Movie Review #1 - Insurgent (2015)

This is my first movie review on this blog so sorry if this is long and confusing.

Given how much I loved the film adaptation of Divergent (I saw it in the cinemas 3 times) I had high expectations for the sequel.

Before seeing the film I thought that Shailene Woodley's hair would bother me but after the first 10 or so minutes (she cuts her hair in the first few minutes) I didn't even notice it.

What I liked most about the Divergent film was how loyal it stuck to the book whilst also adding the required cinematic stuff. Insurgent was completely opposite this. Only about 20% of the book makes its way onto the big screen, and that's probably being generous. The main difference between the book and the movie was the major things they left out.

I know that when condensing a 525 page book into a 2 hour movie, things have to be cut but so many major, pivotal things weren't included which both confused and frustrated me. These included Tris overdosing on Truth Serum and Tris betraying Four with her alliance with Marcus.

Uriah, whilst finally being included in the films played such a small role that I have no idea where his character will end up in Allegiant. He is only mentioned by name twice and even then it's only noticeable when you listen for it. 

The questionable sex scene from Allegiant somehow makes its way into this movie and lasts about as long as it does in the book.


The special effects in this movie were outstanding especially in the simulations. If you are a purist and hate movies that don't stick to the books then you probably won't like this movie. I walked out of the cinema confused as they didn't set up Allegiant at all. From a solely movie standpoint I really enjoyed it and am more than likely going to go and watch it again but next time in 3D. 

Book Review #543 - All Fall Down (Embassy Row #1) by Ally Carter

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three certain things:

1. She is not crazy

2. Her mother was murdered

3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay

The thing is, nobody else believes her and there's no-one she can trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Grace's past has come back to haunt her... and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from Scholastic Australia. 

This book was equally as suspenseful as it was mysterious which was a great combination for a fast paced book like this. 

This book follows Grace, a 16 year old girl who witnessed her mother's 'murder' 3 years prior. Everyone including her Grandfather believe her death was just an unfortunate accident. 

Grace becomes very obsessive with proving them wrong when she believes she sees her mother's murderer in her new home. 

Grace was an unreliable narrator. I found myself wanting to believe her but there was so much evidence against her that at times I felt like she actually could be crazy. 

The plot unravels at such a pace that it is always engaging and page turning. 

This book could have worked well as a stand alone, but I am glad it is going to have a sequel as I am very intrigued to see where the story and characters go and also get some answers to a multitude of questions. 

Book Review #542 - A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

Kings and queens, Knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men. All will play the Game of Thrones.

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun. It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plot, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond.

The Game of Thrones. You win, or you die.

My Rating: 4/5

This is a book that I have had sitting on my bookshelf unread for a while and I was too intimidated to read it. I had also never watched the TV show at all before reading it. 

This book took me exactly one month to read which is an excessive amount of time for me with it being nearly 800 pages in length. 

I absolutely loved the setting of the story instantly although the multitude of characters made it hard for me at first to distinguish one from the other. 

Once the characters and plot settled and I finally was able to grasp it all I couldn't put the book down and flew through the last portion of the book. 

My favourite characters at this stage are Jon Snow, Robb, Bran and Arya Stark and Tyrion Lannister. 

I am now looking forward to finally watching the TV show!!