Legend of the Bog & Autumn

Legend of the Bog takes place in Ireland - hard to tell with all the accents - the cast was all over the place. Vinnie has a small part. So, basically bog people from ancient times get exposed to water and come to life - I know right. Autumn starts out with almost everyone in US dying. Days later dead come alive, but they don't attack until weeks or months later and only when they hear noises? All in all, I say: SKIP THEM and if you go back in time tell me not to see them.

Happy Tears

Two sisters are dealing with the death of their father. It was weird and too slow for me - I only got through 30 minutes. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - Beth liked it though.

Toy Story 3

All the usual suspects. Less action than I remember. The kids in the theatre got anxious a couple of times. Michael Keaton joins the cast as Ken who lives in Ken's dreamhouse in the toddler room of a daycare center called Sunnydale (if I remember correctly). The cast has to decide if they will stay at a place where kids will play with them or stay in Andy's attic. In the end, they all move on even Andy. OK, I cried at the end. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I didn't do 3D.

Cold Souls & The Horseman

The Horseman is about a man avenging his daughters death. So, it is an Australian remake of the remake Man on Fire. All in all, I say: SKIP IT only saw 10 minutes and was bored. Cold Souls says Giamatti as himself. He wants to store his soul. All in all, I say: SKIP IT only saw 10 minutes and was bored.

The Merry Gentleman

Kelly does an excellent job as always, and Michael too. Michael even directs himself in this slow paced drama. Kelly's character runs away from an abusive husband and unknowingly witnesses an assasin at work. Michael plays the assasin who falls in love - no love scenes though. In the mix is a cop with good instincts, but he's no good guy. Spoiler alert: The girl ends up alone, but no creeps in her life. All in all, I say: RENT IT it was sweet.

Cheri

A French courtesan falls in love with the son of another courtesan. Once he is married to a younger woman he falls in love with youth and no longer wants her - as depressing as a French period piece. Strangly, no French people in it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT nothing new to see here.

Killers

Spencer tried to get out of the CIA, but a contract is put out on his head. So, now his wife Jen finds out his secret and they run from the bad guys. Spoiler Alert: By the end we find out her dad is CIA and he's the one that put out the hit. Makes no sense because he loves his daughter. All in all, I say: SKIP IT it isn't even funny.

Same Kind of Different As Me

A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and theUnlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together. A long title for a long story. Ok, it's short but it felt LLLLOOOONNNNGGG. God, God, and more God it would never end. All in all, I say: SKIP IT and save God for church.

Pandemic

Nobody is in it for good reasons. Nonexistent plot, characters that make no sense or disappear, and horrible special effects. All in all, I say: SKIP IT and help me forget I even skipped through it.

Owl and the Sparrow

An orphaned girl takes off for the big city instead of working in her uncle's factory. By selling roses on the street she meets two people that are destined to be together. A young zookeeper who is attached to his elephants and a young flight attendant looking for some human connections. The three of them form a family. All in all, I say: RENT IT.

Please Give

Catherine Keener stars in this slow paced, but realistic drama. She struggles with the fact that she buys the furniture of dead people at low prices and then sells high. Her daughter is going through her teenage years, and he husband is going through a mid-life crisis. The second story is about 2 sisters and their grandmother. It takes place in New York and I loved the screenplay. All in all, I say: RENT IT when it comes out.

The Karate Kid

Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are produced by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. He does an amazing job - when he cries, when he does the kung-fu, and when he woes the lady. This is one of the best remakes I have ever seen. The soundtrack is good & having it take place in China was a huge bonus.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Jake Gyllenhaal plays an adopted son of a Perisan King who is blamed for his father murder. He must prove his innocence, save his brothers, and save the planet. Apparently, it was based on a video game. There was a lot of Parkour (the run & martial arts thing invented in France). Action was awesome & the special effects were cool. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know

Very pratical guide for new teachers. A quick read with losts of lists! All in all, I say: READ IT if you're a teacher.

The Wolfman

The soundtrack was good and reminded me of Dracula. The sound editing however - as always - I had to struggle to hear Benicio Del Toro. The accents come and go for everyone. Sometimes they sound American, sometimes British, and at one point Scottish. The fight between the 2 wolves was wierd, and there were some continuity problems. All in all, I say: SKIP IT and read the book instead.

Fang

The next novel in Patterson's young adult series Maximum Ride. I am not done yet, but I am getting tired of the story line - Max must save the world and be nice to her family. It's become predictable so I say he should stop writting. All in all, (so far) I say: READ IT if you have read all the others in the series.

Olive Kitteridge

I have about one hour left of this audiobook by Elizabeth Strout. Each chapter is written from the point of view of a different person in this small Maine town. Olive does appear in most and at first doesn't seem to be connected to the others, but is by human connections. It is an interesting way to show that we have an impact on others whether we realize it or not. All in all, SKIP IT. In the end it didn't make a big impression on me & felt like a chore.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Written by a journalist with a healthy sense of curiosity and who happens to be an amazing researcher. All the ways cadavers - and not just human - have helped and hurt us as a society. Soem of the stuff is crazy & some of it is so funny I cried. Yes, I said it was funny. How is being a cadaver like being a cruise ship? All in all, I say: you have to READ IT to find out!

Learning to Teach for Social Justice

More of a why you should teach for social justice than how to teach for social justice. A series of VERY SMART graduate students from a very FANCY college tell us what we should do. It felt like they were tooting their own horn - I am trying to stop that feeling whenever I read a narrative. All in all, I say: READ IT if your a teacher and you have a diverse class - well even if you don't.

Participant Observation

A book for those graduate students that will need to go to a research site. How is the site just as important as what happens there? All in all, I say: READ IT if you are planning to visit a research site.

Using Documents in Social Research

Lots of theory behind how to analyze documents for your research. Not really a step by step guide for those who need it though. All in all: I say, SKIP IT.

Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data

A book on listening to all the things a person doesn't say in an interview. All in all, I say: READ IT if you are a graduate student and your research requires interviewing. I feel like I already did this one?

Doing Multicultural Education for Achievement and Equity

No picture - sorry. Grant & Sleeter (the Kings) have yet another book. This one is for the new teacher and has tons of reflection exercises. All in all, I say: READ IT if you are a new teacher.

Doing Multicultural Education for Achievement and Equity

No picture - sorry. Grant & Sleeter (the Kings) have yet another book. This one is for the new teacher and has tons of reflection exercises. All in all, I say: READ IT if you are a new teacher.

Meet Me in the Middle

Written by a middle school teacher with tons of ideas for new teachers. I found some of the dated stuff funny like he uses the work Boom Box. All in all, I say: READ IT if you are a new teacher. READ IT if you need more tricks.

Reviving Ophelia

Written by a psychotherapist and her work with teenage girls. I found it interesting as a teacher. I think it provided some insight into common behaviors I see in my class. All in all, I say: LISTEN IT when you have time in the car & you know, will find the information useful.

When In Rome

I skipped When in Rome when it was in AMC. I decided to give it a chance because I love Kristin Bell from her Veronica Mars days. Problem: don't like Josh D. & they didn't let Kristin be her smart and funny self. The other guys in the movie who fell in love with her because she stole their coins from the famous fountain - again - not as funny as they usually are. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.