Night at the Museum Trilogy

    After the fun post I made about Pharaoh Akmenrah, I decided to buy the NATM movies and I completely binged watched all of them yesterday. Are they the best movies out there? No, not at all, but there's no denying they make for a fun watch on a boring Saturday. Because all the NATM movies have the same basic plot, I'm going to post my general thoughts in bullet reviews instead of my usual essay form. An idea I got from Cordy at Any Merry Little Thought. 

Night at the Museum (2006)

     When struggling single dad, Larry Daley, gets what seems to be a usual mundane night guard job at The American Museum of Natural History, he finds out very quickly that this job is far from ordinary. Due to a magical Egyptian tablet, all the artifacts in the museum come to life at night. With the help of President Theordore Roosevelt and other lively historical figures, Larry finds his place guarding the museum and keep the nights alive.

• The storyline was spot on genius. The idea of bringing history to life was fantastic and definitely opens up great creative avenues for fan-fiction writers who love history.
• I personally want to write a story about Phoebe Ann Mosey AKA Annie Oakley. I think she would fit in perfectly with the museum crowd (and of course, she falls in love with Ahkmenrah).
• Owen Wilson, people! I love him! Jedediah and Octavias are the ultimate bromance.
• I really like Larry's ex-wife. She knew that Larry was a good dad and that's why she was so hard on him to get a good steady job.
• Nicky Daly--Larry's son--is so sweet! I loved that he was written as a good kid who loved his dad and not some irritating brat. Children of divorced parents can oftentimes ruin the film, but Nicky is a jewel.
• Robin Williams played President Theodore Roosevelt to perfection. If there's someone I want on my side during chaos, it's him.
• The end credits song was awesome.
• Rebecca, the museum research historian was so sweet and fun. It's a shame she wasn't in the following films.
• Dexter the monkey stole every scene.
• Ahkmenrah. Enough said.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) 

     After former museum night guard, Larry Daley, successfully launches his own company, he hasn't had much time for the museum or his friends. Then Larry gets the news that several of the exhibits are being shipped off to the Smithsonian for storage. When the Smithsonian is taken over by Kumanrah, Ahkmenrah's maniacal, older brother, Larry has only a matter of hours to get to D.C. and stop Kumanrah from starting a reign of magical terror.

• This is my least favorite film, primarily because Larry is alone without the help of Teddy or his friends. Instead he has to rely on Amelia Earhart.
• I wanted to like Amelia, but she was so annoyingly perky and her 1930s slang got very aggravating. Her constant feminist diatribe got old really quickly too.
• There was little to no Jed and Octavias. Wrong on all accounts.
• Ahkmenrah had a sum total of 1 minute of screen time. Total waste of a great character.
• Kumanrah was hysterical, but after I read his background story of how he murdered his brother to get the throne, I really didn't care for him after that
• Nicky Daley was still great.
• Darth Vader and Oscar the Grouch make a fabulous cameo.
• I liked Kumanrah's goon squad of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ivan the Terrible and Al Capone.
• The Jonas Brothers as the singing cherubs were awesome. 
• "Joey Motorola!" 

Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb (2014)

     When Ahkmenrah's tablet begins to lose its power, the exhibits start to malfunction and break down. The only people that know the secret of restoring the tablets power are Ahkmenrah's parents, who are on exhibit at the British Museum. Larry, Nicky and the rest of the main museum crew take a hop across the pond to sneak into the British Museum causing chaos and disorder during their mission.

• This one was infinitely better!
• Dan Stevens as crazy, disillusioned Lancelot was an unexpected casting decision, but he pulled it off.
• Ahkmenrah's parents, Pharaoh Merennkahre and Shepseheret were fantastic and just completely rolled with Larry's plan.
• Ahkmenrah, himself, finally got a good amount of screen time.
• The bromance of Jed and Octavias was strong in this film.
• Hugh Jackman! Hugh Jackman! "That's a ridiculous name!"
• Rebel Wilson as, Tilly, the night guard! I loved her!
• Nicky Daley had his moments as a 17 year old who didn't know what he wanted after school, but he came through, like always.
• The ending was bitter sweet, but it wrapped up the trilogy really well.
• The dedications to Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney at the end credits were beautiful.

Final Thoughts

• I'll admit, I bought and watched the series because of Ahkmenrah. I feel no shame.
• These movies renewed an interest in museums which are a great importance to society.
• It was good to see history portrayed as fun and accessible.
• After going on museum tours all over D.C. last year, I have a great appreciation for the people who work hard at the museums.
• It was a smart idea of throwing together people from different time periods.
• All of the end credit songs were great.
• I always wondered how the damages to the Smithsonian and the British Museum were explained.
• We never found out if Nicky went to Spain.
• This series is great.
• Watch them for fun and if for no other reason for Rami Malek. 

Mystery Blogger Award

Emily over at Altogether Unexpected has awarded me for the Mystery Blogger Award! 

Thanks Emily!

The rules

Put the award logo/image on your blog.

Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well. (This award was created by Okoto Enigma.)

Answer the 5 questions you were asked.

Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.

Nominate 10-20 people.

Notify your nominees by commenting on their blogs.

Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question.

Share a link to your best post(s).

Emily's Questions

What was a book that you read as a child that you still have fond thoughts of?

- Caddie Woodlawn definitely. I loved that book as a child and even more so as an adult.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

- That's not fair! Probably Star Trek, though. Star Wars started with one storyline and all subsequent stories have had to stay within that storyline. Star Trek is so much more open for every story. You're not following a family, but rather watching the creation of families due to their circumstances.

Have you ever finished a full-length novel, or are you planning to do so soon?

- As in actually reading one, then yes. Quite a few actually. 

What is your favorite genre to write?

- History. I love the researching, the discovery of different people during historical events and patterning my own OCs after them.

How old were you when you started blogging/writing?

- 16

Three Things About Me

1.) I love anything about the Mafia. Crazy I know, but the Mafia is absolutely fascinating. When AMC ran their mini-series, The Making of The Mob: New York, I didn't miss an episode!

2.) My Dad's family came from Switzerland and we can trace our roots all the way back to the 13th century.

3.) My favorite piece of music is The Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven and my favorite artwork is The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.

I Nominate...

Olivia

Livia Rachelle

MovieCritic

Skye Hoffert

My 5 Questions

1.) What is it that you hope to achieve in your lifetime?

2.) Who is your favorite person from history?

3.) Do you prefer the country or the city?

4.) What genre would you describe your life at the moment as (comedy, drama, sci-fi)?

5.) What do you remember the most about 2010?

The Best of My Posts

One Man's Victim, Another Man's Villian

Jon Snow: Bastard, Savior, King

Ahkmen-moods 

(just because it turned out to be more popular than I thought)

Royal Familes: Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway

Ahkmen-moods

 Remember the Night at The Museum movies?

Those awesome (at times cheesy) Ben Stiller movies that made history fun and museum touring cool?

While NATM boasted a fully loaded all star cast (Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke), it was the introduction of Egyptian-American actor, Rami Malek, playing the handsome, charming, 17 year old Pharaoh Ahkmenrah. Prior to NATM, Malek had been completely unknown, but after the movies he became 'the cute Pharaoh.' Ahkmenrah in all essence is the centerpoint of the first film, he's responsible for everything going on. 

    For what little time Rami had in the film, he made an impression. And some of his best acting wasn't even in dialogue. His facial expressions sometimes say more than words. Many of them just scream, caption me! He's pretty much an entire mood depending on the situation.

This one is my favorite.
I mean it is totally up for any interpretation 

Happy Easter!

Goodreads Review: Cormoran Strike #4 - Lethal White

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It only took me 13 months, but I finally got through Robert Galbraith's fourth installment of the Cormoran Strike series. Lethal White is a lengthy novel, which is why it took me forever to read. As is typical with J.K. Rowling when she gets a series growing, her books get bigger and the storylines more and more congested and even confusing at times. However, the whole crux of the series is Cormoran Strike himself. Dark, twisting, complicated and cut off from all emotion and all people. Except for one.

After Strike brings down the now famed Shacklewell Ripper, he and his agency are thrust into an unexpected spotlight and Strike finds himself a reluctant hero in the eyes of many grateful people. His new celebrity status proves to be good for the business and Strike never leaves a case cold. However, two strange cases are brought to his proverbial doorstep and both deep rooted in scandal.

The first is from Billy Knight, a mentally disturbed young man who believes that he saw a young child murdered many years ago. The second is from the Minister of Culture, Jasper Chiswell, (pronounced chizzle) claiming that he is being blackmailed. At first both cases seem to be unrelated until the name of one man connects the two.

Now Strike and Robin must investigate the lowest dregs to the highest echelons of society reaching all the way to Parliament itself. Their investigation leads them to personal and political betrayal, family loyalty and disloyalty and secrets long hidden and partially remembered.

Meanwhile, Robin is put at the breaking point with her new husband, Matthew. Never a supporter of her work or her relationship with Strike, Matthew's hold on Robin gets more abusive as time goes by. Robin fights her fading feelings for her husband and her growing feelings for Strike. The only man who ever believed in her and her work.

Lethal White is my least favorite of the Strike Series, mainly because it was so long. There was almost too much story and that alone can lose the reader's interest. Lethal White had the potential to be good if only the author streamlined the story a bit more. It definitely cannot measure up to its predecessor, Career of Evil, whose storyline was concise and structured to perfection. Lethal White was all over the place and there seemed to be no focal point because Strike was working two cases, spending most of the book trying to find the connection.

Here's to hoping that the next installment, Troubled Blood, will be stronger and more streamlined. And maybe the the upcoming Strike television episode, Lethal White, will be easier to understand than the book itself.

Hacksaw Ridge

     We all love a story about someone who stands by their moral convictions, right? Mel Gibson's 2016 WWII film, Hacksaw Ridge, recounts the true life story of Army medic, Private Desmond Doss, and his religious convictions of not bearing arms, even in war. In spite of his refusal to carry a weapon into combat, Doss manged to save the lives of 75 men during one of the bloodiest battles in Okinawa, Japan. Doss' religious pacifist convictions as a conscientious objector caused conflict not only within the army, but also his own family. Yet, he never set out to prove anything. All he wanted to do is serve as a medic. It was never his intention to become a hero.

     From childhood, Desmond Doss was taught the murder was the most egregious of sins. After he badly hurts his brother, Desmond swore to himself that he would never harm another soul. Not even his alcoholic father, who sadly suffers from PTSD from his service in WWI. Desmond grew up as a Seventh-day Adventist, adhering to their strict rules without complaint. Despite his shy and even awkward nature, Desmond is a hard worker with a gift for medical care. And as fate would have it, Desmond meets his future wife, Dorothy Schutte at a hospital where she works as a nurse. Beautiful and practical, Dorothy helps Desmond with his painful shyness and will support him in his decisions even if she herself may not agree.

     As WWII drags on Desmond and his brother, Hal, both enlist to avoid being drafted. Despite his opposition to bear arms, Desmond desires to become a medic and is told that he can enlist without basic rifle training. Tom Doss, Desmond's father, does not approve of his sons entering the military, due to his own struggle with war trauma and loss of his friends. In spite of Tom's alcoholism and madness at times, he truly does care about his sons and doesn't want them to suffer the same way he has.

     After arriving at Fort Jackson for basic training, it doesn't take long for Desmond to start turning heads. His scrawny appearance earns him the nickname, Private Cornstalk, from his superior, Sergeant Howell, but he proves to be the most fit out of all the men. However, when rifle training begins, Doss stands his ground on his refusal to touch a weapon and not working on the Sabbath (Saturday). Sergeant Howell and Captain Jack Glover are at an utter loss to understand Desmond's religious high ground and set out to make Desmond's time at Fort Jackson a misery. 

    Desmond is harassed by Smitty Ryker, a tough talking bully and his rival from the first day, given menial and filthy tasks by Glover and Howell, and even beaten up in the middle of the night by the other men. And throughout it all, Desmond never complains or points out any of his attackers. His resilience, refusal to fight back and ability to carry through with training, amidst the constant abuse he receives, begins to affect everyone, especially Smitty. Soon Glover and Howell begin to garner some modicum of respect for young Doss, but the US army disagrees. 

    Eventually, Desmond is court martialed by the higher powers for his refusal to bear arms. He ends up missing his wedding and risks having to serve out the rest of the war in a military prison. Ultimately willing to face time in prison, it's his father of all people, who saves him. With proof that Desmond is protected by the Constitution, he is released and allowed to finish his training. 

    Sent to the Pacific Theater in Okinawa, Desmond and the rest of the unit, now the 77th Infantry Division, are sent to relieve a former unit. The 77th is tasked with securing Maeda Escarpment or Hacksaw Ridge. The mountainous and steep ridge is only accessible by a hanging cargo net and littered with corpses from both sides. The Japanese have hidden bases all around the ridge that mask them carefully from the enemy.

     Upon arriving on top of the escarpment, the 77th is immediately under fire from the camouflaged enemy. Soon, Desmond is racing across bullets and endless blood shed to rescue every man he can find. Even when told to leave 'those for which there is no hope' to die on the battlefield, Desmond is determined to save any man that still has breath. 

    After two days of unyielding enemy attack, the unit finally retreats. Yet, Desmond remains on top of Hacksaw Ridge. During the night, Desmond finds as many men as he can and lowers them one by one down the ridge. Through prayer to get just one more man, sheer willpower, intense stamina and pure courage, Desmond works endlessly through the night and even saves Sergeant Howell who was badly shot in the leg. 

    The other men in the unit are amazed at Desmond's determination to stay on the ridge and surviving the enemy without a weapon. Finally after months of cruelty and harassment from his unit, Desmond wins their overwhelming respect and gratitude. Even Captain Glover seeks Desmond out while he's in recovery and humbly asks his forgiveness. Now seen as a hero and miracle among the 77th, Desmond leads the men back up the ridge. Carrying only his Bible, Desmond Doss makes history as the conscientious objector who fought bravely without bearing arms.

    A truly intriguing story about a humble young man whose patriotic heart coincided with his devotion to all human life. Beautifully written, filmed and acted, Hacksaw Ridge has all the action of a regular WWII film, but the main story of religious convictions, humility, and ultimate trust in God permeates through the blood and gore of warfare.