Accepted

Ok let me just say that if there is any movie I totally recommend you see at the same time knowing you probably shouldn't take your kids because of how many times the word sh*t is used it has to be Accepted! I loved this movie! This is one of those few movies that you know in the back of your mind could never happen, but if it did you know you'd totally be a part of it!

So I think everyone knows the premise behind this movie, but I'll explain it to you. Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long) applies to several colleges and doesn't get into any of them. Motivated by his parents disappointment, Bartleby (aka "B") decides to make up a fake letter of acceptance. When his parents decide they are excited to drop him off, B must come up with a fake college. He finds a facility and things are going great until people start showing up for orientation due to the authenticity of the fake school website. Bartleby, familiar with the pain of rejection, can not turn away these students, so they start their own college: South Harmon Institute of Technology! When they're snobby sister school Harmon University tries to put South Harmon out of operation, Bartleby and his buddies have to find a way to avoid parents and jail.

First of all, on a completely personal note, Justin Long is soooooooo hot! Ok, so now that that lack of professionalism is complete, this movie was wonderful! It accomplished something few movies in this latest century (basically the last 6 or so years) have accomplished. It made me want to rise to action. Few of the movies in the last few years have inspired me to much more than a popcorn run somewhere in the middle. This movie made me wish it had actually happened! I was completely ready to put in a transfer to South Harmon and start classes there the minute the credits began to roll! The casting was brilliant! Justin Long is amazing as the underdog, Adam Herschman was a hilarious Glen, and Lewis Black played the role he was born to play! One of the "tuck in my pocket" favorites was Abernathy A. D. D. played by Robin Taylor. (***ASIDE: He reminded me of my very much A. D. D. campus pastor Johnnie Moore! Aww, so cute!) I just have to say, if I was Bartleby and I had a little sister like Lizzie (Hannah Marks), I would have punched her in her mouth and told her to keep her nose out of my business! But anyway, this movie was amazing! It's one of those rare "Actually a Shoe-In for 'Best Movie of the Summer'" movies!

I give Accepted 5 out of 5 stars: *****! Please people, do me a favor...GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

P. S. Not with your kids, idiots!!!

Tink ;-)

Vicky Beeching: Yesterday Today and Forever

Vicky Beeching, one of the newest Christian artists I've been listening to, is absolutely fantastic! Although she hails from Britain, Vicky's home base is in Nashville, Tennessee. She has a wonderful praise and worship style. It's very hip and up-to-date, and yet it doesn't lose its focus: worship. I would not be surprised if I started hearing Vicky played on major Christian radio shows like 91.9 WGTS and 105.1 WAVA! She is a very talented musician and singer, and she maintains her innocence and purity for worship which makes her music easy to listen to. The song Captivated is probably one of the most authentic worship songs I think I've ever heard, and it's one of those songs that speaks to a person's soul. If you are looking for real live worship that is unadulterated and untainted by industry, Vicky Beeching is the artist for you!

I give Yesterday Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching 4 out of 5 stars:****! Add this cd to your music collection!

Tink ;-)

The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers

The Last Sin Eater is a story about a young girl who's quest for forgiveness and redemption leads her straight into the arms of the one and only Savior. Cadi Forbes, a young Scottish girl in the Americas in the 1800s, is haunted by her sins and seeking forgiveness. Ignoring the legends surrounding the sin eater, a person chosen by lots to carry the sins of the village for eternity, Cadi goes looking for him in search of peace and redemption from her sins. This quest changes not only her life, but the lives of all those in her village.

This book was brilliantly written. To be honest, I was at a place where this book spoke directly to my situation. What amazed me most, though, was how accurate the descriptions of feelings and emotions were! You are drawn into Cadi's feelings of guilt and remorse, and when she finally does find her redemption you rejoice with her. From beginning to end, this story holds not only your attention, but your emotions and you feel what the author intends for you to feel. I love that! Anytime an author can successfully weave you into the story so that you think and feel what the characters think and feel, a brilliant piece of work has been crafted!

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, because of its semi-slow start:****! Try to squeeze it into your summer reading!

Tink ;-)

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers is an excellent read. I must admit it started off a little slowly, but it picks up expeditiously in the first chapter. The story is about a young Christian girl who is attending a Christian college in Illinois, which is a ways away from her California life. While going home from work one night, this young girl is raped. To make matters worse, the girl finds out that she is pregnant. The Atonement Child is the story of how this girl deals with the child growing inside of her, the pressure from family and friends to have an abortion, and the still, small voice inside.

Never in my life have I pondered the issue of abortion as I did in reading this book. The author creatively manages to create feelings of sorrow and pity toward the main character, Dynah Carey, while craftily explaining while you may feel sorry abortion is still not an option for her. It really challenges the weak stance many in the Christian community have on the issue of abortion. It speaks to the issues of pregnancy by rape, abortion because of inconvenience, and abortion because of mother's health. This book was brilliantly written, and would do a lot of good if read in the presence of those in public office!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars:*****! Hope you all enjoy your reading!

Tink ;-)

M. Night's Newest: Lady In the Water

So last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing M. Night Shyamalan's Lady In the Water. This movie was absolutely amazing. I loved the storyline and the way it is presented. Everything isn't given away in the last quarter of the movie. You are actually hanging on until the very last minute of the movie. I love it! What is incredibly interesting is that the characters aren't as developed as they generally should be in most feature films, and yet they didn't really need to be! What most critics assume is that a movie is good or bad based on certain standards, and on some level that's true. But what really makes a good movie (whether a comedy, chick-flick, action movie, psychological thriller, or sci-fi movie) is whether or not you can keep the audience's attention until the very last second, and they are left having thoroughly enjoyed themselves no matter how many times they've seen the movie. Lady In the Water is definitely one of those movies!

Paul Giamatti does an amazing job at playing the shy, stuttering character of Mr. Cleveland Heep. You really feel compassion and pity for this man who seems so underappreciated. His character played well off of Story the whimsical narf or water nymph played by Bryce Dallas Howard. This is Howard's second Shyamalan film, and she reprises the role of the strange young woman you can't take your eyes off of. But to be honest, it was an amazing performance. She does a good job at playing the role of the innocent. I won't give anything away, mostly because it's too complex to do, but I will tell you that it's a wonderful movie and I totally recommend it!

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars: ****! Hope you all enjoy!

Tink ;-)