'Bran Hambric' - the new 'Harry Potter'?

Many children (and adults) fell in love with the 'Harry Potter' novels when they first made an appearance. I must admit, when I finished Book 6 of that series I really wanted to read Book 7 straightaway (and I was able to because I hadn't bothered buying either as soon as they were released).

However, since the novels have finished, I'm sure many have felt a kind of void from not being able to escape to another world filled with magic and fun. Is this the solution?

Bran Hambric is just a normal, average boy who, at the age of 6, was found in a bank vault one morning, and so belonged to the person who found him from then onwards. (He has also lived with this family from that point to the present.) Skip eight years, and Bran still has no idea about his past - his memory was wiped the moment he was sent magically to the vault. 'The Farfield Curse' is about Bran finding out about himself, his past, and the choices he has to make to create a positive future for himself as well as those around him.

The book is full of wonderful puns and quips relating to everyday life. There is magic occurring in a city that has outlawed magic (and gnomes). There is a family that really needs their heads banged together to give them a little sense. There are interesting villains that, well, at the end you're not so sure what their game actually is. There is courage in many shapes (and sizes). And a curse that makes for a thrilling climax.

Now, Kaleb Nation (the author) is bringing out 'The Specter Key' on Sunday, 10th October, 2010 (10/10/10). This is a sequel to 'The Farfield Curse' and should prove very interesting, especially for Bran who thinks things have finished at the end of the first novel. With the countdown to his book's release, Kaleb started a '30 Days to Bran' daily vlog. With 7 days to go, he released a vlog of him reading the first chapter of 'The Specter Key'. Also, there is an official 'Bran Hambric' website.

'The Farfield Curse' was a great read, and I recommend it for anyone who had fun reading 'Harry Potter' or any other books that contain magic in them, especially children. Hopefully my copy of 'The Specter Key' will arrive in Australia very shortly.

* Warning: There are guns and death in this book. Nothing major, but some of you parents out there might like the heads up. It says on the back of the book it's suitable for ages 9+.

UPDATE: Received 'The Specter Key' in the post yesterday! Already started reading it, and enjoying it. Only made the second chapter, though...Life keeps interfering!!!

'The Last Airbender: 3D'

So, went and saw this on Tuesday night. Hmmm...where to begin?

Usually I like M. Night Shyamalan's movies - sometimes I just want to have a little bit of a different experience at the movies instead of just the usual Rom/Com I go for. I've seen 'The Sixth Sense', 'Signs' and 'The Village' - loved them all. However, there is something about this movie that I just can't find it in me to say "It's a great movie". It isn't. About the best feature of the movie that I can tell is that I was able to see it in 3D. Okay, maybe that is an exaggeration, but...

There are some good actors in this movie, including Cliff Curtis and Dev Patel. Noah Ringer, too, I think will be an up-and-coming young actor to be seen in the future.

A lot of the time you can sit back and enjoy the story. (I've heard that if you like the TV series then you don't enjoy the story, but as I don't know the series...) Seeing the movie in 3D, too, really let me enjoy many of the landscapes and the objects advancing towards the audience, as though coming out of the screen.

The story, at it's heart, is good. It has an interesting concept - people being able to control the elements of fire, water, air and earth. People in this movie are able to use them to help, protect and fight with them. This is one aspect that I enjoyed about the movie - watching the different things that the characters were able to do with their bending. This, of course, was all done with special effects - and they are really something, too. And, of course, the long held idea of standing up for one's rights is always good to see in movies.

However, the pitfalls of the movie outweighed the great aspects of the experience. No matter how spectacular the special effects are nothing can beat great editing and storytelling. This is not evident throughout the movie. At times one, as the audience, gets the feeling that there was more to certain scenes that got removed and left on the cutting-room floor. An example: when the Princess (of the Water City that comes under attack from the Fire Nation) gives up her spirit to save the city. What happens to her in the end? Why do we, all of a sudden, next see Sokka and Katara out fighting without some sort of transitional sequence? Why don't we see them make a decision to go and join the fight in honour of the Princess or something like that? This occurs at other points in the movie, so one is sometimes left piecing things together on one's own. Not good, not good at all. It leaves the audience feeling confused and unhappy with the final product. Hence another reason why many people are disliking the movie, no doubt.

One other thing I haven't mentioned is that, at times, the dialogue of the actors comes out as though they are trying to remember their lines - or else they were told to pause before they said their line. This is not effective in times of action sequences, or when quickness is the key to making the scene work. An example of this happening is when Kotara (with Sokka and the Princess in the background) tells Aang that they need to hurry to the wall of the Water City to look at what is occurring. Either the director told them to take a moment to emphasise their words, or the lines were being remembered, and the director ran with it. This isn't helpful in making the movie enjoyable - it just draws it out even longer. Yes...for the first time in a movie, I actually did look at my mobile, wondering how long I had left of it.

Overall, if you love special effects, go see the movie. Otherwise, dodge it. It's not worth it. Yes, I probably will see the sequel. I liked the storyline in general. I just hope that they learn how to edit appropriately beforehand, or else put scenes in that join the story together and make it something worth while spending money on.

One really enjoyable fact: I had my own private screening, in some ways. It was really good not having to listen to the rattling of plastic, or peoples comments, or things like that, while watching the movie.

Another Short Post... (NRL Grand Final)

I'm in the process of putting together a post on the NRL Grand Final. Was there, 10 rows back from the Roosters bench - with Roosters fans surrounding me. It was...an experience.

Will include pictures, and details of the GF in this post. Stay tuned in the next three or four days.

Until then...

P.S. - Just thought - will make the NRL GF a page in itself. It deserves it - and it's going to be big!

Just a short post today...

Just a quick note for those of you who are interested...

I'm going to the Grand Final tomorrow, between St George-Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. This should be a very thrilling (fingers crossed) match as they have both provided some spectacular moments during the season, as well as in the finals series. Hopefully it won't be a fizzer.

Anyway, the rain is supposed to come and stay for this weekend, but that shouldn't dampen the spirits out at the stadium. It's supposed to be a packed house, so the atmosphere should be awesome.

I've also put a poll up on my site for who you want to win. Of course, you can (if you are really desperate) click more than once on the voting, but, really, it's a bit sad if you do. Just vote the once, and we'll see who goes for which team the greatest...perhaps.

Overall...GO THE DRAGONS!!!! 

'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'

I think I saw only one preview for this movie, but, from that, I thought that it would be fun, easy to watch, and have great special effects. Well, I certainly wasn't disappointed in the effects! Having sat through a preview for the Yogi Bear movie that is coming out soon, the effects in this movie were superb. The number of times that special effects were used in this movie - I swear it would be close to every minute! Yet, you wouldn't like the movie without the effects - they make it in some ways. But the acting is very good that you don't really think about the effects at all. (Hmmm...does that even make sense? I hope so...) That's how effects, though, should work - they should complement/supplement the acting.

The plot line is simple enough: reluctant hero finds the courage by the end of the movie to save the world. The message - which is being pushed at kids these days over and over again - is to always believe in yourself and you will conquer your most difficult problems in life. Every movie and book that I watch or read at the moment seems to be focused on that. This, though, does it in a fun way, with many spontaneous funny moments along with the serious scenes. 

The actors are well chosen for their parts (or approached their roles in the best way possible). Nicholas Cage does a very good job showing a serious, but also understanding and lighthearted manner at the same time throughout the movie. He has demonstrated in several movies that he can play a fun role (eg. National Treasure, The Rock, Gone in 60 Seconds - all movies that I've enjoyed numerous times), and the car he has - I want one. Then again, Alfred Molina's car is also very suave at this point (both race through New York in very stylish sports cars - one a Mercedes, didn't catch the other make). Alfred Molina has proven numerous times that he can play a baddie very well. In this he does it brilliantly again. I first saw Mr Molina in 'Chocolat' (which is one of my favourite movies), and he was great in 'Spiderman 2'. He can demonstrate a 'soft' side, but put in the nasty little comments at the same time. In this movie he doesn't demonstrate a soft side at all, but does have numerous situational comedic moments.

One weak point, I admit, is the girl, Becky. Her character is too quick at taking in and accepting all the magic. She believes everything that Dave tells her too easily. Maybe this makes sense to kids, but to adults surely not. The actress herself (Teresa Palmer), though, is not bad at her role; just the lines are not very well written. The guy who plays Dave - our reluctant hero - (Jay Baruchel) does a wonderful job in gaining and keeping the audience's attention. No doubt he will be one to watch in future movies, especially comedies, as he has already starred in things such as 'Tropic Thunder' and 'How to Train Your Dragon'.

There are several funny moments in Dave's training to become the next, most powerful sorcerer in the world (click here if you wish to see one of the more funny moments of the training Dave experiences). Of course, with the title of the movie, it wouldn't be complete without the Mickey Mouse-type scene from 'Fantasia'. Dave, however, does learn his lesson, but teaches his Master (Balthazar Blake), at the same time, a couple of important things too (naturally).

Oh, I forgot to mention: love the Star Wars reference! Love it!

Overall, not a bad movie. Probably will buy it when it comes out on DVD, but not until it drops in price a little bit. However, it'll be good to veg out with - and one that the kids might like on a rainy day during sport at school.