The Reviews for June and July

Books
Doctor Who: History 101
Mags. L. HallIiday
***

It is Spain 1937, and some how the Doctor and his assistants are now walking around in pre-war era. Enjoying the sights and learning all they can about it. that is until someone decides to make them the enemy of the world, which doesn't make much sense with how this works out.

Reading this book, I was lost at first, considering that I did not know who the assistants were until I realized some of the knowledge came from the Radio dramas out of the BBC, if you haven't listened, then you don't know what is going on. Hence why I gave this book a 3 star rating.

Most of the Doctor Who books that came out in the 1990s were all like this, some taking place in between episodes and also gave new fresh look at the Eight Doctors, minus the three new ones.

If you are a true blue Whovian, I would say pick up as many of the books you can dare find and read them. Personally, it is a great way to catch up and also get introduce with a Doctor who got little to no screen time, like the Eighth. Unless you count the movie.

Movies
A Good Day to Die Hard
****

McClane is back with his son who is now heading up a shooting up of Moscow. It ends up that without much knowledge of the situation, McClane heads to rescue his son from a Russian court, only to find out later that this is all part of a CIA mission his son is part of. Not to give away much more, you have stolen documents, Charnobal and other great locations that either are in the path of destruction or more.

Personally, I love action movies, at first I was more, ANOTHER ONE, now I'm hoping that father and son get to be in more movies. I'm pretty much saying it now, please see the movie.

Manga
Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration  Vol 1.
Nobuhiro Watsuki
*****

A retelling of the story in an update that makes more action, giving Kenshin a multiple personality disorder, a kind nature to boot. Can we say, leads up to the movie? NOPE! Just a plain brawl in Meiji Tokyo with Kenshin not taking lives, but definitely adding to the injured by making it evident that he doesn't want to kill, but not many people are happy with his decision.

I really thought reading this was going to be a retelling, but it felt more like the creator just having a bit of fun with Good Ole Kenshin who needed some fun and comic time. There really is no story, just action, and more fun then you can shake a stick at. Kenshin's personality is there, and so is his Hitokiri Battosai self who seems very much wanting to have a fight to defend people he loves and cares about.

Let's start the Summer Right

May Reading

Books

The Book of Atrix Wolfe
Patricia A McKillip
****
A mage who has believed he committed a terrible crime turns into a wolf, he has to live with what he does. He soon finds out the people he has grown to care about are seeking him out with the help against his own creation, a Hunter who was used to kill and destroy the enemies of his king. Can he destroy what he created before it goes wild?

Its a good story, but ran a little long and didn't have much detail. I do enjoy the fact that Atrix was a great writer. The writer does have a great bit of work on artwork in painting the images of the characters and the story itself.

I would say yes, read it if you want something that has some interesting action scenes, and also some connections to nature.


The Tower at Stony Wood
Patricia A McKillip
****
During a time of a royal wedding a knight decides that maybe his bride isn't all what she seems, he hears a tale from a Bard that sends him into shock. He decides that going on the quest to rescue a princess in a tower and find out the terrible truth.

The story dos have action, it is pretty weaving of characters and more. I would say read it when you can, and work with it. The story can be a little long and yes, you do have to muscle your way through it it if you're not used to the read. Her style is a little odd.


Manga

(Check with me in June)

Movies

(Check back in June)

Been awhile...So sorry for the absentence

Apologies, my dear readers, I haven't been on since I'm not sure how to speak on the matter, but I"m going to be posting in the next few months some book reviews.

Manga

Natsume's Book of Friends

***** Stars

Imagine growing up being able to see spirits and ghosts, not having the ability to turn it off and having everyone you are supposed to trust think you're crazy. That's the problem that poor Natsume Takashi has, after the death of his parents, he's bounced from one relative to another, until he's a teen and moves to his grandmother's village. There he finds out that his gift has a terrible price, his grandmother had the same gift and she used it to beat up the local spirits, and make a book a friends, which is wanted by nearly all in the area, now Takashi must have the task to return the names and also deal with his gifts.

This story started out slowly,  I began trying to read this and started to fall in love with the tale, it spun into a magical world where the modern and the old Japanese beliefs seemed to conflict a bit. Takashi has to deal with respecting the old and having to act as the in between for some spirits. He learns that some of his gifts have an advantage and he isn't a freak after all, because he finds others like himself. 

I would say go with reading it, and watching the anime if you can, but the manga is WAY better than the series. The artwork is beautiful, the characters are really compelling and you kind of relate to Takashi and his friends in many different levels.

Books

Magic's Pawn

Mercedes Lackey

***** Stars

Vanyel has grown up being very lonely life, misunderstood and soon sent to live with his aunt in Haven. His aunt is a famous herald and teacher to many great mages and Herald's in training. Vanyel at first believes he's hated by all who come in contact, which isn't the case, he learns something about himself and about who he is from a rather friendly Herald named Tylendel. When a terrible price is paid and Vanyel learns the truth of some of his actions and the actions of someone he cares for, he finds out he is something more than what he appears.

This is one of my favorite books, truth is I love the characters and I love how the story takes place, it starts out with a character who is famous in the first book of the series written in the late 1980s called Arrows of the Queen. This gives you a historical prospective, and if you have never read any of her books before, this gives you a good place to start out if you're new to the series.

Sorry for the lateness

OK, due to some issues involving my fiance's computer, there were no posts about movies and such due to that.

So anyone, let's get down to movies!

Return to Oz
1985
*****

Yes, OLD, but a goodie for all who have a love for steampunk and a hint of the dark. The movie takes place after Dorothy returns from OZ, she is basically unable to sleep. Her aunt is at her last wits and believes that some therapy might do her some good. When all is said and done, the child is packed up to a mental hospital for "therapy" there she meets a little girl who helps her escape on a wild night of rain and crazy people trying to escape the mad doctor's house.

Waking up in OZ, it is drastically different and not the child knew before. She meets a new cast of friends, a talking chicken, a mechanical marvel, and Jack the talking pumpkin. Can she save the Emerald City and the mysterious girl in the mirrors?

Unlike the Judy Garland OZ, this place is pretty dark and not at all meant for children, this is actually based off two of the OZ books, Ozama of Oz and The Land of Oz, which are not happy go lucky. In truth, Dorothy is the brave hero and is able to hold her own against a Nome King who wants to take everything for himself. In fact, when I saw this movie when I was 10, I was terrified of the wheelers, the wheeling crazed creatures who worked for Princess Mombi the evil witch. I started to like this movie and because of that, it gave me a good sense of the what it means to be a kid and also to be hero.

May Reviews

Books
Monster High: The Ghoul Next Door
Lisi Harrison
****
Frankie and Melody's lives are getting a little more complicated, with the problems with Bekka a total monster hater. The RAD kids are trying to show they are not evil and also that they just want to go to school just like everyone else. So with Bekka making a problems, and Cleo, daughter of the Mummy thinking she is not getting the attention she so deserves as well as a teen photoshoot.

The series is interesting and also looked interesting as it gets going. The monsters are trying their best and also the story is addicting as is, from the first book to now the second.
Movies
None for this month

Manga
Pandora Hearts
****

Oz is turning fifteen and he's about to get a huge problem, he meets B. Rabbit who is out to find her memories and also trying to solve a mystery, his own attempted murder. He learns that B. Rabbit is his only chance and must ally with her in order to save the family and find out who Baskerville is.

This series is actually really good, the story is mysterious and also addicting. I found this series to be sad and also very interesting.

Anime
Sora no Woto (Sound of the Sky)
*****
Kanata wants to be a trumpeter like her hero, a princess who went about the country bringing hope to the people fighting a neighbor for a reason no one remembers. Kanata who just turned fifteen ends up at Trumpeting the Hours fort where she meets the girls who are rebuilding a forgotten tank. She meets Rio, a trumpeter as well, Filicia the commander, Kureha the gunner, and Noel the group's mechanic.

The series has a mystery to it, a past that is mixed with Japanese, Spanish, and many others. At first it looks strange with the history of a world that is our current and their past. It is almost sad and very interesting little bits of history and set to a war no one knows why it is going on.

April Reviews

Books
Werewolf Smackdown
Mario Acevedo
****
There is a war raging between the werewolves, and a PI is suddenly thrown into it. This will pull all the undead into it, and cause problems for local undead creatures. The PI's girlfriend, a known vampire who suddenly has to investigate what is going on.

The story is not only off the wall and comes from the series of books written by Mario Acevedo, a well known writer in Colorado. I found the story humorous and waited a long time to actually get a chance to read it.

Movies
(None for this month)

Manga
Fullmetal Alchemist vol. 1
*****
Edward Elric and his brother, Al are on the road to find the philosopher's stone to find a cure for their small problem. Even though Edward has rose to the ranks of the State Alchemists. He is soon finding problems throughout the world he works for...some stranger than others.

The series is famous enough with fans and has won the hearts of many people. Fans have shown up at conventions world wide. I found this book to be amazing and well written, the story was an excellent openings to the series.

Anime
Persona: Trinity Soul
****

The Kanzato brothers go back to their home town after a long history of being separated from their elder brother. Shin, the middle brother has always looked after his brother, Jun. While they uncover the strange mystery of their family and also the strange incidents that led up to them leaving Ayanagi City.

The series shows a mystery and also based from the stories of the Persona games, these are mysterious and also scary at times. The characters a well made and the story leaves you hanging onto the next.

Early Reviews of March

I'm early, this is because of Animeland Wasabi...I will be reviewing the convention and also putting in some photos for my loyal readers to see. See you at Wasabi!

Books:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Seth Grahame-Smith
*****
Whose life is more interesting yet mysterious, that would be Abraham Lincoln, from the time he was young to his adult years, there is a lot that people don't know. In fact it wouldn't be surprising he was a vampire hunter in his spare time. At least that was the story implies of our president. He seems haunted by tragedy, and yet here he is, hunting vampires and running for president?

OK, first off the story was actually a surprise, I'm not a huge fan of Seth's work, but this story was actually really quite funny and yet felt almost true. He made a fictionalized story about a president who died so tragically enough at Ford's Theater and made the book almost strangely a work of art. It earns its five stars so quietly and gracefully for a book!

Video for the book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X58RPS665V0

Movies:
Inception
****

What happens when you sleep? What kind of information can you give away in your dreams? A young man is able to jump into your dreams and find out secrets from your own life. His own life is a rather mystery and he’s a falling apart person trying to find where he mixes in life.

The story is fast paced and amazing, but it falls short in some places it is almost like Dark City in some cases where it becomes a blur between reality and dream world. Whether intended or not, it was confusing to me and also my fiancé who was sitting watching it with me.

Anime:
Yozakura Quartet
****

This series revolves around Sakura-shin, a small town where Youkai and Humans live peacefully, it is maintained by Hiizumi Life Council, a group of young people who strive to make lives better for the Youkai residents. Hiizumi Akina who is the head, his life can’t be any harder with a mayor like Hime who is on guard to protect the people who come here. Their life long friend, Gin is possessed by an evil Youkai, Enjin who wants to destroy the village and force a barrier between the humans and youkai. Many of these creatures want nothing more to live their everyday lives in peace, and Enjin is just out to ruin it for them all.

The series in itself is actually quite action packed with characters like Akina and Hime who are trying to stop the evil forces. They want to help their friend and also keep the human world out of trying to ruining the youkai’s rights to live freely.

The story is good, though there are points that you have to take a double take and that kind of makes it hard to the watcher. I suppose the manga would give better insight than the anime does, it gives character development there, in the anime is there no development. So the four stars sort of falls short of expect and truly the series should only get 3 stars. The fourth star is for the artwork in general which is rather nice and rather cool with great cast of characters and the fact that Seki from Weiss Kreuz is among the cast of Voice Actors, makes it at least worth while…

Manga:
Not Until After Animeland Wasabi!

(Follow me to Animeland Wasabi this year)

February Reviews

Sorry for the lateness....

Books

Brisingr
by Christopher Paolini
*****
Continuing the adventure with Eragon and his dragon friend, Saphira, they face new dangers and Eragon's cousin join in the battle to find not only his love and also get the story. More than ever Morzan's legacy follows them no matter what and the secrets of the past are soon revealed to everyone about the heritage of the new dragon rider.

I love the story, it is very catching and keeps my attention, the action is so easy to imagine and characters are easy to follow.


Movies

Tron: Legacy
****
Continuing where the last Tron movie left off, this movie takes place in present day with the son of the computer creator. Missing for years, the son of the creator has to go into the machine and pry his father out. He meets Clue who looks exactly like his father when he left.

The movie really is a good one, but seriously, I would tell anyone that it is best to see the first movie before you go and watch this one. This is a long awaited sequel, the music is amazing and also the story.

Anime
Canvas 2
*****
Main characters from a dating sim called Canvas are back and there is more fight over a high school teacher named Hiroki. Assistant teacher, Hiroki has his hands full, he has a student who uses him for writing her manga novel, a student who is always ill, his cousin who is obsessed with him, and his old high school flame, Kiri. He has his own problems too, he just can't draw, he is supposed to be celebrated artist, but he just can't seem to find away to draw. Truly he has his hands full.

This series was something my fiance and I sat down and watched together. The story seemed like an average slice of life, but it is anything but that. The story is cute and the characters are sort of able to grow on you quite well. The ending is surprising, but I'm not going to give it away. Just that it isn't who you expect that gets in the guy in the end.

Manga

Not for this month

January Reviews

Anime

Soul Eater
****
Maka and Soul are on the journey to become Lord Death's Scythe, and also attend school at Death Weapon Meister Academy (DWMA) founded by Lord Death himself. The school is chuck full of crazy students, including the self centered Black Star and his partner Tsubaki, Lord Death's OCD son, Death the Kid with his two partners, Patty and Liz. A mad scientist of a teacher, Maka's loving father who is now going through the divorce and also an evil witch named Medusa.

Aside from the artwork which I had trouble with, this series and story is amazing, the characters are full of life and crazy as hell. There is so much fun watching and also the story is simply out of this world. I recommend it and give it the tradition 4 star rating.

Manga
(none for January)

Books
Eldest
By Christopher Paolini
*****
Eragon has gone through a lot and fighting the shade is only part of the quest. He soon finds himself sent toward the Elves to start his Rider training with an elder Rider who has been hiding among the elves for centuries. Many of the problems that are starting to show with his cousin's return to the home village to find his father dead, his cousin, Eragon missing, and enemies closing in.

This series is a cliff hanger of a book, completing it can be a chore, but the story is still amazing and fun to read. The writing is still a challenge for those who never were able to read British styled English and also the language creation, but in all, it is still a great book and I would recommend it to anyone.

Movies
(None Till February)

December Reviews

Movies

Woman with the Dragon Tattoo
*****

A writer under investigation for plagerism finds himself suddenly asked by a fan to help solve a family mystery. The family has a spotty past and a secrets of a said murder the haunts each member to their own deaths.

When I picked up the book, it was in Texas, but when seeing the actual movie, I was impressed. The action was good and the characters are true to the book. The movie draws out a lot of the book and also a lot of different things that did not happen in the book.

Books

The Girl Who Played with Fire
by Stieg Larrason
****

Lisabeth is back, but this time she's in trouble, her good friend, Mikael Blomkvist has his magazine back. He is on the verge of uncovering a massive human trafficking problem and it goes to the highest officials.

This book is rather dragged out a bit from the last, but it still holds the edge of a good mystery. The main character, Lizabeth is blamed for something she didn't do and you have to uncover who is doing it.

Manga

(None for this month sorry)

Anime

(None for this month sorry)

Movies on the Block

Planning to make a list of movies that are tops on my view of what is going to be out in the end of 2010 and also what should be coming in 2011.

2010

November

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1

December

Tron: Legacy

2011

January

Green Hornet

Upcoming to be announced

Thor

Avengers

There is more accurate of a list somewhere of what is going on. I am making a list of movies I'm planning on seeing with my fiance and also going to be reviewing these up coming favorites for all to see. Believe it or not!

November Books

Manga

Sunshine Sketch
Ume Aoki
****

Yuno is a new student at one of the most prestegious art schools in Japan. In fact she feels almost honored to make it. She goes to live at the dorms or rather the school run apartments and finds out that there are stranger things other than her classes, its her classmates. She learns that they are creative, silly and friendly.

I liked this series simply for the reminder that friends can show in the strangest of places including dorms and also in school.

Anime

Ghost Stories
***

Satsuki and her brother move to her mother's home town and finds out more than it appears. Her father appears to be attentive and works hard, not to mention he doesn't appear to know much about the mother either. They move in also next door to Hajime whose best friend is interested in ghosts. Soon they find out that ghosts follow Satsuki's family all over the place. So with their plotting demon possessed cat they are out to trap demons and get rid of the evils of the world.

This series is CRACK! Okay, it isn't just the fact that if you do watch it, please watch it in Japanese with English subs, if you watch it in English, you are in for a comedy of a life time. I do enjoy it, but again, its the fact I do like some comedy anime with a lot more to it.

Shiki
*****

Sotobamura is a small village out in the middle of no where and it is becoming a ghost town, in fact it is hidden and almost completely isolated. Not to mention people are dying of a strange plague that came in the middle of the day when three members of a family are found completely dead and drained of blood. Then Megumi a hyper girl who loves gazing at a European style house on the hill goes missing.

I enjoyed this series it is rather scary and dark, I feel it should deserving of vampire movies and also has a classic feel to it.


Books

Monster High
Lisa Harrison
*****

Frankie Stien is new to the world, she is in fact only 15 days old, in fact she should be 15 years old. She meets Melody who is a new girl in town who has a new face and new life in their sleepy little town of Salem Oregon where monsters will walk freely among everyone. There is Lala, Cleo, Claudeen, and also a few others who are the same way.

The story is great and its fine and fun romp, wouldn't you want to be a monster too?

Movies

How to Train your Dragon
*****

Hiccup lives in a village that is plagued with a rather HUGE problem, and that problem DRAGONS! He finds that he wants to kill a dragon, but when he wounds one, he discovers what he was raised with may not even be true.

Okay, I thought, great another kids movie, but sitting there, and I saw humor that was unlike the normal and I started to think that somehow with my love the scaly things, it deserves it place. I love this movie.

Reviews for October!

Books

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
By Alvin Schwartz
*****

Stories from America's haunted places, people who are affected, this is a new edition with a lot of new artwork and scary stories we grew up with. Including the ever famous, Hearse song, The Hook, High Beams, and stories that are urban legends. Meant to scare you, tingle down your spine and fun around the camp fire.

This book is impossible not to have in your library, if you are a small child to an adult, this collection is always a must, with wit and funny stories, even stories based on true events. The ghost stories are always a hit for any age.

More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
By Alvin Schwartz
*****

The sequal to the famous first book in the series, more stories that could scare you senseless, having you trembling. These based on American stories passed down from over the years, some funny, some just plain freaky where you don't know what is going on.

Again a collection that I feel earns their place on a Halloween hit list of scary books and fun things to read around this time of year!

Manga

xxxHolic Volumes 1
by Clamp
****

A good story that follows a misadventure of a ghost seeing boy named Watanuki who learns that his powers are connected to the time space witch, Yuko who runs a less than well known little store that grants wishes. In the first volume Watanuki learns a little bit about what it means working for the witch who is about to grant his wish about not seeing ghosts.

This haunting book earns its place on scale of Halloween stories, it is creepy and interesting, the characters range from ghosts, Japanese sprites and more. Watanuki learns how valuable his powers truly are and how important it is to help.

Movies

Underworld
*****

Set in a fictional world where vampires are hunting the werewolves or Lycans who seek out to equal the playing field with finding someone who if bitten by both could bring about equality. Vampires considering themselves higher than the werewolves and forcing these creatures into hiding and almost killing them when finding them. Discover that are is an air of mistrust and also a bit of a lies of what vampires truly do.

This is a more of an action film and less of the horror that people would expect, it has the vampires and werewolves from legend, but more of an action based with little horror in it. I would say it is great for the watch, but you don't have the horror aspect.

Poltergiest
****

A classic tale of the haunted house, an American family all normal and living in a suburban paradise find out there house isn't so normal. Their little girl is talking to people she calls TV people, and one night in a storm, she is taken from her bed into the dark world. Ghosts and more are waiting for this family as they seek out some way to figure out what is going on in their house.

This is a classic for Halloween and it gives a new look at what is called parapsychology, this is a realistic and also shows what people did during the time to study hauntings in nations starting from 1980 to present. So it is an all time YES for Halloween!