generous spirit, Esther is chosen as queen. Meanwhile Haman the Agagite (James Callis), who sports a 500 year-old blood grudge against the Jews, slowly connives his way up the Persian political food chain. When he gets close enough to the top, he spins a plot that pits the empire against the entire Jewish nation. It falls to Esther to save her people at the risk of her own life by revealing her true heritage to her husband king.
I believe this is an important film in that it puts faces and real-life dilemmas with the stories. It shows that issues like courage, love, hatred, betrayel have played out for generations.
I was surprised to see some errors, such as a “candidate” for the queen being hoisted on to a western side saddle, not yet invented at that time.
But it’s high story and it’s thought-provoking, and worth the time to watch.
RTF gives it 3 stars.
Filed under: real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 11:37 am | Comments
March 6, 2007
Planet Wisdom is one of the hottest sites on the web with reviews, articles, forums, and more. Check out their review of Glamorous ” by Fergie featuring Ludacris.
This is an excerpt of Planet Wisdom’s take on Glamorous, reviewed by Krystal Burns.
She begins by painting a pretty picture of life in the fast lane, but says even though she “wear[s] them gold and diamond rings/ All them things don’t mean a thing.†She admits she’s dreamed of this kind of success since she was a little girl, but her dad warned her of the vices. Now she says, “I’ve got problems up to here/ I’ve got people in my ear/ Telling me these crazy things/ That I don’t want to hear.†The chorus, sung with Ludacris, implies the sort of shallow relationships that develop when built on money: “If you don’t have no money go home.â€
We’ve heard a gazillion times that money doesn’t buy happiness. We say it with our mouths, but in our hearts we’re sold on commercials and magazine ads that promise eternal bliss based the right look or latest gadget. Everything in the media seems to tell us you need money to be happy. And let’s be honest, buying things does provide a temporary happy-rush. But the same media that sells the rush also broadcasts the reality of the broken relationships, suicides, and drug-and-alcohol addictions of the rich and famous. Why aren’t they happy? Money is an illusion, and no amount of it will fill us up. Even Fergie, one the top female artists today, is warning that there’s a high price that comes with fame and fortune.
Read the rest of this review at Planet Wisdom.
Filed under: real review
Posted by T. Suzanne Eller @ 4:31 pm | Comments
