Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia was a disappointment with such great special effects and potential as an Indiana Jones almost feel.  Where this movie fell flat was that the hero wasn't really one.  The king brings you off the street and takes you into his home you would think he would be more likable.  The story was also pretty lame because it looks like he is someone who uses the power of this magic knife to really make a difference.  All it turned out to be was some punk gets a magic knife, stops his uncle from taking the throne and he falls in love.  wow that was just about the entire movie.  My wife who is the expert on love stories also points out that when he does go back to meet his love (who is the ruler of a peaceful city  he just invaded) seems to fall in love with a little too fast.  Especially considering he just led an army to kill many of her people.
Sorry I will put this into the category of movie where the special effects is better than the movie.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1

Harry Potter is back and so are we as we pay tribute here to two of our favorite characters who die in this film (Dobby and Mad Eye Moody).
Wow what a way to begin the epic finale to the greatest stories in our generation.  The movie did a pretty good job filling in some gaps from the previous movies so we at least met Bill Weasley and others.  The movie retains the charm of the characters especially Fred and George who are really quite hilarious.  We also get an opportunity to see if our three stars can pull off a large part of the movie with just them and the how they handle the daunting task before them of finding and destroying Horcruxes and they do it extremely well.  The final part of the movie where Dobby rescues them from the Malfoy house is amazingly well done on all aspects.
For a couple small issues with the film.  The most prevalent is during the scene where Ron destroys the Horcrux you see Harry and Hermoine making out topless which was unnecessary and a little disturbing.
a couple small things I wanted to see was some more of Harry's struggle over Dumbledore and wanting the truth as well as a couple of the memories that were left out of the last movie.  Also there appears at one part that Harry is falling in love with Hermoine which is stupid because he loves Ginny and has always thought of Hermoine as a sister.  But overall it was a great movie that left us drooling for the next half with all the really awesome stuff. (breaking into Gringotts and the battle at Hogwarts).
Until then
Mischief managed.

star trek

I can honestly say that I have never really followed Star Trek but this movie payed great tribute to a classic series.   I will admit I was a little lost at the beginning of the movie but it all came together when Older Spock (Lenord Nemoy) comes in to explain everything.  The film was action packed but also full of character as you see both sides of the spectrum and calm and reason oriented Spock and a fly by the cuff emotional Kirk.  This was good show that combined Good acting, story, and special effects to make a good time.   I'm sure a couple intense Trekkies will have a greater opinion than me but I liked it and was glad for once that the non bad boy actually got the girl in this movie.  (It is about time).

Sorcerers and Seers

Chris Heimerdinger has finally come out with the next book in the amazing series Tennis Shoes Adventure Series.  We see our family of Hawkins split in three factions.  Garth, Marcos, and Josh are found in the time of Cumorah and then also in the time of the Jaredites.  While Jim, Jenny and some other family members are at the last week of Christ's life.  The rest of the band are with Moroni as they travel to the settlement at Cumorah.   It is a great adventure filled with  battles, adventure, love, family and mostly trust in God and his plan.
Chris ends each chapter with a summary of the research he has conducted to get as close to what might have happened during these time periods as possible.
If you have never read this Tennis Shoes adventure series I highly recommend it.   Just like his other books be prepared to be left hanging at the end wanting to now what happens next. (Hopefully this time it will be much sooner before the next one comes out)

A Tale of Two Cities

I have now learned why I have never read Charles Dickens  (other than A Christmas Carol)  while he is a great classic writer his book a tale of two cities takes forever to get started and for the average mind is hard to follow.  The language is very beautiful but the story wasn't as good as I had thought it would be.  I am glad I read it just to have read Dickens work but it will be a while before I tackle Great Expectations.   For those looking for a good classic with great descriptive detail than this is your book if you need a intriguing story that i might suggest Alexander Dumas or some other great author!

Sydney White

Sydney White is a fun take on Snow White where instead of seven Dwarfs you have seven nerds and instead of a wicked queen you have a wicked student body president who watches her daily ranking on the "Hot or Not" list in order to see who's the fairest in the land.  The difference here is that Sydney White actually confronts the queen and in an Amanda Bynes way you see her help these nerds and the rest of campus overthrow the rule of the evil Witchburn!

I am a fan of Amanda's fun personality and weird quirks and if you are too this is a great one!  Plus learn that we are all geeks.

Toy Story 3

Should I be ashamed that I got teary eyed during a cartoon?  Admittedly I do cry in movies a lot (to Kill a Mockingbird and Remember the Titans to name a few. I guess I also cry from laughing so much in it's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World.)  So no I am not ashamed that over the course of the past ten years and three movies I have fallen in love with Andy's toys.  i really don't want to give away much of the plot of this great movie but Woody, buzz and the gang face some of there biggest challenges yet as Andy prepares to leave for college.  They are donated to a day care center where an evil toy plots and controls all that goes on within the center. Andy's toys are forced to work together with several of Woody's famous plans, in order to escape and return to Andy before he leaves.   The movie has its hilarious moments as well watch for Spanish Buzz and Ken.  That is all I will say about that.  If you have ever had that thing whether toy, blanket, or a special place that reminds you of childhood see this movie.  

PS if you are at all emotional over such memories bring tissues as well.    

How to Train Your Dragon?

Mari and I went and saw How to Train your Dragon this past week and we loved it.  DreamWorks has created another great movie.  This one is a little bit different from their traditional staples of Shrek, Monsters VS. Aliens and Kung Foo Panda (to name a few).  This is not a straight up comedy.  The story seems a little predictable with the dominating father figure who is everything a viking should be: strong and stubborn.  He has a son, Hiccup, who is a puny guy who wrecks everything he tries, but just wants his father's love.  Sounds like 100 other movies, right?  Well this one adds vikings and dragons and makes it a great movie.  Hiccup and his best friend, Toothless, change the dragon/viking relationship forever.  So If you like feel-good movies, 3D movies, or DreamWorks in general, this is a must see.
Besides, it will be a better use of money and time than Iron Man 2!

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Sean Covey has written a wonderful life changing book.  For those who have read his father version and felt it a little to deep or business oriented this is the answer to your issues with it.  Sean teaches us about the 7 habits but in a way more applicable to day to day life.  He also makes it fun and extremely interesting with tons of short stories from teens and adults of every walk of life.  He even includes cartoons and doable baby steps.
I fell in love with the 7 habits all over again and recommend this book to teens and adults alike.

If you don't read a single other book I recommend make this one the one.

The Great Hunt

Book 2 in the Wheel of Time series has continued only now we have our main characters out on the hunt for the legendary Horn of Valere which can call the great heroes of the past back to help fight the dark one.  Rand has to come to grips with who he really is and so must is friends.  They travel through their world and others to get to the Horn and to drive out a horrible group of invaders in the borderland.
Be ready for excitement and many other things that Jordan has created in a world that can't be explained but must be experienced as the wheel turns and weaves out the lives of those involved in this epic adventure.

This book comes from Stephen M.R. Covey son of legendary author Stephen R. Covey (author 7 Habits of Highly Effective People).  Stephen M.R. teaches us about how trust can improve speed and effectiveness in every aspect of our lives.  The main focus is on business but he has plenty of ways trust applies in our personal lives as well.  We learn different ways trust works and also 13 ways to build the right kind of trust with others and ourselves.  If you work in an environment of low trust than read this book, even if you are trustworthy you learn how to extend trust and build it in other as well.  Plus he gives irrefutable evidence that trust matters and how to approach low trust situations.

Pick up a copy here or at your local FranklinCovey store.

Bride and Prejudice

For all those Pride and Prejudice fans here is the best version of this classic novel done Bollywood style. The fun music and native Indian culture makes this version more fun and extremely entertaining.  For those like me and my wife who can't stand the original version because of Mr. Darsey is a jerk and looser and opposed to popular opinion I don't see a change, here is a version where you actually see that he is a nice guy all he  needed was to be exposed to another culture other than the wealthy business class of his American corporate life.  He comes to love India and you actually see that he loves Lalita (Elizabeth in Indian) and comes to enjoy here perspective of life from a completely different point of view.   I am not a fan of Jane Austin but I loved this version and recommend it to all Jane Austin fans and those that aren't her biggest fans.  This is also a good movie to be exposed to for Bollywood style because it is not pure Bollywood but combines some British and Hollywood elements in it as well.  For Lost fans you can see Sayid become a "Indian MC Hammer".
enjoy the only good version of Pride and Prejudice I have seen.  (and yes I have seen the 6 hour special).

Princess and The Frog.

In my opinion, Disney has lost its beauty and wonder that used to be the Disney I know and remember from movies such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Robin Hood (my personal favorite) and so many more.  The movie does have funny moments and a couple memorable characters like the firefly and even the main character (although it goes to show you just how memorable when I can't even remember her name off the top of my head). The problem for me was the prince and the villain were not impressive. The prince was far from charming and the timeline was far too short to develop him into becoming anything different from what he was in the beginning.
The villain was a little scary for kids. I would not let my kids watch that at a young age. The shadows grabbing people was a little much.
Hopefully Rapunzel will be better.

Alice in Wonderland

This movie was a wonderful blend of the wild and zany imagery typical to Tim Burton.   This is not your typical Alice story. She has returned to Wonderland not remembering she had been there before.  She must help free this new world from the Red Queen and also discover what she really wants to do with her life.
Be advised that this movie is only based on the Alice books; it is not a production of either of them. I know there were some who were going in thinking it was the Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking glass story, but it is something that takes place years later.
If you do not like Tim Burton's style, you will not like this movie. If you love him, you'll love this.
Either way the acting is enjoyable, and the music is very Danny Elfman (which is fantastic!) The storyline is fun, and the costumes/sets are perfect for the concept.

Automatic Millionaire.

This book is a great resource of information for those who are looking to retire rich.  These techniques are designed for someone with a steady income.  What I like about this book is it is not one of those books that are a feel good book or all about becoming an entrepreneur. These are simple ways to pay off your home quickly and also to  simply help you save more. Then, the key is to make it automatic so you do it once and never worry about it again.  If you have read The Richest Man in Babylon, this book takes the principles taught there and applies them to our computer-aged world. If you haven't read  it, then check out the edition The Richest Man in Babylon: Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century. Either way, these books provide wise and amazing council on becoming financially independent and responsible, so check them out.  

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

This the Robin Hood story the way I like it. Here we learn of many small adevtures of Robin and his merry band.  They are a group of fun loving merry men who live off the forest and rob from the rich to give to the poor.  There is no Prince John driving England into the poor house.  The Sherrif is not an evil man just a corrupt political figure and Maid Marian is mentioned once.  This jolly band simply seeks for adventure and fun experiences.  You will fall in love with the wit and the sheer audastity of Robin, Little John, Allan of the Dale, Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck and the rest of this merry band.  As the trickthe Sherrif, multiple men of the clergy, and even the king himself.  They roam as beggars or barefooted friars, they get in skirmishes with each other and the law. 
If you are looking for many fun short adventures written in old english, pick up a copy of this the true version of Robin Hood.

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters

This is an amazing book filled with great ideas for the casual job seeker or those hat have tried everything they could think of.  You will learn how to get in front of recruiters and how there minds work.  You get tips on the best websites to be on and how to organize yourself to be found.  The key to this program is how to focus yourself on the job you want at the company you want.  You learn how to do your research and unconventional ways to get in front of the hiring manager.  Then you learn how to prepare your resume and the best way to get the job after the interview.  If I haven't sold you yet then you don't want to find a job.  I used it and now have the job I wanted with the company I wanted.   Be sure to look for Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters.

The Truth Shall Make You Rich

The truth truly will make you rich.  We learn here from a true wizard of developing not only financial wealth but personal wealth as well.  Farrah was born in the inner city to mother who worked 3 jobs to support the family and from an early age the idea of making money fascinated him.  He started selling rocks he painted at age 7 to now making millions of dollars a year.  He reveals many of the truths that helped him make it to the top and also how to be happy and excited while doing it.  I enjoyed this little book and as a quick read it fit in perfect with the time I had to learn about his methods and advise.  So if you've ever wanted to learn some wise tips from a happy millionaire (yes there are many who aren't) than read about how the Truth Shall Make you Rich.

Leven Thumps Books 3&4

Amazing and crazy things are afoot in Foo. This the Third part of this Story finds for most of the telling that Leven and Clover are separated from Geth and Winter as he meets the mysteries "Want" and learns something that changes Foo and possibly reality. We also meet Azure the follow up to Sabine who is also trying to merge Foo with Reality. Ezra (my wife’s favorite character) is also brought to the fore front in his attempt to return to Foo and get Geth. One of my favorite parts to these books is how Obert Skye begins many of his chapters with quirky thoughts and feelings. If you haven’t had read this series I very much enjoy it and recommend it to anyone looking for a quick fun fantasy to read. So feel free to check out more of Leven Thumps and the Eye of The Want.

Ezra, The Dearth and Azure seem to be rising in power and strength as the fight for Foo continues. The Wrath of Ezra starts to build up for the final confrontation that will occur in the last book. We follow Leven as he and his friends are brought to face the Dearth who has arisen from the ground and reveals his plot to concur reality. We also follow Rast as he tries to save the sycophants and the balance of Foo. We begin to see Leven's courage take affect as the passion in Foo is increased by the release of the Longing. So make sure you read this fourth installment in the life of Leven and the fate of Foo.

The Eye of the World-Wheel of Time

The first book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is an amazing fantasy adventure where you are drawn into Jordan's world and Characters. You follow an unlikely gathering of Characters through a journey across the kingdom of Andor. As they try to find safety and to figure why they are sought by some creatures of the dark one. We learn of the different types of beings and some minor information of what the wheel of time is and about the past. I loved this story and can see where other books have gotten some of their inspiration (like Eragon). I recommend this book and will continue to update as I progress through the series.

Stones into Schools

This is the follow up to the book Three Cups of Tea.  It is a continuation of the amazing story of Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute.  This book focuses on the building of Schools for Girls in Afghanistan and all the hundreds of obstacles and complications that arouse in his work in that country.   We also learn a great deal about individuals that Greg has built relationships with.  I love Greg's story and highly recommend both books.  The highlight comes when he tells of building the school in Kara Jirga among the Kirghiz people.  This is one of the most remote and also one of the poorest places on earth.  This finally occurred a decade after Greg has promised a group of horsemen sent by Abdul Rashid Khan (leader of that area and also man who is passionate about education and helping his people) that he would build a school in their remote area.
We also learn about the work of the CAI after the horrible earthquake that hit the area on October 8, 2005.  This is an amazing story filled with amazing people.  If you want to learn about true Muslims and how caring a loving they really are read this story.  You also learn about the horror of war that been a part of that part of the world for hundreds of years, and what the amazing people are doing to create a sense of peace and equality now.
I guess what I want to say is read Three Cups of Tea and then read Stones into Schools.

Going Rogue

Sarah Palin is an interesting women to learn about. For anyone wanting to understand this women that burst on to the national political scene in 2009, this is a great read. I enjoyed 2 things about the book; 1. Learning about life day to day in Alaska. (which is actually pretty cool)


2. Getting clarification on many false ideas about Sarah that were spread.

Many things I thought were true about Sarah were very misconstrued.

Things like what really went on with the Katie Couric interview. What we saw was not how it went. Also the media made it look like the little baby she was with was her daughters when in fact it was Sarah Palin's child.

For the most part the story is just about her and what has helped her through her life. The very last chapter is really the only one that starts getting very political. I find her way of thinking in this book very refreshing and honest and I did enjoy the read. Did she persuade me to her arguments not really but it was a very interesting story and I do recommend it to anyone thinking about learning more about Sarah Palin.