NovelSisters

watching, reading, and writing stories

Jan 20

Hidden Figures and Coming Together

by lydiamhill

Image result

Image Source

This movie was excellent and I’m so excited about sharing it with you. Hidden Figures follows the story of three African American women in the 1960s who worked at NASA with the Space Program. Watching it reminded me a bit of another one of my favorite movies: Remember the Titans. Whenever there is a movie that deals with the social and racial tension of the Civil Rights Movement, I always love seeing how people change and come together as they realize that their differences aren’t so important and that when they work together, amazing things can happen.

In Remember the Titans it was a football team learning to come together and integrate black and white players and coaches into one unstoppable team. And in Hidden Figures it’s about black and white men and women coming together to do the impossible: send a man into space and bring him home safely. There are fears, insecurities, prejudices and injustices that must be overcome, dealt with and moved past in order for this to happen. But in the end they do and it’s so exciting to see.

This film does a great job of showing the hard reality of the 1960s, especially for blacks, while also giving us hope of change and a better future. And just as these women had to deal with unfair treatment and pay, but chose to keep going and find new ways to succeed and prove their worth, we too live in a time when it’s easy to mistrust others, or make assumptions or treat others differently. It may not even be because of skin color, it could be social status, or political leaning, or religious differences. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

When we stop focusing on what’s different, and instead see that the person next to us is just that, a person; one who loves, hurts, feels, cares just as we do and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, that’s when things change, when unity is possible and progress is made.

The Titans went on to win a championship, the NASA workers went on to put a man on the moon. And we can continue the work and do more than anyone thought possible.

However, I want to add one thread of caution. It’s easy to think we can accomplish all these great things if we just try hard enough. But ultimately, each of us is still selfish, a sinner, and a person that makes mistakes. We won’t get this perfect and without God’s help we won’t make any progress at all. So as this year continues, I pray that our nation will learn to love, not hate, to value others and not fear them, and to care for others and not just ourselves. In essence, I pray that we follow Jesus’s example and do the hard work: dying to self and living for others. And with His help, we will.

Christian Life Movies

Leave a comment »
Jan 6

Sing and Positivity

by lydiamhill

Image result

Image Source

Well, I finally got to see Sing the other day. The previews for this movie had me hooked from the beginning. I love animated children’s movies and I love songs and this movie had all of that, plus a lot of great actors doing the voices for all of the characters. Here’s a preview in case you’re interested:

So I went to the theater on Tuesday with my great friend and my mom. And I couldn’t stop smiling. Even in the ups and downs of the story line, there is an underlying positivity throughout this movie that is infectious. I loved hearing all of the songs redone and seeing the plethora of characters grow and improve, becoming more confident and putting themselves out there. It was a great reminder that every person is unique and beautiful.

Sometimes it’s hard to be ourselves, to shine, to do, or become what we feel we’re called to do. But as the characters in this movie are drawn together into relationships and a community, they help each other grow and realize their potential.

Meanwhile I’ve been reading about how important social interactions are. As humans, we need people, we need community, we need approval and someone to encourage us or point out what we do well, and what we can improve.
And I just read an interesting article about happiness and how important human contact, specifically touch is to it. The article encouraged everyone to give someone a hug, and not just an awkward side hug for a second, but a full on long hug.

So I’m challenging you to join me in making 2017 a positive new year. Go give your friend a hug and let’s help each other make this year a great one.

Life Movies

Leave a comment »
Dec 19

Movie Reviews

by lydiamhill

Alright, I have been to the theater so many times in the last couple of weeks that I figured I should just cram all of my reviews into one post. So here we go, let’s review Arrival, Moana, Dr. Strange and Rogue One. We’ll start with the one I was most excited about: Moana.

Image result

Image Source

I love kid’s movies and whenever a new Disney movie comes out, I am eager to see it. This movie may not have become as huge a phenomenon as Frozen, but it still has a good story, and very good music. I enjoyed the visuals and the growth of the characters in this film. From the previews, I was not expecting Maui to be the antihero. But I actually liked it and I’m glad he gets a redeeming story-arch. Walking away from this movie, I wasn’t all that impressed, but since Disney has released some of the music onto YouTube, I’ve been getting all of it’s songs stuck in my head. And it’s not just the main theme song that gets repeated, all of the music is catchy and enjoyable. I get a new one stuck in my head each day. This probably comes from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s style, who also wrote music for the successful Hamilton show on Broadway. So, even though this wasn’t my favorite Disney movie, the music was well worth the cost of the movie ticket and I’d even consider going to see it again.

Here’s a clip of one of the songs in case you’re interested:

Next let’s go to Rogue One.

Image result

Image 2 Source

This was a very highly anticipated addition to the Star Wars franchise and my sister wanted to see it so bad that we actually got our tickets early and saw it on opening day. Even though we were both excited to see it, there wasn’t an immediate “I love this movie!” feeling after leaving the theater. A lot of emotional things happened in this movie and honestly, some of it was a bit hard for me to follow. I enjoyed the movie and I think it blends in nicely to the series. I especially enjoyed the references to other characters in the Star Wars universe and the epic appearance of Darth Vader. But it was hard to get attached to the new characters. And I’m almost glad I didn’t get attached what with the ending we’re given. (Spoiler Alert) They all die. But even with that as the ending, it was still a good movie and I think most people will enjoy it.

Next we’ll dive into the Marvel Universe’s latest creation: Dr. Strange.

Image result

Image 3 Source

I had no basis for this character and what his backstory should be as I came into the theater. All I knew was Benedict Cumberbatch was playing the lead. I do enjoy his acting, so I was looking forward to the movie. And it was pretty good for a superhero movie, though I think it wasn’t what I was hoping for from Marvel. Honestly he’s probably just not the type of superhero I enjoy watching. Every superhero should have a flaw but since his is arrogance, it’s just not as enjoyable for me to watch. Plus his whole powers thing is kind of weird and too magicy for my taste. I did enjoy the few comedic elements in the film, as Marvel always gives us. But I think I enjoyed Ant Man’s comedy style more and from the new Spider-man movie trailer that movie will probably be more my style.

And lastly, we’ll look at Arrival.

Image result

Image 4 Source

This movie was not even on my radar but some of my family wanted to see it, so we headed to the theater and sat down to watch another alien movie. I am not a huge fan of alien movies, and I usually avoid them. But this one was more interesting. It focused more on the problem of communication and not on a kill the aliens and save the world set up that I’m used to seeing. Also, the film did a great job of staying realistic. I really could imagine my college shutting down because of the arrival, and everyone calling each other and freaking out while people in the army and government try to figure out what to do. The only downside I could see was it had some slow parts. And I wasn’t quite satisfied with the ending. There is a romantic relationship in the plot, but through the movie we’re shown that it won’t work out, and me and my girlfriends agreed the movie would have been much better if at the very end, we saw the two main characters getting back together.

So anyway, there’s my movie reviews so far. If you’re interested in any of these movies, go ahead and see them, I think they’re each worth it. But if you’re going to the theater for a fun family movie that everyone can enjoy together, I’d say go with Moana.

Movies

Leave a comment »
Dec 6

What makes a hero?

by lydiamhill

I’ve discovered that renting movies at the Library can be quite fun. Instead of paying a lot of money to see a movie once online, or keep for 24 hours from Redbox, I can borrow multiple movies for free and keep them for 3 whole weeks! This has resulted in me watching several movies that I’ve never seen but have always wanted to. Most recently it meant I watched The Amazing Spider-man 2.

Image result for amazing spider man 2 movie

Image Source

Now I grew up watching the Toby McGuire Spider-man movies and as a kid, and I loved them. When I got older, they didn’t seem as good as I’d remembered, but there’s still a lot of nostalgia going on when I see one. More recently the Amazing Spider-man with Andrew Garfield has released films and now there will be a third Spider-man because the character is owned by Disney. We even got a sneak peek at him in the Captain America Civil War movie.

All that to say, I don’t know which actor has or will do the best job at portraying Spider-man. But I really appreciated how Andrew Garfield pulled it off in this sequel. It wasn’t so much the flying acrobatics, or witty humor that got to me, though that was great too (at least compared with the original series). No, what really stood out to me was how this Spider-man did heroic things that normal everyday people can do too. Seeing him try to encourage someone and tell them they’re worth something and have value was so awesome. It reminded me of all of those videos on Youtube where someone does random nice things for someone else and you get to see a glimpse of people’s gratitude and joy. Caring for someone else is what being a hero is all about. And the great thing is anyone can do it.

Here’s an example of just one of those videos:

My favorite scene in the movie was when a kid was getting picked on by some bullies and then Spider-man swoops in to scare them off. But he doesn’t just leave. He stops to help the kid fix his school project and tells him how great it is and he even offers to walk the kid home. Anyone could do that, but it takes a hero to actually do it.

It reminds me of the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan.

Someone gets beat up and definitely could use some help but the people who see him are too focused on themselves to care. Maybe they didn’t want to get mugged too, or they had an important appointment to keep, or they thought there wasn’t anything they could do, so they just kept walking.

But the Samaritan stopped. He noticed and he did something about this guy’s problem. He bandaged his wounds, took him to a hotel (or inn) and paid for him to stay there.

I know it’s easy to go through life focusing on all the problems, especially your own. I’ve definitely done that, a lot. But if we stop to take notice of what’s going on, if we really follow Jesus’s example and value others above ourselves, we’ll see plenty of opportunities to love and care for others, and be the hero God wants us to be.

So I hope this little post encouraged you today.

Christian Life Movies

Leave a comment »
Oct 11

What is the Best Cinderella Movie?

by lydiamhill

So last night I watched a classic movie from childhood: A Cinderella Story. I loved laughing at all the old jokes and reminiscing about what it was like to be in high school and watch movies like this. But I was thinking today that there are a ton of Cinderella movies out there. So I thought maybe I’d make a list of some of my favorites and rank them. I know not everyone will agree with me, this is strictly my opinion, but I thought it could be fun.

Number 6 – Cinderella (1950)

Image result

Image Source

I know this one is the classic, it’s been around for over 60 years! But for some reason when I was growing up, the animated movie was never my favorite. Maybe the stepmother scared me too much or the mice weren’t as funny as Timon and Pumba. But I always seemed to watch some Disney movie besides Cinderella. So even though this is a classic, and I’m sure it’s at the top of some other Cinderella movie lists, it’s at the bottom of mine.

 

Number 5 – Another Cinderella Story (2008)

Image result

Image 2 Source

This movie is not as well known as a lot of the other Cinderella movies out there. But I did enjoy watching Cinderella break out in dance moves and see a new adaptation of the classic Cinderella story. I remember liking how funny some of the side characters were. But compared to the others on this list, it’s more of a B film.

 

Number 4 Into the Woods (2014)

Image result for into the woods

Image 3 Source

Technically this movie is not solely a Cinderella movie. This movie adaptation of the musical revolves around several classic fairy tales. So even though I love the way Cinderella is portrayed in this film, I couldn’t rank it any higher that 4 because there are so many good movies that really are all about Cinderella. But boy can Anna Kendrick sing! I highly suggest watching this movie if you enjoy Cinderella.

 

Number 3 A Cinderella Story (2004)

Image result

Image 4 Source

You might have seen this one coming. Since watching this movie sparked my idea of ranking Cinderella movies in the first place. Though I love A Cinderella Story, I cannot put it at the very top of the list. It’s a great modern telling of the classic story and I love how the stepmother is portrayed. She’s fun to hate but also makes you laugh with her obsession with salmon. All of the side characters add to this film’s fun, the quirky guy friend that keeps us laughing, the fairy-god-mother like waitress who is always looking out for Sam, and the rest of the cafe’s staff. I also realized that Simon Helberg (now famous on the Big Bang Theory show) made an appearance in this film. All in all this is a great movie. It’s funny and sweet to the very end.

 

Number 2 Ever After (1998)

Image result

Image 5 Source

Many people put this movie at the top of their lists and it is very good. I love seeing Leonardo Da Vinci show up as the resident artist in the kingdom and seeing Cinderella and her Prince be more fully developed characters with ideals and dreams, not just the expected rags to riches story. I also enjoy seeing the disagreements between them which makes a lot more sense in a real world telling of this story and also brings a lot of humor to the story. Honestly this might be the better film, I’m just still really into the next one on my list because it came out more recently.

Number 1 Cinderella (2015)

Image result

Image 6 Source

This live action remake of Cinderella was not at all what I expected. I’ve seen so many versions of Cinderella that I was sure this would be just one more on the pile and I was a little annoyed at Disney for making it. But then I watched it, and what can I say? I loved it! The Dilly Dilly song gets stuck in my head all the time and I love Lily James singing. She does an excellent job of portraying the kindhearted Cinderella that we all love. I also really like Kit, the prince in this film. Instead of being a bit of a spoiled brat, like in Ever After, or more of a cardboard cut out in some of the other films, he really comes across as relatable and sympathetic and I’m rooting for the two of them to be together from their first meeting.

So there you go, that’s my Top 6 of the Best Cinderella movies. Feel free to leave suggestions of other Cinderella movies you’ve liked. And if you haven’t seen some of these films, by all means rent them and enjoy.

Movies

Leave a comment »
Aug 17

Jackie Robinson and Making a Difference

by lydiamhill

Image Source

The other night I got to see 42 the Jackie Robinson movie that was released a couple of years ago. I love historical films and seeing how people who stand up for what’s right can make a change in the lives around them. I was so impressed with the Christian elements in this story, especially when Jackie had to face verbal and sometimes physical abuse and constant threats but that by doing it, he brought racism into the light and showed it for what it was.

As the movie progressed it showed more and more people realizing their own racist views were wrong and they began to change and see the need for others to change as well. Racism was and still is a big problem in the world, but seeing how things were and how they are now, I’m excited to see improvement. And it gives me hope that other issues in our society these days can change as well.

But the way you bring about change is just as important as what you’re trying to change. Just because what you want to change is needed and important doesn’t mean you can go about it however you see fit and to the hurt of others. We need to face this world’s problems with a heavenly perspective and rely on Jesus’s strength. I’m still learning what that means practically.

Sometimes it might mean staying quiet and not fueling arguments. Jackie Robinson did that a lot, he had to resist the temptation to lash out and defend himself. Sometimes it means speaking up on someone else’s behalf like Jackie’s teammates started doing for him. And sometimes it’s pointing people back to what the truth is, as Branch Rickey did when he told the people around him what the Bible said about what they were doing. He wasn’t very popular, but sometimes that’s what is needed.

But over all these practical things, the biggest thing to remember is that change ultimately comes from God. We can have good intentions, say the right things, be a godly example to those around us and still nothing will change. What only God can fix is the root of every single problem in our world: the sinful heart. Without that change, any other change can’t happen or won’t last. So pray, pray, pray for God to work and follow where He leads, and one day Jesus will return and He will restore this world to perfection.

Christian Life Movies

Leave a comment »
Aug 1

Star Trek Beyond and Jason Bourne

by lydiamhill

Image Source

Image Source 2

This weekend I got to see two movies that I’d really been looking forward to, so I thought I’d review both of them in one post. It was odd seeing Star Trek Beyond and Jason Bourne so close to each other. I normally watch kid movies and the types of previews that come before these sort of films are not very uplifting. There were so many shooters, assassins, and thriller commercials that it got to be a bit too much for me. With all that’s been happening in our real world, seeing more violence in these previews was not at all appealing to me. It reminded me why I usually go for the more family focused films.

But despite Star Trek and Jason Bourne being more adult films and having plenty of action and violence, I still enjoyed myself. Star Trek was very similar to the last 2 films and Jason Bourne was very similar to the original trilogy. They both had cool action scenes, with flying spaceships and explosions in one, and fistfights and car chases in the other.

I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride in Star Trek, partly because I was in the front row and could barely see the whole screen with my peripheral vision. But the shaky cam in Jason Bourne did just as good a job of sucking me into the action. (Though it could make it difficult to know what was happening).

So if you like action films, check out either of these two films, and you won’t be disappointed.

Now on to a deeper level, I noticed that Star Trek and Jason Bourne have fundamentally different set ups. Star Trek is about a crew, almost a family, having to solve problems, work together, and use their varying skills and talents to overcome huge obstacles. No matter what they face, they stick together and don’t give up on each other. The villain in this movie, as in countless other movies, says this is what makes them weak. But the crew firmly believes that it is a strength to have each other.

Jason Bourne, on the other hand, is a protagonist that we’re rooting for but he doesn’t rely on others very much. He’s not on a team, he’s by himself. And though he occasionally works with others or shows care for others, it usually ends up being just him against insurmountable odds. But because he’s Jason Bourne, he always comes out on top.

Thinking of this in my own life, I would rather be in a Star Trek type situation rather than a Jason Bourne one. I like having a team of people around me that support and encourage me rather than being able to handle everything on my own. There is some discomfort in not being able to take care of myself all on my own, but there is such a sweet bond that people share when they help each other and depend on each other. And I’d rather have that than the ability to do it alone. It also reminds me of the Body of Christ and how we aren’t good at everything, but by working together we build each other up in love and glorify God. He designed us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and to help others but also receive help from others.

Well anyway, those are a few of my random thoughts after seeing the movies. I hope you enjoy one or both of these films.

Christian Life Movies

Leave a comment »
Jun 30

Finding Dory and Worry

by lydiamhill

Image Source

I got to see Finding Dory, finally. I loved Finding Nemo and I’ve been waiting for this sequel for forever! Anyway, I noticed in the movie that Dory is very worried about her short term memory loss and that she will forget something important. And then I read this article about someone who deals with anxiety by keeping herself distracted and doing all these things to keep her busy. And then one of my good friends was in a car accident and she’s been dealing with all of the crazy stress and thoughts of why this happened to her. So anyway, I thought I’d sum up all my thoughts on these things in one blog post.

So here it goes. First off, if all you want to know is how Finding Dory compares to Finding Nemo, then it was great! If you loved the first movie, you’ll love the sequel. There are old characters that still make you laugh and a lot of new characters that are just as charming and hilarious. I definitely saw some similarities in the storyline to the first film. But there are enough changes to this movie, that it’s not a problem. I loved that we get to see Dory’s past, especially since she had forgotten what it was in the first film. It was great to see her piecing together her history and where she came from and who she is, but also realizing that her current relationships are just as important as her past ones.
Now I don’t want to ruin the movie for any of you out there who haven’t seen the film, so I’ll just leave you with a preview:

But as for the bigger picture, Dory, along with all of us, can get caught up in life and what is happening now and forget to think about the big picture stuff, like why are we here? What’s our purpose? Does my life really matter? I think these kind of questions can sometimes cause anxiety if we never address them.

And the article I read brought up some similar points and mentioned other negative thoughts that people who are anxious have running through their head. Here are some of the thoughts that I found familiar:
“You’re not good enough.”
“You’re a bad friend.”
“What are you doing with yourself?”
“You’re a fraud. Just good at faking it.”
“Everyone else has it together but you.”
“So many people have it tougher than you.”

Click here to check out the original post

So whether you’re dealing with a traumatic event, or just the everyday busyness and life’s little problems, anxiety can trap us. We get stuck thinking negative thoughts and we need to stop. Dory “just kept swimming” to deal with this problem and focused on just doing the next thing. And the lady in the article I read suggested taking a second to stop and be still.

But what I’ve found is that no matter what situation I’m in, the best thing to help me not be anxious is taking my problem to God. Remembering that He is in control, He is good, He has a plan, and He loves me puts those negative thoughts back in their place. They are lies and attacks and I don’t need to listen to them. As I turn my gaze to the One who loves me, who died in my place, who has good in store for me and will never leave me alone or abandon me, I find a peace that transcends understanding.

So I hope this post encourages you today.

Christian Life Movies

Leave a comment »
Jun 6

Me Before You

by lydiamhill

Me Before You (film).jpg

Image Source

Movie review time again, yay! I’ve been waiting to see “Me Before You” for a long time and I was excited that it worked out with my friend to watch it last night. This is definitely one of those chick flick movies, so if that’s not your preference, feel free to stop reading. But I found the film very enjoyable. It’s definitely more of a tearjerker movie and not as much of a romantic comedy. Although, there were definitely a lot of funny moments in the film and I enjoyed laughing along with the rest of the audience.

But in the end, this is not a happily ever after type movie. From the beginning we can tell that this romance is mixed with tragedy. One of the main characters William, is involved in an accident at the beginning of the film and has to deal with the pain, humiliation, and changes that come from having a spinal cord injury. The plotline focuses on his growing relationship with Louisa. She tries to brighten up his life, make him smile, laugh and focus on the good. It is fun and sometimes laughable to see her efforts at cheering him up throughout the film.

But then we find out that William has decided to end his life. It’s a decision that he made before he even met Louisa, and the audience cheers her on as she tries to change his mind. But despite her best efforts, the film progresses toward this assumed ending. This definitely brings out the tears. But more than that, it brought up some questions and a good discussion with my friend.

As Christians, we could see something missing from Louisa’s efforts to save William. She was trying to convince him to keep living in a world full of pain, loss and disappointment. She wanted to make him happy, but he didn’t want to trap her in his world and keep her from living. No matter what she said, she couldn’t change his mind. Then my friend said, “If only he’d known Jesus.” It was a short comment, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. There are so many people that live through horrific circumstances and don’t give up. They may live in pain every single day and a lot of people see them and think it would be better if they were put out of their sufferings. But they have a hope and they refuse to stop living.

I went home after the movie thinking about this and then happened to read this passage:

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

I think if William had known Jesus, he could have kept living. Because Jesus not only comforts us in our hardships and delivers us from our despair, but He also gives us a hope and a promise. No matter how hard this life gets, He has promised that those who follow Him will have eternal life. All of the hardships from this life will be redeemed, and will be worth it. All of the sacrifices we made will mean something. Jesus gives us a reason to keep living.

So anyway, those were my thoughts after seeing this movie. If you enjoy a good chick-flick, check it out.

Christian Movies

Leave a comment »
May 17

Mother’s Day

by lydiamhill

Image Source

Well I got to see the movie “Mother’s Day” today with my good friend. So I thought I’d write a review for the film. It’s similar to the movie “Valentine’s Day” released a few years ago and also follows the lives of several families as they celebrate the holiday. Unlike “Valentine’s Day,” however, this movie covers more than just the one day. It gives us a look into the families varied lives before the holiday happens. It is a touching movie with many heartfelt moments. I did tear up a couple times. But there are also plenty of hilarious moments to laugh at and keep you entertained. All in all it was a good movie to watch, and a good reminder that mothers and fathers are all important. They definitely deserve more than one day of appreciation. So even though Mother’s Day is over, and Father’s Day isn’t till next month, I’m going to take a moment to thank my parents for all that they have done and still do for me. And I hope you do too.

Mom, you’ve been there for me, before I can even remember. You’ve done so many things without being thanked, even once. Countless dishes have been cleaned, the laundry washed and dried, floors swept, mopped and cleared of toys. You bought me clothes and taught me to sew. You made so many meals for me and then taught me how to cook my own food. If I ever have a problem, or a question, you’re the one I go to for advice. I love you so much! I’m so thankful for your constant presence in my life, and for not only your care, but your friendship. I’m so glad you’re my mom.

Dad, thank you for working so hard to provide for our family, for putting in the long hours and pushing through the stress and difficulties with your job. I’ve always had what I needed because of you. Thank you for taking the time to play with me as a kid, to read me bedtime stories and teach me to ice skate. Thank you for all of the Daddy-Daughter dates and teaching me what I should expect from a man. You taught me how to dance, how to navigate, how to organize and make wise choices. You’ve given me such a great example and I am so thankful for your love. I love you! And I’m so glad that you are my dad.

IMG_1081

Life Movies

Leave a comment »
«Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Blog at WordPress.com.