I Started a Book Club

bookclub

So you all know how I enjoy reading:

wanttoreadbooksignoreproblem

For years I’ve been trying to start a book club. I thought about doing one where we read a book, than watch the film version:

bookbetterthanTV

But did that happen?

uh-no-gifuhno

Then I wanted to do a Jane Austen book club, where we read the books and the adaptations.

ReadJaneAusten

But did I do that?

uh-no-gifuhno

Then I thought about doing a book club where we read the book and then do something like in the book; in essence “living” the book or acting it out. Like in Daring Chloe

walker_daringchloe

But did I do that?

uh-no-gifuhno

So finally I started one, but this one is simple. We read one book a month, each member having a month where they choose the book (any type), and then we meet and discuss it with good food.

goonAdventurebookteaboots

I don’t know how it will turn out, but if we make it to next year I’m planning on choosing Northanger Abbey or Persuasion to honor their 100th anniversaries.

book-cover-northangerabbey-gothic persuasion

Right now the book we are reading is The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie. I’ll post after our meeting to see how it turns out!

Booksfullofthings

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before

So I know I haven’t gotten to Star Trek in my fangirl posts, do you might not realize this about me:

StarTrek

And as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Original SeriesI decided that how last year was on Back to the Future, this year will be on Star Trek. And next year can be Star Wars as it marks the 40th anniversary of that film. But enough on that, let’s get to our year in review!

Happy-New-Year

This is a time to reflect on what the past year held for us, the big posts, what’s new, and what you all seemed to like the most.

startrekletsgetstarted

This post will only cover a few things, you really should check out the year for yourself. To start at the beginning go here.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

The Views

psycho-peephole

This year I had 68,000 views!

keanu Whoa

Last year I had 31,000 and I thought that was a lot. Thank you buzzfeed, pinterest, facebook, twitter, and readers who practically doubled my views.

The most viewed day of the year was June 19th, in which I posted Drug of Choice.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

The Number One Post

Strangely, my top posts had nothing to do with anything posted in 2015.

weird

But you all like what you like!

walktorememberMV5BMTM1MTYzNjA3M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjk2NTE4Mg@@._V1_SY317_CR3,0,214,317_

So the number one post was from my Romance is in the Air Valentine’s countdown from 2013. That post was Fulfilling the List: A Walk to Rememberand I think I need to post on it once again.

Second place went to A Monster Race: Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988), from 2012, and my first Horrorfest, theHalloween countdown. In third place was I Saw Goody Osburn With the Devil: The Crucible (1996)from 2013 and my Horrorfest II Halloween countdown. In fourth we had In Rhapsody Over Clint Eastwooda post from 2013. And rounding them out in my fifth place, we had a post from 2014, Men What Happened?

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

The Followers!

thankyou15

So this community has really grown in numbers and I can not describe how pleased I am about that. We have gone from 14 followers in 2012 to 42 followers in 2013, 169 followers in 2014, and are now at 439. That’s amazing!

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

So enough about the statistics and numbers! Let’s move on to what was covered this year and what changes I have made to the blog

1)Back to the Future

Back to the future

So with it being 2015 and the year Back to the Future turned 30, we had a lot of Back to the Future love going on. It started with my first post of the year, Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need RoadsOn the amazingness of this film as it celebrates its 30 year anniversary, in Back in Time: Happy 30th Anniversary Back to the Future. My joy at watching all three films on the big screen, in The Future is NOW!: Happy Back to the Future Day!. On the importance of November 12th in The Back to the Future series, in The Temporal Junction Point for the Entire Space-Time ContinuumAn episode of Supernatural that mimics Back to the Future, in Back to the Supernatural. And a list of everything Back to the Future got right about 2015, in We’re in the Future: Good-bye 2015.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

2) Fandom Love

NotaPsychopathFangirl

This year I continued my fandom posts, posting on Sundays. This year I wasn’t as faithful, as sometimes life would throw me a curveball, but I am getting closer to completing it. I just have to stop adding things.

So far this year I have covered: Amazing Phil/Phil Lester, Audrey Hepburn, The Baby-Sitters Club, The Beach Party Series, The Brady Bunch, Brotherly Love,  The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, Captain PlanetThe Cat Who Mystery Series, Cinemasins, Clint Eastwood, Daredevil, Death on Demand Mystery Series, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Dr. Seuss, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, 8 Simple Rules, Elvis Presley, Eureka, Everyday Sunday, The Fast & the Furious franchise, Foreigner, Full House, Gargoyles, Grimm, Growing Pains, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hans Christian Anderson, Harry Potter, Hawk Nelson, Hell on Wheels, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The Highlander, How I Met Your Mother, How It Should Have Ended, The Hunger Games, Indiana Jones, James Bond, Jimmy Stewart, Journey, The Kinsey Millhone Mysteries, Las Vegas, Leverage, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Lord of the Rings, Madeleine L’Engle, Make It or Break It, The Mentalist, Michael Crichton, Michael J. Fox, Midsomer Murders, Murder She Wrote, My Chemical Romance, Nancy Drew, The Nanny, NCIS, North & South, The Nostalgia Critic, The Office, Once Upon a Time, The Phantom of the Opera, Pokemon, The Princess Bride, Psych, Ray Bradbury, The Riyria Revelations, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

To read more, click on these links: Fandom Love, It’s Fantastico!, A Fantabulous Post, A FANtastic Voyage, Please Excuse My Dear Fan Lady, I’m So FANcy!, Back to the Fandoms, Old Fandoms and New Fancies, Fantom of the Opera, Fun & Full of FANcy, The Fans and the Furious, It’s a Fan World After Alland Portrait of a Fangirl.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

3) Buzzfeed Bust or Library Love

my-library

So I was trying to get a job with Buzzfeed and posted a few things as it was part of the application process. However no one was really interested in my lists so I decided to bring that style here. I only did one, Heaven on Earth, in which I listed the best fictional libraries; but I’m thinking of doing a few more in the future.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

4) Story of My Life

StoryOfMyLifeSomeLikeItHotMarilynMonroe

So this year we once again had stories of my everyday life. First I shared about my horrible ex co-worker, Wanda in Five to Nine. Then there was the time my friend’s car started to overheat in San Francisco and we started to stall on the bridge, in I Left My Car in San FranciscoMeeting Dr. Sexy from Supernatural in real life, in Paging Dr. Sexy.  My spot issues that rivals Dr. Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang, in A Spot of TroubleOn how an ear infection wasn’t going to stop me from seeing the midnight showing, in Avengers Assemble. On living in a world that tries to get you to alter your appearance, in Small and ProudIt being so incredibly hot that I try to escape to England, in England Dreamin’ On Such a Summer’s DayIn which I do not learn my lesson and injure my legs again, in Walking on Pins and Needles. The fact that I will probably live out my life alone, in Crazy Book Lady. When I got caught in a crazy storm, in It’s Raining, It’s Pouring. The suffering of wisdom teeth, in Turn Your Wounds into Wisdom, and Your Wisdom Teeth into Wounds. How a baggy sweatshirt saved my life, in A Real Life Saver. Getting caught in a monsoon type rainstorm, in Every Month at the Quarter Moon There’ll Be a MonsoonChopping down the Christmas tree in Winter Wonderland.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

5) A Sense of Sense and Sensibility 

sense-and-sensiblity

So last year I talked about reviewing Sense & Sensibility, along with all those based on the works or rewritings. I talked about the girls’ older brother John, and how he severely let these girls down in Promises Were Made to Be Broken. The joys and horrors of sisterhood and how the two act as a unit in Sisterly RolesEdward Ferrars’ arrival into the house and being the one that brings peace to the house in The Eye of the Storm. On Elinor’s views of Edward, in To Edward or Not to EdwardHow young girl’s views of the perfect man haven’t changed in 200 years, in Some Things Never Change.

I also reviewed The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries, a book on the behind the scenes look of the path of getting Sense & Sensibilty from book to screen.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

6) Holiday Hijinks

romanholidaywhteveriwant

So this year we celebrated a lot of holidays, real (recognized by the government) and fictional.

We started with celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday and the values he stood for in Color Blind. I also brought back the Chinese New Year post, this time on my favorite sheep/sheepy moments in film and literature, in Well I Feel Sheepish: Chinese New Year. Then we had my Saint Patrick’s Day post, 17 more Irish heroes from literature, film, and TV; in Lookin’ Over a Four Leaf Clover: 17 More Irish Heroes.  Couldn’t go through a year without celebrating the awesomeness of Star Wars with May the Fourth Be With You, in We Want YouI also did a post for Memorial Day, in Do the Right Thing.  Father’s Day, with love from The Terminator in Dear Dad. The 4th of July in Every Heart Beats True for the Red, White, & BlueTalk Like a Pirate Day and free donuts, in A Pirate’s Life is the Life for Me. Going bats over Batman Day, in Na Na Na Na Batman!. Friday the 13th in The Horror!!!! And of course Thanksgiving, in You’ve Got to Accentuate the Positive

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

7) The Year of the Anniversaries

happyAnniversary

This year I honored a lot of anniversaries, it started with wanting to do something for Back to the Future and quickly grew to many more things.

I started with the 82nd anniversary of women’s right to vote, in Right to VoteWe also had The Breakfast Club turn 30 years, my post being Don’t You Forget About Me. The birthday of one of my favorite men, Clint Eastwood, in Classic Clint. The 40th anniversary of Jaws in You’re Gonna Need a Bigger ScreenOn the amazingness of Back to the Future as it celebrates its 30 year anniversary, in Back in Time: Happy 30th Anniversary Back to the FutureMy three year anniversary of being a blogger, in Year of the Anniversaries. The 10th anniversary of The Iron Giant, in A Giant Metal Man: The Iron Giant (1995)And the 200th anniversary of Emma.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

8) Romance is in the Air: Part III

ValentinesDay

So once I again I celebrated Valentine’s Day with a countdown of 14 romantic moments from films I like. The films I reviewed this year were How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), Sabrina (1954), Gigi (1958)Making the Grade (1984)The Breakfast Club (1985), A Room With a View (1985)While You Were Sleeping (1995), Hercules (1997), The Italian Job (2003), Why Did I Get Married (2007), Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)What Happens in Vegas (2008), Up (2009), and New Year’s Eve (2011)

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

9) Commentary on Cinderella Cynics

Cinderella

With Disney’s new Cinderella live action film, I felt the need to call out to the cynics and naysayers, and prove that their smack was unfounded and Cinderella is actually a pretty awesome story.

To read go to If the Shoe Fits: Why Cinderella is Actually Awesome.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

10) The Enigmatic and Enjoyable Emma

emma

Like I did with Sense & Sensibility (see #4), I decided that I would begin going through Emma, along with reviewing any adaptations or retellings of this story.

So I started off talking about the uniqueness of Emma Woodhouse among the other Jane Austen heroines, in One of a Kind. How loneliness severely affects the character of Emma and explains her actions, in All By Myself. How easy it is for people and Emma to take credit for something they actually have no control over, in Credit Where Credit is Due. On how Mr. Weston is a great man but no one ever talks about him, in Unsung Austen Men: Mr. Weston.

I also reviewed the book Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange, a book that looks at the story of Emma from his point of view.

And of course, a post in honor of its 200th Anniversary, We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

11) The Painted Path of Christ

Mantegna_Andrea_lamentation of christ

I brought back the painted portrayals of Christ, adding one more picture to my Easter countdown. This year I choose the following images: Jesus Enters Jerusalem by Giotto, The Last Supper by Dieric Bouts the Elder, The Taking of Christ by Carvaggio, The Lamentation of Christ or Foreshortened Christ by Mantegna Andrea .

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

12) Retelling Pride & Prejudice

Darcy Pride and prejudice

I didn’t do any posts on Pride & Prejudice the book as I was going through Sense & Sensibility and Emma.  However I did review quite a few novels that are based on or retellings of Austen’s work.

There was Fall for You by Cecilia Gray, in which all your favorite Austen heroines attend The Jane Austen Academy boarding school in California together. This year the school was bought and has some major changes, allowing boys to attend! How would these girls get along in a modern world, follow this link to find out.

The Accidental Bride: A Romantic Comedy by Janice Harayda; is the story of a Jane Austen devotee set to be married soon, when she suddenly has second thoughts. With everyone pushing her in different directions, she relies on her love of Jane Austen to help her through. To read the review, follow this link.

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, by Beth Pattillo, is the tale of a non-Austenite; filling in for her sister and taking a class along with presenting a paper on Austen. She also gets caught up in spylike drama when she becomes the owner of secret Austen papers. To see what I thought of it, follow this link. 

Pride & Prescience (Or A Truth Universally Acknowledged) by Carrie Bebris, is a mystery with supernatural elements. Caroline Bingley bags a wealthy American and marries him right away. But after the marriage she starts acting strangely. It is just nerves or something more nefarious at play? It’s up to Elizabeth to find out. Follow this link to read more.

Darcy’s Story: Pride and Prejudice Told From a Whole New Perspective by Janet Aylmer; in this Aylmer rewrites Pride and Prejudice but told from Mr. Darcy’s point of view instead of Elizabeth’s.

In The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy: A Novel by Mary Street, another author tries her hand at rewriting Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy’s point of view

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

13) The Commendable Cecilia Gray

FallForYOuJaneAustenAcademyCecilia Gray

I reviewed the book Fall for You by Cecilia Grayand while I didn’t completely roast the book, I wasn’t the kindest. But Cecilia Gray took it in stride and retweeted my review, urging others to check it out. I’ve given a shout out before, and just want time to thank her again.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

14) 30 Years Has a Nice Ring to It

1985-vector-pack

My post She’s Still Preoccupied With 1985 is an ’80s lover’s dream. In it I detail every amazing ’80 thing that I love that turned 30 in 2015.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

15) 30 Day Challenge: All About Me

minemineminepocahontas

I brought back the 30 Day Challenge, but instead of Disney I did 30 days all about me. These were the different topics: 1) Put Your Music Player on Shuffle and Write the First 10 Songs that Play, 2) Your Most Treasured Item, 3) Bullet Your Whole Day, 4)A Quote You Try to Live By, 5) If You Could Go Anywhere, Where Would It Be?, 6) Your Views on Mainstream Music, 7) What You Ate Today8) One Thing You’re Excited For9) Something That Has Inspired You, 10) What You Wore Today, 11)Something You Want to Do Before You Die, 12) Your Celebrity Look-A-Like, 13)Something That You’re Proud Of, 14) Your Favorite Holiday, 15) Five Random Facts, 16)Five Weird Things You Like, 17) Five Pet Peeves , 18) Somewhere You Would Like to Move to or Visit, 19) Something That You Miss, 20) What You Night Was Like, 21) Last Film You Saw in Theaters, 22) Something You Never Expected, 23) Your Dream House, 24) A Book You Love, 25) Your Family, 26)Five Guys Who You Find Attractive, 27) Five Ways to Win Your Heart28)Something You Regret29)Things You Want to Say to an Ex, 30) Your Opinion About Your Body and How Comfortable You Are With It

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

16) My Family is Growing

mysteriouseatsprinttoscreen

My family is getting bigger! 2015 saw the inauguration of my sister blog Mysterious Eatswhich reviews mysteries and recipes.

From Print to Screen was also born in 2015, and it compares the printed book to the screen version, declaring which was better.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

17) Horrorfest IV: The Curse

HorrorfilmCan'tlookaway

This year’s Horrorfest covered movies, TV shows, music, and more.

For films, we had: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), A Study in Scarlet (1933)The 39 Steps (1935)Jamaica Inn (1939), Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943), Gaslight (1944)Dangerous Crossing (1953), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958), The Screaming Skull (1958), The Bat (1959), Psycho (1960)Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Stepford Wives (1975), Total Recall (1990)Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), The Iron Giant (1995)Thinner (1996), Under Wraps (1997)Alien Vs. Predator (2004)The Brothers Grimm (2005), The Visitation (2006), The Girl He Met Online (2014)Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).

Every Friday I reviewed a TV show. This year the ones I choose were: the episode Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up from The Twilight ZoneA Haunting We Will Go from The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries; On Leather Wings from Batman: The Animated SeriesTed  from Buffy the Vampire Slayer; & The Magician’s Nephew from Midsomer Murders.

I did a post on some cool Monster Movie action figures I found, in Monster MashAnd I listed five of my favorite song to listen to on Halloween, in Haunted Harmonies of Halloween

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

18) 25 Carols of Christmas

christmas-music

This year for Christmas, I did a Carol countdown. Everyday I posted on one of my favorite Christmas carols.

The carols I picked were: All I Want for Christmas is YouAngels We Have Heard on HighChristmas Don’t Be LateThe Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)A Cowboy’s ChristmasDo You Hear What I HearFah Who Foraze, Dah Who Doraze, Welcome ChristmasThe First NoelGod Rest Ye Merry GentlemenHark the Herald Angels SingHere Comes Santa ClausHolly Jolly ChristmasI’m Dreaming of a White ChristmasI Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like ChristmasIt’s The Most Wonderful Time of the YearJoy to the WorldJust What I Always WantedOh Come All Ye FaithfulRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerSanta Clause is Comin’ to TownThe 12 Days of Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas When Christmas Comes to Town, and You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

19) When Disney Meets Austen

Elizabeth_Belle

I wrote a post comparing all the Austen characters to Disney ones. It took months to complete but I think it was pretty awesome. You’ll have to tell me what you think. Check it out in Waiter, There’s Some Disney in My Jane Austen.

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

So what will this year hold? I don’t know. I guess you will have to join my expedition to find out.

StarTrekFascinatingSpockinteresting

Happy New Year

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

For 2014 in review, go to Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads

For 2013 in review, go to Looking at the Past, Focusing on the Future

For 2012 in review, go to Looking Back, Moving Forward

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

For more on Star Trek, go to Rock You Like a Hurricane

He is Coming: The Visitation (2006)

theVisitation

He is coming.

Who?

So some of you might recall my post last year on an author I enjoyed, Frank Peretti. He wrote Christian novels, ranging from suspense, to horror, to everyday fiction; but most have to do with angels battling demons.

BraveheartVictorySwordinAir

This film is an adaption of one of his books, so yes it is a Christian film. I know not all of you might be interested in it, but let me say I have shown this film to Christian and non-Christian friends and both liked it. It’s pretty good.

love it

I’ve read the book that the film is based on, and for me I like this film better than it’s source material.

Say What

I know it’s weird for me to write such a thing, but it’s the truth. To me the book is two stories, while the film is more focused on one. But that’s not my forte, if you want to read posts comparing the film to its original source material, check out my sister blog From Print to Screen.

Oh and by the way, I could not find like almost no photos of this film. So for the review I will be using whatever I have in my media collection. That’s the hard thing about reviewing lesser known films.

Anyways, let’s get on to the review.

DeanSupernaturalLetsGetStarted

So the film starts off a little different. As they show the credits they show other things that are important to the story. We see photos of a woman, Marian Jordan, and then her with the dog waving good-bye to her husband. Next thing, we see a newspaper clipping, woman missing.

ben-affleck-and-rosamund-pike-in-gone-girl-new-york-film-festival-2014-gone-girl-review missing girl

Everyone searches for her, and they find her body. She was killed, but not just murdered.
It appears her death was a part of some kind of Satanic Cult ritual.

Mal_huh Whoa Wow what

After the death of his wife, Pastor Travis Jordan is so grief-stricken, that he ends up quitting the ministry.

Sadface Batman

Now the actual film begins:

Three years later, and Travis is still grieving. He lives with just him and his dog, but now his dog is sick and has to be put down. After Travis does so, he takes the body home and buries him in the backyard.

Noo!

Noo!

Poor guy.

So that night, Michael, a seventeen-year-old boy who just moved from San Francisco to Antioch; is driving the Pentecostal Church van with a keg in the back. His friends had dared him and as he is on the way with the keg for the party, three men appear in the road.

Whattheheck

Michael moves quickly to not hit them, and ends up flipping over the van and crashing on the side of the road.

Think he survived?

He in this case

He in this case

He survives it.

How did that happen?

How did that happen?

So did these three men save him?

“Tall Man: Be not afraid. You are safe.

Michael: Am I dead?

Tall Man: You must go back.

Michael: Go where?

Tall Man: He is coming.

The man touches him, and Michael has this vision of a windmill, and some other things.

what what'shappeningSupernatural

So let’s stop a moment and talk about the cinematography. It is actually beautiful. At times it is creepy,

birds Brothers Grimm

and often in a voyeristic approach. Giving you the sense that someone is always watching.

psycho-peephole

Oooh…creepy.

shiver

So the authorities come, along with Michael’s mother Morgan, who is the vet. They fill out a report, and the newspaperwoman takes down  the story.

Now at the Catholic church, the Arnold the janitor is cleaning and talking to God or to the stature of Jesus being crucified, I’m not sure. He has a problem with his hip and is asking for a miracle, to heal it completely. After all he has done so much for God.

Now here is where I think this guy is going wrong. You don’t do something nice or good in God’s name and expect a reward, then you aren’t truly giving as you expect payment of some sort. God wants a cheerful heart, something freely given. It makes me think of the  part in Atlas Shrugged, when Hank’s family all expect this and that, and he tells them that it doesn’t work like that. You give and expect nothing in return, that is a real gift.

santa clause tree

Anyways, sorry for the tangent. I’m back. So as Arnold notices that the crucifix is crying, as he reaches up and touches it he starts to have these visions and falls off his ladder.

what what'shappeningSupernatural

When he gets up, he is completely healed. He starts telling everyone about the healing tears.

Mal_huh Whoa Wow what

The “Tall Man” shows up again at this miracle as well. Alright, now we know they are more than ordunary men. But are they angels or demons?

Which one?

Which one?

They tell Arnold:

“Tall Man: He is coming.”

Arnold: Who?”

So that isn’t the only place seeing Jesus. In a hotel, the mildew makes Jesus on the wall. People see him in the clouds. It’s becoming a full-scale Jesus spotting epidemic.

Things are getting intense.

Things are getting intense.

So Pastor Kyle Sherman, head of the Pentecostal church is unsure what these “sights” are. He and the other religious leaders decide to hold a board meeting, and Kyle wants some extra back up. He goes to get Travis, but Travis does not want to go to church, even if it is just for a meeting.

No thank youhowaboutno

After Kyle leaves, Travis hears barking.

Whattheheck

He goes out there and his dog Max is alive!!!!!

what what'shappeningSupernatural

Travis is estatic, but he also notices that same three men that’s been appearing everywhere on his hill.

Who is that?

Who is that?

Kyle goes to see the vet, Morgan to talk about Michael. He wants to have Michael come to their meeting and share his experience. Morgan refuses as they “are not church people”. Kyle lets the comment go, but gives her the bible he brought as a “welcome to the community gift.” She’s not really into it, but rude to resist, she puts it to the side.

Mehsleepyhollownotimportant

So that night the religious leaders are all discussing it. The Pentecostal preacher, Kyle, thinks it is demons and demonic possession. The Baptist minister, on the other hand, thinks it is just the usual religious crazies having fun.

uh-no-gif

So some of you might not know that Christianity has different splits. Most of them have to do with doctrine. Pentacostals believe in “speaking in tongues”, like the desciples did on the day of Pentecost. Presbeteryians don’t. There is more, but let’s move on back to the review.

So they all start fighting and arguing, until Travis comes in.

OMG

Travis back in Church? Crazy! Never thought it would happen.

never-say-never-in-front-of-fantasy_1279

So they ask Travis what he thinks, and he tells them that he thinks it is nothing, but people wanting things to happen. Before they can talk about it more, they are interupted by screams.

Scream-Casey-Becker-drew-barrymore-31896958-2560-1088

But it actually isn’t anything bad. In fact, one of the girls, Darlene (daughter of the sheriff) touched the crucifix’s tears and is healed of her scars.

Double double yay

Her mom starts yelling and telling people to pray.

She’s not the only one who has had an “experience”. Her father was driving to the church, stopped to pick up the Tall Man, and was talking to him in the car. Next thing he knows, guy disappeared!

weird

The next day, Travis spots the Tall Man on the hill. He goes to get his camera, but has no film.

Darn it!

Darn it!

He goes to the store to buy some, when the owner, Matt Kiley a wheel-chaired veteran, gets touched by the “He” who is coming. He starts to have a shock and seizure. But after it passes, he can walk again!

Finally something GOOD!

Travis sees Matt’s transformation, and tries to chase after the person who did it. This leads him to the grocery store, where the lights are all flickering.

Never a good sign.

Never a good sign.

There he discovers that Darlene’s mother, Dee, was touched by “him” too and is now slain in the spirit.

what what'shappeningSupernatural

The person who did this is long gone, and they ask Dee what he looked like. She tells them Jesus.

Mantegna_Andrea_lamentation of christ

This is the only painting I have that shows his face clearly

For a moment they are all shocked and confused, until they are interrupted and told that it isn’t Jesus, but Brandon Nicholas, Mrs. Macon’s new farmhand.

Te sheriff decides to drive out there, only taking Travis (backup in the religious circle even though he is no longer a pastor) and Nancy, the newspaper reporter. But of course everyone wants to get a part of him, and they all follow them out there.

run-away

When they reach the farm, I guess you could say he looks like Jesus because of his long hair and a beard, but not really.

uh-no-gif

But wait…I have seen this man somewhere before? But where? Hmm…

IndianaJonesHmmMaybe

IMDB!!! Nothing….nothing…nothing…nothing…nothing…nothing…nothing…nothing…WAIT

OMG gasp

HE WAS JOHN CONNER IN TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY!!!!!!!!!!

terminator2judgementdayjihnconnermotorcycle

Sorry, back to the review.

So Brandon has moved to the area and going to have a revival. He starts talking to them, and suddenly the mood alters. Brandon is no longer questioning, but has the upper hand. He knows about Nancy the newspaper writer’s search for love, and tells her that he can fill the hole in her heart, he search for love. He  sticks his hand out, and when she takes it, it is like a jolt of electricity.

doc-electrocuted-obacktothefuture

He then goes to Sheriff Brett and tells him he knows all about the tumor in his head, and his 50/50 chances. He tells Brett he can help, strechting out his hand. When Brett takes it he too is shocked and healed.

doc-electrocuted-obacktothefuture

He asks Travis, but he doesn’t agree to get his help.

As they are all leaving, Travis sees that Tall Man again, and something clicks. He has seen him before, but where?

paris-whenitsizzlesaudreyhmmHepburn

He heads back to the town and to the sheriff’s office to open up his wife’s case files.

Sadface Batman

While there, Travis finds a picture of the Tall Man by the ambulance when his wife was loaded in.

opy of theOMG gasp

Morgan comes in to get a copy of the accident report. While the deputy is distracted trying to get a date, Travis takes the photo and puts it in his pocket.

He heads to his car, but stops and asks Morgan if she has seen him too. Morgan disagrees, and I’ll be honest. This is the one scene I don’t really like as the only reason why they do it is so that Morgan joins him in the rest of the film. But it wasn’t that bad, so its nothing to hate the film on, just an annoying piece.

Anyways, the two end up heading up to the revival, as Travis wants answers about the Tall Man, and Morgan wants her son. Yes, Michael is very, very, very into everything going on. So much, that he ends up leaving his mom and joining the commune Brandon sets up.

There Brandon starts healing people. Norman Dillard has had to wear super thick glasses for 40 years, Brandon touches his hand:

doc-electrocuted-obacktothefuture

He is healed.

Brandon starts touching people, healing, slaying in the spirit, etc. Dee wants to be choosen but he doesn’t pick her, she isn’t young enough.

Mehsleepyhollownotimportant

But Dee predents to be moved by him.

As this is going on, Pastor Kyle comes up and calls out Brandon.

I don't think so

He knows Brandon is trying to insiinuate that he Jesus, and he won’t stand for that. He calls out that Jesus Christ died over 2000 years, nailed to a cross: where are your markings?

300px-Masaccio,_trinità

And then Brandon does something no one expected. He rolls up his sleeves and reveals that he has nail markings in his wrists.

thevisitation2handsinairme

Everyone goes crazy and starts praising him even more. All are captured by this and don’t stop to think that Jesus was  not just wounded in his wrists, but in his side as well. Pastor Kyle tries to warn them about false prophets, but no one will listen

So as everyone is worshipping him, Travis spots the man from the photo, and begins trying to photograph him.

Travis gets kicked out by Brett, who is acting insane. Travis tries to tell him about the photo, but when they look at it again, the man is missing from the photograph!

Whattheheck

Travis tries to get Morgan to vouch for him, but she is no help as she is preoccupied with everything that is happening with her son.

The next day Morgan comes over, as she is at a loss of what to do. She was able to fight her ex for custody, but how does she defest Brandon to win her son back?

I don't know what to do

While she is there, Max Travis’ dog is stolen by the Tall Man.

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!

The two follow the truck which heads up to the farm, where Brandon is having another revival, one that is crowded with people. They look around and spot the car Max was taken in, snapping a shot of the license plate.

I have to wonder, why would they take his dog? Is it a ploy to bring Travis back to the farm as he was going to stay far away. Is something to do with bringing the dog back to life? Is his powers failing and he needed the dog back before it fell apart and died?

whatdoyouthinkTwilightzoneRealmartianpleasestandup

They head back to the Sheriff’s office and Morgan agrees to a date with the deputy in return for running the plate from the car they photographed. They discover that it was last registered to an Abe of Abe’s Salvage, about two hours away.

When they reach Abe’s Salvage they ask Abe about the car, showing him the photo, but he doesn’t know what happened to it. It was stolen a few years back, and he hasn’t seen it since. As Abe is giving the camera back to Morgan he accidentally hits the next button, and sees a picture of Brandon….except that’s not Brandon.

Say What

Yes, Abe reveals that Brandon is not Brandon, but Herb Johnson. Brandon Nicholas used to work for him, but disappeared one day. Herb came along not too long after, but he too just took off withour notice.

weird

After they get that information, they score his home address and search out to see it.

When they head out to the home, they discover it was a horrible, decrepit, falling apart shack. When they go inside they find the walls coverd in all kind of demonic signs, a pentagram, and one wall coverd in the same news clipping, but painted over black so we can’t see it.

The only reason you would do that is if to severely hide something. What could the article cover?

suspicious Hmm

They take one and head out.

They head back to Antioch and when they get there they hear police sirens. Travis knows that Brett has been hanging out at the commune, and has become a body guard for Brandon. He decides not to stop, but keep going heading up to the farm. When they stop, the Brett gets out and starts yelling and attacking Travis, fully pumped of adrenaline.

post-32452-this-is-a-fight-gif-we-are-fig-xWvc

They calm him down, and he relays a message, Brandon wants you.

Everyone acts almost as if they are under a spell or something. Travis and Morgan follow him to the house in which they run into Nancy.

Where did Nancy go and who is this girl?

Where did Nancy go and who is this girl?

Yes, Nancy has gone through a LOT of changes since living on the commune. Not only has she been living there 24/7 but she no longer cares about reporting the news or any thing that used to be important. She wears a sexy dress, drinks nonstop, and only cares about pleasing herself and Brandon.

keanu Whoa

Travis and Macon both ask after Mrs. Macon, but no one has seen her for a while.

He in this case

Okay, we don’t know this has happened to her, but that’s what I am thinking.

So Travis is taken to Brandon, while Morgan investigates the house looking for Michael.

So Travis confronts Brandon with his knowledge that he is Herb Johnson, and Brandon doesn’t care.

I_don't_care

He tells Travis that Brandon is just a stage name. Brandon…Herb…Justin…the name doesn’t matter. He tries to get Travis to accept him, touch his hand, allow him to heal him; but Travis still says no. Brandon tries to assure him he isn’t evil, he wants to clean up the towm.

While that is going on, Morgan is searching for Michael and goes down a blinking lighted hallway:

Never a good sign.

Never a good sign.

There she runs into Max, the dog, is starts trying to attack her so she runs downstairs and back with Travis. They are heading out when something hits their car.

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It turns out to be Darlene who has a huge cut across her forehead. They ask her what happens, and she tells them that Brandon wanted her to do things, things she’s not interested in doing. And when she said no, he hurt her.

Jerk

They put her in the car and head to the hospital. While they are heading to the hospital she reveals that her scars she wa healed from, have come back. And hurt even more.

paris-whenitsizzlesaudreyhmmHepburn

It looks like Brandon’s so called “healing powers” don’t last. Interesting, very interesting. And more proof that Brandon is not Jesus.

Back at the commune, Brandon has canceled the night’s services. Everyone is disappointed, but Tall Man goes and selects the pretty young girls for Brandon’s private sessions. Dee hopes to be choosen and recieve special attention, but they won’t take her because she is too old.

Mehsleepyhollownotimportant

And all I can say, is hey you are married. You shouldn’t be trying to get with any man that is not your hudsband.

So back at the hospital, the Sheriff shows up yelling at them to leave his daughter alone. They tell him the story and he goes in with her. They talk to the doctor and Morgan sweet talks him into letting them use the cat scan to read the article. Sometimes being a girl is extremely awesome.

awesome

Back at the farm, Matt’s legs aren’t working right. He wants to see Brandon to fix it, nd Michael helps carry him to the house. He leaves Matt in the parlor and goes looking for him upstairs and finds something creepy.

tumblr_dr.jekyllhydemirrorsneakupbehindscareaah!

Brandon tied to a barbed fence with a chisel and speaking in a strange language. It is a creepy scene.

Gilmore girls creep

Michael gets freaked out and runs out of there.

Run Away

After the doctor bandages Darlene’s head, Brett takes her home. There they find Dee staring at herself in the mirror.

mirrors

She’s crying about not be choosen and the voices she has in her head telling her thinks. They try to calm her down, but then Brett starts twesking out as well. He sees the Tall Man and is trying to shoot him, when in reality the only people there are his wife and daughter.

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They run from him, as he chases them around shooting.

Under Capricorn struggle gun

He finally calms down and heads out to the farm to give Brandon a piece of his mind.

Michael is running across the cornfield, trying to get as far away from the farm as possible.

AHHHHHHH!!!!

AHHHHHHH!!!!

When he stumbles upon two guys burying something.

wolfman dead bodies lots cart

Matt has crawled into Brandon’s room, where he is currentlu gettin a massage from Nancy. Brandon is angry and yelling at Matt for turning on him, of which Matt promises that he would never do such a thing. He will do whatever Brandon wants.

Brett storms in as well, angry and yelling at Brandon. He is about to stand up to him, when his tumor comes back. Brandon promises tp take away the pain, but only if Brett becomes his servant. Brett agrees.

I just think what a jerk. He would trade his own comfort fpr his daughter?

jerk_alert32

And this begs the question again, are Brandon’s “healings” really healing anyone? They seem to last only a short time, and then need to be administered again.

suspicious Hmm

At the hospital, they find out what the article says. 15 years ago, Reverand Cantwell disappeared a fugitive from the law, with his son Justin. This all sarts to gel in his mind and brings something back to him.

He talks about looking into who owned that decreput house. Just as they are discussing how to do it, Pastor Kyle and Michael show up.

Michael was running and ran into Pastor Kyle. He was freaked out, so Pastor Kyle decided to take him to the hospital. As they are talking, Michael starts tewaking out all over the place. Turns out he is posessed. Pastor Kyle does what needs to be done:

After he has prayed the demons out of Kyle, doing it the way ones are actually done , through prayer, and not showy like in The Exorcist or Supernatural. Michael tells them about the body. The group ends up splitting up.

splitupScoobyDoo

Travis and Pastor Kyle head out to see what was buried, while Morgan and Michael go home tp do reasearch.

Travis and Pastor Kyle dig up the whole and find two bodies. One in a jumpsuit with the name Brandon Nicholas, the other, Travis thinks is Reverand Cantwell. They figure out that ever three years someone has been killed; Reverand Cantwell 9 years ago, Brian Nicholas 6 years ago, and then Marian Jordan 3 years ago. Someone needs to die tonight, and they think it is Mrs. Macon.

While they are talking, Brett comes on the scene shooting like crzy and trying to kill them as he is under orders from Brandon. He too is posessed, and Pastor Kyle has to do an excorcism on him as well. But once it is done, they team up and head up to the farm.

DeanSupernaturalLetsGetStarted

There they have to watch out for Brandon’s other bodyguard, Matt, who have I mentioned used to be a sniper in the military. Brett manages to get into the house and finds Mrs. Macon, too bad she is possessed too.

What else could go wrong?

They see no sign of Brandon, and Travis figures out that he went after Morgan instead. As he is leaving he spots his dad on the second floor balconey. He now has a choice: go after the last connection to his wife, or save his friend he cares about that might become more.

Who is that?

He chooses to go after Morgan; leaving his past behind, accepting his wife’s death, and opening his heart to others.

Morgan has found the documents online, and sees that the house was owned by Reverand Cantwell. Just as she has made this discovery, Brandon appears with his posse. And I’m sure you have realized those guys are demons.

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michel gets stuck to the wall spinning like a windmill

what what'shappeningSupernatural

While Brandon attacks Morgan.

Travis has reached the house and discovers Morgan tied to the table with barbed wire, while Brandon is there with a chisel.

Travis announces that he has figured out who Brandon really is…Justin Cantwell. Justin’s father was a minister and a psycho. He was abusing wife and son, and Justin made a choice to go to Travis for help. Travis calls CPS, but they don’t help as Rev. Cantwell can be charming when he wants to be.

Spoke too soon

After that, the Reverand decided he needed to punish Justin for going to a rival church. He ties him up with barbed wire on the base of the windmill and crucifies him with a chisel.

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He makes a covenant with the devil, he is saved, given a few powers, and can continue to live but has to shed blood every three years. He went after Marian because he wanted Travis to suffer as he blames him for not doing more. It’s the same reason why he made discoveing his identity so easy and why he chose Morgan.

HurtMeHurtYouBack

Travis tres to overcome him, but can’t as Brandon/Justin’s demon friends knock him about. Justin starts dying, as he is nearing his time and hasn’t killed. Just as he is about to, he throws one final barb ay Tavis, asking him where’s his God now?

Travis maages to grab a bible and tosses it, saving Morgan and killing Justin, as he hasn’t killed anyone yet. 39steps-book-550

The next scene, they are having a funeral for Justin. Travis is now Pastor Travis, he and Morgan are at the start of something, and the town is mending back together.

TheEnd_Title_2

I know some of you might not care for it, but I loved it. It has a few hokey moments, as all do, but overall a good and creepy film. Too bad they don’t have any video clips of it on youtube.

And sorry, but no facebook cover photo/poster, as I couldn’t find any pictures really online to work with.

halloween banner

To start Horrorfest IV from the beginning, go to You Cannot Conquer It. It Has Conquered You!: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

For the previous post, go to There are Thirteen Chairs at this Table…And That’s Unlucky: Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943)

halloween banner

For more on The Visitation, go to A Whole Lot of Fanfare

For more on Frank Peretti, go to A Little Bit of Love

For more films based on books, go to That Place…There’s Queer Things Goes On There: Jamaica Inn (1939)

 

We Are Family

Family

Day 25) Your Family

So a while back I did a post, Considering Lily, about how I was inspired by a book to write my own blog. One thing I learned from that story was that it was best not to write about family and friends, just in case they didn’t like what I had to say. So talk about my actual family…

uh-no-gif

So instead I will talk about my other family. My babies. My kitties!!

bks+cats

I have two adorable kitties, of which I have posts to come on, and they are my babies. They may give me trouble every now and then, like all cats:

Cat1

But I just love them!!!!!!!!!!!

bookcatsLifeisGood

I also have another family, my blogging family. So there is the original:

cropped-jatitle2.jpg

All about Jane Austen, Holidays, things that happen in my everyday life, music, etc.

love it

But that is not the only blog in my family. In fact, I have a younger sister, that is sister blog, called Mysterious Eats.

mysteriouseats

This blog reviews mysteries:

SherlockPoppedcollarcoolandmysterious

And recipes. The recipes come either from the mystery books, or are just recipes I want to test out. A Mystery! (On both ends)

woman-cooking

And then their is my youngest sister, sister blog, From Print to Screen, who just had its first post. Congrats!

printtoscreen

This post compares the books to their film versions and tells you which they like best.

So if those strike your fancy, check them out!

Take it away Sister Sledge!

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

To start the 30 Day Challenge from the beginning, go to Musical Madness

For the previous post, go to One of Many

heading-banner11970857801243195263Andy_heading_flourish.svg.hi

For more Lillian Jackson Braun, go to Cat Lovers All Know This