THE CONJURING: MOVIE REVIEW

THE CONJURING:

 

There is nothing like watching a creepy movie late at night at your local movie theater. Restless anticipation lingers in the air as the movie begins – the hope along the way – to get scared and walk away from the theater with a glad it was only a movie attitude.

But when a horror movie promises to be based on a true occurrence – the outcome is more troublesome. One now has to leave the theater wondering if there really was any truth to the tale or just Hollywood embellishment at its finest.

Thus is the state of THE CONJURING movie. This hair-raising paranormal flick is one of the best horror movies I have seen as of late. The cast of characters did justice to their parts as well as the striking unfolding of the plot.

The base is simple – a family moves into a haunted house - not unusual in today’s paranormal frenzied world. But the story grabs your attention right from the beginning as the house becomes alive with paranormal activity aimed at the entire family.  No one is safe from the evil intentions directed their way. One daughter sleep walks, (eerie in itself) the other messed with as she sleeps. The clapping game seems to delight the entity as it begins to toy with the family.  And things get progressively worse. Then comes Ed and Lorraine Warren. This special duo in demonology has quite a background as they become the family’s only hope for survival.

Today there are a lot of homes on the market, many of them foreclosures. Bank owned homes are often purchased in “as is” condition – meaning that the bank sells it just like it is, giving little or no information to a potential buyer as to the houses prior state.  That includes the history of a house.

Purchasing a home can be an exciting time for any family, especially kids. Mom and dad might be up to the challenge of a fixer upper.  The children excited by a new bedroom or back yard.

But what if you found out that a crime had occurred at the house, a suicide or murder? Would you still buy the property?  What if you found out about an incidence after you have made the purchase and already moved in? Would you walk away? Or would you grin and bear it? 

It’s an interesting dilemma - especially in a haunting. Those with a bit of faith might be up the challenge. But in THE CONJURING religious faith is lacking in the family, apparently aiding the evil entity in its cause. Divine intervention comes into play. One might leave the theater wondering about their own spiritual state.

Whatever you feel or believe, THE CONJURING is very entertaining and worth your time. A great summer movie for paranormal fans!

 

Reviewed by: Author Tamera Lawrence AKA Tammy Tattles: Boyertown Times: The Patriot & Tri- County

DEARIE: THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF JULIA CHILD

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child 
by Bob Spitz 

Tamera Lawrence's review 

Jul 05, 13  ·  edit

5 of 5 stars

Read from June 09 to July 01, 2013

Did you ever see a suckling pig being prepared for roasting? Or even want to. If you were a young woman learning how to make a meal for your family in the 1960’s you might have witnessed an episode on The French Chef television show that depicted a tiny piglet being lovingly prepared for the oven. This particular episode created a backlash from fans, which were horrified as French Chef Julia Child, cleaned out the pig’s nostrils and ears, while tenderly petting the life like creature as she stuffed his cavity with vegetables, sewed him up and then later carved him into pieces. But the controversy did little to deter the feisty Julia Child as her show remained steadfast and strong. Her popularity grew in numbers and the icon had a lasting career. 

Julia Child was born August 15, 1912 in Pasadena California. Living a privileged life, Julia was well educated. At 6’2, Julia stood out among her peers and was athletic. After marrying, Julia spent some time with her husband Paul, living in France, where she gained a penchant for French cuisine and later coauthored a book called Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Due to the book’s popularity, she was invited to have her own cooking show through a Boston television station and thus The French Chef series was born. The show focused on Americanizing French cuisine. 

Besides the holidays, how many people find the time to cook today? Or even enjoy it for that matter. For the working class, it can be hard to find the time to whip up a home cooked meal or even know what it’s like to make one from scratch. Instead we turn to microwave, boxed or frozen meals and fast food is a quick solution. But there was a time where women were expected to slave over a hot stove and prepare a tasty meal for her family. Julia Child set her sights on making cooking fun as well teaching wives the fundamentals of fine cuisine. Today men are in the kitchen as much as women facing the same old dilemma “What’s for dinner?” 

With her proud 40 year career, Julia Child indeed was an American icon.

WORLD WAR Z: Movie Review

WORLD WAR Z 

                      WORLD WAR Z:  MOVIE REVIEW

Choirs are singing or perhaps not. For the idea of belting out a tune might just turn a host of zombies in your direction – their intention – to bite you, infecting you with an unknown virus.  WORLD WAR Z stars Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane, a man caught up in trying to save his family and the world from the zombie apocalypse that is turning humanity into fiends with an appetite for human flesh. Brad’s mission is to rejoin the United Nations and take up the position of helping to find the origination of the virus. If Gerry fails to heed the call, his family will be in peril.

From the start, WORLD WAR Z is action packed movie with plenty of gore and chase scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat. The zombies are horribly fascinating in their own writhing right and the situation only gets more hopeless as the movie progresses. Bodies pile up as nation after nation succumbs to the mayhem. But Gerry Lane is resourceful, uncovering bits and pieces of resources to help aid in the cause. But there is no easy answer as Gerry begins to find a ray of hope.

WORLD WAR Z has plenty of grisly scenes, not for the faint of heart or children.  All in all it kept my interest, though the ending lacked a bit of luster.  But overall a good summer flick for horror fans.

Review by: Author Tamera Lawrence 

MAN OF STEEL: MOVIE REVIEW

                  MAN OF STEEL

He’s back. And just when I’ve been missing him. Clark Kent/Kal-El makes his appearance in the new hit movie MAN OF STEEL. Actor Henry Cavill, makes the perfect specimen with his rugged good looks and manly attributes. And of course, he can wear the suit and still retain a measure of respect. 

Thanks to his father’s urging, thirty-three year old Clark Kent has been hiding his uniqueness all of his life. Afraid of the rejection that will surely come his way, Clark is trying to deal with his powers and his inability to fit in. But after his adopted father’s death, Clark realizes that he could have saved his dad from a killer twister, having held fast to the belief that he needed to remain in the shadows.

But now that has changed. Clark’s mission to find out who he was comes to fulfillment. The only problem, Lois Lane is now a witness to his identity and now hot on his trail. The feisty reporter has an appetite for the truth and perhaps a tad of a crush on the man in blue.

But as earth is threatened by General Zod and his cronies, Clark must step out of the shadows and face down the evil that has come to destroy humanity.

MAN OF STEEL was an enjoyable flick. The only problem my son, age 9, who wasn’t familiar with the other superman movies, missed out on the part of baby Clark’s arrival on earth and how his adopted parents found him. True it is later explained in the movie, but the visual image would have been better.  Lois Lane was also missing a bit of sensuality.  The chemistry between Lois and Clark approached on stale. But all an all a good summer flick. True Superman fans of any age will enjoy this remake and hopefully the man in blue will gain more devotees in the future.

Review by: author Tamera Lawrence 

ORPHAN TRAIN: REVIEW

TAMMY’S TADDLES 

Over 15,000 children are currently in the Pennsylvania foster care system. Many of these children will eventually be put up for adoption. Agencies are constantly looking out for loving families to take in these vulnerable kids. A foster parent must provide food, shelter, clothing and school supplies. These potential foster parents are put through a vigorous background check as agencies strive to find a safe and loving environment for these disconnected children. 

But these safeguards weren't always in place.

In fact, it’s pretty scary to see what Pennsylvania once did with its orphans…

To think of a child being paraded and displayed like a side of beef in front of adults is a hard pill to swallow, yet between 1854 and 1929 that is exactly what happened to many city orphans. Children of varying ages were put on board an Orphan train and sent out west to poor rural families, who often needed a work hand on the farm or just couldn't have a child of their own. These children were put on exhibition for the town folk and then handed over to complete strangers. Some children had good lives, but others weren't so lucky and ended up as runaways.

ORPHAN TRAIN by author Christina Baker Kline tells the harrowing story of Vivian Daly, who rode the Orphan Train to an uncertain future in Minnesota, 1929.  With little regard to her feelings, Vivian’s new family changes her name from Niamh to Dorothy as simply as if she were a new pet. Vivian is forced to work like a seamstress and loses any sense of any true childhood or family life. Alone, she must face the obstacles that come her way, including rivalry in the workplace. Then jump to 2011. Trouble teen Molly Ayer is a foster child, who has been through the pain of losing her family and getting lost in the system. Now in trouble with the law, Molly has to work community hours cleaning out an attic for an elderly woman, who has storage's of hidden treasures tainted with a painful past.

Although this book takes place in 1929, little has changed over the years. Orphans are created every day. When a parent fails to maintain a safe environment for their child, the state often has to step in and take over for these parents. This can be a confusing time for a child. The pain of separation or anxiety of placement is a hardship these kids must endure. But it’s a necessary evil to protect a child from an abusive or neglectful parent. The hope is to rehabilitate the parent or find a relative for long term placement.

But the sad truth is many children end up returning to the foster care system.

Reviewed by: Author Tamera Lawrence: Tammy Tattles

Columnist: The Patriot News: Berks Mont Newspaper PA

SWEETIES SONG: Book Review

***** Review Written by: Author Tamera Lawrence 

Sarah Davis is living a day to day existence, grieving over the loss of her only child. So when she finds a quaint little shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she is instantly drawn to a lopped ear bunny, falls in love and decides to buy him. But at the insistence of the shop owner, she ends up having to agree to take the sister bunny and all for a few dimes.  Things only get stranger when Fred and Sarah Davis arrive home and receive a peculiar package with another bunny. Not sure what to make of the strange shop owner’s intentions, Sarah takes on her new stuffed family and enjoys displaying them in her sewing room. But when the television is left on and the bunnies seem to be watching it, Sarah takes her misgivings to a heightened level and begins to spy on them. What she finds is indeed miraculous? Could the bunnies really be alive?  And what special purpose was she chosen to be their mother?

SWEETIE’S SONG:  A Love Story by author C. A. James is a whimsical tale of how three stuffed bunnies and one tossed away bear changes the lives of a grieving couple. The Author brings to life Buddy, Sweetie, Mr. Big and Bear, who will delight any reader with their adventures, unique personalities and quaint reasoning.  This is a wonderful tale for any age group bringing with it a warm smile and child recollections of home and that special stuffed animal we all once held and loved.  A highly recommended read. 

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING : GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: BOOK REVIEW

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING : GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: BOOK REVIEW: Jennifer Chase 's review  Dec 04, 12 Read from November 22 to December 04, 2012 Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? I jumpe...