Amber

Macbeth: Killings of Kings and a Merry Christmas

Posted by Amber on December 23, 2015

Posted in: Drama, Movie Reviews, War. Tagged: Macbeth, Marion Cotillard, Michael Fassbender, Rating 5, tragedy, William Shakespeare. 2 Comments

Review by Amber

I’m going to connect Macbeth to the story of Christmas.

Yes, you read that right. There is a connection to the events in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the events leading up to and surrounding the birth of Jesus. How does this deeply psychological tragedy of ferocious ambition and civil war relate to the Christmas story? We’ll take a look at the riveting film adaptation, expertly directed by Justin Kurzel, and starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard; and then we will examine how it ties in to Jesus’ story. Continue Reading

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2: or How Do We Keep History from Repeating Itself?

Posted by Amber on November 22, 2015

Posted in: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi. Tagged: christian review, fantasy, Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence, Mockingjay, Rating 4-4.5, sci-fi, young adult fantasy novel. 1 Comment

Review by Amber

In the action-packed finale of The Hunger Games series, Panem is in the midst of a massive uprising. War and death are everywhere. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her friends and allies are in a fight to the death to free their homeland from the oppressive rule of the Capitol and President Snow (Donald Sutherland). While Mockingjay falls under the post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy genre, it raises a lot of questions that are (chillingly) relevant to both historical and current events. Continue Reading

Moonrise Kingdom: A Place to Belong

Posted by Amber on October 4, 2015

Posted in: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Movie Reviews, Romance. Tagged: Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, christian review, Ed Norton, Frances McDormand, Moonrise Kingdom, Rating 4-4.5, Wes Anderson. Leave a comment

Review by Amber

When two young lovers flee their homes in a tiny New England town to start a new life, the island is turned inside out with the search to find them. Written by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola, and shot in Wes Anderson’s signature quirky style, this 2013 Oscar- and Golden Globe- nominated movie is a sweet story about love, family, and finding a place to belong. Continue Reading

The Fall: We All Need Someone to Help Pick Us Up

Posted by Amber on August 18, 2015

Posted in: Drama, Movie Reviews. Tagged: christian movie review, Lee Pace, Rating 5, Tarsem, The Fall. 2 Comments

Review by Amber

“Los Angeles: once upon a time.” From the moment it begins, The Fall sets the stage for a fairytale; we expect beauty, magic, and wonder—and The Fall delivers. What begins as an unlikely friendship between an injured five-year-old girl and a paraplegic young Hollywood stunt man, transforms into an epic tale of love and loss, as well as life and death. Filmed over a period of four years in eighteen different countries, rich with metaphor and sparkling with vivid imagery, The Fall is not only visually stunning, but also intensely emotional.

Much Ado About Adaptations: a Comparative Analysis

Posted by Amber on June 1, 2015

Posted in: Rants. Tagged: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, christian blog, Emma Thompson, Joss Whedon, Kenneth Branagh, William Shakespeare. 3 Comments

Rant by Amber

No matter how many times the plays of William Shakespeare are performed—whether on stage or on screen—we never tire of them. The plays endure thanks to the universalism of Shakespeare’s themes and the humanity of the characters he created. By examining the dramatic differences in two film adaptations of Much Ado About Nothing—namely, Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 film and Joss Whedon’s 2012 film—we see that there seem to be as many ways of adapting Shakespeare’s works as there are creative minds to adapt them. The differences in these two adaptations arise from the directors’ fundamentally contrasting approaches: Branagh’s is decidedly theatrical, while Whedon’s is truly cinematic. Continue Reading

Much Ado About Nothing: Love and Intrigue in a Modern Noir Fantasy

Posted by Amber on May 19, 2015

Posted in: Comedy, Movie Reviews. Tagged: Joss Whedon, movie reviews, Much Ado About Nothing, Rating 4-4.5, William Shakespeare. 3 Comments

Review by Amber

Director/writer/producer Joss Whedon has become known and beloved through a number of action-packed movies and television series, including the Avengers movies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. But in his 2012 adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Whedon applies his unique vision and a more subtle approach to one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies (sans superheroes and vampires).

Ratatouille: Hungry for More

Posted by Amber on April 14, 2015

Posted in: Animated, Family, Movie Reviews. Tagged: animation, christian movie review, Pixar, Ratatouille, Rating 5. 2 Comments

Review by Amber

Once upon a time, there was a rat that loved to cook. Sounds plausible, right? But what appears to be an improbable premise is actually a moving story full of surprisingly deep life lessons. Place that in the hands of Pixar Animation studios and director Brad Bird, then add the illustrious voice talents of Ian Holm and Peter O’Toole, and the result is an award-winning animated gem for audience members of all ages.

Song of the Sea: Loss, Love, and What Makes Us Human

Posted by Amber on March 24, 2015

Posted in: Animated, Family, Fantasy, Movie Reviews. Tagged: animation, christian movie review, Rating 5, Song of the Sea. 4 Comments

“Come away, oh human child, to the waters and the wild
With a fairy, hand in hand,
For the world is more full of weeping than you can understand.”

Review by Amber

An enchanting tale of grief and loss, magic and love, Song of the Sea (2014) is another animated work of art from director Tomm Moore (Secret of Kells). Utterly mesmerizing, the film draws you in as the line between reality and fairytale is gradually blurred, and then erased entirely. Award-winning and Oscar-nominated Song of the Sea is a magical and moving cinematic masterpiece.

The Secret of Kells: Artistry Requires Bravery

Posted by Amber on February 17, 2015

Posted in: Animated, Family, Fantasy, Movie Reviews. Tagged: animation, art, artistry, book of kells, illuminator, movie reviews, Rating 5, secret of kells. 1 Comment

“I have seen beauty thrive in the most fragile of places. I have seen the book–the book that turns darkness into light.”

Review by Amber

The struggle between fear and creativity is endless. When we are children, creativity comes easily and naturally, but as we grow up, the concerns of everyday life begin to drown it out. The award-winning and Oscar-nominated gem The Secret of Kells (2009) illustrates how crucial our creativity is, and how we can use it to glorify God.

Looking Back on 2014: Amber’s Take

Posted by Amber on January 9, 2015

Posted in: Rants. Tagged: 2014 films, 2014 movies, captain america, divergent, guardians of the galaxy, Hunger Games, Into the Woods, The Imitation Game. 4 Comments

As I look back on 2014, I realize the new movies I wanted to see far outnumber the new movies that I did see. Here are some of my favorites from this year: