Movie Review Water for Elephants

I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day

It was a beautiful day here in Pennsylvania very sunny and warm

Usually my sisters and I take our Mom out to antique stores after our brunch

but this year we decided to go see the movie

Water for Elephants

We all loved the book written by Sara Gruen

Unfortunately we could not all go so it ended up being my sister Judith, My Mom, me

and Amber (who has returned from her first year of college YEAH)

 Here is the synopsis from movies.com

A handsome veterinary student falls for a married circus performer in this romantic drama adapted from author Sara Gruen's best-selling novel, and directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend). When Jacob (Robert Pattinson) meets Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), it's love at first sight -- their shared affections for an extraordinary elephant stirring profound feelings of compassion within both of them. Theirs is a love that could span lifetimes, though the wrath of Marlena's dangerously domineering husband, August (Christoph Waltz), threatens to spell tragedy for all involved.

 

Here is what Judy thought

Good but a little slow.

 

Here is what Amber thought

Robert Pattinson is hot. The film work was great.

 

Here is what my Mom thought

Very good I loved it.

 

Here is what I thought

Absolutely beautifully filmed. The movie from the first scene has such an epic quality. The sets, costumes and music were so enchanting it truly is very magical. I loved the older man who played Jacob in the beginning he really set the character of Jacob up perfectly in his brief time on the screen. I was okay with Robert Pattinson as young Jakob although I am not a huge fan. Reese Witherspoon as Marlena I thought was an odd choice when I first heard she was going to play the part....I love Reese but I kind of found her to be a little too old. I have no idea what the age difference is between the two actors but it had a very Mrs. Robinson feel to it. The actor who plays August plays the part of an abusive jerk very well. You will hate him.

There is a scene...I don't want to give anything away but there is a scene with the elephant and it just really upset me.

 In all I enjoyed the film....I think ticket prices are outrageous but I do think this film is meant to be seen in the theater...unless you are lucky enough to have one of those home theaters in your house.

I would say it is worth putting the money out and i don't think you will be disappointed.

 

Have a Magical Monday

The Traffic Light

Today I wanted to post my Moment that I shared at http://www.smithmag.net/

If you have never visited this site

you should

Although be careful if you are hopping on while at work because it may cause you to be fired

as you will become so obsorbed in the stories and 6 Word Memoirs that when you finally look up

from your computer it will be dark outside and you didn't do a single work related task all day!

If you do stop by I submit as Jennyjoy my Six Word Memoir is
 "Another reputation ruined by air quotes"

I'm weird I know.

Submit your own they are addicting!

Anyway I digress...below is my Moment that I submitted and it was featured for about a month on the first page of their site.

I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful tuesday!

Traffic Light

As I rushed to an appointment, I raced my car though a very yellow light just on the cusp of turning red. I thought for sure I had made it. The lights of the police car behind me told me I was wrong. I nervously told my six-year-old daughter in the back seat that everything was okay. She didn't seem concerned. As the officer approached my window he asked, "Do you know why I stopped you?" Before I could even begin to make an excuse, I heard the squeeky sound of the back window opening. Turning, I saw my daughter thrust her hand out the window as if raising her hand in class. Then she said, "I know why you stopped her, sir. She went right through that red light." The officer could barely contain his laughter as he leaned against my car and peered into the back window at my darling big-mouthed daughter. She proceeded to tell him that he shouldn't worry, because she would tell her Dad as soon as we get home. The officer handed back my license and told me he wasn't going to give me a ticket as he hoped my daughter's wisidom was lesson enough. Laughing the whole way back to his car, he slide back out into traffic, leaving me alone with my judge and jury. "You should know better Mom," my daughter said, shaking her head with disappointment her little fingers pressing the button to roll the window back up. I knew three things instantly.
My daughter was growing up fast while I raced about not realizing it.
It is just as important for our children to be proud of us as it is for us to be proud of them.
And the next time I am in a rush, I need to leave her home.
My daughter is now nineteen and away at college. I am proud of her. I am still working on making her proud of me.

Mrs Weasley

My daughter's best friend Michelle paid me the best compliment via text to my daughter.

She texted:

"This morning I was reading Harry Potter quotes and read the one where Mrs. Weasley is fighting Bellatrix, and Bellatrix aims the killing curse at Ginny, so she yells "NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!!"  Your mom is sort of similar to Mrs. Weasley, because this is something she'd totes say if she was fighting a Deatheater." ***totes is teen speak for totally***

I love this compliment for two reasons

1. Michelle apparently sees me as the type of mother who would fiercely protect her child

2. Mrs Weasley is my favorite character in Harry Potter

Who doesn't love Mrs. Weasley? She is the epitome of a caring, loving and protective mother.

Throughout the series she is trying to protect and care for her children and Harry as she sees him as one of her own. 

 Mrs. Weasley, Molly, is sweet but stern with her brood of children.

My own children would probably say that

I lean more towards the stern

then towards the sweet

J.K. Rowling has stated in interviews about Harry Potter that the main themes in her books are children, parents, orphans and the love of a parent for their child.

This very reason could be why I love the books so much.

Molly screams "NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH"  right after Fred is killed

and remember Rowling capitalized this sentence in her book I suspect because she was feeling the ferocious mother in herself when she was writing this part of the Deathly Hallows.

Bellatrix is taunting her about the death of Fred and then turns her sights on Ginny.....

 but Molly will have none of that

so the normally quiet woman whom we had never seen involved in a battle strikes with a warrior cry

and presumably kills Bellatrix although it is merely implied and not clearly stated.

It is this brave and loving act that Harry witnesses that causes him to find the strength to face Voldemort and his destiny.

I will admit I cried when I read this line in the book. And when I later read Deathly Hallows aloud to my son I got so choked up reading that part that my son asked me to stop reading for the night.

The Harry Potter series begins and ends with a mother facing death to protect her child. After all Molly really was no match for the insanely evil Bellatrix but she threw herself between Bellatrix and her youngest child anyway

and in the end a mother's love won against evil.

So..... Thank You Michelle. I am not sure I deserve the comparison but I'm glad you see me that way!