Movie Review: Haywire - R

Mallory Kane is an operative working for a government security contractor.

After freeing a hostage in a successful operation, she is double-crossed and left for dead by someone in the company.  Mallory must figure out a way to stay alive and how to catch whoever betrayed her.  

There is plenty of action, but there is a really implausibility created by her beating up people twice her size.

Content warnings are some language and violence.  I found it particularly disturbing to watch several scenes where a man is punching a woman half his size.

It was an 'okay' film which did not live up to the expectations set by its previews.

Leticia Velasquez - A Special Mother is Born

Movie Review: A Mile in His Shoes - PG

Based on a true story.

Arthur Murphy, "Murph" (Dean Cain) is the coach of the River Rats, a minor league baseball team.  He discovers a great pitcher in Mickey Tussler.  Mickey has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.  Murph convinces Mickey's parents to let him join the team and he really takes Mickey under his wing. 

Most of the team is very supportive of Mickey.  He also contributes to the team, both in terms of winning and by raising the team spirit and motivation.

A very entertaining, heartwarming and inspirational story.  The whole family will enjoy this.

Book Review: "Kill Alex Cross" by James Patterson

Washington's water supply has been contaminated, and the President's son and daughter have been kidnapped.   Despite the fact that some pretty influential people want to exclude him, Alex Cross finds himself involved in both  investigations.

The question is, are theses two events related?   Regardless, time is running out for both.  Alex must try to find the President's children, while preventing another attack in the nation's capital.

Two stories are told simultaneously, resulting in a "can't put it down" thriller.  One of Patterson's better Alex Cross stories.

My interview with the Long Island Catholic

I lived most of my life on Long Island, NY. I told the reporter the story of how my book,
"A Special Mother is Born" came to be.

Here's an excerpt;

Velasquez said “A Special Mother is Born,” “my own story of Christina’s birth,” was first published in Faith & Family magazine in spring of 2007. “I received so many letters in response from women who had the same epiphany of being surprised by this powerful joy, this encounter with Jesus in the person of their special needs child, that I knew I was on to something,” she continued. “I began collecting stories from mothers three years ago, and was delighted to meet many courageous faith-filled women.” Reading former Senator Rick Santorum’s story in The Philadelphia Inquirer about his daughter with special needs inspired Velasquez to ask fathers to contribute to the book as well.

You can read it on their website.

October Baby - In Theaters March 2012!

October Baby - In Theaters March 2012!

Movie Review: The Adventures of Tintin (2011) - PG

Young reporter Tintin obtains a model ship which contains part of the secret to the location of a sunken treasure.  On this search, he is accompanied by his dog snowy, and Captain Haddock.  They are helped by the bumbling detectives Thompson and Thomson, and pursued by Ivan Ivanovitch.

The search takes them halfway around the world, and there is a lot more adventure than you'd expect in an animated film.

The animation is superb, and it's easy to forget the characters are not real people.

The story is more complex than expected,  but not too much so for kids to enjoy.  My nephews, ages 11-14. really enjoyed it.

A very good, enjoyable family film.

Movie Review: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol - PG13

Ethan Hunt and the IMF are framed for a bombing of the Kremlin and  disavowed by the President, who invokes "ghost protocol".  Now they have a dual mission:  to clear their name, and stop a madman terrorist from launching a nuclear missile and starting a war.

The acting is top motch, especially Tom Cruise and Michael Nyqvist (who is quickly becoming a favorite of mine).

A very engaging plot and intense action scenes.  Several plot twists add to the excitement.

Warnings include some language and violence.

2 words:  SEE IT!

http://www.missionimpossible.com/

Christmas Blessings, 2011

Win a DVD/Blu-ray copy of "Dolphin Tale"

Christmas giveaway, leave a comment below to  be entered in our "Dolphin Tale" giveaway.

 Read the review of this fine family film here.