Longhorn Reviews

By: Stephenie Meyer

New Moon by Stephenie Meyers is the sequel to her bestseller Twilight. New Moon
is the continuing story of Bella and Edward as they face new challenges to their
relationships. A fantasy novel, the book deals with the disconnect between the human
life, Bella, and that of vampires, the world in which Edward exists. An especially
close encounter at her birthday party involving one of his family members brings the
real dangers of their relationship to light. As Edward leaves Bella behind to keep
her from the dangers she encounters as his girlfriend, Bella struggles with the loss
of her love and the subsequent darkness into which she is plunged hence the symbolic
title New Moon, the darkest phase of the lunar cycle. After months of depression and
what feels like months of reading, Bella’s horizons brighten when she rekindles her
acquaintance with an old family friend, a young member of the Quileute tribe named
Jacob Black. As Bella and Jacob’s friendship grows deeper, Bella seems to come out
of her funk, but she also clings to the memory of Edward by throwing herself head
first into dangerous situations that cause his apparition to appear discouraging her
from putting herself at risk. Although her friendship with Jacob helps her through
her break up, a secret Jacob keeps threatening to tear them apart. Despite her
growing attachment to Jacob, when Edward’s life is at risk because one of her
exploits leaves him thinking she is dead Bella rushes to Italy to keep him from a
suicide mission.

New Moon is a fantasy novel that spins a tale of vampires and
werewolves with the human emotions of love, passion, and longing. Themes of
immortality and the blurry lines of the conflict between right and wrong propel the
plot of the story as the characters struggle through the difficulties of family,
friends, and significant others. The depth of the relationships and their
definitions and boundaries are a major conflict throughout the novel as well as well
as the cause for much of the action. New Moon uses allusions to classic literature,
especially drawing from the tragedy of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Wuthering
Heights, the classic stories of star-crossed lovers faced with challenges, as Bella
and Edward are similarly encountering. The complex nuances of the immortal world
present the lovers with problems that could end in tragedy, and the battle to
achieve happily ever after, or even just safety, drives the plot of the novel
through the actions of the characters. Meyer’s prose leaves something to be desired,
and lines such as “They have a name for someone who smells the way Bella does to me.
They call her my singer—because her blood sings for me”(Meyer, 490) feel sappily
sentimental, but her expert characterization, especially in the case of Bella and
Edward, makes the novel engrossing and worth reading. The extensive cast of
characters creates an intricate plot that keeps the novel diverse and surprising,
although it is not intricate or complex. Bella’s emotionally driven actions create a
sense of the depth of the characters’ love for each other which creates interest.
This book falls under many genres making it universally appealing as it is romantic,
a buddy story, and the classic battle of good versus evil in a complex world where
everything seems to be shades of gray. New Moon is well classified as a Young Adult
Novel, and while it is a decidedly easy read, it is a guilty pleasure that gives
back with its uplifting message that true love really can conquer all, both mortal
and immortal.

Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon. N.p.: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006. Print.

Reviewer: Jessica Glosson

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By: Kevin Berry

Ted Kotcheff’s rendition of the novel First Blood, written by David Morrell, is a
dark depiction of a Vietnam Veteran who has lost his identity and defaults back to
his military training throughout the movie. He keeps having flashbacks that haunt
him and control decisions he makes while evading law enforcement.

John Rambo, played by renowned actor Sylvester Stallone, starts the movie walking around a wooded area
looking for an old war buddy’s home. His depression with the war starts here as he
finds out that his friend has passed away. Later, he is waking towards Hope,
Washington and Officer Teasle spots him to try to give him a lift through town.
Rambo is very primitive and ill mannered towards Teasle but yet he still follows his
directions to get into the car. After many scenes of altercations, Teasle takes
Rambo into the police station and writes him up for a few infractions. Rambo takes
abuse from many of the officers. These officers remind him of the abuse he took as a
prisoner of war. In one scene when he is being forced to shower and shave, Rambo
loses it and breaks his way out of the jailhouse and escapes. He runs out the front
door and commandeers a motorcycle from a civilian out riding. This leads into a
chase scene between Rambo and Teasle. Teasle chases after him in a police cruiser.

The motorcycle Rambo rides is an off road style bike. Riding through town with
Teasle on Rambo’s back, Rambo decides that it would be best to make use of the off
road bike and cut through farms and woods. After Teasle tries to push his car to its
limits off roads, it slides down a slick embankment and rolls as Rambo continues
into deeper forest.

The rest of the movie is a manhunt for Rambo. Using his military
expertise, he injures and evades all of the officials after him. He takes his
revenge on the town of Hope by burning half of it and firing his gun at multiple
buildings. The movie concludes by Rambo’s old commanding officer, Colonel Samuel
Trautmen, talking Rambo out of killing Teasle and saving the town from more
destruction.

Overall, the movie is an amazing action thriller. You get a great since
of how the war affected many soldiers and how life was for “drifters” or “hippies”
back in the seventies. Seeing life out side of war from a veteran’s perspective
gives the watcher great insight on how difficult coming back can be. I would highly
recommend this movie.

Works Cited Morrell, David, and Mickael Kozoll. First Blood.
Ted Kotcheff. 1982. Orion Pictures Corporation, 1983. Lions Gate Home Entertainment,
2006. DVD.

Reviewer: Longhorn Reviewer

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By: Stephenie Meyer

The novel New Moon by Stephenie Meyer picks up where Twilight last left off. The
last time we saw Bella Swan, she was narrowly escaping the clutches of a
“non-vegetarian” vampire, James. After recovering from the near fatal vampire
attack, Bella celebrates her eighteenth birthday with Edward and the whole Cullen
family. The joyous day suddenly takes a turn for the worse when Bella gives herself
a paper-cut while opening one of the cards. With blood shed, Edward’s brother,
Jasper, cannot contain himself and nearly attacks Bella. “Every second that I’m with
you is about restraint…and you’re too fragile,” Edward tells Bells (143). Proving
too intense for the Cullen family, the family, along with Edward, abruptly leaves
Forks, Washington for the safety of Bella. Heartbroken over the sudden disappearance
of Edward, Bella finds comfort in reckless living in which she can hear Edward’s
voice telling her to be careful. Realizing that she can hear Edward’s voice in times
of danger, Bella begins to live as an “adrenalin junkie,” including restoring bikes
with Jacob Black, one of Edward’s archenemies (129). Through time and distance from
Edward, Bella’s friendship with Jacob begins to flourish.

When Victoria returns to
Forks to avenge her mate, James, death, Bella does not seem to care. Fed up, Bella
decides to go cliff jumping, something so dangerous and reckless that she should
hear Edward’s voice for days. After hitting the water, something goes terribly
wrong. Bella realizes that Victoria is in the water with her and she is pulling her
under. Almost drowning, Bella is pulled from the water by Jacob. Edward’s sister,
Alice, who has visions of people’s decisions, sees Bella jumping off the cliff and
informs Edward that Bella has taken her own life. Heartbroken and feeling as though
her death was his fault, Edward rushes to Italy, where the Volturi live, in order to
be killed. However, upon realizing that her vision was wrong, Alice contacts Bella
and tells her that Edward “is going to the Volturi! He wants to die too!” both begin
their trip to Italy in order to save Edward (386).

Along with saving Edward, Bella
runs into the Volturi. Because it is against the rules for humans to know that
vampires exist, the Volturi tries to punish Edward by using their minds to induce
pain onto Bella. When the Volturi realizes that Bella is immune to vampire tactics
and would make a strong vampire, the Volturi agrees that Bella can live but only
under the condition that she be turned into a vampire in the near future. Having
survived yet another set of vampire attacks, Edward promises to never leave Bella
again, especially since it is known that Victoria is out there and wants revenge.
The novel ends with the Cullen family moving back to Forks and restoring
order.

Reviewer: Sidney Krawczyk

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By: John Sturgess

The film, The Great Escape, is a WWII movie centered on a group of Ally POWs that
are trying to break out of a Nazi prison camp in Germany. It is based on the true
story of the elaborate escape plans that the Ally soldiers came up with during the
years spent in the camps. Most of these soldiers are of the Royal Air Force with a
few Americans and various others. The Germans had moved all of the worst soldiers
and escape artists to Stalag Luft III.

Here the prisoners had an entire organization
set up to fool the Germans. Their objective was to aggravate the Germans and attempt
escape. Some soldiers were given the task of security, where they would use an
intelligent alert system to warn others of German patrols. Others were tasked with
making clothing and paperwork to use once out of the prison. Another job was the
digging--soldiers tunneled under ground and out of the camp. Their original plan was
to have 250 men escape through the tunnels in one night. Once out they would spread
out and try to flee the country using their forged documents. Only 76 were able to
escape through the tunnel before the escape attempt was discovered. 50 of the men
who had escaped and been recaptured were murdered. Only 3 men successfully escaped
Germany. All of the others were sent back to Stalag.

Throughout the movie there are
two characters that are especially memorable. Henley, AKA “the Scrounger”, played by
James Garner and Hilts, AKA “the Cooler King”, played by Steve McQueen. Both Henley
and Hilts are American and have an arrogant and rebellious attitude, although they
are fundamentally different. Henley is more of a sweet talker and con man, while
Hilts is sort of a prankster and troublemaker. Henley’s job is to “scrounge” up
items that everyone needs. He does this by bribing guards, picking pockets, and at
one point causing a distraction and stealing parts off of a German truck to use for
pick axes. Hilts has one of the most memorable motorcycle scenes of all time. Once
he escapes he steals a motorcycle and uniform from a German soldier and leads them
on a huge chase. Perhaps most memorable is when he jumps a barbwire fence and tries
to flee to safety. He is given the nickname “the Cooler King” because of his
frequent punishment of being sent to the cooler. The cooler is a solitary
confinement where Hilts spends much of his time throwing a baseball against the
wall. He is sent to the cooler many times for his escape attempts and disrespectful
behavior. Every time he goes, he is given a ball and glove from a friend and adds
humor as he is back in his cell, throwing his baseball to himself. Their comic
relief is very much welcomed after sad scenes of death and adds a much lighter tone
to the movie.

The Great Escape is an excellent film about the rebellious attitude
and enduring spirit of Ally POWs in WWII. The fact that it is based on a true story
makes the movie even better. Knowing that POWs gave the Germans a hard time and
tried until death to escape leaves the audience with a smile and a sense of
satisfaction and sympathy.

Reviewer: Blake Brown

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