The Fault in Our Stars: I dare you to see this and not "ugly" cry.

This was by far one of my favorite books on the buzzfeed.com's list of books to read before they hit the big screen.  John Green has a writing style that just clicks with my personality.  For me, the big thing was, who they would get to play Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters.  To be completely honest, I was concerned that Shailene Woodley (Divergent girl) and Ansel Elgort (Divergent girl's brother) wouldn't be able to master the true connection and love the characters had, let alone the intensity of love and loss.  But I am here to tell you, they proved me wrong, dead wrong.

Hazel has had cancer since her early teens and is very realistic about the whole thing.  She knows she will die and is content watching reality TV and making her parents happy by doing whatever they suggest.  Such as a Cancer support group.  This whole idea seems cheesey to her and she puts up a fight, but in the end does what she always does, concedes for her parents.

Her first meeting is just about as bad as she imagined.  They meet at a church basement and the leader of the group sings Jesus songs that do not make Hazel, who doesn't know if this whole life after death thing is believable, want to stay.  Her second meeting, however, changes her whole world.  This is where she meets him.

Hazel and Augustus literally run into each other on their first greeting and it's evident an attraction is there.  Augustus can't keep his eyes off of her throughout the meeting and it doesn't go unnoticed.  Hazel finds out though the meeting that Augustus had Cancer and is now Cancer free from the removal of most of his leg.  Following the meeting, Augustus is persistent and wins when Hazel agrees to come over to watch a movie.  As much as Hazel doesn't want to admit it and can't understand why, Augustus is very much into her.  He even agrees to read her favorite book in turn that she reads one of his.  The next day, Hazel realizes Augustus has not texted and she feels dismayed.  Trying not to, but without much success, she plays the whole wait by the phone routine until finally he texted her a series of texts expressing his shock at how the book ended.  She is reassured Augustus is going nowhere and so begins a romance that can be compared to sleep as she says, "it starts slow at first and then falls fast."

Augustus wakes Hazel up from her dreary, depressing, and cynical outlook on life with Cancer.  She begins to live again from picnics, strolls, and a trip to Amsterdam to meet the author of her favorite book to find out what happened.  This trip is a major turning point for this couple as it contains the first I love you, first night together, and Augustus admitting his Cancer has returned......

After they come back to reality, the tables are turned as Hazel looks after Augustus in some extremely low and trying times.  Augustus' passion for living a life of heroism and meaning something to so many turns him sour as he realizes his mark will not be as big as he'd had hoped.  There are still moments when he is back to the guy she first met.  Alive, passionate, and hopeful.  Unfortunately that last good day would be the last good day and days later Augustus Waters would leave this world, but not Hazel's.

I left out a lot of what happened in the movie because I want you to see it and feel every part.  It is going to be rough and you WILL cry, and I mean cry a lot.  But there are so many messages to take away from this couple's small infinity.  They love each other undoubtedly in the purest way.  Death is at both of their doorsteps but it doesn't stop them from living, from feeling.  Lastly, it reminds you to live each day as if it were your last.  I now that sounds cliché but you truly never know what could happen and should appreciate each day as another day to live, love, and be loved.  An inspirational story that will make an impact, even if it is an "ugly" cry.

Malificient is Magnificent

So Sleeping Beauty was one of my favorite movies as a child.  I mean seriously,  true love's kiss to break a spell?  Count me in on that romantic notion!  However, apparently true love's kiss got a bit misunderstood,  as did many parts to this tale. 

As a young fairy, Malificient was the protector of her enchanted and once beautiful land.  One day, a curious boy crosses over and so begins a friendship that will change her life forever.   You see, as they grow older and more fond of one another, Stefan kisses her and to her gives her a true love's kiss.  Unfortunately,  this is not the case because he ends up breaking her heart twice.  The first time he does this is when he becomes more involved in his land and the way of his kingdom with his attempt to go from poverty to royalty.  The second time is when that desire brings him back to Malificient,  only to steal her wings in his attempt to convince the king he has killed her so that he may be the king's successor.   This naturally devastates Malificient, so when his daughter is born,  she puts a curse on her.  This curse makes it so that on her 16th birthday, she will strike her finger on a spindle and fall into a sleep so deep that only true love's kiss can break it. This causes the king to go into great desperation,  so he sends his  infant to live with the fairies deep in the woods for protection.

The fairies, well intended as they may be, do not fair so well raising a baby.  It is the great Malificient that takes care of Arora in her distant way.  Once Arora is old enough, she ventures off and attempts to enter the land that Malificient gaurded for so long.  Malificient lets her in to see how she will fair and is mesmerized.   Arora surprises her by knowing of her presence not just here, but her whole life.  She considers Malificient her fairy godmother.  As much as she doesn't want to admit it, Malificient knows she is right and is quite happy when she finds out Arora wishes to live with her forever.

Arora goes to tell the faries her plan and then they inform her of the curse Malificient has placed on her.  Malificient tries to explain things to Arora, but she is too hurt and runs to the castle.  It just so happens to be her 16th birthday on her return and the curse, no matter how many times Malificient tried to revoke it, reveals itself.   Arora is then under a deep sleep.  Fortunately,  Arora found her prince charming during her time in the enchanted land.  Malificient brings him to the castle seceretly, in hopes he will awaken the princess.   Sadly, the kiss does not work, and Malificient's worst fears of true love not existing come to life.  It is in this moment that Malificient says her goodbyes and professes her sorrows to Arora, giving her a final kiss on the forehead.  This was the true love's kiss Malificient never expected.  Here is Arora, eyes open with her forgiving smile,  calling her godmother once again. 

The king is set in his ways to do what he sought out to do many years ago and that is kill Malificient.   There are even times you wonder if he will get his way, until she is saved by the lovely girl she so much wanted to hate.

If you liked Wicked, you will love this.  Angelina plays a wonderful Malificient.  You feel her pain throughout the film as you can see what started this whole misunderstanding in the first place.  The pace was perfect, the effects enchanting,  and film gave a sense of nostalgia for seeing the original Sleeping Beauty.   I have heard and have to agree that the trailor is no indication of how awesome this film is.   So go see it for yourselves.

A Million Ways to Die in the West: If I laughed........you will too.

The fact that I am blogging this is crazy to me.  I remember seeing the preview in theaters and saying to my boyfriend that he would be seeing this with his guy friends.  It just seemed like stupid humor that would gross me out more than crack me up.  Then the weekend came, and I had seen everything else.  I also really wanted movie theater popcorn so I really had no choice.  I can admit when I'm wrong, and my fellow moviegoers,  I was dead wrong.   I seriously laughed my ass off.

Albert lives during the frontier days in the wild west and hates everything about it.   His beloved Louise was the only thing getting this lack luster sheep farmer through the days and she dumps him for the manly and fully mustached, Foy (NPH!!!!!).  After all, she needed somebody more rugged and cut out for this whole living on the western frontier thing.  Albert, the guy who backed out of a gun fight to save his life, just wasn't cutting it.  So now that Albert lost his will to live, he goes through this whole depression thing where he drinks himself silly and becomes slightly suicidal, that is, until the lovely and mysterious Anna enters his world.

Anna and her brother have moved into town to start a farm.  Her first meeting with Albert is interesting as he rescues her from a ridiculous bar fight over spilled beer.  After that their friendship grows closer as he accepts a dual with Foy in order to get back his Louise.  Anna knows her way with a gun and helps Albert to win her back.  Albert begins to enjoy the dysfunctional ways of the frontier as he and Anna make fun of it together.   Little does Albert know about who the real Anna is.

Anna's husband is the most evil villain in the west and when he finds out his lady, who was supposed to be in hiding, is getting friendly with another man, all hell will break loose and Albert will surely die.    When Albert finds out she is married he flees only to realize she was trying to escape a terrible marriage.  Anna gives Albert some advice that helps him defeat her husband in the end. Then, just as he realizes his feelings for Anna, he is pursued by Louise.  Which gal will he choose?

I seriously loved how much this movie made fun of the west back during the frontier days.  I am not into the whole cowboy,  country western thing, so seeing this was exactly what I needed.  The cast is perfect in this comical rendition of what I would picture it like back then.  For a good laugh, you won't regret it.