Airhead

Airhead “Looks can be deceiving”
By: Luciana Paz

Airhead by Meg Cabot is a very interesting type of book that I never really imaged myself reading…I only have one word to describe this book—impressive. I loved the book it was very well written it completely got my attention they way Meg Cabot wrote it she connect it with the reader. I could easily say that this author is truly amazing.

The story takes place in the 21st Century in the city of New York. Em Watts—the main character—is not like any other girl; she doesn’t like Prada, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, she doesn’t like anything but school and her video games. Clearly you can already tell that Em Watts is a tom boy, she only hangs out with boys, well boy (Christopher how she secretly likes), completely ignores the rest of the girl the “wanna bes” (or the walking end like she calls them). Not including that her dad chose a boy’s name for her, Emerson.

The main problem occurs when Em’s little sister— who is madly in love with Nikki Howard and is becoming a walking dead—forces her to go to the new So-Ho Stark Megastore grand opening were she didn’t even want to go and had zero interest in meeting the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Haword. What Em had no idea about was that there was going to be a disaster, changing her—and life as she known it—forever? One bizarre accident later, and Em Watts, always the tom boy, never the party princess, is no longer herself. Literally.

I’m guessing that you want to know what happed exactly right? Well, when Em and her sister went to the grand opening a the huge plasma screen T.V fell on top Em and at the same time the supermodel sensation suffered from brain damage. Em wakes up in a hospital but as Nikki Haword (Brian transplant)! The only people who know about this is her family and no one else can find out. (Obviously that’s going to be hard because she is the most followed supermodel in the WORLD!) Em Watts now Nikki Haword has to act like Nikki and do her job or else her parents will have to pay 2 million dollars for the transplant plus fines. I don’t think she has an option so she has to live with it. But what Em’s pretty sure she’ll never be able to accept might just turn out to be the one thing that’s going to make her dreams come true…

At the end of the book Nikki (Em) can live with Nikki Howard’s life but at the same time she can also live with Em Watts life, in a different way. Also at the end it lives you hanging so that you can read the next book Being Nikki. Hopefully I can read the next one and find out what happens next. If you like a book that you can relate with and can help you with your own problems this is the write book for you. I would recommend this book to ONLY GIRLS from ages 12 and up.

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief
By: Luciana Paz

Have you heard about this action/adventure movie based on three teenage kids and trying to save the world? Does it sound familiar? No, I am not talking about Harry Potter but the new movie The lightning Thief directed by Chris Columbus and the book written by Rick Riordan.
Twelve year-old boy Percy Jackson is being kicked out of school for his seventh time now, he has saver dyslexia, ADHD, but that’s not all, Greek mythical creature are going after him. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen and Percy is the prime suspect. No matter how hard he tries he can’t get out of trouble. Soon enough, Percy’s mother—who has never told him who his father was—sends him to a camp where he will be safe or they think we will be safe.

Immediately he is given a quest from the oracle (the hardest thing he has ever done in his life) and bring two friend along Grover a satyr and Annabeth daughter of Athena. Will Percy find who he really is? Who is father is? Who is the lightning thief? And most importantly will he return the bolt and stop the next biggest war? Your will have to find out and see for yourself.

The movie and the book the lightning thief is based to be in Greece where gods ruled at the time. But now Rick Riordan gives in a special touch he brings the world of gods, monsters, tails, and myths into the 21 century. The movie and book are basically the same but the movie left out some things that were not that important but would have not hurt to put them in. The movie felt like it had a good plot but it seemed like the director just read the first few chapters then skipped to the end everything happened to fast. Another thing is that it felt like the actors dint connect it how really the character was they didn’t understand the background information. Because of those three reasons I would give this movie a 3.5 out of 5 the book I would give it a 4 out of 5.

Watching “The Lightning Thief” the movie is like opening a book and the word jumping out. The author really makes it very easy to familirioraiz and connect to. He also took events from the past and put them into our time, the 21 century.

If you are looking for a movie or book that has action, adventure, Greek myths, mythological creatures, or just a movie that will satisfy you than there you go The Lightning Thief, a movie that you will enjoy no matter what.

AVATAR

Avatar
By: Luciana Paz

When the conquistadors or the Spanish arrived to the Americas they came for one thing, gold. They brought things that the Incas and Aztec had never seen and really didn’t need. They just came and took their land. In James Cameron’s movie, Avatar, the Na’vi in Pandora just like the Incas and the Aztec with the Spanish were attacked but in Avatar by the RDA or Resources Development Administration who tried to extract their resources and control their land.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) an ex-marine, steps in his brother shoes, so to speak, and continues his mission. He travels to a new world where he can have a fresh start in a place named Pandora. A world filled with exotic life forms. He goes from a wheelchair to a ten-foot-tall, blue skinned, Avatar a half human and half Na’vi (a humanoid race). Jake is sent to learn their ways so that he can help relocate them and the humans can take over and get what they really want unobtanium, a mineral that is worth a lot back on earth. With their massive robots, air crafts and power they think that they can just barge in and destroy whatever they want. With time Jake grows close to Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) (the daughter of the clan leader) the Omaticaya people, and the forest. He learns their culture and forgets on which side he really is on. What will happen to Jake and the saving of Pandora? Will the RDA get what they want and win the battle? You’ll just have wait and see for yourself.

The idea of Avatar was started back in the year 1996 while James was filming the movie Titanic. Avatar said to feature photo-realistic and computer-generated characters meaning animated character but with realistic expressions and movements. It is said that Avatars budget was about $237- 300 million dollars making it one of the most expensive movies of all time. Avatar had many awards like it was nominated 9 times in the Oscars 2010 and won 3 of the nominations. James Cameron also made many other movies like King Kong, and Lord of the Rings, Terminator and of course Titanic.
Watching the 3D movie Avatar is like traveling to an unexpected world of art, love, science fiction, environmental justice, and of course action and adventure. The movie is like the saying, “expect the unexpected.” This movie really takes you to a spectacular world beyond imagination.

If you’re an adventure-loving, action-seeking moviegoer, then you’ll just be on the edge of your seat and want even more. Don’t worry if you think adventure and action is lame because Avatar is filled with many aspects and angels of life, art, science fiction, and technology. Don’t miss it, Avatar a movie like no other.

Alice in Wonderland Movie Release

Alice in Wonderland

Directed by Tim Burton

Can you believe it? Another hit movie directed by Tim Burton is coming out this Friday, March 5, 2010! Alice in Wonderland starring Jonny Depp (Mad Hatter), Mia Wasikowska (Alice), Anne Hathaway (White queen), and Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen).

Tim Burton brings back the classic story of Alice in Wonderland but with a small twist in it. He continues the story of Alice in Wonderland but as teenager. Will Alice remember anything of the adventure she had when she was child? You never know what to expect with Tim Burton he made many movies that imprested the public like The Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissor Hands, Nightmare before Christmas, and many more. You will probably see Tim Burton’s style in Alice in Wonderland and your first word will be “WOW!” Since Burton has a kid he loved to draw and paint he had a real passion for art and he still does.

This new version of Alice in Wonderland originally based on the classic children’s tale from Lewis Carroll is a great adventure for anyone who goes to watch it. The genre is Adventure Fantasy Family so you’re into a trait with your family the movie is PG. The movie will be shot using 3-D and performance capture technology similar to that used for “Beowulf.” As you already probably know this film will be released in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D.

If you ever get the chance go and watch the movie, Alice in Wonderland. You will not regret it you will joy it from beginning to end.

- Luciana Paz

The Princess and the Frog

Just One Kiss?
A Movie Review of Princess and the Frog
By: Luciana Paz
“Eww I will never kiss a frog!” Tiana said as her mother finished the story The Frog Prince. I guess you have heard about that story before where the princess kisses the frog so that he can turn into a handsome prince and live happily ever after. Well, this version is not quite how you have heard the story before. Disney turns the whole story around by adding in evil voodoos, blind voodoo lady who in the bayou, talking alligators that play the trumpet, singing fireflies, and finding the real meaning of friendship, true love and realization of your real dreams.

Since Tiana was a child she had one dream. One big and strong one, having her restaurant, but Tiana thinks that she should only work long and hard for it. As the problems with the money come along she realizes that her only hope for getting her restaurant was wishing on the evening star but you know what people say, be careful what you wish for. Tiana find herself in a really weird situation, she is a frog! How are her dreams of owing her restaurant going to come true? Will she get help from the evil voodoo? Will she find true love to change her back? You’ll just have to wait and watch the movie.

I think that the directors choose the exact voices that corresponded with the animated character because they really gave the movie more life, compassion, and enthusiasm. Like when Ray—the firefly—he is a hillbilly type of insect his voice really make the movie very funny, the singing especially. Also Anika Noni Rose, Oprah Winfred, Keith David, Peter Bartlett and Terrence Howard made the movie amazing, just amazing.

Not only have I liked the creative twist of the story and the voices but also I liked how they made the movie. It’s been so long since Disney hop back to hand drawn 2D animations I can just remember watching Cinderella, Snow White and all the princess hand drawn movies but this is not an ordinary princess is the first African American. I think that this movie is for all ages and that is very family friendly. Princess and the Frog a fantastic story of love, friendship, and adventure.

Should I Jump in the Rabbit Hole?

Should I jump in the Rabbit Hole?
A Movie Review of Phoebe in Wonderland
By: Luciana Paz

“Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. It’s a beautiful name I think. It gets worse before it gets better. My shoulders, my fingers, and imitating.Spitting. It’s a voice in your head that makes you do the opposite of what you’re supposed to. It makes you break rules. But sometimes breaking rules is good. So I like to think of it in that way.”

Phoebe Lichten (Elle Fanning) is a very imaginative little girl, but no one really understands her, she is not like any other kid in her school but she doesn’t really care because she has “Alice” by her side. Her mom (Fellcity Huffman) tries to help her but she is too scared to admit that her daughter has Tourette syndrome. Her dad (Bill Bullman) is also trying to help but he thinks she is too much to handle. Her sister (Bailee Madison) feels that Phoebe is getting more attention than her, and everyone else think she just too weird or crazy, or unruly until she meets Mrs. Doger (Patricia Clarkson) the new drama teacher.

“Welcome to Wonderland!” Mrs. Doger said. Phoebe feels different up on the stage playing Alice, the part she was hoping to get. That is the only place Phoebe can be free and does not have to live with rules. She can do whatever she wants, not like in the real world where there are too many rules and things beyond Phoebe's control.

This movie is not only about the suffering of a young girl that has Tourette syndrome, but it’s different, creative and most of all magical. It brings two worlds together, the magical world of wonderland and the real rule driven existace that keep children from begin children. The director (Daniel Banz) shows this is in a very unique and creative way because he took a classic story of songs, queens, cards, rabbits with pocket watches and tea parties and transformed and reflected it as Phoebe’s escape from her problematic life.

The message the director wants to convey is wrapped up with the lines from the school play when Phoebe says, “I knew who I was when I got up this morning but I must have changed a million since then. I can’t understand myself really but begin so many sizes in a day is confusing. When you have to turn in to a chrysalis and then into a beautiful butterfly I think you would feel a little odd. Your feeling may be different, all I know it will feel very strange to me.” This movie was filled with many special moments; I liked it very much I would recommend to all ages.