Toy Story 5 Movie is a Must See Film Review

What can I say about the Toy Story franchise that hasn’t already been said? This is the best ever they say. The writing can’t be any better it’s said. Then the opposite that stories are getting too predictable and need to end with story five with this series. If you disagree and believe it can get better, this is not predictable and there is newness and original non cookie cutter approach in the fifth film as your answers then this movie is for you. 

When I first saw the trailers for this movie, I knew it was going to deal with technology, new toys with screens and not so much of the old fashioned characters like Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the gang. When the last movie came out it was a story about the new girl Bonnie who was adopted and an only child getting Andy’s toys since he outgrew them. That was a sad nostalgic move but a very touching way to end the series with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Slinky Dog and the rest of the crew in Toy Story 4. I think people would have been fine with it ending that way. 

With Toy Story 5, the story begins with an army of Buzz Lightyears being washed up on an island after a cargo container crashes on the shore for some reason. This army of Buzz played an interesting and important part of the story all the way until the movie’s end. Toy Story 5 is the first movie in the series I believe under the co-production of Disney and not just Pixar for the very first time. There are various Easter eggs throughout the movie that give a nod to Disney with music scores and a couple visual glimpses. I don’t want to give away spoilers. See if you can figure them out and leave your guesses and comments in the Comment section below. 

I love how this movie picks up in the future with Bonnie and her playing with all the nostalgic toys led my Jessie, her horse Bullseye and her vivid imagination dreaming a sci fi story. This is before she starts feeling lonely and sad. When her parents recognize this they decide to buy a LilyPad gaming toy for educational fun. Instead she played with her friends from school online. 

The theme of this adventure movie is how kids are being affected by the new age of digital technology and its impact on them. Jessie realizes it is not a good idea and tries to get Bonnie to not interact with the device and be a playful kid. When Jessie, Bullseye and the gang are discarded by Bonnie since she is 100% involved and devoted to the LilyPad, she tries to rescue her when things go wrong with her so called friends. 

I was surprised how little Woody makes an appearance in this story but was a big help with the whole gang. There were emotional moments and one big surprise toward the end. Now I know some people might take a negative shot at how Pixar handled the Digital technology stuff but I think it is very well done and not preachy but a touching believable set of situations and conclusions. 

In conclusion, I can see this might be some people’s favorite sequel of the Toy Story series. I am a sucker for the original and think it’s still the best. Second is Part 2 and then this one is my third favorite. I give this movie a 5 out of 5 stars. It was well done. Everyone should go see it at the theater with the family and then again at home when it gets on streaming so you can find those Easter Eggs and things you missed.

My Review for Celebrity Pastor by Creston Mapes

 Celebrity Pastor deals with issues that seems to be right out of the newspaper but somehow I thought I would never be interested in reading the subject matters in this novel. The way author Creston Mapes has an easy to follow set of stories from varied cast of characters in the overall story, Celebrity Pastor, kept me captivated all the way until the end. What happens when you are the Pastor of a Mega Church, in this case of fictitious Vine & Branches Church lead by Pastor Neil Gentry, can you handle the Celebrity power status? If unholy behaviors / sins surface what do you do when those sins are brought to light? How do you deal with them? Do you address them or let others help keep them buried? This book is slow developing and somehow really picks up a faster pace as the events unfold. I really like the scenery descriptions of various places in the Metro Atlanta area. I might be biased since I live in Georgia and around the Atlanta area my whole life. Makes me think I am right beside them in each chapter. This is another great captivating novel by Creston that is a stand alone novel in my opinion. If you are looking for a book that is fiction but seems to be a true story, then this is the book for you. I give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars. I will be reading another one of his books or series in the future. He has become one of my top favorite authors to go to even when I have many books to read which is always. His next book that is out now is Sapphire Island. Stay tuned I will be doing a review for that one in the future.


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Young Washington is a Historic movie Must Watch

I saw this movie on July 4th. Felt it was necessary for me to see this since George Washington having been our first president and needed to be included on the 250th anniversary of the founding of America. I went in with the hope that it was historically accurate even if it was 99%. Because we all know that most Blockbuster history moments made into movies have creative liberties and licenses. I felt this movie did not disappoint at all. It seemed to me to be portrayed accurately based on documented accounts about young George Washington. Whether from his personal diary entries or the truthful mistakes and redemptions he made from the battlefield to winning important battles found in other history books. William Franklyn Miller is a great lead actor who played George Washington. We will hear about him again in other major roles in my opinion in the future. I was left with wanting to see more after watching this. I hope there are sequels depicting from this movie's end all the way to his election as the first President. Young Washington is a movie that needs to be shown in school in American history classes. This is a must see movie! I give this movie a 10 out of 10 stars.

My Review on Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben

I have read Harlan Coben books in the past. I have liked most of them. However, this book was different because I could notice when the story was in Reese Witherspoon's voice as it unfolded and when Coben's voice was made known. Knowing that Ms. Witherspoon has written scripts for movies in the past I felt she was trying to write in that mindset as the book began. As the novel progressed it seemed to change in an author's novel voice and more of a book form until the conclusion. Gone Before Goodbye, being the first novel for Ms. Witherspoon, was slow in development in the first half of the novel. This is where I felt Coben came in and he probably was writing the male characters, while she was the voice on Maggie McCabe the main character / narrator and maybe the other female characters. This is where the story seemed to really take off. It seemed more interesting from the beginning of the second half to the final parts of the story as Maggie deals with many points introduced from the story's early layout. She had to come to terms with her past, the attention using her acquired skills as a plastic surgeon and her relationship with Mark her husband, Pork Chop her father in law and other characters introduced throughout. This pacing seemed to increase faster as the story was progressing to its conclusion as Maggie deals with her grief losing her husband and having to deal with Russian interests. A conclusion which I did not see coming. I decided to not read this printed book but instead listen to the audio book because I heard there was going to be something different for me in the recording. The introduction of an ensembled voice cast of actors. Some were screen actors like Reese as the narrator and the voice of Maggie. Another screen / voice actors were Chris Pine as Mark for another example. I liked this audio book. This might be better than the written page because of the performances of the cast of voices helping the story flow better in my head for the plot, setting and character structure with voice separations. This is a well done book and worth the attention if you are looking for a suspense thriller and you have been or are a Harlan Coben fan.

The Breadwinner a Winner or Loser?

 The Breadwinner is a family movie starring Nate Bargatze from TriStar Pictures, Wonder Project and Nateland Productions. Bargatze plays Nate Wilcox the Top Selling Toyota salesman based in Nashville Tennessee. This is not surprising since Nate Bargatze is really from the Nashville area in real life and the setting for this movie. Nate’s wife is Kate Wilcox played by Mandy Moore. The movie deals with what if your wife gets an opportunity to start a business and be a very successful entrepreneur after she goes on the show TV hit show Shark Tank with her product for organizing your life. That product is called Star Minder. After Kate gets chosen by Lori Greiner on the show, she gets thrust into this new chapter in business building it away from her family temporarily. What is Nate Wilcox going to do? He becomes the new modern Mr. Mom on steroids with funny chaos ensuing. Nate stays home while Kate develops her business. The Breadwinner is a funny family movie with a believable story that kind of gives me RV movie vibes with Robin Williams crossing with the blueprint approach that Adam Sandler has in his movies. Adam has used his same fellow comedic friends and actors through all his movies. Bargatze has done that in this movie as well. I heard someone comment it is a clean SNL type movie. Why is that you say? Because Sandler used to be on SNL years ago. Nate Bargatze is a clean comedian and surprisingly very good actor and lead actor to boot. The supporting cast of this movie is believable, endearing and made me want to see Nate win and show how he can pull it together as the stories unfold. Can he be everywhere all at once? Of course not. But through out Nate Wilcox’s journey I saw a man who will try to be a good father, a grateful father and saw lessons learned by multiple cast members including him that made me feel it was definitely a movie worth watching and had good clean fun that a whole family can watch together. There is no cursing, no violence and I felt happy when I walked away from the Breadwinner. So who is the Breadwinner? We all can be the Breadwinners with the right teamwork. Was The Breadwinner movie a winner at the Movie Theater? Definite Yes! It is a must watch movie even if only once even if you wait for your home streaming services. I give this movie an 8 out of 10 popcorn bucks.

The Revival and Reunion for Me for Fearless Fighter Blogs

When you revive something you thought was over, what goes through your mind? Is it a reunion with the past? Is it uncovering the memories in hopes that what you did back then is more than just scratching the itch and a serious new adventure that you hope will last this time. When creativity is bugging you and you ignore it and now it is unrelentingly screaming in your head to not do anything else, but only that one thing do you listen? With other things that are in that same realm of fun and adventure like sports or music, do you put them off or just lean into that need for fun and watch that game or play that song? Creativity has been after me for many years now.  So where have I have been for that last decade plus? I have been inventive and creative in organizing and setting up events, concerts and many entertainment, conventions and corporate events. But this creative writing, reviews, blogs and stories that I have done here in the past on this blog and other platforms I thought had been filed away and buried forever. So surprise I am back fearlessly restarting this revival of Fearless Fighter blog. I felt a change was necessary and add the Subtitle Pit Stops and Checkered Flags.

So what will you expect with this blog going forward.  I will be posting my reviews on books, movies and my life observations in a journal form as I did in the past with slight modifications. If I decide to branch out the journal style in the future then I will post how or when that is later. 

For now, please follow, comment and bookmark this page for my posts. Hopefully you will want to read the book I review, movies I discuss and find something to inspire you through my life’s observations. Thank you for reading this blog and let the adventures begin again.


P.S. I plan on posting at least 1 to 2 days a week as this blog page restarts. Will be posting every Wednesday and possibly Friday as well. I want to see myself doing more posts as time allows. Also if I can add videos to this page later discussing these topics it might happen. This however may have to appear on another platform.

"Adventures with Easton" book review

Premise:

    A young boy, Easton Wilbur, attempts to overcome his adversities through his dreams and friendships. Easton has a disability due to a car wreck at age three. Because of this disability, he develops the ability to escape the real world and travel to a magical world through his dreams. Now a nine year old boy, Easton is excited every night to dream a new adventure. When he finds out that happiness is actually all around him, some remarkable things start to happen. As he learns through open communications, the true magic happens when he is awake.


Review:

   In Adventures with Easton, local author Mary Gilmartin takes the adult reader to a place that can only be remembered from dreams or memories. For those young readers, it is a place of exciting mysteries, adventure and enjoyment. Her attention to major and minor details is very clever. The way she weaves in faith, redemption and love all set in Atlanta, Georgia primarily kept this Georgia reader interested from the first word to the last.

Easton Wilbur is a nine year old boy dealing with feelings, issues and pain that many kids his age shouldn’t have to. When he was three years old, he was in a very tragic car accident that broke his foot and killed his mother.

Dealing with rejections, fear, and sadness, this boy tries to feel happy. This seems to be found only in his dreams every night. With his new stepmother Clara, their relationship is strained with her being mean and constantly riding him about chores such as washing dishes and clothes which are things a mother should.

As the story unfolds, Easton learns about faith in people, redemption from his stepmother and dad, and new friendships making him feel happy and alive.

While his dreams are realistic adventures, the realization those new friends, family and his pet help provide the real adventures daily eliminating his adversities and pain.

This book can be read by 9 to 90 year old. The innocence and true wonderment found in the pages makes you want more. The southern charm Ms. Gilmartin has with place, setting and theme just might rub off on you no matter where you live. Also knowing that this is a trilogy series, I look forward to reading the continuing saga of Easton Wilbur.

I give this book 4 ½ out of 5 stars.

Bradley Evans

“Injustice For All” Book Review by Bradley Evans

Premise:
A federal judge is bleeding on his office floor, betrayed by a most unlikely source—people who helped him bring criminals to justice. Now, why would someone working for the FBI need to disappear after witnessing this crime?

When Remington Wyatt sees her godfather’s murder, she recognizes the killers and knows it’s only a matter of time before they come to silence her. She must do the only thing possible to stay alive . . . run.

FBI agent Rafe Baxter is serious about his career, and solving a cold case involving a federal judge’s death puts him in line for the promotion he so desires. But the case leads him to the small town of Hopewell, Louisiana, where some secrets seem inextricably hidden deep within the bayou.

Injustice for All explores what happens when everything a person believes in is utterly destroyed. Who can you trust?

Review:
In this story, Injustice for All, the lead character Remington Wyatt has a life altering moment after the death of her godfather which leads to her choice of witness protection to save her life. A federal judge, Daniel Tate, is shot dead as this book begins. He was the godfather of Remington after the death of her parents. As he is dying in his mansion, Daniel tells Remington to take everything out of his safe and protect it with her life.

Several years later, the events of that day are beginning to resurface themselves as a cold case which the FBI is reexamining. This reopening occurred when FBI agent Rafe Baxter decides to transfer from one bureau office to another in hope to bring the fire back into his career. As the premise states above, the case leads him to Louisiana.

Remington Wyatt who changed her name to Bella Miller years before, is now coming under attack. The new identity in a new town starts to unravel the loyalty and friendship she created with Police Commissioner Hayden Simpson and the people of Hopewell.

Robin Caroll has yet again written a fast paced quick page turning novel that is full of fear, faith and forgiveness. It is a great suspense novel in a territory that Robin knows so well. If you are considering being a first time reader of Caroll’s work, then you can do no wrong in choosing Injustice for All. It is the beginning of a new series and if you are like me, it only wets your appetite to want to read more of her work. I give this book a 4 ½ out of 5 stars.
Be blessed!

Bradley Evans

The Last Operative Book Review by Bradley Evans

Premise:

Jordan Kirkwood wants to go quietly into the sunset. His career as an NSA intelligence officer has taken a significant toll. His two adult children are little more than distant acquaintances. His wife has been patient and supportive, but he knows she has deserved better. That was part of the reason they were going to London. He wanted her to see Europe like a tourist. But that was before he was given intelligence information during the recent mission to Germany. The threat is grave—bigger than 9/11. And the risk is compounded by the fact that someone inside the NSA is involved. The most hidden place in Kirkwood’s past will have to be unmasked in order to meet the challenges of this mission.

Review:

The Last Operative by Jerry B. Jenkins is a fast paced thrill ride dealing with a last of his kind NSA agent Jordan Kirkwood. His fight is to keep everyone around him safe as well as a whole nation. Unfortunately as the story begins, Jordan was in a disguise at an airport in Germany when a gunman shoots and kills several people at an arrival gate. One of the people killed was his wife Rosemary. After this event, Jordan starts out wanting to officially retire from the NSA but ultimately changes his mind when he realizes that he needs to solve his wife’s murder and find a potential killer wanting to finish the job to kill him also. As the story continues to unfold, Jordan discovers that he is unsure of who his real friends and enemies are.

If you like to read book versions of NCIS or CSI TV series or Jason Bourne thrillers, then this is a must read book. The Last Operative is full of twists and turns with international flavor giving this reader guessing several times to figure out whom the bad guys are and who the friendly agents are for Jordan Kirkwood.

I give this book a 4 ½ out of 5 stars. I hope that you will consider reading this book in the future.

Be blessed!


Bradley

The Jihad’s Messiah Book Review by Bradley Evans

Premise:

In a future when world power has shifted to the Middle East, and the Arab nations have signed a seven-year peace treaty with Israel, a radical Iraqi leader — known as Al-Mahdi, “the Awaited One”— rises to power promising to convert the world to Islam.

Major General Farid Zadeh is Al-Mahdi’s most loyal follower and the next in line to become the Full Army General of Iraq—until he is falsely accused of being an Israeli spy. Determined to vindicate himself, Farid flies to Jerusalem to spy on the Israeli military. Before he can return home with the intelligence, the peace treaty is broken and war breaks out between the Arabs and Israel.

Now he must run for his life, as both armies consider him their enemy and want him dead. Help — and perhaps redemption — comes from unlikely sources: a stunning Jewish woman and a Christian prisoner. When his faith and loyalties are tested, Farid must decide which side to take…. His decision could alter the course of Man’s final war.

Review:

What can be said about The Jihad’s Messiah besides the Premise above? It is labeled as a Christian fiction book talking about the End of the World issues. It is set about 13 years into the future and is also controversial. How is that for enticement to get you wanting to read this book?

Alright, then how about these points for consideration…. The Jihad’s Messiah is exciting to read. It is filled with the author’s opinion on the Qur'an and Islam and the Anti Christ rising from its religion’s ashes. It is a story from first person accounts of Major General Farid Zadeh, a very devout Muslim, and his fall from grace to realization of how life is outside of his own bubble.

Nick Daniels, author of The Jihad’s Messiah and published by Risen Books, has written a thought provoking, edge of your seat thriller that could be compared to Joel Rosenberg’s End of the World trilogy dealing with similar subject matter. He talks about events as if they were in the past and why things are always as they seem including a new look at people from an unfiltered Islamic structure.

What makes it a Christian novel? The events in the story are mostly laid out in the Holy Bible dealing with end of time sequences and the “Rapture” of all those believing in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Further, it shows how Christians differ from Islam and might interest you or anger you depending where you fall in the two spectrums.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I challenge those that love Christian fiction or who are Christians to give The Jihad’s Messiah a read and see if your curiosity was worth a glimpse as it was for me.

Be blessed!

Bradley Evans

Fear No Evil book review by Bradley Evans

Premise:

With his father in a nursing home and his mother needing support, former Great Smoky Mountains park ranger Lincoln Vailes moves to the bayou town of Eternal Springs, Louisiana, to become a police officer. Recent college graduate and eager social worker Jade Laurent has also moved there to try and right the wrongs of an abusive past. But someone is running her car off the road and pointing guns in her direction. As Lincoln investigates her case, he uncovers ties to big-city gang warfare up north that appears to be making its evil way down south.

Review:

When I decided to start reviewing again for 2011, I had 3 stacks of books to choose from that day. At the top of the second stack was this book Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll. My first foray several months ago was her first book in a trilogy called Deliver Us From Evil. It was a very exciting read. I never had heard of the Bayou series that she wrote a few years prior and so I read it with a blank slate. The main characters in that book were Brannon Callahan, Roark Holland and Lincoln Vailes(partner of Brannon’s with U.S. Park Service) set in the Great Smokey Mountains.

In Fear No Evil, book two in the trilogy, the story shifts from the Smokey Mountains back to more familiar grounds of Louisiana where Mrs. Caroll is from actually. Just like with the first book, I wanted to be green and open minded to escape in the story and see if she can teach me something new and investigative. I knew very little about child trafficking issues and how bad it was in this country until I read Deliver Us From Evil.

Fear No Evil's subject matters are gang issues and the struggles both in and out of prison which Caroll brilliantly portrays. The main characters are Lincoln Vailes and Jade Laurent.

Lincoln Vailes has gone from being a Park Ranger to being a police officer in Louisiana. His first job as a newly constituted lawman was moving to Louisiana at the most crazy time of year. It was hurricane season. While escaping a direct hit by one, the damage and flooding was just as severe.

Jade Laurent, social worker for Child Protective service, is a recent college graduate that seems to try and help everyone in the small town of Eternal Springs, Louisiana. In addition to helping women and the local shelter, she befriends Lincoln’s parents at the hospital she frequents with her job. His father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and she seems to help him and his mother cope better.

One thing that was hard for Jade was fixing her own problems. Her mother died when she was young and unable to leave her past in the past. The strengths of Lincoln helps Jade’s weaknesses and vice versa for Jade. As this reader found out Lincoln, Jade and the supporting cast make Fear No Evil for a fun quick ride of words.

If you like romantic suspense thrillers, then Robin Caroll is a good author to choose. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.


Be blessed!

Bradley

Standing Firm Movie Review by Bradley Evans

Premise:

David, a widower, is working himself to death. Late nights doing paperwork and running on fumes is normal. Bills are piling up by the week and foreclosure looms on the horizon. Blaming God for his wife's death, he ends his relationship with the church.

Steven, the remaining Christian of the household, has been watching his father’s unhealthy lifestyle with great concern. With help from his grandpa and best friend Maggie, Steven reaches out to his father in any way he can.

Despite his grieving and worsening financial problems, David begins seeking an answer to the question haunting him since his wife's death...WHY?

STANDING FIRM is a story of suffering, God's purpose in it, and being joyful despite it.

Review:

After viewing the trailer of Standing Firm on Facebook, I was intrigued about the story behind this movie. In my investigations, I determined this project is the first independent one ever from Kyle Prohaska. Not only is it an independent film…. It is an independent Christian film. I must confess that I love watching independent movies most of the time and always hope that Christian documentaries and feature films are interesting and not over done. What is over done? Being to preachy, showing you’re desperate to finish the story, script or how the directing can look and sound bad. Independent companies and directors have low budgets for their film but can still look great like typical big motion pictures. Some examples of low budget Christian films that looked great and have a good story are Flywheel, The Perfect Stranger, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry and Dangerous Calling.

Standing Firm is the story about being lost and the hopes of getting found by someone or something. I was stunned that a first film endeavor by a director was a feature film. A feature film is anything over one hour which is amazing. Most first time directors are lucky to get a good 20 to 30 minutes documentary movie to look great. This was great for the whole 81 minutes.

As I watched Mr. Prohaska’s work unfold on the screen, I was impressed by his attention to detail and development with his characters and a matured innocence with the camera. The script that he also co-wrote with Kevin Michael was captivating and believable. Rob Reisman (David Corwin) was excellent and heart wrenching to witness on screen. For someone with no acting experience before, Mr. Reisman looked like a semi-professional to me. I hope that I see him acting again in the future.

When David and his son Steven are dealt with a catastrophic blow to their family and way of life, the unfolding story shows what God can do in loss of identity and love through death. The power of prayer, hope, faith, love and willingness to live and move on made Standing Firm a movie library buy for me. The moving and believable examples of Christianity and God shown I hope will cause others to buy and watch it over and over for years to come. It is truly a death to grave and rebirth from ashes to beauty with God’s guidance.

I don’t know what Mr. Prohaska’s future holds for him but I hope he does a feature film again when God allows because I see great potential for him. I hope his name will be mentioned one day as a great director with the likes of Rich Christiano, Alex Kendrick, Dallas Jenkins and producer Ralph Winter to name a few. They also make excellent Christian films.

I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars.

Be blessed!

Bradley

My Movie Review of Secrets of the Mountain

Synopsis:
Somewhere between the demands of her career, her ex's wedding and her kids' busy schedules, Dana James (Paige Turco, The Agency) is noticing her tight-knit family starting to unravel. An unexpected offer to purchase her family's mountain property sets up a weekend road trip, which she hopes will bring her family back together. When they arrive, they quickly learn that the mountain is much more than it seems. An ancient secret and a treacherous quest will test the family like never before. It's an edge-of-the seat thriller that reminds us that when times are tough, families don't run away from problems - they run back to each other.

Review:

Recently, I picked up a copy of the movie Secrets of the Mountain at my local Wal-Mart because I was looking for a good wholesome family movie to watch. After purchasing it, I realized that it had been on NBC several months prior. Normally when I look for movies, I check to see if they had been made for TV. Besides the Hallmark movies, I typically do not watch those types. Usually, the scripts or the acting are bad or uninteresting. When I was a boy, NBC movies on Sunday were great and I hope after seeing this one that more like it are on the horizon.

The story of an overworked and rarely playful mom dealing with the remarriage of her ex-husband has been overdone in the past. However, the twist of the family land for sale and adventure to find the secrets under the mountain was attention getting. There are not many made for TV movies just for families these days, so I was hopeful this was a good one.

Secrets of the Mountain is the movie about Dana James, an overworked attorney, who has been abruptly called away from work to pick up her kids from her ex-husband’s wedding reception. She has also been offered a deal to purchase her family’s land, previously owned by her Uncle Henry before his untimely death. Uncle Henry Beecham, played by Barry Bostwick (TV’s Spin City, Rocky Horror Picture Show), was an adventurer finding treasures like the Indiana Joneses all around the world.
After arriving home from getting her kids, Dana is called to meet the realtor quickly to finalize the land’s sale. Her children are forced to join her for a week to see the lodge and the mountain one last time before it’s sold. Dana has three children. They are twins Jade Ann and Jake and younger Maddie. Jade Ann (Adelaide Kane) is the oldest daughter who dresses in gothic attire and has anger issues with feelings of abandonment. Jake (Crawford Wilson) is the only son of Dana and a basketball jock with no sense of adventure. However, the youngest daughter Maddie (Kayla Carlson) is very smart, ambitious and adventurous just like her mother.

As the story winds down, dealing with the villain of Dana’s past who killed her uncle and almost her, gave this feeling like Disney’s movie Escape from Witch Mountain had which I liked. As Dana and her kids find themselves working together as a team while hurrying to find the secrets of the mountain, a new bond and love is found that had been buried like those treasures so long ago. While no extraterrestrial powers were used like Escape from Witch Mountain, the teamwork, willpower and determination to protect the family and the mountain was all that was needed. Secrets of the Mountain feels like a great beginning for a Sunday movie of the week like back in the old days on NBC. I really came away with a smile on my face and that family movie night just might be back. I hope you feel that this is a great movie for your family in your home. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Be blessed!

Bradley

http://familymoments.walmart.com/secrets-of-the-mountain/about

The Lost and Found Family Movie Review

Premise:

When her husband dies, Mrs. Ester Hobbes learns that his wealth was just an illusion. Her only real inheritance is a run-down Southern home occupied by a foster family. Slowly, Mrs. Hobbes finds herself making unexpected connections with rebellious teen Justin and the rest of the unwanted kids. Five guarded and confused foster children, two loving but weary foster parents and one grieving former socialite find themselves in an unwanted place. Put them all under one dilapidated roof and you get eight unique individuals in a house. Or maybe, just maybe, it becomes the family they've all been longing for. The Lost & Found Family is a touching story of hardship, change, and the faith that God can make things better, no matter how difficult the situation appears in our eyes.

Review:

What do you get when veteran actors meet new unknown actors in a movie? It is The Lost and Found Family. It has veteran actress Ellen Bry (TV’s St. Elsewhere, Mission Impossible III) leading a cast that tells the story of fear, loss, anger and redemption. Lucas Till (Hannah Montana) is the other actor of notoriety in this movie. He plays rebellious teen Justin who feels he has to be tough and distant with his emotions and behavior. He has bounced from one foster home to another over the years and believes he has developed a thick skin. When Mrs. Hobbes, a recent orphaned woman, shows up with cheer and hope, there seems to be a new identity and trust forming as the story unfolds. Teri (Jessica Luza) is a lost, sad girl trying to be understood and fit in as an older teen in the home of Tony (Jeff Portell, We Are Marshall and Broken Bridges) and Ramona (Lynn Cole). Teri struggles with peer pressure at school and the prospects of moving again with Mrs. Hobbes showing up.
I give this movie a 5 out of 5 stars. It is great for the whole family. Its lessons of trust, hope, faith and love are comforting and endearing to watch. I hope that when you are looking for a movie to watch with your family or just yourself, you will consider The Lost and Found Family.


Be blessed!

Bradley

My Book Review of “Rooms” by James Rubart

Preface:

On a rainy spring day in Seattle, young software tycoon Micah Taylor receives a cryptic, twenty-five-year-old letter from a great uncle he never knew. It claims a home awaits him on the Oregon coast that will turn his world inside out. Suspecting a prank, Micah arrives at Cannon Beach to discover a stunning brand new nine-thousand square foot house. After meeting Sarah Sabin at a nearby ice cream shop, he has two reasons to visit the beach every weekend. When bizarre things start happening in the rooms of the home, Micah suspects they have some connection to his enigmatic new friend, Rick, the town mechanic. But, Rick will only say the house is spiritual. This unnerves Micah because his faith slipped away like the tide years ago and he wants to keep it that way. As he slowly discovers, the home isn’t just spiritual, it’s a physical manifestation of his soul which God uses to heal Micah’s darkest wounds and lead him into an astonishing new destiny.

Review:

This story deals with the unexpected gift of a house from a man that you’ve never met before. It is an intriguing premise by James Rubart. Rooms is a mysterious, slowly unfolding novel dealing with Micah Taylor, a 30 something software tycoon billionaire. With one surprise twist after another, the revelations learned can be applied to all. Imagine living a life needing nothing because you have money to get whatever you want except for the one thing that is not for sale. It is a house with many rooms that magically appear with instructions to help you understand what is transpiring about you and this gift. Then, it becomes clear at some point that this new house seems to be alive and not only hears your thoughts but makes each room perfect for you. Is God behind this?
With parts of “The Shack” and “Screwtape Letters” intrigue, Rooms has a great message that can be learned each time you read it. I believe it is a great lesson about choices and how important they are in making a great life on Earth. Do you believe in God? If you do, then what is more important? Being in God’s army or the world’s? Rooms deals with importance in life, family, money, power and love. We all know life is not simple and neither is this book. I believe it has potential to be a Christian classic like C. S. Lewis works or “Hinds Feet On High Places” by Hannah Hurnard.
I give this book a 4 ½ out of 5 stars. I hope you will read it and feel as reflective and touched as I did while reading it.

Be blessed!

Brad

“Live Fast Die Young” Movie Review

Premise:

At an exclusive Hollywood party on Christmas Eve, an A-list star dies of an apparent overdose. A detective holds a protesting core group of Hollywood insiders for questioning. The group, consisting of an A-list director, a top agent, a movie star, a media mogul, a writer, a wannabe actress, a studio head, and others, begins a deep and profound discussion on the meaning of life, including the existence of God.

Review:

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a new Christian movie at my local Family Christian Bookstore. I have not bought a Christian movie in a while. As I decide for something, I try to find stories that stand out with interesting plots or great market catches. For this movie, I saw on the cover, # 1 Christian movie in theaters after “Fireproof.” This was interesting because I never saw a trailer for it before and it was not on at the local theaters. I should know, because I really look for Christian movies and see them in the theater if I can. Also on the DVD, I read it was from the director of “The Genius Club” and felt that was a good movie.

As I started to watch this movie, I felt uncomfortable during the first 25 minutes. It started slow, predictable and rather cheesy. The story dealt with too many minor details working up to the pivotal moment at an exclusive Hollywood party one night. This is not what I want to see at the theater much less on DVD. Was writer/director Tim Chey letting me down? Why he decided to start the movie or for that matter write the script so cheesy knowing he has done better work was disappointing. At the 26th minute, the film seemed to begin. There was maturity in the writing and the storytelling both visually and through the acting. The movie is about trying to be successful, famous and acknowledged in the Hollywood circles.

The story has the proverbial director, producer, famous celebrity, wannabe celebrities, writers, agents, etc… While no one should be shocked at how the director, producer, and media mogul act arrogantly, I do like how we get to see behind their masks as well as the masks of other characters in the movie. This opportunity is provided when the exclusive Hollywood party’s pivotal moments occur. A new A-list actress starring in her first feature film dies of an apparent overdose of drugs. The detective in charge of this case decides that he needs to hold everyone at the party for questioning for 6 hours.

As the night unfolds while everyone is questioned, the masks that each of the characters have are removed one at a time showing their raw emotions. Many issues such as suicide, abuse, fear, pride, and the seven deadly sins are discussed. One subject discussed the most however is Jesus Christ.

A likeable actor among the group discusses his recent conversion to Christianity and how that one decision has made his future better forever. Live Fast Die Young is a funny, heartwarming movie that provides hope, faith and facing the undeniable truth in full High Definition.

This is not the # 1 Christian movie after “Fireproof” in my opinion but, it is in the top 5 and Why? God is discussed and this is rare in Christian movies. I like how the discussions and questions raised give not only the characters on the screen something to learn and take away but for the viewers as well. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.

Be blessed!


Brad

My Book Review of “The Leisure Seeker” by Michael Zadoorian

Premise :

John and Ella Robina have shared a wonderful life for more than fifty years. Now in their eighties, Ella suffers from Cancer and has chosen to stop treatment. John has Alzheimer's. Yearning for one last adventure, the self-proclaimed "down-on-their-luck geezers" kidnap themselves from their adult children and doctors who seem to run their lives. They steal away from their home in suburban Detroit for a forbidden vacation of rediscovery.

With Ella as his vigilant copilot, John steers their '78 Leisure Seeker RV along the forgotten roads of Route 66 toward Disneyland in search of a past they're having a hard time remembering. Ella is determined to prove that when it comes to life, a person can go back for seconds while sneaking a little extra time and grabbing a small portion more, even when everyone says you can't.

Darkly observant, told with humor, affection, and a touch of irony, The Leisure Seeker is an odyssey through the ghost towns, deserted trailer parks, forgotten tourist attractions, giant roadside icons, and crumbling back roads of America. Ultimately it is the story of Ella and John, the people they encounter, the problems they overcome, the experiences they have lived, the love they share and their courage to take back the end of their own lives.

Review:

When you were growing up, did you and your family go on vacation across the country? My family did in a car. It was a great time for the most part. I felt free and happy while doing it on the open road. If I had been old enough, I would probably have thought of it as an escape from the everyday routines and mundane, unpleasant realities of life. As I decided to read this book, I wanted to read a story filled with adventure, funny stories and dealing with tough subject matter that was not too depressing. With the premise above, I felt “The Leisure Seeker” was a first person account of adventure filled with a lot of comedy, a little sadness and just the right amount of realism. Michael Zadoorian tells an amazing story told from Ella Robina’s point of view. You felt like you were riding along with them in their Leisure Seeker RV experiencing what they were doing at every turn. This story is “Fried Green Tomatoes meets “Driving Miss Daisy” meets “The Notebook” all rolled into one story.

I believe that if you are looking for a raw honest assessment of life through the mind of an elderly woman you will enjoy this book. Ella curses sporadically throughout their adventures. She uses G. D. the most often. If you are looking for a Christian story with no salty language this is not the one for you. But if you do, I believe you are missing out on an unforgettable story and quite possibly a life changing one because of how it looks at a Cancer victim and her prince with Alzheimer’s.

While I did not like the predictable ending and the unnecessary cursing, I believe this is a great adventure story filled with truths learned when dealing with elderly parents who escape to live and breathe. I can understand this story from the older children’s prospective also because I have had several family members who also had Alzheimer’s. I also have felt the fear and smothering effects of Cancer told by friends and family who have now died or still are survivors of a powerful disease.
I am glad that I read The Leisure Seeker and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Be blessed!

Brad

Book Review of Try Dying by James Scott Bell

Premise: Ty Buchanan is a rising star on track to be a partner in his L.A. law firm, until the suspicious death of his fiancée, Jacqueline Dwyer, forces him into the underbelly of the city to discover the truth behind her death. He soon has more than his career on the line, as he finds himself tangled up with a mysterious group of former gang members and becomes the target of a killer.

Review: In this fast paced thriller, Try Dying, lawyer Ty Buchanan is faced with the grim reality that his life is forever changed on a wet Tuesday morning in December when a man, Ernesto Bonilla, decides to end his life and his wife’s as well in a murder suicide. The problem with Ernesto’s suicide was that it happened on an overpass of a busy road in Los Angeles. He pulled the trigger causing his fall onto Jacqueline Dwyer’s car as she drove to work that morning.

The chain of events for Ty Buchanan flies quickly from grief to trying to find the killer of his fiancée, all while trying one of the biggest cases of his career. While I read this book, I was rooting for Ty Buchanan. James Scott Bell is a definite master of his craft. His mixture of humor, suspense and mental pictures is a great combination.

The only thing that I can compare this book to is a show that was cancelled a few years ago called Eli Stone. The only difference between Ty Buchanan and Eli Stone is Eli had a brain tumor. Ty Buchanan just mentally snaps while trying to prepare for a major trial against big bully lawyer, Barton Walbert. While Ty is also dealing with investigating the death of his fiancée, he is assaulted physically several times. I ask… Wouldn’t YOU snap too while being bullied and tired of basically being told what to do from the gang thugs, his boss and Barton Walbert? I believe this book is a fun adventure and suspenseful pleasure to read. I give Try Dying a 4 ½ out of 5 stars.

Be blessed!

Brad

What to Do

April 1st... Beginning of a new month. Spring is finally here and the pollen has me sneezing. I have decided to right one blog a month where I free think it and not edit that much. Now, I have only one problem. Do I want to write what I want to write or the ideas of followers of this blog? I want to hear what you think. Do you want to give me ideas or me to randomly pick an idea that week and write what I want? If you want to pick then reply to this blog with I pick followed by your topic idea.

For today only until I get at least one response, I will talk about What to do.

What to do... Where is the clue?
Is it under a rock or in my sock?
Probably not oh what to do...

Gone is yesterday and today almost
But tomorrow is coming guess I can coast

What to do??? What to do?
Could play Disc Golf again today
Nope because I am too sore anyway
Reading is all I do like I have crawled in a shoe
What to do? What to do?

If you've got a clue to this poem
I don't mind what your shown
OK this is not very good
Can't do anything and wish I could

Be blessed!

Brad

Book Review of Between Two Kingdoms by Joe Boyd

Premise:

In this work of allegorical fantasy, author Joe Boyd takes us on a pilgrimage to a land of two kingdoms, but with only one true King. An ancient land, where children never grow old, is the first setting as a living land called the Upper Kingdom. Here foundations grow in trees and rivers sing and breathe. The second setting is a dying land, where the darkness of a false prince threatens to swallow everything in its shadow, called the Lower Kingdom.

Enter the adventure with Tommy, a child of the Great King, as he and his friends accept the challenge to live as grown men and women in the Lower Kingdom. Here hope is hidden, vision is clouded, and pride twists truth into a beautiful yet deadly deception.

Review:

Between Two Kingdoms is a fantasy book with use able data for our daily lives. This is the first thought I had while reading these stories filled with verbal imagery. What I found was so much more. There was one surprise after another as I read each and every chapter. I saw me in those pages. I saw you in those pages. Joe Boyd has a great imagination and grasp on all things not of this world and of this world. The way he describes constant distractions that keeps our lives from being 100% happy and free is one extreme. All the ideas I realized I have on Heaven and the way the church should be are revealed as another.

The Lower Kingdom in this book is filled with filth, doubt, pain, tears, fear and so much more. It is what we may already know about Earth and things we wish we could forget. On the other hand, the Upper Kingdom with the King on the throne and the Prince by his side are glimpses of Heaven for me.

Do you like to read stories that stand alone as individual pieces or be a part of one giant story or puzzle? Do you like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien fantasy books like The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings? Have you read The Shack by William P. Young? If you have, then this book fits right in with those stories and descriptions of who, what and where God is and Jesus his son. If you have not, I hope that you will read them all in the future. You don’t have time to read them all? Ok, then read this one first because it is the shortest and then work your way to one of the others. I believe you will love this story and place it on your shelf for many to read. It will be a classic in the future just like all of C. S. Lewis’ works. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Be blessed!

Brad