Wednesday 14 August 2013

Now For Something Different: Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters

Media Review
-Because Sometimes It's Good To Have Variety

Movie
Release Date: 7th August 2013
Where Seen: Cinema
Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Myth, History
Amazon Price: £12.75 (At the time of when I published the post)

Movie Poster:
http://allhonesty.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/PERCY-JACKSON-SEA-OF-MONSTERS.jpg

IMDB Description:
In order to restore their dying safe haven, the son of Poseidon and his friends embark on a quest to the Sea of Monsters to find the mythical Golden Fleece while trying to stop an ancient evil from rising.

Starring: Logan Lerman (Percy), Alexandra Daddairo (Annabeth), Douglas Smith (Tyson), Leven Rambin (Clarisse), Brandon. T. Jackson (Grover) and Jake Abel (Luke).
Director: Thor Freudenthal
Production Company: Fox 2000 Pictures
Based On: The Novel: Percy Jackson and the Sea Of Monsters by Rick Riordan.

Review:
This film was really good, the plot was great and it still had the humor that i love out of these novels. It also held a number of emotional scenes and tonnes of Action! it started off on a good note with an awesome scene of a the Camp wall climbing challenge. I am admittedly a big Riordan fan, so after the first disaster of a Book/Movie conversion (even though the film itself was OK) i wasn't expecting much... i was wrong. The production crew have obviously made much more of an effort and this movie was indeed close to the plot of the book. It wasn't as good as the likes of Harry Potter or The Hunger Games which were near enough spot on, but they made an effort to correct even the smallest details such as Annabeth's hair colour! It did miss out one of my favorite scenes from the book (The Sirens) but I know they would never be able to fit everything in. Thanks to them now acknowledging that Riordan's novels exist i can carry on and enjoy any sequels that are made!

Rating of the Comparison To  The Book: 
***
Quotes:
Mr. D: [Mr. D poured some wine into a glass but it turned to water immediately and it was revealed that it is a punishment from Zeus] "You know the Christians have a guy who can do this but in the opposite direction"
[looking up at the sky, as if speaking to Zeus]
Mr. D: "now that's a god."
Annabeth: "It's a Chariot of Damnation."  
Grover: "Looks like a New York City cab."  
Annabeth: "Same difference."
Tyson: "What is going on!!"
Annabeth: "Percy's trying to kill us"
Tyson: "Well.. its working!"
Tyson: [Speaking to the Hippocampus his father sent] "Hey Girl"
[It huffs in his face like it is disgusted]
Tyson: "Boy?"

Overall Rating:
*****

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-The Reading Rose

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Review: City of Ashes

Title: City Of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: McElderberry Books
Genres: YA, Romance, Paranormal, Supernatural, Horror.
Where Acquired: The Works
Buy at Amazon Here 
- Best Book Price: £4.96 Kindle Price: £4.12 (as of when posted)

Cover of the Version I Read:

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t231/chosenbuffy100/coaus.jpg
(US Cover)

A Cover From Elsewhere:

http://images.wikia.com/mortalinstruments/images/7/7a/City_of_Ashes_early_UK_Australia.jpg
(UK/Australian Cover)

Goodreads Description:
Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.


My Review:
This Book was stunning! It was intense, romantic, funny and heart wrenching all in one! I love the shadowhunting world they live in and the twists and turns this book took were exceptional! I was shocked at the way Cassandra Clare nearly killed poor Simon off about 3 times in this novel though! so i am glad he survived; after turning vampire, being drained and nearly being turned to ashes i assume he must be feeling a little strange though! I enjoyed the development of Clary and Jace's extraordinary powers and the turn the relationship took was something i would never expect from a YA novel. It was heart wrenching and a tough subject to touch on, Clare really knows how to write a novel! I really can't wait to start the next book, City of Ashes ended with many unanswered questions and i really want to find what the answers are so I am going to read City Of Glass straight away!

Quotes:
“Mom. I have something to tell you. I’m undead. Now, I know you may have some preconceived notions about the undead. I know you may not be comfortable with the idea of me being undead. But I’m here to tell you that undead are just like you and me … well, okay. Possibly more like me than you.”(Simon to Clary)
“Alec looked at her and shook his head. "How do you manage never to get mud on your clothes?"
Isabelle shrugged philosophically. "I'm pure at heart. It repels the dirt.” (Alec and Isabelle)
“Jace slammed his hand down on the stele. “Clary-“
“She said she doesn’t want it,” said Simon. “Ha-ha.”
“Ha-ha?” Jace looked incredulous. “That’s your comeback?”(Jace, Simon and Clary)
“Valentine!"
"You mean father. I despise this modern habit of calling one's parents by their names."
"What I want to call you is a hell of a lot more unprintable than your name." (Valentine and Clary)

Rating:
*****

There is a movie coming out on the 21st of August 2013 Based on the First Novel of This Series:
TMI One-Sheet

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-The Reading Rose

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Sunday 4 August 2013

Review: Revenge Wears Prada

Title: Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns (The Devil Wears Prada #2)
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genres: Adult, Fashion, Romance
Where Acquired: Bought from TESCO
Buy at Amazon Here
- Best Book Price: £3.85 Kindle Price: £0.99 (as of when posted)

UK Cover:


Goodreads Description:
Revenge Wears Prada picks up eight years after Andy parted ways with Miranda on bad terms. Andy is now editing The Plunge, the hottest bridal magazine around, alongside Emily, her one-time Runway nemesis turned current BFF. While Andy is planning her own wedding to Max, a handsome media scion, she remains haunted by her impeccably heeled former boss — and the magazine world being as small as it is, it’s only a matter of time before she hears the dreaded syllables “Ahn-dre-ah!” again.

My Review: 
Although not as good as the original, this book was fun and packed with drama. It was nice to see where all the characters are now, the time jump near enough corresponding with the real time between the first and second novels. Although this book has a lot less in the way of Miranda moments, she still manages to wreck poor Andy's life even though she doesn't work for her any longer. The addition of Andy's marriage and baby was fresh and exciting and it was nice to see a more mature side to the characters involved. Lily becomes a lot more likeable and Alex makes a spectacular return towards the end. Many things have changed since the last book, but it was still easy to fall back into Andy's world, however you do end up routing for some things to revert back to how they were in the first novel... namely Alex... Altogether though this book was enjoyable and worth reading. However this could never be made into a film that works well due to the happy ending of the first film, this book revolves round Miranda and Andy's explosive parting!

Quotes:
"Andy covered Clem's face in kisses before handing her over to Isla. She watched as her baby flashed a smile and reached out for her, and then the waterworks began. And it wasnt the baby who was crying"
"were either of you that sorry girl who turned completely catatonic and needed to be carted off to a psychiatric hospital?...and neither of you were that lunatic who repeatedly threatened to burn down my apartment...There was that plain girl with the terribly cheap shoes who tried to have me arrested on some sort of trumped up harassment charge, but she was a blonde."
Rating:
****

Have You Read This Book?
How Did You Find It?
Why Don't You Leave Me A Comment, Or a Link To Your Own Blog?
Would Love To Hear Your Views!
-The Reading Rose

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